Brennan had been visiting Heather everyday for 3 days and her decision was made, she wanted to take Heather home. Something about this little girl tugged at her. After her visit she went to contact Heathers case worker to put the wheels in motion to bring Heather home.
Heathers parents had died in a car crash and she had no relatives willing to take her, so she ended up becoming a ward of the state. She had just turned 4 and had been in the states care for the last year.
Mrs. Gaines was a hard looking woman, short blonde hair and dark emotionless bloodshot eyes. She looked over Dr. Brennan's paperwork and asked some questions.
"Where will the child be when you are working Dr. Brennan?"
"She will be with me, the Jeffersonian has a very good child care facility on the grounds and if she is not comfortable there, she will be with me in my office."
"Where would the child sleep?"
"The child has a name, Mrs. Gaines, it is Heather. I have a bedroom in my house for guests and that will be her room. It is not exactly a child's room, but I would prefer Heather help make the choices for her room."
"I see you are single, do you have overnight guests?"
"I don't understand."
"Do you entertain men?"
"I have had men at my apartment, yes. And, yes some have spent the night. My father was just visiting 2 weeks ago. Before, that would have been -"
"Dr. Brennan, my job is to make sure the child, Heather, is in the best possible care and a different man every night would not be in her best interest."
"I don't appreciate your implication. I am a highly respected forensic anthropologist and I didn't get that title from whom I chose to have intercourse with."
After going over more of the paperwork, Mrs. Gaines looked up at Brennan. "Dr. Brennan appears everything is in order. I can get the appropriate paperwork and the child can go home with you day after tomorrow if you like?"
"I want to ask Heather and make sure this is acceptable with her, do you think I can see her again before I leave for a few minutes?"
Mrs. Gaines nodded. "Wait here, let me go get her."
Brennan was very nervous and hoping that Heather would agree to come home with her.
Heather was lead into the office and her eyes lit up when she saw Brennan sitting in a chair, she ran to her and climbed up in her lap.
"I gots to see you two times," she smiled as she hugged Brennan.
Brennan hugging her back said, "Heather, I have a very important question for you?"
Heather sat down in her lap and her eyes searched Brennan's.
"I just talked to Mrs. Gaines and she has said Okay, but only if it is okay with you too. I want to know, how you would feel about coming and living with me at my house."
Bright green eyes looked from Mrs. Gaines to Brennan. In a very quiet voice "Reawy?"
"Yes, honey, she said you can come live with me in 2" Brennan held up 2 fingers "days."
Heather looked intently at Brennan and nodded. Then they hugged each other.
Mrs. Gaines had been watching the exchange between the two and she saw the change in the woman with the child. She hoped Brennan didn't change her mind; it could be such a determent to the child.
Mrs. Gaines picking up Heather to take her back to her ward and told Brennan to stop by after their visit the next day to sign some paperwork and she left.
Brennan headed home feeling happier than she had in months.