(Season 10)
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He had been in prison when his grandfather had died. Unable to say good-bye to the man he considered his real father at his funeral, Booth had mourned his passing in private. He had attended a chapel service in prison and he had asked Father Garcia to pray for Hank Booth and the good father had promised he would. The Father has assured him that Pops had moved onto a much better place and he wanted to believe that.
Once Booth was released from prison and the race to solve the case that had propelled him there had been completed he had found his way to the cemetery in Philadelphia where his grandfather had been buried next to his wife. The spot was lovely and the grave stones were shaded by a large oak tree. Brennan had stood by his side while he had knelt before the graves and cried. His ties with the good part of his childhood were gone and he'd never forgive Durant for keeping him away from Pops' side in his last moments.
Over the weeks, he had tried to move on and for the most part he had, but occasionally, his daughter would bring up his something his grandfather had done or said while Booth was in prison and it felt like a blow to his body. Hank had started to decline when his grandson had been imprisoned and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Brennan had wanted the old man to stay with her, but her house had been destroyed and living in a hotel room would not have been comfortable for someone so frail. She had tried to expedite the purchase of a house, but Hank had died before she could do that and she had mourned the fact that her grandfather-in-law had not been with his family in his last days. Booth knew that she had tried to do right by his grandfather, but circumstances had prevented her from making it possible. He would always be grateful that she had made sure his last days were comfortable and had made sure Christine had seen her great-grandfather several times before he was gone.
Standing in front of his grandfather's grave, Booth rubbed his eyes as tears leaked from the corners. He had awakened that morning with the urge to be near his grandparents. He had slipped out of bed, dressed and left a note for Brennan letting her know where he was.
Once he was at the gravesite, he had placed flowers in front of each of his grandparent's stones and had prayed. Feeling sad, he had blown his nose on a handkerchief and tried to control his emotions. He had to accept the reality of the situation. They were gone and he would not see them again until his final day on Earth was done.
"Too much grieving will disturb the dead." She had stood near the tree and watched Agent Booth grieving and she felt sad for him.
Startled, Booth wiped his hands against his eyes and turned to face Avalon. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm not sure how to answer that question." Avalon sighed. "If I tell you the truth you won't believe me."
Angry, Booth tried to control his temper. "I don't need your mumbo jumbo today, Avalon. I'm here paying respects to my grandparents. Even you have to understand that."
Not insulted, Avalon nodded her head. She understood the man before her. She knew he was a spiritual man, but there were limits in what he was willing to believe. "I was sitting at home last night, reading a book when I got a message that told me that I needed to be here today at this time."
"Bullshit." Booth wasn't interested in Avalon's trickery. "I didn't decide to come here until this morning."
"Exactly." Avalon shook her finger at the agent. "Hank told me that you're blaming yourself for not being by his side when he died and he wants you to stop that. Dr. Brennan had seen him just a few hours before he passed away and he was comfortable when he left this plane of existence. He was tired and wanted to leave. Hank wants you to stop blaming yourself for him leaving because this had nothing to do with you. He had lived a long life and he wanted to have some peace. He needed peace Agent Booth."
He couldn't help it. She was there talking about Hank and he needed to understand. "But I probably made him want to leave. I was in prison for murder and . . . "
"Stop! Just stop Agent Booth." Avalon was angry. The man before her had taken on burdens that weren't his. "Your grandfather was old and he was tired. Your being in prison had nothing to do with Hank wanting peace. He wanted to be with Marie. He wanted to be with the woman he loved. He had lived without her for a long time and he had found companionship to help with the loneliness, but as he got older he realized that he had been happiest with her. He wanted to be with his wife, Agent Booth . . . He says he probably should have tried to stay until you were released from prison, but he was so tired and he wasn't sure how long it would take Brennan to get you out . . . he loved you so much. He knew that his grand-daughter-in-law would save you and he knew that you would be alright. Hank understood that he had raised a strong and compassionate man. You made him so proud . . . He had always wanted what was best for you, but he just couldn't stay and he's sorry. If he had it to do over again he would have waited since you're taking his death so badly, but he can't undo what has been done. He wants you to be happy. He wants you to live your life and once that life is done, he will meet you on the other side . . . Do you understand?"
Slowly nodding his head, Booth glanced at the grave stone with Hanks' name chiseled on it. "Yes, I do . . . He saved my life. He saved my life and the life of my brother. Our father was . . . he wasn't a good man and Pops . . . Pops did what he could for us. If he hadn't taken me from my father . . ." He didn't say anything else. He didn't really know Avalon and he wasn't sure why he was saying such things to her.
"You would have killed yourself." Avalon sighed. "Child abuse is so horrifying. A parent should love their child, but not all parents are fit to have children . . . I'm glad you had someone like Hank to take you and your brother in. You made him happy and he loved you so much."
A tear escaped and slid unnoticed down Booth's cheek. "He was a great man."
"He was." Avalon agreed. She admired Hank Booth and his compassion. "Your grandfather wants you to stop beating yourself up about not seeing him before he died. He missed seeing you, but he accepted what was going on. He was never ashamed of you and he knew . . . he knew that you were in prison under false pretenses. He also had faith that your wife would find a way to take care of you and she did. Hank was right to be confident and you need to just let this go. Live your life, Agent Booth. Be happy."
He turned to stare at Avalon. "No one told you I would be here?"
"Hank told me, Agent Booth." Avalon smiled. "I'm not a mind reader."
"Uh huh." Booth wanted to believe what Avalon had told him. "If only I had a sign that he's alright."
Avalon placed her hands on her hips. "What would you consider a sign? Hank says that you're too stubborn for your own good . . . He says don't forget to come visit him on Memorial Day and to go visit his friend James Rawlings over at Arlington too. He expects you to keep up family traditions. He wants you to eat a slice of green olive pizza on that day to remember him by."
Filled with disbelief, Booth stared in shock at the psychic. "Green olive pizza? How . . ."
"Hank told me." Avalon chuckled. "Someday you're going to believe me, Agent Booth."
He already did believe in her gifts, but he would never admit that to her or anyone else.
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