Firstly an apology – I'm sorry I've taken so long to update, but I do have a really good excuse! Basically, long story short, I have Bipolar and haven't been doing so good of late. Somewhere between medications not working, hospital stays and study crises, it seems my imagination has gone walkabout. I've been trying really hard to get it done, but it's been a struggle. For this reason, I cannot tell you when the next chapter will be up – it all depends on what's going on inside my head. Sorry folks!

On a happier note, thanks to everyone for the info regarding American high school. Oh, and just for information's sake, I stuffed up when I said we Aussie's finish school at 18-19 - its' actually 17-18 like the American system. I think you guys over there must get your car licenses earlier than us or something, because hardly anyone drives to school here - still on our learners!

Also, massive thankyou's to everyone who has reviewed- there's over 200! And particularly Carrie (Boneslove-2991) – awwww, thank you times a million! It means a lot.

And of course, Lucy, my love (haha, haha)

Now, on with the story!

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The school was empty as the pair traipsed through it in silence. They reached Seeley's car, which was standing alone in the student parking lot and Booth moved to open the passenger door.

"I can open my own door Booth!" Temperance exclaimed grumpily.

"Okay then, Miss Bossy-Boots," he teased back as he shut the door before she could get in. "Was just trying to be polite!"

He grinned cheekily at her and jogged around to the other side of the car, trying not to laugh as she glared after him and muttered under her breath. Still grumbling, Tempe reopened the door, flopped into the passenger seat and stared resolutely out the front window.

"Aww, don't be like that Bones," he said with a grin as he pulled out of the lot.

"Don't call me Bones," she muttered under her breath, her head turned toward the window so Booth couldn't see the little smile that had appeared on her face.

A few minutes later, they pulled over on a relatively quiet street lined with small businesses.

"What are we –" Brennan began.

"You wait here Bones, and protect the car," Booth interrupted as he leapt out of the car. "I'll be back in a minute."

Before she could respond, Booth had slammed the door and dashed around the back of the car and into one of the stores back down the road. Bren huffed in annoyance at his dismissal, and began tapping her foot impatiently, waiting for his return. After what seemed like forever Seeley returned, stopping briefly to place something in the boot of the vehicle before getting back in.

"You took your time," Tempe grumbled. "What was so important anyway?"

Booth glanced over at her and shrugged noncommittally, not answering. Checking quickly for traffic, he steered the car in a u-turn across the empty road and headed back in the direction they came. They travelled in silence for a short while.

"Where are we going now, Booth?" Brennan asked, exasperated.

"You'll see," he replied mysteriously. "It's not too far away, maybe twenty to thirty minutes drive."

"Thirty minutes?" Temperance exclaimed angrily. "Thirty minutes? You said we were going to sit outside to study, not go gallivanting off around the countryside! Take me back Booth."

Booth looked over at her, a pout on his face. She had never been very good at reading people's emotions, but she thought that he looked a bit hurt by her outburst.

"Oh, come on Bones. I told you that we would go somewhere pleasant and do our work, and that's exactly what we are going to do," he said, pausing shortly. "I wouldn't lie to you Temperance."

Bren was momentarily overcome by the sound of her name on his tongue; the way he said it made her shiver and her stomach felt like it was full of butterflies, which she knew was impossible. She was snapped out of her reverie by a voice called her.

"Well Bones? You still want me to take you home?"

Tempe looked up and was surprised to discover that, while she had been thinking, Booth had pulled the car to the side of the busy road and was staring expectantly at her.

"It's okay. Keep going," she replied abruptly, tipping her head forward and looking at the window. As she did so, her hair fell down around her face, and prevented Seeley from seeing her cheeks, which were tinged pink with embarrassment.

The rest of the trip was spent in an awkward silence; Booth was trying to figure a way to make her smile, while Bren was berating her body for reacting the way it did to Booths voice. After approximately twenty more minutes of driving, Temperance snapped suddenly out of her musings and realized that the scenery had changed from bustling housing estates to dense green forest. They were travelling on a small bitumen road, and she had absolutely no idea where they were.

"My auntie," Booth said randomly, almost as though he had felt her growing anxiety and had decided to break the silence. "She's really into all that plants and animals stuff – she's got some degree in it and all – she works as a ranger at Ridley Creek State Park; even lives in one of the houses inside the park. We used to come out here at least once a month when I was little."

Temperance felt reassured knowing her location, but wasn't sure whether she was meant to respond to his comment, so she stayed silent. Sure enough, they passed a large sign board that read 'Welcome to Ridley Creek State Park' just minutes later and Tempe began to feel more relaxed.

They drove deeper into the park at a steady pace, Booth breaking the silence occasionally to point out different features. Temperance was beginning to enjoy herself; she had always loved the peace and tranquillity of such environments, and for the first time in a long while she almost felt trouble free.

Booth turned onto a dirt track that veered off to the left and pulled up to a gate the gate was held shut by a large, padlocked chain and it bore a bold sign saying 'NO ENTRY – AUTHORISED PERSONAL ONLY'.

"Booth," Bren said anxiously. "Can't you read the sign? We aren't allowed here!"

"We are if I have the key!" he replied, grinning. With that he jumped out of the car and headed over to the gate, leaving a frowning Brennan behind him. Moments later, he got back in the car and pulled forward, before getting out to close the gate again.

The travelled slowly down the gravel track for a few minutes before Seeley pulled the car into the tall grass that ran along the edges of the path. Tempe craned her head, looking about herself. As far as she could discern, there was nothing more special about this section of trees compared to any other.

"Grab your bag Bones!" Booth said enthusiastically as he got out of the car. "We're almost there!"

Brennan, who was wondering exactly where 'there' was, slung her bag over her shoulder the shut the car door behind her. She had to smile; Booth was bouncing around like a small child, and his happiness was rather infectious.

"This way Bones!" Seeley called from where he stood at the edge of the tree line. He too had shouldered his school bag and he was carrying the mysterious plastic bag from earlier.

"Are you going to tell me what's in the bag yet? Or where we are going?" Tempe asked teasingly, even though she already knew the answer. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Temperance's mouth snapped shut in shock. She was not, in her nature, an outspoken person, and this sudden burst of confidence had thoroughly surprised her.

"Nope!" he replied, happily oblivious to her inner turmoil. "Now, follow me!"

They traipsed through the forest for a number of minutes. Every so often, Booth would stop and examine a patch of bush in front of him. After the third time he had done this, Tempe realised that he was following a trail; one that was invisible to her, but that he had memorised using trees and such as markers. Tempe was impressed.

After another five minutes of walking though the dense scrub, the broke through the tree line onto the grassy bank of a small creek. The clearing wasn't large; it ran along the river bank for about ten meters and was no wider than four, and it was enclosed on three sides by the lush forest, giving it a secluded and maybe even romantic feel. Clear water bubbled over the rocks in the small creek that bordered the remaining side, brushing against the foliage that overhung the bank on the far side of the creek.

Temperance gasped softly. It was beautiful.

"Do you like it?" Seeley asked hopefully, eager to please.

Temperance moved slowly forward until she was standing halfway between forest and the river. She turned around to smile joyfully at Booth, who was still standing under the edge of the canopy.

"I love it."

Booth grinned back just as widely, and moved forward before plopping himself on the ground.

"Now is this a better place to study, or what?" he gloated.

"It is a much nicer location," Brennan conceded as she took a seat near him. Pulling a hair elastic off her wrist, she pulled her hair in to a messy pony tail.

"So, what first?" Booth asked her as he began to pull his books from his bag. "Tutoring or assignment?"

Brennan, impressed that he was so eager to keep his end of the bargain and was not trying to distract her let Booth choose, and they were soon picking up from where they had left off with their assignment a few days earlier.

About twenty minutes in, Temperance, who had really been feeling the heat of the afternoon sun, leaned back from the notepad she'd been taking notes in and stretched, before peeling off the thick turtle neck sweater she had been wearing. Underneath she was wearing a simple black singlet.

"Ah, that's better," she sighed quietly.

Booth, who until this time had been reading over a printed document, looked up at her. His breath caught in his throat.

"Bones!" he gasped softly, staring at her.

"What?" she asked confused. "Are you okay Booth?"

"Your neck..." he whispered, reaching a hand out toward her.

Temperance recoiled immediately, the look on her face one of horror. She grabbed at the jumper sitting neck to her and moved to put it back on.

"Temperance, stop," Seeley said in a gentle but firm voice as he placed a hand on her jumper, preventing her from getting it over her head.

Feeling defeated, Temperance dropped the item of clothing and turned away, her head hung low. As she tried not to let the tears that were forming slip from her eyes, she heard a shuffling behind her.

"Turn around Bones," Booth said softly.

Sighing, she did as he asked. Immediately her head was engulfed by blue fabric.

"Arms up," he spoke again. As he did, he carefully guided her arms through the arm holes of the shirt.

Looking down, Brennan saw that she was now wearing a navy blue polo that was embroidered with the logo of the school football team, the North Penn Knights. Feeling Booths hands at her neck, she automatically cringed, but relaxed when she realised that all he was doing was making the collar of the shirt stand up.

"There we go," Seeley murmured, causing Tempe to glance up at him. He was sitting cross-legged directly in front of her, less than an arm length away and was now wearing only a body hugging white singlet on his top half.

"Thank you Booth," Temperance whispered, looking back down at her lap, he cheeks flaming red with embarrassment. She couldn't believe she'd made such an error as taking the sweater off, or that she'd been comfortable enough in his presence that she'd forgotten why she was wearing it in the first place.

"Whenever you're ready to talk Temperance, I'm right here," he replied gravely, staring at her.

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Bren broke the silence.

"This is my seventh foster home," she said quietly, her gaze firmly fixed on the ground in front of her as she twisted her fingers nervously in her lap. "No one wants a teenager; they all want the cute little kids. Well, some do want teenagers, but in my experience it's rarely for pure reasons."

She glanced up at Booth, who was watching her carefully. She could see his jaw clenched and a small blood vessel near his temple pulsing. He looked angry, though she wasn't sure why. After a moment in which he didn't say anything, she continued.

"The second family I was with were lovely. They had no children and were fostering me and another girl. A couple of months after I arrived they got pregnant, and they didn't have enough room in their house, so I had to leave."

"The fourth placement was the worst," Tempe paused, unsure if she should continue, but at that moment, Booth reached over and grabbed her hand in his.

She looked down at their entwined fingers and wondered how such a simple action could evoke the rush of strange and confusing emotions she was experiencing. She didn't know why, but for some reason she felt braver when Booth was holding her hand, and she took a deep breath and continued her story.

"On one occasion, my foster parents locked me in the trunk of a car for 2 days when I broke a dish. I can be quite clumsy. They warned me it would happen, but the water was so hot and the soap was so slippery." By the end of her tale, Bren was almost whispering.

"Bones," Booth murmured, using his free hand to swipe her cheek, which she noticed now had tears on it.

Bren came to her senses suddenly and couldn't believe she had told this boy, who was basically a stranger one of her most personal stories. Shaking her head she extracted her hand from his and sat up straight.

"My point is that I have experienced much worse in my life, and so you don't need to worry about me," she said harshly.

He knew that her words wouldn't make him worry any less, but he didn't want to make her angry so he stayed silent. After about ten minutes in which Brennan had been staring fiercely at the textbook on her lap and not speaking, Booth noticed that the sun was starting to set.

"It's getting late Bones, we really should be heading back," he said as he started to pack his books up.

Brennan nodded her head but didn't say anything, choosing to simply follow his lead. Moments later they were traipsing back through the dense scrub toward the car. Still not speaking, they got in, Booth started the engine and they headed out of the park.

The first half of the drive home was spent in a tense silence. Bren was still berating herself for all the mistakes and slip ups she had made in Booth's presence, while Booth thinking up wonderful methods in which he could inflict the same pain on her foster father that he had inflicted on her.

"One day, I will have to introduce you to my auntie. I think you would really like her," Booth said randomly.

"I'd like that," Brennan replied softly with a brief smile in his direction.

Just like that, the silence in the car went from tense to comfortable and familiar, and they spent the rest of the ride in that manner.

As he had done last time, Booth pulled up in the street around the corner from the Saroyan household and killed the engine.

"Will you be okay? He asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine Booth," she replied with an empty smile. "Like I said earlier, I'm a big girl who can look after herself, and I've been through worse."

This statement did not instill anymore confidence in Seeley, but he didn't mention it to her.

I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked her, trying to hide the hopefulness and anxiety he was feeling.

"Maybe," she replied vaguely before becoming serious. "Thank you for this afternoon Booth. I haven't had the opportunity to enjoy myself in a long while."

"It was my pleasure Bones," he said in an almost whisper, staring at her once again.

After a short pause, Temperance turned and opened the car door and got out. She didn't say anything more as she shut the door and began walking down the footpath. Booth watched her in his rear view mirror until she turned around the corner and disappeared.

With a deep sigh and a shake of his head, he started his car and headed for home. It wasn't until much later he realised they'd never eaten the treats he had bought from the diner.

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Well, there you have it - Chapter Nine. I hope you like it. Please review if you have a spare moment!

Oh, and on a very good note - since I wrote that message at the top I have had a brief moment of inspiration and managed to write the next chapter. I will probably not post it for about a month to try give myself time to keep going.

Ps - I know it looks like there's a lot of spelling mistakes throughout the entire story, but most of them are not - its how the words are spelt in Australia. Anyways, Catchya later!