(Untitled)

[paladinsuitsyou]

It's a beautiful Saturday morning in the park, but it's still too early to be crowded. The carousel is near-empty, and that's good, because Parker isn't sure he wants to go anywhere near , and Booth expects that this very important daddy-duty would be even harder if there were an audience. As they close in on the carousel, Parker turns from

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[dr_temperance]

Unobserved, Brennan smiles a little.

From an anthropological perspective (or any other perspective) Booth is a good father. One of the most difficult thing a parent can do is allow a child the chance to overcome fear.

Even when it's in the form of a carousel.

She stays at a distance until the ride begins moving, then steps forward to join Booth.

[paladinsuitsyou]

He would normally be surprised at Brennan's appearance here in the park, but today he's just a little worn out. A scared toddler is exhausting. Facing your own fears about your child's mortality are no less tiring.

"Hi," he says, amiably enough, but the smile he would usually greet her with is absent. "How'd you know I was here?"

[dr_temperance]

"It's Saturday morning."

And of all the fall-out from the last day or so, Brennan knew that Booth would want to address his son first thing. She'd left a note and her cell number for Hannah (who was sound asleep on the sleeper sofa) and driven down to the park.

"How's Parker?" she asks, moving toward a nearby bench with a good view of the carousel.

[paladinsuitsyou]

"Yeah, I'm afraid I freaked him out, the other day," Booth says. It comes out tired, abashed and a little rueful. In hindsight, it seems like such a small moment, but such terrible things came of it. "He's really scared of this place, you know? I - I gotta put that right."

Slight pause.

"How's Hannah? She miffed about being stuffed away in the Bar?"