Fic: Moments II
Title: Moments II Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Bones belongs to Fox, Hanson and Reichs
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Nothing beyond Season 5
AN: This is pure indulgence on my part. It is a sequel to Moments, the first fanfic I wrote. That fic is complete and does not need a sequel. But I had an idea and was curious how it would turn out - so I'm indulging (I think it's allowed as it's only fanfic!)
I wrote Moments long before Booth's grandfather was introduced on the show, so this has turned into an AU, as he is dead in that one...
oOoOoOo
Everything is covered in a blanket of snow. In a few hours it will have turned into gray slush, but for now the world is bright white with its sharp angles hidden under a pillowy duvet that sparkles below the streetlights. Their steps are muffled as they make their way to the car. Brennan watches Booth struggle to keep his balance as he reaches into his pocket while holding a half asleep Parker. The beep when he presses the key fob is loud in the quiet of the early morning. She puts their bags in the trunk and unhooks her laptop case from Booth's shoulder.
"I'll drive," she says and snatches the keys from him and adjusts the driver's seat as Booth buckles up a protesting Parker.
"It's just for a short while, buddy. You can go back to bed when we get to your mom's."
Brennan throws a quick glance in the rear view mirror when they are rolling down the almost empty streets. The boy is fast asleep. He must be tired after last night.
oOoOoOo
Booth hangs up. "I got to go into work. I can't leave it until we get back, Caroline would roast me on a spit over an open fire."
"I don't think she would," Brennan replies not looking up from the screen. "She might threaten to do it, though," she adds as she continues to type.
"I'll drop Parker off at Rebecca's on the way instead of tomorrow."
This time Brennan stops typing. She purses her lips. "He's asleep, isn't he?"
"Of course he's asleep, it's nine thirty at night."
"You can leave him here. If you want to."
"You sure?"
"It's seems unnecessary to wake him up. You won't be gone for long, will you?"
"I don't know. Maybe. I hope not."
"It's fine."
And it is fine. Parker sleeps and she types. It is fine until she is interrupted by a finger poking her shoulder.
"Bones, where's dad?"
"He had to go to work. He'll be back soon."
The boy shuffles his feet.
"What's wrong, Parker?"
"There's something under my bed."
Brennan breathes a sigh of relief. This she can deal with easily. She turns on the overhead light in Parker's room and leads him to his bed.
"Look, Parker, there's nothing under your bed."
"Maybe it moved to the closet?"
Brennan walks over to the closet and pulls the doors wide open. "Nothing here either. Just your clothes."
She holds up the colorful duvet and decides to suggest a trip to the National Zoo. The giraffes and elephants on Parker's bedclothes are all wrong. "You should get back in bed, it's late."
Parker does not move.
"You saw there's nothing under your bed or in the closet."
Parker still does move, instead his face crumples. "I want my dad," he sobs and rubs his eyes.
Brennan swallows a sigh and a "I wish he was here too." It is obvious reason will not work.
"What would he do if he was here, Parker?"
"He makes warm milk and then he stays until I fall asleep so nothing can hide under the bed."
"Careful, it's hot," Brennan cautions as she places a mug in front of the boy and sits down on the bar stool opposite his.
"The milk's funny."
"It's got honey and cinnamon in it. My mother used to make it like that for me when I couldn't sleep."
Booth's hand on her shoulder wakes her an hour later. She has a crick in neck from resting her head on the side of Parker's mattress and her knees ache from the hard floor.
oOoOoOo
"I'm going to get coffee," she announces when they stop for gas after dropping off Parker. "You want some?"
"Don't forget the sugar!" Booth calls after her as she makes her way between slush and icy patches.
She pulls her face against the bitter, almost burnt taste. The coffee must have sat in the glass carafe on the hotplate for hours.
Booth has switched to the driver's seat when she returns. Brennan does not protest for the same reason she hands him a handful of sugar packs with his drink without mentioning insulin levels and tooth decay.
She takes a few more sips, hoping the caffeine will remove the pressure against her temples before it turns into a headache.
Booth glances at her when they are on the interstate. "You should sleep, you look tired."
"So do you." His eyes are slightly swollen. She doubts anyone would notice unless they looked closely. Unless they expected it. "I'll keep you company so you don't fall asleep. A high number of traffic accidents are caused by fatigue."
"So, what would you bring to a desert island, Bones?"
"We're not going to a desert island."
"Humor me, I'm making conversation to stay awake. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"As soon as you set foot on a desert island it's not deserted anymore."
"Bones..."
"I'm just saying, if I'm there the island is populated. It will be a deserted island again once I leave it."
"Fine. I was just trying to make this trip go faster." He cuts her off before she can respond. "As in making it more entertaining, not by driving faster."
"And to stay awake."
"And stay awake."
"I can drive. I'm a very good driver."
"Yes, I know you can drive. Thank you, Rain Man. You can drive after we've stopped for lunch."
They stop for lunch, not because they are hungry, but because they should. The menu at this particular diner is very is familiar to them by now. They know what they like and what to avoid. Although she knows it is pointless, Brennan wishes this was like any of the previous trips they have made stopping here.
There is more snow the further north they go. Brennan has never liked driving in wintry conditions. She makes a conscious effort to relax her shoulders and rolls her head. Her neck hurts and the pressure against her temples has grown into a headache. She pulls into a lay-by and reaches for her purse. Booth shifts in the passenger seat but he does not wake up. He has slept even less than she has these last few weeks so she is not surprised.
"Eggs or pancakes," he mumbles. "Not oatmeal."
Brennan smiles as she uncaps a water bottle and swallows the Tylenol. She has been trying, unsuccessfully, to get Booth to appreciate the benefits of a healthier diet. She leans over to wake him but stops herself. By now his sleeping face is as familiar to her as the face that looks back at her in the bathroom mirror every day. She notes the spot he missed shaving this morning and how sleep removes the last weeks' tension around his eyes and jaw. She switches on the radio for company instead.
The snow on the road leading up to the house has been cleared but the ground is still uneven. Gently she presses down the accelerator to force the car up the icy incline.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Booth yawns. "You said yourself that..." He goes quiet when he sees where they are.
They have arrived. Everything looks the same. But nothing is the same. Everything has changed.
oOoOoOo
TBC