A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I am so glad you guys are out there, reading and enjoying this!! – R –

Chapter 9

Even though he struggled with the wriggling, sobbing toddler, Doug was smiling. He shifted Tyler from his right hip to his left, as he sought his keys in his jacket pocket.

Slipping the key into the lock, he managed to unlock the door and enter the small apartment. He glanced nervously over his shoulder, to confirm no one was coming or going. He wanted no witnesses.

"Hon?" he called out to his wife, as he let the recently purchased diaper bag down on the floor. Hiccoughing, Tyler stopped crying, and as if defeated, he lie his head down on Doug's shoulder.

Getting out of Club Kid was easier than he'd originally anticipated.

As Doug came onto his shift that evening, he'd advised his co-worker Emmy that he was going to put a new tape in the recorder for the security camera. Then he 'accidentally' forgot to push record. A simple enough oversight.

Then, he saw Booth's older son charge off towards the play tunnels, and Tyler was led into the little ones room for movie time. Tyler had been seated closest to the door in bean bag chair, enchanted by the Lion King, characters singing enthusiastically Hakuna Matata.

Slipping stealthily into the room, and while all the other children's attention was diverted at the screen, quickly snatched Tyler. At first, Tyler accepted him holding him and briskly walking towards the employee exit. Then, upon seeing that the man was putting him into a car seat, realizing this was not his typical car seat began to loudly wail. By that time though, Doug was outside the building, and there was no one about to see, to hear the toddler's cries.

"Sweetie?" he called again, moving into his apartment. Doug could hear the TV on in the family room. He came around the corner, and found Trista working out to an exercise video.

Trista paused, and turned to face her husband. A look of surprise and shock registered across her face. She reached to pick up the remote control, and stopped the video. Taking a long swallow from the bottle of water she'd had on the coffee table, she capped it and glanced at him critically

"Doug? What the hell is going on? Who is the little boy?" she asked, frowning, narrowing her eyes.

Doug was deflated by her reaction. He'd anticipated a tearful, happy response, not one of shock. He cleared his throat, and with a small smile, said "Tris, this is the baby you always wanted"

Trista only continued to look at him with a blank expression. She crossed her arms over her leotard clad body, saying nothing. Not discouraged by this, he went on with vigor

"This, is the child of world famous forensic anthropologist, and best selling author Temperance Brennan!" he finished, waiting for the exclamation of happiness, of joy to ensue

"Child of Temperance Brennan?! Doug!? What the hell are you doing!?" she hollered at him angrily

Reaching out to him, she snatched Tyler from his arms, and smoothed his blonde curls. She placed a kiss on his forehead, and moved to the bedroom to lay him down, as he'd fallen asleep on Doug's shoulder.

After shutting the bedroom door, Trista re-emerged, anger drawing her brows together.

"Tris…." He began hesitantly. This hadn't gone at all as planned. She wasn't reacting the way he thought she would.

"Doug. I don't know why you did that" she said harshly, pacing in the small apartment

"Hon, remember? you wanted that baby, that was the one we were going to adopt, and…." But she cut him off

"Yeah, and I went to jail for. I don't want THAT baby Doug. He isn't even a baby anymore – he is 19 months old! He isn't a baby anymore Doug! I want a FRESH baby!" she shouted

Angry now, he ran his hand through his hair, and tried to keep his cool. It would do no good to have both of them upset. He let out his held breath and went on.

"Trista! Do you any idea what I went through to get him!?" he questioned her irritably

"Doug, do you know I don't care?" she shot back, her eyes flashing

"Well what the hell am I suppose to do now? Just give him back and say I'm sorry?!" he said, barley keeping his tone even

Trista jutted her chin out, and tilted her head up. "I don't care what you do Doug, I do know I am going back to Minnesota and I am not going to have ANY part of this situation!" she said with venom.

End this chapter

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