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I am calling Max Matthew since that was the name he gave himself and Brennan is used to knowing him as Matthew growing up instead of Max.
"Oh my God! Dad!" Brennan shouted, placing her hand over her heart.
"Hi, honey," Matthew said, giving a small wave.
"Why do you do that?!" Brennan asked.
"Bad habit I guess?" Matthew shrugged. Ripley was nuzzling his hand and wagging his tail fiercely.
"Well, stop it," Brennan ordered. She set down her bag and reached to pet Ripley, who had hurried over to her. She really hated it when her father just let himself into her apartment and then stood at the entrance waiting for her until she got home. It was unnerving.
"Russ was here?" Matthew asked, gesturing to the note.
"Yea. Just for a night. He went back home," Brennan finished.
"Mind if I hang out for a bit? It's been lonely," Matthew said.
"Yea, sure. I'm just going to go change," Brennan called as she went down the hall. Her heart was still racing from the scare. She ought to do that to him sometime and see how he liked it. She threw on some comfortable clothes and walked back out to the living room where he was now sitting and petting Ripley slowly.
"It's been almost two years, Tempe," Matthew sighed. "Why does it feel like yesterday?"
"I don't know," Brennan admitted. She played with her dolphin ring again absently.
"So what have you been doing with yourself lately?" Matthew asked, changing the subject.
"Just work really, and writing a little too," she answered.
"You don't go out?"
"Not really. Why is everyone obsessed with me going out?" Brennan asked, feeling aggravated.
"It's just good to socialize, that's all," Matthew told her.
"I don't feel like socializing after being with children all day," she explained.
"Adult company is much different," Matthew teased.
"Dad," Brennan said, tilting her head to the side and giving him a look.
"All right, I'll drop it," he said. "For now."
"Thank you," she smiled. They talked for about an hour and a half before she asked, "So how long are you staying?"
"I'm just popping by. I have some things to do," he said vaguely.
"Okay. Dinner?"
"Nah. Thanks, though. I just wanted to check in and make sure you were all right," Matthew said, getting up. He went over and kissed the top of her head. "I'm proud of you. I hope you know that."
"Thanks, Dad," Brennan smiled. She watched as he grabbed his coat and opened the door.
"Til next time," he winked. Then he was gone. Brennan exhaled loudly. She didn't know if being on the run had made it that her father couldn't even hang around in one place longer than he had to or if he just genuinely didn't want to be in her life for very long. She felt their relationship was drifting, and she didn't know why. It frustrated her. They were all in this together. Max, Ruth, Kyle, and her-Joy. Brennan knew this only because Russ had caved and told her a few years ago about their original names. She knew that Vince McVicar would kill them if he had the chance. That was all she really knew. Matthew was pretty tight lipped about the rest. She looked down at Ripley, who was giving her that look she knew all too well while slowly wagging his tail.
"All right," she said. "Who's ready for a walk?"
The sun was going down, which was her favorite time of day. Ripley padded ahead of her, panting. His tongue lolled out on the left side. She walked to her favorite park bench and sat down with Ripley sitting beside her, looking up at her.
"What was the best part about your day, boy?" she asked in a whisper. Ripley whined in response and patted the grass with his paw. Then he gave a small bark.
"The walk," she smiled. "Of course. You say that every day, though." Ripley gave her a look as though to convey the words, "But it's true!" Brennan sighed to herself. She hated to admit that her father was right. It would be nice to have some adult company sometimes. Even to just say what their favorite part of the day was.
"I'll tell you mine," she said to Ripley. "It was when Parker's dad stuck his head into my classroom. I can't stop thinking about him. I don't know why. It's not like me at all to be stuck on something let alone a person." She chuckled as Ripley thumped his tail hard and opened his mouth a little in response.
"I miss Sully too," she told him. "But he wanted to travel the world. I didn't. I have my students, my brother..." She trailed off. It had been by total chance she had met Sully at that diner a almost a year ago. Sully had been a great boyfriend, but he was also FBI. That worried her a bit. Then he suffered a bit of a crisis with his job, and he set sail six months ago. She ached a little thinking about him. As the sky filled with the reds and oranges from the sun setting, she stood. Despite joking about it with Angela, she was a little concerned about a cannibal running around. She walked back to her apartment with Ripley, and they went inside full of fresh air. She watched as Ripley bounded around the apartment before settling on the couch, and she went to make something to eat for herself. The silence was loud tonight. She clenched her jaw tightly. She would not cry. She would not spend another weekend feeling so alone and stay in bed. She would do something. She would.
"Oh my God!" Angela shouted when she saw Brennan. "Am I dreaming? Or are you actually really standing there?" Brennan smiled and held up her hands. She had decided to go to the club after all.
"Aaahhhh!" Angela shrieked. She grabbed Brennan's hand and pulled her onto the dance floor with her. "I'm so happy!"
"I find this music really loud!" Brennan shouted.
"That's the point!" Angela yelled back. "Makes you forget all your troubles!" She started dancing provocatively while Brennan laughed. The pulsing beat was catching. Brennan got into the groove with Angela, who encouraged her on. After a while of dancing, they went over to the bar, breathless.
"So much fun!" Angela yelled over the noise. Brennan just nodded. Her voice was hoarse from yelling on the dance floor. She noticed two guys checking them out and nudged Angela, who looked impressed. The guys came over at her visual cue.
"Hey," one said. "I'm Lance." He was tall and skinny with curly black hair, and he looked like he was 18. Angela pursed her lips at him, smirking.
"How old are you?" she asked.
"I'm 24," he answered, looking indignant. His buddy laughed.
"I'm Gary," he smiled. Brennan smiled back. He was very pleasing to look at.
"I'm a psychologist," Lance informed them. "Gary's dad is the deputy director of the FBI. He got me a job there. I literally just started."
"Dude," Gary said. "That is not a turn on." He turned to Brennan. "I'm sorry about my friend. He's an idiot."
"That's all right," Brennan laughed. She felt nervous, however. Lance might be able figure her out with his psychology business.
"You're Gary Kirby?" Angela asked, impressed. She moved closer to him so they could talk.
"Guess you're stuck with me," Lance sighed. "I'm no good at this. Who am I kidding? I see a beautiful woman, and I completely lose it."
"It's okay," Brennan reassured him. "Better luck next time."
"No luck here then?" he asked hopefully.
"No, I'm sorry. I just came to dance," Brennan answered. He nodded.
"All right. Well, it was nice to meet you," he said, turning to go. Brennan watched as he disappeared back into the crowd. She felt a little bad for him. Angela had disappeared with Gary. She guessed that was going to end well for her. She tried not to feel bad about it. She took one last look at the dance floor and made up her mind. She grabbed her small purse and headed for the door. The air outside was beginning to get that October chill to it finally. It made her glad she had brought a hoodie with her. Angela would cringe at her right now with her choice of outfit, a hot dress with an old hoodie on top. Chuckling to herself, she set off down the street. Suddenly, she was roughly shoved to the side as a man went running fiercely past her.
"Hey!" a voice yelled behind her. She turned to see another blur coming at her. She stepped back. "FBI! Stop!" The agent blew past her shouting a "Sorry ma'am!" back at her. Brennan stood there shaking a little. For half a moment she had thought it was McVicar finally finding her. She watched as up ahead the FBI agent launched himself onto the perpetrator, making both go crashing down onto the ground. She hurried away before the agent could come back and check on her. She didn't want any extra attention. She dodged into a cab that was luckily sitting there, and she looked back to see the agent craning his head, looking for her. She slid down in her seat as they drove away.
The rest of the weekend passed uneventfully. Brennan wrote some more for her book, paced around her apartment, and took Ripley for walks. She listened to Angela talk about how amazing Gary Kirby was. She prepped for her lessons that week. When Monday came around, Brennan was more than ready to get back to work. The kids were all in a hum in the halls because the next day was Halloween, and they were discussing what costumes they were going to wear. Brennan liked to be Wonder Woman, but the principal had commented on the revealing nature of her outfit, so she saved it for adult parties. She wasn't sure she'd go to any this year, though. Angela already said she was busy with Gary, and she was the only reason Brennan went to Halloween parties.
"Megan Shaw is missing," Angela said tearfully, coming into her office. "I just heard."
"What?" Brennan asked, looking up sharply from her day planner. The image of the bright, smiling girl popped into her mind. She had just started high school that year.
"Yea. Apparently she's been missing for a week, but her parents think she was the mummy they found in that maze on Sunday afternoon," Angela continued.
"A mummy?" Brennan asked. She was so out of the news. She really should get her television working again.
"Yea. Poor Matty found it in the maze," Angela said. "He didn't come to school today. He's traumatized."
"Poor boy," Brennan sympathized.
"I'm kind of creeped out," Angela said. "And scared. Brennan, I think Megan might be dead."
"Don't think that," Brennan ordered. "It's only been a week. Perhaps she ran off with a boy?"
"Megan was not like that," Angela shook her head. The bell rang then, indicating all the children would soon be piling into her classroom.
"We'll talk later," Brennan promised. She felt uneasy herself. She made a mental note to call Megan's parents later and see how they were doing. Parker came in looking glum.
"What's wrong?" Brennan asked him as he sat down with a heavy sigh.
"I'm just bummed I did't get to go to the maze," Parker said.
"I'm sorry," Brennan said to him. In the back of her head she was thinking it was probably for the best.
"It's okay. I still get to go trick or treating," Parker grinned suddenly. Brennan chuckled and then called for everyone's attention. She tried hard to keep the image of Megan out of her mind. She desperately hoped the girl would be found and soon.
"You're really just going to stay home?" Angela asked the next day. They had finished discussing Megan and her family, and Angela was desperate for a subject change. Brennan was cleaning up from the experiments they had done that day. Parker had almost singed his hair. A couple of the other kids had almost had mishaps as well. Brennan chided herself for not being more careful.
"Yes. I feel like handing out candy this year," Brennan said. Angela picked at her nurse's costume absently. "You're with Gary, remember? Have fun. Don't worry about me."
"It's been six months since Sully, Brennan," Angela said. "I'm worried."
"I'm fine," Brennan said forcefully. "Prince Charming will fall into my lap one day, don't you worry." She smiled and laughed at her friend's skeptical look. She adjusted her Einstein wig. Her Dad had dressed up in it when he was a teacher, and somehow it had ended up in her things, so she put it on for him.
"All right. If you say so," Angela sighed. "I'll call you later, okay? And let me know about Megan's parents."
"I will. Have fun!" Brennan called after her. She smiled to herself. Ripley was gonna hate her when she got home, but he had a costume too that he was going to impress the trick or treaters with. There was a knock on her door suddenly. She looked up, her glasses going askew.
"Hi," Parker's father said. "Parker said he forgot his results from his experiment."
"Oh," Brennan said. She pointed to Parker's desk.
"Thanks," he smiled. He went over and rummaged through it. Brennan examined him over her fake glasses.
"What are you supposed to be?" she asked.
"I'm a Squint," he replied. She stared. "Oh, right. You wouldn't know. Uh, I'm a nerd," he corrected.
"Oh, okay," Brennan nodded, getting it.
"Einstein huh?" he asked, grinning. "For science class. That's clever."
"I aim to please," she laughed, holding up her hands in the "what are you gonna do?" pose.
"I'm Seeley, by the way. Seeley Booth," he said, holding out his hand. She shook it.
"Miss Brennan," she replied.
"Your first name is Miss?" he asked. "Wow, you must have had one hell of a time in high school." Brennan laughed out loud. She knew he was joking to get her to tell him her real name.
"It's Temperance," she told him.
"Temperance," he repeated. She decided she liked her name coming off his lips. "That's nice." He stood there smiling and looking at her until she felt awkward and unsure of what else to say. He was very, very handsome. This fact would not leave her brain.
"Um, well, I gotta..." she gestured to the mess.
"Oh! Yea, sorry. I gotta get back to Parker," he said, pointing out the window. "I'll, uh, see you around?"
"Yea," she smiled. He grinned back and walked out the door. Brennan kept cleaning, but now her mind was occupied by Seeley.
Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading :)
