A.N. I do not own Bones

A.N. 2 My stories are not for those who want instant gratification on characterization. I like to go piece by piece. Revealing all at once is no fun for me to write.

Brennan stopped over at the deli to get Tara an egg salad sub. Hospital food can be rather disgusting. She also grabbed some fresh lemonade and a strawberry Greek yogurt.

At the main desk, Brennan inquired about Tara. "What room is Tara Mallow in?"

The lady at the desk typed her name in and it came up. "She has been moved to room 305 west."

"Thank you"

Once on the floor, Brennan headed straight for the room. She was given a private room as requested but she was not in her room. She placed the bear on her bed but hid it under the sheets. She should feel her surprise.

The wait was over within a matter of minutes and a man brought Tara back into her room. Tara had a walker but the tube for the IV were still there.

"Hello, I am Jacob. I will be one of Tara's physical therapists. Right now we are getting her used to using a walker. She did great. If at possible I would like her up and moving every couple of hours. There is a play room in the east wing. There is also a therapy dog that comes in and visits."

Tara lit up when the word dog came in. "Thank you."

Brennan lifted her up and placed her on her bed so her back would touch the bear. Tara seemed confused of why she was feeling this lumpy thing on the bed. She turned around and saw brown ears sticking out. She pulled the sheets and saw the bear.

"Aunt Tempe, is that for me?"

"Yes Tara, I find when you are not feeling well that a bear can be a source of comfort."

"Thank you Aunt Tempe".

The bear made Tara's morning. Brennan found a stack of movies in the corner and went through them all. All are age appropriate for a toddler. "Tara there are some movies we can watch. There is Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Pocahontas, Fantasia, and Peter Pan."There was Bambi but Temperance was not going to bring it up because it brings up death and is rather sad.

"Peter Pan please"

The movie started and Tara had her lunch. They got as far as Peter Pan coming into the nursery when one of the nurses came in.

"Sorry Tara but I have to change the dressing."

Tara had a sour look on her face but the surgical site needed to be examined. "The good thing is the rash is gone and the site looks good."The young nurse was very gentle and Tara had not even cried.

"Tara, you were very brave. Would you like a coloring page?"

Little Tara Malloy may be very advanced for her age but there are things she loves like teddy bears, coloring, playing on her swing set, and hockey. Nick and Rachel grew up in Massachusetts but met at Northwestern. Nick was a Boston Bruins fan and something Brennan feared was Booth and Nick watching a hockey game together because Nick had a rather big mouth.

Rachel who was also a hockey fanatic and would watch games when she could had to ban Taraalso from watching hockey with her father because Nick swore at the referee for making a bad call. Tara repeated it and Rachel knew where it came from. Nick had to go in time out.

"Yes please"

The coloring page was of Ariel and Flounder and Tara did a great job, barely anything was outside of the lines.

"Tara, your fine motor skills are improving. You did an excellent job. I will put the picture on your bulletin board."

Booth came in a coloring book with some crayons. He knew how much Parker loved to color when he was 2 and for a kid that can not be up and moving that much it will be fun but the coloring book is not of something squint themed. The coloring book was that of a zoo. It is semi-educational but something a 2 year old has business knowing about. A 2 year old should not be playing with an anatomy and physiology coloring book. He knew Bones needed a crash course in parenting 101. There are some other things he was going to have to go over with her like her apartment set up, not toddler friendly. They get into everything and there are things in there that could hurt her. He trusts her judgement but some things need to be packed away like the arrows from some place in Africa that could result in an accident where they are displayed over on her couch.

"How is Tara doing?"

"She was up having physical therapy this morning to get her used to using a walker. She does need to move. The rash on her head from yesterday has cleared up."

All of that is good news. Booth brought the coloring book and placed it on to her tray table next to her bed.

Tara was taught to say please and thank you very early on that she did not need to be reminded to do so.

"Thank you Booth."

There was a knock at the door with Dr. Andrews who began an examination with mutterings of "This looks good."Temperance, she is recovering very well and I am thinking she can probably be discharged within a week. I have the x-rays of her right leg as you requested."

Brennan had a few suspicions of what type of fracture Tara had given her age. "Just as I suspected a greenstick fracture along her femur. How long do you think she needs to be in a cast for?"

"Six to eight weeks. She will come back at six weeks for an x-ray to see if we can take the cast off."

That satisfied Brennan "Thank you Dr. Andrews."

Now Booth who has spent hours and hours with Bones and listening to her talk about parts of a bone and fractures of a bones had no idea what she was talking about. Parker had a stress fracture on several bones and not a complete fracture like the doctor in the emergency room said.

"Bones, what is a greenstick fracture?"

Brennan rolled her eyes at one of her dearest friends and partner. "Greenstick fractures are the most common fractures seen in children due to the nature of their developing skeletal system. The bone bends and a piece of the bone breaks off. It is not a complete fracture. The good thing is it is not near her growth plates which will make remodeling easier."

It was an actual lesson in bones that he could understand and the second one he understood. She gave Rebecca and himself a lesson in stress fractures and he understood that one.

When Brennan was done with answering Booth ' s question, there was a knock at her door. "Is the little one up for a visit with Nana?"In the doorway stood a St. Bernard. Tara had a pleading look on her face.

"Yes, Nanna can come in the room."

Tara had her feet dangling over the bed facing the right side where the door is and Nana came up to Tara and started giving her kisses. Nana did brighten Tara's day. Nanna did leave after spending some time with her with Tara hearing "She will be back visiting on Wednesday."

"Thank you"

Now the next order of business was Tara needed to be up and walking. Brennan had the walker stationed next to the bed and Brennan lifted her down to the floor. "Do you have a good hold on the walker Tara?"

"Yes Aunt Tempe."

The line for the IV were still there, she just was not hooked up which would make walking around easier. Tara was doing well walking down the hallway to the play room. Inside of the play room, it could put any toy store to shame.

Tara looked at the slide "Aunt Tempe, slide. I want to go down the slide."It would be easy enough to get her in it. "Booth, if I carry her up will you catch her. I don't want any impact on the leg."

Tara erupted into giggles on the slide, being able to go on the swing set, being able to lay around in the ball pit. There was table hockey and Booth played a few rounds of table hockey in which he was bested by a two year old.

All and all it was a good day. Tara went to bed and Brennan and Booth left with plans of being back as soon as visiting hours would begin.

"Thank you Booth for everything."

Booth pulled Brennan into a side hug. "That's what friends are for. There is this new Japanese restaurant I want to take you to. They have a large vegetarian menu before you say one more word about meat. Angela, Hodgins, Cam, Sweets, Wendel, Daisy, and Clark will be there. They want to see you. I told Sweets not to get shrinky with you because you know him."

The place was this upscale Hibachi steak house and Angela pulled Brennan into a hug. "How is Tara?"

"She was moved out of the intensive care unit this morning and she was up doing physical therapy. She should be out of the hospital within a week and she will be checked in six weeks to see if the cast can come off."

The group was seated around a hibachi grill with Booth right next to her. Brennan ordered vegetable tempura and rice. Everyone else had something with meat in it when Sweets had something to say. "Dr. Brennan, I did tell Caroline what happened with your friends and your goddaughter. She is willing to help you with the legalities with all that you have to handle."

"Thank you Sweets, tell her I will be in contact with her shortly."

Something else Booth had not told Bones about is he is having agent Perotta investigate the piece of shit who left a two year old orphaned. There were some things that were discovered like he has had his licence suspended in five states, multiple DUI offenses, and the best one is he has carried his drunken behavior over state lines which it might be a case for the FBI where he has warrants in 9 states. The guy has tried to slip through the cracks that maybe what is needed is an unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. That would bring in the FBI and Tara did deserve justice. He could be looking at over 30 years in prison. If the man is tried in federal court, he would love to see the guy screwed over.

Dinner was a nice idea and it seemed to help relax Brennan. Booth knew she would be focusing on Tara and not confronting her own grief. He would be with her the entire time but a nice little talk of making her apartment toddler friendly would be in store because they only had a week. Her guest bedroom needed to be turned around for a room that is kid friendly.

Once back at the apartment, Booth looked around and looked to see what Parker would have gotten into when he was two which was just about everything.

"Bones; we need to toddler proof your apartment because even with all of the warnings they still find ways to get into things they should not. Turn your back for a split second and they will find a way to get into something. Let's start by going through and putting stuff away. There is a lot that needs to be done before she comes home."

Brennan knew she would have to trust Booth on this because while Tara may be advanced for her age, she is a typical two year old as well.

"What needs to be done?"

The living room would be the starting point in Brennan getting a lesson in childproofing 101.

"Bones, I know you like to have your artificats on display but many of them are not safe with sharp ends. Vases also need to go away for now. You can pull them back out when she is older."

Brennan nodded and removed the ancient weapons, horned statues, vases, and anything sharp. Booth helped her package them up and put it into her office.

"You need corner protectors on all tables. Parker tripped and smacked his chin on a protected corner and he ended up with a bruise. If the protected corner was not there, he would have cut his chin open. Secure the cords to be out of sight. Anything that contains chemicals needs to have a lock on it. With her curiosity, it is a recipe for an accident if you are not careful.

Blinds need to be secured down and put locks on windows too so she can not open them. Let's start moving furniture away from the windows. Parker tried to play Spiderman off of the furniture."

Furniture was moved and Booth made a note to stop at a hardware store before Tara comes home. The next place they went was the bedroom. Booth knew what he had to do. Keep Bones out of the apartment for the day and do a makeover on the room. Getting Angela and everyone at the lab to help out will be easy. It would also give him chance to see if there is any other point of concern. He is the only one who has toddler experience so therefore he should take the lead.

When he got home the first call would be to Angela and Hodgins because he knew Angela would love decorating a room for a little girl. Brennan had enough on her

He called her cell phone directly. "Angela, it's Booth. I need a favor. Bones is going to be busy with Tara for the next week and there will most likely not be enough time to get a room ready. I can give my key to her apartment and keep her out for the do you think?"

Angela was smiling ear to ear when she heard the request from her favorite FBI agent. "You know I will Booth. Is there anything that Tara is interested in? It will help me plan her room."

Booth knew Tara is a squint in training from the time he has spent around her. "I was thinking like something ancient Egyptian."It would be something that would get the creative juices flowing with Angela. "Call me in the morning and get Brennan out of the apartment all day. I can get everyone at the lab to help. You just stay with Brennan. How is she holding up? How is Tara?"

"I don't think Bones has fully processed what has happened fully. Tara has been her focus non-stop. She did handle Nick's and Sara ' s final arrangements. Physically Tara is doing great in recovery but mentally I don't think it has hit her yet and I am waiting for the fall out."

Angel's heart was breaking for her best friend. She has had so much pain in her life and she does not deserve this and even worse for Tara who most likely will have no memories of her parents.

"Booth, text me as soon as you get Brennan out of the apartment and try to do it as early as possible. I will call everyone at the lab. Also text me where you will put your key."

"Thank you Angela, I will do that."

That night was call after call to everyone at the lab and Cam easily agreed to everyone getting involved to help Brennan. Between the entire group, the room would be ready because Angela did want the room free of paint smells before a Tara came home. Angela would just wear a mask around the paint fumes. She should be safe.

Around six in the morning, Booth decided it was time to make his favorite anthropologist rise and shine. He opened the door quietly and walked over to where her room is. There he saw Bones fast asleep buried under the covers. He did hate to wake her up so early but the surprise in the evening would be worth it in the end even with all of the deception he would be using.

"Bones; chop, chop. Rise and shine. We have some stuff to do before seeing Tara."

Brennan was not thrilled to be woken up by Booth and was seriously thinking of asking for her key back. She put her pillow over her head and buried herself deeper in the covers.

Booth was familiar with the trick. Parker does it when he does not want to be woken up. He flipped on the lights, pulled the shades up, and pulled the blankets off.

Brennan shot up and she looked pissed "BOOTH!"

For Booth, he knew it would not be the first time he has gotten in trouble with Bones nor would it be the last. He used his Booth charm to ensure she does not stay mad at him long and he has had success with it in the past.

Brennan had a Wonder Woman t-shirt on with sleep shorts. Booth knew not to push too many buttons with her because he had already fulfilled his daily requirement. They may be best of friends but they drive each other crazy on a daily basis.

"What are you doing here? It's six in the morning. Visiting hours do not start until ten."

Booth had mastered how to talk to Bones when she is not fully awake and has no coffee in her system.

"Bones, we have some errands we need to run before we go see Tara because I know you will want to spend the day with her. For my peace offering I brought coffee and pastries so you are not rushed in."Booth knew when a good time is to use one of his grins that has gotten him out of trouble with Bones in the past and now was a going to do it again.

"Bones, where do Nick and Rachel live? Maybe we can get in there to at least get some of Tara's things?"

"Annapolis"

There were a few anti-navy jokes to be had but now is not the time. "Great, once you are done with breakfast we can go there. Do you need to call the hospital to see how Tara's doing?"

Brennan replied "Once I am done and have a shower then I will call."

Brennan downed her coffee and the cheese danish and hoped into the shower. She was out within ten minutes and Booth could hear her talk through her bedroom door.

"Good news is Tara has been complaining of less pain so they did scale back on pain medication and they are going to see how she reacts. I did speak to Dr. Andrews and he said Tara's brain scans look great. The only problem they are having with Tara is her scratching the surgical site. Staples should be coming out within the next ten to fourteen days which that should provide her with some relief. She is scheduled for physical therapy at ten and will not be expected back on the floor until eleven."

That was good news and knew the first battle Bones is going to face with Tara is battle of the stitches. It happened at school, Parker tripped over a rock and came down and split his eyebrow open. Rebecca had jury duty and Booth took him to the emergency room. It got to the point that Rebecca threatened Parker with taping oven mitts to his hands.

Booth drove to Annapolis with Bones giving directions to find the house. It was a breeze and Brennan knew where they kept an extra key. Walking in the house looked like time stood still. Booth saw his Bones freeze up.

"It's going to be OK Bones."

Big mistake on his part and he knew it as soon as the words left his mouth. "How can it be? They are gone and Tara has no parents."

Booth pulled her into one of his hugs and he felt dampness on his shoulder even though Bones was completely silent. They went up stairs to where Tara's room is. Tara's room had a theme of sea creatures. It had everything to keep a little one busy with toys and a very large book shelf. Tara had a giant box of crayons, color pencils, markers in every color you could think of. She also had quite the coloring book collection with some of them being educational.

Brennan went to Tara's closet and began to pack up her closet with all of the clothes. Booth worked on the toys and books. They made their way back out to the truck when round two began with grabbing Tara's pillow and her stuffed Bunny. Those would be going with them to the hospital. The goal of this trip was to grab things that would make Tara feel comfortable and not everything was being taken away when she lost so much.

Something else that was important and she knew would mean the world to Tara are pictures and home videos. They will remind her she had parents even though she did not have much time with them but there again forever is not long enough with a loved one. There was a stack of DVDs. Going through them, Brennan grabbed the kids movies because some of them will be a little to scary for a two year old.

Once they were out in the truck, Booth could see how shaken Brennan was. It was eleven and they made their way to Children's. In the parking lot, Brennan pulled out some things that Tara would need while in the hospital. Booth pulled out some coloring books and movies.

Once there, they walked in with Tara eating macaroni and cheese. She also had a fruit cup on the table, some jello, and some more juice. However, Booth was going to be in for the shock. Tara was cheering on the Bruins.

"The Bruins do not have too many men on the ice, the Caps do. Ref, you need your eyes checked."

It could be worse, Tara could be a Pittsburgh fan in which he would have to re-educate her. "Tara, out of all the teams it has to be the Bruins?"

Tara may be a mini genius but she was going to tease a certain special agent Flyers fanatic. "Yes, I have a brain so therefor I am a Bruins fan. I also know the Red Sox are a superior team as well."

Booth ' s mouth was gaping like a fish and Brennan was snickering. This was just too funny. Booth knew he would have to educate Tara on proper sports teams because most likely, she cheers on New England. He knew she could not help it, both parents grew up in Massachusetts therefore passed their love of Boston sports down to Tara.

Everyone had the room cleared out of furniture and drop cloths were covering the floor as well as masking tape where it should be. Angela sketched out a design and had the outline on the walls. The walls were painted a golden color with bits of metallic in it. The painting was done in no time with the everyone helping and Angela being the chief artist running the show.

"All right people; now we need to find furniture, and linens for the room."Half of the day was gone and everyone was thinking it. Angela is a slave driver when it comes to art. They all went to a kids furniture store where Angela picked a bed that would grow with her. The bed was an iron golden chrome color that would grow with her.

Hodgins found a memory foam mattress that would go with the bed. God help him if he did not pick anything less than what the queen of the skeletal system would pick out for herself.

Daisy and Cam were picking out sheets that were royal blue, another set in royal purple. Curtains would be royal purple with gold detailing.

Clark and Wendell were on furniture duty and found a bookcase and dresser. Everyone came together for the smaller things like clothes and other essentials.

Assembly was the problem even with all of the interns and doctors in the room. The bed was straightforward but the dresser was not. Wendell and Clark were arguing when Daisy took the instructions away and had the dresser put together in 20 minutes. "Boys, you can move the dresser now. Males do not always have the brains."

Every male in the room looked offended while Angela, Cam, and Daisy had a nice laugh at their expense.

The Bruins game ended up with a massacre for the Capitals. The lost 10-1 to the Bruins. Even Booth was cringing at that one. "I have not seen a loss of that bad in a long time."

Tara crossed her arms. "Now only if this could be done to Cindy Crysby and her divers."Now Booth could barely sit up with all of the laughter. The hockey team debate will just be a small problem because just like her, he hates Pittsburgh too.

He thought Matt Cooke should have had a lengthy suspension and a massive fine with that hit on Savard. He knew it was deliberate and the only way he was saved was being a teammate of Crosby. Now watching Shawn Thornton hand Cooke an ass whooping was a fight in the making. It was retaliation. If he had been a referee, he would have turned his back on the fight and let Thornton tear Cooke apart.

Tara did have to get up and walk again but she slipped and fell down on the broken leg and began to scream. Brennan picked her up and was trying to comfort her.

"Bones, let me go get a nurse."

A minute later a nurse was back in and Tara got a dose of pain medication. "I will call the doctor on call since Dr. Andrews went home and we'll go from there."

Tara's leg was elevated and now Booth had his question. "Bones, could there have been any more damage done?"

"She might need the bone reset but it will have to be confirmed through an x-ray."

Five minutes later the nurse was back in. "Dr. Jackson has ordered an x-ray. Tara may need to have the bone reset. Transport is on the way up."

Booth and Brennan went down to radiology for Tara to have an x-ray. Brennan was given a lead apron so she could stay with Tara. Tara seemed to have calmed down with the pain medication. A doctor came out "Are you Temperance Brennan? I am Dr. Jackson. Tara was lucky and she does not need the bone reset. I want to keep her sedate for the evening and I do not want her to have physical therapy tomorrow."

Brennan being a famous anthropologist was able to look at Tara's current x-ray and the one from a few days ago was held up in comparison. Nothing had changed. "Thank you Dr. Jackson."

Tara was brought back up to her room where she was zonked out from the pain medication. They would just let her rest and the left for the evening. Both needed food and it was beer and pizza. "Bones, when Tara gets a little older would you let me get her on the ice to try hockey? She seems to enjoy it."

"Yes Booth and only under your supervision but I will have to research helmets and make sure she is properly fitted for one. I know Nick and Rachel had planned on putting her in youth league when she got older."

That seemed to make Booth happy. He was expecting some kind of fight. It's Brennan. He would let her have her way with the helmet and knowing her, Tara would most likely have the helmet that could rival what a pro would wear. What he would talk her out of is a full face shield. They are hot and fog up quickly. He tried it on Parker once and he was miserable.

It was 8:30 and he sent a quick text to Angela that they were heading back to the apartment. There was no word so Booth took it as they were safe.

The moment when they got in the door, Brennan could sense something was going on. She flipped the light switch and everyone was standing there. Brennan was gaping like a fish which is unusual and Angela broke the silence. "Sweety, we know you are going to be tied up with Tara for the week and she is coming home in a week. You are barely going to have enough time to have a room ready for her so we decided to get her room ready. Do not worry, it's child proof but she can grow into it."

"Thank you"

That was when Brennan smelled the faint fume of the paint. "Angela, you should not be around paint fumes. It is detrimental to the health of your baby."

Angela knew her friend well enough that she would say that. "I wore a mask and there was fans and air filters going all day to get the fumes out. Now, let's show you the room."

The door was opened to what was now Brennan's former guest bedroom. "How did you know she was into ancient Egypt? Tara will love it."

Now Booth smiled and he knew he was going to have to confess. "Tara had hinted yesterday and before you say something more about trusting my gut with no evidence, there was a clue. Tara did drop a clue yesterday so I went with it. That is why I had you out of the apartment so early so everyone could get to work."

"Thank you everyone and Booth, you are forgiven for your lie this morning."

The charm smile always worked with Brennan.

"How's Tara doing?"Everyone wanted to know that one.

"She is recovering as expected but there was a minor setback today. She slipped while using the walker and fell down on her fractured leg. The x-ray showed she did not need to have the bone reset. She was given some pain medication and it put her to sleep in the evening."

Sweets knew he would have to tread lightly on psychological questions that related to grief around Dr. Brennan and anything that related to Tara. Secondly, if any of his questions made Brennan too upset he would have to deal with an angry Booth.

"Bones and I did visit Rachel and Nick's home and picked up some of Tara's things so she has something familiar with her."

Clark added in "Do you need any help in bringing it up?"

Brennan was about to protest when Booth put a hand over her mouth. "Yes please, it's not that much."

Brennan knew she lost to Booth and was about to go down and help when Angela grabbed her wrist. "Let them, so what are your plans with Nick and Rachel? I know Booth said something about cremation."

"Yes, they were in strong support of cremation. I have to pick up their remains tomorrow from the funeral home. I plan on taking their ashes up to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts where the two of them married. I am waiting until Tara feels better and is out of the cast because I do not believe a long car trip would be ideal for her."

No one dared to bring religion into it because they all knew Brennan is a rabid atheist.

Cam did have a few questions of her own "Are you going to enroll Tara in the daycare program and what about a pediatrician for Tara?"

Brennan had thought of it ."Yes, I believe the socialization of the day care center will be good for her. I will be sticking to her pediatrician who she has been seeing. I know Rachel and Nick used the primary care department at Children's."

Everyone did say their goodbyes for the night and Booth had some news because he had been pulling some favors with the piece of shit who caused Tara to become an orphan.

"Bones, I had agent Perotta investigate into the accident and she did recover some information that should put him away for a very long time. Marks has nine arrest warrants in several states and several DUI offenses. He also has done time because of his drunk driving. The FBI had apprehended him because Caroline was able to get an unlawful flight to avoid prosecution warrant and he is detained. He is looking at a very long prison term and Caroline is going to see that he gets the max amount of time on each charge and he serves every second. There will be absolutely no parole for him. I know I will not bring Tara back her parents but at least she has justice. Believe me Bones, I want him off of the road and in prison. The fact that nine states want him means he can be hit hard with charges."

That did put Brennan in a good mood. "Thank you Booth. I will have to call Caroline and agent Perotta later".

Booth did want to go with Brennan when she picked up the ashes from the funeral home and he would like to go with her to Martha's Vineyard. The one concern is Tara. She is only two and maybe seeing your parents' ashes spread may not be the best of things. It would be a while before Tara would be able to travel. It's only February and he knew from experience how cold Massachusetts can be.

That night would be the night when the night terrors would begin for Tara. The terror would come in the form of remembering the details of the accident, her parents' screams, and all of the loud noises. Even worse would be Tara hearing in the background that her parents are gone but felt too horrible to scream back "No they are not."If a little one has a nightmare it should be of monsters under the bed or in the closet, not your parents dying. However, Tara would have a real life monster. His name is Trevor Marks and he is the one who took her parents away.