Sorry it took so long to update this week! Here is a new chapter for you, with some suspicious behaviours...

Chapter 8

Booth managed to wake up before the alarm clock had a chance to rip them from their sleep. Immediately, he made the decision to wake his wife up slowly. He rolled over and turned the alarm off. He pulled her into his embrace and did what was normally his Saturday-morning routine. Starting slowly, Booth scattered soft, butterfly kisses over her arms, chest and shoulders. As she started to stir, he gently brushed his lips over hers. "Morning, darling."

Her lips had curled into a smile before her eyes opened. Brennan rolled onto her side, pressing a kiss to his chest. "It's not Saturday, is it?" she asked as she became aware of that harsh reality.

"No, but it is Friday, date night. And when we wake up tomorrow, it will be Saturday," he reassured her. "How do you feel?"

"More rested than expected," she answered him as she rolled back onto her back and stretched.

"I'm happy to hear that." He pressed a playful kiss to her belly and sat up. "You should have a shower, I'll get the kids ready and I'll take them to school today."

"Thanks, Booth. For taking care of me. It really made me feel better. But then, you always make me feel better, which is why I still love you as much as I do."

"I will always take care of you. Besides," he teased her as he stood and disappeared into their en suite bathroom. "I made a promise to your daughter that I would take care of her mother."

"Well, don't give her any details," Brennan chuckled, "But Elena can be proud of you."

Booth chuckled as he quickly took a shower and got dressed. By the time the bathroom was available for Brennan, it was time to get up. "I'll send the kids to our room after breakfast. You take your time." Booth kissed her cheek, then went to wake up the kids. He told both of them to go downstairs for breakfast after they'd got dressed. They had breakfast together and while Booth prepared breakfast for his partner, he sent his kids upstairs to their mother.

"Mommy!" Thomas wrapped his arms around his mother and sat down next to her on the bed. "Your hair is wet," he told her as he snuggled closely to her.

"Yes, because I showered, sweetheart," Brennan smiled at him and kissed her son's hair. "Did you sleep well tonight?"

"Yes." He looked up at her. "Dad said that Elena and I are staying at Grampa's house, but I was wondering, can't I sleep over at Aunty Angela's house? I can play with Michael there..." he pouted.

Brennan stroked his short hair. "But what about your sister, Thomas? Who will she have to play with if you go to Angela's?"

Deflated, Tommy sighed, but nodded. "You're right..." His face cleared up when he got an idea. "We can play a game. I'm going to get one. Thank you, Mommy!" He kissed her cheek and ran out of the room.

Brennan finished putting on her shoes and made sure everything she needed was in her handbag. Then, Elena popped her head around the corner. "Hi, Mom," she spoke enthusiastically.

Brennan could only guess where her daughter got her high energy level from every morning after a long day at school, homework and hours of gymnastics. It was truly remarkable.

"Good morning, Elena," Brennan smiled at her daughter and walked up to her. They embraced each other for a few moments. "Are you ready for a new day? School and gymnastics?"

Elena grinned. "Can't wait. What about you, Mom? You didn't look so good yesterday. I told Dad to fix it."

Brennan tucked Elena's springy curls behind her ear. "That was sweet of you, darling. Your dad made sure I slept well tonight."

Elena held up her hands. "No details. That was all I needed to know." Elena kissed her mother. "I have to go downstairs, Dad is driving us to school. Have a better day today, Mom. I love you."

Brennan squeezed her daughter's hand. "Be safe, honey. I love you, too."

Booth drove his children to school and then headed to the Hoover. He knew Brennan wouldn't waste any time and head straight to work. So did he. Yesterday his search had revealed more questions rather than answers. Over the past seven years, several children had been registered at the victim's house, but he didn't have any biological kids. Booth arrived at his office and sent a quick text to his partner as he got started. 'Eight hours left to go before date night... Thinking of you. Love you, B.'

Brennan received Booth's text as she walked into the Jeffersonian. She smiled and stood in the sunlight for a few more moments before entering to answer his text. 'Can hardly wait. Feeling fit today, thanks to you. I love you back. Bones.'

After reading her text, Booth contacted Social Services. One frustrating hour later, he had learned that even though Jason Doug had managed to dodge almost every single check-up visit as a foster parent, kids had continued to be placed with him. Booth had the name of the teenager who was currently registered to be living in Jason Doug's house. Booth also had the name of the boy's school. He frowned, it was the same school Elena attended.

Booth stood when the phone rang. He sat back down and answered. It was the head of the forensics team with the findings of the search performed at the victim's house. They had found copious amounts of oxycodon, speed and marijuana. Booth thanked his colleague and gathered his stuff. It was time to go to school and talk to Alexander.

Booth drove to the school and was shown to the principal's office. After explaining the situation, the principal went to remove Alexander from his class, so Booth could talk to him. Booth looked up when Principal Banks walked in with the kid that had been at his house just a few days ago. Even though this left Booth reeling, he masterfully hid his feelings and extended his hand to the young man. "Hi, Alexander. You might remember me, I'm Elena's father, Agent Booth. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you." Booth looked up at the principal. "Would I be able to use your office?"

The principal nodded and Booth motioned for the young man to sit down, which he did. Smoothing down his tie, Booth took in Alexander's body language. He was nervous and insecure, but other than that, Booth had no idea how much Alexander knew and how deeply he was involved in this.

Alexander felt faint when he saw Elena's dad. Bad news. "Mister Booth," Alexander nodded to the older man as he gave a weak handshake. He sat down, feeling feverish. His secret could not come out, whatever Elena's dad had to say to him. His secret would not come out.

Booth made the split-second decision to give Alexander the information in bite-sized pieces. "Alexander, can you confirm your address for me?" Alexander cited the address where the FBI had performed the search and Booth looked up questioningly at the young man. "Do you live there?"

Alexander cleared his throat. "Yes, sir," he replied a bit shyly. He found himself wishing stupidly that Elena was here. She wasn't afraid of anything, literally, he was convinced she knew no fear. He felt stronger when she was there. They'd spoken a few more times after she'd saved his ass with the book report. She wasn't arrogant or aggressive, she was bubbly and brave. Her dad was freaking intimidating, though.

"It is my understanding that you live there with your foster father. When was the last time you saw him, Alexander?" Booth kept his gaze on the boy, but he wasn't seeing anything out of the ordinary. Yes, the kid was nervous, but given that there was an FBI agent in front of him, his nerves were easily explained, so Booth went easy on the kid.

"About a week ago, I guess," Alexander answered honestly. Was he in trouble for living in Jason's house without supervision, he wondered.

Booth nodded. "I'm afraid I have bad news for you, Alexander. Jason Doug died." Booth's voice softened as he looked at the boy in front of him. "Yesterday, we searched your house and we found a large amount of pills, marijuana and other drugs. I think Mr Doug's death might have had something to do with that. Is there anything you can tell me about the drugs or the people who might have provided your foster father with the drugs? This is important, so take your time."

"He's - Jason's - dead? Oh, god." Alexander felt the panic rise in his gut, and he dove into his backpack to look for his pills. Where were they, damn it? He honestly couldn't find them, which caused him to actually panic. He dropped his backpack and leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees, his head down and resting in his palms. He tried to control his breathing, but that only made it worse. If Jason was dead, what would happen to him? They all knew him, those people. They wouldn't think twice about killing him, too. And he couldn't ask for protection because then he'd have to tell Elena's dad everything, including his secret, and... no...

Booth hadn't been under the impression that Jason Doug would've been an exceptionally good foster father, or that they would have shared a good connection, but apparently he was wrong, because Alexander took the news especially hard. Getting up, Booth crouched down next to the teenager. "You'll be okay. We will find out what happened and who did this. Right now, I need you to relax, okay buddy? Breathe in. And out. In. And out."

The boy tried but failed. When he started to hyperventilate and rummage through his backpack like crazy, Booth frowned. Elena had told him about what had happened the day Alexander had come to their home. Booth had a proverbial light-bulb moment and gently stilled the teenager's hands. "Are you looking for an inhaler of some sort? Because if you can't find it, I'm taking you to the hospital." That might just be the best choice, because the boy, even through the dark colour of his skin, was looking pale.

Alexander tried to communicate to the man in front of him. "My pills... I have panic attacks..."

"Okay," Booth nodded and grabbed the backpack. "I'm taking you to the hospital, come on, let's go."

Alexander had no choice but to go with him. He was afraid the other students would see him, but he needed to get out of his panic attack. It was the scariest, most exhaustive sensation, and he felt he would die if nobody helped him.

Booth helped the boy into his car and turned the sirens on. He sped to the hospital and rushed the teenager inside. A doctor immediately took him into an examination room. Booth went to sit down in the waiting room and dialled Brennan's number.

"Brennan," she picked up a bit distractedly. She'd been writing the report for the FBI and wanted to make it as perfect as she could.

"Temperance, we have a problem."

"What is it, Booth?" she asked, worry etched in her voice, worst-case scenarios popping up in her mind immediately.

"I did some more research on our victim. He had a foster son. It's Alexander. Elena's Alexander. I talked to him. He had a panic attack and I took him to the hospital. I'm in the waiting room right now." He paused for a moment, giving her some time to let that information sink in. "Bones, during our search of the house yesterday, we found a lot of drugs. Too much to have gone by unnoticed by a 17-year-old. I'm going to talk to him and try to get him to take a drug test. If he doesn't agree, I'm going to have to get a court order."

Brennan needed a moment to take it all in. "Booth, this is your daughter's friend. Try not to be too hard on him. If he has panic attacks, he can't handle a lot more than what's already on his plate. At this point, you don't know if he did anything wrong, so... for Elena, be careful with him," Brennan asked her partner.

Booth knew she was right. He did. It was hard to go easy on the kid, though. His first priority had suddenly become Elena at this stage. Before they had moved to DC, Booth was a cop with the narcotics department. He had seen too many young lives ruined by drugs. He would not stand by and do nothing as there was even a remote possibility that their daughter's name would end up on that list as well. "I'll do my best, Bones, but I can't promise anything. Look, the doctor is back. I'll call you later okay? Love you, bye."

"Do what's right, Booth," Brennan advised him before he hung up. She heaved a worried sigh. She was panicking a little, too, because suddenly their daughter had a link to this horrible case. She didn't want to get her family involved in any of this, especially not her children. She trusted Booth, though. He wouldn't let Elena become a part of this. She hoped her daughter wouldn't have to hear anything about Alexander's involvement in the case. Brennan knew that this was going to have an impact on Elena, though.

After the phone call with his partner, Booth walked into the doctor's office. The doctor informed him that they had given the teenager anti-anxiety medication, but that they wanted to keep him overnight for observation. Booth listened with ever-growing attention and suspicion as he was informed that Alexander had several bruises on his body and that the skin of his wrist was chafed.

Armed with the new information, Booth entered Alexander's hospital room and sat down next to the bed. "You look better."

Alexander nodded slowly. He was tucked in underneath the blankets. The doctor and nurses had seen the fading bruises and the injuries that he had sustained that horrible night. "I feel a bit better."

"The doctor told me that he's worried about you. And I am too, Alexander," Booth told him gently. "Is there anything you need to tell me?"

With the medication working its way through his system, Alexander felt relaxed, slightly woozy and distanced from everything. There was one clear thought in his mind though, Elena's father couldn't find out about the secret or that he used drugs or that he had sold drugs to other people. He would have to go to jail and that was not an option. So, Alexander shook his head. "No, Sir. There is nothing I have to tell you."

Booth leaned in, keeping his gaze locked on Alexander's. "You were not aware of the drugs in your house? I'm giving you a chance, Alexander. I want to help you, but you have to help me help you."

His offer was tempting, but Alexander couldn't take it. "No, Sir. I wasn't aware."

Booth sat back. "Okay, then there is one last thing I want to ask of you. Are you willing to do a drug test?"

Alexander thought about it, then shook his head. "No."

"I will simply get a court order, so you might as well cooperate," Booth told the young man in front of him.

Alexander shrugged. "I don't want to do a drug test."

Booth nodded and stood. "I see. I'll be back tomorrow. With a court order."

As Elena's father stood, Alexander sat up. He was leaving, too.

Booth frowned, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going home," Alexander told him determinedly.

"I really don't think that's a good idea, Alexander. You were admitted for a reason. You should stay." When the boy didn't make any further attempts to get out of the bed, Booth felt he could leave. "I'll see you again soon, Alexander."

As soon as Alexander was alone in the room, he got out of bed and got dressed. He had to get home and figure something out. Once he was dressed, he grabbed his backpack and snuck out of the hospital.

So, we learned a bit more about Alex's background. Next chapter will be a long one and we'll upload it as soon as it's ready! It will feature Elena and a huge argument. Just a small question in between: who's your favourite character so far? We hope you're staying with us!