This takes place after the arrest of Kelly Morris's little brother in 2x3 Boy in the Shroud
Kelly Morris held her little brother. As she cried harder, she held onto to her only family, her flesh and blood, the only person she had in the world who also happened to be the person who killed her boyfriend, the person that made her feel whole, like she wasn't alone in this world. She hugged her brother, Alex, tighter knowing she would not get the chance for a long time. He didn't mean to do it, she knew that, but Dylan died. Alex killed him and she couldn't do anything about it. She now was truly alone in this world having lost the only two people she cared about.
As Booth watched the siblings say goodbye to each through tear filled eyes and more hugs, he couldn't help but notice Bones. She looked on at these two not with pity but empathy. Bones had a look of sad understanding on her face. Booth knew she had been a foster kid when she was younger though she never really talked about it. He couldn't imagine the hurt she felt over those years after her parents' disappearance. His childhood was not a walk in the park, more like a brush up in a drunken alley, regardless, he had his grandfather to thank for saving his life, and his brother Jared's. If it wasn't for his grandfather, Booth knew a dark path would have been awaiting him. Bones, on other hand, had no one. A heart aching feeling. To be totally alone at that young of an age. Bones knew exactly what Kelly Morris felt like in this very moment, at least Kelly got to say goodbye.
Booth stepped forward reluctantly. He didn't want to break up these two siblings, but it was time for Alex to be taken in. The moment the siblings separated, Kelly broke into sobs repeatedly saying 'sorry' to Alex. "I love you," she shouted after him. Booth guided Alex away looking back to see Bones approach Kelly who wrapped her arms around Bones. For those who called her cold and distant, they did not appreciate the real Temperance Brennan. She had more layers than most cared to peel back.
When Booth had returned from holding having dropped Alex off, social services had taken Kelly away. Bones was gone, too. The bullpen was empty. Booth slumped his shoulders disappointed in her early departure. He was walking into his office when he heard the noise. Was someone crying? He followed the sound of weeping to the observation room.
"Bones, what's wrong?" Booth asked entering the small dark room that oversaw the interrogation room behind a one-way glass window. She hadn't even bothered turning on the lights. Booth flipped the switch to see Bones was standing with her back to him, her arms hugging herself crying. "Bones?"
"I'm fine, Booth. You can go home." She did not turn around.
"You know I'm not going to do that. Now why are you hiding in this room crying?" Booth moved closer.
"I wanted to be alone."
"Would you like me to leave?" Bones stayed quiet. Booth inched forward. "I can leave if you really want to be alone. However, I'd rather stay and find out what's wrong. You know I'm a good listener." Booth was right behind her now. He placed a hand on her shoulder to let her know he was right there with her. "We don't have to talk either. We can just stand here in silence if you like."
"You know Kelly Morris lost everything tonight?" Bones sniffed. "Kelly lost the boy she loved, and she lost her brother, her only family."
"I know, Bones." Booth spoke softly as he rubbed her shoulder. Bones turned around to look up at Booth through teary eyes.
"She didn't do anything wrong except live in foster care which isn't her fault, and now what does she have? Nothing. She doesn't have anything. She is completely alone just like I was. It's not fair." Bones' voice began to escalate.
"No one understands us, everyone judges us, put labels on us and treat us like we are nothing. Funny thing is we already feel like nothing. Even without the animosity of others, we are just struggling to get by and to be understood with out the added weight of acceptance in the world on our shoulders."
Booth did not bother to interrupt her. She had a lot to get off her mind and he respected that by listening intently.
"Dylan was Kelly's whole world. He saw her for who she was as a person and not as just a foster kid. He was good to her, he loved her, and they planned to run away together. I hate to admit it but I'm jealous of Kelly for having someone like that. I was never that lucky." Bones finished biting her lip to hold back from crying again. "And now another foster kid has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Cam is probably pleased; she was right after all. I feel like I am no better than Cam's opinion of foster kids. We are damaged and unlovable."
Booth couldn't take it anymore. "Bones, come here." He pulled her in to him, wrapping him large arms around her securely and not letting go. She buried her face in his chest, holding him tighter. The dam reopened.
"First thing's first," he whispered in her ear, "Cam was wrong. Foster kids are not all bad and it is not fair how bad of a hand you all were dealt. It's hard enough losing your parents without the constant judgement and pressure put upon you. You may have baggage, but you are not damaged and don't for a second think you are not worthy of love. You deserve more love than everyone. And I—I…" Booth trailed off. He had begun rubbing circles on Bones' back as she continued to cry into him. He let his words sink in before speaking again.
Bones was trying to hold it together, but this case had taken a toll of her. Bringing out emotions she had buried so far down she almost forgot they were there until now. She had never spoken to anyone about her time in foster care. Knowing most would not understand or care.
"Bones, our worth should never be determined by how wonderful or horrible our childhood was. If it was, neither one of would be where we are now. You were abandoned and left in foster care, and I, well, I was physically abused by an alcoholic father who saw me more as a good punching bag than as his son." Bones' tears had ceased, and she took the moment to peer up at Booth. This was something he had never shared with her before. Before she could say anything, he continued, "But that's not important right now, the point is we both lived pasts we would rather forget. But we can't, they live with us every day and it is because of them that we grew up stronger."
He continued, "I have never seen you as a foster kid. Likewise, you don't look at me like a victim of parental abuse. We are more than what we went through as kids."
Bones leaned back from Booth's strong hold to better look him in the eyes. "I'm sorry you had to go through that Booth, I didn't know."
"I don't talk about it. You can understand." She nodded.
"I want you to know something, though," Booth grabbed both of Bones' hands and held them between his own. He locked his eyes with her as he spoke, "I know you lost your parents and then your brother before going into foster care. You said you felt alone and jealous of what Kelly got to experience if only for a little bit. Well, you may not have had a Dylan Crane when you were younger, but you do now." He squeezed both of her hands smiling. "I don't want you to ever feel like you are alone ever again. I'm here for you, Bones, I'm always here for you. I may not be Dylan to your Kelly, but I am a person who cares deeply about you and never wants you to feel like you must hold the world up on your shoulders alone. I'm here, for always, Bones. This Romeo will not leave you."
Bones hadn't noticed a few more tears escaping her eyes as she listened to Booth.
Once she had steadied her emotions, she said, "Think you're Romeo, do you?"
"I mean I'd don't plan to die any time soon, but yeah I'd say I'm pretty charismatic." He flashed his signature charm smile.
"Oh, put that thing away. I think you're suffering from the same boy savior complex thing Dylan had."
"I wouldn't say that."
"And why not?"
"Because you are no damsel in distress, Bones. Quite the opposite actually. A woman trained in martial arts with a license to carry a gun, and a rather large one at that," he poked at her, "is no damsel in distress."
"Here we go again."
"What?"
"You being jealous about the size of my gun. You know size doesn't matter, Booth." She raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not worried about the size so much as you not knowing how to handle it." Booth clicked his tongue shaking his head at her.
"Are we still talking about guns?" Bones put her hands on her hips.
Booth threw his arm around Bones' shoulders guiding her towards the door back into the bullpen. "We were always talking about guns." He gave her a wink.
"Whatever you say, Romeo."
Booth and Bones walked back into his office to grab their jackets. "Can I ask you a question, Bones?"
"Yes."
Booth grabbed both his jacket and Bones'. He opened her jacket helping her put it on. She had one arm in one sleeve when he asked, "Are you going to be okay? I know this case hit close to home, but will you be okay?"
He held open the arm to the other side as she slipped her second arm in and he closed the jacket around her. Once buttoned up, Bones turned to face him. "Yes, I will be. Although, I still believe what happened to Kelly was unfair, I should have never been jealous of her."
"And why is that?" Booth slid his jacket on.
"Because I am surrounded by people I care about and who care about me. I just forget sometimes."
Booth reached for her hand, her hand welcoming his larger one to encircle it. A shot of warmth shooting through her. "And I will always be here to remind you."
With that, the partners walked hand in hand out of Booth's office towards the elevator. Booth pressed the down button. But before the got on, Bones asked, "Booth, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"It's just something that happened early. I was curious. Cam and I got into an argument yesterday and she said she was going to start looking for my replacement."
"I don't think you should worry about that, Bones. She'd be a fool to get rid of you."
"But if she did…," Bones trailed off. "If she did, what would you do?"
Without hesitation, Booth said, "I'm with you, Bones. One hundred percent."
Bones broke out into a smile. Booth squeezed her hand again as the got on to the elevator and went home.
