Thanks for all of the encouraging reviews. This story is darker than most of my stories so I appreciate it that you're giving it a chance.

I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooo

Two bodies were found in an abandoned warehouse near the home of Ramon Ortez. They'd been gutted and left hanging by their wrists. The police had received a tip and had descended upon the warehouse at 3 in the morning. Their bodies had been taken to the city morgue and their families had been notified of their deaths. Ramon Ortez's inside man in the police precinct let his childhood friend know about the murders just in case the men belonged to him.

Ramon had been outraged that a murder like that had been committed in his neighborhood and he'd tried his best to find out what had happened. His efforts were no more fruitful than the police. All he'd been able to find out was that the two men killed had been the men he'd sent to kill Agent Seeley Booth. That they had failed was bad enough. That they had been murdered just three blocks from where Ramon's family home was, was intolerable.

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

The day after his surgery, Booth woke up to find Brennan, Cam and his grandfather sitting in his room waiting for him to wake up.

Groaning, Booth opened his eyes and then closed them again. Brennan, the first to leave her chair, leaned over Booth, "Booth are you awake?"

Peeping out of his half closed eyes, Booth groaned again, "What the hell happened? Where am I?"

Placing her hand on his arm, Brennan explained, "You were shot yesterday morning right outside the entrance to the park where you jog."

Puzzled, Booth opened his eyes all of the way, "I was shot?"

Nodding her head, Brennan asked, "Did you see who shot you?"

Shaking his head slowly, Booth murmured, "No. . . . no. . ."

Watching his face, Brennan realized that Booth had fallen back asleep. Turning to Cam, Brennan sighed, "If he doesn't know who shot him then we have no leads at all. That bullet the surgeon took out of his shoulder was badly mangled."

Nodding her head, Cam replied, "Maybe Booth will remember something we can use when he wakes back up."

Staring at Booth's still form, Brennan responded, "I hope so."

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oo

Two days later, three events occurred. Two of those events occurred within six hours of each other and were public knowledge. First Ramon Ortez was found dead and second Special Agent Seeley Booth was released from the hospital.

Ramon had been murdered and found with his throat cut in an alley two blocks from his home. The city police had been called to the crime scene and Ramon's body had been taken to the city morgue. There was no forensic evidence to point to the killer.

Seeley Booth was released to the care of his grandfather and would stay with him for six weeks while he recuperated.

The third event occurred within an hour of Ramon Ortez's death. Ramon's lieutenant, Jorge Sanchez had received a phone call from someone unknown to him. The man had told Jorge about Ramon's death and that if anyone from Mara Muerte ever contacted Agent Seeley Booth or Dr. Temperance Brennan for any reason Jorge would die along with his lieutenant and his brother Harry. There would be no second warning and even inadvertent contact could cause Jorge, his lieutenant, Lewis and his brother the loss of their lives. The new Jefe of Mara Muerte took the threat very seriously and warned his people to stay away from the partners. He didn't know why Ramon had cared about the FBI Agent and the doctor and he didn't care. Ramon had his secrets and Jorge had his.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Joseph was sitting in the Denny's eating lunch when Max dropped by. Looking up from his newspaper, Joseph stared at Max as Max sat down across from him.

Smiling, Max commented, "Relax. My guy at the coroner's office said that they couldn't find anything to use. I told you I knew what I was doing. Now just relax. Now we only have to worry about the big bads."

Shaking his head, Joseph replied, "Did anyone ever tell you that you're a crazy son-of-a-bitch?"

Laughing, Max looked at the menu and then motioned for the waitress to come take his order, "More than once."

After placing his order, Max watched the waitress leave. "So, I don't need any help right now. My guys and me are watching the kids to make sure that the big bads leave them alone. If I do need your help, I know where to find you."

Nodding his head slowly, Joseph remarked, "I called Dad and he said Seeley is doing really good. He'll be back to work in a couple of weeks or so. My boy should take more time off; but, he isn't like that. Dad says that Seeley is already pestering him to let him go home."

The waitress, placing Max's iced tea in front of him, smiled and walked away. Max admiring her lovely form smiled and then turned to Joseph, "Tempe's back at work. My guy says she works too many hours; but, there isn't anything I can do about it. My guy says that the only one that seems to be able to get her to go home at a decent hour is your son and he has to go to the Jeffersonian to get her. If he doesn't show up she stays 'til midnight or later."

Nodding his head, Joseph replied, "My boy is a very kind person. He always has been."

Curious, Max asked, "How come your son hates you? You said you haven't seen him since he was ten."

Shrugging his shoulders, Joseph stared at Max, "What the hell, why not? I used to drink too much. I still drink once in awhile; but, not like I used to. I told you I'm trying the twelve step program; but sometimes I fall off the wagon. When I drink I turn mean. When I drink too much I turn into a damned monster. I used to . . . uh . . . I did things that my boy has a right to hate me for. I can't make up for what I did and I don't ever expect my boy to forgive me. If it was me I wouldn't. . . . Well, anyway, I'm dying because my liver is failing. I did it to myself and no one else is to blame. The only thing I can do is watch my boy and maybe help you while I can to protect him; so, if you need my help you let me know. I made out my life insurance to Seeley so at least I have a small legacy for him when I die."

Puzzled, Max remarked, "You have two sons."

Nodding, Joseph replied, "I never laid a hand on Jared. Seeley made sure of that. Also, Jared looks like me and I just . . . I just never hit him. Seeley looks just like my father-in-law. God I hated that old man. I took that hate out on my boy when I was drunk. I'm not making excuses mind you. I'm just telling you how it was and how it is. I owe Seeley something and an insurance policy is all I have to give."

Shaking his head, Max responded, "Well, I haven't got anything to say to you about it. I abandoned my kids when they were teenagers. They hate me as much as Seeley hates you. We both screwed up. . . . Our fathers have sinned and are not and we have borne their iniquities, Lamentations 5:7."

Nodding his head, Joseph exclaimed, "Amen."

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o

What do you think of my story so far? Any good? More to come. This isn't the end.