Update!

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Temperance was hungry. Well, a bit more than that since the last she'd eaten was a bit over sixteen hours ago, when she and Seeley had been sharing their dinner.

Temperance winced as her stomach clenched, and she knew it wasn't just from the fact that it was empty. The pang of pain she felt in her chest accompanied the clench of her stomach as thoughts of Seeley filled her head, and she winced at the coolness of the tear she felt rolling down her cheek.

Since when did she cry at simple thoughts? Since when did she become so vulnerable? He was only a man, for crying out loud! She'd met dozens of them, hundreds even, and before this dreadful curse, she'd slept with quite a few of them, but this one, infuriating man...

Temperance sighed, wiping at another runaway tear, trying to calm herself and forcing her mind to think of other things. Glancing at the floor in front of her, she caught sight of the magic mirror. Without a second thought, she snatched it up and looked into her expression, grimacing at the sight of her once perfectly coiffed hair now looking a mess thanks to her night of tossing and turning on the uncomfortable jail cot. And her dress, once so neat and stainless now had spots of that morning's breakfast which one of the guards had tried to coax her into eating, though she refused. (She'd rather starve to death in this dreadful place than live out the rest of eternity in solitude).

Temperance shook her head as her stomach growled once more. She placed a soothing hand on it, rubbing softly with her fingers as if to simulate the digestive system and trick her stomach into thinking she had eaten, if only for it to shut up a moment.

"Show me my skeleton." she said, trusting that the mirror would know what she meant.

There was a flash of light on the mirror's surface and then Temperance saw her personal lab with the last remaining bone, now more than 90% dissolved, sitting there in the middle, nearly glowing in the dark of the lab itself.

Temperance stared at the bone, trying to calculate how much more time she had left before the spell would be upon her forever, with no end. Not that it really mattered, anyway, because she was never to see Seeley again, never to hear him say the words she longed to hear (not that she believed he would say them anyway) because Hannah had blackmailed her, had threatened to keep Jared in that God-awful place if she didn't stop seeing Seeley, if she didn't tell Seeley to leave her be.

Temperance had done her part, too. She had told that lawyer Seeley worked for to go away and had passed on the message that she didn't want to see Seeley again, that she didn't want him handling her case. The stubborn lawyer had been persistent though, insisting on an explanation and refusing to move an inch for at least an hour, before she finally just gave up and left, but not without the promise to return, or worse, to send Seeley.

But Temperance knew that if Seeley were to come see her all she had to do was tell him she never wanted to see him again and he would leave. He would never force his presence on her. He might try to reason with her, though, try to soften her defenses, and Temperance knew that he'd most likely be successful, especially if she dare look into those deep brown eyes of his..

No! She had to remain strong. If he did come by, she would look anywhere but at his face. She would turn completely around, cover her eyes with her hands if need be, but she would not look into his eyes.

For, if she did, the consequences would be dire.

"Dr. Brennan?" The guard she came to know as Micah, asked tentatively, respectfully (Micah was the only officer that treated her with respect around here at all and she treated him likewise). It was his respectful tone of voice that pulled her out of her own thoughts and caused her to hide the mirror under the rock of a pillow she'd been provided with.

"Yes, Micah?" she asked, feeling her cheeks flush bright red.

"You have another visitor. Two, actually." he informed her.

Temperance sighed in exasperation. "What are their names?" she asked, though already having a clue as to who was there. It was probably Caroline Julian, her lawyer, back with Seeley to convince her to talk, but she wouldn't stand for it.

"I don't know what the blonde's name is but that Booth guy from last night-"

Temperance scowled. "I don't want to see either of them." she said, firmly.

"But, Doctor-"

"No, Micah." Temperance said, wincing at the slight crack in her voice. "I'm not in the mood. Tell them both to just leave me alone."

Micah nodded, and left without another word while Temperance fumed.

How dare Hannah come back with him? After she specifically forbade her to see him! Was she just testing her to see if she would listen? Just to make sure that Temperance made good on her promise?

How dare she? That blonde bitch!

Temperance lay down on her side, facing away from the door, trying to calm herself before she broke something and got herself into even more trouble. She was in the middle of a calming deep breath when she heard the door open and a light foot (definitely not one belonging to a 200-something pound guard) step into the room as the door shut behind them.

Temperance felt her anger flare up again as she imagined the smug face of that arrogant blonde bimbo boasting silently how she was able to coerce the kind guard to allow her entrance, even though Temperance had refused visitors. Temperance sat up and turned her flaming angry gaze towards the door.

But the second she saw who was there (the very last person she expected) her eyes softened in concern.

"Parker?"

REVIEWS please! So tired right now, it's not even funny and it's barely eight over here! I hate the first week back after vacation, it always makes me feel jet lagged, even though I don't travel anywhere!