Okay, the last part of The Aftermath. I do have a few more chapters coming with a conclusion I hope rocks your world. I went through a dozen of them but went back to the first one I had visioned. I think it will go over very well.

This part is Pelant-less but I don't think anyone will mind too much.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones but want to rent DB. My birthday in April would be the ultimate.

Booth's lasts few hours were swept in a wave of children, a father-in-law he had to watch out for to ensure he didn't go off half cocked on Pelant, Pelant casework, and finally….dinner at home with two pizzas with the works and one with pepperonis and veggies for Emma. He knew she enjoyed rabbit food like her aunt, but was grateful she did enjoy some meat.

Sometimes he would watch Emma and see how much she was like Bones. They weren't related by blood, but she had similar nature to her. Both enjoyed healthy food. Both had memories like an elephant and razor attention to detail. Each enjoyed quiet time with a book, and both got a similar look in their eyes when they saw remains, Emma's from shadowing her Aunt Tempe at the Jeffersonian.

He had no doubt that someday there would be another forensic anthropologist in the family to keep up the tradition when the time came where he and Bones would not be there. He dared to hope there would be another FBI agent who could help Emma continue the work he and Bones started almost nine years earlier.

After dinner and cleaning up, the kids mellowed down. Emma went into Bones' office to read another one of her aunt's journals before going to bed. Parker joined Booth as he took Christine upstairs as she slept on his shoulder. As Parker went into his room to get ready for bed, Booth got his youngest prepared for bed.

After her story and she fell asleep, Booth couldn't leave just yet. He could only sit next to the bedside to watch the little girl sleeping, the best example currently of the love between him and Dr. Temperance Brennan. If he calculated right, by Valentine's Day next year he would another baby to demonstrate that love, but Christine would always be his princess.

He continued to watch her in awe. She may be two years old, but her looks and personality were already coming through. Her eyes and her complexion were all Bones. Her beauty….all Bones. Her hair was going to be dark like his, as he noted her blonde hair already getting darker. Personality wise, she was all Booth.

He mentally shuddered as he knew what his life would be like over a decade from now, with nights waiting up, sometimes with his service pistol if he didn't like her date. He would teach her the basics….how to enjoy meat without grossing out her mother too much, how to play and enjoy sports, especially hockey, how to shoot a gun when a boy she went out with tried to get funny with her. 'I remember what teenage boys were like. She's not dating one like me…..heeellll no'

All that had happened lately with Pelant only reinforced his desire to give all his children what he didn't have for the first dozen years of his life. Comfort…security….acceptance…love.

Booth gave his daughter a kiss and was coming out of Christine's room when he saw Parker looking into the damaged master suite. "Parker, come on, it's time for bed"

Parker reluctantly tore himself away from the view and went into his bedroom followed by Booth, who closed the door. Booth saw his son's emotions swirling and came around to hug him.

"Dad, I'm thirteen years old"

"Tough. You're never too old for a hug from your old man. Why don't you tell me what's on your mind?"

The Booth men sat on the bed. "Dad, what if Bones died instead of Sweets' girlfriend?"

Booth sat in silence, knowing he had to form his answer carefully, but decided the truth was in order. "I don't know, son. But I would have to make myself go on, for you and Christine. It's not the best answer but it's the most honest one I can think of"

"Why did he kill Mom, Dad?" Parker had tears in his eyes. "Why did he try to hurt Bones?"

Booth inhaled and then exhaled as he gathered his thoughts. His oldest child…..who for years he thought would be his only one. He had Rebecca's blonde hair, but he had the Booth eyes and looked just like him. Parker was very much like his father personality wise, but he had a squint streak in him that had been nurtured over the years by Bones, Max, and Hodgins. Parker's favorite place was Hodgins' Ookey Room. 'Yep, this one will be a squint….not just any squint….but a bug boy squint'. He didn't care what Parker did as long as he was happy and fulfilled. When he looked at his son, he saw Parker was waiting for a response to his question, so Booth moved to think quickly for a good answer, but then decided there was no 'good' answer, just the only one he knew.

"He's sick, son. Not like someone who's mentally ill, but sick in the head in another way. He can't see past himself. All he sees when he sees us are people who are keeping him away from his goal, whatever it is. I promise, you, though. He's not going to come near you, Christine, Emma, or Michael Vincent. He'll go through all of us first"

Parker hugged his dad again. "Thanks, Dad. I'm going to try to go to bed now"

"Okay, Max will be with you all tomorrow while I am at Agent Sparling's service in Maryland. Bones is probably coming home tomorrow night, too"

"Really?!"

"Yeah, really"

"Cool" After giving his dad another hug, Parker got into bed. Booth turned out the light and closed the door. He went to go to the guest room but the master suite took his attention. Unable to tear himself away, he walked inside.

The structural damage was confined to the one wall and the ceiling. The dresser was gone, taken as evidence. Their clothes were in their closets for the time being.

The bed was burned on the side closest to the alarm clock…..his side. 'Better go shopping for a new bed tomorrow after the service. Bones will be on bed rest, but she can do online research to keep her from going cuckoo'

He looked on the floor and saw a picture frame broken and black that he missed while getting clothes earlier in the week.

It was a picture of their family, taken when Parker was visiting soon after Christine was born. It was a personal favorite of his as Christine was smiling. He kept the same copy of the picture on his desk. Tears began to fall as he realized that this was the spot he almost lost his wife…his soul mate….his best friend.

He let them fall for a minute, but then wiped them away as he came back to reality. 'Bones didn't die….she's in the hospital…..she's having their second child…..a miracle she didn't miscarry. She and I are going to get that bastard'

Booth put the picture remains on what remained of the bed before quietly walking out of the room and went downstairs to the living room. After sitting for a minute, he went to the kitchen and poured himself two fingers of Glenlivet. He was walking back to the couch when the doorbell rang. When he opened the door, Sweets was standing out there with a duffel bag.

"Is the offer to stay still open?"

Booth smiled. "Come on in, Sweets"

When the men came into the living room and sat down, Emma emerged from Brennan's office. "Emma, what are you doing up?" Booth asked

"I couldn't sleep Uncle Booth" She turned to the other man. "Hi Sweets"

"Hi Emma"

"Uncle Booth, can I stay out here with you for a while?"

"Sure"

As Emma sat on the chair, footsteps were heard. Sweets and Booth turned to see Parker coming down the stairs holding Christine. "Christine woke up and I can't sleep. Can we stay here with you?" He turned to the other man. "Hey, Sweets"

Booth laughed. "Sure the more the merrier. I have a hard time sleeping without Bones"


Two hours later the Brennan-Booth living room was in silence. Emma was passed out in Booth's recliner. Parker and Christine were sleeping on the floor and Sweets was sleeping on one side of the couch, half sitting up.

Booth was sitting wide awake. He tried to sneak away to the guest room again to sleep but it didn't work. He couldn't sleep out here either and he knew why. Realizing he needed to remedy the situation, he turned and woke up Sweets.

"Who's there? I have a gun"

"Sweets, it's me. I'm heading to the hospital to get some sleep. I can't sleep without Bones. Do you mind staying out here with the kids?"

"Nope" Sweets muttered. "Got my gun" he slurred in his speech.

Realizing that his gun may be loaded, Booth perked up. "Where is it? I have kids here, dumbass"

"Fuck you, Booth. It's on the top shelf over there and the safety is on" He slurred as he fell back asleep.

Booth got up and grabbed his keys from the bowl by the door. Right as he was going to open the door, he turned around and headed back to the living room and thumped Sweets upside the head, waking him up.

"Ow, what was that for?"

"You're on my couch, Sweets. The only one who gets to tell me to fuck off is my wife. I'm taking your car because you're blocking me. Now go to sleep"

When Sweets snuggled back on the couch with one of Christine's blankets, Booth walked out the door to his Sequoia. He checked his bag on the back seat to make sure he had the essentials to get ready for tomorrow. His suit that he kept in the car in case he wouldn't make it home to get ready for the funeral was hanging on the hook on the driver's side. After transferring everything to Sweets' car, he got in, started the motor, and left.


Brennan lay in bed, wide awake. She used to be able to sleep alone with no issues. For many years she preferred it. Now, she got used to Booth lying next to her, spooning her. She felt safe and relaxed. Without that security, she couldn't turn her brain off as she thought about the baby.

'Where are going to put the new baby? The guest room?'

'Do I want a boy or a girl?'

'How much time will I require off before I can go back to work on the Pelant case?'

'What if I miscarry this baby?'

The last thought stopped her cold. She purposely tried not to think about it as for all intents and purposes she should have lost the baby. If it wasn't for the fact that she was holding the pillow to her body when she landed with Agent Perotta into the dresser, she wouldn't be pregnant anymore. 'Pelant almost killed my progeny'

She closed her eyes in an attempt to fall asleep and was about to give up when she heard her door open. Looking in that direction, she saw the figure she knew as well as her own come over and kiss her.

"Booth? What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep without you, Bones"

"Who's with the children?"

"Sweets. He came over a while ago. Right now there's a slumber party going on in our living room. Give me five minutes. I'm putting my PJs on quick"

Brennan watched her husband go into the bathroom and smiled. A few minutes later, he came out wearing a Philadelphia Flyers shirt and sweat pants. He snuggled in the hospital bed with her. Both fell asleep within minutes.