Well, I'm bored, so I guess that means NEW CHAP FOR YOU!! lol. Um, and yes in answer to your questions the angst train is long as the track.
April sat leaning against Brennan's shoulder for the rest of the way home. In an unusually motherly gesture, Brennan stroked her black hair and smoothed it out of her face, calming the girl's heartbeat more with every movement.
"What are you smiling at?" Booth asked, he'd just glanced in the rear view mirror and saw April smiling.
April's eyes flicked toward him and she fidled with the black bracelets on her wrist.
"Rodger."
Both Brennan and Booth looked at her as if she'd lost her mind.
"Rodger?"
April nodded, her grin being reborn on pale pink lips.
"He's dead. I told him so." She shook her head slightly and stared at her fingers with an expression that could only have been described as dreamy.
"Told him what?" Brennan asked innocently.
"I told him he was digging his own grave and that Seeley would make sure he laid in it."
"Ha, April," Booth smiled at April's knack for inappropriate sarcasm, "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Bones, 'don't provoke the lunatic'."
April laughed and winced, touching a tender bruise on her ribs, Brennan noticed and helped sit her up in a better position. "Yeah. I know that now." She got quiet, and looked out the window.
Booth, seeing her expression, cursed himself inwardly.
"Oh, April I'm sorry. I didn't…"
"I know Seeley, it's fine. My own fault really…" She said automatically.
Booth felt his throat close at the sound of submitance in her voice. In an instant he knew he had to stop this here and now. Slamming on the brakes, he swerved to the side of the road.
"No. I don't ever want you to say that. Okay?" He twisted around to look at her, her eyes wide, but coherent. "None of this is your fault. None of it." He knew he was probably being too harsh, but he couldn't stand the idea of her blaming herself for any of the things Rodger was responsible for.
"Do you understand April?" He asked, quieter, almost pleadingly.
She nodded and was sure meet his eyes. "I understand."