The Bones finale certainly held some surprises. Read a special reaction piece from Anna Bowling on last night’s memorable episode 13, “The Past in the Present”:
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Keeping romantic tension high when the happy couple is, well, happy. Booth and Bones are happily cohabiting, in their own cozy house with adorable baby Christine, content in domestic bliss. For all those who have been waiting to see Booth and Bones standing at an altar in front of a priest, “The Past in the Present” delivers exactly that, but not in the way one might imagine.
The day of Christine’s receiving her first sacrament, her christening, looms, and Bones still isn’t sure if she’ll attend. She doesn’t understand how sprinkling water over an infant makes up for the sins said infant committed before birth. Maybe she would have understood if Booth had a chance to explain that it’s a symbolic washing of the soul, but they did have a gruesome corpse to investigate, so family matters must wait.
The body of the week is always an interesting reveal, but when Bones identifies it as her friend and former patient, as well as a consultant she used to take down evil genius Pelant, all signs point to Bones as the killer. Though friends and family rally around her, the science can’t be lying, can it? Besides, even Bones agrees she would kill to protect her child if such were necessary. One by one, Bones’s colleagues are removed from her case, and a tearful Cam, who believes in the system, must agree that the science incriminates Bones. She can wait for her arrest or turn herself in.
Grandpa-cum-nanny Max knows exactly what his little girl has to do; follow in his footsteps and make a run for it before she’s taken into custody. Bones vehemently rejects his suggestion, but doth the lady protest too much? Max is an expert in his field, even if said field isn’t exactly legal, and he does have a point. Evidence, aside, they all know Bones isn’t guilty and if the authorities can’t find her, they can’t bring her in.
With only so much time to put her affairs in order, Bones wants to move up Christine’s christening, though Booth gives her an out. She wants to be there, and stands at the font with Booth and the priest, silent and attentive during the liturgy, her full attention on her daughter. Though Max comes to the church with his granddaughter and her parents, he leaves early on, with a fond look over his shoulder. What’s so pressing that he’s going to miss his only grandchild’s christening?
After the ceremony, she assures Booth that she loves him, and Christine isn’t the only reason they are together. She wants to be with him. Heart full of love, Booth leaves Bones holding the baby as he goes to bring the car around. His car won’t start, but another pulls up to the curb next to Bones.
Max is back, and the chase is on. Bones knows the plan; she’ll put Christine in the car and drive as long as she can. Max will catch up with them later, bringing the fake IDs they’ll need to live a new life, far away from any threat. If Max doesn’t catch them at the planned rendezvous site by the arranged time, Bones will take Christine and move on to the next safe place. Before she can think better of it, Bones and Christine are off on their journey, a heartbreakingly touching shot of Christine showing that even the littlest Booth-Brennan knows this is serious stuff.
Booth races back toward his family in time to see Bones’s car depart. Though every fiber of Booth’s being wants to go after his girls, Max appeals to reason. If Booth knows anything about Bones’s flight, that makes him an accomplice, and of no help to her. Booth has to do the exact opposite of Bones; remain here, and stay in the system. A distraught Booth knows Max is right and sinks, heavy hearted, to sit alone on the church steps. There are no words for his anguish. Will it take science, cunning or divine intervention to get this family together again?
Anna C. Bowling considers writing historical romance the best way to travel through time and make the voices in her head pay rent. She welcomes visitors to her blog, Typing with Wet Nails and to follow her at Twitter.
