A/N: The second chapter for you all since you gave me some reviews. Bribery works, I'm just saying. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones. Please don't remind me.

Chapter Two The Full Tent (Saturday night)

Meanwhile, in West Virginia….

"Boys." Booth tried his hardest to sound stern, authoritative. The giggling continued, marking his failure. "Please, try to sleep. We have an early morning tomorrow."

"Okay, Daddy." The twin voices did little to reassure him. Booth turned so he could see his sons from the corner of his eye. The sat on their sleeping bags instead of lying inside them as he prefered by this time of night. Parker held out a squirming insect to Sam who struggled to identify it, shining the flashlight at his brother's hand.

"It's a roly poly!" shouted the younger boy, forgetting Daddy was trying to sleep.

"No, Sam, the real name." encouraged Parker with a sparkle in his eye.

"Woody…woo…. Wood lousy?"

"Really close. It's a woodlouse. Come on, let's put him in the terrarium." Sam produced out the glass jar they'd brought along and carefully filled with dirt and plants and Parker threw the bug inside. Noticing Sam's worried expression, Parker reassured him.

"It's okay they have an exoskeleton, that means…"

Booth pulled the pillow over his head, effectively cancelling out the impromptu lesson on the woodlice bone structure. He groaned, the boys were clearly spending too much time with Uncle Jack. Of course, Temperance probably had a lot to do with the lessons on bones. His chest tightened. God, I miss her. No matter where I go, I miss her more than I can stand.

Sunday morning seemed to come earlier in the mountains. No, I'm simply more aware of the changing light with my proximity to the outdoors, Booth thought as he fought back the urge to wake. Geeze, even when she's not here her logic persists. Booth unzipped his sleeping bag without further delay and noticed his sons were fast asleep, Parker holding tight the terrarium. There goes my plan to teach the boys to shoot, hunt and fish. Unless they want to put fish in the terrarium. He shook his head in amusement, how did I wind up with squints for sons? Temperance. Lately, Booth found, Temperance was the answer to every problem, every one of his struggles.

Booth moved quietly, slipping on his shoes and unzipping the tent flap door. It took all his sniper training not to step on the sleeping children or duffle bags that crowded the small tent. What was I thinking bringing the pup tent? It's meant for two small adults. Not two children and an adult, not to mention all their stuff.

Booth moved around the camp, lighting the fire, pulling out paper plates for breakfast. I still remember buying that family-sized tent. Temperance warned me. Said she may never camp again after Guatamala. But I bought it anyway.

Memories flooded Booth's conscienceness as he pulled the makings of breakfast from the cooler. Cracking eggs into the small skillet he recalled the case. The only case that had really mattered in the past three years.

The call came from Cullem just two weeks after Booth and Parker had moved out of their small apartment and into Temperance's house. All other cases were put on hold immediately as they rushed to find a five year old foster child, kidnapped and buried by a man claiming to be the Grave Digger. The victim's lack of funds, the low ransom, clues left at the scene all pointed away from the Grave Digger who'd buried Temperance and Hodgins just months prior. Booth and Brennan were hot on the trail of this copycat with the team working feverishly to come up with answers from the lab.

After thirty straight hours of work the Jeffersonian had a solid lead and within an hour Booth and Brennan had recovered the small boy from his prison. Sam had been hidden underground in a wine cellar at the kidnapper's own house. The man was an idiot and suffered the wrath of Brennan, then Booth after he pried Brennan off the poor man. It was Brennan who'd finally coaxed the small boy out of hiding and held him while the ambulance carried them toward the hospital.

Booth mixed the pancake batter and kept an eye on the eggs as he recalled the long battle with Child Protective Services and the courts. In the end they'd been successful in gaining temporary custody of Sam. It wasn't a fight Booth had ever expected to face with Brennan. Her oft stated position on children had already been compromised when she let Parker into her life, her heart. He couldn't have imagined she'd lead the charge for another son.

Flashback

They were sitting on the porch, gently rocking on the swing Booth had installed. They'd spent all night at the hospital with Sam. The small boy was dehydrated and had suffered several beatings. They'd passed the time together quietly, both recalling Parker's time in the hospital. And here they were with another little boy, beaten and scared. Tears now wet Brennan's eyes.

"I want Sam." Brennan spoke in her most determined voice. "I don't want him in the foster system. Or with anyone else. I want him." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held onto Booth.

"Baby, I can't imagine how hard this case was for you. After everything the Grave Digger…" his voice trailed and Booth struggled to swallow the lump in this throat, "I don't want you to make a decision you'll regret. I can't let that happen to you…or Sam." Brennan was quiet, never a reassuring sign. Finally, she spoke.

"I said, years ago, that I wasn't going to have children. But now we've got Parker. I just can't imagine putting Sam back into foster care for thirteen years. He deserves better. Who knows better than me what it's like to not have a family? To be taken and buried alive? I want him Booth." Her eyes met his and she took in his tears. "If you're worried about Parker.."

"No, Bones. Parker would love a sibling, I know that. I would love to have Sam, he's a good boy who needs a family. I just.." He pulled her close in a long embrace, "I just wanted you to want that too. I would never push this on you, I want you to be sure. If we start this there's no turning back, no giving up."

"I'm sure." She spoke without pause, her eyes following his own. "I'm sure."

End Flashback

They'd begun the process that very night and were rewarded, months later, with custody of Sam. We were a happy family. Things were great. But great never lasts. If only we hadn't. If only I didn't... Booth shook the negative thoughts from his head, instead calling out to his sons to come eat breakfast.

END

A/N: I hope this isn't too much of a stretch for y'all. Considering Bones' background I think she'd be very interested in helping children like herself once she got used to being motherly. If you don't think so, oh well, people change and that's my other excuse. Again, reviews make me smile like I finally got Booth for Christmas. Please, either send me Booth or review, it's up to you...