A is for Abandonment

Hey all! I've been looking for a list of words to write some shots with, and I've decided... You guys come up with them! I'm starting with 'A is for Abandonment', it's up to you guys to give me a good B.

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She sat huddled in the corner of the dark kitchen, whimpering pitifully to herself. The 15 year old Temperance Brennan had tried to be strong, and had succeded for about three days.

They were gone. They weren't coming back.

Clutching her knees to her chest, she cried harder, the tears streaming down her face like a small, salty waterfall. In the midst of her misery, she heard voices on the front porch.

"I know that Max and Ruth left a few days ago. I think Tempe is still in there. Can you check it out, officer?" Brennan bit back a sob, trying to recognize the voices.

"I'll see if anyone is home, Ma'am. Thank you for calling me out." That voice was unfarimmilar to Tempe.

"Thank you, officer." Her nieghbor. The Westlings, who lived across from them. She knew that voice. Tempe listened as Mrs. Westling walked back down the steps, and there was the sound of someone jiggling the doorknob. Her ears perked up and she shrank further back against the cabinet she was curled against, as the sounds of mild cursing and a door banging open reached her ears.

"Temperance Brennan? Is anyone home?" A male voice called. Somehow it made Tempe cry harder.

The footsteps neared the kitchen, and then the form of an adult man appeared in the doorway. Tempe let out an involuntary whimper of fear, and pressed herself further into her corner.

"Hey there." The man said, his voice soothing as he crouched down to her level, even though he was still all the way across the spacious kitchen. He seemed to know that she needed her space. "Are you alright?"

"Not really." Tempe responded, cursing herself when she heard her voice waver.

"Where are your parents? Are you here all alone?" The man asked, scooting over to her, and leaning against the cabinet about five feet away from her.

Brennan's lower lip trembled at the mention of her parents, and she let out a soft sob. The man scooted a bit closer to her, and surprisingly, she let him.

"Let's start with names. I'm Seeley Booth, a police officer. Your neighbor was worried about you."

"Tempe Brennan. My parents left." She mumbled, her arms wrapped around herself. Booth let out a breath and rubbed his hands up and down his arms.

"Nice to meet you, Tempe. Man, it's cold in here. You must be freezing." Booth commented, gesturing at her t-shirt and jeans. She nodded.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Tempe, I'm just here to help. Come here, I'll give you my jacket." Booth took off his jacket, and Tempe scooted close enough to allow him to wrap the jacket around her. Before she could object, he pulled her into his arms, and rubbed his hands up and down her arms, trying to stimulate warmth.

"Jeez! You're skin and bones!" Booth exclaimed, hugging Tempe's trembling body closer to his. "Don't you know that you have to turn on the heat if you want it to be warm?" Booth asked teasingly.

"Yes, I'm not stupid, Mr. Booth. I-...I just haven't... well, I haven't left the kitchen. I keep thinking they are going to come back. But something else tells me they are gone for good." She murmured, burying her face in his shirt.

"Call me Booth. I'm sure they had a good reason for leaving. They still love you, you know that?" Booth soothed. Tempe sighed.

"I'm just the type of person who doesn't get to be in a family anymore."

"Hey, Bones, there's more than one type of family."

"What did you call me?!" Tempe asked incredulously.

"Bones. 'Cuz you're skin and bones... get it? Listen, Temperance. Let's get you out of here, get some food into you, and then we can decide what we'll do about your family, ok?"

"But-" She argued weakly.

"No buts. I'm not leaving you here, alone." Reluctantly, she agreed.

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An hour later, both Booth and Brennan were sitting in a booth at a nearby diner, chowing down on grilled cheese sandwiches.

"So, what music do you listen to?" Booth asked.

"I like Foreinger." Booth grinned.

"Hot Blooded? Hey!" He exclaimed as she reached over and stole one of his fries.

"I love Hot Blooded." She replied, popping the fry into her mouth.

The barman came over to their table, mop in hand. "Hey Booth, sorry man, I've gotta close up."

"That's alright, Sid. We're on our way out." Throwing a couple bills on the table, they headed out of the diner.

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They pulled up outside an apartment building, and Booth got out. Brennan stayed put, fingering the zipper on her small duffel bag.

"You coming, Bones?" He seemed to read the look on her face though, because he added. "It's here or the foster home. And I don't think the foster home has marshmallows." Sighing, Tempe followed him up the stairs to a small flat. Opening the door, Booth walked in and threw his jacket onto the back of the couch, heading for the kitchen. "Make yourself at home."

She walked over to the couch and sunk down on it, all of a sudden exhausted.

Booth walked out of the kitchen minutes later to find Tempe sound asleep on his couch. Grabbing the blanket that was on the back of the couch, he draped it over her and tucked her in.

"Thanks Dad." She murmured sleepily.

Booth smiled sadly, and then picked up the phone. He had a favor to call in.

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Brennan woke up to the smell of pancakes. Opening one eye, she looked around. She was in a strange apartment... Panic gripped her until she heard Booth's voice, then it all came crashing back.

"Glad to see you're awake, Bones." He said, setting a plate of pancakes and syrup down on the counter. "Come and get it."

Brennan got up and slouched over to the counter, plopping down heavily on one of the barstools. She shoved a bite of pancake in her mouth, and her eyes lit up. Greedily devouring the rest, she sat back with a sigh once her plate was clean. Booth chuckled at her behavior.

"I don't think I've even seen Parker eat that fast." He commented.

"Parker?" Brennan asked, reaching for seconds.

"My son. He's five." They lapsed into silence as Brennan finished her second round of pancakes.

"Listen, Bones. I called in a favor last night, and I found out that you have a grandfather. He's willing to take you in until your parents show up. Is that ok?"

Tempe nodded dully. "Thank you, Booth." She said softly.

"It's the least I could do. You really think I would leave you in the house alone?"

"No, it's just nice to know that someone still cares."

"Anything for you, Bones."