(The Male in the Mail)

Thank you for reviewing my story. I appreciate it.

I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

His son gone, Hank made arrangements for Edwin to be buried by his mother, Marie in Philadelphia. Edwin had a life insurance policy that would cover his funeral and leave something extra for his son, Seeley.

Years ago, when Edwin had felt the twinges of old age settling in, he'd bought a life insurance policy. He didn't want anyone to have to find the money to bury him. He'd also made sure there was enough money left over that would go to his oldest son. The horror of what he had done to his wife and children had been with him for a long time, but the day he'd tried to kill his oldest son was forever burned into his memory. The boy had been given a model airplane for his birthday by his grandfather and being the nine year old child he was, he accidentally spilled glue on the kitchen table. For some reason he had never understood, he had lost his temper and started beating Seeley. Not satisfied with the cries coming from his son, he had grabbed him by the neck and tried to chock him.

The fact that his father had chosen that moment to come over for a visit had been divine providence as far was Edwin was concerned. Hank had grabbed him, pulled him from Seeley and threw him against the wall. He had never seen someone so angry and he knew that Hank was barely in control.

"Get out! Get out before I kill you!"

His father had meant every word and Edwin had fled the house. Those words had haunted him for years as did the thought that he had almost killed his little boy. The guilt made him pray for his boy on a daily basis and he had hoped that leaving him money would help him in some way. Oddly enough, he had thought that his treatment of Jared hadn't been that bad and that he didn't owe his youngest boy anything. His oldest boy and his wife had taken the brunt of his anger and since he couldn't do anything for Marianne, he could try to make up for what he had done to his oldest son even if it was just money.

Oooooooooooooooooo

The burden of Edwin's death rested on his shoulders and Hank knew that. Once he filled out the papers needed to release the body for burial, he had talked to a VA representative and was given numerous papers that needed to be signed by Edwin's beneficiary. Hank knew that it was going to be hard to get Seeley to sign them, but he would force him to do it if he had to. Edwin's affairs needed to be completed and he didn't want that hanging over anyone's head for very long.

After a taxi ride to the hospital he found out that Seeley and Temperance had gone home. They had jobs and they couldn't stay in the hospital with Jared. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Not really." Jared sipped some water through a straw and placed the glass back on the table located next to his bed. "My leg hurts like hell, but the doctor said it should calm down some in the next few days. I just need to take the medication and let it work."

Hank decided to be blunt. "Your father is dead, Jared." His grandchildren were never ones to want anything sugar coated. "He died yesterday."

"Okay." There was nothing else for him to say. Edwin had been a horrible father and the only reason that he hadn't suffered more under the man's hands had been because his brother had protected him as much as he could. "Seeley and Tempe are going to let me stay with them while my leg heals . . . I'm not sure why, but I'm glad they offered. I don't have anywhere else I can go."

Hank hadn't expected his grandson to react sad about the death of his father, but he had hoped there might be a hint of regret. "I'm glad they're going to help you . . . Has Padme come by to see you yet?"

"Nope." Not really surprised, Jared shook his head. "She's still mad at me . . . I'll try to make it up to her when I'm well. I just need to get a job. She's upset that she has a job and I don't. I get it . . . I have a friend that might hire me. I'll check with him when I can."

"I need to go and get Seeley to sign some papers. I'm going to have your father buried next to his mother . . . There isn't going to be a funeral. Just a graveside service." Edwin didn't have very many friends and Hank didn't see the point of having a funeral if he was the only one there.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

It hadn't surprised Hank that his oldest grandson didn't really care that his father was dead. The hate that his boy had for his father was deep seated and would probably always be there. He had prayed that Seeley would let that hate go someday and forgive his father. His father didn't deserve forgiveness, but Seeley needed closure.

Sitting in the kitchen watching his grandson preparing dinner, Hank decided it was time to push. "I need you to sign the papers I brought. Edwin had an insurance policy, social security, pension documents, probate forms . . . they need to be signed and you're his executor. He made you his beneficiary."

"I don't want anything from him. Nothing." Booth continued to peal garlic cloves. The fact that his father had left him money just made the situation worse. Did his father think he could buy his forgiveness? He didn't need Edwin's insurance policy. The hell with him. "He was never there for me. You raised me, not him. He was never there, understand? You don't have to defend him to me."

"I wasn't . . . He was my son. Good or bad, he was my son." Disappointed in his grandson, Hank shook his head in anger. "I got to tell you, I'm a little disappointed that you don't seem to see the hurt I'm feeling."

Surprised, Booth stared at his grandfather for a few moments and realized that he had let his hate color his reactions about his father. His grandfather had lost his son and here he was acting like nothing had happened. As much as he hated his father, he knew that his grandfather loved Edwin, like he did Parker. "I'm sorry, Pops." And he was. He should have seen the pain that his grandfather was in and been kinder.

"You don't think I know what it was like for you?" Hank tried to remain calm, but this conversation was worse than he had thought it would be. "You don't think I don't feel responsible? I raised him. Don't you feel responsible for your boy? Seeley . . . we're family. We got to get through this together."

Embarrassed that he had upset him, Booth moved over to where his grandfather was sitting and began to sign the papers his grandfather had laid on the table. "You're right. Okay, anything for you, Pops. Anything." He owed his grandfather so much, he owed him his life and he would treat the old man with the dignity and respect he deserved. "There, they're signed." He moved back over to the stove and continued to prepare dinner. Brennan was tired and lying in their bedroom resting and he needed to finish cooking dinner for her as well as them . . . "I'm sorry, Pops. I'm sorry for your loss."

He hadn't meant to speak so harshly to the boy, but he needed him to understand that there was more going on than he was seeing. He didn't want his grandson to be that callous towards someone even if that person had deserved it. That wasn't who Seeley was and he needed his boy to understand that. "Edwin is gone, Seeley. He's gone. He's going to be buried next to his mother. I don't expect you to go Philadelphia for the service. I'm just telling you what's going to happen. I'm not going to have a funeral, just a graveside service. His life insurance policy will pay for it. Since the insurance money is going to you, I'll send you the bill to pay for that and a gravestone as soon as I can . . . Thank you for signing the papers."

"Sure, Pops." He hadn't meant to be cruel towards his grandfather. He loved Hank and he shouldn't have been cruel to him about his loss. "I really am sorry about you losing your son. I know that you loved him." He didn't know what else to say. He was sorry that Hank had lost his son, but he wasn't sorry he had lost his father.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The house was quiet and everyone had retired to their bedroom. Hank had taken a long hot soak in the guest bathroom and was now resting in bed. He hoped that he would sleep. He really hadn't slept well since the VA had called him to tell him that his son was dying. Now that Edwin was gone, there were a few things that had to be taken care of then he could return to the retirement home.

Booth lay on their bed beside Brennan and stared at the ceiling. "Dad is dead." He didn't really feel anything accept relief. He was sad for his grandfather, but for himself he only felt relief.

"I'm sorry, Booth." Her lover was not showing the normal signs of grief and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to react. Normally Booth was compassionate and his indifference towards his father's demise was confusing her. She knew about his childhood and assumed that he couldn't forgive his father for the awful things he had done to him and Jared.

"I'm not." Booth exhaled deeply. "He doesn't mean anything to me."

He was making it plain that he didn't want to talk about Edwin and she wouldn't force him to. "Alright . . . I'm glad that Hank stayed the evening. He looks tired."

"Yeah . . . he reminded me that he'd lost his son. I forgot that Edwin was Pops' son, as stupid as that sounds . . . Pops is going to have a graveside service for Dad. He's going to be buried next to my grandmother."

Feeling an unusual pressure in her stomach, Brennan placed her hand over her stomach and waited to see what would happen next.

"What's wrong?" Booth had noticed the odd look on her face and he grew concerned. "Are you having your baby? Do I need to call the mid-wife?" Rolling from the mattress, he walked around the bed and knelt next to where Brennan lay. "Hey, Bones . . . are you alright?"

A slight smile on her face, Brennan looked at her partner and nodded her head. "I think you should call her. I'm not quite sure if I'm in labor, but if seems like I am." Suddenly she felt a pain rip through her body leaving her panting until it faded away . . . I think I'm sure now."

Calmly, Booth retrieved her phone from the nightstand, checked her contacts and made the call. Once that was done, he removed a pair of jeans and a t-shirt from the dresser and got dressed. "Do you need anything? Would you like some water?"

Another pain shooting through her, Brennan shook her head. "I just need the mid-wife."

Dressed, he walked down the hallway and woke his grandfather. "Pops, I hate to wake you up, but I need you to go to the living room and let the mid-wife in when she arrives. Bones is in labor and I need to stay with her."

Instantly alert, Hank moved from the bed and dressed. "You go see about Temperance, I'll watch for the mid-wife . . . Go, Seeley."

"Thanks, Pops." Moving back into the bedroom, Booth sat on the edge of the bed and held Brennan's hand. "Hey . . . I'm here, Bones. You're not alone . . . I love you."

"I love you too, Booth." Clutching his hand, she felt more pain course through her body. "The pain is worse than I thought it would be . . . Reading about what to expect hasn't really prepared me for this." Brennan gasped as the pain returned. Once it was past, she exhaled deeply. "I wish my mother was here."

Surprised at that remark, Booth walked into the bathroom, retrieved a clean hand towel and brought it back to wipe the beads of sweat from her face. "I wish she was too."

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

Let me know what you think of my story. Thank you.