A Few Weeks Later

Max picked up the phone and then set it back down. He looked at it for a moment, reached for it, then withdrew his hand. He'd done this a lot ever since he found Booth a few weeks earlier. A part of him wanted to call and tell her, but another part of him said it was a very bad idea. Max was very worried that Brennan would hate him for keeping this from her, but he thought this would be better face to face. He wasn't supposed to have contact with her anyway. The number was for emergencies only, and he didn't think this was exactly an emergency per say. It was just one hell of a bomb shell she was going to barely survive from when she got back.

Brennan

Parker was over playing with the twins again. Brennan was worried about Rebecca because she had withdrawn since losing her baby and refused to go anywhere or talk to anyone. Even Brent was at a loss for what to do. Angela had given up trying to talk to her, but she still felt bad. Lindsay was walking everywhere now that she knew how. Liam had attempted standing a couple of times, but he refused to walk. Brennan was trying to overthink the reasons why. Every baby had their own timing, she knew.

"I think Mom is mad at me," Parker said suddenly.

"Why's that?" Brennan asked, sitting down beside him on the floor. Lindsay immediately started swatting at her arm, trying to grab hold.

"She won't talk to me. I said I was sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"It's my fault the baby died."

"No, Parker, it's not. The baby had a heart defect. It had nothing to do with you."

"But I spent so much time not wanting to have a sister that I think she died because she knew I didn't want her," Parker said miserably.

"Oh, Parker," Brennan said, pulling him into a tight hug in her lap. He started to cry then. Lindsay patted his back as though she knew he needed comforting. Liam was on his back hanging onto his feet and smiling.

"I m-miss Dad," Parker sniffled. Brennan tried not to show too much emotion at this. Just thinking about Booth would get her into such an emotional wreck.

"I miss him too," she ended up saying. A part of her felt angry that he had died. How could he have just left them all like this?

Booth

"This is it," Booth said to Max. "I've got him."

"I'll cover you," Max nodded. They crept into the old cabin, and Booth felt his skin tingle. He knew he was being watched. It had taken a while for them to find this place, but it turned out Broadsky had used Booth's name to buy the property. That really pissed Booth off.

"Seeley Booth," a voice boomed out. Booth froze. He heard Max tuck down into a corner.

"Come on out, Jake," Booth ordered. "This ends now."

"How come I'm the bad guy when you're the one murdering innocent people?" Broadsky asked calmly. He still wasn't showing himself, and Booth couldn't see him.

"I didn't kill anyone," Booth said fiercely. "I was set up."

"I hate to say it, but the evidence is damning," Broadsky said. Booth didn't see Max leave the building. He was too busy focusing on not losing his shit at the lies Broadsky was saying.

"My death was faked, and I was used as a personal hitman by the CIA," Booth started. "When I tried to leave, they murdered that poor woman in front of me. They're pinning it on me. I didn't do it."

"But you killed all those others..."

"I'm getting my memory back slowly. I thought I was working for a good cause."

"Well, so am I."

"Come out and fight me, Jake. Like a real man," Booth taunted. He wanted to kill him.

"I can't help that you walked into my-" Broadsky stopped short. There were muffled sounds and banging followed by a yelp, then silence. Booth frowned, wondering what was going on.

"Hey, Booth," Max's voice came. "Get out here."

Confused, Booth went back outside and saw Max waving from across the way. He walked over and discovered Broadsky dead on the floor beside Max with a knife sticking out of his neck.

"What the hell?" Booth asked.

"He was hiding over here and watching you," Max pointed to the monitor. "He was gonna blow the place up with us in it."

"How did you...?"

"I haven't lost my touch, sonny," Max said, cracking his knuckles. "All right. Let's get out of here."

"What are we going to do with him?"

"Leave him. The animals will take care of it," Max shrugged. Booth stared at this man standing in front of him.

"I wanted to do it," Booth said, feeling annoyed.

"I'd rather him just be dead. I don't care who did it," Max said. "Now, I have to tell the FBI that my daughter can come home."

"How are you gonna do that without telling them you killed him?" Booth asked.

"Oh, I have my ways," Max grinned.

Brennan

She awoke that evening feeling as though something was wrong. The house was silent except for Hodgins's snoring and the squeak of a floorboard.

Wait a minute.

Brennan got up quickly and grabbed her flashlight, holding it in front of her as a weapon as she walked to where the noise was coming from. She saw the babies' room door ajar and went to look. Nothing was disturbed except only one twin was in their crib. Brennan felt her blood run cold. She hurried out into the hall and towards the door. She saw it shut quietly just as she got there. Yanking it open, she jumped outside ready to fight. A figure was running down the walk with her baby, and Brennan wouldn't have it.

"Stop!" she shouted, chasing them. Lindsay was bawling by now, the jogging motion having disturbed her sleep. Brennan ran harder and faster than she ever had before. When she reached the kidnapper, she grabbed their shoulder.

"Rebecca," she gasped, seeing her face.

"Hello," Rebecca said.

"What are you doing with my baby?" Brennan demanded. Lindsay was struggling to get to Brennan. Rebecca held on firmly.

"She's my baby," Rebecca whispered. "My baby girl." Brennan looked at Rebecca closely then, and she noticed that the woman was out of her mind.

"Rebecca, hand me the baby," Brennan instructed. "You're in no shape to hold her."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not. You are high. Please hand me the baby. You want her to be safe, right?"

"Yes," Rebecca nodded.

"Then give her to me."

Rebecca looked down at Lindsay and back at Brennan. She started to cry as she handed Lindsay over to Brennan.

"I'm sorry," she wept, turning and running away.

"Rebecca!" Brennan shouted after her. She was worried for the woman's safety now.

"What's going on?" Brent asked, coming up behind her and startling her. "I heard a commotion."

"Your wife has run off. I believe she is high on something. She tried to take Lindsay."

"Shit. I'm sorry," Brent said, taking off after Rebecca. Brennan hoped he would get her help. She obviously needed it. She took Lindsay back inside and got her settled once more before putting her back into her crib. Brennan went back to her own bed, but she had a very hard time sleeping after that.

A Couple of Days Later

Hodgins was examining some sort of bug while Angela sketched. The twins were playing on the floor with Parker. Brennan was feeling exhausted when the phone rang.

"Dr. Brennan?" Cam's voice said.

"Cam?!"

Both Angela and Hodgins's heads snapped up at this. They stared at her.

"Yes! We just got the news. You're allowed to come home. They let me call you and tell you," Cam finished.

"Oh, that's wonderful news. So, they got him?"

"Yes. He was found dead in a field."

"Did you find out who did it?"

"No. Only wound was a knife blade to the neck. No traces, no DNA, no evidence. Whoever killed him was very good."

Brennan had a sinking feeling she knew who had done it, but she let it go. If there was no evidence or proof, then there was no way to know if her father had killed Broadsky.

"We'll be on the next flight home," Brennan said, hanging up. Angela jumped up, squealing.

"Thank God," Hodgins said. "I was getting sick of this place."

"Me too," Brennan grinned. She went into the living room and picked up Liam, spinning him around. "We're going home!"

Booth

Max was pacing. Booth was sitting at his kitchen table, and he still hadn't told him about Brennan or the babies. The guy was getting his memory back, and he asked some questions about his job and stuff still. Max knew it was time to bring him out, but he didn't want Brennan to know until she was back.

"Okay listen up," Max said, making his decision. Booth looked at him, curious.

"What?"

"My daughter, Temperance Brennan, is a very good friend of yours," Max said. He pulled out a photo and set it on the table. Booth stared at it for a moment, shock showing on his face.

"Those eyes," he said, touching them. "I know those eyes."

"You better. She thinks your dead, Booth. She is going to freak out when she sees you."

"She'll understand, though, right?" Booth asked anxiously. "I had no idea they had lied to everyone."

"I bloody hope so. She was really pissed the last time you faked your death."

"I didn't fake this, though."

"I know, but she won't see it that way at first. She'll think you did it to her again. She will also be mad at me for keeping you a secret this long."

"We had to kill Broadsky..."

"I know. She's a logical woman. She'll eventually come around. I'm just warning you it might be rough going at first."

"Okay. Thanks."

Max didn't mention the babies. Why overwhelm him? He'd find out soon enough.

The Next Day-Brennan

They got off the flight and were anxious to get home. Angela had Lindsay while Brennan had Liam, and they walked to the gate with Hodgins trailing with all their luggage. Parker had come with them as Brent had taken Rebecca to the hospital after her mental breakdown. She was being held and assessed for a few more days. Parker would stay with them until they returned, but Brennan had a feeling he'd be with them for a while.

"Ah, home sweet home," Hodgins said, grinning.

"I just know Cam is never going to let us leave again," Angela laughed. Brennan spotted Max waiting for them, and she waved. He went over to them and hugged her tightly.

"Ah, Tempe," he said. "I'm so glad you're all right."

"Did you kill him?" Brennan asked immediately. Max coughed in surprise.

"No, dear. I didn't," he lied. She narrowed her eyes, but she let it go. Lindsay was reaching for him, so she gave her to him.

"Hello baby girl," Max cooed, walking away with her. Brennan followed and loaded up his car while he and Angela got the twins all buckled in. Hodgins had a cab waiting for him and Angela.

"I'll see you later, sweetie," Angela said, hugging her. "I love you, but I really want some Hodgins time."

"Okay," Brennan laughed. She had done her best to give them privacy, but she knew they would be thrilled to have their own space again. Max drove her home and helped her unload. She noticed he was a little jittery.

"Are you all right?" she asked him.

"Me? Oh yes. Just fine."

"I'm going to sleep for a bit," Parker said, heading for the guest room.

"Okay," Brennan said, watching him go. She felt bad for him. The guilt was still eating at him.

"I have something to tell you," Max said suddenly.

"I know you killed him," she responded.

"Not that," Max dismissed. "Something else."

"So you did? Earlier you said you didn't."

"Stop twisting the words I haven't even said," Max ordered. "I'm trying to tell you something here."

"Okay. What?"

He swallowed hard then. He had decided it would be better to tell her without Booth to get her anger out and over with before she saw him. She crossed her arms, annoyed now.

"Dad, spit it out."

"You can't be mad."

"I can't guarantee that."

"It's not his fault."

"Who's fault?" Brennan asked, giving him a narrow gaze.

"Tempe, this will come to you as a huge shock."

"Dad! Just tell me," Brennan said angrily. His nervousness and weirdness was freaking her out.

"All right," he nodded. "Honey, Booth's alive."

How on Earth will Brennan respond? You'll have to stay tuned! :D