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When Brennan opened the door to her apartment, she found her father and Russ standing there. Hugging Max and Russ, Brennan thanked them for coming.

"Booth seems to be very cranky today. He says it's because he wants to stay in the living room; but, I think it's because he's in pain and refuses to admit it."

Walking into the living room, Max and Russ saw that Hank was sitting on the couch. Nodding his head at them, Hank got up, walked down the hallway and entered the guestroom he was staying in.

Looking after Hank, Max asked Brennan, "What's wrong with Hank? Is he mad at me or something?"

Shaking her head, Brennan said, "No, Hank is worried about Booth. He thinks that Booth isn't taking his pain medication like he should. He also thinks that Booth is trying to pretend that nothing happened to him in Louisiana. Hank's afraid that Booth is going to explode if he doesn't talk about it with someone; but, he refuses to talk about it with me or Hank. I'm not sure what to do about it. I offered to get Dr. Sweets to come over and talk to Booth; but, he told me it isn't necessary. I talked to Angela and she thinks Hank may be right."

Shaking his head, Max said, "You know Honey, Booth may just be upset that he's confined to bed. I get the feeling that he feels like a prisoner. Do you want me to talk to him?"

Nodding her head, Brennan said, "If you can get Booth to talk to you then I would appreciate it. He normally talks to me about everything; but, for some reason he won't this time. I'm worried about him."

Pointing at Russ, Max said, "Russ stay here with Tempe. I'm going to go talk to the knuckle head and see what his problem is." Walking down the hall, he heard Cam talking to Booth. Entering the room, Max said, "Hi, Cam. I was wondering if you would leave Booth and I alone for awhile. I need to talk to him."

Nodding her head, Cam walked out of the room and joined Brennan and Russ in the living room.

"What do you want Max?" Booth said. "If you're here to talk to me about being cranky then forget about it. I apologized to Bones."

Looking at Booth, Max walked over to the chair next to Booth's bed and sat down. Sighing, Max said, "You know, I've always told my kids that I don't have any relatives. I lied to them. I'm going to tell you something they don't know. I would appreciate it if you would listen to what I have to say."

Seeing Booth looking at him, Max continued, "You know when I was growing up my old man believed in discipline. He believed in it so much that he used to beat the shit out of me. I did something wrong, he beat me. If he was having a bad day, he beat me. My mother refused to stop it. She said I was an ungrateful child and needed to be taught how to be a good boy. Do you believe that? My own mother thought it was ok for that sadistic bastard to beat me. I took it until I was fourteen years old. On my fourteenth birthday, I thought my old man was going to kill me, he beat me up so bad. After that beating, I packed my clothes in a bag, waited until I knew my parents had gone to sleep and I ran away. I ran as far away as I could. I was big for my age and I acted a lot older than most kids my age so I passed myself off as 17 and found work. I eventually got my GED and went to college. I sort of reinvented myself. I did pretty good too. I met Christine and fell in love. When Russ was born, I vowed that I would never raise my hand in anger with my kids. I never have.

When Tempe was born I decided that I had some unfinished business to take care of with my old man. I was full of anger and fear when it came to my father. I needed to rid myself of that ghost that haunted me. I went back home and tracked down that piece of shit. I found him and started to follow him around. I had a plan and I needed to make sure we were alone. After a few days, the old man went golfing. I followed him around the golf course until he lost one of his balls in the woods. When he went in looking for it, I followed him in."

Looking at Booth, he saw that Booth was really listening to him, so he continued, "When I walked up to the old bastard he demanded to know what I wanted. It was a private club and riff raff wasn't allowed on the course. He didn't know me from Adam and he thought it was ok to talk to me like that. I just stood there and smiled at him. He became angry and tried to pass me. I told him that his day had come. I was his son and he was about to get what he deserved. I beat the shit out of him. He cried. He used to say to me that tears were for the weak and yet he thought it was ok to cry when he was hurting. He threatened to call the police and have me arrested. You know what I did? I laughed at him. I told him that if he called the police and I was arrested then when I got out of jail I would kill him and bury his body where no one would ever find it. The bastard fainted. What a joke. He was a joke."

Looking Booth in the eyes, Max said, "You know Booth, we can't help who we're related to. Some people get to have great families and some of us don't; but, we do get to choose how we live our lives. You're upset that your old man almost killed you. You probably think that there is no justice in what happened. I have to tell you that there is justice in the world. We just don't always recognize it when we see it, that's all. You're old man is dead. He can never hurt you or anyone else, ever again. Who ever killed Joseph did the world a favor. You have my daughter in your life. She loves you. She's having your baby. The justice your looking for is that there isn't anyone out there that you need to be afraid of, anymore. Your boogeyman is dead. Your good fortune is that Tempe loves you and she wants to be with you for the rest of your life. You can have peace if you want it."

Frowning, Booth said, "What about justice for Jared? My father is dead so there isn't anyone to pay the price for what happened to Jared."

Shaking his head, Max said, "And you don't think being given the death sentence for killing Jared wasn't justice? It sounded like justice to me."

"I wanted to see him arrested and put on trial. I wanted the world to see what a real bastard he was."

Shaking his head again, Max said, "Everyone that matters to you knows that your father was a loser, Booth. The world doesn't care about your problems; but, the people who love you and matter to you, do care and they know that bastard got what he deserved. It's the only justice Jared is ever going to get."

Slowly nodding his head, Booth said, "You may be right Max. I'll have to think about it."

Standing, Max said, "Look, Russ came with me. He plans to stay for a couple of weeks and help out around here. He says he needs to do this for you and Tempe and I want you to let him."

Nodding, Booth said, "Yeah, sure. Tempe could use a cheerful face around here for a change."

Sighing Max said, "Think about what I told you, Booth. You could be that cheerful face for Tempe if you would just let go of your anger at your father."

Seeing that Booth was thinking about it, Max left the room.

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When Booth had been brought home from Lousiana, by Hodgins, Brennan had been relieved that Booth was home. She had a hard time believing that he was going to be alright so every evening, she lay in bed next to Booth in his hospital bed. She held his hand and told him that she loved him. He told her that he loved her. Booth was too sick to show his love in any other way; but, for now, it was enough for both of them.

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That evening, when Max and Cam had gone home, when Hank was in his room and Russ was asleep on the couch, Brennan lay next to Booth and listened to him breathing. Realizing that he wasn't asleep, Brennan asked Booth, if he was alright.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something Max said."

Turning her head and looking at Booth, Brennan said, "Remember the time I told you I guessed I was one of those people who didn't get to have a family?"

Staring at the ceiling, Booth said, "Yeah, Bones. I remember."

Continuing, Brennan said, "You told me that there are different kinds of families."

Curious, Booth turned his head and looked at the side of Brennan's face. "I remember."

Smiling, Brennan said, "Just because your father and brother are dead doesn't mean you don't have a family, Booth. You have me and our baby, you have Hank, Parker, my father, Russ, Amy and her children. You have Padme, Hodgins, Angela, Michael and Cam. We're your family Booth. You aren't alone."

Smiling and squeezing Brennan's hand, Booth said, "I know, Bones. I know I'm a pretty lucky guy. I don't like to think that my life is lucky or unlucky; but, sometimes I do. I want to believe that we control our own fates; but, we really don't. The people that surround us have a lot of influence over us. I have you in my life and because of that, I know that I will always have a family. Parker will always have a family. Believe me Bones, I thank God that you are in my life. I don't want to ever be without you. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me and I want to remind you of that, at least once in awhile."

Smiling, Brennan said, "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me too."

Soon Booth was asleep. Brennan lay next to him, listening. She listened to his breathing. She listened to the quiet of the room. She smiled and thought, "There are different kinds of families. I knew I wanted a family for a very long time. I didn't know it was Booth; but, it in the end it was always going to be Booth."

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One more chapter to go. I hope I've entertained you. Reviews would be very nice. Thanks.