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Chapter Twelve

"Why did you want me to come here?" Temperance finally blurted out. The cold air was sweetly perfect; a gentle breeze brushed past them every few minutes cooling their bodies as they worked up a heat from the trying to swing the highest. Temperance knew there was a reason why she was here. He had never asked to see her outside of school clearly indicating he wanted something.

"I wanted to see you" he replied softly, beginning to slow down the speed of the swing as he noticed Temperance legs were barely kicking allowing her swing to come to a gentle stop as she turned to look at him.

"You have a girlfriend if you haven't forgotten" Temperance felt the need to remind him. He had always seemed in love with her yet at this moment he didn't. As if he had completely forgotten about her existence.

"Me and Angela, we're worried about" Booth carefully explained his hand reaching over as it held onto her's carefully, watching for her to flinch or move it away. She didn't. She nodded nervously before realising, how could she have not realised this was why he was here and being the way he was.

"I'm fine" she replied back plain and simple. She didn't allow any muscle on her face to flinch or to show weakness. She had always been t old she was the worst liar a going.

"I don't believe you" Booth replied back, his voice was slightly raised as the frustration inside was being obviously portrayed by his tone.

"Well that's all I can give you" she realised as soon as she said this she slipped up. Indicating something wasn't right but she couldn't say anything at the moment. She saw his eyes lock onto her face as he leant gently in kissing her sweetly on the lips. He paused before carrying on, making sure she wasn't uncomfortable with this gesture. She enjoyed it say the least. Allowing her arms to gently wrap around his neck as they digged in deeper making the kiss last longer and become more passionate.

Temperance got up from the swing, placing her hand to her lips as she gently soothed her fingers over them, realising what just happened. She waved goodbye, stating she'd see him at school tomorrow before she went off. She looked down at her watch seeing she was over her curfew, she knew her foster father would not be impressed and instead of walking quickly she began running as fast her legs would allow her.

She opened the door, seeing both the adults sat the table. There's head turning from the clock on the wall to each other, wondering where she was. When she walked into the kitchen, she was panting loudly and was flushed from her urgent exercise and paused when she saw the anger from the man in front of her as he raised his hand to face. She didn't feel the pain anymore, just the numbness that occurred afterwards as her skin cells died and were beginning to try replace themselves. She knelt to the floor, sheltering the wounded area before looking up at the foster mother and tears that were building up in her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" he grunted towards his wife, before retaking his seat back at the head of the table located in the kitchen. She hid her head down not wanting to say the true answer behind her tears afraid for herself and further injury to the small girl that was now curled up in a ball in the corner of the room.

"Temperance, I would like you to go bed" she asked the little girl, seeing her shake her head furiously before she refused to move, seeing the woman come kneel down next to her, pulling her into her arms and allowing her to finally relax.

"Please" she asked again. She had that look that showed her she would be alright, that she wanted this. Temperance gave in, nodding slowly before leaving. As soon as the footsteps stopped on the stairs her foster mother continued the conversation with her husband who was growing short of his patience.

She remained still, stood in the centre of the kitchen, scared to move any bone in her body in case he pounced on her like some sort of tribal animal. She watched his posture, seeing his muscle retracting as he was getting ready to throw some sort of punch in her direction.

"So, you never did answer my question?" he grinned at the end of the sentence, only confirming what troubled hours laid ahead for her now.

She looked up at him, the fear in her eyes was showing through her like a torch. "I don't even know who you are anymore" she laughed at the end, being to walk up and down the kitchen. "When did you start abusing helpless children and your wife, cause I knew that you weren't like this before" she stopped when she was confronted by his shadowing body, taller and in front of her directly. She could feel his heavy breath upon her neck.

With that he raised his hand, she knew what was coming, her heart began to beat faster as she prepared herself for the blow that she knew was coming. She had so many that inside her head she imagined which type of pain she'd receive. Most of them she was sheltered against, only some affected her. She fell to the floor, the world seeming black and clouded. She couldn't see, why she couldn't open her eyes.

"What have you done?" Temperance came running down the chairs, seeing the blood over the kitchen floor developing into an oval shape and the only adult she trusted barely breathing and with a weak pulse. The bruises developing on her skull so quickly. She ran into the living room ringing for an ambulance. She sat back down with the woman holding her hand and telling her she'd be okay. She looked around seeing her foster father was no where to be seen.