The following week was a nightmare. Brennan woke multiple times during the night, especially now that their lives had changed forever. For the moment, she realized she did not want to die with regrets. She would express her greatest weakness. Her greatest longing. Her greatest difficulty. Love,
4:47 am The moment she needed to accept. She wasn't always right. Vincent was dead; time leapt and kept moving; she was ready to expose that last element of her truly fragile soul to possible rejection. But she was accepted.
She lay on her bed wondering if she would ever overcome this very present crisis; every crisis so far had her knight in shining armour come to the rescue to help her make the complex emotional, and seemingly impossible decisions. The voice would tell her to believe, use her heart, trust in people, forgive the offences, and have faith. She padded out of the bedroom to check on her family.
Something which Booth had taught her that she was worthy of having – a family-. at the first door, she looked in and there she saw Christine Whose gun was beside her bed. Undoubtedly ready to kill, the next crazy threaten to hurt her family. She was her little Booth. - She had tried to keep her in the lab- she thought with remorse. I didn't want her in harm's way. But here she is so like her father, a little tiger, or was she a little flea? She closed the door and moved further down the hall to check on Parker - The writer, a psychologist, and a profiler with the bit of Sweets. If she could have Sweets back now, Sweets had been such an individual, so tricky, So right. He took science, her science in all its empiricism, and caused her to question herself. She was right. He was right. The truth was correct, and from their -their relationship with Sweets, Booth and her relationship blossomed on the same basis.
Truth had trust. But he was gone. Booth was gone. Her world was gone. At least at this very moment, in the middle of the night. She closed the door moved further down the hall and opened the next door.
There was her little Hank. What did Booth call him "my squint, my little nerd." Looking at the books piled bedside, she could see he hadn't been sleeping much. Booth would call him "Mini Bones." So, absentmindedly, Brennan whimpered, "Mini Bones?" He rolled over to see his mother and asked. Can't sleep? With a smile, and jump and declared, "I'll go make breakfast for everyone. Today, it's the most important day of the year, maybe of our lives." The little squint shuffled off to the bathroom to prepare himself. So, he got to work within moments.
The kitchen was abuzz with activity and the worldlings of fans, Sizzling things of the various Skittles, on the stove. There was bacon sizzling; pancakes were bubbling; hash browns were—all smelling like Booth in his Saturday glory. Hank looked at his mother, his mother's beaten and morse face and said, "Mom, Dad made me promise. If anything, ever happened to him. I was in charge, to make sure that you ate. Dad would say, your mother will try to keep everything together. But she will work herself to the bones. You will make sure she eats and laughs. I will leave Christine. She will be my gun to protect you all and trust her guts." as he said that Bones began to cry. "Oh, Booth. You always thought of me. You always understood me better than anyone else. Helped me now." As she stormed out of her kitchen and ran to her office, leaving her son grilling over the stove. Brennan reached her desk. But then thought. Suppose Booth had thought about this. He must have thought of everything else. So, she turned on her heel and walked with a resolute face to her husband's desk in his office.
Reaching the desk. Bones gasped. Memories flooded over her. She collected herself, and she sat behind her husband's desk sitting in his chair. The chair had been a gift of hers so that his multiple fractures wouldn't bother him as much during his hours of work. There were gels, and there were supports in all the right places.
Feeling around the desk, she opened a drawer towards the bottom. And she pulled out an envelope, which was marked, "In the case of death of Sealy Joseph Booth. Bones opened the large envelope. And out slide a couple of handwritten pages, and two DVDs. On the page was written, "The last will and testament of Seeley Joseph Booth. I leave everything, absolutely everything, to my wife and partner in life. Dr. Temperance Brennan.
She is the most logical and intelligent person that God could have put in my way. And she is besides that most loyal, True and just person I know, always searching for justice and always seeking the truth. Bones will make sure in ways that I would have forgotten Because I become distracted. She will make everything right. Bones will do right by them. The only thing that I insist on is to be buried in the ground beside her. And that I will be given a Catholic funeral and burial service. Full stop."
After reading these few lines, it is a typical Boothy scroll—a big tear-filled empty spot Besides his signature.
So, very Booth. No over-the-top requests. No secrets. No crazy or silly items – just the important. Now, it is her turn, just in time. She needed to embrace the reality which had confronted her.
She was until this moment the mourning widow. But now, she was being called on to be what Booth stated, his partner, the partner of the best FBI agent there ever was. And it was for the rest of the world to know what she already did. Brennan came back to the kitchen to the rest of the family looking at her. She was washed, dressed, and with her Doctor Brennan face on. She demanded that the table be set.
She looked at Christine. "I want to sit down with the Director - This morning at the Hoover."
"Hank, you are going to find out why this man who killed your father wanted him dead and why he didn't kill one of us first."
She then turned to Parker. "I want a profile, the killer's profile. As soon as possible ASAP. That's the correct use, right? Parker and all of you. I want an obituary, one that is worthy of him. Do you understand?
Parker nodded and began to cry. She began to speak to him directly. "Although you are not my biological son. I've always considered you as my son. When I was deciding if I could live in a family, you convinced me of that possibility that I could; you convinced me that I could dream." Addressing the table, she said, with authority, due to her state. "Please don't make a distinction between you all." She continued, "As you know, I have had many ideas about my future and how my future would be like; Brennan rose from the table as though she was speaking in a stadium. "I'm changing it all now. Your father left me as principal and sole executor of his estate with only two genuine requests, elementary requests.
A) to be buried beside me B) for a Catholic funeral. I will do my best to make both happen.
Thought this, Christine touched her mother's hand and asked if she could help. Strangely, Brennan said, "No, Christine. I need to do this. Among a couple of other things, but I will let you know when I need your assistance."
It was 6:30 in the morning. Breakfast was cleaned up, and Bones went into her fallen husband's office; as she did, she called her children to begin to bring her effects into his office. by 7 am, She was on the phone with the Archbishop Cardinal of Washington.
And by 8 am. Bones was on her way to the Hoover for a very special appointment with the Director of the FBI. Brennan walked into the Hoover as though she owned the place with Christina in her wake; Trying to keep up beside her. She moved as a woman on an actual mission. She entered the office, walked by the Secretary and into the Santo Sanctorum of the Director of the FBI.
"Good morning, Director,"
Catching the Director offbeat, he hurriedly said,
"Good morning, Dr. Brennan; my condolences on the passing of your husband and partner Seeley Booth. He was an honour to the FBI."
"That is why I'm here. Now Booth had been through hell and back with the FBI. I need to have something corrected as he is now dead, which I will get to in a moment. I know him. I know him better than he knew himself at times and way better than anyone else in this building. I'm going to let you know what I am looking for. And you will accommodate. Firstly, he was in line for post-mortem promotion to the rank. Before that, fool and trader Glen Durant tried to destroy him. We're going to make him whole. I want restitution for the destruction of his, of our home at the orders of Glen Durant, I want as far as possible Booth made public and for public records of all that he has done for the FBI, including his unjust imprisonment. And the beatings and psychological torture he suffered while he was in jail. This distress caused him to relapse in gambling compounded by the death of a family member, Lance Sweets, when he was demoted because of the Cyber Sleuth Pelant etc., etc. Am I clear? For your information, his funeral will be in a couple of days at St. Matthews Roman Catholic Cathedral here in Washington. The Cardinal Archbishop will preside. And I hope as the church has done. The FBI could do a little to make up for the evils done to Booth during this life.
As I will no longer be in the field. I plan on writing a true-life story of Special Agent Seeley Booth co-authored by his children so that the world will know what the world has lost. I will be sending you an invitation. The Cathedral is large. I expect you will take care of your side. Thank you, Director." With that said, she stood, gave her best doctor Brennan look, and showed herself out; she turned to her daughter and said, "call the State Police and the Army Rangers, and the Secretary of Defense" to that last request, she retorted. "But Mom, the Secretary of Defense? Aren't you going a little overboard.?"
Bones turned to her and said, "Fine, I will call." She called and was put through and then placed her phone on speaker.
"Secretary Taylor? Hello Secretary Taylor, this is Dr. Brennan."
"Dr. Brennan…. Oh my God… Is it true?
"Yes, He was killed in front of his children and me. I was hoping to talk."
"Tempe, anytime. Seely was friend, but more than that - He saved my life, at least twice."
"Alright, Taylor. Can I come over, Now, with my daughter."?
"Oh, are you talking about Christine… Christine Booth. Of course, I'll be waiting."
With that, they hang up. Christine was aghast; she looked at her mother and said," But mom, I never knew."
Stoically Brennan retorts. "There are many things you don't know; the Rangers wanted your father back. And your father and I had just had you. And I wasn't going to have you become an orphan, but the pressure on us was insane. So, your dad, who doesn't like asking for favours, contacted an old teammate from the Rangers. Well, let's say he came over from for some of my Mac and Cheese. Booth explained. And the next time, the full bird Colonel came guilting your father. He found out he shouldn't have. Taylor was very far up the food chain. And he stopped the stupidity.
"But Mom, why didn't he tell anyone."
At this, Brennan looked puzzled. "Well, he did. He told me. Your father always wanted people to see the merit, not the fame. You made him proud when you tried to get into training under the last name, "Brennan." Unfortunately for you, your looks and how you hold yourself are just like him. On the most part, "on the most part," I say because your father had a gift. He connected well with people; he read people. That is why he could love deeply and hate, just as deeply you share it a bit, but you share an unfortunate trait with me. You think you are smarter than you are. Your father spent most of his time pretending to be stupid, a Luddite, you know, only when I met your uncle, Jared, did I begin to truly understand your father. He will hide. To make you shine. Your father turned down promotions so that I could be in the field. He should have been deputy director. But I would have been
all alone…"
At this, Christine perked up and said, "I punched a guy in the mouth recently. When he spoke badly
about that, you and Dad. But Mom, can I ask a question?" Brennan looked suspiciously and said, "You can"
"Did dad go after you because of your money?"
But before Christine had a chance to finish. Brennan laughed out loud, but that laugh turned to an absolute look of rage and wrath without mirth. "He never took any money from me; God be my witness... 50/50 was his thing. I wanted to buy all types of things for him … for you… But he would resist it. He would resist taking my money any of it. With a hiss, she said...They understand nothing of the man. He was so careful. Only after some time, I mean a long time, after he had lost the promotion because he was in the field because of me. Would he permit me to buy him anything? I would secretly buy him shirts and pants, the same as he always had. When the enemies of this country and ours's destroyed the home that your father spent months renovating alongside my intern, Wendell. At that point, he allowed me to spend money. I did buy him the things that he needed the most. You must understand, they took our house. They took his wages, and they took his freedom.
So yes, I spent money on your father."
It was just that Christine could see at this point that she had really hit the nerve, and she needed to do something. So, she began to backtrack. She was happy that she had punched the loser. As a cadet, what had caught her eye was that the instructors, hearing her last name, the reaction they had. The punk was sent to talk to the head of Quantico.
She later found out something. The resident agent in charge was James Aubrey; the idiot she had punched was sent home After his come to Jesus' moment with Aubrey. I even heard that his father had been an agent.
"Mom? Did Dad … Did Dad take advantage of you before you were ready. I heard some guys say stuff like that."
Brennan lost her cool and screamed. "Stop! Stop! Christine stops! Never! Your father was always, will ALWAYS be a gentleman; any man who tried to take advantage of me would have had a couple of broken bones, to say the least. I wasn't some weak, defenceless flower. I was a horribly thorny person. I had no real friends except Angela, why she was and stayed as my friend I will never know. Your father taught me many things; he taught me much." She began to sob as she arrived at the Department of Defense and the security toll booth. There was a man, an officer in dress uniform. "Agent Christine Booth. Dr. Brennan, Madame. I'm truly sorry for both of you for the loss."
"Please come this way." They were directed to a parking lot - a VIP lot. And Christine noted that they had an Honor Guard. And the officer, from what Christine could perceive, looked like an Army Ranger came forward.
"Sergeant Master Booth was one of us. Could I escort you to the Secretary of Defense," Christine gasps, "Did you know my father?" The older officer looked at her and smirked. Looking at the young girl's incredulity, and said, "Sergeant Booth is the stuff of legends, Madame. He was the best. He never left a man behind would give himself up for any of his men. They tortured him ... bad... And with that, given time for the good guys to save his group. They say here. If we knew all his stories. He would have been greater than any Jack Ryan."
Christine was gobsmacked. Her father, the guy who was stuck in Major Crimes for years, was a hero. Therefore, her mum was moving Heaven and earth. Her mother will get this done. As they go through the Secretary of Defense building. There is a hush of quiet. She looks around, Christine perceives. There are pictures of her father, as a Ranger with a dark sash over Rangers in mourning. Everyone whispering. "That is them! A younger officer whispered and pointed towards them said, "This must be Booth's daughter. That's bad, so bad. That's the doctor."
They were escorted to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. There was a knock on the door, and a sound from behind the door echoed,
"Temperance, Christine?"
Dr. Brennan turned and said, "Secretary Taylor. Thank you for seeing us." Brennan's attitude had returned to business as always; the Secretary turned, stood and shook her hand, gave her a quick hug, and then said, "anything I can do. How can I help? What do we need."?
"So," Brennan began to list her requirements:
"Firstly, for a military funeral,"
"Absolutely, done"
"Secondly, a post-mortem promotion."
"Then he sat back, and he said, "What were you thinking of? Booth was an Army Ranger after all."
Bones was ready, "something in line with his off-the-book missions. There should be something there that would have earned him something?"
"From what I have known. Booth's actions will never be declassified. But that doesn't mean he doesn't get what he deserves. Let me speak to the President. He is interested in attending the funeral, Temperance. A lot of men here in this very building owe him everything, their very lives to Seeley."
"Christine, your dad is a real hero. But he never wanted others to know. But since he has been killed. It's our honour. No, I would say that it's our obligation to let others know what he has done. But we all truly understand."
Brennan intervened and said," I plan on writing a story, a celebration of his life, co-authored by his children. And no, and I'm not going to respect his humility. I'm looking for the truth. That is always the best way. No more silly stories. Taylor. Have you heard that Booth married me for my money?" The Secretary of Defense pushed back in his chair and began to roar out laughing. "Are you kidding me? Didn't you propose to him? And that rat computer nerd got in the middle.
"Yeah, that's what happened. Although the second time, he did propose only if I would accept." Brenan retorted.
"Temperance, please don't take this the wrong way, but you before Booth and of course Christine. You were a very different woman."
Brennan nodded her head and continued, "very true. I was extremely arrogant, didn't get along with anyone, including Booth, but believe me, he believed in me more than I believed in myself," tears began to roll down her cheeks. She quickly steeled herself, "So Taylor. Can I count on you? I will send you the details from the Cathedral, and.."
"We will see what the FBI will do," with a half-smirk, Taylor retorted, "if they don't do something, they will be toast, especially if the President is attending."
They finished the conversation. The escorts were waiting for them and escorting them to their vehicle. Everyone stood in deference to the widow and her daughter as they passed through the hallowed halls of the Defense Department.
Christine was in shock. Although she was never a person of a few words. she Sat in the car in absolute silence. After an hour or more of driving, something in Christine cracked almost by the time they reached home; she broke down and said, "I've lived with a bloody war hero. And I never gave him the time of day. I'm the worst daughter in history. I hate myself. I asked you terrible things. I never thought it might be because some jerk was jealous of you! Why was dad so honourable?"
Temperance looked over at her daughter, "inside you dear, you are equal parts me and Booth. Don't forget your father's brother. He almost was successful at poisoning me against him in the very same way. Your father will not shine the light on himself. Only to see that what I had in front of me was not a simple man, he was the best, and the other was shining the light on himself, trying to have a night of it. But I had a hero with me every day, and I didn't see it. That is why I hated Jared because he was the Anti- Booth. He was truly empty; he reminded me of what Booth would be if your father wasn't him. He would have been, Jared. Do you understand? But your father always wants to see the good in others. Do you know what most scared him? Himself, his temper. You never saw it; I did. When they came to kill you and me. They came to destroy our first home. I came back after dropping you off at Max's. I came back to see if I could help. I know - It's stupid, but love does stupid. Your father was shot multiple times. He had already killed three Delta Force ops, dishonourable men who were working as mercenaries. And your father was in a bad place, multiple bullets in his chest. The last one, this merc, kicked me across the room. Your father was verging on unconsciousness. But your father was able to see what they had done to me. Your father raged and killed the man with his own bare hands. That's what I'm talking about. Rage, love, love, hatred, both in the deepest way possible. Even seeing his own light for slipping away. He couldn't let me be hurt till the end, hero, gentlemen, My partner! At this, Brennan reached over and held her firstborn. Looking at her steely. She said to her, "make him proud."