"Thanks for babysitting, Bones." Booth smiled.

"No problem, have fun on your date." Brennan still had trouble dealing with the fact that Booth was actually going on a date. With someone other than herself.

"I should be home by 12." He smiled brightly, glancing at the clock to see that it was 7:00. Brennan sighed as he went out the door. She turned to Parker to begin their night.

"So, let's eat some macaroni and cheese."

xxx

Two hours later, Brennan was sitting on the couch next to Parker as they watched Scooby-Doo. Brennan thought the show to be highly improbable, but she decided to take one for the team for tonight. Although she was taking one pretty hard for the team just babysitting while Booth was out with some girl. Parker was half asleep on the couch. His head was on the arm of the couch and his feet brushed Brennan's legs from his near fetal position.

All of a sudden, Brennan heard the front door swing open and a broken Booth stumbled in the door.

"Parker, why don't you go off to bed?" Brennan wasn't the best at picking up signals, but she knew that Parker shouldn't see his dad like this. She walked cautiously toward Booth, afraid he might crumble if she came too close.

"Booth, what happened? It's only nine, why are you back so soon?" His eyes were red and he looked angry. Something was definitely up with him.

"It was Catherine. She...she..." He couldn't meet her eye. "She said these...things."

Brennan would normally comment on how vague that sentence was, but this was not normal. She held back on any comments.

"She said you were just in it for the extra money. She said that you didn't even care about me."

"Well, Booth you know that's untrue." Brennan stepped towards him.

"I know it isn't...that's what I told her. Then she started going off about how terrible you were and that you don't deserve to know me...it hurt, Bones." Booth's voice cracked on her name and he brought his fist to his mouth in sadness.

"Booth, I'm here. And I do...care about you."

"C'mere, Bones. I really need a guy hug right now." He didn't even know why he was crying. He suspected it was because someone else spelled out his fears right in front of him. It was too much to bear. He hated it when people judged Bones before actually even having a decent conversation with her.

"Okay." Brennan wrapped her arms around Booth's waist.

These little reminders let Booth know where Brennan's loyalties lay. And it was good to know she wouldn't forget him.

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