Everyone was agitated around Joy.
She had been picked up at school earlier in the school by Wendell, it is not common for him to pick her up at school, but it must be an emergency.
—What happened to Wendell?(She asked as she entered the lab) where are my parents? Are they on a case?
—I'm sorry, Joy, if I tell you, your parents are going to kill me.(Wendell said as he took her through the lab)
—Why didn't Grandpa Max pick me up? (She asked as she entered Temperance's office) Why can't I stay with Aunt Ange? Why are you so weird? (Joy asked in exasperation)
Wendell sighed and crouched down to the girl's size.
—A big deal happened today, but I can't tell you. I just have to leave you here and ask you not to leave until someone comes to call you, okay?
—But my parents and grandpa are fine, right? (She asked nervously)
—Yes, everyone is fine. (He stood up) Now stay here playing and don't leave until someone calls. (Joy snorted irritably) I'm sorry.
—Okay, Wendell, I understand.(Joy said and punched Wendell in the fist)
He smiled and then left the office closing the door behind him.
She sighed and sat on the couch.
She took the backpack and opened it and took out a notebook and started drawing.
But soon she got bored and went to the glass door and watched the movement.
She couldn't leave, but she could watch everyone running around.
Soon she smiled when she saw her mother approaching the office.
She stepped away from the door and as soon as the door opened she hugged her mother.
—What happened,Mommy? (She asked as she was picked up) Wendell didn't tell me anything.
—I know, he did what I asked. Well, darling let's sit (She said and sat with Joy on her lap) Do you remember what day it is?
—uuhh, Taffet's appeal, right?(Joy said and Temperance nodded) Dad said he would help transport her, just like Sweets, wouldn't he?
—Yes, is that. (Temperance said and put Joy's hair behind her ear) She was murdered in front of the courthouse, shot in the head… I was there with Booth to bring her head so that Cam could do the Autopsy and do some things that you probably don't want to know.
—Kind to know who shot? (Joy questioned)
—Something like that. We don't know who did it yet. (Temperance said looking at daughter) but he was as good a sniper as his father was.
—A sniper? Like Dad?(She asked and Temperance frowned) Don't worry, Grandpa Max explained to me about snipers and stuff.
—Yes, your father is one of the best snipers I know, but whoever did it is as good or better than him. (Temperance explained the girl)
Joy nodded and the two were silent for a while, until Joy said.
—Mom, I'm glad she's dead.(Joy said and hugged her mother) So she'll never hurt you and anyone else.
Temperance knew what to say, but she was relieved to learn that Taffet was dead, so she hugged her daughter tightly.
Taffet would never hurt anyone again.
—She will never hurt anyone again.(Temperance said)
—Mom, do you think Grandpa Max could have done this? (Joy questioned confusedly still hugging her mother) You said that he has done things like this before ..
—I'm not sure dear, but I hope not. (Temperance said and kissed the daughter's head) Now I'm going to see how the investigations are going, you stay here.
—Okay, Mom, I'm going to stay here.(She said and sat on the floor) I'll be coloring, here very quiet.
—Thanks baby girl.(Temperance said and left the office)
•••
Joy spent most of the time alone, with the occasional visit from an intern or someone to bring a juice or a cupcake.
She got bored after a while and decided to go to Angela's office.
—I doubt Max would be able to do that .. (Angela said) Booth should get him off the list.
—Wow, can a real head explode like that? (Joy said in amazement)
—You shouldn't be here, young lady.( Angela said looking at the little girl who was standing gaping at the computer.)
—You really shouldn't be here little monkey(Max said and stopped behind his granddaughter, placing his hands on her shoulders) Hey, sister.
—Grandpa Max! (Joy shouted excitedly and turned to hug him) I missed you!
—Hey, Max! (Angela said surprised to see him)
—How's Angel? (Max said and took his granddaughter on his lap)
—It's Angela. (Angela said while trying not to laugh)
—Angela, of course. But you are still an angel. (He said gallant and put his granddaughter on the floor) And you little monkey, all right?
—Yes, Grandpa! (Joy said and hugged him again) I have so much to tell you.
—I think I know why you are here. (Angela said)
—It is not to clean up my good name, that ship is long gone.(He said and held his granddaughter's hand) I don't care what everyone thinks about me, Except my daughter and that little lady here. (He bent down a little and tickled her granddaughter) Where's my daughter?
—I love you grandpa! (Joy chuckled)
—Doctor Brennan went to see Agent Booth. (Wendell said trying to hide a smile for the little girl)
—But she should be back anytime. (Angela added)
—I'm going to pick you up in the parking lot, do you want to come with me, little monkey? (He asked the little girl)
—Of course I am! Come on, Grandpa.(Joy said and left, pulling Max by the hand)
Max gave Angela a brief goodbye and let himself be dragged by his granddaughter.
—And your parents? They finally ...
- No, unfortunately. (Joy said dissatisfied) They're silly grandpa, aren't they?
—Of course, they are two silly.
•••
Max took the girls out for coffee.
Joy was excited and talked most of the time about her Jazz class.
He was more than happy to hear her, but as soon as she spoke to drink her hot chocolate, he could talk to Temperance.
—So are you serious with the girl?
—Her name is Hannah Burley. (Temperance said and wiped Joy's face)
That's a familiar name.(Max said and looked at his daughter)
—She is a news correspondent and works freelance for the DC newspaper.
—Oh, that, that girl. (He shrugged) You are much more beautiful and smarter than her, right little monkey?
—A million times more than Hannah Banana. (She said in a disgusted voice)
—Joy, what did I tell you? (Temperance said the daughter with a stern look) But, I know. (Temperance said with a smile)
They were silent for a few moments, just sipping their coffees.
Max said.
—I'm apologize dear. (He spoke with regret)
—Why are you apologize? (Temperance said) Honey, drink slowly, will you? (Joy nodded and went back to drinking her hot chocolate)
—I always thought you and Booth would stop being cool and be together.
Joy looked up from the chocolate cup and looked at her mother.
—I don't want to talk about it. (Temperance said looked away from the two)
Max looked at his granddaughter who was now eating her sweet bread in small pieces, she shrugged and then turned her gaze to Temperance who sipped his coffee.
—Wait, before I forget.(He said and fumbled in his coat pocket)
—Your plane ticket? (She said after getting the receipts)
—There are other receipts too. (He said jokingly took a piece of Joy's cookie) Receipt from a Motel, Restaurant and a ski ticket.
—Didn't you kill gravedigger? (She said and smiled at him)
—I didn't kill her. And I won't be able to sleep until I make you believe me.
—I believe you.(Temperance said and looked at Max, giving a reassuring smile.)
I believe you too, Grandpa. (Joy said confidently) You didn't do that.
—If my girls believe me, I'm happy.
Max smiled at his granddaughter and kissed her free hand.
—But you need to talk to Booth. (Temperance said seriously)
—I..I don't want to mess with the FBI. (Max said nervously) You believe me, Joy believes me. (Joy nodded with her mouth full) So it's not just my word, it's yours.
—He's right, Mom. (Joy said and looked at her mother anxiously) You need to talk to Dad.
—I will talk to him, I promise. (Temperance said the daughter who smiled happily) I need to go. (She said after looking at the message on the phone) Will you leave her in the lab for me?
—Of course, dear, and thank you.(Max said and squeezed her hand slightly.)
—No problem. (She smiled) Be nice to Grandpa. (Temperance said the daughter and kissed her head) I love you.
—I love you too, be careful. (Joy said as her mother walked away) She loves you too. (She told her grandfather)
—I know so, and thanks for helping me.(Max said and patted her arm.)
—I will always be with you, Grandpa Max, we are family.
—You are amazing.(He said and kissed the face of the granddaughter who smiled)
Joy really loved spending time with her grandfather.
••••
After being dropped off by her grandfather in the lab, Joy spent the rest of the afternoon with Angela.
Despite wanting to play with Hoddings, she can't because he was doing Toxic experiments.
Joy then showed Angela her new Jazz steps and told her about her new friend at school.
—So, what do you think of your mother seeing someone?
—Kinda like a date or a friend? (Joy questioned as she stretched)
- A date. (Angela said) I think she'll need some distraction after all this.
— Well, I think so too (Joy said and stood up) The teacher said I can learn everything very quickly.
—And you will. (Angela said excitedly) And so is it okay with you?
—Yes, I think Mom has to have a chance with someone nice too.
—I think so too (Angela said) After we solve this case, your mother is going out with someone.
Joy shrugged and resumed her dance moves.
She preferred her parents together, but if she couldn't have them together, she would be fine.
She would still be their daughter.
••••
120 hours before the kidnapping ...
—Booth wants to talk to you Joy. (Cam said the little girl who was lying on the floor in the office)
—Ok, can I get it here? (She asked Cam)
—Sure.
—And can you help me please?
—Of course, no problem." (She said and helped the girl to answer) Okay, you can talk.
—Thanks Miss Saroyan. (Joy said and saw Cam left) Hello Dad, I miss you.
—Hello baby girl, are you OK?what you doing?
—Yes, I was playing lego. (She said) Dad, and you dad,what you doing?
—I'm in love,(Booth said and sighed.)I just called you to say that I love you and that you and your brother are very important to me. —I know, Dad, I love you and Parks too. (Joy said affectionately) Have you caught the bad guy yet? —I'm going to get you. (He said) I just ... love you baby Bones. —You already said that silly. (She chuckled) Are we still having dinner together at Dinner? —Of course love, now I have to go. (He said) See you soon baby monkey. —So long, Daddy Lion, I love you and be careful. —I will be.
And then the call was ended and Joy dropped the phone.
She had a feeling something bad was going to happen.
••••
In the late afternoon everything happened like a blur.
Her mother had picked her up at the laboratory and took her to the hospital, saying that her father had been an assistant, but he was fine and that she was going to pick him up at the hospital
Her mother was very nervous and soon she was also feeling the same anxiety.
She cried and clung to her father as soon as she saw him.
Booth assured his daughter that he was fine and then they went to Dinner
But the little girl was totally attached to him
More than it already was.
But now she was calmer, she was sitting next to her father taking a strawberry milkshake with hamburgers and fries, her mother and Caroline Julian were in front of her, in addition to Grandpa Max.
—He left. (His father said angrily) I wasn't ready for the terrain. Running after him I fell, hurt my leg, dislocated my shoulder with the explosion.
—I told you to be more careful! (Joy said harshly)
—And you should have waited for me. (Temperance said indignantly)
Both eyes of his girls were looking at him, a mixture of worry and irritation in a very similar facial expression.
He loved them.
—I'm sorry dear. (He said the daughter and kissed her head) I thought I could talk to him. The Jack I know would have done the right thing.
—You don't know him well then. (Joy murmured and went back to taking the milkshake)
Booth stared at the little girl who was concentrating on his glass, maybe she was really right and he didn't know him that well.
—Stop blaming yourself.(Caroline told him, as lovingly as she could)
—He destroyed all the evidence when the trailer exploded.
—We still have a case. (Caroline stated) If we had sent the cavalry, we would have a disaster on our hands.
—I didn't want to disappoint anyone.(He said and looked at Temperance and then at his daughter who was playing with Max and drinking his milkshake, distracted from everything)
—That night we won't catch him, but we will catch him. I promise. (Caroline said with conviction)
—How exciting, I wish I had been there. (Max said after helping his granddaughter pick up the fries that were away from her)
—You better not be, Max.(Booth said and laughed at him.)
—I thought it was you.(Caroline said staring at the old thug)
—I knew it wasn't my grandfather. (Joy said to Caroline and bit the potato) I trust him.
—Thank you dear. (He said and winked at his granddaughter) And it is good to know that I am still suspicious. I thank you. Thank you, thank you very much. (He said and then the horn caught his attention) Well it's my taxi, which is going take me to the airport.
_I'll walk you outside.(Temperance said and stood up, too.)can you stay here and keep daddy company?
—Of course.(Joy said and stood up to hug her grandfather) I love you Grandpa Max, have a safe trip and bring presents.
—I will remember that, I love you too, dear. (He kissed her cheek)
—Always a pleasure, Max.
—The pleasure is all mine. (Max said and walked towards the exit with Temperance)
—Well, I have paperwork, even more." (Caroline said and then left)
—Okay.(Booth said and looked at his daughter) Now, eat your dinner baby monkey.
—Yes, sir.(Joy said and turned her attention back to the burger)
After making sure that Joy was eating his dinner, he turned his eyes to the window.
Where he watched the exchange between Temperance and Max.
Could she be any more beautiful than at that moment when she looked like a child with the shell in her ear?
He had to move on, but as if he always looked at her again.
He looked away for a second and saw a man standing in the middle of the street, watching the restaurant.
It wasn't Broadsky.
And he continued to look, not at Temperance, but at him and the little girl.
—If you keep looking like that, they'll say you're in love with Mom.(Joy said before taking a big bite of her hamburger)
—It's been a long day, keep your love ideas for yourself.(Booth said and tickled the belly of his daughter who laughed and caught the woman's attention outside.)
He looked at her, smiled and then asked her to enter the restaurant again.
Despite the horrible day, it had a good end to the day.
Next to two of his favorite people, who were safe next to him.
Yeah, in the end it was a good day.
For a while...