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The game was in the sixth inning and the score was tied. Booth watched as the pitcher warmed up. "I've been thinking it over and I'm going to try to talk Bones into going to the dig. I hate the idea of her giving up like that. She really wanted to be part of it and I think she should go. She's just being stubborn because she thinks she needs to take care of me."

Munching some popcorn, Lester watched the third baseman flirting with someone in the stands. "That guy's wife is going to have his guts for garters if he keeps that shit up. This game is being televised for God's sake."

Curious, Booth scanned the stands beside third base and laughed. "His wife is sitting on the front row."

"Oh . . . well, never mind." While he sipped his beer, Lester glanced around the park. "Nice crowd today."

Finished with his beer, Booth shifted on his seat to try to give his right leg more room. "I just need to come up with a plan to get her to go on the dig. She's got this idea that she needs to stay home for me and I can't seem to get her to realize that I'm fine and I can take care of myself."

Turning to look at his boss and friend, Lester advised him, "Well, we both know she worries about you. Why don't you figure out a way to make her comfortable with the idea of leaving you here while she's in Canada? You need to come up with something that will reassure her that you're not going to drop dead while she's gone."

Still uncomfortable, Booth shifted on his seat again. "I think she's more worried that I'll be alone or maybe she just doesn't want to be alone. I'm not sure. She's really changed since we became a couple . . . Don't get me wrong, she's a strong independent woman, but this last accident scared the hell out of her. I think she worries too much about me, but she's got a big heart and that's just who she is."

His eyes flicking over to Booth's cast and then back at the Pitcher as he threw his first pitch, Lester threw out an idea. "Why don't you get Max to move in to the apartment while she's gone. He can stay in the guest bedroom. That way she'll know that you aren't alone. I mean he's your father-in-law so she'd trust him to watch over you."

Irritated, Booth protested Lester's idea. "I don't need a damn babysitter and besides Max has his own place. Why would he move into our apartment? Whatever plan I come up with has to be believable or she won't go. I need to prove to her that I'm fine and she doesn't need to stay home."

"Call Max and give him the low down." Groaning as the Phillies third basement caught the Popup, Lester shook his head. "Damn . . . Max is a genius when it comes to bullshit. Tell him you want Dr. Brennan to go on the dig and you need him to help convince her to go. I can guarantee that he'll come up with a plan. I've read his FBI file. He's a devious son-of-a-bitch."

Rubbing his knee, Booth nodded his head. "Yeah . . . maybe I'll talk to him. You should see Bones talk about digs and bones and stuff. She gets so excited and she gets this little crinkle between her eyes. She's just so adorable when she's excited."

Lester rolled his eyes. "Are you sure you could survive with her gone for two months?"

Exasperated, Booth pulled his wallet from his jacket pocket. "Why don't you be useful and go get us another beer?"

Oooooooooooooooo

Not satisfied, Booth poured sugar in his coffee and watched as Max settled on the chair across from his desk. "Thanks for coming to see me, Max. I would have met you somewhere, but I can't drive right now." Pointing at his coffee maker Booth smiled. "Help yourself, I just made it a while ago."

Shaking his head, Max frowned. "No thanks. I just had a cup before I came over here. What can I do for you?"

Slowly stirring his coffee, Booth glanced at his closed office door and then back at Max. "I'd like Bones to go on that dig in Canada, but she keeps telling me she doesn't want to go. She was really looking forward to going before my little accident, but now she refuses to even think about it. I want you to help me come up with a way to get her to go. I don't want to be the cause of her missing out on stuff she loves."

Surprised at the request, Max smiled. "Why me? What makes you think I can talk her into going if you can't?"

Sipping his coffee, Booth glanced at his door again to make sure no one was standing there. "Oh you can't talk her into anything. That's not how that works. I need to just come up with something that will allow her to think it's okay for me to be by myself for two months. I scared the hell out of her when I got hurt and she doesn't get it that I'm fine now. I can take care of myself, but she's letting my cast and breathing problems worry her too much."

Tempted to laugh Max shook his head and stood up. Walking over to the coffee machine, Max poured a cup of coffee instead. "I'll have a cup after all." Once he had his coffee fixed the way he liked it, he walked back to the chair and sat down. "Okay, I have an idea. Why don't I tell Tempe that my apartment needs renovations and I want to move in with you guys for a while? That means I'd be there to make sure you're okay if she wanted to go on the dig. I know you don't need a baby sitter, but I can be useful. I could drive you to work and back and I can cook you dinner if you want me to. I'll sleep in the guest bedroom and if you need my help for anything I'll be there."

Shrugging his shoulders, Booth thought it was a bad plan. "Seems kind of a weak plan to me. Bones might question the timing of your apartment being renovated and her dig coming up. She knows I want her to go on that dig and she might think I'm trying to trick her into going."

"Why would she question it?" Sipping some coffee, Max studied Booth. "How would she know this is something we cooked up? I'll start dropping hints now about the apartment. Maybe she'll take the opportunity to go then. Of course you have to do your part and point out how me staying at your place will mean she can go."

Booth shook his head. "This really sounds like a weak plan to me Max, but I guess we can give it a try . . . She's so damn smart I don't see how this is going to work."

Sipping more coffee, Max was amused about the whole thing. "Nah this will work, you'll see."

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After talking to Brennan on the phone earlier, Max entered the Diner and found the couple he was looking for. Sauntering over to the table, Max sat down next to his daughter. "Hey Tempe, I thought I might find you two here."

Brennan thought she was a great actor and that it would help her with her plan. Brennan glanced at Booth and then her father and smiled brightly. "Dad what are you doing here?"

Turning to face his daughter, Max hoped his daughter didn't over sell it. "Well, I just found out my apartment building is going to be renovated to make the plumbing come up to code and I was wondering if I could stay with you while that's going on?"

Nodding her head, Brennan glanced at her husband to see his reaction. "When are these renovations going to be done, Dad?"

A menu in his hand, Max looked it over. "They plan to start next week. They might take a month or two. I don't want to be a burden, so you can say no. I can always go stay with Russ. Of course his place is small and I'd have to sleep on the couch, but that's okay."

"You can stay with us, Max." Smiling at Max then Brennan, Booth placed his sandwich down. "You can stay in the guest bedroom."

Surprised that Booth was being so amenable, Brennan nodded her head. "Yes, of course you can stay, Dad. That won't be a problem."

Turning towards the waitress now standing next to him, Max ordered a bowl of chili and a glass of tea. Once that was done he smiled at his daughter. "That's great, really great."

"Yes, it is, Max." That the plan was working suprised the hell out of Booth. Picking up his sandwich, Booth smiled. "Plenty of room for family." Taking a bite of his sandwich, Booth slowly chewed it while Brennan fiddled with her salad. After he swallowed his bite, Booth decided to mention the dig. "Hey, Bones. Since Max will be at the apartment for the next few months, why don't you go on that dig in Canada? He can take me to work and back home, so you won't have to be there to do that. What do you think?"

Glancing at her father, Brennan couldn't believe the luck she was having. She thought Booth would balk at Max staying and now he was actually encouraging her to go on the dig. "Maybe I should consider going, Booth. I probably won't be gone for two months, but I wouldn't mind being there at the start of the dig. Perhaps I could go up for just a few weeks."

Surprised that his plan was actually working, Booth placed his sandwich down. "No no, if you're going to go then you should go for the two months."

Pleased that Max's plan was working, Brennan placed her hand on Booth's hand. "Yes, maybe I will. I'll probably make that decision once I'm there and I've see how far the dig progresses."

"Alright, it's a plan then." Booth smiled at his wife and grabbed a few fries from his plate.

Amused at both of them, Max shook his head."I'll move in this weekend."

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