"Booth" Seely answered the persistent ring of the cell phone but his eyes were on his son. His brow furrowed in concentration as put on his first pair of hockey skates.

"Booth it's me" the familiar voice filled the receiver and he broke into a grin.

"Bones hey!" he couldn't keep the smile from his voice "You miss me yet? Three weeks in Guam with no murder to investigate- You must be pretty bored."

"Daddy is that Bones? Hey, let me talk to her!" he tried to stand on his skates but fell instantly back onto the bench and scowled.

"Hey Bones, Parker wants to talk to you just a sec," he handed the phone over and knelt to work on his son's skates, adjusting them so they fit more comfortably.

"Bones! Hey, I got the chemistry set that you sent me and it is so cool!" He paused for only a second before prattling on "Me and Max are gonna make some sta… sta.. stagagmites like in a cave or something" his little mouth started making weird shapes and Booth stopped fiddling with his skates long enough to watch.

"Sta.. lac…tites. Yeah those things. Hey Bones when are you comin' home? I think my dad misses…" Booth yanked the phone out of his little hand and put a finger to his mouth to quiet Parker, who looked thoroughly insulted.

"Yeah hey Bones it's me again how's Guam?"

"Well the repatriation of human remains to indigenous groups for reburial has really limited the access researchers have to skeletal materials for extensive anthropological research... so this is really an incredible opportunity."

"Sure but is it hot there? Are there any beaches? Eaten at any good restaurants?"

"The temperature is satisfactory for the type of work we are doing. How's Parker's birthday? Did he like his skates?" He was more than a little surprised that she had remembered something like his son's birthday.

"We're just at the rink trying them out. Haven't gotten on the ice yet but I think they'll fit okay… hey when you coming back Bones? I can only get so much help from your interns you know"

"I'm here for another three weeks so you'll have to make do without me for a while longer" she said, not a hint of humility in her tone. "So I should probably let you go so you can get on the ice."

His heart sunk unaccountably "Sure, I mean if you need to go smell skeletons' and stuff I mean…."

"You okay Booth? You sound…"

"I'm fine Bones. Hey why don't I pick you up at the airport huh?" he asked, oddly pleased with the idea.

"Angela is picking me up"

"Fine, I'll get your flight info from her and let her know she doesn't have to pick you up after all. See you in three weeks." He snapped the phone closed before she could argue.


Brennan stared at the phone in her hand for a full minute after Booth hung up before one corner of her mouth quirked into a lopsided grin. Talking to her partner made her feel something. Something other than intellectual stimulation or exhaustion which was a welcome change. It was as though she felt complete and empty at the same time.

It must have something to do with the dreams she was having about Booth's tumor. Obviously, her subconscious was still concerned about him, thus it welcomed evidence of his wellbeing and continued good health.

Satisfied with her rationale, she returned to the partially exposed skeletal remains at her feet. The teeth were died red and black as was the traditional decoration of the Chamorro. It was surprising that the color had remained intact under the earth for so long. Before long she was lost in her work.


"Carmen Marnata" Angela handed him the missing person file with the face of a beautiful young Hispanic police officer clipped to the front. "Her partner reported her missing three days ago." Angela wore a short black skirt and high heeled boots. She looked like a million bucks and Booth told her so. Her wide grin transformed her face from concerned to radiant in milliseconds. She held a red beaded bag over one shoulder and turned to leave.

"I'll call you in an hour Ang" Hodgins said without looking up from his microscope.

"I owe you one Hodgy" she tossed the words carelessly over her shoulder as she strutted out of the room.

"I thought she was going on a date?" Booth said, confused. "Why are you calling her?"

"It's a blind date and she needs an excuse to leave if the guy's a tool."

"Wow, you guys have come a long ways!" his eyebrows shot up as he examined the scientist's face for signs of deceit.

Hodgins looked up and smirked "We've moved on. I'm actually seeing someone else now." His face expressed pride, rather than pleasure at the declaration.

"Good for you buddy. Enjoy your phone date. I'm going to talk to Carmen's parents and her partner. Let me know if you get anything more from the gunk or whatever."