After the adoption reality had sunken into Alex's mind. That she was no longer a Vargas from the wrong side of town. She no longer had to wait to be spoken to in order to speak. She no longer had to clean after her family. A part of her missed the predictability and the routine. She obviously didn't miss the fear of retribution, the yells, the violence, and well the nights at her uncle's home. She didn't miss that at all in fact Alex had tried so hard to push those memories so far beneath the crevices of her brain but her nightmares were persistent. Her sleep was suffering and Alex stopped going into her mothers room ever since Booth began to spend the night. Alex's thought process was interrupted by the school's bell. It was time for the weekend and Alex was looking forward to going home. She walked outside and saw her mothers car. Alex softly smiled at her mother and got in the front seat. "Hi honey, how was school?" Brennan asked as she began to drive away. Alex shrugged her shoulders, "It felt long. It was okay, but just long." she rubbed her eyes then turned to Brennan, "Can you drop me off at home? Or am I still too young?" she asked. Brennan smacked her lips, "Alex, yes, you are still too young. You're not even 12 years old." she said, giving her an apologetic smile. "Why do you wanna go home? Are you okay?" she asked her daughter. Alex nodded, "Yes, I'm fine. I just wanted to lay in my bed." She continued to play with her hair. Brennan knew something wasn't right. She started to think about Alex's behavior, her sleeping and eating patterns. "Are you having nightmares again? Alex?" Brennan asked as she parked the car at home which Alex didn't even realize. Alex finally looked up and realized they had gone home, she smiled, "Huh? Did you say something mom?" she asked. Brennan tilted her head to the side, "Yes. I asked if you were having nightmares. Are you? Are you sleeping well?". Alex looked at her mom and then at the floor, "Alex?" Brennan spoke again. Alex bit her lower lip, "Yeah, I'm having nightmares again. Sometimes I wake up crying but I started reading a new book that helps me fall back asleep." Alex responds while taking out her book from her book bag, "See, the Book Thief." she says. Brennan steps out of the car and Alex does the same. "I can't deny my baby girl the simple request of laying in her own bed on a Friday." Brennan says as she opens the door. Alex chuckles, "Thanks mom. You're the best." she says as she hugs her. Brennan observes Alex walk to her room and close her door slightly. Brennan sighed and took out her phone, "Sweets, I need your opinion on something," she began.
Alex woke up from her cat nap to the sound of her mother and Booth laughing. She smelled the Chinese food and Alex immediately got up and ran to the kitchen. "Hi!" she said happily and ran to give Booth a hug. Booth kissed the top of her head, "Hi princess. Your mom told me you had a long day. Have a good nap?" he asked her and soon released her from the hug. Alex smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear and walked over to her seat on the counter. Brennan began to fix Alex a plate of some of her favorites. "It was a very nice nap. I'm just happy it's Saturday tomorrow. Mommy doesn't work so you don't work, right?" she asked. At that moment Booth could see what his partner was referring to, he saw Alex's tired eyes, the dark circles beginning to form under her eyes and he gave her a smile. "That's right, I'm not working," he said. Alex began to eat and Brennan cleared her throat, "Alex, Booth and I want to take you to meet one of our friends. Dr. Sweets." she says. Alex looked up, "Oh, is he a squint too?" she asks. Brennan and Booth share a look, "No, honey, he's a psychologist. Booth and I see him every week." she continues. Alex places her fork down, "I don't want to go." her bubbly personality faded away and she developed an attitude. Brennan didn't like this, she hadn't experienced it before. "Alex, you don't even know why we want you to meet him." Brennan said. Booth decided to stay quiet and allow his girlfriend to handle the situation. Alex furrowed her brows, "Then why do you want me to meet him?" she asked sharply. Booth's eyes shot wide; he didn't think Alex could speak that way. Brennan was not amused and she decided to get straight to the point, "You're having nightmares again and you're not sleeping. You are starting to develop dark under eye circles. You have endured terrible trauma that we both know you haven't spoken about in months. We have to talk through this. That's why we want to take you to go see him, Alexandra." she finished and placed her hand into Booth's. She didn't like speaking to Alex that way but she knew that the day would come eventually. Alex's face began to get red. She had different emotions brewing inside of her; anger, guilt, and sadness. Any signs of mental distress in a Hispanic home means signs of weakness. Alex always heard that around her Abuelito's home. Psychologists are meant for locos and Alex didn't think she was crazy. Tears began to brew and without asking for permission to be excused Alex got up from her seat and walked away.
Booth just stared at Brennan and he could tell she was not happy. She wasn't happy about speaking to Alex that way and was not happy about Alex's behavior. It was troubling for Brennan, "I'm upset that I don't know how to heal or help my child. That I cant keep her safe all the time..that I couldn't keep her safe in the past because she wasn't mine yet." she said as she placed her head into his chest. Booth kissed Brennan's cheek multiple times, "It's okay Bones. She's yours and you are helping her. You're taking her to see Sweets. He'll help...he better or i'll break his legs." he said hoping his joke will make it better. She chuckled lightly, "I should go, right? Check on her...We should go?" she asked him. Booth nodded and both of them walked toward her door. Brennan knocked lightly and Booth spoke, "Princess? You okay? Mom and I just want to make sure you're okay... we love you." Brennan kissed him on the cheek, "I love you so much," she whispered into his ear. "Honey, I'm not mad at you. Okay? I just want to help you. We want to help you." she said. Alex opened the door, "I'm okay. I'm sorry." she said as she walked towards her bed. Brennan sat down on Alex's bed and brought in Alex for a hug. "Sometimes I just want to hug you and never let go because I know you'll be safe but I know that's not logical nor possible," she said. She kissed the top of Alex's head, "Are you mad at me?" she asked her daughter. Alex placed her head on her mothers shoulder, "No, I'm not mad at you," she said and then looked at Booth, "Booth, do you trust Dr. Sweets? I know you said he was my 'uncle' before, but do you trust him." She wanted confirmation from the only man she truly loved. Booth smiled and sat next to Alex, "I do trust him. He helps your mom and I all the time. It'll be okay." he said as rubbed her back. Alex let go of her mom and hugged Booth tightly. "Okay, I'll go." she said quietly and as soon as she finished her sentence she began to quietly sob. She cried until she fell asleep and the couple tucked her into bed. Brennan kissed Alex's forehead and so did Booth, "Goodnight Princess, we love you." he whispered. "Good-night da-ddy," she said asleep. Brennan's hand covered her mouth to keep her gasp from being heard and Booth did the same.