MAX

I stand as Booth returns to my table and offer my hand.

"Booth, it's good to see you." He shakes my hand, nodding at the greeting.

"Max." We take our seats and he doesn't waste any time. "What can I do for you?"

"What? A guy can't have a cup of coffee without arousing suspicion?"

"Not when it's his fourth cup and he's obviously waiting around for me." I like this kid. He isn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with me… or throw a few punches. "You could have just come by my office, you know." I grin.

"For obvious reasons, the offices of the FBI aren't exactly my favorite place. Plus, I was hoping to talk to you without Tempe popping in." He heaves a disappointed sigh.

"What have you done now, Max? You're not involved in this Gravedigger thing, are you?"

"What? No! I only got into D.C. a few hours ago." I give him a condemning look. "You and Tempe, always expecting the worse from me."

"Can you blame us? It's not as though you haven't tried to kill the Gravedigger before," he reminds me.

"Yeah, but that was before she was locked up. She's no threat to Tempe now. Besides, I'm a reformed man." He barks a laugh.

"So, reformed man, what have you gotten yourself into?" Like I said: He's not afraid to pull punches.

"Nothing!" I protest my innocence, as though the suspicion is wholly unwarranted. "Can't a father come see his daughter?"

"Yeah, he can. Unless, of course, he shows up when something big's going down and doesn't want his daughter to know he's here." He takes a sip of coffee and thrums his fingers against the table, waiting.

"Tempe's the reason I'm here. She called about this Gravedigger thing. I knew she just wouldn't take my word on it when I told her I had nothing to do with it, so I hopped the next flight and brought her all my receipts showing I was in Vermont when it went down. Can't say I'm sorry the woman's dead, though."

"You've seen Bones?"

"As soon as I got off the plane," I confirm. "I fact, we had lunch here at this very table a couple hours ago." His eyes narrow on me.

"Then why don't you want her to know you and me are talking?"

"Because she'll be furious if she knows why I wanted to talk to you." That catches his interest.

"And why is that exactly?" I'm not afraid of a pulling a few punches of my own, and I give it to him.

"You know I like you. I've always hoped you and Tempe would stop the games and finally be together. You know, as a couple."

"I'm with someone, Max," he informs me.

"Yeah. I heard. From a couple of people, as a matter of fact." He's annoyed by this bit of news.

"Exactly who would those couple of people be?"

"Well, Tempe, of course. And her friend, Angel. No, Angela," I quickly correct. "I won't pretend I wasn't disappointed to hear that."

"Well, that's the facts," he replies, blithely. I nod my head.

"Which is why I'm here," I shoot back. "You know how much I love my daughter…"

"I do."

"…And that I'd do anything to keep from her getting hurt."

"You've certainly proven that in the past." He is, of course, referring the Deputy Director of the FBI who I gutted like a fish and then burned at a stake for threatening the lives of Tempe and Russ. Oh, and my attempt to take that piece of misery, the Gravedigger, off the face of the planet. "Yes, well…" I return with an unapologetic lift and drop of my hands. "You need to find another partner and cut Tempe loose." The way his face darkens, I'm prepared to dodge should he throw a fist at me. Instead, he flashes his teeth.

"Why would I do that? Bones and me make a great team."

"Because Tempe is hurting and I think you know that. You may not love her, but I've seen enough to know you care about her. If you're in love with someone else…" I shrug my shoulders, "It is what it is. But move on and cut Tempe loose."

"I can't do that. She'll never understand."

"Unless I've completely misjudged you, you care about my daughter, don't you?"

"You know I do." I stand and clasp his shoulder in my hand.

"Then let her go. She'll get over losing your partnership with a little time. It's killing her to watch you with this reporter." Letting his shoulder go, I pat it a pair of times. "You're a good man. You'll do what's right. It was good to see you. I wish things had worked out differently. I have to admit, I'd grown fond of the idea of you as my son-in-law. Do me a favor and don't tell Tempe I was here." With those final words, I walk away.

I can feel his eyes on me until I disappear from view.