Disclaimer: I don't own Bones

Chapter Fourteen

Sam Cullen took another drag of his cigarette, trying to put the pieces to this Goodman case. It's been a whole mess. First off- they lost files. Files. Important government files. Probably one of the worst things they could've possibly let happen. Then, on top of that, they seem to get no answers on who the victim was. Rodger Norton seemed to be a pretty tricky person considering he seemed to piss a lot of people off. The guy worked for the Jeffersonian. He was in charge of a lot of departments, and had a lot of enemies. Finally, Cullen could tell his boss was getting angrier by the minute. This case was taking up a lot of time and there wouldn't be much time until the boss blew.

"You should stop that. It's a nasty habit." Cullen looked to see fellow agent, Julia Milton, making her way over. "You know they cause cancer."

"Eh. At this point, I don't care. The rate this investigation is going, I doubt I'll see the day Rodger Norton's killer is put in jail," Cullen replied bitterly, flicking the ashes of the cigarette into a tray. He maneuvered the cigarette nimbly in his fingers while he scratched the back of his head. "Why is this whole case such a mess? It's been months, this should've been something easy to solve."

"I don't know. Everything happens for a reason," Milton piped up like the cheerful person she is. "It'll get solved soon. I promise."

"You have a lot of optimism, Julia. I don't know how you do it," Sam mused, causing the female to chuckle beside him. She then leaned against the wall with him and sighed.

"Yeah, but it's good to have some, Sam. Like I said, we'll get this done," Milton responded.

"Where though? I have doubts about Goodman. I know he's the only one who seems like he could've done it and there are no other leads. We've cracked down on this man for months and have gotten no where. I'm having my doubts," Sam told her woefully. This case was really getting him. He usually could whack out a case like this pretty quick. Now, it was dragging on way too long.

"Maybe Daniel Goodman isn't the person we're looking for. Maybe he or she is somewhere else. We just don't know where to find him," Milton pointed out to her partner. "Let's go investigate some other co-workers and maybe look over the evidence again. There's something we must be missing. We just have to think clearly and calmly."

"Alright. Let's do this," Cullen announced, grinning at his partner.

"But before we do, put that damn thing out, Sam!" Julia Milton scolded, flicking the cigarette into the ash tray. "I really don't want to see you get lung cancer."

"Alright, alright!" Sam Cullen chuckled as he walked beside his partner. "You know, I only do it when I'm stressed."

"You're stressed all the time, Cullen," Milton replied, rolling her eyes. "Now come on, cut the habit and let's get this done."

"Aye aye," Cullen quirkily responded. Julia Milton smirked to herself as the two then made their way back into the FBI building. Both ready to solve this case.

Meanwhile, on the other side of D.C, Seeley Booth just entered his home. He tossed his backpack onto the kitchen counter and immediately made his way over the fridge. Jared didn't come home with him today like usual. Instead Jared claimed he had to work on a project with some friends after school, Pops seemed to buy it but Booth knew the truth. He was probably out fooling around with Jacob Broadsky and his stupid friends. Booth didn't care anymore. He tried so hard to help his brother, but he didn't know what else to do at this point. Booth was furious at the same time. How could Jared do this? Not just to Booth himself, but Pops. Jared is just smearing every single fiber of trust Pops has in him. It just pained Booth to see his little brother doing stupid things.

He closed the fridge doors, taking only an apple, and then headed towards his backpack. He was about to start his afternoon activities when a piece of paper caught his eye right away. He saw the envelope lying flat on the table. It was separate from the others and it stood out at him. He knew exactly what it was.

Booth moved towards it slowly. His hands gently and delicately picking the piece of paper in his hands. The envelope felt a lot heavier than it should be. Instead of being light as a feather, it felt like a massive boulder in Seeley Booth's hands. He couldn't believe it. All he could do was just stare at it.

"You didn't tell me, Shrimp." Booth jumped and turned around to see his grandfather in the doorway. The elderly gentleman came over towards his grandson with a blank expression. Booth couldn't tell what sort of emotion Pops was expressing right now. "When did you plan on telling me?"

"I don't know, Pops," Booth muttered, touching the letter gently as he tried to think of the words he was going to have to tell his grandfather. "I just...It's something I really thought about for a long time. This isn't something I decided over night."

"Alright...But are you sure?" Pops asked quietly, looking at his grandson genuinely.

"Yes. I'm sure," Booth replied softly and confidently.

Pops nodded and went over to pat his grandson on the shoulder, "Well then...If it's what you want to do...Then go do it. You're eighteen now and if you believe this is the right decision, I'll stand beside you one hundred precent."

"Thanks, Pops. I'll make you proud, I promise," Booth told him, a small smile on his face.

"I know you will, Shrimp. You always have and always will," He told his grandson, giving him a hug. "You're a good man."

Booth smiled up at his grandfather as the two men embraced each other in a hug. "Do your friends know?" Pops asked as they pulled away. "I mean, most of them should be getting their college acceptance letters soon and they'll be wondering about yours."

"Yeah, I'll eventually tell them. Just not right now," Booth muttered, scratching the back of his head. "Which reminds me, I have to go pick up Bones. We're heading over to the royal dinner."

"That sounds good," Pops said, smiling at the boy. "So are you two dating yet or what?"

"Pops!" Booth cried out in embarrassment. Hank Booth chuckled as he saw a faint blush on his grandson's cheeks.

"Alright. I'll stop, but I'm just saying. That's the way it looks," Pops replied, still grinning at his grandson.

"Well, I gotta go pick up Bones. I'll see you in a bit," Booth announced abruptly as he headed out of the house. That just left Pops chuckling as he watched his grandson run out to his car.

Meanwhile Temperance Brennan took a long sleeve shirt and gently placed it onto her body. Her skin was sore and raw as she observed the new bruises on her back. John got pretty mad last night and he decided to take it out on Brennan. She winced as she tried to seem normal. It wasn't too painful, just sore. Nothing was broken, which was the biggest plus of them all.

"Are you okay, Brennan?" Sweets asked from the other side of the door. He's been worried about her since last night. Brennan told him to hide under the bed while she dealt with John. Sweets knew she suffered. He could hear it all.

"I'm fine, Sweets. I'll be okay," Brennan announced, opening the door to gave a pained smile at the boy. "See."

"Yeah...Alright. A letter came for you, by the way," Sweets mentioned quietly before walking away.

"Thank you," Brennan told him before he left her. She then sighed and looked at the pile of notes on her desk. She doesn't know why she hasn't thrown them out, evidence perhaps. They've been stuffed in her locker for a couple of weeks now. They all say the same thing basically: Ugly, Dumb Foster Kid, You'll Never Fit In...And so on. Just plain nasty comments.

Brennan doesn't know who's doing it and wants to get to the bottom of it, but at the same time she has a lot of other important things to be worried about.

She then left the room, ignoring the pain emitting from her body as she saw the letter on her table. Brennan felt everything in her being light up as she rushed to the letter. The packet was large and on it read, in purple lettering, congratulations. Brennan squealed as she opened up the package to see what the letter said.

"Are you okay, Bones?" Brennan looked to see Booth with Sweets right behind him.

"Booth just got here, so I let him in. Is this a bad time?" Sweets asked, raising his eyebrow at the woman. "Because I can kick him out."

"Yeah, sure you can kid." Booth chuckled, ruffling the hair on Sweets' head.

"No. It's...It's a perfect time. It's great news," Brennan fumbled on her words as she looked at the two guys with a genuine grin, one they aren't sure they've ever seen her have. "I got into Northwestern! I'm going to Northwestern University! I'm going to college!"

"Are you serious?" Booth exclaimed, a big happy puppy dog look on his face. "Bones! That's fantastic!"

"And it's a full scholarship! I don't have to pay for anything," Brennan added, skimming the letter. An even bigger smile graced her face. "I don't have to pay! I can leave the system!"

"Of course you did, Bones! You're a genius! They'd be idiots if you didn't get a full scholarship!" Booth exclaimed, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"I know!" Brennan squealed with a loud amount of laughter. Something she hasn't done in ages.

Booth chuckled as well as he then swirled her around in celebration. Brennan still joyfully laughed while Sweets cheered in the background. Brennan was surprised at how gentle Booth's touch was even though it did cause her wounds to sting a little. Brennan swallowed it though because she was way to happy to even acknowledge the pain John inflicted on her. She'd never have to deal with John again according to this letter.

"Wow, this calls for celebration. Good thing we're going to the diner," Booth announced, causing Brennan to chuckle. He then offered his arm out to her and she happily took it, linking it with her own.

"I'll be back soon, Sweets. Make sure to do all your homework," Brennan told him sternly. The young boy smirked at her as he held up his math textbook.

"Almost done!" he replied enthusiastically.

"Good!" Brennan exclaimed, giving him a gentle smile.

"See ya kid!" Booth called out to him as the duo closed the backdoor. They then headed into Booth's jeep. From there, they headed to the one and only, royal diner.

Booth ordered a nice juicy hamburger while Brennan got a salad. The two of course bantered over the food, but all in good fun. It was a nice normal encounter between the two. It was always so natural, which amazed anyone who ever came across the two because after knowing one another for only a few months, they seem to know almost everything about each other.

"Have you talked to Goodman lately?" Brennan asked Booth as they settled in. "I haven't heard from him in awhile."

"Me too. I don't know. Since he told us to stop, I haven't seen much of him. I think he's fine. He hasn't really left his house. He's spending a lot of his time with his kids. I know this whole thing is tearing him up. I'm worried though," Booth said to Brennan.

"Why?"

"Because, when this whole thing is over, guilty or not, people will never look at Goodman the same way again. It kills me inside," Booth explained softly. "He'll probably move."

"Who knows. Goodman is a fighter. One day this'll all blow over. He's not a killer, so if people know that then they have no right to judge them. And if they do, then that's there problem," Brennan responded thoughtfully. "I'm not the best with people, but I can tell you that not everyone will hate him."

Booth nodded solemnly at Brennan, taking in her words. He then looked around the diner and decided to change the topic. The mere thought of Goodman did upset him. He just wanted to help his teacher.

"So...You're definitely going to study anthropology in college?" Booth asked Brennan, switching topics as he changed it something hopefully more casual. His fingers were poking and prodding at a sugar packet he took up from the condiments. He rather praise Brennan right now then talk murder.

"Oh of course. I'll be taking a lot of other classes as well, but my primary focus shall be on anthropology," Brennan told him excitedly.

"That's cool. So the goal is to become a renowned anthropologist?"

"Exactly! I will be one of the greatest scientists in the world!" Brennan remarked enthusiastically.

"I can't wait for you, Bones. I'm really happy for you and everyone else getting into college. You know, I stopped by Cam's house today in the morning and she got her letter of acceptance to John Hopkins University. She's going to med school."

"Good for her. This whole thing is thrilling, that's for sure," Brennan remarked, smiling at him. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Booth questioned, frowning in confusion.

"Where shall you be going to school?" Brennan asked him innocently. "I assume you are going to college or possibly you decided another route?"

"I..." Booth fumbled on his words as he placed the sugar packets down. He tried to form words, but it didn't seem like he could. "I'm still figuring things out. I just have to decide between a few opinions. That's all."

"I see," Brennan responded. "I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually. Whatever you chose, I'm sure you'll do great in."

"Thanks, Bones." Booth smiled admirably at the young woman in front of him. "You're going to do great things in Northwestern. I can feel it"

"Thank you." Brennan replied with a big smile.

Booth couldn't help but admire the girl in front of him. It was killing him not to tell her what he'd be doing next year, but he wasn't sure how to. He didn't know if she would care as much as he thought. He wasn't sure how she would react at all and the thought of breaking the news to her terrified him. He was confused by the fact her reaction meant everything to him. Well, she was a close friend of his but something else tugged at Seeley Booth. Something about Temperance Brennan drove him wild.

"Here ya kids go," the waitress announced, placing the plates down on the table. "I hope you all enjoy!"

"Always do, Betty," Booth replied, causing the waitress to smile and blush a little.

"Seeley Booth, you always know how to make a girl smile. Just like your grandpa," Betty, the waitress, remarked before walking away.

"How long have you been coming here, Booth?" Brennan questioned curiously. "They seem to know you and your family very well."

"Pops has been taking Jared and I here since we were kids. Back before I moved in with Pops, him and my grandmother would take us here at least every time we visited. In fact, Pops and Grams would come here all the time when they were young. They brought their kids here and then their grandkids. The Royal Dinner is a special place for the Booth family," Booth explained to Brennan happily. "It's even where my old man met my mother...They were happy you know, once upon a time. Then my dad went to the war and..."

"You don't have to tell me this, if you don't want to," Brennan whispered to him softly. "I don't need details."

"No. I do. I want to tell you. I need to tell you because...If I don't tell anyone, I don't know if I could let it go," Booth insisted gently. "I've never told anyone the full story."

Brennan looked at him curiously. He's never told anyone? Cam knew Booth was abused, but she didn't know the full story? Cam was his best friend. Instead of questioning him, Brennan accepted it. She felt actually honored he would trust her with this piece of information.

"Okay," Brennan agreed softly.

Booth nodded as he took a deep breath and began, "My dad went to war, Vietnam, and came back pretty banned up. Slowly his injuries got the best of him. He couldn't find a good job to support us and he started drinking. That's when the abuse happened. Then one day, it got so bad...He almost killed my mother. She ran out of there and...I haven't seen her since. I don't blame her though for running. She needed to get out of there. Someone she loved very much hurt her and...I just wanted her to be happy and I think I know she is."

"Wow...I wish I had that view," Brennan muttered quietly. "For some reason, I can't help but be angry at my parents...They left and didn't say anything. They didn't have a reason to. They just...Left."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Bones," Booth replied quietly as the two held one another's hands across the table. "I'm sure you'll find out one day."

"I don't know," Brennan responded, sighing a little. "But I can't focus on that now. There's so many things I have to look forward to once I graduate which is not too far away."

"That's good. See, that's a good view on it all Bones," Booth praised.

"I guess," Brennan shrugged as she then took another bite of salad.

"Things are going to turn out for the best, Bones. You'll see," Booth insisted, trying to keep the atmosphere happy. "I'm sorry I even mentioned-"

"It's fine, Booth. I'm glad you trust me with information like that," Brennan cut him off as if she was reading his mind.

Booth smiled and squeezed her hand tightly, "Well, I feel the same Bones. Thank you for opening up to me."

The two just smiled back at one another like the ignorant love birds they are.

After the diner, the two headed back to Brennan's house. The driveway was still empty, which made Brennan smile.

"So, I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow?" Brennan asked softly as she leaned against the doorway.

"Yeah. I guess I will," Booth replied casually. The two kept grinning at each other. Their faces inches away. Their mouths longing to touch one another's.

"So...I'll see you soon," Brennan said quietly.

"Yeah. See you soon." And with that the two parted with the future on their mind.

A/N: Sorry guys about the lack of updates, but here you go! I'm trying to work on it, but I gotta lot of other stuff going on. In the meantime, thanks for reading :)