(The Verdict in the story)

Thanks for the terrific reviews.

I don't own Bones.

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Sitting in the gallery, Joseph sat near the back wall, as far from his son as he could. He had dressed in a simple black suit with a light blue shirt and leather black shoes. He'd trimmed his hair and facial hair and almost seemed like another person. He was hoping that he could attend the trial without his son noticing. He came in to the courtroom just before the trial started and left as soon as the judge called it a day. So far, he'd managed to stay out of sight of Seeley Booth and Joseph prayed it would stay that way.

The trial had been long and full of expert witnesses testifying how Max was the only one that could have murdered Deputy Director Robert Kirby. He'd felt bad that Max was the only one on trial for Kirby's murder; but, Max had been adamant that he didn't need any fellow conspirators. In fact an accomplice would make him look even guiltier; so, Joseph was merely a spectator in the trial and not a contestant.

The evidence seemed overwhelming and Joseph was sure that Max was going to end up on death row. Joseph had observed how calm Max was during most of the trial and wondered how a man facing the death penalty could be so calm. Max's lawyer, David Barron was really good and Joseph realized that if there was even a slim chance Max would be exonerated then Mr. Barron was his best chance.

Watching his son during the trial, he noticed how close he was to Temperance. Even though he wasn't supposed to be talking to her, he did so anyway. He brought her coffee and they whispered to each other in the courtroom. Well, they whispered to each other until the judge lost his temper and separated them. Joseph thought they were cute together and felt bad that they were being forced to sit apart.

Joseph had been shocked when their anthropologist on Max's side determined that the murder weapon to kill Kirby wasn't the murder weapon. Mr. Barron had tried to get the charges dismissed; but, the prosecutor had protested. They had given his son time to look for the weapon.

Joseph Booth had been so surprised that Seeley had found the murder weapon. In just a few hours he had found it in Temperance's apartment and the trial was back on. Joseph had been proud that his son was so good at his job and yet so sad that it looked like it might mean the death of his friend, Max.

The trial had taken a bizarre twist when Max's daughter had made it seem like she might have killed Kirby. Joseph was flabbergasted and afraid. He didn't want his son's partner to go down for a murder she didn't commit. He vowed to himself that if somehow she ended up on trial for the murder of Deputy Director Kirby, he'd step forward and claim that he had murdered the man. He was dying anyway and he knew he would be dead before he was executed. There was no way he would allow anyone take his son's friend from him. Since Max couldn't be tried again for this murder due to double jeopardy, he knew he could get Max to help him get Temperance off.

Soon the trial was sent to the jury and Joseph found it harder to stay out of sight of his son. He made sure he kept a book in his hand and made sure it covered his face whenever his son looked his way. After what seemed like a very short wait, the jury came back with a verdict. Joseph had noticed that Temperance wasn't in the courtroom and soon Seeley was left too. Joseph was sure that he had gone to look for his partner and friend. He had wanted to follow his son and make sure that everything was okay; but, he stayed to see if Max would be convicted or not.

Holding his breath, he heard the jury hand down their verdict and he was so happy to find out that the only friend he had in this world would walk out of the courtroom a free man. Watching Max leave the room, Joseph threw him a thumbs up sign and Max delighted that Joseph was there, smiled and returned the gesture. Following Max and his son out of the room, Joseph hung back and watched Max walk down the courthouse steps and hug his daughter. Sadly, he watched his son standing to the side observing the father-daughter reunion. Sad that he would never get that for himself, Joseph swallowed and left the courthouse.

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Eating dinner at the Ihop, Joseph slowly ate his pot roast sandwich. Staring at the table in front of him, he thought about his past and how much he wished there was such a thing as magic and that he could magically change the past.

Feeling a hand pat his shoulder, Joseph looked up to see Max smiling at him, "Hey, Joseph, how's it going?"

Grinning, Joseph stood up and hugged Max, "God I was so scared I'd never get to see you again Max. I thought for sure you would be convicted."

Laughing, Max sat down and picked up a french fry from Joseph's plate, "Yeah, me too. That was some trial, I can tell you."

Nodding his head, Joseph frowned, "Yeah, I know I was there every day. I still don't know how you weren't convicted."

Shrugging his shoulders, Max responded, "Pure ass luck having a genius for a daughter, Joe. That's what it took." Stealing another French fry, Max grew somber, "My guys still haven't found the Gravedigger or his partner and that cannibal is still out of our reach too."

Nodding his head, Joseph replied, "Yeah, I know. Boyd's been good about keeping me up-to-date. . . . So what are you going to do now that you're free to come and go? Are you going to move back to the west coast?"

Shaking his head, Max replied, "Nah, I sold the house out there. I'm going to get an apartment here in D.C. and find a job here. We still need to find those two characters that went after our kids and since I'm not a wanted man anymore, it will be nice to be able to live near Temperance. I can go down to North Carolina to visit Russ when the urge strikes me."

Smiling, Joseph responded, "Great, maybe I'll see you around sometime. Maybe you'll let me help you sometimes."

Reaching over and patting Joseph's hand, Max smiled, "Of course, I'll see you. You're a friend of mine and I don't turn my back on my friends. Tell you what you want to help me that's great. I might come up with some special projects and you can help with those."

Stealing another French fry, Max smiled, "I think I better order my own fries before I eat all of yours."

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