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Chapter 3

Booth and Brennan sat at the bar in Wong Foo's. Brennan sipped on water while Booth waited for Sid to bring them their food.

"So Bones, you want to talk about it," Booth asked concerned? Brennan took one more sip from her glass and looked at Booth. He could immediately see the worry in her eyes.

"Booth, I'm scared about Todd being here. I won't know how to explain it to Jesse when he leaves again."

Booth could see her eyes watering a bit. He has never seen her like this before. He didn't know her for a person who opens up to other people. He knew her for being strong and knowing how to care for herself. At this point, he did the only thing he could do, he pulled her in for a tight, compassionate, and understanding hug. Sid came up and sat their food down in front of them. Booth nodded to say thanks, while still holding Brennan in his arms. Sid went around to the back to give the couple some privacy.

Booth pulled back to take a look at her face. He wiped some tears from her face and stared deep into her eyes. "Bones, the next time I see this guy, I promise you, I'm going to kick his butt for doing this to you, okay." Brennan nodded and was able to put a small smile on her face.

"Okay, but right after I take a few shots at him myself." Her smile widened. Booth smiled back at her and started attacking his food. About 15 minutes later, they pulled up in front of the school. They could see Jesse and Parker sitting on the steps with the other team members. The coach saw Booth and Brennan step out of the SUV and waved them over.

They walked over to the coach who was surrounded by a circle of parents. Since the kids didn't want to be left out, they walked over and joined the circle.

"As you know, the championship game is today. And, as all the children know, we get a big trophy if we win." All the children yelled in reply.

"But what the kids don't know, is that if we do win we don't only get a trophy, but we get to go on a camping trip also."

All the kids went crazy. Jumping up and down, screaming their heads off, running circles around their parents, and anything else you can think of. Soon the parents had to pick them up before they fell of dizziness. "Now, let's get ready to win." All of the parents took off towards their cars.

Booth, Brennan, Jessica, and Parker hopped in the SUV and took off. Parker and Jessica talked in the back while Booth and Brennan listened to them.

"Hey Jesse, is your daddy coming to the game too,"Parker asked?

"Yeah, he promised me that he would be there." Brennan gave Booth a worried look. Booth was thinking that he was going to kill this guy when he got the chance. Five minutes later, they pulled up in front of the field. Parker and Jessica ran on the field to practice, while Booth and Brennan joined the coach on the sideline.

Through the first half of the game, the team was winning with ease. As always, Parker and Jessica were the star players. Parker scored 2 points and Jessica scored 3. Even though they worked together a lot to score those points, they always seem to argue with one another. Every time you glance at them on the field, their either saying pass me the ball this, or don't touch the ball with your hands. But somehow, they always remain the best of friends. It kind of reminds you about Booth and Brennan.

When halftime came, the score was 6-2, with our team in the lead. The team ran over to the sideline to take a brake. Booth could notice that Jessica wasn't as happy as he knew she should be. He saw her look up in the crowd and look for that sad excuse of a father. He could since the pain that Brennan was filling for her daughter. He swore to himself that he was going to kill this guy when he saw him. He walked over to Jesse and sat down next to her on the bench.

"How is it going," Booth asked her. She looked up at him. He could see the tears forming in her beautiful blue eyes.

"Booth, why didn't my daddy come today. Isn't he proud of me." Tears started to roll down her cheeks. Booth pulled the small girl up in a hug.

"Jesse honey, your father is proud of you. He just isn't the kind of person who can't make a promise to somebody."

"But if he knows he can't keep a promise, why does he even bother. Does he do it to hurt me on purpose." Booth couldn't believe what he was hearing. Here was a little girl, only five years old, feeling this way. A child shouldn't feel this way. It was enough to bring tears to his eyes.

"Jesse sweetheart, he doesn't do it to hurt you on purpose. It's just because he has other things to do."

"What could be more important than his daughter," Jessica said still sobbing. Booth took in a deep breath.

"I don't know," he said silently. He pulled back to take a look at her. "But I tell you what, I'm the kind of person who can keep a promise. And I promise you that I will always be there for you," he said with a smile on his face." Jesse gave him a small smile and hugged him again.

Just then, the coach blew the whistle indicating that halftime was over. Jesse looked up at Booth. Booth kissed her forehead and shooed her onto the field. The second half of the game was great. Jesse scored 2 more points and the team won 8-3.