"We're very sorry for your loss Mr. and Mrs. Castle" Booth solemnly offered the miserable couple, knowing full well his feeble contribution wouldn't make the loss of their eleven-year-old any lighter.

Brennan observed the couple with wide eyes. She would never, never, get used to this: seeing the stunned, shocked and desperate faces of murdered children's parents. Talking to families was still relatively new to her; Booth had been doing it for years; he said that you eventually develop a tolerance to it, you never totally acclimate to it, but you can learn to stand it. She hadn't thought about this part of the job when she demanded to be a part of the whole case, and not just lab work. It was awful, seeing the devastation, but it made her want to catch the murderers even more.

"I just want to know if she suffered. I need to know."

Had April Castle suffered? Yea. Being stabbed seven times would fall under suffering. But Booth knew what they wanted was closure.

"She never saw it coming."

The level of relief that flooded into their eyes was almost criminal, but after the case with Cleo Eller, Brennan understood why Booth lied to parents. She'd have wanted that if she was sitting across from herself at this moment.

Booth regained eye contact with Mrs. Castle. "We would like to take a look around April's room. Is that ok?"

The blond woman stood and wiped a few tears from her cheeks, taking a deep breath in. "Of course. Right this way."

The partners were led to a spacious loft above the family's garage. April's mother ushered them in and found that she couldn't bear to be in her daughter's room. "Feel free to look anywhere. Mike and I will be downstairs if you have anymore questions."

Booth took one look around with his mouth hanging open before stating the obvious. "This is the coolest room. Ever."

Brennan silently agreed and gaped along with him. April's room was indeed the coolest child's room she had ever seen. The sloping roof had colorful sheers draping from it to the walls, the sunlight from humongous windows shining on and through them, creating a spectrum of colored shapes everywhere. As well as a queen-sized bed, she had been supplied with a couch and an armchair. One wall was apparently painted with chalkboard paint, and chalk drawings of flowers, birds and trees covered most of it. This girl had been loved, and maybe spoiled, but definitely loved; that much was clear.

"She was a creative girl." Brennan said running her fingers over some of the drawings.

"Lots of friends too, her address book is nearly full." Booth said after flipping through the lime green book. He looked at her bookshelf. "Lots of handmade books, seems like our girl was a writer…"

"Hey Booth, wh… oh…" Brennan's voice came from behind him, trailing off into silence. He turned to find her staring at April's bed.

"Bones?" He asked warily walking up behind her. "What is it?"

"Nothing Booth… It's just that… I had this when I was little." His eyes followed her finger to a small vintage looking doll with curly dark ringlets and a porcelain face.

"She was a tenth birthday present, my mother thought that I was finally old enough to have a real doll. She was one of the last things to get broken by a foster parent before I got out of the system. My foster father threw it across the room and shattered her face."

"Wow. Bones, I'm so sorry." Booth's heart went out to his suddenly solemn partner as he stared into the doll's face, trying to keep images of it shattering against the wall and a sixteen year-old Bones bursting into tears from his mind. He rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

She looked at him, grateful for the simple supportive touches he always knew when to give. "I'm ok. The odd thing is though, her name was April."

"Whose?"

"My doll's."

"That is weird Bones… just one of those things I guess. Hey look at this…" Booth had found a small tape recorder. He rewound a minute or two and hit 'play'. A sweet sounding birdcall reached their ears. Brennan closed her eyes and listened closely.

"Terdus merula; the common Blackbird." She determined and opened her eyes with a small smile.

"Birdwatch much Bones?" He said with raised eyebrows and a skeptical grin.

"Very funny. And though Hodgins did try to take me, Zach and Angela once, No, I don't birdwatch."

"Then how the hell do you know that?"

"It was my father's favorite. He could imitate one pretty well too. Like this." She let loose a high-pitched bird call that exactly answered the one coming from the tape.

Booth almost laughed. "Does the Audubon Society know about you Bones?"

She ceased her blackbird imitation and gave him a smirk. "Hey, I know what that means."

He did laugh. " You would know that one wouldn't you?"

Brennan nodded and returned to 'anthropologist/crime fighter' mode. "Why do you think April had a tape of bird calls in her room?"

"No idea, but her parents might know;" he said placing the tape recorder back on the table and moving his hand to the small of her back to start leading her towards the door. "…Which is why I asked to look around before I asked them too many questions."

She considered this. "That's logical."

"I know."

Reaching for the doorknob, she rolled her eyes in his direction. Before she stepped out though, Booth saw her peek back over his shoulder at April's doll. She really liked that thing. He glanced at it and chuckled to himself, wondering how many E-bay hours he'll have logged before he finds one for her.

…………………….

I've decided to use five or six chapters to make a shortened version for my cousins Christmas gifts… so if you review you can also vote for your top favorite chapters!