CHAPTER 29: Proposition

AN: Okay– I suck, but in my defense, I've had a lot shit going on lately and really haven't had time to wipe my own ass– never mind writing. But things have tapered down, so I can finally finish my story. Thank you for all the glowing reviews, and I am terribly sorry to leave you all hanging like that for so long. But I promise that I will finish this story.

Slayer


"Absolutely not!"

Temperance felt her eyes widen at her Father's audacity. "This really isn't your decision."

Max shot a pleading look in Booth's direction. "You're allowing this?" The minute the words were out of his mouth he winced. "Honey, I didn't mean–"

"Allow?" She cut in. "You think I need Booth's permission?" Her voice rose with each syllable.

Bones, I don't think he meant–

She pointed an angry finger at him. "You stay out of this."

Booth raised his hands in surrender.

"Temperance, I didn't mean that." Max tried again. "Look, Honey, I'm just worried okay?" For the first time that evening she stopped and took the time to study Max's features. Although she couldn't get a mental read on him, it didn't take a psychic to tell that he was wound tighter than a... a...

Drum. Booth supplied.

She frowned. Drum? How do you wind something tighter than a drum? I would think that spool of thread would be a better fit.

Wound tighter than a spool of thread? Booth thought incredulously, That does not fit better.

She couldn't help the small smile that appeared at his blatant disapproval. There was a sense of normalcy in it, which gave her a measure of comfort.

"Will you two talk out loud for God's sake."

Temperance sighed. "Look Dad; I'm going to do this. Not you, or Booth, or anyone else is going to stop me." A lance of pain shot through Booth at her words, but he quickly masked it.

I'm sorry, Booth. Apparently not quick enough. I love you, she went on, but if you are going to be with me you have to accept that this is a part of me. All of which he was quite aware of– but that didn't mean he couldn't worry about her. Stubborn, headstrong little...

Watch it. She teased.

"Do you have a plan, at least?" Max interrupted.

Temperance frowned. "I go to his office wearing a wire, and demand to speak with him."

"Okay, then what?"

"I get him to confess."

Max couldn't help it– he laughed. "That's it?" He asked his scowling daughter, "You just go in there and get him to confess."

Temperance felt doubt bubbling to the surface. "You don't think it will work?" Her father was a criminal– therefore, he thinks like one. It was logical to concede to his opinion.

Hallelujah.

She shot a thunderous look in Booth's direction.

"Honey, despite what you may think, if you go into his office out of the blue and demand to talk about this Guzman fellow, you may as well wear a blinking sign around your neck that says 'wire, wire'."

"Why would I wear a sign telling him that I am wired?"

Max shot Booth an incredulous look.

He shrugged. "She tends to be quite literal."

"I didn't mean you should actually wear a sign– I just meant that it would be as blatant if you did." He tried again.

"Well why didn't you just say that?" She asked him, she pinned her eyes on Booth. "Why doesn't anyone just say what they mean?"

Booth cleared his throat, trying to mask the chuckle that had erupted. Some things never changed.

Max was grinning as well, causing Temperance's eyes to narrow into dangerous slits. "I'm glad I amuse you guys." She grumbled petulantly. "Now do you want to offer any useful suggestions or are you just going to sit there and laugh at me?"

Max had the grace to look contrite. "I'm sorry Honey, you're right." When Booth continued to stand there grinning, Max elbowed him in the stomach.

"Oomph!" He clutched his mid-section. "Ah– yeah, sorry Bones."

"Now, what I'm am about to suggest is going to take a little finesse." Max warned. "We need to catch him off guard– which means we'll have to do a little reconnaissance."

"But I just want this to be over Dad."

His face softened, "I could take care of it, you know."

She sighed, tempted. "No." She answered. "I can't rise to his level. Besides," she gave her father a meaningful look. "I said no more people-torches."

Max glanced at Booth. "She's strict."

"You have no idea."

"Fine, reconnaissance, then what?"

"We need to get him when he's alone, you can wear your wire– but the important thing here is to get him some place he'll never expect you. Like I said, the element of surprise is going to be the contributing factor in catching this guy."

"So where is the one place he won't expect?"

Max smiled menacingly.


AN: Sorry there wasn't much of anything but talking– I needed a filler to get me back in the groove. It's been a while.

I figure one more chapter, then the epilogue. Please review–even if it's to tell me you hate me. HAHA.