A/N: I don't own Bones, are you happy now?

Chapter 12 The Elephant in the Room

"Bones." Booth knelt next to her chair, his hand gently rubbing her own.

"Ummph. Eyes like a puppy. Mshhh." He grinned. Temperance was not known for her late afternoon naps. She had more stamina than a speed addict with a cleaning fetish. Apparently, throw off the sleep schedule and her language skills go too.

"Bones….wakey, wakey…Bones!"

"No puppy for Parker. Sorry bub." Booth's grin widened, he could have fun with this.

"Don't you like puppies, Brennan?" His voice was low and sweet.

"Hmmmh. Soft fur, so cute. Grr. Cold nose….pee on my shoe…." Brennan shifted and returned to her half-asleep state.

"I might just buy you a puppy, Bones." His voice was louder this time, hoping to wake her.

"Blahhh, no chewing on my thoughts…bubba." Booth was unable to contain his laughter. The deep gales of laughter ticked his throat and woke Brennan.

"Booth! What are you doing?" She was now very aware of his face close to hers. His eyes were dark and sparkled brightly. He jumped up and rubbed his hands together excitedly, having enjoyed the little show and learning a little more about his Bones. Someone has puppy eyes? He thought, flashing the charm smile full force.

"Waking you up, of course. Time for dinner!" She glanced around him and scanned the room.

"Where's Parker?" He took her worry in stride.

"Sitting in the wheelchair in the hallway, ready to be discharged. That is, as soon as his favorite doctor gives the okay."

It took a few moments for Brennan to clear the cobwebs from her mind and realize his meaning. "Parker's waiting for me?"

"Yep. Doctor Bones has to say he can leave or he's not going anywhere. And after your heroics this morning, not going anywhere without you."

A small, barely noticable smile appeared on the doctor's lips as she gathered her jacket and purse. Standing, she noticed Booth had slung her laptop bag over his shoulder and waited for her with a sly grin.

"The investigation, do they know-"

"Shhhh, Bones. Let's just get Parker out of here. We'll talk later."

The question of who had put Parker in the hospital in the first place occupied Brennan's thoughts as Booth signed him out of the hospital. She watched the gentle way he lifted his son into the vehicle, buckling him in with care. She noticed the determined look in his eyes and tensed shoulders and knew he knew. Slight bruising and broken skin on his right hand indicated an altercation. I hope he won't get in trouble for hitting whoever he did. Brennan frowned, knowing Booth was physically capable of doing a lot of damage to the person who'd hurt his son. They wouldn't release Parker unless he was safe. Brennan relaxed in the front seat, sending Booth a rare smile to answer his worried glances. Parker will be safe. We'll all be safe.

An hour later they were sitting in their regular booth at Wong Foo's. Sid had brought drinks and dinner and the Booths were working on convincing Brennan to join them for dessert. Finally, she succombed to Parker's charm smile, a trick Booth had taught him well, and they walked out of the restaurant hand in hand. Booth left some bills on the table and nodded at Sid while keeping his eyes trained on the woman he loved gently holding onto his son.

Back at Booth's apartment he tucked a very tired Parker into bed, forgoing their usual bedtime story. As Booth turned off the light and started to shut the door Parker called out,

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, Bub?"

"Is Dr. Bones here?"

"She sure is." Booth smiled at his son.

"Can I a hug her good 'nite?"

"Sure, bub, let's go find her."

They found Dr. Brennan in the kitchen working at her laptop. She looked startled when she heard the small footsteps but recovered quickly and gracefully.

"Good 'nite, Dr. Bones. See you tomorrow!" The little boy launched himself into her arms and she gathered him close.

"Sleep well, Parker. I'll see you tomorrow." As quickly as he came the boy returned to his room, running past his father who'd stood in the doorway watching. Booth tucked Parker in again and returned to find Brennan alone in the living room, sitting on his couch.

"So, the investigation…" he began, sitting next to her. She noticably relaxed, thankful he had not mentioned Parker's hug first.

"What did they find out? His x-rays didn't show any broken bones. But, why didn't Rebecca come say good-bye to Parker before he left? Who-"

"Shhhh, Bones!" He shushed her with a finger to her lips and she blushed, recalling their earlier conversation, his promise not to leave her, their kiss. Well, kisses.

"Sorry. Go ahead." His eyes were downcast, staring at a spot on the floor he began.

"They interviewed Josh. He knows nothing. Apparently he wasn't around very often with Parker. Whenever she had a date with him she got a sitter." The bitterness in his voice was evidence to the betrayal he felt. Leaving my son with a stranger and denying me visitation! Her hand on his encouraged him to continue.

"They talked to the sitter. Nothing suspicious. No boyfriends hanging around, no chance the sixteen year old honor student hurt Parker. They questioned the couch, he was my best bet but had a good alibi. Every time he saw Parker dozens of other kids and their parents were present."

"What about his preschool teacher?"

"They interviewed her by phone so they'll need to follow up in person when she returns from her sister's funeral out of state. She didn't notice the bruises but did say Parker was withdrawn in the past few weeks. Usually on Mondays."

"After Rebecca had seen Josh on the weekends?"

"Yeah. So they leaned more on Rebecca. Between her and Josh we got the full story." Brennan had known Booth long enough to see he was more involved in the confession than he'd let on.

"Booth, tell me, please?" Her low voice struck him odd and he looked up to see tears barely held back by her lashes. She's worried about my son. About me. He took a deep breath.

"Turns out Josh was telling the truth. He'd go out with Rebecca on Friday, sometimes Saturdays and that was it. His job took him out of town during the week and he didn't see a whole of lot of Parker. But Rebecca was seeing someone else too."

"What?!!" Brennan was annoyed. No, make that furious! She thought, eyes flashing, blood pressure rising.

"Yeah, had a boyfriend on the side, Jeremy something. She confessed to leaving him alone with Parker a few times while she got ready for their dates, before the sitter arrived. At least once in the apartment while she ran to the store for some alcohol or something. She lied because she didn't want Josh, or me, to find out."

"What'll happen now?"

"The report's on file with Child Protective Services and I've been granted temporary custody. Rebecca will be charged, probably as an accomplice to aggrevated assault. She'll never see the inside of a jail but probably won't get Parker back either. At least not full time." With that final revelation Brennan let the tears fall and Booth's body crashed into hers holding her tight.

Together they cried. For Parker and everything he'd been through. For the ordeal they'd both been through. Together. Brennan knew that full time custody was what Booth had always wanted. She understood he'd go back to the old arrangement in an instant to spare Parker. And she saw, first hand, how much it hurt when you couldn't protect someone you loved. Temperance couldn't stop Parker from seeing what he did on that Oncology floor. Booth couldn't stop a man he'd never met from hitting his son. And Temperance could see, finally, that she couldn't stop Booth from hurting but she could stand by him through the storm.

It wasn't until his lips were on hers in a gentle but passion-filled kiss that she realized what had happened. When did I start loving Booth? And Parker, for that matter? When did I become so invested in protecting them from pain? And who will shield me from pain? The answer to her final question was the man who was planting kisses on her neck.

"Seeley…I love you."

A/N: Yeah, I'm a softie. I was a little peeved that so many people figured out it was supposed to be Josh. Not with y'all smarties but with myself so creating such an obvious out. So I threw in a little plot twist. Hope you don't mind.