A/N: I know it has been a while since I posted the one-shot To The Stars Through Difficulties, but nice reviews and asking for it allowed me to conceive a continuing story. The story picks up after the publishing of Bone's new book – Raster Burn - about two years after chapter one.

AA/N: I have to thank my beta, Jess, for her efforts in improving my story – Jess, you're the best.

To The Stars Through Difficulties

Chapter Two – Raster Burned

Two years after having her lab 'cleaned' by the NSA, Dr. Temperance Brennan was at an early taping for the local LA television market, and she was annoyed. The interviewer, Cammi with an 'i', was a young blonde with an IQ about 30 points lower than her ample, obviously enhanced, bust. She really hated book tours…

The young interviewer smiled and thought to herself, 'another dumb academic type, with the dirt I have on her this should be fun.' She then turned to begin the interview, "Tell me Miss Brennan…"

"It's Doc-tor Brennan." Bones replied, emphasizing her title, and not bothering to hide her contempt.

"Huh? Oh… Ok, Dr. Brennan." Caught off guard, Cammi paused for a second before proceeding. "Your new book, Raster Burn is your first book without your famous Kathy Reichs character. Were you nervous putting out a book without such a popular character?"

"No."

"Humm… In general your books seem to follow your adventures working with the FBI?"

"My stories are all figments of my imagination."

"Would you tell us about the story?"

"Well it's about two people that find each other under unusual circumstances."

"This is also your first Science Fiction story isn't it?"

"I don't consider it Science Fiction."

"What do you consider it then?"

"I think of it as an Adventure Love story."

"Uh, huh… Where did the inspiration come from?"

Knowing that she couldn't reveal her true inspiration, and she had actually done the research, she replied. "I was researching some technology stocks and found a company that is doing research into nanotechnology…"

Interrupting Dr. Brennan, Cammi tried to maneuver the interview to where she wanted it. "What about the love story?"

"What about it?"

"Did you have fun researching it?"

"I won't answer that."

"Your real life FBI partner is smokin' hot."

Temperance just sat there staring at the interviewer.

"Dr. Brennan?"

"Yes."

"Won't you answer my question?"

"What question? You said my partner was 'smokin' hot'."

"Yes, that is what I asked."

"Excuse me, but that was a statement, not a question."

"Is it accurate?"

"That is rather personal and has nothing to do with my novel."

Noting that Dr. Brennan's eyes were looking past her, Cammi glanced back and saw a tall, dark man standing there with a blonde boy about six years old. Looking back at Dr. Brennan, she noticed a faint smile that hadn't been there before. "Dr. Brennan, in an earlier interview you stated that you dislike children…"

Temperance interrupted her, "That is incorrect, what I said was that I do not plan to have children."

"So how do you feel about children?"

At this point in the interview, the blonde six year old ran up to Temperance. "Don't you like me, Tempe?" He said with a forlorned look on his face.

Temperance forgot that she was on camera; she pulled him onto her lap, tickling his tummy, eliciting a giggle from the child. She had forgotten the camera, but it hadn't forgotten her. The normally expressionless face of Dr. Brennan was smiling at the child with unadulterated adoration. "Parker, you know I love you."

"But you said…"

"Parker, what I said was that I do not plan on getting pregnant. That doesn't mean that I do not love children, especially you."

The Program Director spoke through Cammi's earpiece from the booth, "Get her to explain the book to him." Turning aside to the Assistant Director, he muttered, "We should fire her and hire the kid."

Cammi, unaware of anyone's opinion of her, tried to regroup. "And who is this handsome young man?"

"This is a good friend of mine." Looking fondly at him, she asked, "Aren't you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"So, young man, what is your favorite part of Dr. Brennan's new book?"

"Dr. Fitzhugh."

"Really? I thought you would like the agent Jacob Riley."

"He's neat, but not as brave as my Daddy. I like Dr. Fitzhugh because she's smart like Tempe."

"Did you read the book?"

"Daddy and Tempe read it to me."

Cammi wore a malicious smile; thinking about the sex scenes gave her an attack point. "That's interesting, what did you think about the love story?"

Temperance arched an eyebrow and glared at the interviewer, "We skipped the mushy parts and glossed over the rough parts."

Smiling sweetly, Cammi asked, "You must be close to his father?"

"We are friends."

Cammi looked down to Parker. "Does she ever…"

The disdain Temperance felt for the young blonde was evident as she interrupted. "This interview is over."

Standing up she took Parker by the hand and dropped the mike onto the interviewer's lap.

"But… We're not through… Where are you going?!"

Looking down at Parker, she asked, "Disneyland?"

"Yea!!"

The interviewer watched the pair walk toward the exit; the tall dark man stepped to Dr. Brennan's side and placed his hand possessively at the small of her back… As she pulled her receiver from her ear, she could still hear the director cussing her out.

As they left the television station two men stepped in their way. "Dr. Brennan, Special Agent Booth, we have been sent to escort you to Ft. Meade."

Booth felt proud of Bones, as he stepped between the two men and her and Parker, he noticed that she was pulling Parker behind herself. The woman that professed to have no maternal instinct sure did not act like it.

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A/N: The next two chapters are half way written, hopefully the next will be up next week. As always, reviews are much appreciated and their encouragement is always helpful.