Author's Note: Hey squints! This is the sequel to "Questioning Authority"!

Warning… I strongly recommend you read Questioning Authority before this one! If you don't you will probably be mucho confused! The storyline picks up several months after the last scene in Questioning Authority. And I won't spoil that for those who don't know what that is yet... :)

Please review! It makes me write faster!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones… or the characters… just my own far-fetched plotline! haha...

Chapter One

Dr. Temperance Brennan slowly paced around her living room, taking in all of her surroundings. Everything was neat, in order, and the smell of coffee from earlier that morning still lingered in the air. The clock read 7:44, and it was time for work.

Time for work.

That felt way too good to say. Brennan had been off work for nearly 4 months now, and it was finally time for her return. Brennan had, begrudgingly enough, been attending physio therapy regularly over the past months and the muscles in her legs had slowly regenerated through her walking exercises. Other than a slightly ragged scar on her forehead, most of which strategically hidden by her auburn waves, the horrors she had experienced in that basement were far behind her.

People from the lab had been intermittently dropping off lab work to keep Brennan busy, but she was literally itching back to the lab. "If I had my way, I would have been back months ago." Brennan said as she shook her head and opened the creaky closet to find the coat she was looking for. But luckily, Brennan hadn't had her way. Upon hearing the news of Cam's betrayal, and ultimate long-term incarceration, Dr. Goodman returned early from his sabbatical to clean up the federal mess Cam had made of the Jeffersonian. Consequently, he had 'lovingly' ordered Brennan on an extended leave of absence to recover from physical and possible emotional trauma. Brennan had been miffed at first, thinking that she deserved to do what she loved after delivering such a condemning testimony, but silently enjoyed escaping the gossip and murmurs echoing around the Jeffersonian regarding the past years' events. And it gave her time for the things in life she had once dismissed…

Booth. Their relationship had certainly become exponentially more complicated in light of Cam's actions, but if there was one thing Brennan had learned it was that complicated does not necessarily mean bad. Booth had been truly amazing throughout her recovery, though at times a tad overprotective - though it was to be expected. In the beginning he had spent many nights with her, waiting for her to fall asleep, wanting her to know that he was there. When her casts had been removed he'd been there, literally helping her to her feet. However, at the same time, their relationship had changed. The more strength she regained, the more Temperance found herself pulling away from him again, and to her dismay he began to do the same. He was always there for her, but the word 'love' was never used between them. She knew she was afraid, and she had good reason to be. If Camille Saroyan could be so dishonest, so hurtful, and so destructive, why couldn't Booth?

It's not like she could ever compare the two. Camille was now doing life in prison for not only severely assaulting and kidnapping a coworker, but for compromising the integrity of the workplace she had sacrificed so much for. Booth, on the other hand, had been nothing but loving and caring for her not only in past events, but since the moment they'd met. She knew in her heart that she cared so deeply for him, but it was an emotion too deep and too thwarting to trust.

She grabbed her car keys and glanced in the mirror one last time before heading out the door. She ruffed up her hair in the front and smoothed one wave over the telltale scar on her forehead, as if both hiding her pain on the outside and the inside as well.

"Welcome back, sweetie!!" Angela squealed as she quickly clattered her way across the lab towards Brennan who greeted her with a smile. Zach and Hodgins waved and also called out to Brennan. Angela grabbed her best friend in a hug.

"Angela – I saw you only yesterday!" Brennan managed with a laugh as they pulled away.

"I know, I know! But it's just something about seeing you back here! This place has been like testosterone-central the whole time you've been away!"

Brennan gave her a puzzled look, "But what do hormones have to do with…"

Dr. Goodman cut her off as he got closer to the two of them. "Dr. Brennan, we are so honored to have you back with us. We have truly been at a loss without you!" Goodman said with a warm smile has he shook Brennan's hand and patted her on the shoulder.

"It's good to be back Dr. Goodman. Really good to be back." Temperance said as she returned the smiles of those around her.

Brennan slowly made her way to her office. And it wasn't her minorly sore legs that slowed her down, it was the number of people stopping her on the way to her office.

"Dr. Brennan, welcome back…"

" Dr. Brennan, we were so shocked to hear…"

"Dr. Brennan, how are you feeling after…"

"Dr. Brennan, it must have been so difficult for you…"

Each statement Temperance responded with a tense but genuine smile, hoping she wouldn't be facing this reaction for the entire day. She finally made it to her office, opened the door quickly and shut it behind her. She leaned her body against the door and buried her face against its wooden panels.

"Welcome back, Bones!" Booth exclaimed as Brennan whirled around with a shriek and placed her hand over her mouth.

"Booth are you trying to scare me to death?" She snapped before breaking into a laugh at the sight in front of her. Booth was sitting in Brennan's desk chair with his legs up on her desk, crossed at the ankles. He had his arms comfortably behind his head and gave her one of his best trademark smiles.

"That depends. Would I get to resuscitate you?" Booth jokingly, tilting his head.

"Only if you want to die too" She retorted as she shook her coat off and draped it over the hook by the door.

"Would you examine my remains?" He continued as he stood and walked toward her.

"I don't remember you harassing me so much last time I was at work." Brennan laughed as he held both of her hands in his.

"Actually, it's not harassment if you like it…" Booth said quietly with a smile.

Brennan retracted her hands and smiled at him as she walked over to her desk. "So do we have a case?" she asked, sitting down.

"Uh no. I just wanted to come see you." Booth said, slightly puzzled. "How's the walking?"

"Oh I'm fine. Sitting is nice though." She said as an awkward silence filled the room.

"Great. So do you have dinner plans?" He asked, hopefully.

"I'll probably just eat what I brought with me. I have a lot to catch up on." She said as she ducked her head down to retrieve a stack of file folders. She picked one off of the top and slipped into her blue Jeffersonian lab coat.

"You can't work all day, the doctor said –"

"Booth I know what the doctor said, and I know what my limits are." She said as she opened the door. "I know what lines not to cross." She said over her shoulder as she left him standing there in her office.

"What's wrong with her?" Booth thought angrily to himself as he started to leave. He'd never cared for a woman so much, but he'd also never been so tortured by one. They'd been through so much together, and she always seemed to be pulling away. She had good reason to, of course, considering what she'd been through, which was why Seeley didn't push. But he couldn't wait forever.

It was then that he noticed a small shiny dot by her office door. He peered at it and then peeled it off. The colour drained from his face: he knew exactly what it was.

"Cullen don't try to belittle me, I know exactly what this is!" Booth said, his voice raising as he held up the sliver dot, which was now stuck to a scrap of paper. "Why are you spying on her? Is she in trouble?"

"Booth, this is classified information and I will not be spoken to like –"

"Tell me what you're listening for! How many of these recorders have you planted?"

"Booth, take a seat. There's something you need to know about Dr. Brennan." Cullen said grimly, as Booth quickly shut up and took a seat.

Several Hours Later

"Hey Booth! Tempe just went to her office if you need her." Angela smiled as she turned to grab a tray with a skull on it.

"Isn't it great that she's working again?" Angela smiled. "I mean, it's just like old times!" She said happily as she walked past him.

"Yeah. Old times." Booth said under his breath. He walked purposefully to Bones' door and paused, running a hand through his short hair. He opened up the door.

"Hey Booth." She smiled, looking up from her computer for a second.

"Hey Bones." He said, heading for her couch. "Have you eaten yet?" He asked, craving the last shred of normalcy that her presence could possibly offer.

"Mmm no." She said, closing up her laptop and leaning back in her chair.

"Um Booth? I'm totally eating my vocabulary here, but can you take me home? My legs are … sore… and I don't think I can drive."

Booth smiled. "It's 'I'm eating my words' not vocabulary, Bones. And of course I'll take you home."

"Thanks." She smiled meekly. She winced as she rose to get her coat. He gently placed his hand on her back and led her out to the garage.

On the way home, they stopped past the diner for some long awaited food. Brennan waited in the car as Booth went in to pick up their order. Before heading to the Take Out desk, he walked to the back of the restaurant and whipped out his cell phone.

"Cullen" was the quick reply.

"It's Booth. Look there's just no way –" Booth whispered harshly.

"Are you with her right now?" He asked, cutting him off.

"She's in the car." Booth said gazing out at Bones, who was slowly falling asleep against the window.

"Booth, don't make this personal. We have no choice." Cullen said shortly and hung up, leaving Booth with the deafening dial tone.

Ooh what's the secret? Confusing… I know… but things will start to make sense in the next chapter… haha at least that's the plan…
Did you like it? Please review and then I'll post more!