A/N: I don't own anything!!! If I did, last season's finale would have been quite different!
Also, thanks to all of you who reviewed – I really appreciate and crave your feedback so keep it up!
"Wow, Bones – you packed her a lunch?" Booth looked at his partner in surprise as she pulled squares of Tupperware out from her purse and placed them on the table in front of the little girl, sitting quietly in her highchair. Bones grinned at her partner.
"You know Booth, as a genius one of my extraordinary talents is the capability for forethought. It was logical to assume you'd want to come to the diner for lunch, and it was practical to bring healthier food for the child, as she is barely in the 5th percentile for weight for her age," Brennan began unsnapping the lids on the apples and strawberries, and the whole wheat pasta with homemade tomato sauce she had mixed up the night before.
"Did the doctor say anything else about her?" Booth asked, having been relegated to paperwork while Brennan had taken the girl to a pediatrician friend before lunch.
"Well, there were no signs of physical abuse, thankfully," Booth nodded gratefully, and Brennan continued, "The doctor said she was about 20 or 21 months, so just shy of two. She's quite underweight, and in the 20th percentile for height, and the doctor is concerned that we haven't heard her speak, as statistically she should know anywhere from 15 to 100 words at this point. However, her lack of speech could be attributed simply to regression due to a traumatic event. We'll just have to wait and see. But, if she continues to eat well and receive regular preventative care, she should be fine," Brennan concluded, and Booth's face broke out into a smile. He turned to the little girl who by this point had tomato sauce all over her face.
"Hear that, sweetie? You're gonna be just fine. Yeah, you are, you little cutie," after receiving a glare from his partner, he cleared his throat and continued in his regular voice. "How's that pasta treating you? Your friend Bones here, she's a pretty good cook," he told the child, who merely smiled in response and turned to look at her caregiver.
"It's true," Bones concurred. "I do enjoy culinary success much of the time." Booth had to laugh. He turned conspiratorally towards the child.
"She's also very modest," he grinned.
* ***********
"Bones!" Booth barged into his partner's office, and Brennan raised her eyes in alarm. Quickly, she shushed him and pushed him out into the hallway.
"I just got her to sleep! As it turns out, she is less than willing to fall asleep in the middle of the day, even when her constant eye-rubbing suggests she would greatly benefit from a short siesta," Bones explained, and Booth laughed.
"Yeah, naps are never a kid's favorite thing. Parker used to scream bloody murder whenever we put him down for one."
"At age two Parker was using the words 'bloody murder'? Clearly you weren't monitoring your speech around him well enough," Bones remarked, and Booth rolled his eyes.
"It's a saying, Bones. Parker didn't actually know the words – you know, never mind. I actually came here for a reason," he held out the file in his hand. "The vic – Grace McAllister? Well I've had extensive searches done, but the only thing I can find in her life that would suggest she even had a daughter is a hospital stay in October almost two years ago. She gave birth, but took off with the child before even a birth certificate was issued. So, that little girl doesn't even have a name. Also, we were unable to find any relatives for her whatsoever, the vic's parents died when she was young, and she had no brothers or sisters. Searches didn't bring about any aunts or uncles or cousins, either. I'm sorry, Bones,"
"It's not your fault, Booth," Bones said gently, then sighed. "That poor little girl."
"I called Child Services. They should be here soon," he told her, and Brennan looked up at him quickly. "What? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just – wasn't thinking of the moment when I'd have to give her back," Brennan said, lost in thought, and Booth was surprised at this minute revelation. "It seems as though in the past night and day, I've grown quite attached to her," she noted, and then, it was almost as if Booth could see her steeling herself for the imminent separation. "But of course, this is the way it has to be. I understand that." Booth paused for a moment, and then, before he could help himself, blurted,
"You don't have to give her back, Bones, you know," he silently cursed himself, while his statement was true, it was also too much.
"What?" she looked at him as if he were crazy, and he sighed. He had said it, now he had to explain.
"I mean, Bones – you're a certified foster parent. You could keep her. She could be your foster child," he told her, and the scientist was still, and silent. "Bones, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, I know that you don't want children and Child Services is on their way, it just came out." His partner was silent for a minute more, and Booth was starting to squirm.
"I never said I didn't want children, Booth. I said I didn't want to have children. As in, birth them," she said quietly, and Booth looked up in surprise, waiting for her to continue. "As irrational as it is, I find myself thinking that what you just said might be right. I'm quite secure financially, and the Jeffersonian does have an excellent Montessori daycare program for children of employees. Also, to clarify my earlier statement, this little girl is already here. She has already been born, and she has already contributed to the overpopulation of the world – not that that's her fault," she hastened to add, "but if she's already here, and if she needs a good home, and if I can provide her with one, and since we've already begun to form a bond, then I suppose it is quite logical that she stay with me." Booth was dumbstruck.
"Seriously, Bones?" he asked, and Brennan looked confused.
"It was your idea, Booth," she reminded him. "Are you worried I'll be an unfit mother?" Worry was evident in her voice, and Booth smiled.
"No, Bones. I think you'll be a great mother to that little girl. As hard as it is, you understand how she must be feeling, and you've been in a similar situation. I think she would be lucky to have you." Brennan smiled at the compliments, but then frowned.
"Booth? Will you help me? You know, be a parent?" her small voice reached deep into her partner's heart, and he looked her deep in the eyes.
"Absolutely, Bones. Anything you need, I'll help you. I'll be there," their eyes connected, and Brennan knew he meant it. "And now I'm going to call Child Services, tell them she's already found a family."
