An: well everyone (or a few people) said I should continue, and so I did. HA!

Well here is the second chapter for The Protector

And I promise, it will become better eventually


"Alright Seel," the security officer, Jim, said. "It's all yours."

"Thanks Jim," Booth said, straightening his blue security officer's outfit.

Jim nodded "Call me if you need anything."

"No problem," Booth said, swinging the night stick in his hand.

Jim nodded again and walked down the hall, his shoes squeaking as he walked across the waxed floors.

Booth walked through the crowds, making sure no one was up to trouble. He was one of the lucky guards. He didn't have to stay in one place, he got to make rounds around the museum, walking to where he wanted too, and right now, he wanted to find Bones.

He walked through the crowd, and tried to think where she would be. He decided he would check the new exhibit that was going to open in a few weeks.

He walked through the halls and stopped when he saw the taped of line for the exhibit and the sign for what was inside…pirate skeletons.

Booth ducked under the tapes and stepped over the tarps thrown across the floor.

"Ok, so we are going to have the skeleton's lining the walls and the ship in the back," he heard an older voice say.

"Yes," he heard a familiar voice reply, "The ship will be something that people could walk on, and skeletons will be assembled and dressed in pirate wear, placed in the appropriate spots."

"You are a genius Ms. Brennan," an elderly man said, as he walked away.

"Hey Bones," Booth greeted, coming into view.

Temperance smiled "Aren't you supposed to be guarding something?" she asked, holding a clipboard to her chest.

"I am. I am making sure that everyone in this exhibit is cleared to be back here. You have a pass?" he asked.

Temperance chuckled and held up a laminated card, hanging around her neck. "See," she said.

Booth smiled "Very well," he said pushing her hand down lightly.

"What can I help you with Mr. Booth?" Temperance asked as she walked further into the exhibit to check on progress.

"Well, it's about 4 and I was about to run out and get something to eat. You want anything?" he asked, following after her.

"I'm not hungry," Temperance answered "Make sure that the skeletons are set out anatomically, I will take a quick look over them and then string them into a standing position," she said to a short and pudgy man with messy brown hair.

"Well, I'm going to get you to eat anyway. Want anything in particular?" Booth asked.

Brennan sighed and turned quickly, Booth accidentally bumping into her, but not stepping back. She pressed close to him and stared up to him defiantly "I'm vegan," she said simply, giving him a smile before walking away.

Booth chuckled and walked out of the exhibit and towards the exit.

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Booth game back with two bags in his hands. He walked into the exhibit, and was stopped by the elderly grey haired man "You need to get her away from here," he said with a smile.

"Who?" Booth asked confused.

"Temperance, the poor girl has been working nonstop," the elderly man said.

Booth chuckled "I plan on it," he said stepping into a room with 20 collapsing tables lined up in the middle of the room.

Every table was occupied by a skeleton, sending an eerie shiver up Booth's spine. Temperance was leaning over one table, carefully placing the skeleton in anatomical order, her concentration focused nowhere else but the skeleton.

"Bones," Booth said, making her jump.

Temperance breathed loudly and straightened up, her back screaming in pain.

"Time to eat," he said, flashing her his charm smile.

"I have work to do," she said, leaning back over the skeleton.

"I will physically drag you out of this museum," Booth said, swinging his hand towards the door.

Temperance sighed and straightened again "Fine," she said, peeling her latex gloves off her hands and throwing them away.

She straightened her shirt, and pulled her hair back into a tighter pony tail. She followed after Booth, as he turned and left the room.

They stepped over the tarps and equipment strewn across the floor until they reached the hall way of the museum.

"Where are we going to eat?" Temperance asked as he slipped out the back exit.

"Just wait," Booth said, walking down the stairs quickly.

Temperance sighed and followed reluctantly. When they reached the ground at the end of the stairs, Booth turned quickly, placing his hand over her eyes.

"Booth, what the hell are you doing?" Temperance asked, reaching up to try to tear his hand away.

Booth spun her into him, his hand covering her eyes, his chest pressed to her back "Just trust me," he said, walking forward.

Temperance shook her head and stumbled forward, tripping on nothing as he pushed forward.

Booth stopped, Temperance stumbling back into his chest "Ok," he said taking his hand away "We're here."

Temperance's eyes grew wide as she looked in front of her. There was a large fountain in front of them. Three small babies covered in floating ribbons with vases were positioned at the top of the fountain. Water fell from the fountains, filling the large bowls held over head of the maidens below the babies. Their faces were calm as water fell over the bowl's edges into the large pool below. Bright pink water lilies floated on the water, accompanied by bright green lily pads. Bright orange and yellow fish dashed between the flowers and jumped in and out of the water. Grey stone benches curved with the fountain, the reflection of the water dancing over the stone.

Booth stepped from behind her "Didn't know this was here did you?"

Temperance shook her head, her mouth and eyes wide in awe.

Booth reached over and pressed his knuckle under her chin, closing her mouth "Don't want you to swallow a bug," he said playfully.

Temperance smiled and waited as Booth stepped forward and sat on the ground, his back pressing against the edge of the fountain.

Temperance sat beside him, their shoulders pushing against each other. Booth handed her a bag and she took it eagerly.

"See, you were hungry," Booth said opening his own bag and taking out a foil wrapped cheese burger.

Temperance smiled and opened the bag, pulling out the veggie burger and French fries he got her. They unwrapped their sandwiches and took the first bite, chewing silently until Temperance broke the silence.

"Why do you care?" she asked quietly.

Booth turned his head and look at her, but her gaze was focused on her feet "About me," she clarified.

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked.

"You are the alpha-male of the school, I'm nothing. I'm new, and everyone else things I'm either a psycho bitch or a stoner," Temperance said quietly, taking another bite of her burger.

"I know something is wrong," Booth said "Your red rimmed eyes are from crying, not smoking."

"So you pity me?" Temperance asked sadly.

"No," Booth said "You are intriguing. You aren't what you seem?"

"Is that a complement?" she asked, turning to look at him.

"I think so," Booth nodded.

Brennan nodded and brought a French fry between her teeth, biting into the strip of potato, and letting it slide down her throat.

"Tell me about it," Booth said, glancing at her.

"What?"

"We have to share our fucked up home life stories," Booth said with a weak smile.

Temperance sighed, and rubbed her eyes "I used to live in Chicago. A couple days before Christmas, my parents went away somewhere. I didn't know where they went, and I still don't know. My brother brought all of our presents out, but when I saw them I-"she choked, trying not to cry "I thought they were home, and they weren't. I yelled at Russ, and made him feel like he wasn't enough family to me. He's your age, and a couple days later, he left to find a job out west, and I'm in the foster system," she finished tears falling freely now.

Booth reached up and brushed her tears away, slightly jumping as she laid her head on his shoulder.

He put his food to the side and wrapped his arms around her, running his hands over her back comfortingly as she sobbed quietly into his chest.

"Ssh, it's alright Temperance," he whispered into her hair.

"It's your turn," she said quietly.

"My father abuses me," he said hesitantly, his breath catching in his throat "My brother always fucks up, stealing my father's vodka and shit like that, and I'm the one who takes the hit."

Temperance straightened and looked at him concerned "Do you tell anyone?"

"No," he said quickly "And you can't tell anyone either."

"But-"

"Temperance, please," he pleaded.

Temperance sighed "Ok," she said hesitantly "I-I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you," he whispered, running his thumbs under her eyes. "Let's finish this; I'm sure that if we wait much longer, you're going to have to chew out a few people for setting the skeletons up wrong."

Temperance nodded and they both ate in silence, contemplating the truth of the other.