The Dude in the Dumpster.

Chapter thirteen.

A/N: This is it. The end. I must admit I'm kind of sad. The response I got was overwhelming, it's just my first story and yet people actually reviewed :D. Thanks a million to my super-fantastic-awesome-great Beta, SheWillBeLoved013, and to Margo, for reading this chapter (Ik zei toch dat ik je zou noemen in de A/N :D). If you want to read another Bones/NCIS crossover fic (now that this one's finished), I suggest Some serious skeletons in the closet by LumiIrene. It's an awesome story!

Disclaimer: Hmpf. This is the last dislaimer. It's supposed to be funny (or at least I'm supposed to try to be funny) but it isn't. I'm sorry. I don't own NCIS or Bones...

Parker was happily skipping towards the entrance of the Jurassic era exhibition currently showing in the Jeffersonian Institute. He was extremely excited, because he was going to see dinosaurs and other cool things, and Dr. Bones was coming! He loved Dr. Bones, and Parker knew even though he wouldn't admit it, his father loved her too.

He also knew daddy didn't love his Bones like Parker loved his friends, but like he loved Stephanie. Or at least, he thought he did. He wanted to kiss her. Did that count as loving someone? He'd have to ask is father, but if it did, he loved Stephanie too. Daddy always told him to be polite to girls if you wanted them to like you, as he was always polite to Bones. He opened the door for her and helped her carry her bags, so Parker tried to be a gentleman and help Stephanie too. She didn't really like it, though, and when he asked why she had told him something about him being alpha-male… Would Bones know what that means?

His father's partner showed the woman at the entrance her Jeffersonian identification card, and motioned for the boys to follow her. They did so, and watched as she took them on a shortcut through the museum, straight to the interesting parts – the dinosaurs. She pointed to the foot of the animal, witch was as tall as Parker himself .

"This is the largest carnivore dinosaur known, the S. Aegyptiacus. You know, Parker, it's even bigger than the Tyrannosaurus Rex." Brennan explained, and Booth felt a little proud that she hadn't even used one of those enormous scientific words of hers yet. Even though she didn't see it, Bones was really good with his son, witch he was immensely grateful for.

"Really? Did it eat people?" Parker was amazed by the size of the skeleton, and although he didn't want to admit it, a little scared.

"No, there were no people back then. But it did eat things like pre-historic fish and bears. However, there has been a discussion between researchers, some believing this animal to have eaten fish, their hypothesis based on the anatomical similarity with crocodilians and the presence of digestive acid-etched fish scales in the rib cage of the type specimen…" She realized the little kid didn't understand a word of her explanation, and cut off her scientific rant. "I'm sorry, I'm not really used to people not understanding this. Well, except for when your father" A little smile in Booth's direction. "complains about his average intelligence."

"Gee, thanks Bones." Booth replied sarcastically, but a smile was also tugging at his lips.

Interrupting their little moment, Parker asked: "But if they lived right now, would they eat people?"

"Most likely, yes." This scared Parker, and he clasped his father's hand a little firmer. "But you know what? Your father would be there to protect you. He'd never let anything happen to you." Said Brennan, and her face showed that she definitely believed every single word she just said. Parker was a little relieved by that, but there was one more question plaguing his young mind.

"But what about you, Dr. Bones? Who would protect you? I'd try, but I'm not as big as daddy, and I also have to protect Stephanie… And I don't want anyone to eat you!" Booth was touched by the way his son tried to protect Bones, even when there wasn't really a threat. He'd have to ask him about this Stephanie later, though. If his boy had a crush, Booth wanted to know about it, and he knew Parker would want to talk about it too.

That would all have to wait, however, because right now he had to assure his little boy that he would protect Bones, whatever it would take. From dinosaurs to bullets, knives to fists, he would make sure no one and nothing could ever harm her.

"Don't worry, buddy. I'd never let anything happen to Bones." He looked his partner, his friend, his Bones in the eyes –those eyes that had captivated him ever since he first saw them in that classroom, staring intently at him over the remains of some old mummy- and spoke a determined "Never."

The day had been fantastic. They had had so much fun, and when it was finally time to drive Parker back to Rebecca's, Brennan had been a little sad. She'd grown to like the little boy –maybe even love him- and she always hated to see him go. Now she was laying on Booth's couch, resting on his shoulders, comfortable and warm and doing absolutely nothing. She realized it had to be late, and that it was time for her to go, but she just didn't want to move. She didn't want to leave yet, in more ways than one. She'd always felt the need to leave, to run in every relationship she had ever had, except for this one. No, she was content in staying here, safe in Booth's arms, and never to leave.

"Stop." Booth's voice was sudden, and she looked up with confusion written all over her face.

"Stop what?"

"Stop over thinking. I know you. When you're going home later, you'll be analyzing every word that I said today, every hug Parker gave you and every smile that you smiled, and you're going to want to run. Don't, Bones. I'm here for you. I'd never abandon you." His eyes were begging , and for once Booth –the one person that knew her the beset- had misread her actions. He'd thought wrong. It was understandable, though. He had seen her get scared and leave every single person in her life, even though technically her father had left her, and Sully had just sailed away. But she wouldn't run from Booth, even if she felt the need to. No, if she would run she would hurt him, and that's the one thing she couldn't bear; seeing him hurt.

"I won't run. Really Booth, I won't. I don't want to. You always say I'm the over-rational one, so why do you think I would leave when I'm perfectly happy? I don't see the logic in that." Of course she did, but hiding behind her rational side just seemed like the natural thing to do right now. It felt wrong though.

"Yes you do." Of course he'd see right though her lie. "You are so rational and pragmatic because you don't want to feel." He moved closer to her, looking her right in the face. " You can feel, Bones. I'm not letting anyone hurt you, including me." They were now mere inches apart, and Booth's eyes flickered to her lips, wanting to kiss them but aware that she still wasn't completely convinced.

"Never?" He knew she needed reassurance, she needed to be sure of her choice. He could almost hear the wheels turning in her head, and hoped –prayed- she'd take the chance. But she had to make the decision, if he forced it upon her she'd feel trapped. He wanted her to choose him, he wanted it to mean something.

"Never." She slowly but determinately moved forward, closing the mere inches between their lips. The kiss was slow, gentle, as their mouths moved in synch, and Booth wrapped his arms around her, one caressing her neck and the other stroking her back. She tasted like honey and smelled like flowers, and it was the best kiss he'd ever had. It wasn't passionate or heated, but it was full of promises, promises that he was going to keep.

When they parted Brennan gazed into his eyes, and what she saw there left her without any doubts. She loved him, and he would never, ever hurt her.

A/N: Did you like the ending? I decided not to make some mushy 20 years later everyone's happy and their kids are all together and married and all... I think this is more realistic. Wow, I actually finished it! Do you think you can review one last time? I do. I believe in you... You don't want to dissapoint me, do you? Just kidding, thanks for reading and hopefully you enjoyed it!