I had a lot of requests for a sequel to the last chapter. How could I say no? I hope this is what you wanted.
A/n: Okay, I got carried away when I wrote this so it is a little longer than most of my chapters, but, I really didn't want to break the rhythm of the story.
I don't own Bones.
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Watching the road ahead, Booth heard his father-in-law plea his case once more, "Come on Booth. It was a country road. Until that cop car showed up that was the first car we'd seen for at least twenty minutes. . . . She was barely moving, I mean she was going twenty miles an hour for God's sake."
Keeping his eyes on the road, Booth refused to respond.
Feeling the animosity pouring off of his son-in-law, Max sighed, "How old were you when you first got behind a wheel? I was eleven years old. I bought a car with no doors or roof or even a cover over the motor. I paid twenty dollars for it and used it to deliver newspapers."
Glancing at his father-in-law, Booth remarked, "My old man didn't give me . . . never mind. I was fifteen and a half and Pops took me to the license branch and I got a temporary license." Turning his attention back towards the road, Booth fumed, "She's nine years old, Max. She could barely see above the dash. What you did was dangerous. Do you have any idea what would have happened if Christine had been hurt let alone killed? My God, Bones would have . . . and I'd have helped her."
Worried about her grandfather, Christine spoke from the back seat, "Please Daddy. I begged Grandpa Max to let me drive. He had his foot near the brake the whole time. That's why I only destroyed three mail boxes and not all six."
Wincing, Max turned to look at his granddaughter, "You aren't helping me baby girl. Just . . . Just let me handle this okay?"
Glaring at Max, Booth quickly looked back at the road, "There's nothing to handle. Once Bones hears about this you'll be lucky if she you lets her near our daughter again. You know her, Max. You know how Bones is. . . . I can't believe this."
Weeping in the back seat, Christine cried out, "Don't take Grandpa Max away from me, Daddy. I'll be good. I promise."
His chest feeling tight, Booth gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white, "Baby, it's not just up to me and you know it. We can't lie to your mother. I never lie to her. We'll have to see what your mother says." Glancing at the rear view mirror, he checked on his daughter. Her face a tearful mess, Booth sighed, "Come on Christine. No one wants to take your grandfather away from you. There just may be some changes in babysitting for a while. Let's just see what Mom says first, okay?"
Sniffing mightily, Christine wiped her arm across her eyes, "Mom is going to take my Grandpa Max from me." Weeping, Christine stared at the tips of her shoes.
His eyes feeling a little scratchy, Booth sighed, "Baby, I'll try to make sure that doesn't happen."
Hopeful, Christine asked, "Are you going to punish me or is Mommy?"
Grimly, Booth glanced at Max and then back at the road, "We both are. I've already decided that Max can't leave the house with you for the next six months. That's his punishment. As far as I'm concerned, he can visit you but it has to be at the house. Your punishment is pretty simple, no allowance for the next six months. When the Christmas Food Drive is being run, you'll have to give that money to the Food Bank."
Nodding her head, Christine frowned, "Okay. Do you think that will be enough for Mommy cause that's a lot okay?"
Snorting, Booth shook his head, "In your dreams, Honey."
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Sitting in the living room, Booth was reading Brennan's latest book, while Christine read "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." Max, quietly reading the newspaper, glanced at the door and frowned, "I hear a car in the driveway. I think Tempe's home." Standing, Max cleared his throat, "I'm going to go sit in the back yard for a while. Just let me know the verdict when it's over."
Standing, Booth placed the book on the couch and walked over to the front door, "Christine, stay here. I need to talk to your mother."
Closing her book, Christine sniffed, "Okay. Tell her about the punishment. Maybe that will be enough, okay?"
Turning to look at his daughter, Booth winked, "We'll see, Pumpkin. Maybe it will be." Leaving the house, Booth sat on the porch and waited for his wife.
Brennan, wary when she saw Booth, asked, "What are you doing home so soon? I didn't expect to see you and Christine for another hour."
Patting the step next to him, Booth moved over and waited for his wife to sit down next to him. Kissing her and then taking her hand in his, Booth cautioned her, "Okay, I need you to listen to me and not jump to any conclusions before I'm done."
Wary, Brennan stared intently at her husband, "What did you do?"
Insulted, Booth shook his head, "Hey, what makes you think this is about me? I told you not to jump to conclusions."
Embarrassed, Brennan frowned, "Sorry. You're right. I'll wait for your explanation."
Clearing his throat, Booth forced himself to smile, "Okay, first of all, Christine is fine. So . . ."
Feeling Brennan try to pull her hand from his and start to stand, Booth pulled her back down, "No . . . no, you need to listen to me. Now sit there and behave."
Anxious, Brennan stared at her hand locked in Booth's, "Then just tell me, Booth. What happened?"
Squeezing her hand, Booth frowned, "Okay, just relax, everyone is fine. Now, what happened was, Billy, Hodgins father-in-law came by because he bought a new car . . . well, not a new car, it's a classic 1966 Ford Galaxy 500 . . . anyway, Michael wanted Christine to see it and when they came over, Christine asked Max if they could go for a drive and he agreed. Any way. . . "
Feeling Brennan trying to yank her hand from his, Booth held on tightly, "Bones for God's sake, she's fine now let me explain so I can get this over with."
Grimly, Brennan exhaled deeply, "Booth, let my hand go right now."
Releasing her hand, Booth snaked his arm around her waist, "They went for a drive. They got out into the county and Christine asked if she could drive and they let her and the cops caught her driving and she killed three mail boxes before she got the car stopped and no one was hurt."
Stunned, Brennan stared at her husband, "Max let Christine drive Billy's car?"
Nodding his head, Booth answered, "Yes but no one was hurt. The Sheriff's deputy hauled them down to his station, Max called me, Michael called Hodgins and we went down there and got them. Hodgins took Michael home and I brought Max and Christine home. Max is in the back yard and Christine is in the living room crying because she thinks we're going to take her grandfather away from her. Bones, we can't take Max from Christine. She'll hate us for it. I told her that Max can't take her anywhere for the next six months but that you might want more so anyway . . . now you know. Like I said no one was hurt. In fact, even Billy's car didn't get a scratch on it. Those solid steel bumper made sure of that. Billy is paying for the mail boxes and he's going to do a concert for sick kids to pay for the mess he made. Max is supposed to help him. OH! And the Sheriff is not pressing charges against Christine so everything is okay."
Her anger bubbling to the surface, Brennan moved forward and stood up. Facing Booth, she advised him, "Everything is most definitely not fine." Folding her arms across her chest, Brennan stared at the front door, "Not going anywhere with Max for six months is not a real punishment, Booth. What else do you plan to do make her see that there are ramifications when she chooses unwisely? She's nine years old and not physically capable of driving a large car. She's a very intelligent child. She knows that."
Shrugging his shoulders, Booth responded, "I also took her allowance away from her for the next six months. The money is going to the Food Drive next Christmas."
Staring at her husband, Brennan finally responded, "That doesn't seem sufficient."
Standing, Booth stepped closer and placed his hands on her hips, "Come on, Bones. No one was hurt and well, she promised not to drive until she's sixteen. We'll hold her to it." Pulling her into his embrace, Booth smiled, "She learned her lesson, Bones. Really."
Aware that Booth was trying to charm her, Brennan decided to let him think he'd won. "Fine, but I do plan to talk to her. Please wait out here while I do so."
Pleased that she was calm, Booth smiled, "Sure, you go talk to her. I'm sure you have a lot to say to her. She needs a good talking to."
Kissing him, Brennan stepped out of his embrace, "I may have her do research on underage driving and the death rate amongst young drivers. I'll have to think about what kind of research would have the greatest impact on her."
Nodding his head, Boot followed her up the steps and sat down on the swing, "Sounds good, Bones, sounds real good."
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Entering the house, Brennan found Christine perched on the couch waiting for her. Staring intently at her mother, the child waited until her mother was closer then bolted from the couch and threw her arms around her waist. "I'm sorry, Mom. I won't do it again."
Hugging her child, Brennan finally released her, moved over to the couch and sat down. Holding her daughter's hand, Brennan sighed, "What you did was wrong, Christine. You have a very high IQ and I know you have a lot of sense for a child your age. Why would you ask your grandfather to let you drive knowing how dangerous it was and that it is illegal for a child to drive a car?"
Hesitant, Christine swung her left foot in a small arc, "Um, well, I thought it would be fun. We were on a really quiet road and I didn't go over twenty miles per hour until the cop . . . um, until the Sheriff's deputy turned on his lights. I kind of missed the brake and hit the gas but Grandpa Max hit the brake afterward so everything was fine." Using her charm smile, Christine informed her, "Billy is going to pay for the mail boxes so Daddy doesn't have to and Daddy is taking away my allowance for six months so boy . . . I'm really being punished."
Used to the way her daughter and husband attempted to influence her with the famous Booth charm, Brennan sighed, "I'd hardly call a lack of an allowance harsh punishment. You and I both know your father will buy you things if you ask him for them so you really don't need an allowance. As far as I'm concerned you really aren't being punished now are you?"
Nervous, Christine frowned, "Um, well um."
Hearing Booth moving around outside the front door, Brennan glanced at the doorway and then back at her daughter, "I really think he should have come up with a real punishment."
Worried, Christine cleared her throat, "Are you going to punish me?"
Hearing the doorknob turn, Brennan started to cry, "No, I think your father should."
Waving her hands, Christine leaned closer to her mother, "Oh no . . . please stop crying . . . oh now stop crying before Daddy comes in the house . . . oh please stop."
Placing her hands over her eyes, Brennan cried harder as the door opened.
Stepping into the living room, Booth heard his wife crying. Slamming the door shut, Booth hurried into the room and over to the couch, "What's going on? Christine did you make your mother cry?"
Petrified, Christine shook her head, "No, Dad, I swear I didn't do that." A little panicky, the child implored her mother, "Tell him I didn't make you cry, Mom. I didn't do that."
Furious, Booth pointed towards Christine's bedroom, "Go to your room. We do not make your mother cry and you know it."
Sighing, Christine's shoulders slumped, "I know." Walking over to her bedroom door, the child saw her father sit down next to her mother and pull her into his embrace. Sighing again, she entered her room and waited to hear what her new punishment was going to be.
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Stepping into the living room, Max became aware that his daughter was crying and that Booth was consoling her. Closing his eyes, Max shook his head, "I'll go home now."
Leaning away from Brennan, Booth turned to glare at his father-in-law, "I will not have Bones upset by your bullshit, Max. It might be a good idea if you stayed away for a month or so. Maybe then you'll get that I don't like my wife having to worry about what you're going to do next."
Nodding his head, Max walked over to the front door, "Got it. I'll see you next month." His hand on the doorknob, Max spoke quietly, "Tempe, I really am sorry. I won't do it again. I had a weak moment but I won't do something like that again. Okay?"
Tears sliding down her face, Brennan responded, "I need to be able to trust you, Max."
Opening the door, Max replied, "I know you do. I'm sorry. You'll see, I'll be more careful in the future."
Watching the door close, Booth turned to look at his wife, "Okay? Not being able to see Christine for a month seems good, right?"
Nodding her head, Brennan wiped the tears from her eyes, "Yes, that seems equitable." Turning to stare at the bedroom door, Brennan asked, "What about Christine? Her punishment seems to be too light."
Standing, Booth ran his hand through his hair, "Tell you what, she's grounded for a month, no allowance for six months and she has to do whatever research you want her to do and she can't have Michael over for a visit for a month. That seems to be pretty good."
Satisfied, Brennan smiled, "Yes, that will do."
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Sitting in her office the next day, Brennan watched Angela stride into the room and sit down on the chair across from her desk.
Annoyed, Angela asked, "Do you believe those children of ours? Michael Vincent tried to get me to agree to let his father punish him for his part in what happened. He tried to be all Mister innocent and really it was okay not to tell the police who he was because his grandfather was there and he should have done it. My son thinks he can just charm his way out of everything and I am so am not going to let him get away with it."
Amused, Brennan confided in her friend, "Oh, I know what you're talking about. At first Booth tried to downplay what happened and then he thought his weak attempt at punishment was going to appease me. When I didn't want to go along with it he used his charm smile on me. Worse, Christine tried to use Booth's charm on me when I objected to how light her punishment was. Booth is so worried that he's going to do something wrong when it comes to our daughter that I feel he's too lenient sometimes. He wants to make sure she knows the difference between right and wrong but he's so afraid that he might harm his own child so he forgives her too readily. That means that most of the time I'm the one that has to make sure that the punishment fits the crime. This time I decided that Booth had to be the one to punish her. If he was the one punishing her then it had more meaning as Christine would then understand just how wrong she was."
"Uh, oh" Curious, Angela asked, "What did you do?"
Smirking, Brennan confided in her friend, "I decided to use my secret weapon against both of them."
Shocked, Angela exclaimed, "No, you didn't."
Laughing, Brennan nodded her head, "Oh yes . . . My acting skills over the years has become quite good. I cried."
Shrieking with laughter, Angela hugged herself, "Oh Bren, you didn't."
Leaning forward on her desk, Brennan smiled, "I did and it worked. Booth was so angry that he actually punished Christine properly and I didn't have to insist. Also, Max is banished from the house for a month so I feel he has been properly chastised too."
Shaking her head, Angela beamed at her friend, "I remember when you realized that when it came to Booth, crying was your secret weapon. I was so proud of you Honey. I'm glad you use it wisely too. A power like that can lose it's effectiveness if you over use it. Believe me, I only use it when I really want Hodgins to do what I want him to do. He turns into a puddle of goo when I cry."
"Booth gets very protective." Staring at the picture of Booth on her desk, she smiled, "He loves me very much and he doesn't want me to be unhappy. I love him too so I'm careful not to misuse my power. I only use it when I absolutely need to."
Standing, Angela sighed, "I hope he never figures it out."
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Sipping his coffee, Booth watched Hodgins as he tasted his cup of coffee, "Bones cried so what could I do? . . . I think Christine will think twice before getting into trouble like that again. She was pretty stoic when I told her what her punishment was. I thought for sure she'd cry but she just took it on the chin and said she was sorry."
"Angela only cries when she really wants me to do something and I don't want to do it." Sipping his coffee, he added more sugar. "You do know that's their secret weapon against us right?"
Amused, Booth leaned back against his chair, "Ha, Bones has two secret weapons. She has this look she gives me that makes me feel like I'm beating her dog and then there's the crying. I really hate it when she does the crying thing. I know she's doing it to make me go along with what she wants me to do but I can't help it. I really hate to see her cry. Thank God she doesn't do it too often. Most of the time she's a real firebrand about things but sometimes I guess I let her down and that's her way of making me see it."
"Sucker."
Laughing, Booth shook his head, "You don't know what you're talking about. After the crying is done, Bones feels guilty for using it against me and she tries her damnedest to make me feel good." Getting a dreamy look on his face, Booth muttered, "God, she can be so . . . I sure hope she never figures out I know what she's doing because that would just be so sad . . . yeah."
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Reviews would be great, thank you.
A/N: maybe a little OOC.
