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Entering the kitchen, Parker walked over to the island and sat down. "Bones, can I talk to you?"
His tone of voice somber, Brennan knew he had questions. "Of course, Parker."
His shoulders hunched, Parker cleared his throat. "Dad and Pops are downstairs . . . um, is my Dad going to die."
Shaking her head, Brennan assured him. "Parker you're old enough to know that we are all going to die, but I'm sure you're asking me if he's going to die soon and the answer is no. Your father's health was compromised when he was shot in his apartment and it was further compromised when he was in the automobile wreck. He is getting better, but it is going to take time. He will never completely recover his good health, but he is taking therapy and he's changed some of his bad eating habits. Considering what was done to him, he's in remarkably good health. Most of his problems are centered around the damage done to his right lung. He can't jog anymore, but there is really little that he can't do now that he couldn't do before if he's careful and takes his time."
Relieved, Parker frowned. "I tried to talk to him about it, but he just said he was fine and not to worry about it . . . He thinks I'm a kid and he has to protect me, but I don't want to be protected. I just want to know what's going on that's all."
Stepping closer to the boy, Brennan patted his hand. "Age has nothing to do with it, Parker. Booth tries to protect me from things too and I'm not young like you are. It's what he does. He doesn't want the people he loves to worry about him, so he hides things. It can be very aggravating and I call him out on it when I catch him, but he is unrepentant when it comes to his family. He loves us and he wants us to be happy. We just have to keep an eye on him and make sure he's not over doing things that's all."
Grimly, Parker nodded his head. "I wish I lived here. I could help, but I know he doesn't want me to live with him."
"That's not true, Parker." 'Squeezing his hand, Brennan assured him. "We would love for you to stay with us all of the time, but that would mean that your mother would miss you and Booth doesn't think that would be right. He thinks it is important that you live with your mother. You do know why he wants you to live with your mother don't you? His reasons are mostly because of what he experienced when his mother ran away."
Shaking his head, Parker frowned. "Wait, I thought she was dead. You mean she isn't dead? Dad never talks about his Mom, so I assumed she died."
Uncertain she was doing the right thing, Brennan thought Parker deserved to know the truth. "You're old enough to understand what I'm going to tell you. Your grandmother left her home when your father was a boy. He hasn't seen her since."
Surprised, Parker asked, "Why would she leave my Dad and Uncle Jared?"
Committed to telling him the truth, but worried she was making a mistake, Brennan continued. "Your father's father was abusive and your grandmother reached a point in her life when she couldn't take it anymore. She left, leaving your father and uncle with your grandfather. Booth missed his mother greatly and he doesn't want you to grow up without your mother."
Staring at the counter top, Parker finally responded. "I didn't know that."
Brennan worried that she had stepped over a line, but she wanted her step-son to know the real reason his father wanted him to live with Rebecca. Moving back to the sink, she commented, "Booth probably didn't want to upset you about his childhood circumstances. He is very protective, but you need to understand why your father doesn't want you to live with us. It isn't because he doesn't want you here or that he doesn't love you. It is because he thinks you would be better off living with your mother. Do you understand?"
Nodding his head, Parker hopped off of the chair and walked around the island to where Brennan was standing. Hugging her, Parker smiled. "Thank you for letting me know, Bones. I always thought Dad just didn't want me around all the time. Now I know why and . . . thank you for telling me."
Her arms enveloping her step-son, Brennan hugged him tightly against her side. "Your father loves you very much and only wants what is best for you."
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That evening, Brennan found Booth in their bedroom, resting on their bed, reading a magazine. "Booth I need to talk to you."
Curious, Booth lowered his magazine and noticed that she was nervous. "Sure, shoot."
Sitting next to him, Brennan placed her hand on his knee. "Parker came to me and asked me if you were dying."
The blood draining from his face, Booth spluttered."What? . . . What? Why would he think I'm dying for God's sake?"
Bluntly, Brennan explained, "Because you haven't explained your situation to Parker and all he can do is assume. He saw you in distress this afternoon and it worried him. Booth . . . he was afraid."
Grimly, Booth shook his head. "I didn't mean to do that. I didn't want him to worry about me."
Rubbing his knee, Brennan knew he was upset. "I know, but in this case, it didn't work. I told him about your injuries, although I didn't go into detail and I explained that you're recovering. He understands and he's relieved that you aren't going to die soon."
Embarrassed, Booth placed his hand over Brennan's hand. "I guess I didn't handle that too well. As long as he was in England I could get away with not telling him about my health, but he's here and I guess I didn't think he'd notice how different I am."
Turning her hand so she could grasp his hand, Brennan nodded her head. "There's more . . . He said he wished he could live here, but he knew that you didn't want him here full time."
Startled, Booth shook his head. "Oh my God, that isn't really true, I . . ."
Interrupting him, Brennan shook her head. "I explained to him that you want him to live with Rebecca because your mother was abused by your father and she finally left because she couldn't take it anymore. I told Parker that you missed her and you didn't want your son to grow up without his mother like you did."
Irritated and just a little angry, Booth moved his hand away from her. "Bones, you shouldn't have told him about my mother. She couldn't help running away. She was tired of being beat up by my Dad. Those beatings were brutal and she couldn't it take anymore . . . You know that. He's too young to understand about that kind of thing."
Shaking her head, Brennan corrected him. "I don't think so, Booth. You were a victim of your father's abuse and you understood why your mother left. Parker may not be a victim of abuse, but he is old enough to know that abuse happens and that most families are not happy families. He needed to understand why you want him to live with his mother."
Booth thought over what she said, leaned over and kissed her. "Yeah . . . maybe you're right. I should have talked to him before now . . . I'll talk to him tomorrow and make sure he understands that I love him and I want what's best for him."
"He's growing up, Booth. I think you should talk to him too." Kissing him, Brennan stood up. "You gave me a fright this afternoon. Please don't push yourself too hard like that again."
Grabbing her hand, Booth tried to assure her. "I'm sorry Bones. I knew I was overdoing it but I was having a good time with Parker and I didn't want to admit that I was getting tired . . . I'll try to watch that. That actually scared me too . . . and thanks for talking to Parker. I guess I just didn't want him to know about our family history. My little boy is growing up faster than I thought he was."
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