Thanks for the reviews and alerts. I really think they are nice.

I don't own Bones.

I do own Boots. I guess I own Deputy Pete Miller too. He means well.

Ooooooooooooooooo

The family spent most of the day birding. Brennan hadn't planned on doing anything except rest and enjoy the countryside; so, when Christine had wanted to spend the day birding she had agreed to it. Booth's legs were stiff and sore and he just wanted to sit on a chair in the back yard enjoying the quiet time with his family. Christine and Parker walked up and down the trail with Brennan for a few hours recording birds and Booth slept off and on when his legs would let him. Brennan had wanted to drive to a near by health clinic and have Booth's legs x-rayed; but, he refused to go. He was embarrassed that Brennan was making a big deal about bruises and he finally had told her to please leave him alone. Seeing the Booth stubborn streak in play, Brennan let the issue go.

Oooooooooooooooo

After lunch, Christine and Parker decided to play with a remote car and helicopter that Parker had brought with him. Sitting on chairs near Booth and Brennan, Parker gave the car remote to Christine and watched as she struggled to get the car to move across the grass. Boots, deciding that something interesting was finally happening, started to stalk the car and whenever he got near it he would pounce on it and bat it over.

Christine, taking exception to Boots ruining her fun, would yell at Boots every time he over turned the car. After his attack, Christine would stand up and walk over to her car, fussing at Boots the whole time. After turning the car over, Christine would walk back to her chair, sit down and start the car moving again, only to have Boots attack it again.

Parker at first thought the whole thing was funny until he saw that Christine was starting to get red in the face from aggravation. Starting up his helicopter, Parker decided to divert Christine's anger and moved the helicopter over Boots' head. Boots, hearing the buzz above his head, looked up and leaped. Parker, waiting for Boots to do just that, moved the helicopter out of Boots reach. Laughing, Christine stopped playing with the car and watched Parker aggravate Boots by buzzing him and moving the helicopter just out of Boots reach.

Booth, watching the antics of his kids and Boots, forgot about the pain in his legs and enjoyed the happy moment.

Oooooooooooooooooo

Towards the later part of the afternoon, Pete Miller walked off of the trail and into the yard. Seeing the entire family sitting at the tree line playing with a remote car and a helicopter, Pete smiled and then walked over to the family and announced his presence.

"Hello. How's it going this afternoon?" Pete asked looking at Booth's legs and then at the kids playing. Frowning, Pete noticed a bruise on Christine's left knee.

Boots, seeing the deputy, growled and ran under Booth's chair. Hunched over his feet, Boots swished his tail back in forth in aggravation.

Booth, not to happy to see the nosey Sheriff's Deputy, said, "We're just taking it easy. Did you catch anything?"

Nodding his head, Pete said, "Oh sure. I had really good luck today."

Frowning, Brennan said, "Where are your fish?"

Smiling, Pete said, "I practice catch and release. I don't keep the fish."

Smiling, Brennan said, "Would you like something to drink? I was going to go into the cabin and get everyone some iced tea."

Nodding his head, Pete said, "Sure thing, Temperance. I appreciate it."

Standing up, Brennan walked by Christine and patted her shoulder. Continuing across the yard, Brennan walked up the stairs and into the cabin. Pete and Booth watched her the whole time she was in sight.

Booth, realizing that Pete was watching Brennan, frowned and said, "She is taken you know."

Frowning, Pete looked at Booth's legs and said, "Look man. This isn't any of my business; but, you can get help if you need it." Walking over to stand next to Booth, Pete took a card out of his shirt pocket and gave it to Booth. "Look man, I wrote a number on the back of my card. Call them. They can help you."

Shaking his head, Booth took the card and saw a 1-800 number written on the back. "Look, Pete, I don't know what the Hell you're talking about."

Smiling sadly, Pete said, "That's ok, man. Just think about it. Look I'd rather not stay. Call me or the number if you need to." Turning, Pete walked across the lawn and around the house.

Totally confused, Booth looked at the card and then put it in the pocket of his shorts. Parker, not understanding what was going on, walked over to Booth and asked, "Why does he think you need help, Dad?"

Sighing, Booth said, "I haven't got a clue, Parker."

Brennan, walking back down the stairs carrying a tray of glasses of tea, saw that Pete was no longer present. Arriving back where her family was sitting, Brennan put the tray in front of each of her loved ones and watched them take a glass.

Christine, seeing the extra glass of tea, asked Brennan, "Can Boots have the extra glass of tea?"

Smiling, Brennan said, "Yes of course."

Watching her daughter, Brennan saw Christine put the glass of tea on the ground and hold it up between her feet. Boots seeing the glass of tea within reach, walked over to the glass and started to drink.

Laughing, Parker said, "That is a very weird cat."

Frowning, Christine said, "No he isn't. He's a very nice cat."

Ooooooooooooooooo

Later that evening, when Booth was in the bedroom getting ready to take a shower, he remembered the card the deputy gave him earlier. Taking his phone off of the dresser, Booth dialed the 1-800 number and listened. Furious, Booth ended the call. Tearing up the card into tiny pieces, Booth then carried the torn paper into the kitchen and threw it away. The last thing he wanted was for Brennan to find out that Pete Miller was under the impression that Booth was a battered spouse.

ooooooooooooooooooo

The next day was Sunday and Booth wanted to go home before Pete came back around. Talking to Brennan , Booth told her that he was willing to go to see a doctor about his legs if the doctor could be Cam and if they went back home early. Fearing that Booth was holding something back from her in his usual stubborn, Boothy way, Brennan agreed. After all of their bags had been packed Brennan and Booth changed the sheets on the beds they had used and the dirty sheets were put in a bag to be taken back with them. Parker vacuumed the carpets and floor and Christine collected the trash and carried the bags out to the truck to be taken home with them.

When it came time to leave, Christine couldn't find Boots. The last time anyone had seen Boots was in the kitchen; but, now, when it was time to leave, no one could seem to find the missing cat. Doing a methodical search, no one could find Boots. The longer it took to search for him, the more anxious Christine became.

After searching for Boots for an hour, Booth threw up his hands and said, "I don't know where he is." Sitting down on the couch, Booth put his legs up on the couch and sat there in a foul mood. He knew if he said they had to go home without Boots there would be a major dramatic event involving his daughter and that was something he wanted to avoid at all costs.

Brennan, as frustrated as Booth, stood in the kitchen and looked at the box of cat food sitting on the island. Suddenly inspired, Brennan took out Boots supper dish and banged a spoon against it. After doing that several times, Brennan heard a yowl coming from the back door. Turning, Brennan saw Boots standing on his hind legs, leaning against the glass door. Crying again, Boots jumped up a little on his hind legs and then sat down, staring at Brennan.

Shaking her head, Brennan walked over to the glass door and opened it. Boots, seeing the door open, ran into the kitchen and started circling Brennan, crying. Opening a package of moist cat food, Brennan poured it into Boots' food bowl and placed it on the floor.

Calling out, Brennan said, "Christine, I've found Boots."

Running into the kitchen, Christine stopped and saw her cat eating. Putting her hands on her hips, Christine said, "Where was he, Mom?"

Smiling, Brennan said, "He was outside. He came to the door as soon as he heard me bang on his food bowl; so, he must have been on the deck. As soon as he eats, please put him in the cat carrier so we may leave."

Nodding, Christine walked over to where Boots was and waited for him to finish eating.

Walking back into the living room, Brennan saw Booth lying on the couch with his right arm over his eyes. Feeling Brennan bending over him, Booth said, "Let me know when his highness is ready to go."

Smiling, Brennan said, "It will only be a few minutes. Would you like me to drive home? You didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

Taking his arm off of his face, Booth looked up and saw the concern on Brennan's face. Sitting up, and swinging his legs back off of the couch, Booth said, "I didn't mean to worry you, Bones. I was just uncomfortable last night. I'm really fine. The bruises hurt; but, that's all they are. I promise. I'm not holding anything from you."

Sitting down on the couch next to Booth, Brennan said, "You try to protect me from too many things Booth. I won't come apart if you've hurt yourself. I want to help you and I want you to at least let Cam look at your legs."

Putting his right arm around Brennan's shoulders, Booth said, "In this case, I'm not trying to protect you from anything because there isn't anything to protect you from. I'll call Cam when we get home and I'll let you drive if you want to although it isn't really necessary."

Leaning over and kissing Booth on the cheek, Brennan said, "Let's do this my way Booth. I'll feel better if you do."

Smiling, Booth kissed Brennan and said, "For you, Bones."

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

The trip home had been uneventful. Once they got home, Brennan asked Booth to just go into the house while she and the kids unpacked the truck. Booth, feeling like a slacker; went down to the man cave and turned on the TV. Boots searching the house, found Booth downstairs. Satisfied that he knew where Booth was, Boots jumped up on to the couch next to Booth and stretched out. Looking down at Boots, Booth reached over and stroked Boots' side.

"You are pain in the ass," Booth said.

Boots, hearing Booth talking to him, lifted his head and opened his eyes. Seeing Booth continue to sit on the couch, Boots closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Frowning, Booth pulled his phone out of his shorts pocket and called Hodgins.

"Hodgins speaking."

A little angry, Booth said, "Hey Hodgins, I have a question for you about a Sheriff's Deputy named Pete Miller. That nosey son of a bitch kept coming around your cabin the whole weekend. First he hit on Bones, then he wanted to take my kids fishing. The guy was coming off a little creepy. Then I had a little accident and bruised up my legs and the next thing I know the guy thinks Bones is beating me up. I can't have that guy going around spreading malicious gossip about Bones and me. I need you to call the guy and tell him to back off."

Puzzled, Hodgins asked, "Booth, who the Hell are you talking about?"

"Pete Miller, he's a sheriff's deputy up where your cabin is. I met him Halloween afternoon. The guy is very creepy. Even Boots hated him and Boots likes everyone."

Laughing, Hodgins said, "Ok, I get it. Halloween is over Booth. Your little ghost story is a little dumb dude and a little late."

Shaking his head, Booth said, "What the Hell are you talking about Hodgins."

Frowning, Hodgins said, "Uh, you're trying to yank my chain aren't you?"

Now it was his turn to be puzzled, Booth said, "Hodgins are you drunk or something? I'm talking about Sheriff's Deputy Pete Miller and the fact that he crossed the line with me this weekend and I'm pissed about it."

A little worried, Hodgins said, "Pete Miller was killed in a domectic abuse call eight weeks ago. He was trying to arrest some guy for beating up his girlfriend and the girlfriend stabbed Pete with a steak knife. Pete bled out before he made it to the hospital."

Swallowing hard, Booth hung up the phone. Looking over at Boots and remembering how Boots kept reacting to Pete Miller, Booth said, "Damn it. You knew."

BBBBBBBBBBB

I hope you didn't forget these last ten chapters were taking place during Halloween weekend. I'm pretty sure that Booth will not be open to going back to the cabin for a long time.

I should have saved this story arc for October; but, my muse told me to write it now. I hope you liked it and that you were a little creeped out by my ghost story.

I'm going to start publishing my story "The Smell of Death" tomorrow. It will be Booth centric and hopefully amusing.

Note: Booth is ok. Booth's bruises are based on an accident I had a few years ago. I walked up some stairs leading up to a building and stepped in a space between the stairs and the building. When I managed to get out of the space my leg it was hurting; but, not broke. I then saw my leg turn purple and black from a massive bruises. It looked horrible and people freaked out when they saw it; but, it was just a bruise and in a little over three weeks it was gone. Stuff like that can look worse than it really is. It does hurt though.