Seven Months Later

"Remind me why we're doing this trip again?" Booth asked as they drove along. Brennan winced as they hit a bump, and her hand reflexively went to her abdomen.

"I wanted you to see the place my family and I went to sometimes," she answered. "I thought it would be a nice road trip."

"The flat tire was so much fun," Booth grumbled. Bailey barked in the back, and Brennan turned to see his face looking as though he was laughing. The dog had stuck his head out the window for most of the trip.

"You'll love it, Booth," Brennan promised. "When we get there."

Chester/Bailey

The smells were all so familiar. I knew I had been here before. I wondered if my boy was still here, if I would find him. I was getting excited. Not that being with Booth and Brennan was so bad. I did love them very much, and they treated me very well. Little Booth was especially my favorite, but the thought of being with my boy again, well, it made me very, very happy. We were driving past a field when I caught another scent that captured my attention. Could it be?

HORSE DOG!

I knew it was him. I had to get to him. When we came to the crossways in the road, I jumped out the window and bolted.

Brennan & Booth

"Bailey!" Brennan shouted. "Booth, go after him!"

"I'm on it," Booth said, turning the car towards where Bailey had went.

"I knew that window was down too low," Brennan said.

"I didn't know he'd jump out of it," Booth replied. "It's probably an animal he's smelled and is going after it."

"Just hurry!" Brennan ordered. They sped along the dirt road, coming up to a house. They saw Bailey running around a fenced in donkey.

"This feels weird," Brennan said as they stopped and parked. They got out together. A man in his late forties came out of the house as they approached.

"Can I help you?" the man asked.

"We're so sorry," Booth started. "Our dog jumped out of the car and ran here. We're just coming to get him." The man turned to see Bailey frolicking with the donkey.

"Huh," he said.

"Come on, Bailey," Brennan called. Booth saw the man freeze for a second.

"You all right?" Booth asked, curious.

"Yea. Yea, I just...Bailey eh? That's a good name," the man said, nodding. Booth saw Bailey see the man and come charging at him full speed.

"Head's up!" Booth shouted.

Chester/Bailey

ETHAN! Ethan, Ethan, Ethan! I ran hard. EEEEEETHAAAAAN! I launched myself onto him. Ethan grunted and fell backwards with me landing on his chest and kissing his face. I knew it was him, my boy. He smelled exactly the same.

"Oh, now come on," Ethan said, defending himself, but he was laughing.

"Bailey!" Brennan shouted at me. "Bailey, no!"

"Bailey, stop," Booth ordered. Ethan pushed me off finally, and we sat staring at each other.

"I am so sorry," Brennan said, grabbing my collar and yanking me back. No! I wanted Ethan! I looked at Booth, who was watching me carefully. Booth had to know. He knew I was Chester, so why couldn't he believe that I was Ethan's dog too? I knew it was in there, the thought.

"It's all right," Ethan laughed. "I have a way with dogs. I used to have one years ago. I'm Ethan, by the way." I watched as they all shook hands.

"What was your dog like?" Booth asked. Good boy, I thought. Good question.

"He was the best. Honestly, I just never had the heart to get another one after I lost him," Ethan sighed. "Bailey was my good boy." I stood and wagged my tail hard, barking.

"Bailey?" Brennan asked. "Your dog's name was Bailey?"

"Yea," Ethan replied, looking at me. Brennan was studying him now.

"What's wrong, Bones?" Booth asked.

"He has the same facial features and structure," Brennan started. "He's just older..."

"Excuse me?" Ethan asked, confused.

"I saw you at a fair a long time ago," Brennan started. "Your dog, Bailey, destroyed a hot dog stand. I remember you trying to stop him to no avail. I was very young. I had found it amusing." Ethan stared at her.

"It's why she named her dog Bailey," Booth finished. "Because of your dog."

"Wow," Ethan said after a moment. "That's...wow. I'm honored."

"The thing is," Booth went on, "there's something about this dog..."

"No, Booth," Brennan hissed, cutting him off.

"I think he'd believe it," Booth argued.

"Believe what?" Ethan asked.

"Nothing," Brennan said before Booth could open his mouth. "We really should be going. We came for a holiday before our baby was born. We're very sorry for crashing into your yard like this." She tugged at me, and at first, I resisted. Then Booth just picked me up and we were back in the car.

"It was nice meeting you," Booth said.

"Nice to see you again," Brennan added.

"Yea, take care," Ethan said slowly as we drove away. I pressed my face against the glass. He was watching me. I began to howl.

"Bailey, please stop," Brennan begged.

"I'm telling you," Booth said. "Bailey is Ethan's dog."

Booth & Brennan

They found a motel in town to stay at. They were still bickering about the fact that Bailey used to be Ethan's dog.

"It's impossible," Brennan was saying.

"It's not. You came around to believing he's Chester, so why not believe that Bailey used to be Ethan's Bailey?" Booth asked.

"Because! That was almost thirty years ago! There's no way he's the same dog," Brennan argued.

"How do you know?"

"I just do!"

Neither of them saw Bailey slip out of the open door.

Chester/Bailey

I needed to be with my boy. I had to show him it was me. I knew the doubt was already there. I had to answer his question. I made my way to his farm, but on the way I got sidetracked by a dog park. As I stared through the fence, this other dog approached me, and she smelled a familiar smell, one that I hadn't smelled in a long time. When her owner called for her, I snapped back into my mission. Find Ethan. It was late afternoon when I got back to his farm. I barked and pawed at the door.

"You again," Ethan said when he opened the door and saw me. "I think your owners will be upset with you." I didn't care. I wanted to be with Ethan. He looked around, not seeing Booth or Brennan.

"I think they'll know where to find you," he surmised. "I'd take you to them, but I don't know where they're staying." I followed him inside. I curled up by him until Booth and Brennan arrived almost an hour later.

"Figured you'd be back," Ethan joked.

"We apologize," Brennan said. "We don't know why he is doing this."

"I do," Booth muttered. Brennan shot him a dagger look.

"Why don't you stay for a coffee?" Ethan suggested.

"Oh, we don't want to impose," Brennan started.

"You're not," Ethan dismissed. "Come in, sit." They obeyed. Perhaps they were finally learning from me on how to be obedient. I was a model in that department after all despite what they thought.

"You own this farm?" Booth asked once they were settled in the living room.

"Yes. It was my grandparents' farm and now mine," Ethan answered. "Keeps me busy." He went for the coffee.

"None for me," Brennan said. "I've already had my allotted amount today."

"Ah yes, the baby," Ethan smiled. He handed her a glass of water instead before sitting down. "So tell me about you two."

"Well, I'm an FBI agent," Booth started.

"And I'm a forensic anthropologist," Brennan added. "We solve crimes together."

"Wow," Ethan said. "How about that." I wedged myself between his feet, making him look down at me.

"He really likes you," Brennan noted.

"I see that," Ethan agreed, looking down at me. Booth gave Brennan a look.

"We have an idea why," Booth started. Brennan didn't interrupt this time.

"Yea?"

"You see, I had a dog over in Afghanistan," Booth said. "He found me randomly, and I took him in. I called him Chester." I woofed.

"He does that when Booth says that name," Brennan answered. "Booth believes that my Bailey is his Chester."

"He barks at the name out of all other names I say," Booth said hurriedly. "And he does this thing with his tail that Chester did. And he winks."

"I try to say it's because he's a dog," Brennan cut in. "But I have to admit, the whole barking at the name thing is interesting."

"You think that your dog was his dog?" Ethan asked, incredulous.

"That's not all," Booth said before Brennan could talk. "We think he used to be your dog too." Ethan stared at them both before bursting out in laughter.

"You're kidding?!" he hooted. "This is my Bailey? You guys must be on something."

"I am most certainly not," Brennan said indignantly. "I am pregnant."

"And I'm the law," Booth added. "Well, that isn't really a reason, but it's my reason. Just indulge us for a moment. Is there anything you can think of that only your dog did that you would know about?" I looked up at Ethan, who was watching me carefully. There was, and he knew it.

"Possibly," he agreed, still looking at me. I leaped to my feet. I knew just where to find it.

Booth & Brennan

"He thinks we're nuts," Brennan said to Booth as they followed Ethan outside. "I can't believe you told him."

"It's true and you know it," Booth argued. "Just watch." Bailey trotted over to the barn. Ethan watched and waited. A few moments later, Bailey returned with a deflated football. They both heard Ethan inhale sharply.

"Where did you get that?" he asked Bailey, who dropped it at his feet, waiting expectantly.

"I think he wants you to throw it," Booth said. Ethan turned to look at them.

"I think so too," he agreed. "All right then." He picked it up and looked at Bailey. Then he threw it hard and turned his back to Bailey, going down on his knee quickly. Bailey ran and jumped off of Ethan's back, catching the toy midair and landing a few feet away. Booth and Brennan watched anxiously. Ethan looked up at Bailey, who was now standing right in front of him.

"Did either of you teach him how to do that?" Ethan asked, still looking at Bailey.

"No," Booth said, shaking his head. "I have never seen him do that."

"Bailey?" Ethan asked. Bailey barked. "Boss dog?" Bailey barked again. "Boss dog!" More barking.

"Booth, he barked at that one when you said it too," Brennan hissed. Booth nudged her to be quiet. Bailey grabbed his tail and spun, stopping to look at Ethan.

"Oh my God," Ethan said. "Bailey!" Bailey charged into his arms, licking his face all over.

"I told you," Booth said, looking at Brennan, who was in shock.

"Bailey, Bailey, Bailey," Ethan said, rubbing the dog all over. Bailey barked and bounced in joy. Then Ethan stood and came over to them.

"You still think we're crazy?" Booth asked.

"I...I don't know how it's possible, but I believe this is my old Bailey," Ethan said. Bailey was pressed against his legs hard.

"Well," Brennan said. "I guess I have to concur even though it goes against my logic."

"Atta girl," Booth grinned.

"Thank you for letting me see him again," Ethan said. "I'm sure you want to get on with your holiday." Booth watched Bailey carefully, and he could see that the dog didn't want to leave Ethan.

"Can you just give us a minute?" Booth asked, pulling Brennan aside.

"What?" she asked.

"Bones, I think Bailey should stay here," he said.

"What? But I love him..." Brennan started.

"I know you do, and I love him too, but maybe, just maybe, Bailey belongs here. Maybe he's been trying to get here his whole life after losing Ethan," Booth said.

"Booth..."

"Maybe we were just a stepping stone for him," Booth went on. "Bones, I don't want to take him away if it'll make him sad."

"But..."

"We can get another dog," Booth promised.

"It won't be the same," Brennan said, tearing up. She looked over at Bailey, who was enraptured with Ethan. She knew Booth was right, though.

"I know," Booth agreed, choking up. "But how would you feel if you lost me, got with someone else, but then found me again and that other someone tried to take you away from me after you finally found me?"

"That's not the same..."

"Yes, it is. I'm yours, and if another guy tried to take you away, you wouldn't go," Booth said. Brennan hesitated. He had a point.

"Okay," she agreed. "You have made your case." They turned back to Ethan, who was loving Bailey all up.

"Ethan?" Booth said, getting his attention. "We want Bailey to stay with you."

"What?" Ethan asked, surprised. "Are...are you sure?"

"Yes," Brennan nodded. "We think he'd be sad if he came with us."

"I...I don't know what to say," Ethan said, shocked.

"Don't say anything," Booth suggested. "We're happy that you're happy."

"But we really should get going," Brennan said. She didn't want to prolong the inevitable. Saying goodbye was going to hurt.

"You can visit anytime," Ethan promised. "I mean that."

"Thanks, Ethan," Booth smiled. They shook hands. Brennan got down on her knees, and Bailey came towards her.

Chester/Bailey

I could smell her sadness. I knew she didn't want to leave me here. I was just as sad to let her go, but I was with my boy, and no one else could be my boy, even if they wanted to.

"Bye, Bailey," she said, tearing up. "You brought Booth and I together. I can't thank you enough for that." She kissed me and smoothed her hands over my fur. Booth got down beside her, and I went over to him.

"Chester," he said. "You saved my life in Afghanistan so I could come home and be with her. You're the best dog, and don't forget it. I'm glad you're home, buddy." I nuzzled his face with mine, feeling his tears on my snout. I gave him a final lick before he stood up.

"Thank you," Ethan said again. I went over to him and pushed my face into his leg. We watched together as Booth and Brennan got back into their car and drove away. Brennan waving was the last sight I saw.

"Well, Bailey," Ethan said. "How about some catch?"

A Couple of Weeks Later

I had found her. The good one. Ethan's Hannah. I had gone back to that dog park and followed that girl dog to her owner, who led me to Hannah. After seeing my tag, I could smell her surprise. She drove me back to the farm. We stood outside the door, waiting for Ethan to answer. I knew he was in there. I could smell him. I started barking until he finally answered the door.

"Hi," he said, seeing Hannah. I smelled the sweaty smell all over again.

"Hi," she answered.

...

I watched from under the deck. They were talking, and any minute now, I expected them to lick faces, especially when Ethan told Hannah he'd never met anyone else. When Hannah told Ethan she had moved back here, he wacked his head on the underside of the deck when standing back up. Clumsiness was a sign of attraction I had learned. Then Hannah decided to leave, and I couldn't believe it. Come on! Ethan chased after her. I watched eagerly as he went in closer to her.

"I owe you an apology for what happened to us back then," Ethan started. This was good. I knew he had been angry and made Hannah go away, but I knew he hadn't meant it. I only wish the two of them had figured that out years ago.

"Don't worry it was a long, long time ago," Hannah assured him.

"No," Ethan said, shaking his head. "I pushed you away. I was...I was really mad at the world, and I just want you to know that not a day goes by that I don't kick myself for doing that." I stepped closer. That sweaty smell was so strong now.

"Do you think it'd be crazy if...we...did something together?" Ethan asked.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Hannah asked.

"Well, I just think that I'd be an all time fool if I just watched you drive away."

Enough talking, I begged. Use your nose!

"Then don't," Hannah said. They smiled at each other. Come on! That's it. I watched as he leaned in. Then they were licking faces. Yes! YES! I barked. I was successfully the one who had brought people together! I sat and watched. Oh, Ethan. I'm so glad to finally smell you happy again. My final purpose was complete. I was home.

The End

I am actually sad that this story is over! I had so much fun writing it. I wanted Bailey to have his happy ending with Ethan even though he was happy with Booth and Brennan. Thank you SO much for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting! It meant a lot. I hope it was a satisfying ending. Bailey's purpose was finally complete. If you want to read more about Bailey getting people together, then check out Levi's Purpose. If you haven't watched A Dog's Purpose or read the book, then go for it! You won't regret it. Happy trails!