Well, this is it. :) I hope you guys have enjoyed the story (even with the long delays). I don't know when I'll be posting again, but until then au revoir!


That night, Temperance Brennan dreamed of Barry Finkel.

Seventeen year old Temperance Brennan carefully placed her clothes into an empty suitcase. She had received news just that morning that her grandfather – a grandfather she never knew existed – was coming to get her out of foster care. Mary had told her to start packing because her new guardian was coming in a few hours, but the task wasn't that difficult. Temperance didn't have many things, and the few valuables that she did have were still packed away in a duffle bag from when she arrived. She looked around her room, feeling nothing but excitement at the prospect of leaving foster care once and for all. It was good, she thought, that Jimmy had stopped her from running away when she did, or else she would have never gotten a chance at family.

She had just placed her last shirt into the suitcase when she heard a knock on her door. "Come in," she called. Turning around, she saw a flash of red hair as her foster brother, Barry Finkel, entered the room quickly. She stood looking at him, waiting for him to tell her why he was there. After a few seconds, she rolled her eyes, and said impatiently, "Yes, Barry?"

"Temperance, Mary told me you're leaving." The young boy stated matter-of-factly.

"Yes." She didn't feel the need to explain to him, of all people, but Barry wouldn't drop it.

"Why?" He's so nosy, Brennan thought in annoyance.

"My grandfather is coming to get me." She said quickly and firmly, hoping that Barry would just go away. "Is there something you need?"

In reality, Barry had told her that he was "staking a claim to your room, Temperance, and I would greatly appreciate it if you would tell Mary that you are willing it to me." Temperance had calmly told him to leave her alone, chased him out of the room, and shut the door behind her. But this time, Barry had something to say.

"Thank you."

"What?" Her seventeen year old self said. Then, everything morphed, and she was standing in the Jeffersonian with Barry in her current form.

"Thank you." Barry repeated, walking forward. The small boy gave his former foster sister a big hug "You solved it. No one ever knew what really happened to me, but you figured it out. So thanks. It helps to know that Mr. McPherson is at least getting some punishment for what he did to me. It helps a lot."

Temperance opened her mouth to speak, but something startled her and she awoke from her sleep. She sat in bed for a few moments, mulling over her dream. Logically, she knew that dreams didn't mean anything and were simply a way for her brain to exercise. She knew that this was simply a manifestation of what Booth had told her earlier in the day. However, as she lay back down, she couldn't help but feel comforted, and drifted off with a smile on her face.


Charlotte