The first day of school is over and the bus finally gets to Casey's stop. Her daddy waves and she sqirms with impatience to tell him about her day. Her face splits wide with a smile as she waits in line to get off the bus. She races to his waiting arms and squeals as he picks her up in a hug.

"How you doing, my sweet girl?" Jane gently sets her down.

"It was fun being back to school and seeing everyone. My new teacher is really nice."

Jane takes her hand to walk to their home. "Do you have homework?"

She shakes her head 'no,' as she stops to pick up a golden leaf fallen from a tree. "Isn't this pretty, Daddy?"

"Yes, soon all the trees will lose their leaves. In spring the trees will bloom and leaf out again."

"I read a story about that, the Circle of Life. The Earth tilts and goes around the sun and that's why we have different seasons and why it's different in other parts of the country and, and the whole world," she says in a run-on rush. "I like it here where we get to see the leaves fall." She lays the leaf back down on the ground and skips away, once again acting like a little girl her age.

Jane sometimes regrets how fast she is growing - and not just physically. Their gifted daughter is plunging headlong into the wider world, whether they are ready or not. …. Keenly aware of how much he missed when Charlotte's life was cut short, he is already anticipating missing his little girl. She is advanced in reading and sometimes reads him her story books at bedtime, only stumbling where reading comprehension has outstripped pronunciation. When they went to the public library he had gently told her she could disregard the signs suggesting age-appropriate books. He hid a smile at her shock at getting permission to 'break the rules': She could check out books of interest to her regardless of the signs.

Once home, Lisbon helps him with dinner and - after being sure Casey is out of earshot - they discuss the new case of the woman buried in the park. "We should get the autopsy report tomorrow, not that there was much to work with. Wiley is doing a search for missing people for the last four months." She tosses the salad and sets the bowl on the table.

"Hope it won't end up in the cold file. This is one I want to solve. The girl's clothing has me worried." He follows Lisbon into the dining room and sets out the rest of dinner.

"They searched the whole park today. Didn't find another buried body," Lisbon says on her way out of the room. She goes down the hall, knocks and opens Casey's door. Her daughter looks up from reading on her bed as Lisbon enters. "Time for dinner, Casey. Your favorite - mac and cheese casserole." Casey jumps off the bed, grabs Lisbon's hand, and tugs her toward the dining room.

The three Jane's talk about their day, though Jane and Lisbon avoid talking about FBI cases. Tonight's focus is Casey's day at school.

"Kathy said that during summer vacation her family went to Disneyland. Can we go someday, it sounds like fun?" She says as she takes another bite.

"We'll think about it. It's been a long time since I was there."

Lisbon looks at Jane. "It's been a long time since we've been there, Patrick," thinking that 'never' qualifies as 'a long time.' Chicago is far from California's Disneyland or Florida's Disney World, aside from money having been too pinched for a long trip even before her mother died. She knows Jane's youth was spent traveling and working in the carnival until cold weather closed it each year. If young Patrick Jane had gone to Disneyland, he had likely sneaked in or somehow finagled admission by doing a show. Warming to the idea, "Maybe we can see about planning a trip."

Casey claps her hands. "Can we, Daddy - make plans to go? Kathy says they even have a show for 'Frozen' that was a lot of fun."

"Your mother and I will look into it. We'd have to work it around the classes I teach." At Lisbon's frown he adds with a grin, "The FBI keeps Mom busy, too."

Taking that as a 'yes,' "Okay, Daddy! I'll study about Disneyland and pick out what rides we want to do first."

Jane and Lisbon exchange glances. He winks. "By the time we go she'll have every minute planned out. Sounds like typical Lisbon organizing."

His wife snorts, "Nope. More like Jane manipulation to get his way."

"Mommy, I heard a new word today and I didn't have time to look it up. Will you tell me what it means?"

"Sure, honey. What's the word?"

"What is a 'bitch'?" Jane chokes on the water he is drinking and Lisbon drops her fork.

"Where did you hear this word?" Jane asks when he stops coughing. Lisbon just looks at her daughter who is busy eating her dinner.

Casey pauses before taking another bite. "A friend said her daddy calls her that when he's mad at her. She doesn't know what it means. I told her I would ask you."

The parents look at each other. "Your turn, Patrick," Lisbon says as she leaves the table, giving him a big smile.

Jane rifles through his memory regretfully confirming it is his turn for awkward questions. "Is she a friend from school? In the same grade as you?"

"I just met her today, and I like her. She's the same grade as me. So what does the word mean?" Casey says putting her fork down and trapping him with a wide, innocent gaze.

Jane takes a big breath and starts telling his daughter the word's meaning, downplaying the sheer nasty inappropriateness of a father directing it to a young daughter. When he finishes Casey kisses him and solemnly promises never to use the word. She instantly turns to a new activity and Jane exhales when she leaves the room with a smile.

Lisbon enters and sits, looking at him with eyebrow quirked. "How did your talk go?"

Jane looks serious. "We knew she'd learn some of those words eventually, but I was hoping it would be further down the road. I told her every child learns bad words and some kids use them to look older. But all that proves is they have poor vocabularies-"

"-That'd appeal to Casey," Lisbon says with a smile. "Good move."

He shakes his head. "It bothers me that a father is directing it at a daughter Casey's age. Should we should notify the school?"

Lisbon hesitates by going to the stove and putting a teapot of water on to heat. "I don't think so, at least not yet. Let's wait and see what more Casey tells us about her new friend." She uncomfortably shrugs. "Could just be a rough household, the way they talk. Much different if there's anything ... physical." The teapot whistles and she takes it off the stove and fixes Jane tea. It only took fifteen years but now she's gotten the hang of making it just the way he likes.

"Perfect." He puts the cup down, stands and gives her a hug. "Mmm. Have I mentioned how much I love you?"

"A few times, but that's okay. Tell me as many times as you want," she says, enthusiastically returning his kiss.

The next morning Lisbon looks up from her desk when someone enters her area of the FBI floor. She gives Jane a smile. He gives her a quick wave, knocks on Cho's door and enters when Cho motions him in.

Cho nods for Jane to take a chair. "All the reports are in on our Jane Doe. Nothing much that can help us." Jane leans forward with an intent expression as Cho continues. "Caucasian female, age twenty-five to thirty. Skull fracture and broken ribs. The bag buried alongside didn't have anything to help ID her. No clothes for her, only for a child - a girl - plus a couple of dolls. That's all we have."

"Missing person reports?" Jane asks quietly, still unsure why this case has gotten under his skin.

"Wiley checked for the past five years. Nothing that fits this case. If you have any ideas and want to work the case, say so. Otherwise this is heading for the cold case file. After five days I can't keep my team on it when there're no clues."

"I understand. Guess I hoped there was something we could go on." He stands up to leave.

Cho offers, "Just so you understand, I had the cadaver dogs cover the whole park for any scent of another corpse. There's no reason to think a child was also killed. I know that's why you're concerned."

"You're probably right, Cho. Thanks for keeping me in the loop. - If you're available, we'd like to have you and Nancy over for dinner this weekend. We'd like to get to know her better-"

"-No, you're just nosy, Jane," Cho interrupts. The twinkle in his eyes softens the judgment. "She wants to know you two better, also. Glad you like her."

Jane clears his throat thinking he's becoming too transparent. "Okay, then. Let us know."

It is Thursday morning and Jane is again at the bus stop with Casey. He looks around at the kids waiting for the bus, trying to decide whether any of them might be the little girl Casey says is her new best friend, ruefully thinking that she went through three 'best' friends last year. The bus drives up and he kisses Casey's head and watches as she boards. Now a routine, she slides into her seat next to the window, waves to her father and blows him a kiss which he returns. Casey looks forward to the next stop and smiles when she sees Scout run to catch the bus. Both are happy to see each other.

"Did you finish your math?" Casey says knowing how much trouble Scout has with math. Scout nods and hands her math workbook to Casey. "I think I got it all right."

Casey looks at the page and nods excitedly. "They're all correct. You're going to get a gold star today."

Scout half-shouts in glee, then guiltily looks up to see if the driver noticed. She whispers to Casey, "Thanks for showing me how to do it. This is my first star ever."

"I like helping you, you're my best friend." Both smile and are quiet the rest of the way to school.