The woman had never felt like this before. So lost, so confused, so hurt. She had travelled to so many countries, completely poor and had no idea where she was or where she was going. She was never scared; she loved the adventure, but now she was lost in a world unlike her own. It was her subconscious, filled with what she had been through, filled with pain and tears and screaming. She was scared. Would she make it through alive? Her mind screamed at the terror that lied within. Her silent anguish dulled by the rain that washed her blood from the pavement as it circled around her helpless body. She couldn't do anything, she couldn't move, she could barely breathe.

Silent tears crept form her eyes, like shadows emerging as the sun slowly sets. She was completely alone. No one knew where she was. How could they find her? How could she be saved?

Brennan put the phone down, tears streaming down her face. She had just called Russ. She could hear is voice crackle with tears and disbelief until she finally said goodbye, unable to talk any longer. She didn't want to call Russ, but she knew she had to. He was her brother and he deserved to know. Telling Russ made it more real. He was really gone. He was never coming back. She tried to convince herself that it was a dream, but she knew that was irrational. It had happened and she couldn't change that. No one could.

She slid down the back of the shower screen. She had gone into the bathroom to talk to Russ, wanting to be alone when she told her brother. Booth was in the kitchen making breakfast. They hadn't talked about their kiss yet and doing something with his hands helped his nerves as he scrambled for ingredients in the kitchen, but stopped at the sound of her sobs.

He stood in the kitchen listening, his heart breaking for her with every sniffle and every choke. He walked out of the kitchen and knocked lightly on the bathroom door before opening it slowly and peering around it. He saw Brennan huddled against the shower, the phone on the floor and tears running down her cheeks.

He walked over to her and sat down next to her, their shoulders touching and their legs stretched out on the bathroom floor.

"Tell me about your dad."

Brennan looked at him, unsure of what he was doing, but gave in after seeing the caring look in his eyes. He wanted to help.

"He was always good to me as a child. He would make me laugh when I was sad and when I did something wrong he wouldn't get angry. He would always tell me that I could do anything, that I was so smart and so beautiful and I cared about what people wanted and how people felt. He would pick me and Russ up after school and get us ice cream and then we would go to the park and play on the swings. He would always say 'You're flying Tempe, don't let anyone get you down." Tears fell from her eyes. "He told me that he would never leave, but he did Booth. He left."

He put his arm around her, completely forgetting the awkwardness that had followed their kiss. She needed him now and that was all that mattered.

"I know Bones. I know."

She put her head on his shoulder as she relived all of the memories she had with her father to Booth and he listened to every one of them.

It had been two days since Max was found murdered. It was two days since Brennan and Booth had kissed. Booth hadn't allowed Brennan into the lab until after the murder was solved much to her disapproval and spent the day with Russ instead. She liked spending time with Russ, even under the circumstances. He was her older brother and he cared about her. She had forgiven him for leaving her as a teenager and they were able to retie their bond and be siblings once again. Russ had become increasingly protective of his little sister after he returned for good and he always visited her with Amy and the girls, in the hope of establishing a fully functioning family like he always wanted.

"Tempe, you know I'm always there if you need me. Even if I wasn't before."

"You mean when I really needed you." They were walking through a park, both of their eyes glazed in tears.

"Don't be like that Tempe. I thought you had forgiven me."

"I have. It's just; forgiveness doesn't change what happened back then Russ. You are here now and that's all that matters."

He smiled at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked.

"What are we going to do about dad?" he asked her seriously, his smile fading.

"Just wait and see what happens with the case I guess."

"Okay. We'll do that."