In the time since Booth died, things began to fit back into a semblance of order. Christine realized what she had done, her lack of doing her proverbial dropping the ball in her position as sister to Hank. Younger sibling to Parker, child to Booth and to Brennan. This time had been very beneficial to her. She decided that she would reconnect with classmates who had been in school the same time she had. She realized that the attitude in which she had taken upon herself as superior and influenced the effect that not only did, she not only did not have time for her family, but she had no real friends at all; So, to speak, No friends at all. So, she began to go through pictures from her elementary day middle school, high school, her undergrad and grad periods and one acquaintance, one friend seemed to always pop up in birthday pictures, gatherings. Her early graduations from school would pass skipped grades and below the curriculum. There was this girl. Her name was Julie; she was friendly and understanding and the more that Christine thought about it, the more patience this girl exhibited was could almost be referred to as saintly. So, Christine decided it was time to reconnect with her. Her former friend were friends that maybe she had outgrown. Possibly Julie might be a person who could keep as a friend be required too; Or perhaps she was in a different place in her life and wouldn't have time for little Miss Booth. So, she used some of her skills and looked up This individual, this girl Julie, and arranged some opportunities to meet up in some socially neutral place. Julia Navarro was a neighbour of the Booths; Her parents had emigrated from El Salvador, and Both were professionals. Julie grew up. Well, she had a younger brother and an older sister. Julie ended up being the same age as Christine. When Dr. Brennan bought her second family house after the destruction of her first one.
The Mrs. Navarro had seen how Dr. Brennan was with her little Christine. She had seen the tension. They also had seen the amount of government-issued vehicles that would pull up at all hours of the night. She also saw they also saw the people who would meet with Dr. Brennan. Mrs. Navarro once went over to knock at the door to offer a delicacy of Pupusas that she had made using her mother's recipe from her homeland of El Salvador to cheer up this lady who looked so very tense. Knocking at the door. Dr. Brennan came to the door, looked up at her, smiled and asked in a very Brennanesque way, "Hello, what is your name?"
Mrs. Navarro was taken back "my name is Esperanza. And your name?"
"My name is Dr. Brennan." That put poor Esperanza on her backfoot but being a true daughter of El Salvador, she responded with, "my name is Senora de Navarro, Dr. Brennan." At this point they began to converse with her in Spanish, which greatly delighted la Senora. She offered her the delicacies fresh off the grill, which Brennan invited her in; they talked and explained that they had moved into the neighbourhood and were looking at making friends. Knowing both were academics, Mrs. Navarro asked directly in a coy manner, seeing how small Christine was, "I haven't seen your husband."
Brennan stiffened and just replied, "He's on a business trip. He'll be home soon. We're looking forward to showing him this house and hoping the house turned out to be everything he wanted also."
Laughing to herself, Dr. Navarro was a Ph.D. in psychology, And she could read in Brennan's response - fear and determination. She changed the subject and asked, "does her daughter have many friends" and said she also had a daughter of the same age. And this was how the two girls would bob in and out of each other's universes throughout their childhoods.
And now, meeting in their 20s, Christine seated with a drink in her hand. She was nervous about this moment. So, her father's favourite whiskey was ordered. She sighed to herself, "it's amazing; this whiskey and him. It's so much fun. I need to ask mum, 'How much did he drink when I was a child because the smell of this whiskey reminds me so much of him. I need to understand why.'" As she was in her ruminations. Julie pulled into the seat in front of her and said in a characteristic manner started, "Hi, Christine. What's up?"
Christine was taken back by the direct way in which she was addressed. Being a leader in the Lab, always treated with respect and fear; no one dared to start like that with her. It was refreshing to have someone who treated her like a normal human being. Christine smiled across at her, "I wanted to touch base. It's been so long since we even spoke, and so much has happened. I wanted somebody or something to tie me down to reality. Bring me back to what it was to be a real person, not be flashed on TV screens."
Julie smiled and said, "Actually, your speech in front of the FBI was glorious. That was beautiful. My mom loved it."
Christine blushed.
"Gosh, Christine is finally being who she was called to be." And then Christine
mumbled, "a flunky?"
Julie interrupted her, "You think you're a flunky? You stood up for your family? Flunkies don't stand up to anybody for anything. You did well Chrissy, you may not feel it. Right now. But believe me, you did well."
Christine turned and asked her if she wanted anything to drink. Julie ordered a beer
because Christine had already ordered some starters and had them set on the table in front of them, and they picked at it as they chatted about where they were in their respective
lives. Christine asked, "when you used to hang out a lot at my house. What was what did you think about my parents and my home?" Julie laughed, "all alright, most of my family, and most of my friends are Salvadorians; we talk straight, we have our dishes, our empanadas... But to have an American family as close as you were. Like I spent so many hours with you all. Particularly when my parents were busy at work, and your parents were busy at work, and you had the nanny over to take care of yourself and Hank. my brother and I were
basically, hanging out at your place all the time; we got to see
everything." Christine remained smiling.
Julie had inherited many of the same perceptions that her mother had. Her expertise
in psychology and understanding motivations.
"Your family had way more money than anyone else on the block. Your father made a solid effort in acting like you guys were as regular as everyone else, but you had way more money than anyone else. Your father played the humble guy. But there were certain little things you would see, particularly with the celebrations at your house. Your mother was very particular about food and very careful with certain items. Actually, I put it this way, As I got older, I perceived anything that had to do with your father and your mother was particular. That whiskey your father drank. I think it was his thing; he got home, sat down, and had his two fingers of scotch, that particular brand. I think you're drinking it right now, Christine."
Christine lifted her glass, "I was worried; I drink his whiskey."
"But what bothered me," continued Julie, "was the one who actually brought
the money into the house was your mother. Your mother had all the money. Your
mother made even more money being head of her field in anthropology, but she made
boatloads with her books. She still does. The advances on her books were more
than your father made in a year with the FBI. But she never made that an issue. It was
hidden from public view, except when you saw the small things. That whiskey, The
bottle was never empty. Bottles permanently full. And your father drank some
every night. This tells me that your mother kept buying new bottles without him
really noticing." Christine nodded her head. "Okay. The food in your house was all top-notch. Your mother could have afforded a cook. Actually, my mother offered her several housekeepers and cooks. And the only time your mom would accept help was if your father had been injured in the field. If your father was injured, which meant that he was either in a cast or in a bed for some reason, then your mother would get someone in to help so that she could wait on him like some servant. But if he wasn't, she didn't want it. Why? Because she wanted to serve him as a sort of nurse."
Christine kind of broke in and said, "Dad wanted us to be normal."
"Yeah,
Your Dad did really well with that. I don't see you driving a fancy car. I don't think Hank drove a car until you left home and your mother; she never drove a flashy car. She lives in a neighbourhood that is not flashy either. I've heard people complain about that. But that's your mother. Yeah, so what was my problem? My problem was your Dad. He was great with us, all of us. But then there were those days that he would come home. It was like he was a bit stiff and sore or something; I don't know what happened. And that would trigger her, your mother would go into a protective mode, no one could talk to him. He couldn't lift his own jacket anymore. She would begin to peel off his outer clothes. She basically sent him to his room. I knew he was in the bathtub soaking, enjoying himself. He didn't help you. He didn't help with Hank. Your mother took care of everything, and she acted as though it was completely normal. I saw that happen so many times. That's bizarre. I would have expected she would be angry at least, tell him you know, take an aspirin -
Christine thinking to herself, said almost to her, "I don't remember that clearly. I remember Dad disappearing into the house and mom making a point that no one would bother him. I know mom was very nervous. But she wasn't angry."
Julia continues, "I never understood it. I mean, she's running the household. She makes more money, and she's got a little bit of a prima donna going on there. Just because - I don't know Seeley Booth legs are tired from running down some criminal that day- I mean, what did he ever do for her? At this point, Christine went from a position of interest listening to a protective daughter. She turned on Julia, "Julia, you're my friend. You grew up with me. What do you really mean?"
Julie in her pent-up anger, "I mean, he was a glorified cop. Your mom was this brilliant mind, a brilliant writer. She put together your family, and he has nothing better than window dressing, and you are in denial.
Christine whispered, "Don't you dare say that. Okay, let me explain something to
you. I have been working on this for a while. Let's say I have been a little negligent in my family affairs." Julie nodded her head. "I have said things to my mother. And I have found out something that I never knew. So, let's go to the question of the building of the family - my family. According to four or five witnesses, my father made it possible for my mother to enter a family. My mother was not what she is now. She wasn't going to get married to
anyone, that is according to her. She was very prickly, mean. Close-minded individual. Why? Her relationship with her father. My Dad melted her; My mother had that point very clear. Another thing is my father protected her. Not just against words but against bullets on more than one occasion. I'm trying to figure out how many occasions, but it seems that it's multiple. And it appears that, According to my sources, it happened way more than once or twice. But this question, you're bringing up about him disappearing. I will get to the bottom of it. I will figure out what happened. But my mother is still and will always be incredibly protective of him. No one could make a nasty comment about him, No one could question him. No one could do anything to him. So, to think that he was somehow not pulling his weight. I find it very difficult. The two of them would bicker, and they did throughout my whole childhood, I should say my entire life."
Julie put her finger up, "I would like to make a point, rip-roaring arguments, I mean insane arguments."
Christine was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, I mean, I was confident that your parents would get divorced at one point."
"Why would you say that?"
"Oh. Oh, There was one time that they were discussing a case, and they just kept
arguing, arguing, arguing, arguing, arguing, arguing, arguing, arguing,
arguing. I was watching it from the couch when wow finally, they went to
another room to continue arguing. And then all of a sudden, your mom came out, continued to argue, but brought back to the room a couple bottles of beer, and they're still arguing. And then I had to go home. I went to say goodbye, and they were sitting on the couch, smiling and drinking a beer. I couldn't understand what had happened. I expected them to be throwing things at each other."
Christine smiled, "That's something I found out. They are both very strong-willed. Contrary to what you may think, both of them are very intelligent. They fight over things. Someone going to lose in turn, or else is going to it's going to end, and they'd let it stop. And they always did it like that. And with time, they would try to bicker less in public because people thought we would get divorced. I told people at school that my parents would get divorced because all of my friends whose parents fought got divorced, and my parents got upset.
"Julie, let me tell you something. When I was in middle school, we were still in the same class. I'm not sure if you remember. But it felt like three-quarters of our class had gotten divorced or separated over the summer. As we were saying, my parents are you a lot. One of the kids in my class had been to my birthday the year before. She was teasing me because I had gotten perfect on a test again. The girl had said, " you are just like your mother, socially unable to connect with anyone, and you are definitely not like your father. Maybe he isn't your father." I got upset. I think I punched her.
But what's more to the point is that when she said that her mother said that my parents weren't really married. They weren't a family because my mother used one last name. And my father had another; I was Christine Booth. I wasn't Christine Brennan. It got under my skin, and at dinner that evening, My parents were arguing over the use of the Italian name for Marinara Sauce. And my father was saying that Alfredo was authentic Italian. And my mother said that Alfredo wasn't really Italian at all. And they were arguing. Finally, I broke out in tears. And I said, "Natalia had said in the schoolyard that my parents were going to get divorced. And we weren't even a family." The argument of my parents ended right there. My parents' eyes grew the size of saucers. And my mother immediately jumped in and asked me to explain myself; I said the following in between tears. "Natalia was saying we're not a family. We don't share the same last name. Mom, You have your own career. You have your own last thing. You make that clear all the time. You say you're more intelligent. You say you are the best in your fields. I guess Dad is here just as a placeholder until you get tired of him, and you move on." I stormed off, went to my room, and slammed the door as hard as possible. That evening, I know my parents spoke in the kitchen. Over coffee, I think it was in really hushed tones so that I wouldn't hear; what I did here was my mother cry bitterly, but it wasn't an argument. It was a broken heart. What my words had done had broken her heart.
The next day, I didn't go to school. My mother said she needed to talk and had work that couldn't be put off any longer. But she asked my father to go into the office and that she'd be available by phone anytime he needed. after breakfast and my father leaving. I got my books together to go to school but realized that I wasn't going. I went, and I sat down on the couch with a book that I had been reading, and my mother tentatively came up to me and said, "Christine, since you asked an adult question, I'm going to treat you as an adult. And with adults, we tend to speak, and as your father has made very clear, this type of conversation needs a beverage; you're not old enough for a beer nor anything else of that kind. But I will ask you to come and have a cup of tea with me. And I need to speak to you." in my child's mind, I thought that I was in trouble. But then I began to panic. The panic overtook me the confidence I always exuded; the Booth aura or confidence melted away. And my mother looked at me and just whispered, "you're my daughter. This is what happens to me. At moments of real stress, I melt." she made her tea. she began to talk, "Christine, Listen to me. I'm going to try to explain this as clear as I can. When I'm finished, you can ask me any question you need or, want but I need this to be clear." Christine nodded. "I always tried to be the best in my field. Being the best. Making a name for myself. came because of Being in foster care. I was always alone. Nobody cared about me. I had to be the best, and no one could forget about it. So, I made the name Temperance Brennan. Everything I did - everything I did- to make this persona, this confident persona; then I met your father. Then we began working together; Then we had success together. Over these years, I've considered it impossible to be separated from Him. He is part of me. That is what I believe I am part of him. We're symbiotic. I've always meant to add Booth to my last name. I always meant to do that. But I think I forgot. it's true, Christine. Your father and I argue; we bicker, but it's never serious. It's not like your friends at school who pretend to be polite but are not. Do you understand?" Christine cried, nodded her head. "So, let's go over a few points here. Your father and I are not getting separated or divorced or any other insanity. The language that we communicate with is a language of fire. If I don't agree with something, he knows if he doesn't agree with something, I know, and being that way is very healthy. If he doesn't like something, he tells me if I don't like something, believe me, I tell him, but you highlighted something last night, and I'm going to fix it today. I'm going to the City Offices. And I'm going to be adding to my last name, Booth. We spoke about it last night; Your father doesn't want me to, but I need to because of our children. When he was younger, Parker asked me the same question shortly After I got married. And I'm beginning to understand why it's so important. So, Christine, I'm sorry for hurting her feelings. I'm sorry for giving you a sense of insecurity. I'm sorry that you felt that you would lose your family. But don't do ever think that again. I will always be here for you as your father will, as Parker and Hank will, and I hope that you understand that. Christine launched from her chair, embraced her mother and soaked her shoulder in tears. And then said, " last night, I stayed up late listening to you, I heard you cry, dad spoke in a low voice, and I was scared that I had pushed you to make a bad decision." Temperance at this point was also crying. "Do you understand, Christine? I was abandoned as a child. My parents left me; I had no one. I had science; I had my mind. But I had nothing else. I know have you, I have your father. I have this beautiful house. Beautiful career -wonderful friends. Why would I want to throw it away?" In a childlike manner, Christine said, "but everyone at school is doing this. Everyone's parents are breaking up. Everyone's getting divorced. Everyone is in sadness. Why am I any different?" Temperance just nodded her head and said, "let me say this. Do you understand What's going on? Be happy with what you have. These other families are going through difficult periods. Just live in the moment in what you have right now. You understand that your father and I work in a perilous profession. And we must take advantage of every moment because something terrible could always happen, And the beauty of this family could be taken from us." Christine was crying harder but nodded her head. "I understand, Mama. Please don't let it happen." Temperance, in her way, said, "Unfortunately, I believe it'll be your father. Father has protected me; he has done incredible things to help me. So, in the end, the one I fear for is your father. That's why I have to deal with him. I'm never going to permit him to die because I think I would die also.
And she tried figuring out a solution only to figure out that that wasn't the
dynamic they lived with. They finish their conversation. Finish their drinks,
finish their starters promise to meet again. Christine promised to visit
Julie's parents, And she sent the love of her mother.
She left the bar, and it wasn't too late Yet. She pulled out her cell phone and
called her mother up. Brennan answered, "Christine, what's wrong?"
"Mom, nothing's wrong. I'm just calling to ask you something."
"Okay, that's something's wrong."
"No, actually, Mom, it's nothing wrong. I just got a question for you. And okay,
I was sitting down for a drink with a neighbour of ours when I was growing up.
Do you remember the Navarro?
"Yes, I remember. They're very delightful people." And she went through a whole itinerary of events, birthdays that they all attended.
Christine laughed and said, "Yeah, mom. Exactly. You got it. All right. She brought up some things about my childhood. And since we're writing a book on his life, I needed these points answered and the only one who could answer them. I think it's going to be you." Temperance Brennan froze on the phone. "Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Do I have to defend someone's honour again?"
"Maybe, but maybe not. I just need some answers."
"I've heard that about you, Christine. People have said that about me too. Come on over. Have some tea. I think you've been drinking it will help with the conversation."
Christine drove over walked into the house, slung her purse in her jacket in the corner and found her mother with her tea already they went to siting in the
living room.
"So, what is the question, Christine? Hit me with it quickly.
And if it's going to be horrible, let me be able to answer as promptly as possible. Christine related what Julie had said to her impressions of her childhood. Temperance more or less nodded her head. "I so far she is pretty much correct." And then she went to the point of Dad and seeing certain days he would come back, and she gave the characteristics that Julie had given. Christine then added a few points. But I remember it would go on for a week. Sometimes he wouldn't go to work. Sometimes he did. And he would just disappear into his room. No one could talk to him. You would block anyone from asking him anything; you would carry things for him."
"Christine," Temperance retorted
Your father was a proud man. And he deserves that pride. But now you're an adult, and being an adult, being an anthropologist, a forensic anthropologist, I think this answer might most easily be given by looking at the evidence. I will provide you with the evidence, and then I will fill in any gaps that you may keep in mind. Always judge from evidence. Don't judge from hearsay."
Temperance stood up and walked to the bookcase. She moved what she thought was a volume on the Muscular Skeleton system of the body only to find out that that was just a label and behind was a secret compartment. Opening up the compartment, she pulled out a lot of files. Christine looked closer at what her mother was pulling out; she could see X-rays, MRI-type printouts. Christine's mind was racing, "What is this?"
Gathering all of it her hands, Temperance put it on the table. She took the teacup from
Christine's hand and said, "no water, no moisture near this. Clean your hands first; I don't want fingerprints on my precious items. So, she cleaned her hands to begin looking at these X-rays. The more she looked at the X-rays. The more horrified she was, feet cracked, bones smashed, burns deep within the leg muscles. Shoulders shattered by bullets, bones crack; the more she looked, the more she was shocked. Finally, looking at the vertebrae and seeing how stressed how fractured these items things were, his hands saw that they had proof of torture, looking at his ribcage, and then finally, she put down the final print Christine's eyes flowing with tears. She looked at her mother and just asked, "Was this Uncle Jared? Christine looked at her closely. And Temperance stated, "Jared would be similar, since he had been shot a few times and his feet were damaged from his parachute training. But no, none of the other things would be there." Christine was now weeping, "these are Dad's X-rays and MRIs." Temperance nodded her head and said, "yes, I can show you where he
was shot, Saving my life. I can show you where he was tortured, When he was in Iraq, I can show you when he was tortured, waiting for me to help save him. can show you where he was damaged when he was blown up in my apartment. I can show you where he defended his younger brother against his abusive alcoholic father. Where he saved his mates in Afghanistan against bombs. He tried to deflect the bombs' action, so as you can see, it was a miracle that your father was able to be functional. A blessing that he could walk at all to pick any of his children up and play with them. So, when your father couldn't take the pain anymore, we had a little signal he would give me; he would call and tell me that his back was tight. I knew what it meant; He didn't hide it from me. He hid it from you, his Children. He hid it from Hank and Parker, but Parker was older. Parker used to understand your father at a level that you two will never understand. When your father was in the VA, they told him to soak in the tub as a young man after being rescued from torture. So, every house he ever had has been a key point that needs a tub to soak. Granted, once we bought our own home, I invested a little money to make the tub a little bit better. And the same goes for here. I did the same thing; That didn't change things. That is just what you do for someone who you love. He wasn't asking for anything. He asked for mercy, and it's my place to give him his honour. So, Christine, what was your friend saying?"
"She was wondering why you did everything, and in her eyes, he didn't do
enough, or didn't do anything at all."
Brennan was now crying. "Why does everyone think that our marriage was a marriage of unequals that I offered up so much more than He did? Why do people think he was there to take advantage? This is a constant point I'm hearing. You have no idea. If I didn't let your father into my heart, I wouldn't have you. I wouldn't have had the wonderful life I have. I wouldn't have the career I had; I wouldn't have anything. I would have been an unfortunate person, probably still in the Jeffersonian alone, But nothing else. So, know well, your father gave me much more than I ever gave him. Your father was a particular type of man. Many
other men would have taken advantage. I met people like that, who took advantage of people. But I could see what he was doing, and I respected him even more when I started hearing people's comments about him. I understood better and better; people are cruel, Christine. And I appreciated it, so when your father was unable, I assumed the lead because the center must hold. I would take his position in the same way that he would
carry mine when I was unable. He brought joy into our house, his Christmas traditions and decorations, and his insistence on birthday parties."
"That was something else that she brought up. She says the birthday parties were
the best. But she said that you set them up all on your own."
Brennan fumed and hit the sofa she was sitting on, "your father again. Your father would set the whole thing up and then position it so that I would be in charge. I didn't know a thing about birthday parties. I never had one as a girl. So, your father would do all the
groundwork; then position the event before your friends' mothers that I did
everything, I was the master event planner. And that he was the useless father
or no better than their own husbands. Your father would stay up late, arranging
things, getting things together, organizing things. Granted, as you got older, I got more involved because I gained experience from what he had already done. But that is also why your father's birthdays were very special. Because on your father's birthday, it was my opportunity to give back to him without him having the ability to call foul. Unfortunately, my birthdays always ended up being better than his, more carefully planned events. He loved celebrations; he loved family celebrations. This was something else people brought up to me and made me very angry. 'Why is it that your children are involved in your birthday? Is your husband too cheap to pay for a babysitter?' I would hear this in horror. I didn't want my children to be sent away on my birthday. What a horrible thought. These friends and acquaintances were criticizing my family for being inconsiderate. Didn't they understand that what gave me joy were my children? In their minds, the best form of a birthday was to have a celebration all by myself. Since according to them, children caused trouble and grief. I guess their husbands cause difficulty and distress. So, I think their birthdays were alone. I, on the other hand, loved having everyone together. Having Parker and then you, and when Hank was older, sitting at the table made me happy. I did leave Hank a couple of times with a sitter because Booth had set up a big dinner, and Hank wasn't going to be comfortable. But people would rail about that. 'How would you be able to stay out late?' One person came to me saying, 'I'm going to speak to this man because...' I stopped her and told this woman, 'no, no way. You will not speak to Booth about this. I enjoy my birthday. That's how I like it. I don't want to be alone. If I wanted to be
alone -your father and I had a good enough relationship- I could tell him, and
he did ask sometimes, and he would have arranged it differently, but he didn't
because I didn't want it. "Christie nodded her head. "I'm sorry, mom. Whenever I ask these questions, they cause you more pain."
"No. I was lonely tonight. I was thinking about your father, and you called, and
you brought back a beautiful memory. Another day, I'll tell you about some of
the other moments that bring back pain but, in a sense, good pain. How about a
time when your father said he would never vote for me? And then - Oh Sweets -
He decided to play an experiment to see if I could exhibit emotions. The
only one who truly going to suffer out of that situation was Booth again. Your Dad ends
up being the guy who gets shot, accused a litany of offences and punched in
public by me; your father didn't even try to defend themself. I regret it then,
and I have regretted it ever since. But I think at that moment, I began to understand that feelings were a little bit deeper than I was willing to accept. But anyway, Christine, it's getting late. You need to head home; You need to go to the Lab tomorrow. I need to get Lab. I'm going to finish my tea, wash up, and go to bed. And I'm going to go and phone your brother to see where he is. This business of him working 24 hours a day has to end. Christine, you were supposed to get him some friends. He needs friends. I had Angela; I had your father. He needs an Angela; he needs a friend. Someone who he can actually talk
to relate to- trust. It can't be you, Christine; it has to be someone else. Everyone has to have a best friend. Your father had that as a point; it's true. Although I failed to understand the role of friendship until later, your father was scared that I would miss misunderstood but anyway. There we are. Christine, you've got an incredible nugget of my life. Please don't post it on your social media, Christine."
"No, I'm not going to post on social media. My father's a war hero; his children
had no idea thought he was a guy who lived with chronic pain. I only understood
this when I read his bones."
Brennan, at this point, touched her daughter's hand and said, "you know how I found
out? Your father was in the hospital again after being blown up in my apartment. Someone
tried to kill me and blew him up instead. And I read his X-rays he told me to please stop because it was too personal. It was our first year together as partners. But I felt that the bones would talk so that I could if you want when everything kind of blows over. We could bring the X-rays and the MRI into the Lab and make three-dimensional printouts and then we could look at the bones themselves and figure out all of his ailments and why he was
in so much pain. His back was a constant source of pain."
Christine cursed herself and muttered, "I'm sorry for asking."
Bones replied, "no, you're an adult; you need to know. But if anyone else brings it up, now you have a responsibility to your father. To correct them, set them straight."
The anger was beginning to come up in Brennan's voice, "And listen, anyone
brings up money again. Just smack them. Your father never took advantage of the
financial inequality. And anything that was outside of his pay scale usually stayed under my name. Although I put his name on all my major purchases the car, the house, you understand, In case anyone would call foul. Our first house, which we ended up fixing up. And unfortunately, it was destroyed by those...losers; that was under both of our names. But the principle of equality that he wanted that I hope when you find someone, Christine, you find someone of the same honourable ilk and don't spend your married life fighting
over money and bills because it's such a waste of time."
Christine cut her off and said that was something else they had talked about, "Her
other problem was the constant bickering; she was confident that you were going
to get divorced."
Brennan laughed, "I miss that so much. Our little bickering, and little fights, fights about simple things, cases, ideas, principles. We got through more exciting things that way. But we spoke what we thought we didn't do the idiotic 'polite' thing that most couples go. They all hold it in and spew it at each other as acid. I don't like tomatoes; your father did. I became a vegetarian. Your father was a carnivore. He spoke His truth to me. I expressed my reality to him. We made it work. I cook meat for him. He would make me vegan sandwiches; I didn't impose it on the children. You and Hank also know a vegetarian solution if you want it. Open
communications. That's what you always need. And these neighbours of ours who are
so polite. They're polite, but they're not real."
Christine nodded her head, "And that's why I'm not scared when I come to you Because you speak the truth."
"Anyway. Oh, Christine."
Christine was making her way to the door, "Parker wants to invite you over for dinner on Saturday. He wanted me to sound you out. If you would be willing to go."
Christine turned to her mother and said, "tell Parker, I'm going. No strings
attached. Whatever is going to come, I'll take it." Christie nodded her head.
Brennan said in a loud voice, "Christine. That's my Booth talking there. Take
your punishment and keep moving. Booth was like that, never dodged the
punishment and always protected those he loved."