Authors Note: This has been done for a while, I just haven't uploaded. Chapter Five is in the process of being re-written. Uhh. noticed that my page breaker wasn't showing up in my stories so my new page Breaker is ' B-B-B' Oh, I just made a new music video so if you wanna check it out, go to my youtube channel " JinxedMusics" ALSO: Did you guys here about Emily Deschanel's pregnancy? :'D I wanna know what you guys think so check out my homepage on my profile and go to the ' Bones Blog' And tell me your views! Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: HH isn't missing so I don't own them. :/

Chapter Four

Coping And Carving

Brennan never left Parker's side, just as she promised. She had dosed off a couple of times, in her sitting position, but eventually would wake back up and continue to watch the rise and fall of Parker's chest.

At one point she had woken up with a blanket over her, and one over Parker. She smiled to herself, knowing it was Booth's doing. He knew it was useless in trying to get her to go to bed, so he didn't attempt to wake her.

Parker had woke up twice in sweat and tears, his breathing erratic as he tried to figure out where he was. He kept dreaming horrible things of his sister. When he would jolt up, Brennan would softly talk to him to make sure he was fully aware that he wasn't dreaming anymore. He'd turn his head and look at her through tears and she'd hug him tight and tell him it'd all be okay. He was burning up with fever.

He was making himself sick. She knew it wasn't on purpose of course. She had told him to stay there and she'd be right back.

The look in his eye reminded her of when he was younger and would have a nightmare. Parker had easily grown close to Brennan and he'd ask to sit in her lap while she explained rationally that it was just a dream and it wasn't going to come true.

He had found that when she put in scientific terms like that, it wasn't so scary and would eventually fall back asleep.

Brennan returned holding a cold wet rag. She sat back in her spot and told Parker to lay his head back down. She then placed the rag neatly on his forehead which caused a bit of comfort as it cooled him off a little.

Once he had fallen back asleep, she reached over and pulled the blanket back over him, hoping he'd sweat out his fever.

When morning came, Brennan was up and moving around. She had placed a pillow beneath Parker's head, not surprised that he didn't wake. He was sleeping very hard.

She stood in the kitchen, her hair still wet from her shower, and leaned against the counter as she waited for her tea to finish. She was extremely tired and wished she could have coffee instead of tea, but she knew it wouldn't be good for the baby.

She stifled a yawn as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist. "How are you feeling this morning, Bones?" Booth's voice was soft and for a moment, she felt safe and comforted.

Turning around, she looked up at him a moment before leaning into him and resting her head against his chest, her arms snaking around his waist. "I'm okay." She finally managed out.

Booth kissed the top of her head, deeply breathing in the scent of her freshly shampooed hair. She smelled like strawberries and maybe cucumber melon?

He wasn't sure, except that she smelled amazing and it made him want to take off all her clothes and kiss every inch of her body, run his fingers across her skin, and revel in the feeling of her soft skin beneath his lips and finger tips.

"You're still a horrible liar, Temperance." Booth spoke, kissing her cheek as she looked up at him. "I want you to stay home today." His facial expression turned from a calming reassuring look, to a very serious one.

She was going to open her mouth to protest, saying she was fine, but Booth didn't give her a chance. "To stay here with Parker…I mean…If you'd rather go to the lab, I can drop him off at Rebecca's…I just think it would be best he stayed home from school, and Rebecca said she could only be home for lunch."

Booth stared at her, hoping she'd take the bait and stay home with Parker, not that it wasn't true what he had just said…But he thought it was best that she stay home too, but he knew if he said It was because he was worried, she would protest and insist on going.

Brennan sighed, biting the inside of her cheek before she finally spoke. "Alright. I wouldn't be much help to Ellie's case, that's quite logical. I would have been in limbo all day, anyway but they can wait. I'm very worried about Parker." She looked at him with sad eyes, and it broke his heart.

He knew she was holding in so much emotion. He took her face into his hands and looked her in the eyes.

"I promise we'll find her. I'll call with any news." He kissed her lovingly and held her a few more minutes before he turned and proceeded to grab his things and head out the door.

B-B-B

Parker sat up slowly, his body aching in pain. He noted that Bones wasn't beside him anymore and for a moment he panicked, but he then heard her light foot steps in the kitchen and calmed down, though mentally yelling at himself for being so clingy and needy.

He wasn't a kid anymore, he shouldn't be this way. He sighed and pulled his knees up to his chest as he tried hard to remember what happened last night.

Did he at least try and fight back? He could barely remember anything at all, except for Ellie's screams, and the pain. His eyes shut tight as he started to picture just before he felt the pain.

Suddenly he could see a fist heading for his face, must have been where he got the black eye. He was punched in the back first. That was when he was on the ground, and the air was knocked out of him.

Everything was coming in bits and pieces. He suddenly grabbed his stomach as the image of a masked man punched him in the stomach.

"Parker?" Brennan's voice broke his thoughts and his eyes shot open, shimmering with tears. He quickly blinked back the tears and cleared his throat.

"Yeah?" his voice cracked anyway, despite him clearing it.

"Are you okay? You looked like you we're in a lot of pain." She watched him carefully as he released his stomach and set his feet on the floor.

"I'm okay…I just…I had a pain…" he stammered.

Brennan was silent for a moment, deciding not to try and get it out of him, he would tell her in time. "Alright, well…" She started as she walked toward him. "Why don't you take a shower…get the left over dry blood off of you, and let your body soak in the hot water. You'll feel a little better once you've had a shower and have clean clothes on. I'll fix you some breakfast."

She gave him a small caring smile and gently rubbed his arm. With a nod, Parker stood up. "A-Alright. Thank you. What time is it? Am I gonna be late for class?" He went to glance at the cable box, it was 9:30 AM.

"You aren't going to school today, Parks." Brennan stood up beside him and noted he had gotten so tall. He was just past her chin.

"Why?" Parker questioned, his brows furrowed lightly. Brennan pressed the palm of her hand gently over his forehead.

"Well, you've been burning up with fever all night, Parker…And with your injuries…" She paused. "It's just best that you stay home. Booth wont let either one of us leave. He told me it was to stay here with you, but I know he just doesn't want me at the lab. I only agreed because I…" She paused again, as if looking for the right words.

"I don't want you out of my sight…And I-I don't know about you, but…I'd feel better if I wasn't alone…" She was surprised when she suddenly felt herself stumble a little as Parker wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.

It had taken a lot for her to admit that to Parker. She cursed the hormones, but smiled as she felt Parker's warm hug.

At least she didn't admit it to Booth, but she knew better than to think he didn't know her. He knew she was having a hard time.

Parker pulled back, silently thanking God he wouldn't be alone. That would have been the only reason he wanted to go to school, so he wouldn't have been alone.

"Thanks…I'm gonna go shower now." Before turning, he smiled and then walked off to the bathroom.

It was so nice to see Parker smile. Brennan felt as though she hadn't seen it in ages. She smiled herself, and walked into the kitchen to fix the boy some eggs and jelly toast.

Parker stared at himself in the mirror, noting his bruised eye, the bruise in the shape of a hand that wrapped around his throat. His knuckles we're bruised, he must have fought back.

That made him feel slightly better. He turned his head slightly to see a large knot and stitches that started from the right side of his forehead and across, over his temple. He was lucky they didn't hit him hard enough to kill him. He sighed and looked away from himself, beginning to lift his shirt up.

He winced in pain as his arms lifted up to slip out of the sleeves. As Parker dropped his shirt, he felt something trickle down his left side. He lifted his arm slightly to see blood. His eyes widened and the pain suddenly really kicked in. "Mom!" He yelled out, staring at his side.

He yelled again, this time calling Brennan Bones. He yelled for the third time, calling out mom again.

Brennan had been preparing to fix Parker's breakfast, when his panicked yells shattered her thoughts. Her heart quickened and she stopped what she was doing and rushed to the bathroom, knocking on the door.

"Parker! What's wrong? Can I come in?" She waited a second, finally hearing a squeaky "Yes" from behind the door.

Brennan opened the door slowly to see Parker's arm held over his head and a terrified look on his face. She watched his eyes move down to his side, and she followed them.

Everything started to spin and she had to grab the doorframe, causing Parker to move to her side and hold her up. "B-Bones, are you okay?" His voice sounded raspy as he tried not to look more terrified now at her reaction.

She shook her head, 'no' and the flashbacks began. Parker watched the color drain from her face and he immediately put an arm around her waist and threw her arm over his shoulder. "C'mon, let me get you to the couch." He said more calmly, slowly walking out of the bathroom.

She watched the memories flash by like a movie. Her heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest as she was suddenly back inside that car, beneath the ground with Hodgins.

Parker set her down, taking a seat beside her as she let her head fall between her knees and she tried to keep her breath even. She finally forced herself to regain her composure and she sat up to look at Parker.

"Lift your arm for me, Parker." Her voice trembled and he stared at her, hesitantly. He received a look from her that told him 'Now!', and he slowly lifted his arm, wincing as the skin stretched.

Carved down his side was the name, 'GraveDigger'. Brennan traced her finger very lightly down his side next to each letter. The boy had been cut with a razor blade, engraving each letter neatly down his side.

"Why wouldn't it have bled through your shirt? And why didn't the EMT notice this?" She was furious, now. The sickly look on her face had disappeared.

"I-I don't know…Who's the GraveDigger?" his voice trembled at the name.

Brennan's gaze snapped up to meet Parker's and her eyes began to glaze over as she allowed Parker to let his arm rest back at his side. They had never told Parker about Taffit, and what she had done to both his father and Brennan.

She still had nightmares about it. Parker watched a couple of tears fall freely, and he quickly wrapped his arms around her in a hug. She cried freely now, not being able to hold it in any longer.

She was supposed to be in jail, how was she doing this? This was her fault, it was her fault Ellie was taken and Parker had been badly beaten.

"I'm so sorry, Parker." She mumbled through tears as she pulled back to look into his confused, yet caring brown eyes. She wished he was a child again so that she could set him in her lap and snuggle him.

Parker stared at her a moment. "For what? I don't understand." He said softly.

Brennan shook her head and wiped away tears with the backside of her hand. "I'm a horrible mother, and a horrible step-mother. I shouldn't have left you two, maybe she would have taken me instead, then." she said sadly.

Parker shook his head. "No, No…Bones…" He paused and smiled at her before starting again. "Mom…You are an amazing mother. I don't think of you as a step-mother, I think of you as my real mom. I'm so lucky to have two moms and a great dad, when some kids don't have either. I've always felt safe with you, and you've always taken care of me. Even before you and dad started dating and got married. I got attached. I'm just lucky you and dad never screwed things up between you two and finally realized your feelings, otherwise I would have been a sad kid." He smirked a little at her surprised expression, knowing it was to his comment about their feelings in the past.

"Ellie loves you, she loves you so much. She's lucky to have you as a mother. And my little unborn sibling," he looked down at the baby bump that had slowly formed over the months. "It's gonna love you too, as much as Ellie and I love you. You're amazing, and I know you'd never hurt any of us, or leave us. So don't tell me you're a horrible mom, cause that's a lie."

He finished his little speech and Brennan felt herself crying again, she wasn't sure if she had been crying the whole time or if she had just started up again.

She cleared her throat to speak and smiled through tears. "Parker, you know I'm not good with feelings, but I feel I've done pretty good these passed couple of days…I know it's most likely hormones, but you know that's how I feel all the time, even if I don't say it." She watched him nod, smiling.

She smiled back. "I…I don't know what to say except that I love you and I promise I'll always be there for you." She touched his cheek and pulled him forward to kiss his forehead softly.

Parker smiled and hugged her close. "I know. I love you too." He replied in almost a whisper.

After their heart to heart, Brennan managed to take a picture of Parker's side and send it to Booth, but not before calling him first. He had been just as upset as she was, but she somehow managed to calm him down just as Parker did her.

Once she got off the phone, she instructed Parker to go shower and wash around the wound and be gentle. Once he was out, she had told him to leave off a shirt and let her look over the wound again. They both sat on the couch, Parker holding his arm up and making a face as Brennan cleaned it with proper antiseptics.

She watched him grimace and she tried her best to be more gentle. "It's not you, it just stings…" He said, watching her. Brennan then applied a soft topical cream and spread it over the cuts and then placed a bandage over it.

"If we keep up with that topical, it should keep it from scarring, at least not as badly. It should also take some sting away." Parker nodded and reached for his shirt.

"It feels better, thank you." He said as he slowly slid his shirt on and leaned back on the couch. "Thanks for the breakfast, it was great." He smiled at her and she nodded as she slowly got up.

"You're welcome."

"Hey…Mom, do you want to watch a documentary on Egypt…And stay with me?" He didn't want to sound like a baby, which is why when he spoke the last part, his voice lowered.

One thing Parker and Brennan enjoyed was watching documentaries. Parker liked them so long as they we're really interesting. He was very choosy, but there was one on ancient Egypt and the study of mummification that was coming on and he had wanted to see.

A smile spread across Brennan's lips, and she nodded. "Sure, I'd love to." She returned to her seat and watched Parker grab the remote and a blanket. Once on the right channel he set the remote back down and settled himself next to Brennan, sharing the covers with her.