August 13, 2011

Booth muted the television when he thought he heard the knocking at Brennan's door. He listened for a moment, and when the knocking continued, he stood and moved to look in the peephole. With a sigh, he opened the door.

"Hey, Max." He gestured behind him. "Bones isn't here; she had to run to the lab for a few hours."

Max nodded, confused. "Alright. But…then what are you doing here?"

With a sigh, Booth opened the door wider and waved Max into the apartment. "Come on in."

Looking around his daughter's apartment for the first time in months, Max noticed some very telling signs. Men's dress shoes next to the door, several sports magazines on the coffee table, two place settings at the table, and a pile of mail on the counter with Booth's name all over it. He turned and raised an eyebrow at Booth, not quite smiling.

"So, how long have you been sleeping with my daughter?"

Booth tried to keep a straight, stoic face but he really hadn't been expecting his girlfriend's father to be so bold…again. "Max…this isn't what you think it is." He pointed to the sofa, where both men sat down.

"This isn't you and Tempe practically living together? Because from where I sit, you're all over this apartment, Booth."

Leaning back into the cushions, Booth considered his options. He could put Max off until Bones got home, letting her take the lead in a conversation she had already stated that she wanted to have with her father. Or…he could just roll with it. And by the look on Max's face, Booth could tell that he was going to have to be the one to explain.

"Max…Bones wanted to talk to you about this, but we've both been pretty busy with work." Yet another thing Max needed to know. Since he and Brennan had become a couple, the FBI had separated them as partners. They had both known it was coming, but the adjustments had been harder than either of them anticipated, and so talking with their families had been the last thing on their minds.

"Yes, I imagine your new job behind a desk keeps you busier than running around with my daughter, catching bad guys." Max did nothing to hide the smile on his face at Booth's shocked stare.

"You knew?"

"I knew you weren't partners anymore, yes. I wasn't sure why, of course…until I walked in here and saw that you've basically peed all over the place." At Booth's glare, he clarified. "Metaphorically, of course. But I think it's a great thing, you two finally together. As a dad, I couldn't wish for a better man for Tempe."

Sighing, Booth crossed one ankle over his leg and stared at the older man. "Max, I have to tell you…I don't need your approval about this, never have. Is it nice to have? Sure, but only for Bones' sake. Me, I've got an entirely different perspective on the matter, and you don't come off very well in it."

Max nodded. "I know that, Booth."

"No, I don't think you actually do. I'm not sure you know about the woman I met seven years ago. She wasn't anything like the warm, giving woman she is now. That woman was always there, but it took a lot of trust-building on my part to even get her to stop glaring at me, forget anything else even remotely as personal as sharing her childhood." Max moved to speak and Booth stopped him with a raised hand. "Let me finish this, because once I'm done we'll never talk about it again. Temperance Brennan is the epitome of a self-made woman. Yes, you gave her the love of science, but the rest? That's all her. Every ounce of strength and honesty and determination…all Bones. You can't even comprehend what your leaving did to her emotionally. But I know, intimately. And Bones might have forgiven you, let you back into her life…hell, I encouraged her to make amends with you. But me? I'm a harder nut to crack. I haven't even decided if I will forgive you for what you did to her." He took in Max's pale face and softened a little. "Your daughter loves you. And I love your daughter. So as far as I'm concerned you're family. But know this…if you ever do anything to ever again cause her an ounce of pain, they will be finding pieces of you up and down the East Coast for the next fifty years. Believe me on that."

Max nodded mutely and stood, alternately impressed and cowed at the same time. "I know all of this, Booth. But you're right…I needed to hear it." He moved to the door, pausing for a moment. "Tell Tempe I'll call her."

Booth clapped Max on the shoulder, conveying everything else he left unsaid in that one gesture. "I'll make sure she knows you stopped by, Max. Have a good one."

Max headed down the hallway towards the elevator. Without turning, he said "Thanks, Booth."

"Always, Max. Always." Booth replied as he closed the door with a click.