Jagged Pieces

By wired2damoon

Chapter 4: Nobody's Child

Disclaimer: If Bones were mine, Zack wouldn't be in an institution and there would be no such thing as LINES between partners. *Wink wink*

4 - Nobody's Child

Time Line - Young Brennan, in foster care, teenage years, 15-16 years old

Word Count: 515

POV - Temperance Brennan

I sighed almost inaudibly as I made my way through the High School corridor. This, St Christopher's High, was my fifth school in the last eighteen months and it left a lot to be desired. It was only ten-thirty and I'd already been disgusted by the condition of the restrooms, been shouted at by various hormonal boys and laughed at by a cluster of girls, but for what I could only ponder…

It was getting rather tedious I have to admit, transferring from school to school, not really learning anything but rather teaching myself from my textbooks. Shaking my head, I looked down at the small map in my hands, squinting a little to read the names of each room.

"Oh hey look…it's nobody's child…" a voice called teasingly from my left. As usual, I was on edge, a basic survival tactic, and whirled around to see whom it was that addressed me.

Unfortunately, that seemed like the precise moment in which the caller approached me and we ended up colliding roughly. Wincing slightly from the pain in my arm, I looked up and saw the most startling green eyes I believe I've ever seen. I looked away quickly as I saw the sheer hate behind their gaze. I kept quiet after our collision whereas he was not so polite, "HEY WATCH WHERE YOU'RE WALKING FOSTER GEEK!"

I merely glared up at him as he pushed passed me, his shoulder hitting off mine and almost making me stumble into the wall behind me. I had learned a long time ago that no matter how much I wanted to, it was pointless to retaliate, it would just disrupt my life even further, and I for one, could not afford that.

So I trudged onward, towards my destination, my head held high, my mind doing what it does best even at my early age, compartmentalize. Science was always going to be there for me no matter what. That's why I already knew what I wanted to be. An anthropologist. And maybe, if I get good enough, maybe world renowned, it would stop me from being 'foster geek'.

Maybe then, I'd just be known as Dr. Temperance Brennan. Forensic Anthropologist.

And not, 'nobody's child.'