Message Received Chapter 6

Sobs echoed around the whole apartment as Booth clutched her to his chest, rocking her back and forth. He could understand her fear at her foster father's actions, because he had suffered in a similar way. And he couldn't count how many times he wished he could just kill his father...or even himself, just so the pain and torture would end. As he rocked her, he stroked her hair in a loving, comforting way. He wasn't mad any more; he understands why she did it. It was only for self-preservation.

"Shh... Bones it's alright, you were only trying to survive."

"I didn't mean to..."

"He was an abusive bastard, he deserved what he got. He hurt you Bones, you were just trying to protect yourself. It was self-defence."

"But it ruined Ryan's life."

"Why?"

She dried her eyes and pulled back out of his arms, so she could clearly see his face. "I stood there for, I don't know how long, staring at his lifeless body, wishing and also dreading for a sign of life. That's when..."

The door creaked open, then slammed shut with urgency. But still she didn't move, just stared between her bloodied hands and the deceased shell of her foster father.

She heard the muffled footsteps walking towards the kitchen; she looked up as the door swung open to reveal a stunned teen. "Temperance, what did you do?" he said rushing over to the body, carefully kneeling down to feel for a pulse. When he found none, he shook his head causing the younger teen to break down crying. "What happened?" he sternly said as he moved to her side, to lean against the counter as the full force of the situation struck.

"H...hhe came at my Ry, I'm sorry but I just panicked. He was going to hit me." She replied shakily as she tried to wipe away the tears with the back off her bloody hand. "I didn't even realise what I'd done until he fell."

"I'm so sorry T. I should have been there, but I got a detention again. Apparently I talk back."A sigh escaped his lips as he considered their next move. "I have to call the police or something cos there's no way in hell we can cover this up."

"No!" he stared stunned at her sudden outburst. "I don't want to go to juvie, Ryan. I can't! I have to leave; if I stay I won't be able to get a scholarship to complete my degree." She said shoving past him, heading toward the bathroom to wash off the blood. Then she headed to her room to grab her things.

He followed her upstairs, trying to devise a plan to get his scared foster sibling out of this predicament. "Temperance, listen. I'll tell the police I did it." He said grabbing a hold of her shoulder and forcing her gaze to his. "I need you to get your things and go to the library and come home at the same time you do when you go there. You go it?"

"N...no Ryan, I'm not letting you do this. It was my fault. I... I..."

"I know T. I will be fine. And hopefully, if I tell them he was abusive, then they'll give me a lighter punishment." He said while lifting up his shirt to show her his bruised ribs. "See, I have proof. Go now, GO!" He yelled.

Reluctantly she grabbed her bag and turned back to him only to place a kiss upon his cheek, before walking down the stairs. All she heard as she walked out the door was "you'd better come and visit me, T."

"He took the blame, and now he blames me. I never went to visit him, I know I should of but I couldn't bear to see him in a place like that. Especially because it was my fault he was in there."

"I wasn't your fault Bones, he was just trying to protect you. What happened when he went to the police, did they believe that he was receiving abuse?"

"No, they didn't. They thought that Mr. Rodgers fought back and the bruises over Ryan's ribs were injures from Mr. Rodgers trying to defend himself. They were fairly new injuries, you see."

"Yeah, they would dismiss it due to the other party being deceased. No proof."

"So, he suffered the normal sentence for the murder." She said with a sigh.

"But, Bones what I don't get is why this Ryan character wants to hurt you. Why now, after he went to lengths to protect you."

"I don't know. All I know is that he thinks I betrayed him. I never visited him, even after everything he did for me. I left him, like my parents left me, I know how that feels. I understand his anger" She admitted, unconsciously fingering her bandaged arm.

"So, what happened after you left him at the house?"

"Well I arrived at the library and tried to do some work… but it didn't go very well. I couldn't concentrate. So I started to walk back early. As I rounded the corner I saw about 3 police cars and a coroners van, it made me completely freeze. I was so scared and ashamed; I knew I shouldn't have let him take the blame..."

She walked up the path receiving dirty looks from the uniformed officers, when she got pulled aside. "Temperance Brennan?" a young woman asked.

"Y-Yes, that's me. W-what happened?"

"I'm afraid your foster father is dead. We have called your social worker and you're going to be placed in an emergency home until the situation has been processed."

"What about Ryan, Derek Ryan, my foster brother?"

"I'm sorry but Derek Ryan committed the offence and will be admitted into Juvenile Hall."

"Please can I see him?" Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, but that will not be allowed. You'd have to talk to your social worker." At that a police car sped down the road. That was the last time she'd ever saw him, staring blankly at her through the back window. She was then carted away in the all too familiar vehicle, leading back to social service; back to the beginning.

"I was then placed into another home. Mrs. Rodgers never wanted me back, but I didn't really know her anyway. I constantly asked about Ryan but they would never tell me anything."

"I am truly sorry, Bones. I will do anything to help."

"You are helping Booth. You're the first person I've ever told the truth to. I have never even said it out loud before now. I killed my foster father, and let someone else take the blame; I now need your help to fix it."

Hey, Thanks again

I'm trying to take all your comments on board, so let me know, good or bad? :)

Elly x