Author's ramblings: Hi there! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my fic. I apologize for the first chapter I posted. I'm new to fanfiction so it didn't come out the way it should have. Anyway, I'm glad you guys enjoy this story, and please rate and comment on ways to improve. Many thankies!

~Eleanor

-X-

"I don't understand why I am here?" stated a surly old woman, her hair grey from old age. Her face was weary, tired from what could have been fear and worry for her son. She sat nervously in the small chair across the table from Booth and Brennan in the interrogation room. "I promise you my son isn't a trouble-maker."

"Mrs. Mason," Booth mumbled, lacing his fingers together as he thought of the right words to say, "Did your son get in trouble often?"

"It was never his fault!" she almost screamed, impassioned and enraged. How dare this man take her in to ask questions about her son? "He would never hurt a fly!"

"I understand ma'am, but would you mind telling me why you sent a missing person's report for your son?"

Mrs. Mason calmed down immediately, her grey eyes glazed over, much like her son's. "He ran off," she said quietly. "He ran off again, and he didn't tell me where he went."

"I take it he's run away before, then?"

"At times, when he wasn't feeling well, he would run away. He would never be gone for long, though. Maybe a night or two he would be missing, and then he would return when he grew bored. But…" her eyes welled up with tears. "He was gone for a week. I grew worried. Nobody saw him at school, and he didn't go to the school's band practice."

"Mrs. Mason, we found a body in the local park," Booth said quietly, acknowledging the look of terror in her eyes. "We think it might be your son."

The woman paled slightly, her mouth gaped open as tears streamed down her face. "…My Charles? My baby is dead?"

"I'm very sorry for your loss."

"Mrs. Mason," Brennan interrupted. "Was there anyone who didn't get along with Charles?"

"Oh god… you think he was murdered?" she whispered. The two agents didn't have to answer; she already knew by the looks on their faces.

She grew red, anger building up inside her as she thought of every person who had done wrong to her baby son. "It must have been that Erin girl," she growled. "Erin Gonzalez… She hated my son over one little mistake. He didn't mean anything by it! He only wanted to be friends! He only wanted to be loved by someone like her!!!"

-X-

"He was in the high school marching band," Brennan mumbled to Booth, looking through Charles's file as the FBI agent drove through the quiet town. "He was enrolled in special ed classes because of his autism. I wonder why his mother didn't mention his disability."

"She seemed like one of those parents that didn't want to accept that anything was wrong with their children," Booth said, his eyes focused on the suburban road. "Did you notice the way she kept calling him her baby? And she denies the idea that her son would do anything to get in trouble, even when he runs away from her."

"But he must have done something to this Erin Gonzalez," the scientist stated as they pulled into a circular driveway to the high school. They noticed a block of students, all holding instruments, practicing a popular street march.

"Which is why we are going to ask her a few questions, okay, Bones?"

The two stepped out of their SUV and toward the band instructor that stood in front of a rank of trombones. Noticing the two, the bulky man walked away from the band to talk to Brennan and Booth.

"How can I help you two?" the instructor asked, his voice deep and powerful, as he held out his hand to shake.

"Are you Sam Steward?" Booth asked, taking his hand.

"The one and only," Steward chuckled.

"Actually, it's highly unlikely that you are the only man, or person, with the name Sam Steward, sir," Brennan chimed in.

"Mr. Steward, my name is agent Seeley Booth, and this is my partner, Dr. Temperance Brennan," the FBI agent introduced. "We would like to ask a couple of your students about Charles Mason."

Mr. Steward's smile dropped, his eyes solemn as he began to speak, "did he do it again?" he asked, not really talking to the two agents. He turned to the block of students, who all stopped playing to watch their teacher. "Erin!" he called out. "Step out of the block, please."

A girl of Hispanic descent stepped out from the center of the formation, holding onto a flute with care. Her hair was a midnight black, cropped into a boyish cut that didn't go past her ears. Her thin frame was covered by her black jacket and red skinny jeans. Her large, deep chocolate eyes were surrounded by a layer of grey eye shadow and black liner.

"Yes, Mr. Steward?" she asked timidly, holding onto her fragile instrument with care.

"This is agent Booth and Dr. Brennan. They want to talk to you about Charles."

The girl's eyes grew wide with fear at the name, but she nodded and followed the two away.

-X-

Author's ramblings: So, that's the end of the second chapter. Just so you know, I'm not going to focus on the complicated love relationship of Bones and Booth. I'm not one for love and romance XP. So there shall be little to no fluff in this fic. Also, I am really surprised that I started writing so much over this weekend, but understand for those who like my writing; most of my life revolves around school. Meaning… I probably won't upload so much when the weekdays start rolling in. I apologize for that. But enjoy what I have, and review to your heart's content! :D

~Eleanor