Author's Note: OK, so, as you probably noticed, I am not following the effects of the season finale… in fact, I am a bit confused about the whole thing…
Chapter Nine; Monday, mid-morning
"Hello, Dr. Brennan, Agent Booth, come on in," Sweets said. Brennan and Booth came into Sweets' office and sat down across from him.
"Hey, Sweets," Booth greeted breezily. "Okay, Bones, we're here! Will you tell us now? What's the big secret?"
"What secret?" Sweets asked, perking up a little.
"Hello, Dr. Sweets," Brennan said. "I'll tell you in a minute." She calmly sat down and slowly sipped her coffee.
"Oh, Bones, you're not gonna make us guess, are you?" Booth asked.
"No," She replied.
"Then what is it?" Booth and Sweets asked simultaneously.
"It's about Carrie. It's not really good news," Brennan said slowly.
"Uh-oh."
"What? What is it?" Booth asked.
"I just thought you both should know because we were talking about it last week," Brennan said and continued slowly, "Carrie is being abused."
"I thought so," Sweets said, concerned. "Details?"
"All she told me is that her foster dad grabbed her arm, pretty hard. There were bruises, but she said it was only once," Brennan explained. "But also, she said she had another foster home before this one, and I think she was abused there. Anyway, she said she didn't want to talk about it."
Sweets opened his mouth as if to comment, but quickly closed it.
"Poor kid," Booth sighed.
They were silent for a few moments. None of them felt like talking.
"What should I do?" Brennan asked.
"Spend time with her," Sweets started.
"And we'll all hope it doesn't happen again," Booth finished.
