Bones: I've Made a Commitment
(title: Staind, "Right Here" )
by: jewel of athos
Author's Note: I LOVE Max Keenan's character. So much. He's a baddie, but…he's a respectable baddie? I don't know what it is. There's just something about him, his sense of humor, the way that he cares for his family (not that I approve of all of his methods)…he needed a fic. It turned out a bit different than I'd hoped, not my best, but that just means that I can write other oneshots (or longer stories) based around similar themes or the same episode, "Judas on a Pole".
*~.~o0o~.~*
My daughter looked into my eyes.
I'd seen her since I'd been on the run, of course; but always from a distance or in photographs, never up close until today. Today was the first time since my daughter was fifteen years old that I was able to look into her eyes.
And she didn't recognize me.
Pain and relief filled me in equal parts as I played the laughing, smart priest who had once been my friend. Pain because my own daughter didn't recognize me, and relief for the same reason. As long as she didn't know who I was, she would be safe; much safer than Russell had been those past few months. But the less that she knew, the easier it would be for me to protect her.
From the look in her partner's eyes, her safety was also the first thing on his mind; he didn't seem to like the look of me. I wonder if he saw through my disguise, if he's guessed yet who I am. I'm going to have to watch out for him from now on.
Russ and I were barely in her office for fifteen minutes, but I was barely able to keep my eyes off of Tempe. It's been so odd to talk to her again, as an adult, and to have her treat me like I'm a stranger. I don't want to be a stranger to my children anymore. But even now, I know what I have to do.
Sooner or later, she's going to find out, or her partner is, and then it will all be over. My only option at this point is to take Russell and get out before they understand and try to stop me. They can't stop me, not after I've put so much time and effort into protecting my children. I've got to get away before they put me behind bars and my daughter gets killed. But if I disappear, their interest in her fades, and she's safe again, for a while at least.
In my head, it all sound so logical. But at the same time it kills me inside to know that I have to leave her again. She's so rigid, so black and white, that she'll never understand. She'll think that I've abandoned her, like Russ says she thought last time, and maybe she'll never be able to forgive me after this. But the thought of losing her forever hurts more, and I swear I will do anything to keep that from happening.
I've already called her and told her to come here; there are some things that I want to talk to her about, before I go. I think that I am going to tell her the truth, in the end. It'll break her heart, but not as bad as if I show up again later and she finds out that I didn't tell her this time. It'll all work out in the end, I'm sure of it.
…because there will be no one left to hunt her and Russ.
fin.
