Hey, sorry I'm a few days late with this. School's been tough this week, and band takes up a lot of time, too. This is the final chapter of this story.

Also, I'd like to dedicate it to all those who lost their life or a loved one nine years ago due to the terrorist attack.

Anyway, here is the story...

Elliot, Jett's father, arrived at the hospital about an hour and a half later, and his mother two hours after that at their house. They had done as Booth predicted and banned their son from playing football for a while. Since Jett's arm still hurt, his parents gave him pain medication he went to his room and fell asleep. The moment the door shut, Booth told his aunt and uncle everything he had learned in the past four days. Tia and Elliot told Booth that they would let Mattie stay with them whenever she needed to, even if it meant every night until she left for Northwestern.

Tia volunteered to cook dinner, since her husband and she hadn't had a home cook meal. Booth and Elliot both offered to help, but she was insistent about doing this alone. Elliot went to unpack, and Booth settled back and watched the five o'clock news.

"Welcome to the five o'clock news. I'm your anchor Darren Quincy. This afternoon we reported that a seventeen year old girl, Mattie Johnston, was missing. Minutes after we reported the missing girl, she called the local authorities. She was at the hospital, accompanying a child she was babysitting who had broken his arm. However, the doctors gave Johnston a physical, and found suspicious bruises. Johnston was already in the foster system, for reasons that were not disclosed to us, so her social workers have removed her from the home in question. Her foster parents, Larry and Kirra Jordan, are currently be held for abuse of a minor and several other charges, and the DA believes there is enough evidence to indict and convict. In other news…" Booth pressed the mute button. Mattie had actually gotten out of that hellhole. She had gotten out of there in one piece and alive. And with her case being on the news, good people would be lining up to volunteer to take her; especially if they found out she was planning on going to college in two months.

And best of all, the bastards who had harmed her were going to pay. No one like child abusers, and once anyone saw the bruises on her those two would be thrown in jail.

Booth knew he hadn't done anything, but couldn't help but to be proud. He was proud of Mattie for finally telling someone what the Jordans were doing to her.

He got up and went to the kitchen where he found Tia cooking spaghetti and meatballs. "Aunt Tia," Booth started.

"Something bothering you, Seeley?"

"I was just watching the news. You know how I told you about social services using media to find Mattie this afternoon?"

"Yes. Did they do a follow up on her just now?"

"Yeah, her foster parents are in custody and she's back with social services. You're going to have to explain to Jett she's not coming back."

"I'll do it when he's feeling better," she agreed. "I'm just happy Mattie's out of that dreadful house. I'm happy you got her to open up to you, Seeley, I really am."

"Yeah, so am I. I just wished I hadn't acted like such an a-a-absolute jerk to her this afternoon." Booth hoped his aunt wouldn't catch onto his slip up. Like his mother, his aunt disliked cussing in her home.

"Nice save," his aunt answered coyly. "What did you do to her?"

"I kinda blamed her for Jett's arm. I was just mad, and she was the first person I saw that I knew. It was stupid and I'll never be able to tell her what idiot I was."

"You liked her a lot for knowing her for about a day and a half."

"Yeah, I did. She's a good kid who's gotten the worse life can throw at you."

"You haven't exactly had an easy life, either, Seeley."

"Yeah, but me and Jared had family to turn to. She went into a system that was supposed to protect her, but instead she gets hurt. She was in that house for a little over a month and was beat because she was a normal teenager."

Tia stopped cooking for a minute, and went over to her nephew before giving him a hug. "You're a good man, Seeley Booth."

"Thanks, Aunt Tia."

A moment later, Booth thought he heard bullets flying. But it was only a knock at the door. He left his aunt's embrace and went to answer the door. When he opened it, a dark haired, brown eyes woman in a black suit stood in front of him.

"May I help you?"

"I'm looking for a Seeley Booth and a Jett Griffen."

"I'm Seeley Booth. Jett's my cousin. He's sleeping off some pain pills right now. He broke his arm this morning; can I do something for you?"

"I'm the prosecutor of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, Emily McClung. I was speaking with their foster daughter, Ms…." The prosecutor stopped, trying to remember the girl's name.

"Johnston. Mattie Johnston." Booth didn't know how much confidence he had in a lawyer who couldn't remember the victim's name.

"Yes, and she asked me to give these to you two." She held out two envelopes, one with 'Booth' in neat cursive, the other saying 'Jett' in the same writing.

"Thank you, Ms. McClung," he said, taking the letters from her. She nodded and walked away, leaving Booth to close the door behind her.

Once he was inside, Tia called out to him, "Who was at the door?"

"Mattie's lawyer. She had letters for Jett and me."

"Who do they say?"

"I don't know I haven't opened mine." He laid Jett's down and began to open his. The first thing he saw was the same writing that spelled out his name on the front.

Dear Booth,

I wanted to know how truly sorry I am for not paying closer attention to Jett. I should have been more focused on him, but I was already feeling guilty about the fight you had with Larry. I was worrying about you, and let it interfere with my job. I promise you, though you have no way of knowing that I will keep my word, that I will never let my feelings impede my responsibilities again.

I also wish to thank you. I know we did not know each other very long, but you reminded me that people can care about you for being you. You had no need to worry about me, but you did anyway. And if you hadn't fought with Larry and Kirra then I probably would have paid more attention to Jett- no, Booth, I'm not blaming, just informing you of the likely scenario. If Jett had not broken his arm, then I would have gone back for the meeting with my social worker, and then there would have been not investigation of my short disappearance and I would still be in that nightmare of a house.

In short, Booth, I want to thank you. You're the first person I have perceived as an equal who I consider my friend since I lost my parents. You will do extremely well in law enforcement, and the FBI would be lucky to have you. If I have learned anything about you, it is that you will try and find me again for one reason or another. Please, don't. You have helped give me the confidence to face what life has thrown at me, and know everything will be fine. Again, thank you.

Sincerely,

Mattie Christine Johnston

Booth looked up from his letter. When Tia noticed she asked again, "What did she say?"

"She said thank you..."

"So will she be alright?"

"Yeah. She's smart and focused and won't easily take the hard things life gives her. She'll do great."

The End

So, that's the end. What did everyone think? And I'm still debating about a sequel if you want to have a say...