Chapter Two

Chapter Two

"Damn," Booth's fist collided with the wall of metal drawers and he winced.

"Agent Booth…?"

"Yes," Booth looked down once more at the bruised body of his ex-partner, "That's…that's Temperance."

"That's all we need. We're going to run an autopsy…"

"No," Booth shook his head, "That's okay. We all know what she died from."

"But I think…"

"Look, Doctor…Daniels," Booth said, looking at the Doctor's ID badge, "If I wanted an autopsy, I'd get someone else to do it. I don't like the idea of a stranger poking at Tempe's body, got it?"

"Sir, where will you take her?" The doctor asked, startled by the man's request.

"To the Jeffersonian."

"Look, Agent Booth I am sure the Jeffersonian is too busy to do silly autopsies on a cadaver whose death is known."

"They'd never be too busy for her, trust me."

"Agent…"

"Look, I can get a warrant from my boss if you'd like but that's really just a lot of trouble on both our parts so why don't you just have the body taken to the Jeffersonian and save us all from…"

"Agent Booth…"

"Fine, I'll call Caroline and believe me, you don't want to get involved with her!"

"Alright!" The doctor held up his hand, "We'll have the body delivered today."

"Thank you. Now I heard something about a living will?"

"Yes, the lawyer has been contacted. You are to meet him in his office around one."

"Thank you ever so much for your cooperation, Doctor Daniels," Booth rolled his eyes before exiting the morgue and heading back over towards the waiting room. Maddie was still sitting right where he had left her and didn't look like she was planning moving anytime soon.

"Hey Kid."

"Hi, Booth."

"We meet with the lawyer at one," was all Booth could find to say of the matter, "So grab your coat and let's go."

Maddie didn't say anything; she just grabbed the coat off the chair next to her and walked a few feet behind Booth. When they reached his Expedition, she clamored into the passenger seat and crossed her arms over her chest. Booth had been in enough "Sweets Sessions" over the years to know that this was a universal sign for "leave me the freak alone." He decided not to mention the body and they drove to the courthouse in silence. When they reached the designated board room, Booth found Caroline sitting there.

"Ms. Julian," Booth nodded mostly out of fear rather than respect for authority – something he always had had an issue with.

"Agent Booth. These walls are paper-thin and nobody in this building can keep things to themselves so naturally when I heard, I had to come. I am sorry for your loss, both of you," Caroline nodded to both Maddie and Booth.

"Yes well, we're here to discuss the living will."

"Right," a man sitting on the opposite side of the table outstretched a hand, "I am Mr. Thomas Penhall. It is wonderful to meet you…"

"Cut the crap, Penhall," Booth said, not bothering to extend his own hand, "A woman died last night and we are not two friends meeting for coffee! Let's get down to business."

A single chuckle escaped the lips of Caroline Julian and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand and coughed. It would be unprofessional of her to laugh despite the fact the man sounded much like her – too much like her even. After all those years, she'd finally rubbed off on him!

"Agent Booth, let's not get our briefs in a bunch," she managed to say in her typical tyrannical voice…

"I wear boxers…"

"We are here to discuss the will!" Caroline brushed off Booth as if he hadn't even spoken, "And there is a young lady present! How old are you child?"

"Sixteen."

"And how long ago has it been since you've seen her mother, Agent Booth?"

"About two decades ago…"

"Mmmmhmmmm," Caroline smirked knowingly before addressing the lawyer, "Mr. Penhall can we please get down to the business about the will."

"Yes. I'll read it aloud," Mr. Penhall cleared his throat before beginning reading the will, "With much persuasion from my friend, Angela, I have decided to create a living will for myself. I never thought I of all people would be doing this but I guess having a child changes some things. Speaking of Madeline Rose – Maddie, you are to inherit all my earnings and my savings. Use if for college, honey. Also in regards to Maddie, I'd like to address the matter of her custody. If something should happen to me, I would want no one else but Special Agent Seeley Booth to raise her. I saw him raise his son, Parker and I know he is an amazing dad – one of the bests. There is no one else whom I'd trust with Maddie despite the fact I haven't had contact with him."

"Wow," Booth blinked. He honestly didn't know what to say.

"Well that's just dandy!" Caroline spoke up, "Booth, congratulations on being another daddy!"

"Wait a moment, I didn't say I was going to go through with this yet," Booth held up a hand, "Mr. Penhall, what is to happen to Maddie if I wasn't to take her?"

"She'd be placed in a foster care system or a group home," Mr. Penhall was quick to answer, clearly having been through this situation before.

"No," Booth shook his head, "She is not going to a foster or group home. If Temperance knew…no. She will not go."

"So you'll take her?"

"There's no other option," Booth said stoically, "Maddie will come home with me, to live."

"Agent Booth, are you sure? It will be very difficult given the situation and your job," Mr. Penhall said worriedly.

"I didn't ask for easy, Penhall. I merely ask that this child not be put through what her mother was."

"Alright. All you have to do Agent Booth is sign on the line and that will verify the custody."

"Alright, Tommy," Booth took the pen that Mr. Penhall had offered to him and began to autograph the papers.

"It's just Tom, Agent Booth."

"Sure it ain't Doug?" Booth asked knowing now was the probably not the best time to be making jokes but come on – Thomas Penhall? He couldn't pass that one up.

"Yes," Mr. Penhall said, not quite catching the joke.

"So I can take her home now?" Booth asked feeling much like he'd just adopted a new puppy and signed the papers at the SPCA instead of adopting a child. To him, the whole process was just too…informal.

"Yes sir you can."

"Great. Come on, Maddie. When we get home, we can work on rearranging Parker's old room. It'll be yours now."

"Booth?"
"Yeah kid?"

"Who's Parker?"

"My son," Booth said before adding, "Your brother."