A/N: This chapter (and another future chapter) actually inspired a little back story, which I will be editing and putting up within a few days time. Thanks for all of you who have been reading! Please review and let me know what you think! If you absolutely hate it, I can go away forever, I promise. Okay, I can't promise... but just let me know!
Booth knew Bones was right. He should have gone to talk to Kelly, but he just wasn't ready. Maybe it was his failures, maybe it was hers… he didn't know. He tossed ideas around in his head, not liking the inconsistent emotions, as he walked down the corridor of the FBI building on his way to meet with Agent Shifflett, the agent who had taken over for him. He was passing the interrogation rooms when he noticed a familiar blond ball sitting on the bench.
"Kelly?" He called and his sister's head popped up and she glared at him.
"Did you even bother to pass on your notes to the new guy or do you not even bother with protocol?" She sneered
"What are you talking about?" He approached the bench slowly, almost fearful of what she would do.
"He called as all back in to question us again. Same questions, different guy." She pushed some hair out of her eyes. "They took my keys. Alex is in there now."
"I told you they would be testing keys." He said and than immediately wished he could put the words back in his mouth. He had sounded too high and mighty and he knew it wouldn't go over well. Her face soured, but he continued. "I had to tell them why I was stepping down and they're just covering their bases."
They sat in silence for a minute, neither one knowing what to say. Kelly regarded her brother with surprising tenderness. Time had been good to him. The last time she saw him, he had been hardened by war, every fiber of his being radiated an awareness of the horrors of the world. Now, he was looking at his hands, but she saw in his profile a softer side, she saw the protective older brother she once knew.
Finally, Booth cleared his throat and broke the stillness.
"So…" He looked at her "Law school?" She nodded "How are you paying for it?" He bit his tongue. Another bad question, but she answered.
"Scholarships, grants, loans, getting less than four hours of sleep a night… I'm working for it." She mumbled, not willing to throw Booth a bone, but not entirely willing to continue being cold and distant.
"Why did you go to law school?" He asked. He figured he had to start somewhere.
"I got a lot of help once you weren't around anymore." She said bitterly, but it was her turn to wish she could take back her words once she saw the pain written across his face.
"I'm glad you got help." He said after he recovered.
They sat in more silence, but this time it was Kelly who broke.
"I know you have a son." She blurted and he looked confused. "I talk to Alice occasionally. I get updates."
"She didn't tell me." He said softly, thinking back to the last time he had talked to his own mother. It felt like it had been months, maybe even last Christmas.
"I heard about the Purple Heart, too." She looked him over, obviously checking for any signs of visible scarring. "Sorry you got hurt."
"I'm ok now, I guess." He shrugged. "I wish I had known you were in DC."
"I came after rehab. I got my GED while I was there, went to community college in Northern Virginia, then I applied to American University." She looked down at her hands. "I knew you had just started working for the FBI, but I was too proud to call." Answering his unasked question. "Maybe I wanted you to suffer a little bit. Maybe I didn't want to know if I was forgotten."
"I could never forget you." He breathed out in relief that Kelly had taken the responsibility for this conversation.
"How's Jared?" She asked suddenly, as if she had just remembered that there were 3 of them growing up.
"You don't know? He's in India." Booth informed her. "On his motorcycle."
"Do you know that Turkey has the worst traffic in the world? Especially in Istanbul. Terrible." She shook her head. "Izmir claims the best drivers, but they're only the best because all the bad ones have died in automobile accidents."
"He's safe. Not being in Turkey helps." Booth smiled tenderly. "I'll email him and let him know you're here."
"Thanks." She smiled back. He could always read her tangential rants perfectly.
At that moment, Booth's phone started vibrating and he looked at the caller ID.
"Hold on a second." He looked at Kelly then answered his phone. "Bones. What is it?" He listened, silently nodding his head. He cast a glance Kelly then looked down at the floor. "Are you sure?" He asked, nodded again and then said, "Thanks." He hung up the phone and suddenly he grabbed Kelly's arm and yanked her up off the bench and down the hallway.
"Hey!" She protested.
"Shut up, you're in my custody." He hushed
"Why? Alex drove me! I'm supposed to be waiting for him!" She cried as he pulled her past the elevator and to the stairs. Once inside the stairwell, he pushed her into a corner and pointed a finger at her. She thought he was going to yell, but very softly he said,
"There was blood found on your keys. DNA matches Omar Johnson. You don't need to explain yourself now, but you're in my custody until we can straighten this out." He grabbed her arm again and led her down the stairs.
"I didn't kill Omar." She insisted
"I know." He said through his teeth
"No you don't, because if you knew, we'd be marching to Agent Shifflett, telling him what was just found instead of running away."
"He's going to know soon enough. And we aren't running away." Booth stopped on the landing and turned to her. "You're right, I don't know that you didn't kill Omar, but I trust you when you say you didn't. You need to trust me now. His blood on your keys does not look good for you." He pulled on her arm again, but she followed willingly.
"Where are we going?" She asked pleadingly
"To figure this out."