'I'm sorry, Grandma. I triggered some kind of alarm.'

'It's alright, EOS.'

'I did manage to see the program that was running. Do you want to see?'

Kayo and Sally exchanged looks. From the reply that EOS had given them it was clear she had managed to get through the Jeffersonian firewalls, she was just very good at giving them plausible deniability. They were still a few hours out and it could help them. They had no idea what kind of program it would be, or if they could even 'see' it and understand it, but the mere fact that EOS offered told them it was a possibility.

'Run it please, EOS.'

'FAB, Grandma.'

The computer simulation of the avalanche with the obvious indicators of the chalet, Scott and Lucy had both women gasping. And as the sound of Scott stirring carried into the cockpit, Kayo quickly swiped it away. There was no way her brother needed to see that.

'Everything alright, Grandma? Kayo?'

'We're fine, Kiddo. You should be asleep.'

'Can't sleep. My head is too full.'

Neither woman needed to ask what it was full of, and the customary black smudges under Scott's eyes looked somehow darker in the brighter light here. He leaned over the co-pilot seat and wrapped his arms around his Grandmother's shoulders, gently resting his chin on her head. Sally patted his arm.

'Scott, dear, sit here and I'll go back and keep an eye on your Dad and brother.'

'FAB, Grandma. Maybe you should take some of your own advice and get some sleep too.'

It was said with a cheeky smile and Sally laughed. She patted Scott's cheek once he'd moved to let her up before folding him into a hug and holding him tightly. He responded by kissing her cheek when she eventually pulled away.

Sally turned at the door.

'Let us know if anything comes up.'

'Of course. Sleep well, Grandma.'

She settled in Scott's seat and drifted off.

Kayo pulled her legs up and turned to face her brother, chewing on the end of her hair as if she was still the eleven-year-old girl that had just been told her favourite aunt had died, and not the twenty-five-year-old woman she now was. Scott smiled at her tiredly.

'Do you remember what Mom used to say when she caught you chewing your hair?'

'That it would strangle my insides and make them burst.'

They looked at each other and then burst out laughing.

'For a week I tried so hard to eat enough hair to actually do that before Grandma sat me down and showed me that video.'

'You puked!'

'I did. But I did stop chewing my hair.'

'Yes you did.'

She reached across and gave Scott's arm a squeeze. In turn he put his hand over hers.

'I'm sorry, Scott. And I'm here for you.'

'Thank you, Tanusha.'

Kayo smiled, slightly pink. She turned back to the windscreen and kept a discrete eye on the man beside her. She knew that Scott would bottle it up as always, but he'd clearly appreciated the offer judging by the use of her full name.

By the time they arrived in Washington DC they had all kipped a little and were ready, if not quite running on full speed. They sent the bags ahead to the hotel while they drove straight to the FBI.

Agent Booth and Dr Brennen were waiting for them and they showed them to the conference room.

Booth shook hands with everyone as Scott introduced everyone and they sat around the table.

'Agent Booth, this is my Father, Jeff Tracy. My Grandma, Sally Tracy. My sister, Tanusha Kyrano. You already met my brother, John.'

'It's a pleasure to meet you all, I'm just sorry it's under such circumstances.'

'Thank you, Agent Booth. What do you need from us?'

'We have some discrepancies to clear up, and we are hoping your son, Scott, can help with that.'

'Scott?'

All eyes turned to Scott. Used to being in the spotlight, Scott didn't flinch at the scrutiny. He leaned forward and nodded.

'Anything I can do to help I will.'

'Hold up, Scott.'

John's hand on his shoulder made everyone pause.

'May I ask what 'discrepancies' you've found that require help from my brother? We were kids when the avalanche destroyed our family.'

'We believe that your mother did not die in the avalanche. And since you, Mr Tracy, were the only other person in the chalet, we're hoping that you will be able to shed some light on what happened.'

'I'm sorry – what? What are you accusing my brother of?'

'Mr Tracy, I'm sorry. We just need to talk with Scott to clear up what happened.'

'You can certainly talk to my son, but not without our lawyer precent.'

'That…'

'I know what you're going to say. My family respects the law, Agent Booth, and Scott will co-operate with your investigation as much as he can. But my family have just been told that my wife – their mother – has been found after 13 years. We have flown halfway around the world to see you. I would appreciate the common curtesy of the evening as a family so we can process all this. I promise my son and our lawyer will be here first thing tomorrow morning where you can ask all the questions you want.'

Booth and Tracy locked eyes. The man looked tired, stressed even, but he didn't back down. Booth couldn't fault the logic of the man's request. Nor the reasons. That they could be a flight risk could have been a factor in other people, but somehow Booth knew Tracy was telling the truth. They would be here first thing, he felt that in his gut.

'I agree. As long as you appear here first thing. Can you tell me which lawyer I can expect so I can let the main desk know?'

'Lester Breitenbach, of Breitenbach, Rossi & Baumgarten. And if you need to reach us we are staying at the Four Seasons.'

They watched the family leave.

'You didn't mention the Grandmother, Booth!'

'No I didn't. One surprise at a time, Bones.'

'I better get back to the lab. Even I know who Lester Breitenbach is. I need to make sure I've got all the evidence together.'

'Ok, Bones. Wish me luck.'

'I don't believe in luck. Why do you need it anyway?'

'Because I have to tell Caroline who the Tracy's have engaged as their lawyer.'

'You are right, Booth. You do need luck.'

And with a grin and a pat to his shoulder Brennen left.

Booth sighed. He loved working with Bones. Sometimes her bluntness worked in their favour, sometimes it didn't. This was one of the times he just knew it wasn't going to.

The 8 ball had called it. He should have listened to the 8 ball.