"Booth." Booth glanced over Max's shoulder to look at Brennan.

"What, didn't you miss me?" Temperance opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as her father ushered Booth inside.

"Come inside son. Now, what brings you all the way from Washington?" Brennan left the tree and approached the pair, her arms crossed across her chest.

"Isn't it obvious dad? He just had to track me down. I left DC for a reason Booth, and I'd appreciate it if you'd go home."

"That's mighty presumptuous of you Bones. Actually I'm here to see your father." Booth looked quickly around the room, frowning slightly as he spotted Gavin. Brennan glared indignantly at Booth. Max glanced once around the room, noting all attention was on them. The ex-con once again turned his attention to the FBI agent.

"So, is Parker back from his trip to camp? I heard he got hurt." Brennan looked at her father as though he was crazy. Had he talked to Booth when she asked him not to?

"Yeah," Russ piped in, "how is your son doing?" Booth glanced once more at Gavin before answering the pair.

"He's doing better, just a bump on the head, nothing serious." For the first time, Brennan looked concerned.

"Something happened to Parker and you're here? How could you just leave him?"

"The job is my priority right now. Besides, he's with Rebecca, you should know that."

"You're unbelievable! I can't believe you'd just live him with Rebecca and leave town. Do you not care about him now?" Booth rounded on Bones, his hands on his hips causing his suit jacket to spread out, his firearm showing. Gavin noticed the gun and frowned. This man, Booth was obviously the reason Temperance left Washington DC. He figured that she left because of a man, but leaving a husband and child wasn't quite what he expected.

"Don't accuse me of not caring. You're the one who ran away from her problems, not me." There was murder in his eyes as he faced off against Brennan. Gavin was concerned for Temperance and rose to stand next to her in a protective gesture. Booth flicked his gaze over onto Gavin, sizing the man up. They were about the same height, but Booth definitely had size on the other man. Just Bones' type, he thought ruefully. Before anyone could say or do anything they'd regret, Max steered Booth back to the front door.

"Son, why don't we talk outside?" With that, the ex-con and the FBI agent made their way back outside. Once the door closed behind him, Max turned to Booth seriously.

"Now that we're away from prying ears, how's Charlie?" Booth sighed and leaned back on the railing of the front porch. The house was decked out for the holidays with twinkling lights on the eaves and lit up, animated reindeer in the front yard.

"The bump on his head was pretty bad. He's still in the hospital for a few days, but should be going home after that."

"Did you get all of the information from him?"

"I didn't get anything from him; he was still out like a light when I got to the hospital. Cullen only told me that you suspected someone was following you."

"Yes. We went to meet Ruthie's sisters and as we were heading into the house, I noticed someone watching us from across the street. I called Charlie to inform him and he was sent out to investigate the matter."

"I will never understand why they put such a green agent on your case. I'm taking over your case from him."

"Well I kind of figured that when I opened the door. What exactly happened between you and Temperance? She's hardly mentioned you since we left the wedding."

"It's nothing I can talk about. Listen, I'll be staying close to keep an eye on things, but I need to get back to my hotel."

"You're more than welcome to stay in the house Agent Booth. Russ lives nearby with Amy and the girls, so we have an extra room here."

"I don't know. I doubt that Bones will be very welcoming to the idea."

"It's not her decision. Besides, you can do your job better if you're here." Booth looked around Max and into the living room through one of the windows. He could see Gavin straining to see what was going on.

"Who's the joker Bones brought home?"

"That would be Gavin Maguire." Max pulled a face as he said the name. Booth crossed his arms and frowned slightly.

"I don't like him. Something's off about him."

"Well I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way. I don't trust the guy, but I'm being nice for Tempe's sake."

"I'm sure she appreciates it." Booth looks down at his watch and stretched. "I need to get going. I have to get back to my hotel. I'll be back in the morning."

"Booth, seriously, stay here. You won't be interfering with anything." For a minute, Booth looked conflicted before giving a quick nod.

"Okay, then I'll be back in a little while. I just need to pick up my clothes from the hotel I checked in at."

"I'll see you in a little while. We'll be eating in about an hour if you're back by then." With one final nod, Booth left and Max went back in the house. Brennan looked at the door and sighed with relief.

"He's gone?"

"For the moment. He'll be back in a little bit."

"What do you mean he'll be back?"

"Booth is going to stay with us for a while. I'm sure you understand."

"He can't stay here. Dad, what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that he's my guest and we have some unfinished business to take care of. Relax honey, it'll be fine." Max smiled and pottered back into the kitchen to check on the progress of his lasagna. This was definitely going to prove interesting.

XxXxX

"Look, Rebecca I'm sorry, okay, but there's no way that I can be back in time for Christmas…you think I don't know that he'll be disappointed? I'm on assignment until further notice." Booth sighed as he made his way through the hotel he'd checked into. The place, Zehnder's Splash City was incredibly family friendly with an indoor water park and decorations obviously meant to appeal to children. Parker would probably love the place. If only he weren't here on assignment…but then again he was with Brennan. Maybe… "Well, what if he flies out for a couple of days. He'd probably like this place… No, I'm not crazy. Do you honestly think that I'd have him come out if I thought his life would be in danger? You know what fine, you're right. I'm a terrible father. I'll add it to the 'Ways that Seeley Booth has messed up list' how about that?" Booth hung up the phone and let out a sigh. He honestly didn't know if his life could get any more screwed up than it was currently.

He glumly headed up to his room to collect his belongings before heading back to Max's house. Temperance obviously was settled in pretty well if she'd managed to find herself a boyfriend. There was just something about the guy that didn't sit right with him. It wasn't anything obvious, but his gut was telling him to watch out for him.

As he reached his room, his cell phone rang. Booth glanced at the caller id, rolling his eyes. It was Cullen.

"Do you have any more information on that hit man," he asked as he answered the phone, deciding to skip the niceties.

"Sorenson finally got the name of the target, and I don't know if you're going to like it."

"Who's the target?" Booth closed his eyes praying that this wasn't going to complicate his life anymore. He couldn't be in two places at once with two high profile cases.

"Max Keenan." He stopped gathering his clothes and paused at the information. Well that was different.

"Why on earth would they send a hit man after Max? How would they know I was connected to him?"

"I'm sure Max can answer that for you. I'm sorry Agent Booth but it looks like you'll be there a lot longer than even I thought."

"Yeah, well I've already called in to cancel my family obligations so…"

"Once the case is over, you can go ahead and take some vacation time if you'd like."

"Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll be okay with just work."

"Keep me updated on your progress."

"Of course sir." Booth hung up and sat down. Somehow the Costello's found out he was connected to Max's family. Everything he'd done to keep the focus on himself and now they were targets… What was he going to do?

XxXxX

"So I'm guessing that he was the reason you left Washington, am I right?" Gavin looked at Temperance as they sat in front of the fireplace. The tree was finished and the lights twinkled merrily into the room. Amy and Russ were hanging stockings while Emma and Haley strung popcorn and cranberries to hang on the tree. Temperance looked over the domestic scene and sighed. Her conversation with Booth at his wedding came back to her as she watched her family decorate.

"What we feel has no bearing now. You're married. You chose Annabelle, not me. I'm glad you're happy with her, and that you'll get the life you've always wanted."

"Is that what you think is important to me? The house and the wife and kids? Jesus Bones, there are other considerations I'd make in life if…"

"If what? If you'd known how I felt? You mean to tell me that you would give up everything that means the most to you in order to be with me?"

"Yes." Brennan shook off the thought. He had someone else, and the only reason she was thinking of this now was his forced appearance in her life again. She finally looked back over at Gavin who was watching her curiously.

"Booth is part of the reason I left Washington, but I do intend to return in a few months. I still have my career out there."

"So you two were close?"

"Very close. Can we not talk about this please?"

"Of course. I didn't like how he was with you. He shouldn't have been threatening like that." Russ overheard the comment and snorted. He refrained from comment though at Temperance's look. Brennan leaned forward and kissed Gavin on the lips.

"The concern is appreciated, but I can take care of myself." She felt a chill run up her back just before the familiar prickle of someone watching her. She turned around and locked eyes with Booth. At the look in his eyes, she knew he'd seen the kiss. As she met his look with a defiant one of her own, she refused to care at the somewhat angry expression she saw there.