(Season 6)

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He wanted to like her, he really did, but something just seemed off about her from the moment he met her. It wasn't anything she said, because she said all of the right things to him, but somehow he was certain that his grandson was making a mistake with his life and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He had come for a visit and he hadn't realized that his oldest grandson was living with someone until he'd arrived at the boy's apartment.

"Pops!" Booth looked over his shoulder and hoped that his girlfriend had finished dressing. Walking around in just his t-shirt was sexy as hell, but that was not how he wanted his grandfather to meet Hannah. After he hugged the old man, he ushered him into the apartment carrying Hank's luggage while calling out. "Hey . . .um, company."

Not sure what was going on, Hank walked down the hallway and entered the living room. "Who are you talking to, Seeley?"

Before he could reply, Hannah entered the room, wearing Booth's FBI t-shirt and a pair of jeans. "Um, Pops, this is Hannah . . . Hannah, this is my grandfather, Hank Booth."

She had heard Booth talking to someone at the door and she had known that Booth was a bit old-fashioned when it came to proprieties, so she had rushed to slip on some pants. "Mr. Booth, I'm glad to meet you."

After a quick glance at his grandson, Hank smiled at the pretty blond, took her offered hand and shook it. "So . . . Seeley didn't mention that he was seeing anyone. Of course he just got back from Afghanistan and he's a busy man, so I guess he didn't have time to check in with me. I mean, I just found out yesterday that he was back in the states from his son's mother." He thought he'd throw that little nugget into the conversation just to see what would happen.

His cheeks a dark rose color, Booth shook his head. "Pops, I'm sorry I didn't call. I hit the ground running with a case and . . . well, I was going to call you today and see if I could come and see you this weekend."

"Well, now you won't have to." Hank had been a little upset that his grandson hadn't called him to let him know he was back, but he knew that the boy had a busy life. Still. "I plan to stay the week . . . is that a problem?"

"What? Are you kidding me? Of course not." Feeling guilty for not letting the old man know he was back from overseas, Booth knew he had been inconsiderate. "Hey, Pops. I'm sorry, okay? I should have called you the day I got back. There isn't any excuse for not calling you."

Patting his grandson's arm, Hank shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I know now." His feet were hurting, so he sat down. "You came back early. Rebecca says it was because of some murder case and Cam needed your help. I'm glad you came back . . . Is it for good or are you going back once your case is over?"

"No, I'm not going back." Booth smiled at Hannah. "I'm here to stay. The case is over and Cam's job is safe . . . I'm back at the Hoover and I got my old job back . . . A few things have changed, Pops. I met Hannah in Afghanistan. We hit it off and she decided to come back to the states. She's got a job as a White House reporter."

"Ah." The room didn't seem to have any feminine touches added so he wondered how serious this relationship was. "Are you dating?"

A quick glance towards Hannah, Booth knew he better be honest. "I asked her to move in with me . . . We dated in Afghanistan and I thought it was time to um . . . get serious about it."

With a worried look on her face, Hannah moved over to the couch and sat down on the far end. "Well, not that serious. It's not like we're going to get married."

His face neutral, Hank nodded his head. "You got something against marriage?"

"No, of course not." Hannah felt she was being tested. "Marriage is a wonderful thing if that's what you want to do, but I have a career and who knows where I'll be next year? Marriage isn't for everyone."

Aware that Hannah didn't want to get married, Booth wondered why the women that came into his life didn't want to make anything permanent. He was good looking and had a great job, but none of the women he had ever dated took him seriously. No one at all. "Pops, we just moved in together. Let's not push things okay?"

"Alright." Hank leaned back against the couch. "Haven't I seen you on TV? Aren't you a war correspondent? Seeley said you're a White House reporter, but I know I've seen you on TV."

"Yes, I am a war correspondent, but I thought I'd try something new for a while." Hannah hoped she had made the right decision and it wouldn't harm her career down the road. White House reporting did seem like quite a fall and so far it was boring.

Her use of qualifiers was telling as far as Hank was concerned. "At least you won't have bullets whizzing around your head at the White House." Turning to look at his grandson, Hank decided to ask about his favorite anthropologist. "Is Temperance back? Are you working with her again?"

"Yeah, of course. That hasn't changed." Thank God. Booth knew that his grandfather liked Brennan so of course he was asking about her. "She came back when I did. We had to help Cam out of a bad spot and we did."

Hank had always liked Cam. She had dated his grandson while they were in college and he'd approved of her confidence and independence. "Good, I should go see Cam while I'm in town . . . I'll probably go see Temperance too. Smartest woman . . . person I've ever met. Parker thinks so too."

"I agree, Mr. Booth." Hannah had met Brennan and had done a bit of research on her. "She's very smart and Seeley is lucky to have her on his team."

"Call me, Hank, Mr. Booth was my father." Hank shifted to resettle his leg. His left knee was hurting him and his grandson's couch was old and a little lumpy. "So, you two got any plans for dinner tonight? We can go out and eat at Taqueria Habanero. Seeley, remember when we went there last year with Temperance? Those fried pork taco things were pretty good. She let me taste some of her mushroom and spinach quesadilla and that was good too. I'll pay."

Glancing at Hannah, Booth saw her nod her head. "Sure, Pops. But let me pay, since you're my guest."

"I don't think so." Hank gave his grandson an irritated look. "It's my idea and I'm paying."

"Sure, Pops." Smiling at Hannah, Booth shook his head. He loved his grandfather and he hoped that Hannah could see what a good man he was. He wanted them to get a long since she was part of the family now.

Oooooooooooooooo

Later that evening, Hank was sitting in the living room watching a replay of a hockey game he'd missed when Booth walked into the living room and sat down next to him. "It's late, Pops. What are you doing up?"

"Oh, when you get to be my age, you don't sleep that much." Using the remote, he turned the volume off on the TV. "I didn't wake you did I?"

"No, not really." Booth was a restless sleeper and it wasn't unusual for him to wake up a couple of times during the night. "Look Pops, I messed up and I'm sorry I didn't call you when I got back. I just had a lot to deal with and I ignored my obligations."

Shifting on the couch so he could see his grandson, Hank shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Rebecca let me know . . . Seeley about Hannah . . . I thought you and Temperance were . . . I don't know . . . I thought you two were going to get together."

"I tried Pops, you know I asked her, but she said no." Running his hands through his hair, Booth had a feeling he was disappointing his grandfather, but he didn't have any control over Temperance Brennan and the decisions she made. He barely had control of his own decisions. "Look, Pops, it's going to be okay. Bones and I are still partners and we're friends . . . I think we're still friends . . . anyway, she's still my partner and that hasn't changed and I've decided to give her the room and space she needs in her personal life. She's not interested in me romantically and that's her right. I get it . . . Hannah and I are together now and I'm hoping that it might turn into something more . . . It is what it is. Bones is happy, I'm happy. Okay?"

Not sure anyone was happy in this messy soap opera, Hank sighed. "I don't want you to get hurt Seeley . . . I have a feeling that . . . I don't want you to get hurt."

A slight smile on his face, Booth shook his head. "It's too late for that Pops. That ship sailed a year ago."

"Son . . . I hope you find what you're looking for with Hannah." But I doubt you will. Hank hated that his grandson couldn't find anyone to share his life with. Deep down, he was certain that Hannah was going to be another broken promise, another failure.

"Me too, Pops."

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