Chapter Seven:

Booth agilely pulled up to the security desk at the gated community. He pulled out his FBI badge and explained that they needed to speak to the Delaneys. The security officer nodded and called the house, but received no answer. Being hospitable, the security officer gave them directions to nearby coffee place and said that he would call as soon as the Delaney's came in. Booth thanked the man and went on his way.

He pulled up to the coffee shop. He climbed out of the vehicle. Booth waited for Brennan to join him, but realized she hadn't started moving yet. He walked over to the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the door. "Hey Bones, you coming? It will be to cold to sit out here for a while." He said.

"Sorry," She replied. He held out his hand to help her out of the SUV and surprisingly she took it.

They went into the coffee house and was seated by a hostess. Booth saw her staring out the window, she didn't even notice when the waitress came and Booth had to order for her. "Bones, can I ask you something?"

"You can ask, it doesn't mean I am going to answer." She replied.

"Does it bother you that I look like Ethan?" Booth asked rather bluntly.

"I will admit in the beginning it threw me, but when I really got to know you Booth, the differences honestly outweigh the similarities. Physically you guys could almost pass as twins, you are more built, and he was more slender. You have brown eyes, he had blue. He kept his hair spikey, you wear yours more distinguished. But when you laugh, the laugh is completely different. He was more serious than you and was always serious. You laugh, you make me laugh. Your voices are different, your touches are different. So where you may look alike, you are my Booth and I have never once confused you with my ex-lover." She answered. By now she had reached across the table and held her hand out to him. "You look alike but you are as different as night and day."

Booth looked at his smaller hand in his. "So you don't see him."

"No. I see you." Their eyes were locked and she gave him a small smile. "I see the man who would give up everything for his son, a man who wouldn't hesitate to take a bullet for his partner, a man who has taught me to open up. You helped make me a better person." She told him truthfully. He brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss there. She instantly missed the connection of his lips on her skin. Soon the waitress came with their cups of coffee.

He blew on his, cooling the steaming liquid. She smiled remembering their coffee breaks and wondered about their coffee breaks to come.

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About an hour, the call came from the security guard at the community letting them know that Mr. and Mrs. DeLaney would be expecting them soon. Brennan's heart went out to the woman who would soon find out that her child was gone forever. She knew what it was like to be in that position and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Booth knocked on the door to the three story, six bedroom, four bathroom house. "Hello. Chuck told us you were waiting for us." She asked escorting them into the sitting room where her husband was waiting. A maid was in there pouring them some tea. "I'm Mary DeLaney and this is my husband Albert DeLaney."

"I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth." He said extending his hand.

"I'm Dr. Temperance Brennan." She said making her introductions.

"Did the kidnappers finally make a ransom demand?" Mr. DeLaney asked.

Booth sighed, "I regret to inform you that your child's body was found several days ago at Long Creek Park and Sporting complex."

"If she was found for several days ago, then why weren't we informed then?" Mrs. DeLaney asked. Tears were rolling down her face.

Brennan spoke up, "I'm called in when a body is past the point of conventional mean of identification."

Mr. DeLaney stood up and made his way over to his wife. "Thank you for coming to tell us. Is there anything more we can do for you?"

Booth reached into his pocket and pulled out the bracelet. "Your daughter was found wearing this bracelet. Do you know where she got it from?"

Mr. DeLaney frowned. "I don't recall her having any friends named Elizabeth. There was another little girl in her dance class at Long Creek. They were always exchanging things with each other. You may want to start there."

"Do you know who this little girl is?" Brennan asked showing them the picture of the other little girl who was found.

The maid saw the picture. "That is Sharon O'Leary. She takes dance at Long Creek though. McKenna gave Sharon her shoes when you got her a new pair."

"When do the girls take dance lessons?" Booth inquired.

"Tuesday and Thursday. Their dance instructor in Mrs. Smith." The maid told them.

Booth and Brennan thanked them. Brennan talked to Angela and confirmed that Sharon O'Leary was one of the missing girls. She sighed as she told Booth and they were on their way to tell another set of parents that their little girl would never be coming home.

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Booth and Brennan pulled up to the O'Leary's house. It was in a small suburb not to far from the DeLaney's. The house was smaller than the first house, with a nice spacious yard and a wrap around porch. Booth saw the toys littered in the yard and smiled. He was thinking of his own childhood and the times of playing Red Rover in the yard. Cutting off the engine he was snapped back into reality. "This isn't fair." He whispered.

Brennan nodded her head, knowing that this was a day that Sharon O'Leary's parents would forever know as the worse day of their life.

Booth told the parents about the child and Mrs. O'Leary fell sobbing into Brennan's arms. She kept muttering that it was okay.

Booth pulled the father aside, "Did your daughter know McKenna DeLaney?"

"Yes. They took dance together. Many of the girls did. In fact, we all carpooled together. Us, the DeLaneys, and two other couples." He supplied. "Are you going to catch the bastard who did this?"

Booth's eyes darkened. "You bet your ass I am going to keep trying until they tell me I can't anymore. This is my number one priority."

Brennan walked up to Booth standing beside them. Mrs. O'Leary had retired to her room, understandable so. "Do you guys have children?" Mr. O'Leary asked of the partners.

"Booth has a son, and I had a daughter." Brennan answered him.

"Then you understand." He said.

Booth pulled out the bracelet. "Do you know who gave this to your little girl?"

"Yes, Elizabeth Carmichael. She lives about two doors down. Why, has something happened to her too? I haven't seen her in several days. She plays with our daughter Amy. They are both the same age." He pulled a picture out of the girls. It was at Sharon's fifth birthday party. Sharon, Amy, Elizabeth and several other little girls were playing a game. "She goes to dance lessons with Amy."

"Thank you for your time. I promise you, I will figure out who is doing this." He assured the man. Mr. O'Leary shook his hand and then resigned himself to his own grief over his daughter.

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Brennan wanted to go visit the Carmichaels, however they were not there, so Booth and Brennan pulled up to the Long Creek Park sporting complex to pick up Parker from his after school karate class. It was going to be a surprise, he needed to see his son.

Rosa smiled at him and quietly excused herself out of the room. Brennan and Booth took a seat and the gym and quietly watched the little children running through their movements. Booth was watching his son, but started scanning the room. His eyes settled on a little girl, her hair was pulled back. She was in the younger class across the gym, she was pulling on her ballet shoes waving goodbye to her mother. Brennan had seen her too. It had to be Elizabeth.

TBC . . .

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Read and review. Thank you for everyone who has reviewed. Reviews rock my socks.