This chapter is actually a continuation of the last one. I wasn't originally planning to write the visit with Max, but I had a few people asking for it (and my muse ran off today), so I went ahead and did it. As always, let me know what you think!


Chapter 19—Prison

She seemed better when he picked her up a few hours later. Still quiet, but she actually looked at him and answered his questions. As they neared the maximum security prison, however, she withdrew further and further into her protective shell.

"Bones?" he asked after he'd pulled the SUV into the nearly empty parking lot, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

She looked over at him, and his heart broke for the pain he saw etched into her features. "No," she replied, blinking back tears, "but it's something I need to do."

"Ok," he said, unbuckling his seat belt and climbing out of the car. Within minutes they had entered the facility and were talking to the man at the front desk.

"I'm sorry Sir," he said, addressing Booth. "I was given strict orders not to admit anyone to see Max Keenan."

"Look," Booth replied, his voice edged with a threat, "This is his daughter, and I am the FBI agent who arrested him. Check your computer and you'll see we were granted permission to see him anytime we damn well please."

"Sir, I'm just following orders," the man said again, visibly recoiling from the look Booth was giving him.

"Just check the computer, okay?"

The man quickly pulled up the information in the computer, a look of relief crossing his face as he saw their names on the list. "I'm sorry Sir, but the computer does say you are allowed to see him. Please walk down the hall and take the second left, where you'll check in and turn over your belongings. Someone there will take you to see Mr. Keenan."

"Thank you," Booth said tersely, wrapping his arm around Brennan's shoulders as he led her down the hall.

Twenty minutes later, after being thoroughly searched and having every single item taken away from them, they were led to the visiting room to see Max. They sat in the uncomfortable chairs, not looking at each other or around the bare room, both trying to compose themselves for the visit.

Two guards entered the room, startling Booth and Brennan. Max followed behind them, his hands cuffed and feet shackled, and behind him were two more armed guards.

"You have 20 minutes," the first guard who had entered informed them as he left, the other unarmed guard following behind them. The two armed men stood on either side of the door, watching Max intently.

"Hey," Booth said to the guards, who just raised their eyebrows in acknowledgement. "Can you guys stand outside and give us some privacy?" he asked, "Max isn't going to hurt us or pull anything funny."

"Fine," the guard on the right said, opening the door, "but we're watching you."

Once they both exited and pulled the door shut, Booth turned back to Max, who had taken up a chair across from them. "Hey Max, how are you doing?" Booth asked conversationally, aware of Brennan's rigid posture next to him. Moving his hand under the table, he placed it on her knee, squeezing it lightly in reassurance.

"Thank you for coming Booth, Temperance," Max responded, his eyes watching his daughter's tight features. "It was a pleasant surprise to hear you were both here to see me."

They both nodded slightly, Brennan still not speaking. After a few minutes of idle chitchat, Booth's curiosity became too much. "It's a good strategy by your lawyer to have the arresting officer testify as a character witness, Max. How did you know I wasn't going to testify against you?"

Max chuckled, a grin spreading across his features while amusement twinkled in his eyes. "I know you're a good man, Booth. And I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt my Temperance, especially something like testify against me. And since I don't really have anyone who isn't family to serve as a character witness, I knew you would be perfect, even if you hadn't been the one to arrest me. Actually, no one else would have been able to arrest me."

"Why did you let him, Dad?" Brennan finally asked, needing to hear it for herself even though Booth had told her weeks before.

Max looked at his daughter, once again seeing the pain he had caused. "Because I couldn't leave you again, Temperance. I know it hurt you every time I came and left, but it was hurting me too. I couldn't keep doing it to you, so I did the only thing I knew that would redeem me in your eyes. I gave up running." He reached across the table to take her hand in his, holding it softly as he looked at her. "Temperance, I'm sorry," he said softly, praying she would understand even though he didn't believe in a God.

They sat like that for a moment in silence, the weight of everything hanging over them. Suddenly the door opened and the armed guards were back, hauling Max to his feet. "Good bye for now Temperance, Booth," he said as he was led from the room.

"Bye Dad," she called after his retreating form. "We'll come back another day," she said more softly, knowing he couldn't hear her.

Booth squeezed her knee again before standing to leave. As always, he offered her his hand, not expecting her to actually take it. When she did, he was momentarily stunned. Did she willingly just give into my "Alpha Male tendencies?" he wondered, helping her to her feet and leading her from the room.

After collecting their things, the pair left the prison. Booth pointed the car towards the diner, in need of a piece of pie, knowing Brennan needed to eat before he took her back to the lab.