Chapter One – Good To Be Back

"Another round?"

Temperance shook her head. "I've had enough." She was feeling slightly light-headed and very warm. Booth was very appealing tonight. The dim light behind the bar gave his face a warm glow. Even through the din of the crowd yelling at the television, it felt like it was just the two of them. She mentally shook her head.

"Hmm, sorry, what did you say?" Temperance watched Booth's full lips as he said "Do you need a lift home?"

"No." she paused, "no, thanks. I'll take a cab. It's late, you'll want to go home and get some sleep."

Booth hid his disappointment well. Spending time with Bones was ..., but spending time without her was agonizing. Her arms were bare tonight in the blouse she was wearing and her skin looked inviting. His gaze wandered along the length of her arm to her narrow waist. He forced his eyes to stop and looked into his empty glass instead. That kind of thinking meant sleepless nights.

The night had been full of stress and emotion. Bones had just returned from France after promoting her current book. Now, she had a full schedule back in the States with the book and her work at the Jeffersonian. Booth had stopped at the book signing to give Bones a hard time. It was the first time he'd seen her in two weeks. When she smiled at him, he felt his breath catch in his chest and couldn't help but smile back.

He always enjoyed teasing her in front of her fans. And fans there had been. It was one of the largest crowds he had seen at a book signing. The agent reflex in him looked around the room at the security. He hated these places. Someone could hide too easily, blend in too easily. Bones' agent, Tilly, said the point was for the public to meet the author and gave him grief over wanting to check over the security protocol. Bones told him she'd be fine. He checked anyway.

Standing in the center, he counted the uniformed security. One, two, three points covered. Where's the fourth? 'We're in the center of one of the largest book stores in DC, with three hundred people and the fourth's missing. Where the hell is he?' Booth thought angrily.

Booth moved slowly and casually, his eyes scanning looking for the man. Sure enough, behind the raised platform where Bones was signing, the door to the hallway that lead to the staff room was open slightly. The Fourth's arm was twisted around and he was pinned to the wall behind the door by some idiot with a knife. Instinct took over as Booth placed his gun to his temple. "Drop it and let him go." he said icily. Booth's suspicion that this guy was an idiot was confirmed when he turned quickly to try to cut him with the knife. Booth's left arm deflected the blow while the arm holding the gun moved quickly. His elbow collided with Idiot's nose and upper lip. Idiot dropped the knife and before he knew what hit him, Booth had him pinned on the floor with his arm behind him. The roaring in his ears stopped abruptly when he realized he popped out Idiot's shoulder when twisting his arm. It was then he yelled at the fourth, "Do your fucking job!" The Fourth jumped and grabbed the radio from his belt to call the local detachment.

Later outside, with Idiot securely in the back of a cruiser, Booth started to breath normally again. It wasn't until the local officer told him that Idiot was trying to rob the store, not hurt Brennan, that the ball of ice that formed in Booth's belly began to melt. He watched the Fourth give his statement to the police. Booth didn't realize he was growling until Bones came up to him. "I'm all done in there, wanna go for a drink?"

The sky was clear and the moon was bright as the cab pulled up outside the bar. The change in temperature from the bar made her shiver.

"Thanks for the drink. See you tomorrow?" Bones tried to not to sound so hopeful. Booth reached in front of her and opened the car's door. For a moment Temperance felt the warmth of his body warm her. She could also smell him and it sent her head reeling. Cautiously she took a half step backward, inhaling at the same time.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow. It's good to have you home, Bones."

"It's good to be home Booth. Night". Temperance got in the cab and Booth shut the door. After telling the driver the address, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. 'This is ridiculous' she thought. 'I'm acting like I'm in high school'. Temperance was cross with herself, although she couldn't pin point exactly why and that frustrated her even more.

In France there were many dinner invitations and many advances by attractive and powerful men, but outside of the business of promoting the new book, she stayed in her hotel alone. That didn't mean it was peaceful though. Her thoughts continued to focus on her partner. She found herself mentally examining his face, his voice and his smell in her head.

The cab pulled up to her building. She paid the fee, tipped generously and walked slowly to her door. Taking one more breath of the cool, clear air, let herself in.

Temperance tossed her keys in the bowl on the hall table and took off her coat. She stretched, savouring the warm feeling that was still slowly running through her body. She looked at herself in the hall mirror. She knew that she was attractive and pulled the clip that was holding her hair up. She played with her hair while tilting her face to look at it from different angles. Feeling self-conscience and slightly ridiculous, smiled to herself and said "Time for bed, Tempe".