CHAPTER 28: Wilkins

AN: We're nearing the end here, so pay attention as I unravel this mess. Probably only two or three chapters and an Epilogue. Please Review!!!


"What the hell is going on Booth?" Cullen demanded.

Fighting the urge to shrug, Booth kept his face passive. "Dr. Stires talked." He said softly. "But your not going to like it."

The older man groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I don't want to know." After a few moments of cursing under his breath, he raised his head. "Well, talk already."

Booth frowned. "But you said you don't want to know."

"I don't want to know. But unfortunately– ignorance is not a part of my job description."

"Just remember, you asked for it."

Booth started from the beginning, explaining about Parker and his dream about Guzman. Then he went on to tell him about Temperance and her stay in Cuba.

When he finally got the part where Harold Wilkins was the one who allegedly put the hit on Temperance, Cullen's mouth fell open.

"Do you believe him?"

Booth met Cullen's gaze head on. "Yes sir, I do."

"Why in God's name would the Secretary of Defense want Dr. Brennan dead? It makes no sense!" He exploded.

"I have my theories."

Waving at Booth to sit, he said, "Well then, let's have them."

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Sitting in the corner, watching her father and Parker building a "castle" out of lego's, Temperance sulked. She hated being left behind on official business. Besides, this was her case. Remembering Booth's parting words, she fumed.

"Max, will you stay with them while I'm gone? I'd feel a lot safer."

As if she couldn't take care of herself. Hadn't she proven that time and time again over the past couple of weeks?

She understood his fear for her– because she felt it tightening around his chest– but he should understand that she does not need a man to protect her.

"Honey, come over here and stop sulking. Booth will be back soon. And I'm sure you didn't miss anything."

Unable to resist the urge, Temperance stuck her tongue out at her father and crossed her arms over her chest. She would stop sulking when she was good and ready.

So there.

Giving her a disapproving glare, he went back to explaining to Parker why the castle needed a moat.

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"What I don't understand is why Wilkins would be involved with the Guerilla's, or why he's trying to have her killed for something that happened almost ten years ago."

Booth shrugged. "I didn't say there weren't any holes in my theory."

"This is a very complicated situation Booth. I can't very well go to a judge and say that Dr. Brennan's spidey sense was tingling, We are going to need a lot more than one man's confession to go after Wilkins."

"I know. I'll do some digging around in his routine. See if I can't stir something up."

Cullen nodded. "Be discreet."

"I will sir."

"Any word yet on Dr. Hodgins'?"

"Yeah, Bones talked to Angela earlier. Twenty stitches, and an egg the size of a baseball, but he's awake and lucid. The hospital is going to keep him over night for observation, but they said if there is no complications, he's free to leave in the morning."

"Good, good."

"Is there anything else, sir?" Booth asked, anxious to return home.

"Nope, that's it. Just remember, be discreet."

With another brief nod, Booth rose to leave.

Cullen stopped him just as he reached for the door. "Hey, Booth?"

"Yeah?"

"How exactly did you come by detaining Dr. Stires?"

Damn. He was so close.

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An hour had passed, and Temperance had gone from sulking in the corner, to pacing the length of the living room. Damn, she hated waiting. When Booth returned, she was going to tell him exactly how she felt about his overbearing, egotistical, alpha-male–

Hearing the door open, Temperance ran into the kitchen cut Booth off and give him a piece of her mind. Yet, as she saw him, looking as grim as he had when he left, her anger faltered. Temperance could feel the weight of the stress he carried around, and she was in his arms before he even managed to close the door..

"What happened? Did you get in trouble?"

Booth smiled, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "No. When I began to tell him about your father, he cut me off, and said he didn't want to know." Really didn't want to know. Booth couldn't help but smile. He had never seen his boss so flustered as he had these past weeks. He made a mental note to buy him an expensive bottle of whiskey when this mess was resolved.

What's so funny?

He met Temperance's searching gaze. Cullen. I was just thinking that I needed to buy him a good bottle of whiskey when this case is closed. He deserves it.

"Daddy!" Parker ran through the kitchen door, and threw himself into his father's arms. "Daddy, come see what Grandpa helped me build!"

Smiling at his son's excitement, he carried him into the living room. Booth couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up at the sight of Max sitting on the floor in a sea of lego's.

"See the castle Daddy? Isn't it cool?"

"Very cool." He answered. Although the construction didn't resemble a castle in the least bit. "What's that blue track you made around it?"

Parker shook his head as if his father a simpleton. "That's the moat, Daddy. Grandpa says that every castle needs a moat."

Booth opened his mouth to comment, when there was a knock at the door.

"That must be Evelyn and Willis." Temperance said. She had called the woman shortly after Booth left with Michael.

I asked them if they wouldn't mind watching Parker for a little bit. She told Booth. I hope you that's okay, but I can't shake the feeling that things are going to get ugly. This is coming to an end Booth, one way or the other.

He didn't like the sound of that. You're probably right. After what happened with Michael, I think Parker would be safer elsewhere, until this is over.

"I'll get it." Max said, frowning at their silent exchange.

A few moments later, Max reentered the room, followed by Agent Willis and Evelyn.

"Hey, man." Willis said, clapping Booth on the shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

Booth shook his head. "As well as can be expected."

"Uncle Mikey!" Parker cried happily.

Willis bent down and scooped the boy up, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Long time no see, Monkey."

Parker giggled. "I'm not a monkey, I'm a boy."

"Really? 'Cause you look like a monkey to me." He answered, tickling the child unmercifully.

Temperance watched the exchange with a smile on her face, knowing in that moment, that she made the right decision in calling them. She was hesitant at first, because of the threat against Evelyn, but the woman assured her that it had been resolved. The case was closed, the bad guys behind bars. As it should be.

Now she could only hope that she was so lucky.

Looking toward Evelyn, she frowned. The ethereal woman was watching her father with a strange expression on her face. Temperance wondered what it was she saw. She herself had got no read on Max. She didn't know if it was because he was her father, or because he was too thickheaded. She was betting on the latter.

Evelyn?

Violet eyes focused on her. You father has much pain in him. She said, as if reading her mind. He is a good man though, Temperance. A good man who has done bad things.

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"So we do nothing?" Temperance asked incredulously.

"I didn't say that, we just have to be discreet."

"Honey, Booth is right. Wilkins is the Secretary of Defense, you can't just barge in there and start making accusations."

"Your right Dad." She sneered, "Let's just go light him on fire, hmm?"

"Easy, Bones." Booth warned.

Looking from one man to the other, she felt as temper rise. What right did they have to gang up on her? And when did they become allies any way. It wasn't to long ago that Booth was trying to arrest him.

We are not ganging up on you.

"It sure as hell feels that way to me."

In her ire, she had forgotten that she was speaking out loud, until Max's eyes grew wide.

"You are talking."

Temperance groaned. "I don't know what you mean, Dad."

"Don't try to deny it honey, I'm not blind you know." He paused, "Besides, your mother used to do the same thing."

It was Temperance's turn to look shocked. "What?"

"She was a very special woman, your mom. Sometimes she had dreams that came true, but mostly it was just the telepathy."

"Oh my God." She whispered. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Max sighed. "And say what exactly. 'Hey kids, your mommy can read minds?'"

"When you put it that way..." She shook her head. "Wait– stop trying to distract me. I'm still angry. We'll talk about Mom later, right now I want to know what the hell we are going to do. I can't just sit around and wait for the next attack to come."

"Well what do you suggest?" Booth asked.

"I want to talk to him."

"No way!" "Out of the question!" Both men yelled in unison.

A low growl emitted from her throat. "God damn alpha-males and their– their– Arghh!" Throwing her hands up, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the room.

Max watched his daughter stomp off, and turned to Booth. "You should go talk to her."

"Maybe you should do it." He replied. Booth was man enough to admit, at least in his own head, that an angry Temperance terrified him.

At the moment, Max was thinking the same thing. Even as a little girl, her wrath was something to be feared. "You're her boyfriend."

"You're her father."

They looked at each other. "Rock, paper, scissors?"

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Booth walked into his bedroom hesitantly, his eyes immediately drawn to the figure laying in his bed. "Hey, Bones."

She didn't reply.

"You still mad?"

Silence.

"Come on Bones, we're just worried about you."

Temperance met his eyes and scowled. "Worried? I've been through more near death experiences in two weeks than most people do in there whole life. I think I can handle a little confrontation with that weasel. Besides, I know him remember? He's a damn coward."

Booth closed the distance between them, and sat at the edge of the bed. "We need evidence to accuse him. You know that."

"I can wear a wire. Please Booth, let me do this."

"I don't want you to go in there alone."

"He's not going to kill me in a government building, Booth."

Still not convinced, he said, "I don't know."

"Talk to Cullen. He'll go for it. If I go in there alone, I will get him to admit to it. You can stay right outside in a surveillance van." She took his hand. Please, I need this to be over.

With a sigh of defeat, Booth grabbed her face and pressed his lips against hers.

I still don't like it.