Title: The Will of the Heart
Disclaimer: Bones and its affiliated characters do not belong to me nor do I claim to own them in any way. I mean no copyright infringement, solely for entertainment of Bones fans.
Summary: With the loss in death comes a gain of the heart. The strength of Booth's will is compromised by the death of someone in his family, with the task left for him, it is Bones who helps give him that strength and will back.
Rating: Strong T for language and suggestive dialogue; Maybe M later on.
Author Note: This is a bit of a take on an X-Files Fic I read nearly 10 years ago. And now I feel old. Lol Enjoy guys.
It was seemingly a dark day in DC, the news had called for a few clouds, but we got rain, lots of it, dark threatening clouds, the ever present lightning followed with a crack or boom of thunder that raddled you to the core. Funny how the weather adds to ones current mood, unfortunately for me, my mood was pretty deep in the shitter. It had been one of the hardest weeks for me. Jared and his wife Padme, had been traveling in the East and had been killed on a puddle jumper between one of their stops in helping less fortunate children get an education. As much as Jared had been a fuck up in his life, he had married Padme and turned his whole life around for the better. I couldn't help but thank Padme for that. She really had been a great match for my brother. They had married, had a little baby boy and even adopted a very young little girl. I couldn't have been more proud of him. But today we buried my brother and his wife. I had sat there in the rain at their funeral pops to my left and my partner and best friend who had been there all week as my strength sitting to the right of me. Brennan's hand never leaving mine, doing her best in her own way to comfort me in this time of need. Her beautiful blue orbs filled with tears. The Squints had all showed up to show their support as did many FBI agents and Military buddies of Jared's. Because of his military work and the extra work of Caroline, my brother was given a 21 gun salute and honorable military burial along with his wife. Padme had no family left or were estranged from her for many years. Pops, Parker and I were all the family they really had, other than the children and the Squint Squad.
It had been a very nice service for them. Cam and Hodgins along with Ange who carried their almost two year old daughter had helped with Pops and taking him back to their home. I had kissed my teary-eyed son who had attended with Rebecca and promised I would see him soon and thanking Rebecca for bringing him. Everyone had all left, leaving me there for a few more moments alone with my brother and his wife. Saying several more prayers for them, I felt the feeling of being alone go away. She didn't have to say a word, but I knew she was there. No one in the world had ever put that feeling into the air or my heart when near, even when I couldn't see her. I had extended my hand back for her to take it and she did. "Thank you for being here Bones." I had said quietly trying my best to hold more tears back. She had said nothing, just squeezed my hand, rubbing her thumb over my hand, letting me know she was there for me and I couldn't be happy to have her there with me.
Now I had been sitting in the lawyer's office waiting for the reading of the Will, I had been sitting there for several minutes that had felt like hours alone waiting for the lawyer to return with Jared and Padme's file. Brennan had come along for support, but was asked to sit in the little waiting area just outside the office doors. I desperately wanted her to be there. I needed my best friend with me, and as strange as it was, and I know she would tell me it was impossible, I felt her needing and wanting to be in here with me. We had grown close again after my break up with Hannah over a year and a half ago. We had been stronger as partners and as friends. We still danced around the feelings we had for one another, but I had no intention of pushing her. She knew where I stood and I knew where she stood on the situation. If this was to work between us, I would let her make that move first. I didn't want to scare her like I had before.
The lawyer had returned and gone over the contents of the Will. Leaving a few things to Pop's, but in Pop's current state, would get his things from Jared in a few days. Parker was left several sentimental items that Jared had known Parker loved. And then it came to me, I was left Jared's bike that he had loved so much and several other items he had kept that I had remembered from growing up together, and then the remaining item and its details were put on hold so that my own lawyer could do final signing if needed. Caroline wasn't more than a few minutes away, having stopped at the legal offices for other cases she had been assigned to. I had been left in rater total shock with the remaining detail of Jared's Will and had agreed to take on the situation. Now I was glad that Brennan had insisted on coming. Besides myself and the lawyer's signatures, I needed a witness to sign. I swallowed hard and stood walking out the door to find my best friend. As soon as Brennan saw me she stood. "Booth is everything alright?" She had asked stepping to me, our hands reaching for one another instantly. "Yea, I do need to ask of you to do something." I had started, but before I could explain what it was she without hesitation replied "Anything Booth. Whatever you need, I'll do." I squeezed her hands and sat her down in the very uncomfortable seats. She had a slight look of concern but never left me. "Bones, my brother and Padme… They left me the children." I couldn't bring myself to tell her higher than a whisper as the thoughts of my brother's death crept up again. She must have seen the tears well up in my eyes, because she leaned into me wrapping her arms around me in a warm hug. We hugged for a few moments until my tears subsided for the time being. "I need a witness to sign the papers in agreement of the Will, and I'd like for you to be there as the witness." I had told her. She had met the children several times and seemed to enjoy playing with them when she saw them. "Of course I would be honored to do that for you. Are you alright with the decision left for you?" She had asked. "I think so. I mean I am a father, but I have never had Parker for more than a month straight. I know I can handle this, but it's going to be hard for me." I had honestly told her. "You will be great Booth. I am very sure of that. The way you are with Parker and the way you were when Jared and Padme would visit with the children." She was so confident in me; it was a full circle for us. Normally I was the one instilling confidence in her and my heart rang blessings to her for doing this. "Thank you Bones." I told her before opening the door to the office so she could sign the papers with me.
I sat there as Caroline and Jared's lawyer went over everything I would be taking on and not once did Brennan's hand leave mine as she too followed along taking in everything I was taking on. "Booth, because you are a single parent without complete foster care eligibility, the state will be making it rather hard on you, especially because of your job. As long as I have known you, I know that you will do perfectly fine, but it is still a state requirement that you lessen your workload…or not be single." Caroline said looking at me then to Brennan and then back at me. "I am required to have a social worker come by your place to check in on you and the kids, but they might take in the fact that you do go away on a case from time to time as a fault in your abilities to be a parent. " Caroline added not wanting to give me a sense of lacking in my abilities to care for children. "He won't be alone. He'll have plenty of help. Angela and Hodgins have a child and I'm sure would be very happy to watch the children when Booth is on a case and we are all willing to help." Brennan started while looking at me. "Though I am not a parent myself, I am registered as a foster parent and can help Booth when needed. I have no problem doing that. It is what friends are for." She said finishing and I swear while Brennan and I were connecting on a totally different plane I could see out of the corner of my eye, Caroline grinning quite wide. "That might help. But it is still the single parent, job, and income that will be looked at as a whole. But then again you have me as your lawyer to do my damndest to back you up and help you along Booth." Caroline assured me. "Thanks Caroline." I had always been very thankful for that woman. With all that she had done for me, Brennan and the whole Squint family we had. "The children can be brought to your apartment this evening after they eat dinner. I will call when we are on our way." Jared's lawyer informed me and I thanked them both for helping out.
Brennan and I stood and left, she drove me back to my apartment and stayed with me for a while, making some tea to warm the both of us on this dark cold and rainy day. She had slept on the couch for a few nights keeping me company while I grieved, often forcing me to sleep, even if it meant wrapped up in her arms on the couch. She was there. She was being my constant, my rock through this whole thing and I couldn't thank her enough. I had never seen her this comforting to anyone but she had grown in the years we had known one another and she was growing as an individual brighter than I had ever expected and welcomed her company in this time. I had been looking down at the ground for a few moments when she sat down and looped her arm with mine and taking my hand into her own, lacing our fingers together as a sign of comfort. "Booth." She started. "Would you oppose me to staying with you when the children arrive and help you?" She asked softly. "No of course, I want you to stay as long as you feel you want to. It would make me happy if you helped me. Thank you." A glimpse of a smile crossed my face knowing she would be here to help me.