Max Keenan had been acquitted of murdering FBI Director Robert Kirby. His defense team had created reasonable doubt by suggesting that someone other than Max could've committed the crime...namely, Temperance Brennan, his daughter.
Booth was still angry at Max. He couldn't believe the man would deliberately put his daughter in jeopardy like that. What if Caroline had decided to prosecute Bones? It would've been a perfectly logical next step. He was thinking about the situation when there was a knock at his office door.
"Booth?"
"Hiya, Bones. How's Max?"
"He's trying to decide what to do next...where to live, where to work….things like that." She hesitated. "Booth, I want to tell you something."
He sighed. He hated it when she started conversations that way. "What is it, Bones?"
"I want to thank you…." She chose her words carefully. "I know it was quite difficult for you to testify that I had motive and opportunity to commit the murder, and I appreciate what you did for Max and for me. I'm sorry you were put in that position."
"That's what partners do…. they help each other."
"Partners help each other...you're right, Booth. In this instance, however, your help came at a personal cost to you. It's very painful to have to testify against a partner….against a friend…."
"Bones", Booth interrupted, "don't worry about it. I'm just glad things worked out, okay? It was a gamble, but it paid off." He grinned. "Just stay out of trouble so I don't have to testify against you again, alright?"
"Of course! I've got to get back to the lab. See you later."
Booth shook his head, laughing at himself. It'd been miserable testifying about Bones at her father's trial, but he knew he'd do it all over again if it made her happy….