Where are the kids?

A/N: This fic will be written as each episode dictates. If there is a question left by the episode I'm hoping to write a chapter that will answer it. It'll give us the scene that in my imagination they had to cut for time. So I can't promise a frequency to my posting, it'll just depend on the episode. So the question for 'The Loyalty in the Lie' is the title of this chapter.

Brennan pulled into the driveway and hit the remote to open the garage door. She looked toward the house and saw that most of it was in darkness with the only visible light coming from the living area. She pulled into the garage, wiped her tears and took a deep calming breath before leaving the car.

Max had heard the garage door raise and set aside the book he'd been reading, he'd been listening for her since her call letting him know she was on her way home.

She turned from relocking the door to face him. As their eyes met her tears started flowing again, and dread filled him. "It's not him. They were wrong, the body isn't Booth's." Relief flowed through him as he closed his eyes and almost sagged. "Thank God."

Brennan let out a watery chuckle. "I don't believe in God, but I do share the sentiment."

He opened his arms to enfold her in a hug. "I don't know why I can't stop crying. The body isn't his."

Max steered her to the sofa so they could sit before she collapsed. "You've been under a lot of stress tonight, it's just the relief and finally being able to let go. Just cry it out, and we'll talk about it." He said as he handed her a clean handkerchief.

She used it to mop up her tears then started talking. "Dad first I want to thank you for coming so quickly to stay with the kids. I couldn't have gotten through this if I hadn't known they were safe here with you. How are they? Did they wake up, need anything?"

"They're both still asleep. I just checked on them about half an hour ago. Christine had kicked off her covers, so I pulled them back over her, but other than that, there's been nothing for me to do. Come morning they'll never even know you were gone."

Brennan nodded, then closed her eyes and took a few breaths before opening them again.

"When Agent Aubrey and Dr. Saroyan showed up I was already starting to worry about Booth. Not only was he late, but I couldn't reach him to let him know our dinner with Angela and Hodgins would have to be postponed since they had a case. Then when I checked the gun case, I just couldn't…"

She turned to him. "I'd already cancelled the babysitter, and even if I hadn't at that point I'd have wanted you here with the kids. Thank you for coming."

Brennan sat back and stared at the wall collecting her thoughts. Max just watched her, waiting for when she was ready to continue.

"I was so frightened Dad. It was like something was eating away at my internal organs. I wasn't sure that I wouldn't fall apart…and I now understand what Booth means when he says that…when I arrived on the platform at the lab and saw those bones."

"Tempe that's understandable."

"I know, I just…I'm just glad I was able to get through it, and prove it wasn't Booth on that table. I have no idea what he is involved with. I have no idea what is going on. I do not like not knowing, and I'm scared about what this might mean. Just because that body isn't his doesn't mean that he's alive. I have to go back. I just came home to talk to you and to check on the kids. I'm only here long enough to get them up and give them breakfast then I'm going back. I have to find out who that is, why they had Booth's gun, and where Booth is."

She looked into Max's eyes as her filled with tears again. "Can you stay and watch the kids for me again tomorrow…" Glancing out the window and noticing the first fingers of sunlight breaking through the clouds "I mean today? I don't want to trust them to someone else right now, and I need to be there to figure out what is going on. I need to determine who is on that table."

"Of course, I'll stay as long as you need me. I'll be here until you bring Booth home."

A/N2: Additional note is that there was guess work to this episode's timeline, based on knowing it started in the morning, but the discovery of the body was that night (darkness at the scene) and they went to Brennan that same night, then during the episode after she'd ruled out the body being Booth's she's in interview with Miller wearing the same clothes, but it's the next day. I last saw him yesterday morning at 8:36. So that's what drove some of this story. Whew…