Disclaimer : I do not own Bones but the characters are a joy to work with!

Song clip from You Live by Jesse McCartney

Chapter 1

The car ride had been done in silence. I checked once and pulled into a parking space. We climbed out and I walked around the car, my daughter grabbing my hand like a life line. I smiled down at her, but she didn't see me; too busy studying her surroundings. I sighed, as Bones ran her fingers through RJ's hair comfortingly. My heart cracked. RJ had not let one or the other of us out of her sight. She hadn't gone anywhere with her friends all summer. Granted it was only the second week of it but she and Jackson both had spent it at the lab.

It crushed me that the only times she seemed to be herself was when she was with us or staying over at Angela and Jack's. We had had countless meetings with her teachers the last two weeks of school. She wasn't paying attention in class, her work was shotty in comparison to what it had been though she was still passed with A's, and she seemed completely disconnected during class projects. Bones and I had decided to change her school for next year, but we hadn't told her yet. Bones had wanted to discuss it with Angela first. See if we could find somewhere more secure, for children to finish out their middle and high school days.

"Man that thing goes up for a while don't it?" I whistled, giving RJ's hand a small shake. She looked up and smiled a little.

"Doesn't it, Dad, it goes up for a while doesn't it." She corrected giggling. "It looks just like a castle."

"It does doesn't it." I agreed, emphasizing my proper grammar this time. RJ laughed out right and nodded her head, my heart healing immediately as we followed Bones into the umpteenth Ritzy Apartment complex this month.

I liked that it was close to the both our places of work. Bones and I had thought about finding another house perhaps on the other side of the city but everyone we had gone to look at had been a flop. Either the yard was horrendous or the neighborhood seemed way too sterile. We had decided on an apartment. RJ had spent the first four years of her life in an apartment and we both hoped it would be a subconscious comfort to her. As we walked in we were greeted by a door man, and an overly kind woman that I thought had had one too many cups of coffee this morning.

"Good afternoon! I'm Ann Brady. " She smiled, shaking my hand and then Bones'. "Welcome to the Washington Castle."

"Thank you, I am Dr. Brennan, this is my husband Seeley, our daughter RJ." My wife replied, taking control of the situation, and successfully turning Ann's intense need to sell away from me and onto her. "I would like to go over a few things before our tour of the apartments. A few deal breaker questions."

Ann's face faltered for a moment, but her bright smile was plastered back in place almost instantly.

"Certainly." Ann replied. I took the subtle hint from Bones and led RJ off to the sitting area of the lobby. We found a stuffy and uncomfortable couch to sit on and waited. This was how we had spent the last three weekends. Driving from place to place, looking for somewhere suitable to our needs. My alpha male syndrome, as Bones called it, took a back seat during these trips. I hated shopping for a new place to live, but Bones seemed eloquently good at it, so I let her handle it. I felt RJ shift, and then the quiet tabbing of her fingers flying across the screen of her phone. I glanced over to see who she was talking to and was not the least bit surprised.

RJ : Omg you have to see this place we're at now, Jackie…it is HUGE! I like the lobby it's all marble and stone. The outside looks like a castle!

Jackie : Really? Well let me know what the apartment looks like!

Jackie : Oh my mom wants to know if you've decided what you're doing for your birthday and what you want…she still wants a list.

RJ: Bleh I don't know. I haven't thought about it really. It would be cool to go somewhere I guess. You, me, our parents and grandpa. He hasn't been around much lately. I think him and mom had another stupid fight.

RJ: As far as what I want, I still want a puppy but I don't think mom's gonna let me get one, since we're looking at apartments and all…just tell her it doesn't matter, I'm sure I'll like whatever she gets me.

Jackie : That'd be cool and ok I will but what did they fight about?

RJ: I didn't hear much, but knowing mom and grandpa it was something unimportant. I wish they would get along like your mom and DeDe do.

Jackie : They have their moments. ;) DeDe is usually the one that gives in though…heh

Jackie : hang on my mom wants to tell you something…I can't type that fast.

Jackie : Hey Sweetie! Jackie said you were thinking you wanted to go somewhere for your bday. Let your Auntie Angela know and I'll drop some hints!

RJ: Thanks Aunt Angela. I really don't know where I want to go though. I doubt we'll be able to, mom and dad are all over this apartment looking thing. But if you could ya know…press the puppy issue I'd appreciate it.

I smiled, sniffling to hide the sudden need to chuckle.

Jackie : Ok Sweetie, no worries. Just send me a text! Love you!

RJ : Love you too.

Jackie: Aww I didn't know you cared.

RJ : Omg shut up Jackie lol! Ok I gotta go I think mom's done.

Jackie : Send me pictures this time! This place sounds cool!

RJ: I will gotta go!

I looked up and away quickly. Bones was walking over to us, a small smile on her face. I hope that meant she was satisfied and we'd actually get to look at the apartments. I really liked the feel of this place, not to mention the discrete security guards that were posted near the front desk. To anyone else they would have just look like staff hanging around the foyer, but I knew better.

"Well I think this place will do. Let's go see how the apartments look. I went ahead and selected two of their larger floor plans. They are near the top of the complex, so I can assume the view will be nice if nothing else." My wife stated taking RJ's hand and leading her towards the elevators where Ann Brady was waiting for us, keys in hand. I sighed shuffling to catch up.

Why hadn't RJ said anything about her birthday? I thought as we entered the elevator and Ann much too cheerfully pushed the button for floor 15, the top floor. She was going to be 11, not a monumental birthday but her birthday non-the-less. By this point every year, since she was 6, she was begging us not to throw her an extravagant party. Always asking that we go somewhere instead, somewhere cool, which for RJ meant somewhere educational. Bones and I had discussed it several nights ago. It had been a brief discussion but we had decided it needed to be something grand; something that would take her mind off the last month. I had thought of Disney World but I could see that turning into an absolute nightmare, and squished the thought immediately.

My mind wondered back to RJ's conversation with Jackie. Bones and Max had had a small spat two weeks ago, but RJ had misunderstood. The argument had not been about something unimportant. Max had not wanted his granddaughter subjected to the trial but the court had demanded it. Jackson and RJ were the victims they had to be brought to the stand eventually. I cringed inwardly. I didn't want her sitting up there anymore than Max did; but there was next to nothing we could do about it.

And then, then there was what RJ wanted for her birthday. Having a puppy in an apartment would be a challenge but if that was what Princess wanted, then that was what Princess was going to get. Bones had not at all been against a puppy when RJ had asked for one last year and I bit the inside of my lips realizing I wasn't entirely sure why we hadn't gotten her one then.

"He works for the FBI." RJ stated, pulling me back to the world around me. I had apparently missed a question. "He's one of the best Agents ever. He's gets awards every year you know."

"Wow. That's amazing." Ann replied, smiling much too broadly at her. "I bet you're proud of him."

RJ just nodded, grabbing my hand again.

"You have no idea." She muttered, now outwardly nervous at the attention her answer had caused.

We reached the first apartment without further discussion and Ann unlocked the door ushering us in. The foyer was wide, the walls cream, pre existing coat hooks hung on the wall to the right. As soon as we were in the door, my hand became empty. At first panic rose in my throat, but died almost instantly at the sound of her voice.

"Wow!" RJ exclaimed running through the apartment to the wide window that made up one of the living room walls. "Mom, Dad look! You can see the Jeffersonian from here! And look there's where dad works! It's so high up…you can see everything!"

My heart flew out of my chest. For the first time in a month she had willingly let go of me. Willingly ran from my side with excitement and I could do nothing but smile like an idiot. I barely registered my wife dismissing Ann to the hallway to give us time to look around. Bones came and stood beside me, watching are daughter turn back into her old self. Small clicks of her phone's camera went off as she spun in all directions taking pictures I knew were meant for Jackie. She was still rattling off comments about everything she could see and somehow my smile grew wider.

"She…she let go…" Bones whispered, snaking her arm around mine, resting her head on my shoulder. "This is it Booth…she let go here…this is home."

"Home." I muttered, moving us forward to take in the rest of the apartment. As soon as we reached the living room RJ ran off again towards the secondary bedroom, her mother moving off to inspect the kitchen. I followed our daughter, my protective instincts still in gear. She had been my literal shadow since we left the hospital all those weeks ago, and now somehow I had become hers. RJ emerged from the bathroom and shuffled over to the bedroom window, Bones coming up behind me and wrapping her arms around my middle.

"So what do you think RJ?" Bones asked.

"I love it Mom!" came RJ's excited reply.

"Well I guess that settles it." Bones stated turning back to the hallway. "I'll tell Ms. Brady to get the paperwork started."

Bones left us alone again, and I listened to her heels tap across the marble floor in the foyer, and disappear out the front door. I turned my attention back on my daughter who was still standing by the window.

"Daddy…why are we really moving?" RJ asked turning her bright amber eyes on me. I bit the inside of my cheek, joining her by the window. Her eyes, her grandmother's eyes, would be the death of me for sure. She was smart enough to know the excuse we'd given was fake. I shook my head, it would have been good enough for any other 10 year old on the planet but it was not good enough for my daughter. She had an uncanny ability to know when she was being lied to, something Bones swore she got from me.

"We told you RJ…"I started.

"Oh come on you know I don't believe that." RJ huffed, crossing her arms, her voice falling quiet again. "It's because of me isn't it? Because I keep having nightmares, unless I'm camping out in you and mom's room…"

I sighed, it had been my decision not to tell her. Bones had thought she could handle it but I didn't want her to feel guilty. Still under the gaze of those eyes of her's I couldn't lie effectively. I'd never been able too.

"Yes. Your Mom and I…we thought a change of scenery might help you. I, we know you don't feel safe at home. Home should be safe, feel safe. You should know you're protected there, even if you're there alone." I said subconsciously kneeling down to her level, trying my best to swallow how angry I still was with myself for not being there. "He took that away from you, hurt you and your mom, because I wasn't there to protect the both of you. We want you to be happy again RJ. It…hurts too much to see you afraid. "

There was an odd silence, RJ staring intently out the window and me watching her face as her thoughts slowly worked themselves out. She calculated like her mother, slowly and steadily, then ever so slowly RJ moved towards me and wrapped her arms around my neck, as I instinctively enclosed my arms around her.

"I don't blame you Daddy, and you shouldn't blame yourself." She said, squeezing me tighter. "You saved me, like you did mom and Uncle Jack. I'm ok because of you, Daddy and that is what matters."

I smiled into her hair, unable to speak, my throat thick and strained. Bones had told her what happened to her and Hodgins? Why would she do that? Common ground I realized. It was my wife's way of comforting her, to let her know she was not alone in this. I wondered if Bones had told her about what had happened to me; but I couldn't ask. Bones would have told me if she had. RJ would have asked questions. I took solace in that fact RJ never mentioned it. It was selfish but that wasn't something I wanted my baby girl to know about me. At least not yet.

"Thank you Princess." I muttered picking her up suddenly and twirling her around. She laughed, a full healthy laugh, one I hadn't heard in what seemed like ages; and I laughed to.

"Pie and icecream?" I asked setting her on her feet and offering my hand.

"Icecream and pie." She agreed, grabbing my pinkie finger that still fit perfectly into her hand, and followed me out the door. Neither of us were healed not completely but we were getting there and that, that was enough for now.

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself when nobody else can help
Because you live, girl
My world has twice as many stars in the sky...