"Are you all right?"

The question rang into the silence, and Hannah didn't know how to respond. Booth was looking at her expectantly.

"I'm fine," she answered, setting her bag down. She touched the scarf around her neck absently. Jerry's fingers had left noticeable marks. She had been anxiously writing her sister all afternoon, and she was very relieved to get a response from her. Hannah didn't trust that Jerry wouldn't hurt her, so she tried to advise her sister to take a vacation. Her sister, however, was a very stubborn human being and told her to get her head checked, that she couldn't just take her family and up and leave like that. Frustrated, Hannah let it go for now. She was trying to get a hold of her uncle, but he wasn't responding. She didn't want to contact police in case Jerry really did have a mole in there. She noticed suddenly that Booth was talking.

"I'm sorry, what?" she interrupted.

"I said I'm taking Parker to hang out with Louis tomorrow at the park," Booth repeated. "Wanna come?"

"I'd love to," she said instantly. How lucky was that?! She could tell Jerry, and Booth would be there to stop him. It couldn't be more perfect.

"Great," Booth smiled, leaning in to give her a kiss. He went to go shower, and Hannah stood there with her mind going a million miles an hour.

The Next Day

"Mama?" Louis said from the backseat. Brennan never tired of hearing him say that. Ever since the allergy scare, he'd taken to calling her that instead of Temperance.

"Yes?"

"Will you be at the park today after school?"

"I have to work, sweetie," Brennan answered. "I'm sorry. You like Booth, though, right?"

"Yea," Louis agreed. Booth had scared him a little at first. He knew that Brennan had no idea he'd heard Booth shouting at her a while back at the door. Louis didn't like shouting, and he associated yelling with angry, bad people. Almost like his parents.

"Good. You have a great day, okay? I'll see you before supper," Brennan promised.

"Okay." He hopped out of the car and went into the school. He hoped Toby would leave him alone today. He had dreaded coming ever since the whole paint balloon incident. He wished he would have been allowed to stay home again today since it was Friday. He turned and waved as she drove off before turning back and facing the building. He was strong and brave. He could do this. Hunching his shoulders tightly, he marched inside.

"Sweetie, hi," Angela said, catching up to Brennan as she went into her office. "Look, Hodgins wants to do this big announcement that we're having a baby, and, well, everyone already knows, so could you be a dear and pretend that it's the first time you're hearing it?"

"I will do my best," Brennan nodded. She sat down and pulled out a file from her desk drawer.

"That's all I can ask for," Angela smiled. "How's it going? Are you ever going to go back out in the field with Booth again?"

"I don't know," Brennan confessed. She felt like she wanted to, especially after the last few days. They had been talking again over the phone and via text like they used to.

"I think you should," Angela said solemnly. "You guys are partners. So what if Hannah gets her nose out of joint?"

"I don't know what that means," Brennan replied, bending over her notes. "But it sounds painful, which I have to say might be satisfying a little."

"Brennan!" Angela laughed. "I didn't realize you hated her so much."

"Not hate. Just a big dislike. She thinks we're going to be friends, and I don't much care for that idea. Plus, she came snooping around asking questions about where Louis came from."

"She didn't!"

"Yes. It unnerved me. I think she's up to something."

"I know I'm not her biggest fan, but do you really think she'd do something like that?" Angela asked, shocked.

"I don't know. I didn't like the expression on her face. I think she thinks I kidnapped Louis, which I didn't," Brennan added defensively.

"I know that," Angela nodded. "Daisy is also a witness to it."

"His papers are legit," Brennan went on. "But I feel I should talk to a lawyer here to make sure."

"Caroline will do it," Angela said immediately.

"Yes, you're right. I'll see if I can meet with her later," Brennan said, bobbing her head.

"Hey, babe!" Hodgins called from the door. "I've got news for you!"

"What's that?" Angela asked, skeptical.

"Human remains in a big chocolate bar!" he answered excitedly. Then he was gone. Brennan and Angela looked at each other.

"Only he would be excited about something like that," Angela snorted.

"Guess it's time to get to work," Brennan smiled. They went to join the rest of the team on the platform. Booth was standing there too. He kept meeting Brennan's eyes.

"You know," Nigel-Murray started. "It was widely rumored that Pope Clement the 14th was killed with a cup of poisoned chocolate."

"Was he good or bad?" Cam asked.

"He was no Urban the Sixth," Nigel-Murray answered.

"Ah," Cam nodded.

"He was the answer to my record breaking Double Double win on Jeopardy," Nigel-Murray bragged.

"That's the game you played while I was away?" Brennan asked, curious.

"Not just a game, Dr. Brennan. Vincent won almost a million dollars," Cam said, impressed.

"Which after a rather indulgent lifestyle, travel, some games of chance, and a small stint in rehab, I no longer possess," Nigel-Murray said wistfully. "But I still have the memories..."

"I have to say," Booth said from his corner. "I've really never seen anything like this before."

"I say we'll have to use heat lamps to melt this stuff," Hodgins said, examining it.

"I believe hair dryers would be better," Nigel-Murray argued. They continued bickering about it before Cam stepped in and told them to take it outside. Booth slunk over to Brennan while this was happening.

"Parker's really excited about after school," he said. Brennan smiled.

"So is Louis. They really are close aren't they?"

"They look very similar too. I've had someone ask me if they're brothers," Booth laughed.

"That's funny," Brennan responded, chuckling. Booth looked at his watch.

"Well, I've got to do some questioning. Want to come with?" he asked hopefully.

"I have to do some work here," Brennan answered. "Sorry."

"It's all right," he sighed. He left feeling disappointed, but he knew it would take time before things were completely back to normal between them again.

"Dad!" Parker called from the swings. "Watch us!" He and Louis were pumping to see how high they could go before jumping off. Louis chickened out most of the time. Booth figured it was because of his leg, but he didn't want to say anything. The kid was ambitious with everything else to make up for his lack of speed on his feet.

"They're so cute," Hannah commented. Booth was on the bench beside her, his arm around her shoulders. She wondered if he could feel her heart hammering away from fear. She had told Jerry this was where they were going to be. She wasn't sure how this was going to play out when his phone rang.

"Booth."

Hannah watched Louis laughing and smiling as he swung beside Parker. She had to do this right so nothing happened to the poor boy.

"Seriously? Right now? I'm with my son..."

No! Booth couldn't leave! She was panicking now. She wondered if she could take Jerry down herself. She did know some martial arts. He was bigger than her, though, much bigger. She looked around nervously. She didn't see him anywhere yet.

"All right, all right, cool it. I'll be right there," Booth said, snapping his phone shut. "Hannah, I'm real sorry. I gotta go interrogate Lawrence Bellomo."

"Really? You have to?"

"Yea. I'm sorry. You okay here?"

"Oh yea," Hannah smiled brightly while feeling like a terrified mouse inside. "I got this."

"Great," he said, giving her a kiss. "Call if you need me."

Oh don't worry, she thought. I will.

"It seems to me, cherie, that these are legal and legit documents," Caroline said, looking up from the papers in her hands. Brennan smiled back.

"I'm very glad to hear that," she said. "I know sometimes those places are questionable..."

"These would most definitely hold up in a court of law," Caroline cut in. "It's always good to check, though. How is the little guy doing?"

"He's well. He had an allergic reaction to peanut butter the other day, but otherwise he's adapting to life here just fine. He loves school except for the bullying," Brennan said.

"Who would bully such a cute little thing?!" Caroline demanded, looking at Louis' picture again.

"I don't know. I'm trying to get to the bottom of it."

"If you need help, call me," Caroline offered. "I eat bullies for breakfast."

"Thanks, Caroline," Brennan laughed.

"I know a great karate class he could join," Caroline went on. "No bullies would mess with him after that."

"I'll let you know," Brennan said, standing up after Caroline handed over her papers. Then her phone rang. "Oh, excuse me. Hello?"

Caroline had trouble visualizing Brennan as a mother, but seeing the way her face lit up when she talked about Louis made it a little easier.

"What?! Booth! You left him alone with her?!" Brennan shouted.

"Uh oh," Caroline muttered.

"I'm going right now," she snapped, hanging up.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Booth left Louis alone with Hannah, and she's been asking me where he came from. She thinks I stole him," Brennan said, grabbing her purse and getting ready to storm out.

"I can help clear that up," Caroline said. "Let me drive. I'll put that little so and so in her place."

"That's not necessary..."

"Oh, it is," Caroline interrupted. She wasn't fond of Hannah. She didn't think Booth should be with her at all. Caroline found Hannah to act fake in most situations. Booth needed a real person to be with. Someone like Dr. Brennan. Caroline marched ahead while Brennan followed at her heels. Brennan was furious at Booth. He knew she didn't like or trust Hannah, and he left her with Louis! Just when things were looking normal again between them, he had to go and wreck it.

Louis was on top of the monkey bars when he saw him. Parker was down below, chattering away about something, but Louis stopped listening. All Louis could see was Jerry. The man couldn't be missed cos he was a giant. A scary giant at that. Louis had nightmares about Jerry. He looked over at Hannah, who was also looking at Jerry. Had she told Jerry where to find him? Why was Jerry even here? His parents had told him he was dead. Why would they lie? He felt very scared. He wanted to get away from here and fast. He climbed down slowly so as not to attract attention to himself. Once he was on the ground, he bolted.

"Hey!" Parker called after him. Louis didn't stop. He ran as hard as he could, trying to focus on not following. He didn't turn around to see whether or not Jerry was chasing him. He didn't want to know. Escape was the only thing on his mind.

Hannah felt her heart sink when Louis took off. Jerry shot her a furious glare before going after him. Parker looked at her very confused.

"What's going on?" he asked. The squealing of tires made them both turn around.

"Where is he?!" Brennan shouted, slamming the door shut. Caroline was hot on her tail. Hannah felt her lip curl. Of course Caroline would be involved. They didn't have the best relationship.

"He ran away," Parker answered for her. Brennan looked terrified.

"Where did he go?" she asked him. Parker pointed, and Brennan made to run after him.

"Wait!" Hannah shouted, stepping in front of her. Brennan didn't even hesitate. She shoved Hannah as hard as she could, and Hannah fell backwards, landing on her back hard. Winded, she struggled to get up. Brennan was gone like a shot. Parker now looked scared, and Caroline wondered what the hell she was going to do now. That's when Booth arrived, lights flashing.

"What happened?" he asked urgently, rushing over. Hannah was on her feet by now. Her ankle was a bit tender as it twisted a little when she fell.

"Louis ran away, and Brennan is chasing after him," Hannah replied. Caroline glared at her.

"And why, pray tell, did the boy run away, hmm?" she asked.

"I don't know," Hannah lied.

"Maybe it was because of the guy," Parker cut in. Booth stared at him.

"What guy, bud?"

"The guy that was watching us over there," Parker pointed. "I thought maybe he was watching his kid, but there's no other kid here."

"Hannah?" Booth asked, seeing her face after the man was mentioned. It didn't look good.

"I can't talk about it," Hannah said, moving to run away. She had to get out of there, had to see if her sister was okay.

"Hannah!" Booth shouted after her.

"Let her go, cherie," Caroline said. "We need to find Louis."

"You're right," Booth said. "I'll go. You take Parker home, okay?" He'd talk to Hannah about this once that boy was safe.

"But!" Parker objected.

"No buts. Listen to Caroline, okay?"

"Fine."

"Good luck, Booth," Caroline said, taking Parker's hand in hers and leading him to her car. Booth rushed after where Brennan had disappeared. He hoped he wasn't going to be too late.

And the plot thickens! We should say that we are nearing the climax and the end of the story. We decided on 11 chapters, so you've got two more to go! Thanks for following us this whole way and leaving us your feedback and enjoying what we've created together. It means a lot to us.