(The Change in the Game)

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The envelope was clearly an invitation which surprised Brennan. She didn't really know anyone graduating from high school or college except for some of her students and they certainly wouldn't have invited her to their graduation. She always attended graduations as part of the faculty.

The cream colored envelope had no return address on the outside, so she had no hint of what to expect before she opened it. Her pen knife slid through the fold of the envelope neatly opening it. Removing a cream and burgundy colored invitation from the envelope she found that it was for someone graduating from the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine. A card inside announced that Lisa Pearce was graduating and wanted the honor of Dr. Temperance Brennan's presence.

Her memory eidetic, it only took Brennan a moment to recall the young woman that had accompanied Ivy Gillespie to the Lab on Christmas Day in the year of 2005. Brennan and her team had identified the remains of Lionel Little who had been murdered in 1958 and whose body had been uncovered during a construction project. During their investigation they had traced his history and found a connection to Ivy.

Ivy Gillespie had been shocked and her faith had been restored when she found out that the man she had been engaged to marry had not abandoned her after all in 1958. She had been pregnant at the time with her daughter and she had thought the worst of Lionel when he hadn't come back from a trip to Washington D.C. After Brennan had given her Lionel's letters that he had received from Ivy and kept, Brennan had also bestowed upon the granddaughter Lisa a penny worth at least $100,000. It had been part of a coin collection that Lionel owned and was trying to sell when he was killed. That penny represented enough money to fulfill her grandmother's dream that Lisa could go to Medical School. The invitation was confirmation that the money had been well spent and that the young woman had graduated.

Rarely did Brennan see the positive side of the cases she helped Booth solve. The fact that Lisa Pearce graduated from high school and continued her education was pleasing to Brennan. It was gratifying to know that Lionel Little's granddaughter was able to have her dream come true and that someday she would become a physician. Ivy Gillespie must be proud of Lisa's accomplishments.

Not certain if she should really accept the invitation, Brennan called Booth. "What are my social obligations when I receive an invitation to a graduation from a university? I am not a family member of the young woman who sent me the invitation, but since she sent me an invitation I don't know if she's just being polite or if she really expects me to attend the graduation."

Whose it from? Is it anyone I know?

"Lisa Pearce, the granddaughter of Ivy Gillespie." Brennan wasn't sure if he remembered so she added, "In 2005, you brought me a body two days before Christmas and asked me to identify the body. . . "

Careful Lionel, sure I remember. Maybe she's inviting you because she's grateful that you gave her that penny that was worth so much money . . . $100,000 wasn't it?"

"Yes, a 1943 bronze one cent piece." Brennan was still amazed that Lionel's murderer, Gil Atkins had missed the most valuable coin Lionel owned when Atkins had killed him for the coin collection. "Apparently she put the coin to good use."

I think you should go, but that's me. She remembered that you helped her and she wants to show you some gratitude. I think your social obligation would be to go . . . I'll go with you if you'd like. It would be kind of nice to see her graduate since Careful Lionel couldn't be there. I could kind of represent him for her since all she has is her grandmother.

"Perhaps you're right." Since Brennan didn't have a return address, she decided to contact Ivy and let her know that she and Booth were going to attend. "The graduation is on June 4th. It's a Saturday so you shouldn't have to put in for vacation time."

Okay, I'll mark it on my calendar and let Hacker know I'm going to be in Maryland that weekend. This might be fun, Bones. Our first trip as a couple, maybe we can make a weekend of it. Nice romantic hotel room, we can have some alone time.

Pleased with the idea, Brennan quickly marked her calendar. "Yes, that sounds like a lovely idea. I'm looking forward to it."

Me too.

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While she stirred lemon in her iced tea, Brennan stared at Booth and watched him pour a lot of sugar in his cup of coffee. Since it was useless to comment on the fact that he consumed too much sugar, Brennan talked about Lisa Pearce instead. "I tried to call Ivy Gillespie and I found out that she passed away last year. Lisa doesn't have any family left. Perhaps that is why she invited me, so that she would have someone there that knew her . . . I remember when I graduated from both high school and University. I didn't invite anyone since as far as I knew I had no family left and I didn't really have any friends . . . I didn't know where Russ was and I didn't really care at the time."

Booth knew that Brennan had had to deal with most things by herself after she was abandoned when she was 15 years old. It made him both sad and angry at Max and Russ every time he thought about it. "Well, you're not alone now and Lisa shouldn't be alone on her graduation day either. We're definitely going to be there . . . You know what? We should get Hodgins and Angela to go with us too. We could be her family, let her know that someone knows that she accomplished something and that we're proud of her."

"Do you think that they would like to go?" Brennan wasn't sure that her friends would be willing to give up a weekend to attend the graduation of someone they didn't know. "They've never met Lisa or Ivy."

After he sipped some coffee, Booth placed his cup down and picked up his fork. "I think they would. They helped us find out who killed Lisa's grandfather and they'd probably like to know that Lisa is doing okay. Angela loves happy endings and if Angela goes then Hodgins will go."

Slowly nodding her head, Brennan thought her boyfriend was right. "I'll talk to her this afternoon."

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"Of course we'll go." Angela sat down on the chair across the desk from Brennan and crossed her legs. "I think it's wonderful that Lisa used the money to go to Medical School. It's sad that Ivy Gillespie died before her granddaughter graduated though."

Brennan folded her arms on the desk and leaned on them. "I called someone I know at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine and she said that Lisa's grade point average was exceptional. Lisa is going to specialize in pediatrics."

"That's wonderful." Angela smoothed the hem of her dress over her knees. "I'm surprised that she sent you the invitation, but maybe she's just lonely. I know I would be . . . I think I'll buy her a graduation present. She's worked so hard and she deserves something . . . yes, I'll go after work tonight."

"Booth and I plan to stay in Baltimore over night after the graduation." Even though most of her friends and co-workers were unaware of her relationship with Booth, Angela had known since she had crawled in to bed with Booth the night Nigel Vincent Murray had been killed. "We're planning on inviting Lisa out to diner after she receives her diploma. If she is unable to attend because of other plans then that will be fine. Booth just thought we should offer."

Her mind on a possible gift for the graduate, Angela hummed. "Yes . . . oh, Jack and I will probably stay overnight too. We can get our housekeeper to watch Michael Vincent for the weekend. She won't mind. She's so sweet and she really loves Michael Vincent."

"I'm glad Lisa sent me the invitation." Brennan leaned back against her chair and stared at her iguana. "It's better when you have someone in the audience watching you graduate." She remembered how alone she had felt on her special day and wanted to make sure Lisa Pearce didn't suffer the same fate.

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The auditorium was huge and there were enough seats that there was no one left standing during the ceremony. Booth, Brennan, Angela and Hodgins sat in the back row and waited for Lisa Pearce's name to be called. They had not contacted her to let her know they were coming. Booth thought it be better if they surprised her. As Lisa's name was called and she began her trip across the stage, Booth nudged Hodgins, handed him the end of a small banner and helped him unfurl it. Once that was done, they stood up, held it up over their heads and Booth whistled as loudly as he could.

Startled many faces turned to stare at the two men and none were more surprised than Lisa when she saw the banner with her name printed on it with the words 'Congratulations Lisa'. Stunned she paused and then continued over to the dais and retrieved her diploma, a huge grin plastered on her face. Fighting to keep tears from falling down her cheeks, she shook the hand of the University President and left the stage moving back to her seat.

Once Lisa retrieved her diploma, Booth and Hodgins sat down and Booth rolled up the banner. A curious onlooker leaned over the back of his seat and tapped Hodgins' knee. "Are you a family friend of Lisa?"

After a quick glance at Booth, Hodgins turned back to answer the questioner. "Nah, we're her family."

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After the graduation ceremony was complete, Lisa made her way through the crowd looking for the two men who had held up the sign. As she searched, Brennan spotted Lisa and waved her over. "Lisa, I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Dr. Temperance Brennan and this is Seeley Booth, Angela Montenegro . . . "

Before she could finish the introductions, Lisa threw her arms around Brennan and hugged her. "Thank you so much. I . . . thank you." After that she hugged Booth, Hodgins and Angela. "Thank you all for coming to my graduation. I really didn't expect you to come. I just thought you might like to know that I went to medical school after all."

Angela smiled at the graduate and handed her a gift wrapped box. "We couldn't let you graduate a lone."

Taking the gift, Lisa blushed and stammered her thanks. "Thanks . . . thank you. You didn't need to do this. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Angela patted Lisa's arm and then pulled her into a hug. "Congratulations."

"If you don't have any plans, we'd like to take you out to dinner." Brennan pointed at the door leading out of the auditorium. "We'll understand if you have other plans and can't come with us."

Lisa blushed and smiled shyly. "Thank you. My boyfriend is on the police force and he had to work today, so we didn't make any plans. We're going to celebrate tomorrow. I'd like to go to dinner with you. Thank you."

Booth and Hodgins nodded at each other and handed Lisa gift cards. Booth felt he should explain their gifts. "These are for you too. They're just gift cards to Walmart, but we thought you could use them down the road. We know that medical school is expensive and that penny of yours probably is just barely covering school."

Her smile grew wider and she quickly hugged Booth and Hodgins. "I can't believe this. This morning I was going to graduate all alone and today . . ." Tears erupted which forced Lisa to wipe her gown sleeve across her wet cheeks. "Thank you so much. I know I keep saying that, but I really mean it. Thank you."

Pleased that they had given Lisa a happy memory attached to her graduation, Brennan placed her arm around Booth's waist and smiled at him then at Lisa. "I know what it's like to graduate alone. We wanted you to remember this day and remember it with happiness. Now, let's go celebrate your graduation."

Pleased that he had come, Hodgins threw his right fist in the air and laughed. "To the celebration."

Amused with her husband's antics, Angela laughed and shook her head. "Yes, let's go to dinner."

Lisa followed the couples out to the parking lot and waved at her friends as she passed them. Not alone on such an important day, her joy could easily be seen by everyone she passed. She only wished that her mother and grandmother had been there to see her and also her grandfather, Lionel Little. His murder had been tragic, but her grandmother had died a happy woman and her grandfather's penny had given her an education that she had never thought possible.

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