Disclaimer: I don't own Bones

Title: Never Again

Author: ReadingRed

Chapter Five: Special Place

"Booth, what happened? Is Finnian okay?" Bones said the words in a rush. Thoughts of all the things that could be wrong with her son flew through her mind. She pushed the negative thoughts out and waited for Booth to answer.

Booth ignored her questions and turned instead to the boys.

"Hey guys, I gotta talk to Bones real quick. Will you two keep Finn company while we step outside for a minute?"

The two boys flashed each other a look and the turned and nodded at Booth.

"Yup" Parker said.

"We'll stay wif' him and keep 'im safe." Benjamin said.

"Thanks boys" Booth said before walking out of the room. Bones followed immediately.

"Booth?"

"Months Bones! The doctor said this has been going on for months! Before you two were even married he was beating on your kid."

"Are you claiming that this is my fault?" Brennan asked defensively.

"No, God no Bones, if anything it's my fault. I'm trained to see stuff like this. I'm the one who supposed to get the gut feelings. Why didn't I know something was wrong? I saw the way he acted around Gunter. I should've picked up on something. I thought he was just upset that you married someone after his dad. I didn't know Bones. I didn't know…" Booth trailed off and more tears came to his eyes.

Brennan had rarely seen Booth cry. He was such a strong man, to see him in this condition and over her son none the less. It broke her heart.

"Bones, there's something else…" Booth said

"Mommy" Finn called from his hospital room.

"I'm here baby" Brennan said rushing to his side. "We're all here, Uncle Booth, Benjamin, and Parker, we're all here." She reassured the injured boy.

"I knew you wouldn't leave me. Gunter said you wouldn't love me if you found out, but I knew, I knew you wouldn't ever leave me." Brennan clasped his small hand in hers.

"You are correct Finnian. I would never leave you. Not for anything in the world" she stroked his small hand, one of the only parts on the boy that was not bruised.

"What was it you wanted to say?" Brennan asked Booth.

"Nothing Bones. It can wait."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah Bones, I'm sure. There's no reason to bring it up now. It can wait."

Brennan looked unsure, but quickly enough she turned her attention back to her son.

"Mommy?" Finn said.

"Yes Finnian? What is it? Are you in pain again?"

"No mommy. I just wondered if maybe you and Benji and Parker and Uncle Booth can stay with me here tonight. I don't wanna be here alone."

"Don't worry Bud. We aren't going anywhere." Booth answered for them all.

Hours later all three boys were asleep on Finn's hospital bed and Booth finally got the opportunity to talk to Bones again.

"Bones, about what I was trying to tell you earlier."

"Yes?"

"Well, when you took Ben and Parker to the cafeteria a doctor came to check on Finn and I asked him a few questions." Booth was avoiding her gaze. He wouldn't look at her. Instead his eyes focused on a spot just to the left of her right shoulder.

"Booth, tell me, please. You are worrying me."

"Bones, Gunter did more than beat Finnian. He molested him."

"No!" Bones yelled.

"Bones, I am so sorry." He took a step closer to her and she let him take her into his arms.

"No Booth. No, please no." She mumbled into his chest. "He would've told me if Gunter was doing that to him."

"Bones you heard him. Finn said that Gunter told him we would leave him if he ever told. Finn was scared." Booth told her.

"I will kill him Booth. If I ever see Gunter again I will kill him." Bones said it with such a cold sincerity Booth had no doubt that if she got the chance Bones would kill Gunter at that very moment.

"No Bones, as much as I would like too we can't kill him, but I do promise you that I will make sure Gunter is put away for the rest of his life. Think of it this way. Gunter's going to be the prison wife of some guy named Bo, and after the rest of the prisoners find out what he did he won't get a moment of piece. Even criminals can't stand a pedophile. They'll do to Gunter a hundred times over what he did to Finn."

"It's what he deserves."

"I know Bones. There's a special place in hell for people like Gunter."