A week after Booth was released from the hospital, Rebecca brought Parker to see his Dad. Booth was thrilled to see his son that he almost completely forgot about the pain his body was in. At one point in the evening, Rebecca asked to talk with Booth privately; so, Bones took Parker to the living room to watch a little TV.
"Booth, I've been offered a new position at my office." Rebecca said.
"That's nice. I'm happy for you." Booth replied.
"Well, I accepted the promotion, but I have a huge problem." Rebecca continued. How can I tell him this without hurting him Rebecca thought.
"What's up, Rebecca?" Booth asked.
"Booth, I'm giving my parents legal custody of Parker." Rebecca said softly.
"What?!" Booth yelled at her. The heart monitor he was connected too showing his increased and erratic heart rate. "You're kidding me right?"
"Booth calm down." She told him as her hands pushed him back against the pillows. "My new position requires me to be traveling almost constantly, and that wouldn't be fair to Parker." Rebecca tried to explain.
"Well, it won't be fair if you send him to live with your parents either." Booth said.
"Booth, I know that this is a radical decision, but I'm really only thinking of him." Rebecca said.
"Why can't you leave him with me?" Booth asked.
"Booth, look at you…your sick…you can't take care of yourself. How are you going to take care of a 6 year old?" Rebecca remarked.
"I don't know, but you can't just make a decision like this without consulting me." Booth snapped.
"Booth, I've been thinking about this for a long time." Rebecca continued.
"Does Parker know about this?" Booth interrupted her.
"He knows that I have a new job." Rebecca answered.
"But he doesn't know that he will be living with your parents. Right?" Booth questioned.
"I was hoping that you would help me with telling him."
"Rebecca, your right, I'm not in any condition to take care of myself, but you don't know what I'm capable of doing for my son. I will not help you take my son away from me." Booth said.
"Booth…." Rebecca began.
"Look Rebecca, he is the reason I took all these treatments here in DC. I want to be here with him. Don't do this." Booth nearly pleaded.
Rebecca knew that there was no this conversation would end well; so, she decided to finish it.
"I wish there was another way. I'm sorry if you don't like my decision, but I'm leaving Parker with my parents anyway." Rebecca finished.
Rebecca left Booth alone in his room, a single tear running down his face. A few minutes later, Parker entered the room to say goodbye, and after giving his father a kiss and hug he ran to his mother.
Bones is sitting with Booth, in his room, watching TV. They had begun watching movies every night in Booth's room, but tonight Bones notices that Booth is acting different. He has been quiet since Rebecca left, and his blood pressure is high. However, Bones doesn't want to upset him further by asking questions. So, she sits with him and waits.
"She is giving Parker to her parents." Both finally says, and she can hear the huge sadness in his voice.
"What?!" Brennan asks furiously as she sat at once on the bed.
In less than 2 minutes Booth explains everything to Brennan. She can't believe it. Bones is so furious that she offers to take care of Parker herself until Booth is strong enough to take care of them both. This last comment makes Booth's hear skip a beat. Booth is very worried about Parker. He knows that his son loves his grandparents, but he won't go with them easily.
It was Sunday. It was snowing outside, and the temperature was the lowest recorded so far during the Christmas season. Booth hadn't eaten anything in the two days since Rebecca had told him of her decision re-guarding Parker. Booth knew in his gut that something was wrong. Usually Parker called him in the morning on weekends to talk to him, and by now it was almost two in the afternoon, and still no call from Parker.
By 7 that evening, Booth's nightmare had become a reality. Rebecca as standing at the door to his room, and her eyes were red and puffy, obviously from crying. Booth didn't need to ask her what happened. He automatically ripped out his IV, took off the heart monitor lines, and grabbed his crutches.
"When?" Was all Booth asked as he walks toward the closet and pick up his jacket. She knew he was furious just by the cold serious tone of his voice and the look in his eyes.
"Two hours ago. I went to his room, but he wasn't there and the window was open. I've been out searching for him since, but nothing. I called the police, but they haven't found anything either." She replied.
"You told him right?" Booth asked.
"Yes." Said Rebecca in a low voice, she was rather scared of the menacing tone of Booth's voice.
"You stay here." Booth told Rebecca.
"But you don't know where to find him." Rebecca said.
"I do know Rebecca. I know MY son!" Booth replied.
Booth passed Rebecca and called to Bones. He explained to Bones what happened to Parker, and that he needed to pick him up. Bones ran to get her purse and then they got into the SUV. Rebecca road with them sitting in the back seat. She know that Booth didn't want her there, but she didn't mind at that point, she just needed to find her son.
Half an hour later, Booth was walking slowly toward a small person sitting on a bench in front of a carousel. Booth took a deep breath when he recognized his son. Rebecca had been walking right beside Booth and was about to run to Parker, but Booth stopped her.
"You've already caused enough damage for today. Let me handle it." Booth said coldly.
Rebecca didn't move. Booth had been harsh with her before at times, but nothing like this. She could feel his anger in every word. Booth walked slowly toward Parker, Bones and Rebecca walking a distance behind him. Parker spotted his dad, but he stayed put, just absently staring toward the carousel. After Booth sat down, Parker hugged him and started to cry. Booth could see that Parker had been crying allot.
"It's okay. Everything will be fine." Booth tried to reassure his son.
"I don't want to go Daddy. I want to be with you, but mom says you can't take care of me, but I will help you. I will do whatever you want me to, and I will behave. Please, don't let her take me." Parker pleaded.
"Bub, calm down okay, just calm down." Booth said.
"You don't want me living with you?" Parker asked.
That broke Booth's heart into a thousand pieces. Bones and Rebecca had been listening to the conversation, and Bones gave Rebecca a look that said more than words could have.
"Parker, there is nothing I would love more than for you to live with me everyday." Booth said.
"Buy why are you letting her throw me away?" Parker asked between sobs.
"I didn't agree to this son, and you aren't going to be thrown away." Booth replied.
"I love you Dad, but I don't want to go." Parker said.
"I know son." Booth told him.
"If Mom takes me away from you, I will runaway again and come back to you." Parker said seriously.
"Park, I love you very much, and nothing is going to change that, but running ways is not the answer. Come with me." Booth said.
"Where?" Parker asked.
"To Bones' house. We can figure things out there." Booth told him.
Parker smiled for the first time and stood up. He helped his father stand up, and walked toward Rebecca and Bones. As Parker saw them, he looked angrily at his mother and ran to Bones. She kneeled down and picked him up in a hug.
"I was so worried about you." Bones said.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you and Daddy." Parker told her.
"It's okay." Bones told him.
Rebecca looked amused at the scene, but didn't comment.
They made their way back to the SUV and it was then the Bones noticed how Booth was dressed. He had forgot to cover himself adequately for the climate with all of the rushing around to find Parker. He was dressed only in a pair of pajama pants, a long sleeved cotton shirt and his jacket. They rode back to Bones' house in silence. By now, Booth's hands were cold and he could barely feel them. He kept rubbing them together trying to warm them. Bones asks Parker to grab one of the coats in the back seat and put it over Booth. About this time Booth began to fall asleep.