Thank you so much for your kind reviews and the alerts and favorites. I was so happy to see that you guys might actually like my story :)

Here's the 2nd part. It's a bit shorter than the first one but anyways - enjoy

Thanks again to kellyanthropologicallyspeaking! :)

Chapter 2

Brennan just nodded and sniffed while she brushed her hand over her face in order to wipe the tears away, which just wouldn't stop falling.

"You're Temperance, right?"

Again she nodded. "I... I have to get back to my room." Her voice was quiet, nearly inaudible.

"Yes, of course, just… let me take you there."

Her head snapped up quickly and suddenly she grew angry. "Why? So you can drag me into my room and rape me in the comfort of a bed instead of against the wall?"

Booth held his hands up in defense. "Hey, easy there, okay? I just sent off the guy who tried to molest you, do you really think I did that because I wanted it to be me?"

Brennan just shrugged her shoulders and started to walk in the direction of her room.

But Booth was quick to follow her. "Look, it's dark outside. I don't want you to go there on your own. I promise, nothing's gonna happen to you."

"Like your promise means anything." Brennan murmured under her breath.

Booth decided to let that comment slip and just started to walk beside her. Of course she won't trust you. She was being attacked just a few minutes ago, idiot.

"Hey, Seel!" Another boy from the football team who was obviously making his way to the party, shouted at him. "Hooking up the geek?" He laughed sarcastically.

"Shut your fuckin' trap, Blair! You don't know what you're talking about." His hand had curled into a fist and his jaw clenched tightly.

"Dude, I know exactly what I'm talking about!" Again a contrarious laugh could be heard.

Booth was about to yell at him again but as he noticed that Brennan had grew more and more rigid beside him he relaxed his hand and placed it gently at the small of her back; encouraging her to walk further. "Come on. He's just another asshole who doesn't deserve considering."

Brennan wanted to avoid his physical contact at first, but somehow with his hand at her back she felt protected. Where did that come from? Since when does Temperance Brennan seek protection from anyone? I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself! It was something she'd had to learn a long time ago.

She was so lost in thoughts that she startled at Booth's next words.

"Listen, Temperance. Cody and… and Blair, they're assholes, they-."

"I'm fine." Why couldn't he just let it be? Leave her alone so that she could forget this whole stupid night ever happened?

Booth couldn't believe his ears. "You're fine? So you're fine with what just happened, are you?"

"NO! Of course not! But… I don't want to talk about that anymore, okay?"

"Okay." Booth sighed.

When they'd arrived at her dorm the awkward silence between them increased all the more until Temperance finally made her mind up.

"Thank you…" She began quietly. "I mean, for bringing me here and… earlier."

Booth gave her a soft smile, which you could only describe as charming. His hand came up to tidy a wayward piece of hair at her shoulder but he quickly let it fall again as she flinched at his action. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. And you're welcome… So, you're okay here? I mean, I could call your roommate or something."

She considered his offer but then shook her head no. She didn't want to be alone right now but she didn't want Angela to storm in all guns blazing either. "I'm fine."

Booth swallowed, concern showing in his eyes. "Well, you said that already, but somehow I don't believe you."

"Booth, let it go, okay? What is it with you guys today? All this time you've never so much as glanced at me, at least when I wasn't the victim of your bullying, then suddenly you see a woman in a short dress and you're all ready to play the alpha male. You expect me to just forget everything you football morons have done?" She was fuming. How dare he! How dare I, to trust even one of them!

The boy laughed bitterly and he couldn't stop himself from throwing his next words at her. "As you were making out with Cody you seemed to forget pretty well!"

He really didn't see it coming but suddenly he felt his cheek sting after she'd slapped him in the face. His hand came up to his cheek as if he had to make sure that this had really just happened. Good job, Seel! You wanted to make her feel better; instead you make it even worse!

"I should have known better than to trust any of you morons!" She hissed. "Your lives consist of alcohol, hitting on girls and playing senseless sports, which were actually only created by society for their young males to practice at going to war. I don't need that! Have a nice life, Seeley Booth!"

With that she slammed the door shut in his face and stormed off to her bed; new tears already rolling down her cheeks again.

Booth meanwhile needed a few seconds to process her actions. Really, he didn't mean to cause her anymore harm when he had offered to take her to her dorm but somehow this whole thing had escalated pretty quickly.

He sighed and knocked sharply on her door. "Temperance? I'm- I'm really sorry. I didn't mean what I-"

"Go away!" He heard her yell and he also heard that she'd started crying again. And suddenly he felt his chest tighten. She didn't deserve this. She'd been through a lot tonight and he'd had the opportunity to try and make her feel slightly better; he'd failed miserably.

"Listen, I-"

"LEAVE. ME. ALONE!"

"Okay…" His shoulders had dropped as he turned around in defeat. She wouldn't come out again and he certainly didn't want her to feel even worse than she did now; because of him.

That night he tossed and turned between his sheets as sleep just wouldn't come. Her words from earlier were spinning around in his head over and over again. What is it with you guys today? All this time you've never so much as glanced at me, at least when I wasn't the victim of your bullying, then suddenly you see a woman in a short dress and you're all ready to play the alpha male. You expect me to just forget everything you football morons have done?

He wanted to kick his own ass because she had been right. He had never stopped the others from backbiting; no he'd just turned a blind eye never giving a second thought to how she and all the others would feel. Seeley Booth, you're no better than all the others…

What was it about her that kept his mind awake in the middle of the night? Of course the differences between them could not be bigger. She wore nerdy clothes and you never saw her without a bunch of books gripped tightly in front of her chest. Like she wanted to shield herself from the world.

Tonight though she'd looked anything but. And he had to admit that there was hidden a beautiful, stunning and sexy girl under those ugly clothes that didn't do her figure justice. Was it bad to think about her like that after what had happened? He was still a guy, right? The girl had hot curves, you couldn't deny that and granted, for a few moments his thoughts had gone to a place that definitely included a bed, him, her and nothing else. But those thoughts vanished as soon as he was aware of the situation she was in. He'd really just wanted to help.

He decided to go see her the next day; after all he knew where she lived and he wouldn't stop knocking until she spoke to him, properly. His mind made up he turned over in his bed and finally managed to fall into an uneasy sleep.

tbc

Please let me know what you think! :)

Felinxx