Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the characters I created.

A new story begins! If you haven't read A Horse of a Different Color I suggest that you read that one before this one. It will make more sense. I wrote this chapter while taking a study break. It takes place in the same year and time frame that my first story did. The setting now is November and another case is about to unfold! Enjoy!

The cold air rushing in Booth's lungs was causing tightness in his chest as he ran quickly to the abandon warehouse where the call had been traced to. The only sound was his heavy breathing, his fast footsteps and the sound of his arms brushing up against his bullet proof vest. He came to a sliding stop right outside the steel door. He placed his back on the wall before drawing his gun. He was ready for whatever was about to come. He kicked the door open and disappeared into the darkness of the warehouse. His eyes frantically, but skillfully scanned the room for the person of interest. He was pissed; Grant had gone on this call on his own. Had he not told the young agent multiple times that he was too inexperienced to go alone? He would make sure he reamed Grant out after he saved his ass. He heard a deep husky voice whispering. He closed in on the man. He ducted behind a pile of wooden pallets trying to calculate his next move. He took a deep sigh and readjusted his weapon when a cold hard object hit him across the back of the head with a loud thud. The loud sickening sound was the last thing remembered before it went black…

Booth shot up in bed his breath catching in his throat. He took a few seconds before he was able to breathe short shallow breaths. He rubbed his forehead with his thumb and index finger. His forehead was perspiring; he had broken out in a cold sweat. There was another loud knock, sounding just like his dream. That made him jump. He noticed it was coming from his front door. He managed to throw back his tangled sheets before slowly getting his stiff body out of bed. The cool air of the apartment on his moist skin sent a chill throughout his body. He grabbed a FBI hoodie that was on the back of his chair. He slipped it over his head and tugged it down over his toned torso as he made it to the door. The knocking continued, without looking through the peep hole he opened the door; a beautiful Brennan waiting impatiently on the other side of the door. She looked at him in surprise.

"Why aren't you ready?" she asked quickly pushing in past Booth, "We need to be in Fredericksburg in a couple hours."

"It's not a good day."

Brennan looked at him, "By your physical appearance it looks like your day hasn't begun."

Booth disregarded Brennan's comment before going back to what she had mentioned before, "What's in Virginia?"

Brennan looked at him annoyed, "Slider's first competition!" she shoved her hands in her plaid trench coat pockets.

"Right. Right. His first competition since his injury." Booth rubbed his forehead trying to get his bearings.

"You smell like stale alcohol. Were you out last night?" Brennan questioned as she closed the door behind her. Booth was off towards the bathroom while Brennan tried to accuse Booth of drinking too much.

"Not anymore than I usually drink on a week night." Booth lied, he had been drinking more frequently and heavily to try and subdued his horrible reoccurring nightmares. Obviously it wasn't working, he felt like shit in the morning and his dreams were still just as horrible.

"Can you move at a little faster pace?" Brennan questioned encouraging him to get a move on, "I would prefer to be on time to Slider's competition."

"Yeah, give me twenty minutes."

As Booth headed into the bathroom Brennan started to look around Booth's apartment. She walked into his kitchen and noticed that his bottle of aged scotch was completely empty. She remembered that Booth only drank that alcohol on special occasions. She took a mental note before moving to his coffee table that was littered with papers. A picture of Booth caught her eye. She shuffled through the papers until she found the one she was looking for; she pulled it out from underneath a glass that once held alcohol and looked over it. The picture included a man that Brennan didn't recognize. A young man she could tell from his bone structure. She looked down from the picture and read the excerpt. It was Agent Briggs. Brennan read the story about the young agent. Brennan was impressed with what she had read. She finally understood how promising this agent was within the FBI. She was also impressed with how much the FBI was honored to have Booth as his mentor. Brennan smiled, she knew all along that it took two to be as renown and well known as Booth and she had been. She was proud of her partner. Brennan smiled putting down the paper before finding another one about Agent Briggs's death. She stopped herself from picking it up. She didn't want to get the story from a newspaper clipping. She wanted to get the story from Booth.

"What are you doing?" Booth asked reappearing in the room. He had a towel around his waist and ran another one through his damp hair.

Brennan jumped up slightly surprised, "I was just looking through some of your newspaper clippings." She then folded her hands on her lap, "Sorry if I intruded. It was on your table in plain sight. Usually that means it is open for people to view."

Booth shrugged, "It's alright."

"Can you put some clothes on?" Brennan asked feeling slightly uncomfortable. She never before felt uncomfortable around Booth but since he admitted that he loved her she had felt slightly awkward around him.

"Yeah," he chuckled thinking back to when Brennan barged in on him in the bath tub. He headed back in and threw on a Phillies hoodie and a pair of low slung blue jeans. He slipped his feet into his jet black vans before grabbing his dark brown, almost black leather jacket off the back of the chair. He went back out to Brennan, "Better?"

Brennan smiled softly, "Yes, can we go?"

After their hour drive they finally made it to their destination; a huge covered facility with a massive indoor arena and enough stalls to stable over three hundred horses. Brennan and Booth walked quickly to their destination where Bryce was located. His stall fronts were decorated with his stall curtains stating his name in blue, black, and silver. He also had a small fountain and flowers around the area for a nice polished look.

"A little over the top huh?" Booth asked as they headed for the aisle.

Brennan shook her head, "With the amount we are paying him I wouldn't expect anything less."

Bryce was putting the finishing touches on Slider when he looked up and saw the duo.

"It's going to take me awhile to get used to you two as my clients." Bryce joked grabbing Slider's tooled leather bridle that was beautifully embellished with silver.

Booth laughed, "Better on your side than not, right?"

'You've got that right." Bryce admitted as he offered Slider the ported bit that he accepted before Bryce put the ear piece over Slider's freshly shaven sorrel ear. Slider chewed as he played with the bit in his mouth, "Will one of you hold him for me while I grab my hat?"

Brennan took the reins from Bryce, "I'll hold him." Bryce disappeared into the tack room.

Slider stretched out his neck and greeted Brennan with a slight nudge, "He remembers me!"

"I see that!" Booth smiled pulling out a red and white striped peppermint, "Maybe if he had a good run we can give him one."

"We should probably ask Bryce." Brennan admitted cautiously.

"Bones, he's our horse."

"I know…..I just don't want to do anything that will mess with his performance or diet."

Bryce emerged with a black cowboy hat on. His spurs jangled as he took the reins back from Brennan, "You two ready to see what your horse is made of?" Bryce asked with a bright smile as he put his left foot in the stirrup and swung up into the saddle. Slider stepped forward slightly as he adjusted to Bryce in the saddle. Bryce pulled on the reins to stop Slider from walking forward. When the beautiful sorrel stopped Bryce and leaned down and patted his neck that was covered by his long copper mane.

"How has his performance been?" Brennan asked, "Did he seem to come back strong from his injury?"

Bryce adjusted his reins and nodded, "He seems a lot better, maybe even stronger."

"Did Dr. Colfax come out and check on him before you left?" Brennan questioned as she and Booth walked on either side of Slider down to the warm up arena.

Bryce nodded, "Yes, he gave the all clear."

"I'm surprised you two still used him after the whole incident with his daughter." Bryce admitted looking over at Brennan and then Booth.

"It was my idea," Brennan admitted, "Just because he's daughter made poor and horrible choices doesn't mean a man with his qualifications should be stopped from doing his job. He is obviously the best veterinarian in the area."

"Do you always talk like that?" Bryce asked Brennan pausing before stepping into the arena.

Brennan looked at him confused.

"Yes, she does." Booth confirmed as Bryce headed out to warm up, "Good luck!" Booth called.

Brennan looked at Booth, "I thought my explanation was clearly stated. I didn't use big words…"

"I'm sure Bryce's normal clients don't have nearly the high IQ that you do."

Brennan sighed, "Why did you wish him luck? You know there is no such thing."

Booth laughed, "It's what you do before a big competition." Booth tried to explain, "Or some people say, break a leg."

Brennan looked at him horrified, "Good thing you didn't say that! Slider already had a broken bone." She then stopped, "Which I don't believe in superstitions."

"You made a joke until you totally killed it with your last comment."

Brennan smiled, "I know if I didn't add the comment you would think that I was actually superstitious."

Booth smiled as they headed up into the stands. They watched in silence as many of the competitors went. Booth was surprised that Brennan was at a sport event, granted it wasn't hockey or baseball but it was still a sport. He smiled, it was more progress. He looked over at her out of the corner of his eye trying to read her. They hadn't talked about the night after the Colfax case when he told her he loved her for real. They didn't talk really for a few days besides a few comments on cases they had been working on. Murders had been down in DC which meant that they didn't really have to see each other. He figured that had worked out well for Brennan. She could work out her emotions and rationalize everything before she had to see him again. She finally called him a couple days later and asked to go grab breakfast at the diner. He had accepted and didn't ask any questions. When they met up and sat at their usual seat next to the big picture window they ate and chatted like nothing had happen days ago. Booth in a way was relieved; it meant she wasn't escaping to some desert country again. They were still working together. He would settle for that. He knew now how she felt about him which meant that she wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon. Booth focused back on Slider's run. The horse was flawless. His transitions were smooth and well executed in the right spots. His sliding stops were amazing.

"How do they get that much distance on their stops?" Booth asked aloud.

Brennan looked over at Booth, "Technically they're called sliding stops. They have special shoes called sliding plates that assist in their stopping. So they actually slide." Brennan explained smiling, "I find it intriguing."

Brennan's phone chirped in her coat pocket.

"Doesn't the lab know you're out of the office today?" Booth questioned softly as he watched her pull the phone out of her pocket. Brennan didn't look up as she retrieved the message, "Yes, but I need to be reached in case of an emergency or a break in case evidence."

"I understand, couldn't they just wait a couple more hours?" Booth asked jokingly.

Brennan looked at the text message from Cam:

We need you back at the lab, a break in the Lawrence case.

Brennan looked up at Booth, "I need to get back to the lab. We had a break in the Lawrence case."

Booth laughed, "Bones, that guy died over fifty years ago. Can't he wait another hour?"

"Actually he died fifty one years ago. Would you want us to wait if that was one someone related to you?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"Can we at least wait until the placings?" he pleaded.

Brennan nodded as she replied to Cam's text. All of the horses entered back into the arena and lined up in the middle facing the audience. This competition was a big and prestigious one. Horses that did well at this competition would be in the running for world competitions.

"First place goes to number 345 Hot Blooded Slider. Ridden by Bryce Baker and owned by Dr. Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth."

Booth looked over at Brennan, "You really had to put the doctor in there huh?" he joked getting up from the stands as they applauded.

"Well I am a doctor. It's part of my name." Brennan explained, "You should have added Agent."

Booth shook his head, "Nah, I don't want people to know I work for the FBI when we come to these things."

"Well I'm sure they all know who we are already." Brennan admitted as she walked down the aluminum steps.

"Well I didn't think it would be appropriate."

They made their way towards Bryce and Slider. Bryce held a royal blue ribbon attached to the gold plated trophy and a plaque. There was also a neck ribbon around Slider's neck. Brennan pulled a digital camera from her pocket, "I need to get a picture!"

"Bones, you need to be in it." Booth admitted.

"Rebecca!" Bryce called to the petite blonde, "Can you take our picture?"

Rebecca nodded setting down the dandy brush she had and took the camera from Brennan, "It's nice to see you two again. This time is definitely better than our last encounter."

"Yeah, sorry about that again." Booth admitted mentioning to his gun pointed at her.

Rebecca smiled softly, "I know you were just doing your job. All is forgiven."

Brennan and Booth stepped back so they were on either side of Slider and smiled while Rebecca flashed the picture, "Thanks." Brennan stated looking at the picture before returning it to her pocket, "We should get going Booth." Brennan finally admitted.

'Yeah, we should." Booth stated.

"Hey!" Bryce called stepping off Slider, "These are for you." He mentioned to the trophy, ribbons, and plaque. He also handed Booth an envelope, "There should be a check in there for ten grand."

Booth almost choked, 'What?"

Bryce laughed, "Well, after my ten percent, it will be a little less." He joked, "This is a futurity. At big competitions they give money away."

Brennan herself was surprised.

"Good boy, Slider!" Booth smiled patting the horse's sweaty neck, "College fund for Parker!"

Bryce smiled, "You can bring your son out whenever you want. I have a couple of retired horses he can ride around on."

"That would be great." Booth smiled, he knew Parker would love that, "Maybe next weekend sometime."

"Yeah, anything after all the help you two did for my farm." Bryce admitted, "I should get him back to Rebecca, thanks again."

Brennan took the trophies from Bryce and gave Slider a final pat before looking over at Booth, "Are you ready now?" she asked as she started to walk towards the door where they had entered.

"Of course." Booth replied opening the door for Brennan as they made their way to the SUV.

Brenna placed all of their accolades in the back seat before getting into the passenger side, "You keep the money after we give Bryce his share."

Booth started the car and looked over at Brennan, "Why would I do that? We own him equally."

"I have enough money from my book sales and my job that I would prefer you keep it and put it in a college fund. That will be more use to Parker than me." She admitted looking out the side window.

"You sure Bones?" he asked again for verification.

Brennan nodded, "I wouldn't have offered if I didn't agree with it."

Booth smiled, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Brennan headed into the lab a couple hours later to find paper work on her desk concerning the Lawrence case. She pulled off her coat putting on the back of her chair. She then slid the chair out and sat down. She looked at the papers in front of her when there was movement by her door. Brennan looked up and saw Caroline Julian standing at the door.

"Busy Dr. Brennan?" she asked stepping inside and heading towards the front of Brennan's desk.

Brennan gathered her papers together and put them on the side of her desk, "No, you rarely appear at my office. I assume it's something urgent."

"You've got that right, Cherie." She looked around outside Brennan's office before speaking, "I've something you can't tell Booth about." She said in a low but strong voice.

Brennan looked at her with doubt, "I don't keep things from Booth," she assured.

"You'll want to keep this from him." Caroline admitted, "At least until we get to the bottom of this."

"Can you tell me what this is?" Brennan asked quickly, "I don't like not being well informed."

Caroline rolled her eyes, "There's been movement on Agent Grant Briggs case."

"Grant Briggs is dead."

Caroline raised an eyebrow, "In the past yes. But now I'm not so sure."

Brennan's eyes widen. Her day had just gotten very interesting.

Please R&R. I have a long weekend coming up so hopefully I'll have another chapter up next week!