Standard disclaimers apply- I still don't own them:)

I know, kinda last minute... :) But just when I had decided I wouldn't enter a story for Cullen's BullPen Challenge #3, this story just popped into my head! So...here it is!

Oh, and please don't forget to review!

When she had nothing else to do, she ran.

Whether it was early in the morning or incredibly late at night, she ran. Whenever she had a problem or too much on her mind, she ran. She wasn't sure why, but exercise seemed to clear her mind.

So it made sense that after everything that happened with the Grave Digger, she went for a run.

Booth had dropped her off at her house, and though she tried to rest sleep eluded her. After a few hours of tossing and turning, she grabbed her running shoes, changed into exercise clothes, and was off.

She started out with her mind in total turmoil. Her thoughts jumped from Booth, to Cam, to all of her friends, her brother, the Grave Digger, and everything else in between. With the pavement pounding under her feet and her breathing slightly labored, she listened to the sounds of nature that surrounded her.

The car. Her mind flashed to scenes when it was just her and Jack, baring their souls to each other because each assumed that they were the last person that either of them were going to see. Then it jumped to the moment before they set the charges off, both imagining that this would be the end, their bodies never to be found; not even Booth, no matter how much faith she had placed in him.

Seeley Booth. He was her partner and friend of over two years. It was amazing how things had changed since they first met. No longer was he the arrogant ass that she had once thought, but now a confidant, companion. And that was all he was; maybe later their relationship would evolve into something more, but for now she was content. Still, it had hurt her when had hooked up with Cam…

Dr. Camille Saroyan. She was the woman that had been put in over her head, without any input from her or the rest of the team. While they still disagreed about many things, Cam wasn't as horrible of boss as she had expected. It still, of course, angered her to no end to suddenly have someone undermining her authority, but she had been able to get by relatively easily. However, it had helped having Russ right buy her side, supporting her and letting her vent frustration onto him.

Russ. It was amazing to have her brother back with her again. When she couldn't- or didn't want to- call Booth after the end of a tough day, she could always call Russ. Everything about their relationship was…well, just the same as it was when they were young. They were just as close as ever, and she loved it. Now, not only did she have Angela as a sister, but Russ again for her brother.

Suddenly she stopped, with her hands on her knees. She looked around her, not completely sure where her feet had taken her, this past- she looked at her watch- hour. Her eyes swept the neighborhood, and almost laughed when she found her house right in front of her.

She jogged the rest of the way to her apartment, and was grateful for the large glass of ice water that she chugged down in the kitchen. She wiped the sweat off of her forehead with the cool nylon of her workout shirt, and breathed out loudly. After lounging for a few minutes, she figured that a shower would do some good. The water warm, she lounged against the tile, calm as ever.

After drying off and crawling into her warmest pajamas, she flopped into bed. The heat under her covers provided just another layer of what seemed almost like protection. This time, sleep came easily, and she marveled at how much a run really did help ease her mind. Of course, in the morning, her mind would be a tangled web of ideas, thoughts, memories, and everything else. But until then, she would enjoy the peace that had been provided tonight.

Well?

Charlotte