A/N – Thank you so much for all the kind reviews of the last chapter. They always mean the world to me! Without further ado...

Chapter 21:

Temperance lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her mind wouldn't stop. She couldn't control any of her thoughts anymore. Nothing was making any sense. Only a few days ago, a part of her just wanted to die. She couldn't seem to feel anything anymore like she used to. Her whole life was a mess. She didn't have the Jeffersonian to go back to. She had effectively pushed everyone away, and in consequence, completely destroyed the life she had previously had. How could she have changed so radically from one person to another in just a matter of days? It had only taken one thing – her incident with Hodgins in that car – to remove the final piece, breaking down the dam causing her life to swirl out of control.

She knew the lack of sleep was getting to her. Each time she closed her eyes, she saw her friends or she saw darkness. Sometimes she would suddenly be back at work, or eating out with Booth, and then suddenly, it would all disappear and she would be back in the cabin. The loneliness of it all consumed her, and sleep only continued to deny her. Her heart ached to call Booth, but she knew she had to remain strong. It wasn't fair to him, as she knew he would do the right thing and stand by her no matter what. It wasn't fair to him to make him responsible for a woman he no longer knew.

Then there was the man. Clearly, he was no threat to her. He could have killed her hours ago, without anyone knowing. The cabin was a good five kilometres from any other civilization. He could have easily made her disappear. But there was something about his story. There was something so familiar about him. His story mimicked that of her fathers, but the rational side of her still peaked through her confusion, disallowing her to believe that he was anything but a kind man who was overly hospitable. Maybe she was going crazy. Maybe he didn't even exist. Maybe the story he had told was all in her head, a gimmick of her mind to try and familiarize something about the situation. She had hallucinated several times already. How could she to determine what was was real and what wasn't anymore?

---

A gloom had settled over the Jeffersonian. Although Cam, Hodgins, and Zack were working up on the platform, identifying a body found in a ditch not far from the city, anyone could see that their muscles were stiff, eyes tired, and minds preoccupied. The lab felt strangely empty without the presence of their forensic anthropologist and her partner.

Angela barely ever left her office anymore, often hoping that a phone call would arrive with any news. She continued to monitor the cell phone to see if it would be turned on, hoping that she could give Booth a more specific location of where Brennan's father was. The whole series of events from the last few days had more twists and turns in it, that Angela barely knew where to begin processing it all. The only comfort she had was in knowing her best friend was likely safe, albeit with her estranged, criminal father. She sighed and returned to the facial reconstruction she had been working on. For now, it was the only thing she could do.

---

Temperance sighed and closed her eyes, listening to the raging storm outside. A knock came at her door. She sat up and called that the person may enter. The old man came in with two cups of tea.

"I thought you might like this, particularly in light of the storm outside. I'm sorry. I know it's a little cool in here after the sun sets." Temperance accepted the mug, and took a polite sip.

"Thank you." The man nodded, but hesitated from leaving. A few seconds later, he sat down on the bed next to her. She continued to stare ahead at the wall, holding the warm cup in her pale hands.

"There's something I need to tell you." He said. She gave him a curt nod, but continued to avoid his gaze. "I've noticed that there is something serious going on with you, and I want to be able to help you. If it means you staying here for awhile so you can sort out whatever you need to sort out, then you are most welcome to stay."

"I appreciate that." Temperance responded in a quiet, almost monotonous voice. Max hesitated again, before putting his tea down on the dresser, and placing a warm hand on her arm.

"I didn't tell you the whole story of what happened to me. About 15 years ago, my wife and I were forced to leave our children behind, in order to protect them." Temperance's back immediately stiffened. Max continued. "We didn't have a choice. We never wanted to leave them. My wife was killed about two years later." Max could see in his daughter's widened eyes that she was listening to every word he was saying.

"No." She whispered. She wrenched her arm away from the man, and quickly stood up, dropping her mug to the floor which shattered upon impact, sending the hot liquid across the wooden floor. Temperance, however, continued to look everywhere but at the man, who had also jumped to his feet.

"Temperance. We loved you and Russ. We didn't have a choice but I do now. And I want to help you." The woman began shaking her head with her eyes closed.

"No. No. You're not here. This isn't real. This isn't rational. You couldn't be my father. No." Max tried to move closer to her. He knew it would come as a shock, but he had hoped the knowledge that her father was there would comfort her.

"Temperance, honey. It is me. It's okay. Everything is going to be okay." She shook her head again, still refusing to look at him, as if she couldn't trust what her eyes would see. Instead, she moved past him at quick pace, towards the front door of the cabin, which she wrenched open without bothering with shoes or a coat.

"Temperance!" Max yelled, as he made to follow her. The forest was pitch-black, with the only illumination being the small porch light which only reflected the torrential rain that was falling from the sky. Within seconds, his daughter had been enveloped in the shroud of the dark forest. If he didn't hurry, he would have no idea where on earth she was. Max quickly grabbed his boots, coat, and a flashlight, before making his way out the door into the storm.