Disclaimer: *Sigh* Seriously I still don't own them...

A/N: Chapter Four, YAY! Thank you for all of the reviews, they make my life happy :) Warning: This chapter has some semi-graphic stuff pretaining to Parker. Hope you guys enjoy!

Rebecca was lucky she wasn't bleeding, because if there was anyone who could kill her with just one punch it would be Brennan. Hodgins wrapped his arm around Brennan's arms and waist to hold her back while they all watched Rebecca. She grabbed at the spot where Brennan had hit her. She got up and went to Brennan's face, but Sweets intervened and stood between them.

"You will never see my son again, do you understand? Seeley is dead and you no longer have a tie with Parker. So you get out of this hospital now. Parker is mine and I get to do whatever I want with him. You just want him because you never got Seeley, but I don't know why you wanted him or Parker for that matter! You were too good for Seeley and so was I!"

"You self righteous bitch! You dare you talk about Seeley that way. To think he once loved and appreciated you disgusts me. You are the devil compared to him, he was an amazing man and you don't get to come into this hospital where just a week ago you were sobbing over his death and slather him. No that is not how it works. Get out of here Rebecca, get out before Dr. Hodgins lets Dr. Brennan go and she continues to do a number on your face."

Rebecca didn't back down at Cam's words, as Sweets continually pushed her away from Brennan. Throughout all of this Angela had left to sit with Parker, so that he would not wake up alone. Cam let out a breath when she saw Mrs. Jones walk up. Maybe someone could make Rebecca leave before Parker woke up without Brennan standing there next to him.

"Is there a problem here?"

Rebecca turned to the woman and started the act of the dedicated and worried mother, luckily all of the people in the waiting room saw through the act. Mrs. Jones placed her hands on her hips and waited for the answer she had heard so many time from parents whom had abused their children. It disgusted her that people believed she was so stupid. She had seen cases like this, where the mother stood by and allowed this terrible thing to happen. Parker Booth was six years old and she may have not known the boy, but she knew he did not deserve the way he was treated.

"Yes, ma'am there is. See I'm Rebecca Stinson, Parker Booth's mother and these people, my ex-boyfriend's co-workers, aren't allowing me to see him."

"Well I'm glad, considering I'm Parker's case worker and I have not been able to talk to him. I don't believe you've talked to the police yet either, have you? That is a requirement for this situation and I would not want to break any laws."

Rebecca looked stunned, but not the slightest bit confused.

"Wha-What are you talking about? Talking to the police? Why would I need to talk to them. All I want is to see my son."

"Parker was abused, Rebecca, by your boyfriend. A man that you brought into your son's home and Mrs. Jones has proof that you stood by and allowed that man to harm Parker. You disgust me. Booth trusted you to keep his son safe."

Brennan seethed. She hated her, anyone who would willingly stand by and watch as Parker was abused, disgusted her. She wanted to kill her, she wanted to kill the mother of Booth's son. Not because of jealousy or any other useless feeling, but because she allowed Parker to be harmed.

"Dr. Brennan I don't believe we've met. Your friends tell me you'd be interested in the fostering of Parker Booth."

"It's nice to meet you. And yes, I have plans on fostering him and then adopting him."

"Like hell, you'll do anything with my son."

Brennan rose her eyebrows at the woman, but did not say a word. Instead she composed herself and waited for Mrs. Jones to speak. She longed to go sit by Parker instead of standing here waiting whatever this situation was out. She wanted to be with the boy who called her mommy. She wanted to comfort him and love him.

Like she had been unable to love his father.

Angela had been able to slip away while Brennan and Rebecca fought. She did not want Parker to wake up and be alarmed at the fact that he was alone. She sat by the little boy's bedside. She didn't want to touch him, well she was afraid of touching him, because it looked like it would hurt no matter where she placed a gentle hand on him. So she just sat there with her hands in her lap, the room was quiet because she had closed the door the second she entered the room. Her eyes stayed on him as she watched his chest moving up and down with his breathing.

"I always wanted a kid, did you know that?"

She started to speak softly.

"As I was traveling all alone, well really I was never alone, 'cause every city I had a guy."

She chuckles to herself, thinking about those years. She probably sounds crazy because she's talking to a kid that's unconscious. She shrugs her shoulders, people talk to their loved ones that are in comas all the time. Why should this be any different?

"But you know what I mean, well you really don't, but oh well. I always wanted a kid, but I needed to settle first. I owe it to Bren for helping me settle. When you were a kid and asked me if I wanted to be your dad's girlfriend, I won't lie, I thought it wasn't a half bad idea. As time went on though I realized I loved Booth as a friend. But Hodgins, Parker, I think I love him still. But you know who really wants a kid? Bren does, she wants to have your dad's kid. I think she will too, once this mess with you is over. She's going to give you a baby sibling. And you three are going to be a family, I have to believe that- Parker? Parker?"

She questioned as his eyelids started to flutter open. Everything at first was blurry, but Parker knew that it was Angela sitting by his bedside. He noticed how she looked almost uncomfortable and for a second he wondered how bad the bruises were. Drew had hit his face several times. Thinking about those moments where he didn't even know if he was going to make it out alive makes him upset. He reaches out for her hand and she gives it to him.

"Angela..?"

"What's wrong Baby Booth? What do you need?"

He shakes his head, because he isn't quite sure what he needs but he knows he heard his biological mother's voice mere minutes ago and the last thing he wants is for her to come in here. He wonders if the police have found his journal and if so have they read it?

"Is mom here? I thought I heard her voice."

"You did, she's in the waiting room. Brennan is fighting with her, because she wants to see you and Brennan isn't letting her."

"She can't hurt mommy can she?"

Angela is confused and he notices through her expression. If her mom had just stood by and watched as she was beaten up, there was no way she'd be calling her mommy. Maybe the journals he wrote were wrong or something was misinterpreted.

"Do you want me to make Brennan stop fighting her?"

"No! No! Is my biological mother going to hurt mommy-I mean…Bones. Is mom going to hurt Bones? Don't let her!"

Angela stands up, because Parker is now struggling in the bed and she knows she has to calm him. He could hurt himself even worse and she doesn't want him too. He's exactly like Booth, so protective of Brennan. She gently pushes him back onto the bed. She tries as hard as possibl to not hurt him, but she can't help but feel like she is.

"Baby Booth, it's okay. Brennan can definitely take care of herself, okay? She's taken years worth of martial arts and protection classes. She's too worried about protecting you to worry about anything else, okay? You need to calm down, though, because you could hurt yourself even worse and none of us want that."

He relaxes and lays back down. He pulls his blankets up with his one good hand, Angela reaches out to help him. He whispers a thank you. He remembers his father telling him how Bones could protect herself and he knew his father never lied to him.

"What's going to happen to me, Angela?"

She smiles at him, trying to comfort him, but she doesn't know if it's going to work.

"Brennan wants to adopt you, Baby Booth. Would you like that? If you got to live with her."

He nods his head vigorously.

"Yes I would! 'Cause I know she'd never hit me and she'd love me. Is it really going to happen like that?"

"We all hope so, sweetheart. But see there's this lady outside that's going to come and talk with you. She's going to ask you a lot of questions about what happened today and all the other times. You have to tell her the truth, can you do that?"

"Yes I can! Will mommy be with me?"

"I'm sure we can work that out for you. How bout I go get them? Will you be okay by yourself?"

The small boy nods and watches as Angela leaves him alone.

"Now Ms. Stinson, if you are found guilty of child abuse and neglect, you legally relinquish all rights to your son. Once that happens, Dr. Brennan is allowed to foster him and then in the coming months can adopt him. I'm sorry but that's how it is."

"You're going to take my six year old son's word over mine? How is that right?"

"Considering Parker was there and his body is healing from multiple abuse situations that I can account for, it is completely right."

Brennan tells her in the calmest voice possible. In her mind, this conversation had already ended. All she wanted was to take her new son home. It didn't matter she would fight for Parker if she had to. She would take Rebecca to court, she would use as much money as she needed. This would happen.

"Look is this really the time or the place, Rebecca? I mean if you really love Parker like you claim you do, why can't you let Mrs. Jones ask him some questions instead of wasting her time here. I'm sure she has other people she needs to see."

Cam tries to make a case for Rebecca to just leave, because for the last five or so minutes she's been tempted to call Agent Perotta so that the agent can get Parker's 'mom' out of here. She sees the toll it is taking on Dr. Brennan when all she wants is for the team to be in there with Parker. Before anyone can say anything, Angela walks back into the room. She immediately goes to Brennan to whisper in her ear.

"Since when does Parker call you 'mommy'?"

A smile graces Brennan's face, she can't help it. Of course years ago, when Parker was just a child and every weekend Booth had him Brennan saw him, there were times when the title would slip from the boy's mouth. Back then, though, it was an accident. To know that the boy was even calling her mommy to Angela meant something to her.

"Today. I find it makes me quite happy."

"It should. Anyways he wants to see you. And I told him about you, Mrs. Jones. He's willing to answer questions as long as Brennan is there. I told him that we should be able to work something out, I hope that's okay."

Mrs. Jones nods.

"Yes. Dr. Brennan come with me, Ms. Stinson, I'll need to go down to the station and give them a statement. Make sure not to lie, wouldn't want to see you spend a night in jail."

Her last comment is under her breath, but all the squints hear it and all of them laugh. Brennan even cracks a smile at the comment. The walk to Parker's hospital room is long and quiet, Brennan may have even felt it was awkward if things didn't affect her the way they did other people. Parker gives a bright smile when he sees his Bones walk through the door, but it falters when Mrs. Jones enters. The woman notices that his once happy state has gone and she worries that any question she asks the boy will not be answered. Sometimes that is the case and then the right people are not convicted and she hates that.

"Parker, this is Mrs. Jones, she's going to ask you questions pertaining to what happened today and what happened before today."

His eyes are as wide as saucers, because when Angela told him about this it didn't seem so scary. Now, though, it was. He wanted to just not do it, but he had promised Angela and he knew Bones would be proud of him if he did. He looks at her, the woman he now calls mommy. He's thankful for her, but he still misses his daddy, he wishes he could be here right now. That's not how it works, or so he's been told by everyone, including his mother and Drew on multiple occasions.

"Will you stay with me, mommy?"

He looks up at her with just his eyes and they glisten like Booth's did whenever they caught a murder or he had pie or they ate Thai food together while singing Hot Blooded. So she nods at her son, because he is hers now. Booth left him in her possession to look after and take care of. Sure Booth didn't know what was happening, but she never chose to love Parker it just happened.

"Of course, I'll sit right here."

She sits down next to his bedside, knowing that the hardest part-taking pictures- is already over. They have X-rays of the healing wounds and those that were already healed and they took pictures of all bruises that graced the six year old's body. She had looked at the x-ray of his arm and it was one of the worst breaks she had even seen on a living or dead person, that said something.

"Okay now Parker, I have to record me asking you these questions so we can make a record of it, okay? Make sure you speak clearly and we'll be all good."

The boy nods and takes Brennan's hand before Mrs. Jones starts the recorder and asks her first question. She lists a bunch of other things about the child including his case number. He doesn't like this feeling, it's almost as if he doesn't belong to anyone anymore, but he knows differently. Angela promised that Bones was going to take him and he knew he was okay if he was with her.

"Parker, we're going to start with a real easy question. Do you know what abuse is?"

"Umm…well...yeah I guess. It's what mom and Drew were doing to me. Hitting me and stuff."

"Okay, good. When did you being abused start?"

"Well, when Drew started to live with us...I-I don't know when that was, though."

"Six months ago."

Brennan answers as she sees her boy getting upset. She specifically remembers Booth getting very angry that Drew was living with his son, for multiple reasons. He said he got a bad feeling about the guy, at the time Brennan pushed those feelings away thinking it was just Booth being overprotective of his son. Oh, but how right he was. Mrs. Jones makes a note that Parker's soon to be foster mom was the one who made the comment. While she does this, Parker starts to talk.

"Am I doing good, mommy?"

"You are doing fantastic, I am so proud of you, keep it up, baby."

Unbeknownst to them, Mrs. Jones smiles at the interaction. She is most definitely filing for Dr. Brennan to adopt Parker Booth immediately. She turns the recorder back on before asking another question.

"Okay now Parker, I know this is hard, but I need you to tell me in detail what has been happening over the past few months. Take your time."

"It started one day when mom forgot to pack me lunch and I didn't have any money to buy some. I hadn't had breakfast so when I got home I was really hungry. I'm not allowed to get food out of the fridge anymore cause one time I did and the milk jug fe-fell and made a big mess, mom got really angry. So I opened the door to mom's room and both of them didn't have any clothes on. Drew got up and asked mom if he could hit me and all she did was sh-shrug her shoulders, so he started hitting me with his fists. He hit me here and here."

He told her pointing to his temple and his ribs. Mrs. Jones made a record of where he was pointing before she urged him to continue. If his stories got worse or even stayed the same they would have the mother and the boyfriend in no time and Parker wouldn't have to testify.

"I was really bruised when Drew was done hitting me and everything hu-hurt so I started to cry cause it hurt real bad. Mom told me to suck it up and pushed me into the wall before opening the door and slamming it in my face. When they came out of the room, they made themselves dinner but didn't let me have any of it. Mom stopped feeding me breakfast and dinner, but I ate at school and when daddy had me. When I would get home mom and Drew would both hit me whenever I said anything. That's what's been happening."

Tears were running hard down the six year old's face with no end in sight. Brennan tried her best to comfort the shaking boy, she even got on the bed and sat next to him, she held him as she did when they had just first met, when he was a little boy who had not yet been damaged by his mother and a pathetic excuse of a man. She looked to the social worker, she wanted this interview to be over with…now.

"Maybe that's enough for today, maybe we can wait for tomorrow to continue this. Parker needs to stay calm and relax."

"Dr. Brennan, I know this is hard to watch and hear, but I need these questions answered."

Brennan was ready to go to bat for Parker, but she realized that Mrs. Jones needed these questions answered so that she could take Parker home when he was released. She didn't want him going anywhere but her house. So she clenched her teeth and nodded at the social worker.

"Now Parker what happened today?"

He grabbed his head as he tried to figure out and tried to remember. After several blows to the head it was hard.

"I came home from school on the bus and called for mom to see if she was home. Drew was there, though, and he was holding this box. I asked him what it was and he said it was an engagement ring. He told me that he was going to ask mom to marry him and that finally I was going to have a real dad instead of that lame excuse for one. Then he said he was glad daddy died, so I started to yell at him. I told him that he would never be my dad and that I hated him. He started to yell at me really loud and he started to throw bottles at me."

He paused to wrap his arms around Brennan's waist. Reliving what had happened just mere hours ago, hurt him. In those moments where he wasn't sure if he was going to live or not, he was so scared. It made him not want to say anything else, but he knew he had to. He promised Angela and Bones that he would.

"I ran away but he followed me and grabbed me. He grabbed my arm and twisted it, it really really hurt. Then he threw me down on the ground. He started to hit me so I put my arm up to defend myself, but he kept doing it. I begged for him to stop, I cried and cried just asking for him to stop, but he wouldn't. Finally a noise outside made him stop long enough to run to my room. I put my chair against the door, but Drew opened it, then a neighbor pounded on the door saying she called the cops. Drew ran away and I closed the door again in case he came back, but mommy was the one there."

Brennan rubbed her son's back as he finished what had happened to him. It only reminded her of what had happened to her when she younger. Those foster homes had been the worst things in her life and she would be extremely happy if Parker never have to step foot into one.

"Parker, that was very good. Now Dr. Brennan is planning on fostering you. Is that okay?"

His head went up and down at an accelerated rate and the older woman smiled at the young boy.

"Can you say your answer for the recorder?"

"Yes, I want mommy-Bones-Dr. Brennan to foster me."

He was confused about what to call her in the company of others. Angela had been confused when he called her mommy, but he liked calling her that. A mommy was a person who loved you and that's what Bones was for him.

"Thank you very much Parker and Dr. Brennan. The doctor I spoke to said you should be released in the morning and if everything goes according to plan Dr. Brennan should be taking you home. Would you like me to send your friends in?"

Brennan looked down to the boy in her arms and realized he did not know who was in the waiting room waiting to see how he was. She did not feel like naming all of those people out there, so she said something that she knew her new son would be comfortable with hearing.

"All the squints are out there Parker, would you like to see them?"

His smile widens as he nods. Brennan nods to Mrs. Jones and thanks her.

"We'll be in touch, Dr. Brennan."

Brennan looks out of the hospital window, things have changed since she last checked the time. It is now dark outside and a light frost has dewed the large hospital window. It's approximately nine o'clock and she knows Parker needs rest and not the excitement of all of her family members coming in the room. She extracts herself from the boy and tucks him in. It reminds her of all those years ago when her and Booth spent so much time together.

"Bones will you pretty please tuck me into bed?"

"Come on, Bub, Bones wants to go home. It's almost nine-thirty which is way past your bedtime."

Parker looks disappointed and pouts accordingly at his father before looking at Bones. He lifts his hands up which signals that he wants to be picked up. She grins at the four year old boy before picking him up. His face immediately cuddles itself into the nape of her neck, while his arms go around her.

"Bones, you really don't have to. I can put him to bed and can go home."

"It's fine, Booth, I'll put him to bed. Parker say goodnight to your father."

She turns her body so that the matching faces to each other. They exchange matching smiles, while Booth reaches out to ruffle his son's hair.

"Night daddy, love you."

"Night Bub, love you too."

She walks into Parker's room, closing the door behind her. She lays the small boy in his bed and prepares to leave but his voice stops her.

"Bo-o-o-ones, will you stay until I fall asleep?"

He draws out her name and she finds it hard to resist. So she sits on the edge of his bed, in the dark, until she hears the soft, easy breathing of the four year old.

"Are you tired, Parker?"

"Kinda, will the squints stay tonight? Will you stay?"

"I don't plan on leaving you, but I'm not sure about the others."

"We're not going anywhere, either, bud."

Hodgins' voice sounds as they all walk through the wide hospital door. Each squint is carrying a cot, except for Hodgins who has two (one for himself and one for Dr. B.). The create a path so that they do not get in the way of a nurse who is coming to check on Parker in the middle of the night. For now, they stand by his bedside and talk quietly since the lights have been dimmed for sleep.

"We're so glad you're alright, Parker."

Cam tells him, running a hand through his blond hair.

"Thanks, Cam. Are you staying with me too tonight?"

"Of course, all of us are. And if you need anything you just let us know."

Parker nods, before pulling the covers closer to his chin. His eyes slowly close and the adults in the room relish in the peace he finds while sleeping. They only wish that he could have this kind of peace all the time. Angela leans down and kisses the young boy's head.

"Sleep tight, Baby Booth."

"Cam, I will need to have some time off to get things settled with Parker. As long as it's alright with you?"

"Yes of course."

Soon the squints start to lay down on the cots, but Brennan stays put on the chair by Parker's bedside. Sleep begins to take all of them, including Brennan, as they dream of a world better than this one. One where Parker is not in the hospital broken and wounded and where his father is still alive to love him the way he deserves to be loved.

Chapter Four down!

Next Chapter: Brennan takes Parker home. But where exactly is home?