An: It's three in the morning...I can't sleep...I have to be up in four hours to get ready for school...and I have to take two exams today. In other words...tomorrow is going to be hell, so I'm posting this, and another chapter of Fighting Darkness tonight, incase I die tomorrow. :P

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"Seeley," she whispered, as they neared the group of people who her father was standing with. "I don't want to do this."

"Why not?" he asked, turning to her and resting his hand on her shoulder. "Sweetheart, he hurt you. That bruise is nasty, and your father deserves to see it."

"But this isn't the first time Elsu has threatened me," she said, cradling her arm and grimacing as the bruise caught her eye. "And I'm certain that he will follow through with his promise to the best of his abilities."

"Well, the best of his abilities won't be able to get past me," he promised, grasping her hand and pulling her forward. "I promise, I'll protect you, but to do that, I need your father to see this. If he doesn't Elsu will most likely string another story, and have me shunned by your people."

Temperance's eyes were wide in fear, and a soft gloss made her eyes shine. Her teeth descended to her lip, and she breathed out heavily, before she nodded in affirmation. "Alright," she agreed, with a weak, broken voice. "I assume you're right."

"Okay," he murmured, gently bringing her forward and laying a kiss to her forehead, before he moved her closer to her father. "Maska," he alerted, holding her hand tighter as the taller man turned at the sound of his name. His eyebrows rose in interest, and he silently asked why he had been called. "Go on," Seeley started, moving his thumb against the back of her hand. "I'm right here."

"Father," she whispered, looking up into her father's eyes and taking in a shaky breath. "Elsu...he...he..."

"What is it angel?" he asked, stepping forward and brushing the backs of his fingers down her cheek. "What has you so frightened? What did Elsu do?"

"He attacked me," she stated, her hand removing the fabric that was covering her bruise. "He was angered because I forgot to put his necklace on, and when Seeley began to defend me, he reached around and grasped my arm. He told me if I spoke, he...he would kill me..."

Maska's face contorted in disbelief, and he shook his head slightly, before he looked to the dark black and purple lines that circled his daughter's ivory skin. He gasped and took her arm in his fingers, turning it slightly as he examined her wound, and measured the bruise with his eyes. He looked to his hand, and covered her injury with a tender touch; gasping and jumping when she hissed, and released a small cry.

"It hurts father," she grumbled, falling closer to Seeley. "Please, don't touch it."

"I was only measuring daughter," he explained, shaking his head and sighing heavily. "The size seems to match his hand, but I will have to talk to him first. I believe that what you tell me is true, don't doubt that. Is there anything else I should know? Has the whole truth been spoken?"

"Elsu has done this before father. Since we were children he has tormented and hurt me, but he said he would take my life if I ever told. But, this time Seeley was here to protect me. He stood between Elsu and I, and defended me. When Elsu grabbed me, he punched him, and once he was able to recover, Seeley punched him again, for threatening me. I can assure you Elsu will lie, and try and ruin Seeley's name, but just...please try to see the truth."

"You know me my angel. I can tell when one is lying," he assured, moving his hands to the side of her jaw, so that his lips could touch against her forehead. "I will watch him, and have one of my men listen to his loose-lipped conversations. For now...go and rest. Have your bruise looked at."

"It's fine...it only hurts a little. The pain will die away eventually," Temperance brushed away, squeezing Seeley's hand, and nodding towards her father.

"What did he say?"

"He said he will have someone spy on Elsu, and will talk to him personally. I'm sure he will be caught...but until then...please tell me you don't have to leave for your village," she whispered, cursing the vulnerability that leaked into her words. "I don't trust to be alone while he is still within our tribe."

"I promised you I would protect you," Seeley said again, leading her towards her hut, and moving the tarp away so she could duck in. "I swear on my life, that I will keep that promise. If you need me, I'll stay. Cullen is busy anyway, he won't even notice that I'm gone."

"I'm...I'm very glad that I met you, Seeley Booth," she whispered, looking to the ground to hide her embarrassment.

She shivered as his finger hooked under her jaw; his eyes burning as he brought her gaze up to his own. Her throat constricted, and her heart pulsed rapidly as he simply stared into her eyes; his thumb barely twitching against her jaw.

"And I...am not only glad, but very thankful, that I met you, Temperance," he hushed, his thumb beginning to stretch out, against her skin. "If I didn't, I would most likely be dead, at the bottom of a ravine. You saved my life, and now I swear to protect yours. Seems fair enough don't you think?"

"It's not about being fair," she muttered, shivering violently as his thumb descended to brush against her neck.

"Your right," he said, dropping his hand away from her when he noticed the constantly decreasing space between them. "But none the less...I'm here."

"And...like I said before...I'm glad."

~*~*B+B*~*~

They spent the day within the vicinity of her home, indulging in the warmth of a fire, and the comfort they had sitting extremely close together. Their shoulders refused to separate, and they spoke softly for hours about everything and nothing. She told him of the fun moments she remembered of her brother, and she told him of tales she had had with Angela, while he told her of his adventures in England, and the trouble he had gotten into throughout the years.

"Are you warm enough?" he asked, for the millionth time in the past couple of hours.

"Seeley," she laughed, tugging the quilt he made for her around her shoulders. "We've been sitting here right in front of this fire for hours. If I wasn't warm, I would have told you. Besides, this blanket you made for me is even warmer than this fire."

"I'm just making sure," he said, shrugging a shoulder, and absently moving his arm around her back. "Protecting you and all."

"It's alright," she chuckled, resting against his side and shaking her head. "You don't have to worry about me all day every day. I've survived this long, I can take care of myself."

"You of all people should know that nature is a very strong being," Seeley said, resting back against the wall of her hut, before he threw another blanket over their laps.

"You are correct. But I am strong, I am healthy, and I make sure that I am warm when I sleep. It's the night that sneaks in with the knives of death. When you're asleep, you're calm...unaware...able to be slowly frozen without realizing it. If you aren't warm when you sleep, you will more likely get sick, or die just from being cold. But I keep warm. Especially last night, when I had you as a human heater beneath me."

"I have found that I enjoy being your human heater," he teased, reaching up and sensually sliding his finger along the line of her jaw.

"As do I," she smirked. "I should tell the others that you're much warmer when you're cuddled up with someone else."

"That would make things considerably less awkward if your father walked in," he laughed, smiling when she rested her head on his shoulder and held him tighter.

"I really don't care what my father would say at this point," she muttered, snuggling closer into him. "Do you have to go home?" she asked.

"No," he whispered, moving his nose into the depths of her long auburn hair. "Not tonight. I can stay here with you."

"Good," she hushed, closing her eyes against the pulse she could feel within his chest. "I...I find I would be very sad if you had to leave."

"Aww, you'd miss me," he teased, once again brushing his finger against her jaw.

"I would," she assured, keeping her eyes closed to avoid the intense look she was sure had colored his gaze. "I like you being in my life Seeley. I feel safe with you...I feel cared for when I'm with you. It makes no sense why, since I haven't known you for long, but I'm not going to fight against an amazing person that just happened to stumble into my life."

"Well, I'm very stubborn, I would have been here even if you wanted me gone."

"Good," she smiled, finally turning her eyes up to his. "Keep it that way."