A/N: Thanks for reading.

Song "Breathe" by Anna Nalick. It's one of my favorite songs, and it just fits perfect to this chapter.

Yeah, we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize
Hypocrites. You're all here for the very same reason

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe
Oh breathe, just breathe

There's a light at each end of this tunnel
You shout 'cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
And these mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again
If you only try turning around

Chapter 12

It had been a month since parents' night. Brennan had decided after that night that she needed to keep a closer eye on Cooper and had taken him out of school. There was no way she would let anything slip by her. He had been to every type of doctor imaginable. He had a clean bill of health, but Brennan didn't trust the doctors after what happened with Liz. So, she kept her little Cooper out of school; she decided it was not safe to have him in such an uncontrollable environment. She saw so many children with runny noses during parents' night, and it was best that Cooper not be exposed to Emma Foster too much.

She didn't like to admit it, but another reason she'd kept him out of school was to keep him away from Emma Foster. She didn't miss the fact that Emma's eyes kept seeking her out all through the reminder of parents' night. Brennan managed to avoid her. She wasn't in the right frame of mind to talk to Booth's latest admirer.

What if Emma chose to use Cooper to get to Booth? She wouldn't have anyone using her son. She would devote her entire life to him. She would spend every waking moment with him. At night, when he was tucked in safe and sound, she would retreat to her office, now part studio, to paint. She seldom slept more than a couple of hours, and when she did, it was in the guest room right next to Cooper's room. She had to stay close to her son.

She had all but moved out of the master bedroom. She couldn't handle the damn memories that snaked their way in, leaving a longing deep inside, making her want desperately to see Booth, to touch him or lay her head against his comforting chest.

She would not give into it, or him. Not that he had made any overtures - she had taken care of that. She would watch him come in and make his way to Cooper's room. She would watch him leave from the upstairs window. He never asked to see her, and she never came out either. It was easier that way.

She would answer Cooper's constant pleas for family outings like they used to have with, 'I can't, I have a lot to do.' He would cry and whine about it sometimes, but she always managed to do something to distract him with. She hadn't expected him to be content with it, but it was the best she could do.

He had protested when she broke the news to him about no school, and she told he could return in a year or two. She had insisted that it was for the best, that Mommy needed to be with him, and didn't he love the idea of being at home with her? He, of course, had agreed. She would not fail to protect him as she had Liz. She would never let anything hurt Cooper.

Now she wondered if Daisy would ever give up. She kept coming back, and she didn't realize she wore out her welcome the first time. Daisy had accused her of retreating to her own world. Brennan knew that her world was gone. The nerve of that girl. What did she know?

She wanted to call Booth to have him call her off, but she knew he would be of little help, and she didn't want to talk to him either. So, she made up her mind - the next time Daisy came, she would give her the performance of a lifetime. And hopefully Daisy would never come back.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Booth let things stay status quo. He was afraid to rock the boat. He was on the outskirts of Cooper's life. He would never ever get used to it. He only got snippets of things out of his son, and he noticed the change in Cooper too. The once boisterous and mischievous little boy had become quiet and withdrawn.

The phone line buzzed, and Margaret informed him of the caller.

"Hello, Seeley Booth here."

"Mr. Booth. Good. I have been trying to get your wife, but I get the machine every time. This is Mary Johnson. I'm Cooper's teacher, or I was his teacher. I don't mean to pry, but since Dr. Brennan missed our scheduled meeting, I thought maybe you could shed some light on the situation. I mean, we miss your son. He's such a great little guy. I thought maybe it was something I did…"

"What… no… I mean…" Booth had no idea what Mary Johnson was talking about. He realized he had made no decisions about anything having to do with Cooper in far too long. He was his father, for God's sake. Why did Brennan miss that meeting? If she couldn't make it, why didn't she ask him to go instead?

"I realize this is a difficult time. I'm so sorry for your loss." The sympathetic voice brought the tears. He had never been so ready to cry at the drop of a hat. He seemed to be doing it all the time lately.

"I… Dr. Brennan and I are not… I'm not sure what happened with the meeting, maybe she forgot. I will call her and get back to you."

"Thank you, Mr. Booth. It's probably just some misunderstanding. I was really looking forward to having Cooper in my class. I'm not sure what happened, but I thought maybe after a couple of weeks, Dr. Brennan might change her mind. It's understandable considering… if there is anything we can do to have him come back, please let us know."

"I will. Thank you, Ms. Johnson. Goodbye." Booth was totally shocked. Why was Cooper not in class? Why the hell not? They had him on the waiting list for that damn school for months. Brennan was worried sick he wouldn't get in. After all that, she took him out? He was going to make sure he found out why.

Booth sat back, wondering what the hell was going on. He took a brief moment to compose himself. Then he grabbed the phone, his fingers pounded the number in, and it felt strange to know that the place he was calling was no longer his home. Home had become a barrenly furnished two-room apartment he rarely went to. It was so close to what he did in his lonely bachelor days, he couldn't stand the thought that it was where he was going to remain. He felt the constriction of his throat as he waited. This wasn't supposed to happen. Was she making all the decisions about Cooper now without consulting him? He let the phone ring, but no one answered. He called twenty times in a row, desperate to get some answers, but no one ever picked up. He slammed the phone down. He blew out an aggravated sigh and had just come to the conclusion that he needed to go to the house and get those answers personally when his office door flew open.

Daisy came in, a bright smile on her face. She had just arrived from a Brennan session. She pranced through the door eager to share the news. She wasn't prepared for the look on Booth's face. He actually looked angry and strangely enough seeing that widened her already luminescent smile.

"What?" Booth was exasperated and impatient. Couldn't Daisy see he was upset? Why in the hell did she think that was something to smile about?

"Dr. Brennan, I saw her today."

"Daisy! I told you to forget it!" Booth did a double take. "You did? You saw her? Did the phone ring while you were there? I have been calling for over an hour."

"No! I mean that's the exciting part. Dr. Brennan agreed to go out to a coffee shop to talk, and we even went shopping too."

"Where was Cooper?" His anxious face took away the triumphant look in Daisy's eyes. Booth failed to see the reason for her excitement.

"He came along."

"Why? Did she say why he isn't in school?"

"Well, yeah. It was some kind of private holiday I have never heard of, but then those upscale snooty schools probably make up reasons so the kids won't have to go."

"Bones said it was a holiday?" Booth knew better; Brennan had lied to Daisy to keep him from finding out. "What else did she say?"

"Haven't you spoken to her? I figured you already knew everything from what she said."

"Why, did she say we had talked?"

"Yeah, she mentioned... wait… you haven't talked to her?" Daisy's face fell with the realization that she had been tricked. "I thought she was better. I could have sworn she had a breakthrough." Daisy's eyes misted as she realized she had been wrong.

"More like a breakdown." Booth realized things were quickly whirling out of control. He knew nothing had changed; whatever Daisy saw, it wasn't the truth. Could it be true that Brennan was really losing it? "She acted differently today? How so?"

"Oh yes. Up until now she has been reclusive. I have tried to get her to go out every time, and she refused, but today was better. She was better," Daisy insisted.

If that was true, then Booth couldn't go there and confront her about it. If she was having one good day, he wouldn't spoil it. First, he needed some answers, because he didn't know what to do next. Should he drag his son away from her and put him back in school?

"Thank you for taking her out Daisy, and I'm sure Cooper enjoyed it too," Booth offered sadly.

"Just don't give up," Daisy said as she left him to his thoughts.

He started to realize how little he had observed. He tried to remember everything Cooper had said to him lately and there was definitely s nothing about him leaving or missing school. Was Cooper afraid to tell him, or had Brennan told him not to say anything? Maybe he was afraid of making Brennan angry. The silence between them was unbearable. Did he really believe he couldn't tell his father? The quietness Booth had chalked up to the fact that maybe Cooper was going through the pangs of missing his sister... but what if it was more? What if he was going into the same shell Brennan had gone into? Maybe she was dragging him down right along with her.

He was tempted again to go to the house and demand Brennan confess the truth, but something told him it would do no good. He longed to get inside her head so he could understand where this stranger was coming from and exactly where she was headed. His mind went back to the last time he saw her at the parents' meeting. He should have known, he should have done something, but he had been afraid to do anything for the fear of pushing her further away.

A familiar pair of understanding brown eyes came to his mind. Maybe the answer he had been praying for had been here all along. Emma Foster. He searched his wallet for the phone number and got upset when he couldn't find it. Then he remembered that she taught at Cooper's school, or at what had been Cooper's school.

He glanced at his watch and stood up decisively. He made a solemn resolution to swallow his pride and ask for someone's help.

He shrugged off the excuse that Emma Foster was a stranger. Who better than someone who had walked a mile in his shoes?

A/N: I would love to know what you guys are thinking? I know this fic is hard to read, but feedback is very much appreciate it. Thanks again for reading it.