Another week went by and the Booth-Brennan family was doing well.
Joy was back at school, living her normal routine, working on a project with Vincent.
Brennan was also back in the lab.
Only Booth, who was totally focused on Brodowski.
After what happened with Joy,the last thing he needed was for Brodowski to attack him or his family.
--
Joy was in the lab, but was forbidden to go up to the platform, because of the body that was there.
She was in the temperance office, doing some homework.
When Angela called her to the door
—Hey,honey,do you want to go for a snack?(The woman asked)
—No thanks Aunt Angie.(She stopped drawing and looked at her aunt.) I'm waiting for Vincent to finish his work so we can play with the dinosaur, he said it would be quick.
—That's fine baby bones, but I'll bring you a cupcake.
—Thank you, I will love.(The girl thanked him excitedly)
Joy went back to coloring her drawing, looking forward to seeing the dinosaur's exoskeleton.
She had finished coloring her dinosaur and even though she was forbidden to go to the platform, she left her mother's office.
She heard a phone ringing, but didn't pay much attention
just went to the platform.
When a gunshot was heard.
—Mommy! Daddy! Where are you?(Joy shouted and climbed the platform.)
When Joy saw the scene in front of her, her father and mother were crouched down and he had his hand on top of him and Vincent was bleeding.
When her father stopped pressing and her mother was crying.
—Mr. Vicente?(she murmured) What happened?
Bones and Booth turned to the little girl, even though her hands were full of blood, Brennan went to the little girl and picked her up, taking her away immediately.
—Mommy,what happened?(Joy questioned confused) Why was there blood?
Brennan didn't say anything, just took her daughter back to the office, where she washed her hands and then sat down with Joy.
—Vicent's been shot.(She told the little girl)
—Is he going to be okay?He's going to the hospital and he's going to be fine,Right?(Joy questioned) Shall we play with the dinosaur?
—I'm so sorry honey, but he's gone.
Joy began to cry and hugged her mother tightly, when Brennan looked in the doorway, Booth was distraught, watching his little daughter cry.
--
After the conversation in the meeting room on FBI,Booth was afraid.
They were together,Joy was sleeping on her mother's lap.
For Temperance...
For Joy...
For his friends.
He had to kill Brodowski.
—You two go to my house. (Booth snapped) no discussion.
—I'm going,Joy's going to stay with dad.I don't want her around,not until this is over,she's been through too much.
—All right, it's better for her anyway.(He said and stroked the sleeping girl's hair)
As soon as they left the building,Max is downstairs waiting for them in the FBI parking lot.
—Hey honey, are you sure you don't want to come with us?
-No,we have to stay and catch Brodskwi.(Temperance said and held Booth's hand)But she has to be safe.
—It's our biggest concern, after what happened.(Booth said)
—All right, I'll take good care of her.(Max said)You'd better say goodbye to her, or she'll be a beast.
Booth gave a brief smile, and Bones woke his daughter, who blinked sleepily.
—Grandpa Max?(She asked sleepily)What's going on?
—Honey, you're going to stay with Grandpa Max for a while.(Bones said to her daughter)until the case is over.
—But I don't want to stay away, not after what happened.
—We need you to be good and stay with Grandpa, we don't want you to get hurt again.
—And I get to say goodbye to Vincent?
—(Booth said to his daughter and kissed her on the head)
-We'll see you soon.(Bones murmured and kissed her cheek.
Max nodded and put Joy in the car, the girl lowered herself into the back seat.
She stayed hidden,while Max drove away.
-Well, let's go...You need to rest.(Bones said and held his arm)
They started walking to Booth's car and he said:
-You know she is safe with Max,he will protect her.(Booth stated)
-I know...
--
Spending the night at Booth's house was strange, being back in that place that she had considered home for a few years and that she had barely stayed in recently.
The last time she had been,Hannah's things were scattered around,now there were only Booth's things,some of the children's toys,but mostly,it was Booth.
She took a deep breath feeling the smell of Booth's shirt,it made her feel good.
The last few weeks had been stressful,the kidnapping of her daughter,her recovery and now,she had lost her favorite intern and Joy had seen him dead.
She was on edge.
What if this was their last day?
She didn't want to waste any more time.
Waiting for the right time for what?
She simply got up and walked to his room.
And Temperance Brennan knew, that moment would change her life forever.
--
Joy returned home as soon as Brodsky was captured.
Her father picked her up.
She ran to Booth as soon as she saw him and he hugged and kissed her with all the joy in the world.
His daughter was with him, that was all that mattered.
After he talked briefly with Max and thanked him for taking care of Joy, they got into Booth's car.
-Where's Mom?
-She went to get something for Vincent.
-We're going to say good-bye to him?
-Yes, we're going to say goodbye to him.
Joy nodded and sat still for a while during the trip.
Once they arrived at the airport, they all waited for Bones, who had been delayed.
As soon as she arrived and left her flowers on the coffin, they started talking about Vincent, how nice and good he was.
Joy stayed on her father's lap while they sang Coconut for Vincent.
Joy and Angela looked at each other excitedly,when after Vincent left,her mother simply stood by her father's side and held his arm.
Something had changed between them.
And something inside Joy said that soon the family would grow.
And that made her happy.