Chapter 52: Homecoming

7am, Sunday: Washington, D.C.

"Yes," she spoke as patiently as she could manage, "I realize that you technically do not hold office hours on Sundays; however, I cannot be culpable for your decision to answer your phone, either, as I would've been forced to leave a voicemail message otherwise."

The woman on the other end muttered words that Temperance was fairly certain were hypocritical for someone claiming to be readying for church, but said nothing. Grudgingly, the woman retrieved the data Temperance sought and hung up. Pleased, she then began composing an email even as she dialed the next phone number on her agenda.

7am, Sunday: Hershey, PA

A soft alarm beeped, rousing the room's young occupants. Sunday morning chapel was a compulsory event and demerits could be earned if one was either late or absent. Maddie waited until her roommate had left for the shower to stretch and crawl out of bed. The two girls got along for the most part, but today Maddie didn't feel like talking right away.

Mechanically, she began her morning routine and was soon dressed and ready to leave. She could hear the chaos from the dining room and kitchen beneath her and decided that wasn't something she wanted to face quite yet either. Curling up with a worn book, she read for a bit, then headed down to grab a quick breakfast.

That accomplished, she joined the group of girls as they moved to leave. The phone rang and her already-harried house mother answered it sharply and after a rushed exchange, hung up.

"Maddie," she said quickly, "you don't have to come. Stay here and pack up your things and someone will be here to pick you up later this afternoon."

Maddie opened her mouth to ask who was picking her up and why, but closed it as the woman had already turned and was herding the group quickly outside. The front door slammed behind them, leaving Maddie alone and confused.

Her thoughts went to the incident that she had been forced to report after the Dr. Temperance Brennan had called the school, concerned about Maddie's cryptic video call. At the time, it seemed like everyone had believed her when she relayed how she had been cornered in the library and forced to watch helplessly as some of her male classmates took the homework she'd spent the last hour working on and photocopied it. A review board had been called as the school's cheating policy was a zero-tolerance one, and Maddie had been grilled almost as closely as her tormentors.

The ruling was set to come back this week, so perhaps, she thought, this was it and she had been expelled. A part of her was relieved to be getting away from all of the stares- not to mention the teasing she'd been at the receiving end of; but the other part was nervous. "Someone" picking her up didn't sound like it was the Booths, whom her house parents had met several times. Shoving her thoughts as to where else she might be sent aside, she went back to her room and began packing.

7am, Sunday: Hershey, PA

Russ and Jen Porter had been house parents at the Milton S. Hershey School for ten years and had seen just about everything imaginable happen with their students in that time. So when the call came through that Joey Lane was being withdrawn from the school by his legal guardians because they wished to begin the adoption process, the Porters immediately changed their morning plans. Jen would inform Joey about what was going on and then stay home from chapel with him to help him pack.

As she entered his room, she smiled at the tow-headed boy sleeping peacefully, chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. For as much as she would miss him, she was happy for him too. The Booths were the very best sort of people and Joey, unlike most of the boys who passed through her doors, would finally have parents and a stable home to call his own.

A truck rumbled by outside of the window and his eyes fluttered open.

"Hey, Ms. Jen," he yawned. "Am I late for chapel?"

"You and I aren't going today," she grinned so that he wouldn't think he was in trouble.

"We're not?" he sat up, eyes widening. "Where are we going?"

She shook her head, still smiling, "It's you who's going somewhere- you and Maddie."

"To DC?" he asked eagerly, bouncing where he sat.

"Remember what you've been praying for the last few months?" she asked.

"That I could be a real Booth," he spoke quickly and with growing excitement, "and live with my sisters and Mommy and Daddy and Parker forever!"

She nodded, "God didn't forget you, Joey. The Booths are going to start the adoption process and will be coming to pick you and Maddie up later this afternoon."

"Yippie!" he yelled, flinging himself into her waiting arms and hugging her tightly.

"So," she continued, "let's go get you some breakfast and then we can start getting all of your things together."

He pulled back and frowned, looking around the room, "I don't think my suitcase is gonna be big enough for everything."

"Well," Jen said brightly, "I'm sure we've got some empty boxes around here somewhere for you to use."

12pm, Sunday: Washington, D.C.

Temperance smiled at the keen anticipation being exhibited by Parker and Sadie as they entered Wong Fu's before beginning their journey. To his credit, Sid listened patiently as the children spoke- sometimes simultaneously- about the events that were unfolding. When they'd finished, he excused himself to the kitchen, returning only a few minutes later with personal-sized containers for each of them, and a larger box containing a chocolate cake for them all to celebrate once they were with Maddie and Joey.

"Just keep that away from Sadie in the car," Seeley nudged the little girl as they walked out with the food. "She might cover herself in it!"

"Daddy," she rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically, "That was when I was almost two. I'm way older than that now."

The adults shared an amused look as they all piled back in the SUV.

"Everybody ready?" Seeley asked. "No one needs a quick potty break?"

"Let's go, Dad!" Parker urged impatiently.

Seeley obliged and pulled out to a round of cheers from the backseat. For her part, Temperance was just pleased to find that Sid had provided them with food that would not make a mess in the car.

12pm, Sunday: Hershey, PA

It was noon and Maddie was still alone in the house. The house mother from next door had stopped by a half an hour earlier to inform her that several of Maddie's dorm-mates had been caught smoking outside of the chapel building following the service. Mrs. Lake wasn't sure how long they would be gone, and had invited Maddie to come over when she was done packing. The prospect of spending any large amount of time with a house full of preschoolers was not appealing so she politely declined.

She made herself a ham sandwich in the kitchen and moved to join her belongings in the living room. It wasn't a huge amount of things since most of her clothes were school uniforms, but she had run out of room in her suitcases and been forced to find other storage containers.

12pm, Sunday: Hershey, PA

Once everyone was back from chapel and had changed, the Porters sat the boys down and explained why Joey was leaving. For the most part, they were sad to see him go, though a few looked outwardly jealous. By lunchtime, the house was abuzz with energy as the boys played with the toys Joey had sitting out, ready to leave.

When they gathered around the table they all quizzed him about the new home he was going to. Joey nearly burst with pride answering them all; especially when he told them that his new dad was an FBI agent. He also gave them a fairly accurate retelling of how the Booths had become his foster parents in the first place.

When lunch was over, they started back toward the toys that Jen had since re-packed and were quickly intercepted and sent outside to play while Joey waited for the Booths. The weather had finally started to warm up and the boys spilled out of the house, eagerly soaking up the bright sunshine as they began running around.

2pm, Interstate 83N en route to Hershey, PA

As the trip wore on, Parker and Sadie grew more and more restless. Temperance tried to occupy them with a myriad of games that she remembered from her childhood, though nothing kept their attention for very long.

Just after they crossed the Pennsylvania border, Seeley pulled into a state-run rest area. There was a fair-sized grassy patch sprinkled with shade trees and picnic tables. The SUV had barely stopped when Parker and Sadie dashed out of the car and began running around the grounds.

"This will delay our arrival time," she commented as they walked along the small footpath.

"Yeah, but they need it," he thrust his chin in the children's direction and took her hand, lacing their fingers together. "I needed it too."

"I'll drive the rest of the way if you are feeling fatigued," she offered casually.

"Nice try," he winked and squeezed her hand.

She shrugged, then grew concerned, "Though if you really are feeling fatigued, you shouldn't drive. Studies show-"

He cut her off with a quick kiss before continuing their walk.

"If you don't give me any squinty stats about driving tired I'll promise to let you drive on the ride home."

"For the entire journey?" she asked, surprised and looking for evidence of a caveat.

"Every second," he agreed.

She smiled, warmed by the gesture as she knew how much he truly loathed being a passenger in his own vehicle- or any vehicle for that matter. For several minutes they kept walking, never letting the children out of their line of vision.

"It'll be good," she barely heard his soft words.

"What?" she probed when he didn't explicate right away.

"The four of them together," he was speaking to her but looking at Parker and Sadie. "It'll be good for all of them."

A number of practical responses sprung to her lips but the only word that slipped out was, "Yes."


To Be Continued.... (hint-reviews spur the muse)