The story is finally complete, I know I've been rubbish at updating but I had to add this little scene to the end to tie everything together. I have always kept the story in true keeping with the show, and they always have a short 'closure' scene between B & B at the end of an episode. So that's what this is. And I quite like it, even if I do say so myself!

Also, I am starting another story, hurrah!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones, I'm just playing with the characters for a little while.

The glow from the desk lamp fell softly on Brennan's features as she leaned back in her chair and sighed, looking up at the doorway. Her partner stood with his weight resting on the door frame, arms folded, an expression of curiosity and compassion on his face as he watched her. Despite his constant pestering to get her to go home earlier he secretly admitted to himself that he like to catch her here at this hour; the lab was quiet, and calm, and with the lights dimmed their conversations always seemed that little bit more, intimate. Her voice travelled smoothly through the silence, waking him from his thoughts.

'Case closed?' He nodded.

'We have the confession from Ryan that he abused those girls; he's in custody right now. Turns out his wife had no idea what was going on.' Brennan pressed her lips together and raised her eyebrows slightly, as Booth entered the room fully and made his way over to the chair in front of her desk.

'Did he touch the other girls?'

'Not the younger two. But the Ryans have been fostering for some time, all girls, mostly 15, 16 year olds – DCF's looking into it but unless any of them come forward... we won't know.' He sighed and sat down, fingering his tie as he pursed his lips.

'The younger girls are back in a group home, awaiting placement with another family.' She nodded and gave a rueful smile, before switching her attention to the file on her desk. A smiling school photograph of Casey Warren looked back at her, blonde hair long behind her back, blue eyes locking with Brennan's.

'Bones.' She looked directly at him.

'It's just another case, Booth. Just another victim.'

'But you connected with this one.'

'What? No I didn't.' She gave the tiniest of laughs and shifted her gaze once more to the desk, uncomfortable. How was it that he always knew what she was feeling? And how did he figure it out before she did?

'You'd been in the same position. You identified with her.'

'No Booth, I'm a scientist. My job isn't to, connect with the victims, my job is to look at the facts of the case, that's... that's what I do.' She trailed off and looked up at him, daring him to challenge her assertion of total impartiality. He countered her almost immediately.

'But sometimes we can't help it. And that's ok, Bones, you're allowed to feel for these people. I know, you're very good at compartmentalising, and analysing, rationally, but you're only human. No matter what you might think. And it's ok to be sad.'

'I am sad. And I do... feel...' her voice caught and she clamped her lips together again, afraid and unwilling to continue talking about her emotions. As far as she could tell it was making her feel worse. What she needed to do was work. She needed another case.

'I know.' His voice was softer than usual and she dipped her eyes as they begun to glisten and a lump grew in her throat. How did he do it?

'I just... I don't know, why... we do what we do, when it doesn't change anything. We can't prevent any of this from happening, all we can do is pick up the pieces afterward, it's... we're too late, Booth.' She sighed, embarrassed, and continued,



'I'm being irrational. It's stupid.'

'No, it's normal. And we do a lot more than pick up the pieces. All of us, the squints, the other agents... it's important that we find out what happened to people when they can't tell the story for themselves. It's called justice; it gives the family's closure.' She was listening, her head tilted slightly to one side as he spoke.

'And as for preventing... James Ryan will never foster again. Think of the number of possible victims we've protected. The work we do is good, Bones, and valuable.' He took the case file from the desk and closed it, all the while keeping his eyes on hers.

'Now, my stomach is speaking to me, and it's asking for pie, so... diner?' She smiled.

'You know your stomach can't actually speak to you Booth.'

'Yeah, maybe yours can't. I can hear mine loud and clear,' he raised his eyebrows playfully and treated her to another of his patented charm smiles.

'C'mon, let's get out of here.'

She stood, and taking her jacket from the back of the chair, walked round the desk to join her partner. He took the jacket and held it out for her, as she eased her arms and shoulders into its enveloping material. He put his arm around her and pulled her toward him, squeezing ever so gently, and guiding her from the room.

'You'll be alright Temperance.'

His voice came almost as a whisper and she glanced up at him sideways through the gloom of the darkened lab. They walked comfortably together, their footsteps in sync, to the door of the Jeffersonian and out into the evening.

The End

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you have enjoyed the story. I know this chapter is short but I would really appreaciate reviews. The ending of a story is always tricky to get right - you don't want it to be cliched or cheesy! Hopefully I have done it justice.

Until next time...