Thanks for all your wonderful words again, they really make our day! (So keep them coming ^^.) On with the story, here's some angst for you...

Chapter 18

Brennan hadn't called Booth after the playdate. She decided she shouldn't give Russ any more reasons to worry, and Booth was simply someone Russ didn't trust. Brennan divided her time as best as she could. She'd lost study hours because she'd been getting to know her Zorro. Now, she tried to catch up as much as she could without completely neglecting herself. Luckily, Max was able to come during the day for a week because he'd been allowed to take time off his job. Max took Elena to all the playgrounds he could find, he tried to take over some home-schooling, fed her, cooked for all of them, and at the end of the day helped put Elena in bed. Elena had been quiet, Brennan knew that Russ not waving at her had hurt her deeply. Also, Russ barely had time to get on the phone with her, and when he did, she kept asking him to come back and kiss her goodnight, and he kept disappointing her. It was obvious Elena felt abandoned by her uncle, and she became withdrawn and unhappy. Brennan let her daughter sleep with her in her bed every night, just so they could spend that time together and Brennan could make sure their connection wouldn't deteriorate. She kept telling herself that she'd make up for everything after her finals.

Four days before finals, Max called with bad news. He'd tripped at work and tore 'stuff' in his ankle. He wouldn't be able to leave the house for a week. Brennan offered to bring him groceries and cook for him, but Max immediately declined. He had a nice lady friend living next door, and she'd already set him up with pies and meals for a month.

Brennan knew her finals were so important for them as a family, but she couldn't prepare for them at any cost. Definitely not at Elena's cost. So, she started taking her books to the playground, she read to Elena and tried to cook all her favourite meals. They went to bed at the same time so Elena wouldn't fall asleep alone, and then Brennan would sneak out to study some more. She was beyond exhausted, but she could manage because she needed to stay strong for her daughter.

Two days before finals, they received a call from Booth. He said he didn't mean to bother her or impose on anything, but a series of burglaries was happening in Brennan's neighbourhood and Booth offered to stay with them until the burglars were caught. Brennan thanked him for the offer and called Russ, who basically exploded at the mere mention of Booth's name. It was obvious Russ was running on his final reserves as well, and Brennan nearly cried as she told Booth he couldn't come. Meanwhile, Elena had been crying a lot, too. She didn't want to speak to Russ on the phone anymore, but she missed him terribly. Brennan could hardly concentrate on her materials for finals anymore, and she was growing desperate. Just two more days, she told herself. She'd told herself that finishing top of her class didn't matter anymore, as long as she wouldn't fail.

On the last day before finals, Brennan was walking around like a ghost, and Elena wasn't doing much better. She sensed her mother's stress and combined with her broken heart, it made her not want to do anything anymore aside from sitting in her mother's lap or lying down with her. She was basically physically attached to Brennan. That night, Brennan decided to take some rest before her finals which would start the next day. She had hot chocolate with Elena before going to bed, and read Moby Dick to her. They were both asleep by 8PM.

Driving through the neighbourhood - her neighbourhood - for the fourth time that night, Booth was worried about Temperance and Elena. When she hadn't immediately turned his offer down to stay with her, he'd had good hopes that she would actually let him in. He knew that her finals were coming closer and he had been able to hear the strain in her voice when she'd called back to decline his offer. So, here he was, doing the next best thing. He was familiar with the burglar's MO. The crook would sneak in after 2 AM, so Booth had gone home around 5 PM, went straight to bed and had got up around midnight.

For two hours, Booth had been patrolling the neighbourhood. He'd had some trouble to square it with his commanding officer, but eventually they found a solution. Booth had been given authorisation to keep an eye on conspicuous individuals. That way, when calls of concerned civilians came in, the dispatcher would be able to reassure them there was a police officer monitoring their neighbourhood. Booth slowed down when he drove past their house. His family's house. Booth inspected the windows and the doors and immediately he parked the car. The door looked different this time. Deciding that he would rather be safe than sorry, Booth parked his car and got out. He inspected the door more closely and when he felt it give way as he placed his hand on it, he reached for his gun. Silently, Booth snuck into the house. He secured the ground floor, noticing the TV, the computer, the DVD player... anything and everything of obvious value was still in the house. Once he was certain that the thief wasn't downstairs, he headed upstairs. Right away he noticed that all of the doors were closed. Except for one. He stopped in front of it and listened. At first he didn't hear anything, but then he heard something that sounded like the rustling of blankets. He couldn't be sure, but he went with his training. He kicked the door open, turned the lights on and pointed his gun at the burglar. He was standing over Temperance and Elena, the duvet still clutched in his hand. "Put the knife down and step away from the bed. Now." Booth ordered the other man in a deep, threatening voice.

Brennan awoke with a jolt of adrenaline. Before trying to see what was going on, she grabbed Elena and used her body to protect her daughter. When she looked over her shoulder, her eyes widened and her heart started beating incredibly fast. A man wearing a balaclava was standing over them, a large knife in his hand. Then, Brennan's eyes shot to the other side of the room, where a figure was standing in the doorway, pointing a gun at the intruder. Elena had woken up as well and remained quiet, her eyes filled with fear.

"I won't say it again," Booth barked as he took a step closer. "Put the knife down and step away from the bed." He held eye contact with the burglar as the blood rushed through his body. He was enraged and could have shot the piece of scum on the spot. When the burglar finally did as he was told, Booth rushed over and handcuffed him – not gently. He reached for his phone and called for backup.

By this time, Brennan had realised that their saviour was, in fact, Booth. She finally let out her breath when the burglar was handcuffed. She was holding Elena very tightly, trying to shield her from the situation. She couldn't believe she hadn't woken up. That creep could have killed them without any resistance.

When Booth's backup arrived and the burglar was taken away, Brennan loosened her grip on Elena. They were alone for a minute as Booth handed over the criminal outside the bedroom. Brennan and Elena both got out of bed, and Brennan lifted her daughter into her arms. Elena immediately wrapped her little arms tightly around her mother's neck. Brennan then felt that Elena was wet. She'd been so scared she'd wet herself, and Brennan's heart broke a little. "It's okay, sweetheart. Our friend is here. Booth caught the bad guy." Brennan kissed her daughter's face. "Don't worry about the bed, honey," she whispered. "It doesn't matter, okay?"

Booth walked back into the bedroom, overhearing the last part of the conversation. "If you help her, I'll change the sheets," Booth offered quietly. He smiled at her, trying to reassure her they were okay, now. "Just point me in the right direction." Brennan told him where he could find clean sheets and after mother and daughter left, Booth got to work.

In the bathroom, Brennan undressed Elena and turned on the shower. Her small body was still shaking. Brennan lifted her to put her under the spray, but Elena wouldn't let go, so Brennan undressed, too, and they showered together. "Were you scared, Elena?"

The little girl nodded her head, her eyes filled with tears.

"I wouldn't have let anything bad happen to you," Brennan promised her. "Do you believe me?" She'd give her life before anyone got the chance to even touch her daughter.

Again, Elena nodded, then came her tiny voice, "But he almost hurt you, Mommy."

Booth knew from experience that everybody would have to wind down a bit before anyone was ready to attempt sleeping again, so after he remade the bed, Booth had gone downstairs to put the soiled bedding in the washer. Then, he made his way to the kitchen where he made warm chocolate milk. By the time it was ready, both Temperance and Elena came downstairs. Elena was clinging to her mom and Temperance looked pale and stressed.

"Booth... I don't know how to thank you. You - you saved our lives." Brennan stopped in front of him and looked into his warm brown eyes.

"I'm just happy I was here at the right time." Booth focussed on their daughter. "Would you like some warm chocolate milk, honey? It's not too hot." Booth caressed her curls gently, then looked up at Temperance. "I have a cup for you too, if you'd like."

Elena looked at him. "Are you a policeman?" she whispered.

"Yes, sweetheart, I am. And that bad man is in jail now. He can't hurt you. He can't hurt your mommy. I promise."

"Do you really promise?" Elena wanted to make sure.

"I really promise." Booth held out his pinky. "I will pinky swear on it."

"I don't know what that means," Elena said.

"Look," Booth gently hooked their pinkies together and looked into her eyes. "I promise he won't hurt you or Mommy again." He leaned in and kissed her cheek, feeling sad that his little girl had no idea what a pinky swear was.

Elena looked at her pinky for a moment, to see if anything had changed. She looked back at Booth. "Will his friends hurt us?"

"No. I don't think mean people like him have a lot of friends, sweetie." All of the evidence pointed to the fact that the man worked alone. "How about that chocolate milk, huh?"

Elena nodded and Brennan sat down with her. They drank their hot chocolate, and Elena sighed. "It's really good."

"I'm glad you like it," Booth smiled at her. Booth handed the second cup to Temperance and kept the third cup for himself. "You slept through it?" Booth asked her as he kept his focus on Temperance.

She suddenly felt even more guilty. "Yeah," she whispered as she stroked Elena's long, brown curls.

"Where is Russ?"

"At the hospital, with Amy and her girls. Hayley's lungs haven't been doing well. He's very worried. And tired."

"I see," Booth took a sip from his warm beverage. "When are your finals?"

"They start tomorrow," Brennan answered with a desperate tone in her voice. "My dad hurt his ankle. He can't leave his house."

"Did you manage to study all of the material? Or are there parts of your classes that you haven't been able to look at?"

"I've read everything, but I don't know if it's enough." She felt like crying, but Elena didn't need to see her mother cry right now, so she stayed strong.

"Do you want to do it tomorrow, or would you like me to write up a report, so you can take it to school with you so you can have the final postponed?" Booth wasn't actually sure that was possible, but the least they could do was give it a try.

Brennan shook her head. "I won't be able to take the exam again until after a few months. That's too late. I'll have to try and see what comes out."

Booth nodded. "In that case, you have to go back to bed." Elena had already finished her drink and was dozing off by her side. "Take her with you. I'll take the couch."

"But Russ..." Brennan started to say.

"Isn't here," Booth told her sharply. His voice softened. "I am. And if he is anything like the man I take him to be, he wouldn't want you and Elena to be alone." He paused for a moment, then he told her the truth. "The lock was forced. That means that you cannot lock the front door. Either I stay, or we wake that little girl up again and I drive you to campus, to Angela's apartment. Your choice."

Brennan pressed her hand against her forehead. "Okay. If you want to, it would be great if you could keep us safe tonight. I'll call Russ tomorrow."

"I will keep you safe. I am as capable, if not more, than your brother is, Temperance." Booth gently lifted their daughter from the couch and carried her up the stairs.

Brennan followed them and watched as Booth gently tucked Elena in. His daughter. She really wanted him to be a father to Elena. When he stood again, she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him.

Booth was shocked. He allowed her to kiss him and when she pulled back, he cupped her cheek. "What was that?"

"I kissed you," she said.

He chuckled. "Yes, I know that. Why?" He was confused. Was this just the stress of the ordeal she'd been through or was it because it was him standing in front of her?

"Because I wanted to," she said. "I want you to stay. I want you to be Elena's father. I want you to be with me."

"Darling... are you sure this is what you want? You've had a rough night and by the looks of it, a couple of rough days."

"My skin tingles when you touch me. I feel safe with you. Elena likes you," she told him honestly.

Booth nodded. "Okay." He kissed her tenderly and guided her to the bed. They ended the kiss and he gave her a soft, concerned smile. "Come on, I'll tuck you in."

"Do you still want me?" she asked him.

"Yes, I do, but darling," Booth sat down next to her and reached for her hand. "I don't think this is the time to get into all of that. You need your sleep, you have an important day tomorrow."

Brennan lay down and took Elena in her arms. "Thanks for everything, Booth."

"You're welcome. Good night." Booth leaned down and softly kissed Elena's cheek. Next, he pressed a kiss to Temperance's forehead. He turned the lights off and went downstairs. He rinsed the mugs out and got settled on the couch. Sleep didn't come that night.

I do believe Booth and Brennan deserve a round of applause after - finally! - kissing each other. So, do you think that Russ will finally come round to accepting Booth now that he's saved his family? More on that in the next chapter ;). (Incidentally, most of you are very hard on Russ, but he's only a few years older than his sister and he didn't think twice about giving up everything to be there for his sister and his niece. He didn't have to do it, but he did, so he's earned the right to be suspicious of Booth, wouldn't you agree? Anyway, more on that Thursday!) Please leave us more of your encouraging words!