(After season 12)

A/N: this is a follow-up for chapter 156. Thank you for reviewing my story. I appreciate it.

As we all know, I don't own Bones.

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Court had been in session since eight that morning and Hank Lutrell felt that everyone needed a break, especially the jury. Kidnapping cases made most people anxious and the details were gruesome in this case. Determined to have lunch away from his office, Hank rolled his wheelchair out of the courthouse and down the sidewalk until he arrived at the Founding Fathers. It wasn't on his list of favorite places to eat, but it would do for a light lunch. He found the place too noisy most of the time. Moving through the door with the assist of someone who held the door open as she was leaving, Hank smiled at the older woman and appreciated her kindness. The door was heavy and sometimes it seemed the bottom of the door dragged especially after it had rained.

As he rolled down the aisle between the bar and the tables, he moved to the back of the room where the lower tables and chairs were located. Hoping to find a free table, he spied Booth and Jack Hodgins and decided to see if they wanted company. "Hey, Booth. Got room for one more?"

Standing, Booth moved the chair next to him over next to the wall and sat back down allowing Hank to move his wheelchair into the space next to him. "How's it going? I heard you had the Cramer case."

"It's bad. You know I can't talk about it, but it's really bad." Hank took the menu from the server, glanced at it and turned his attention to the young lady waiting for his order. "Chef's salad, add extra bacon, ranch dressing, some fries, extra crispy and a large Coke. That should do it."

"You got it Judge Lutrell."

Once the server was gone, Hank sipped some water from the glass in front of him. "Haven't seen you for a while, Booth. It's been three weeks, I think. How's Temperance and the kids?"

"They're fine. Hank is starting to lose his baby teeth and he's fussy about it. It's kind of freaking him out." Booth sipped some of his coffee and placed the cup back on the table. "I can't blame him, but he'll be fine." He remembered going through this with Parker and Christine, so he knew it was just something his son would have to tolerate. "How's Jennie and the kids? I hope Adam is doing okay. A broken leg is a pain that's for sure."

Amused, Hodgins sniggered. "Good pun, Booth."

Puzzled, Booth thought about what he said and smiled. "That was unintended but thanks."

Curious, Hank turned his attention upon Hodgins. "How're you doing Jack?" The only time he'd ever talked to Jack Hodgins he'd found a bitter man who had given up on his life. This Jack seemed to be cheerful. Of course, four years had gone by, so something had to change if he was sitting here having lunch with Booth and smiling over an accidental joke.

"I'm doing pretty good, thanks for asking." Jack remembered the last time he'd talked to the judge and though he hadn't appreciated it at the time, he did appreciate the conversation now. Hank Lutrell had probably saved his life. "Angela and I are going to renew our wedding vows on Christmas Day this year. I'd like you to come. I mean if you want to. You don't have to."

Glad to hear that Jack and Angela were doing that well, Hank smiled at the entomologist. "You bet, just send me an invitation. Jennie never turns down a wedding invitation. She loves to have a good excuse to cry. She's very sentimental." He was so proud of his wife that sometimes he wondered how he got to be so lucky to be with someone that fascinated him and encouraged him to do better. He also knew where he'd be without her. Probably dead.

Chuckling, Booth nodded his head. "Remember that time that Adam's goldfish died and Jennie threw a wake. God, I love that woman . . . as a friend by the way."

"Ha, as if she wouldn't kick your ass if you tried anything." Hank noticed Jack staring at him and laughed. "Jennie teaches self-defense classes at the Y . . . Booth has helped her out a few times playing the bad guy. The kids love it."

"They would." Booth rubbed his lower back. "I had to tell Jennie to find someone else to help her out. The last time she threw me I missed two days of work because my back was killing me. I'm too banged up to be a crash dummy."

Hank knew about that and knew that Jennie had recruited Adam to help her. "Yeah, I know. Adam is the crash dummy now, well as soon as his leg is healed . . . So Jack, I'm glad things are going well for you."

"One day at a time, Judge Lutrell." Hodgins still had his bad moments, but they were becoming fewer with each passing year. "No miracles, just hard work and living my life with my family. They've been my rock I have to tell you. My son, Michael Vincent is doing great in school and we have a laboratory set up in the house so I can help him do experiments and raise his menagerie. He says he wants to be a veterinarian when he grows up. That would make me so proud."

He had been where Jack had been for a lot longer than he had and he knew that the man would have to fight for what he wanted for the rest of his life. As a paraplegic he knew Jack had entered a different world, but he seemed to have adjusted. It took time, but it was doable. "Sounds cool. We only have a dog and she's spoiled rotten. My daughter Cindy loves that dog so much I'm afraid how she's going to take it when Buttons passes. Buttons is ten years old . . . I guess another lesson in life. Still, Buttons is a great dog and we've loved having her in our lives . . . Well that took a sad turn didn't it. Don't mind me. The case I'm judging is depressing me . . . So, Booth, is Temperance almost done with her new novel? Jennie and I can't wait for it to be published. She's not going to kill you off again is she . . . I mean Andy? She was mad as a hornet at you last year for that stunt you pulled with the Patterson case and she told Jennie she was going to kill off Andy."

Worried, Booth shook his head. "I didn't know that . . . she didn't say anything to me about it . . . Jack, do you know if she killed me off?"

Amused, Jack decided it would be wise not to smile. "Not to me, maybe she was just blowing off steam. I mean, you did break your left arm when you chased Jamie Patterson through the woods."

"What the hell was I supposed to do? Let him get away?" Booth was still angry that he had been stupid enough to step on a rotten log and fall through it breaking his arm. He was lucky he didn't break anything else. "Besides, I got a promotion right after that and I haven't been in the field since then. She shouldn't kill me off in her book because of a broken arm."

Hodgins held up his hand. "Don't shoot the messenger, Booth. I'm not your wife. You'll have to talk to Dr. B about it."

Grumbling, Booth leaned back so the server could place his food in front of him. Believe me, I'm going to talk to her. Kill off Andy, kill off me? No way.

"Booth, I asked you to pass the ketchup." Hank knew that his friend was upset and it would be wiser to change the subject. "So how about those Phillies? What a dumb ass move to trade Ricky Migues to Dallas. I mean what is the front office using for brains these days? Huh? Booth?"

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