sorry i've been really busy with school lately. enjoy and please continue to review! thanks!

13

Booth's dream was interrupted by "Kashmir." He reached across his body, smiling as he realized Temperance was asleep fully on top of him. "Hello?" Booth asked sleepily.

"Seeley, sorry to wake you."

"Pops! What's up?"

"Your dad…" he started. Booth gripped the sheets. Temperance noticed his tension and stirred, lifting her sleepy head off his chest and meeting his worried eyes. "Your dad got arrested, Shrimp."

Booth swallowed. "What'd he do?" he finally asked.

"He stole the neighbor's car. Tryin' to track down you boys."

"You called it in?"

"I'm sorry, Shrimp," Pops apologized. "I had to."

"Don't be sorry, Pops. He didn't…he didn't see Temperance's picture, did he?"

Pops smiled at his grandson's concern for the young girl he adored so much. "No, Shrimp, he didn't. We had some words in the kitchen and he left."

Booth sighed with relief. "I'm sorry, Pops. I shouldn't have left you there with him."

"Seeley, don't you apologize. Don't ever apologize for him," Pops told him sternly, then sighed. "If you're ready, you and Jared can come home."

"OK, Pops, thanks. I'll tell Jared." They hung up and Booth looked at Temperance. "My dad got arrested," he told her.

"Oh, Seeley, I'm sorry," Temperance said.

Booth sighed. "No, don't be. It's for the best. I guess I should go home tonight. Your parents seemed a little freaked out about us being here."

Temperance shrugged. "I don't care what they think. But you should do what you want to do."

"Bones," he said, knowing she was feeling a little insecure. "You know I'd stay with you. Look at me," he said when she continued to look down. She looked up. "Pops needs me. And Jared…well, he needs to get back."

Temperance nodded. "No, I know."

Booth hugged her. "Thank you, Bones. Thank you for understanding. Sometimes, the kids would judge…you know, make fun of me. I was scared and…and no one got that. So thanks."

Temperance rested her head on his shoulder. "I'd never judge you, Seeley. Sometimes…" she pulled back. "Sometimes I'm still scared. But you…you make me feel safe."

Booth smiled and ran his knuckle across her temple. "I'm glad, Bones. I'll see you tomorrow, OK?" She nodded and hugged him. "I love you, Bones."

"I love you too, Seeley."

That night Temperance lay in her bed unable to sleep. She tossed and turned, watched TV, made tea, but she was bored. There was too much on her mind. She wanted someone to talk to. Picking up her cell phone, she bit her lip in thought. It was midnight, so he might be asleep. Just as she flipped open the phone, it rang. "Seeley?" she whispered.

"Did I wake you?" he asked.

"No. Is everything OK?" She asked worriedly.

"I, um…God, this is embarrassing."

"Seeley, it's OK. Just tell me."

He laughed. "I can't sleep."

"Well me neither," she answered.

He laughed some more. "Hey, listen, you wanna come over?"

She smiled. "OK. Give me a half hour." She hung up and started packing her things for the next day. She was shoving an old purple sweatshirt into her bag when Mark met her in the foyer.

"Temperance, where are you going?" he asked.

"Um…to Seeley's," she answered, deciding not to lie.

"At this hour?" She nodded. "Are you two having sex?" he asked.

She tried to stifle her laugh. "No."

"Well, if you are just, you know…use a condom or…whatever." Temperance raised an eyebrow. "Will you be home tonight?" She glanced at the bag in her hand, and Mark's gaze followed. "Well, see you when you get home from school, then." Temperance nodded shortly and left, locking the door behind her.

She got to Booth's twenty minutes later, and was trying to decide whether to knock on the door or to call him when the door swung open. Temperance jumped and gave a light yelp. "You must be Temperance. I'm Hank, Seeley's grandfather," he said, extending his hand and shaking hers.

"Um, nice to meet you," Temperance said nervously and slightly confused.

"Seeley's room is the one on the right," Hank told her, pointing to the staircase.

"Thank you," she said around her dry mouth and booked it up the stairs. Arriving at the room on the right, she opened the door and found Booth reading a book called "For Phillies Fans Only" by the light of a desk lamp.

He looked up when he heard the door open and smiled excitedly, sitting up higher in the bed. "Bones!" he said excitedly.

"Seeley!" She couldn't contain her excitement and ran to the bed, jumping in next to him.

"I missed you," he said against her hair. "Is that lame?"

She shrugged. "I missed you too."

"Come here," he said, pulling her over him and turning off the desk lamp. "Now I can finally sleep," he laughed.

"Goodnight, Seeley."

"Goodnight, Bones."