A:N// I wrote this fic before the second season premiere, so there are some things that don't 'adhere' to the storyline. I'm not changing anything that was original, just giving ya'll a heads up that if you see a character that's supposed to be dead now (hint hint), he was still very much alive when I wrote this. Hope it doesn't deter people from reading it crosses fingers. Feedback and reviews are love!

Chapter One: Ghost

"Dr. Brennan! When will your next novel come out? Will Dr. Kathy Reichs finally hit it off with her partner?"

Temperance Brennan stood at the podium under the harsh lights, but she was confident. She answered the reporter, "My next novel will be published sometime in August, and to the second part of that question, I don't know what you mean."

There was a ripple of laughter from her audience and a hand in the back shot up. "One last question before I have to leave; yes, you in the back."

The man stood up and boldly asked, "So who's the inspiration for the clever and handsome Andy Lister in your novels?"

Brennan raised her eyebrow as she immediately recognized the voice. You rat's ass, she thought. She answered slowly and forcefully, "For the record, none of my characters are based off any actual person."

She stood straighter as her publicist said some final words and the audience burst into clapping. If she had it her way, Brennan would go back to the lab. But her publicist insisted that she needed to 'mingle' for an after-conference party. This is going to be hell, she thought sourly.

"Hey Bones!" Seeley Booth made his way toward Brennan. When she turned around and saw him, her face grimaced. When he came next to her, she socked him in the gut.

"Jesus! Bones, what the hell?"

"What kind of question was that? I've told you many times that you're not the inspiration for my character," Brennan replied, amused that he was rubbing the spot she punched him.

"Come on, Bones, it was meant as a joke. Besides aren't you glad that I made it?" Booth said. His charm smile appeared.

"No," she answered simply. Booth chuckled and said, "Actually, I think you will be." A little louder, so Brennan's publicist could hear he said, "You know that case that we have? That we really need to investigate today…"

Brennan's publicist turned around and said, "Dr. Brennan you didn't tell me you had a case today. And here I am, forcing you to stay here, I'm sorry, you go right ahead."

"I don't—" Brennan started but Booth placed his hand on her back and started ushering her outside. Booth whispered in her ear, "I know, but unless you want to spend the next two hours 'mingling', I suggest you go along with it." Suddenly Brennan understood and she laughed.

"Now are you glad that I came?" Booth asked again.

As serious as she could sound, she answered, "Nope."

Before Booth could retort something, Brennan stopped in her tracks. They had just stepped outside and the freezing December wind bit at them sharply. Her heart pounded as she focused on the face across the street. His hair was brown but streaked with a lot of gray. His eyes were brown and stressed. Overall, he looked haggard, and fifteen years older than what he would've been. When his eyes met Brennan's his jaw dropped in panic. He started to run.

Brennan followed, sprinting as hard as she could. She could barely hear Booth cry out for her. Events from several months ago rushed her mind and gave her an adrenaline rush. Not focusing on where she was running, she stumbled off the sidewalk and landed on her stomach in the middle of the busy street. The man that Brennan had been chasing stopped and his own eyes filled with horror. A blaring horn and screech of brakes filled Brennan's ears as a pick-up truck tried to stop from running her over. She got to her knees, but she already knew that she'd get hit. Just as she was about to be struck, Booth grabbed her waist and propelled her forward. The two bodies landed next to the curb.

"Bones! What in the hell were you doing, you were almost killed!" Booth demanded. His voice was angry, but his eyes were worried. Brennan didn't answer him, just stared at where she'd last seen the man; he was gone.

"Bones! Are you okay? Talk to me, please," Booth pleaded. Finally, she looked at him and in a shaky voice answered, "My father. I just saw my father."