**warning for revelation of sexual abuse**
It was time for Alex's doctors appointment and both of them walked into the doctor's office hand in hand. Dr. Kane soon came out and greeted her long time friend. Dr. Kane instructed Alex to get on a scale and she proceeded with the routine check up. Brennan sat in the room quietly. Every so often she would smile at Alex to let her know she was there for her. Alex smiled back but Brennan could tell the child was incredibly nervous. "You're so lucky you get to stay with Temperance, Alex. She's so fun, isn't she?" Dr. Kane asks. Alex smiles, "Yes, Dr. Kane. She's so nice to me. She took me to the Jeffersonian! I am lucky, I've never been before." Alex says. Dr. Kane lets out a small chuckle. It was time for Alex to put on a gown and Brennan knew she wouldn't be comfortable with that. So Brennan got up and kneeled down to Alex's level. "Honey, for this part of the doctors appointment you have to put on this gown, okay? You can leave your undergarments on." Brennan says. Alex bites her lower lip, "I have to right? Will it be just you two in here? No one else?" She asks as she takes Brennan's hands. Brennan gives her hands a light squeeze, "no one else honey." Alex nods and takes the gown, and goes behind the curtain. Both doctors wait for her to come out and gives her friend a thumbs up. Alex steps out, "this feels like paper," she says. Brennan laughs, "yeah, they aren't too comfortable. But, you're doing so good! I'm proud of you." She says. Alex had probably never heard that phrase being directed to her and Brennan could tell by the smile on Alex's face. Dr. Kane had put on her gloves and warned, "my gloves might be cold, so im sorry, okay. I'm going to look at your chest okay, your shoulders, and your neck. You can always tell me to stop, okay?" she assures Alex. Alex just nods and allows Dr. Kane to open up her gown. Dr. Kane immediately noticed the healing bruises around her rib cage and collar bones. She took notes down as the examination continued, "Doing okay, sweetheart?" Brennan asks, "Yes, Tempe." Alex said shakingly. Brennan knew Alex began to feel overwhelmed. Dr. Kane also took notice of the bruises on her thighs, which she did not want to discover. Dr. Kane closes her eyes and opens them back up. "You are so brave, Alex" Dr. Kane reassures her.
As she finishes taking her notes, "Alex, you did great. You can put your clothes back on, okay." Dr. Kane says. Alex nodded, got off the bed and she looked at the floor. She felt ashamed and Brennan could tell. Brennan gave Dr. Kane a look, and began to whisper, "Temperance, I took very meticulous notes for the case. She was being physically abused and by the looks of the bruises on her thighs.." she couldn't finish her sentence. Brennan closed her eyes to try and brace herself. "I understand, thank you so much Erica." she thanks her friend. "You got it. You're doing a great job. You're amazing with her." Dr. Kane says. Brennan smiles, "thank you. She's such a great kid. So smart." she says as her eyes begin to well up. "I'm ready, Tempe. Can we go back to your house?" Alex says as she opens the curtain, Brennan stands and shakes Dr. Kane's hand, "Yes, we can. We can go back home." Brennan said. As they walked back to the car Alex remained quiet as she held Brennan's hand. As they stepped into the car, Brennan asked, "Honey, are you okay? You know you did a great job there. You were very brave. But, I can tell you're sad, can you please tell me what's wrong?" Brennan pleads and she turns around to face Alex. Alex begins to sniffle and Brennan frowned, "You saw my ugly bruises didn't you?" the child asks. Brennan could not take the space that was between them and she stepped over to the back seat. She held Alex and said, "They are not ugly bruises. They are evidence that proves how brave you have been. Alex, honey, look at me, please." she asks Alex. Alex slowly looked up to face Brennan and Brennan held her chin up. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but I need you to nod if this statement is true. Did your uncle Miguel do bad things to you?" Brennan awaited for a physical response. Slowly, Alex's tears began to fall and she nodded. Brennan closed her eyes as she brought Alex's tiny frail body into a hug. She allowed Alex to cry and let her emotions come out. After 15 minutes of Brennan rubbing Alex's back and brushing her hair she had calmed down. "Are you ready to go home? We'll do whatever you'd like. I promise." Brennan says. Alex sniffles, "Yes, I'm ready." Brennan gives Alex a kiss on the forehead and wipes her tears away and steps back into the driverseat and begins to drive. Alex sat in the back holding onto her forehead, holding the very spot Brennan had kissed her. She sat there smiling, wondering if this was how a real mother should be. The girls enter the home and Brennan asks, "Do you remember Agent Booth, my partner and close friend?" Alex smiles, "Yes, I like him. He protects us." she says. Brennan laughs, "Would it be okay with you, if he came over for dinner?" Alexs jumps up, "yes!" Brennan jumps up with her, "Great! do you like Chinese food?" she asks and Alex nods. "Great, i'll order the food and call Booth."
After she ordered the food she sat next to Alex who was coloring in an anatomical worksheet Brennan printed out for her. Alex holds up her picture, "Look how I colored in the ulna, Tempe!" she says proudly. "Very good, Alex!" Brennan says as she brushes her hair. "You're really nice to me Tempe, thank you." Alex says quietly. Brennan stops brushing her hair, "Of course, it's what you deserve, honey." she says. Alex stops coloring and turns around to hug Brennan. Brennan returns the hug and Alex gives her a kiss on the cheek which stunned her but she loved it. Alex turned back around almost embarrassed about her displays of affection and began to draw again. Brennan continued to look at Alex in awe. She was questioning how much power this child had over her. Brennan is not one to get attached to anyone let alone a child but Alex was special. Brennan felt the maternal instinct every woman had spoken about. She knew Alex needed a mother and a stable home.