This is my first Fanfic story! The story takes place two years after season 5.

Disclaimer: Of course I don't own anything!

BOOTH

Booth sat with his head on his desk as he fiddled with a royal blue poker chip that he always kept in his suit pants pocket. It reminded him of his past gambling problem and how he was able to overcome it. It also kept things in perspective. There was a loud thud sound on his desk. He literally jumped out of his chair. He looked up to see Caroline Julian standing in front of his desk.

"Scare ya Cherie?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Booth quickly regained his composure. He didn't even hear her come into his office. He slipped the poker chip back in his pocket and leaned back in his chair, "Ahhh, never." He said clearing his throat trying to regain his composure. He looked down at the thick FBI file that had been literally dropped on his desk. He looked up at her with a questioning glance, "What's this?" he asked pointing the file trying not to be tempted to pick it up until he knew Caroline's agenda. Before Caroline answered she went and closed the glass door to his office.

Booth raised his eyebrow in curiosity, "Something good I'm assuming." He added with a mischievous smile.

"Save it Cherie. There is a case that needs special attention. Special Agent Seeley Booth special attention, if you see what I'm getting at." Caroline hinted.

"Yeah, I got that from the closing of the door," Booth leaned over his desk, "I don't know how much I can do from behind a desk. You do realize that I've been on desk duty and under psychological supervision for the past year?" he questioned reminding Caroline, "Pushing paper is what I do now."

"Cherie, how do you ever think you're going to get back to the old Booth?" she asked annoyed. Booth opened his mouth to answer, but she didn't give him a chance, "You've gotta jump back on that horse." She confirmed with an analogy, "Let me be the one to help you out. I'm always willing to help a friend in need."

Booth smiled softly, "Caroline that was such a nice thing to say." He cooed jokingly putting his feet up on his desk.

"Don't get all mushy on me." She warned sitting down in the chair in front of Booth's desk, 'So you want to give it a try or are you going to pass this one up too?"

Booth leaned back in his soft leather office chair. He felt all of the vertebrae in his back crack. Desk duty might be good for his brain but it was definitely not helping in the body department. The only answer to his issues mentally and physically was to get back in the field with a good case. He needed to face all of the anxiety and apprehension that had come with December fifteen of last year. He shudder just thinking about it. The events of that night also caused the deterioration of his relationship with Hannah, another thing he didn't want to come to terms with. Hannah couldn't take the sudden change in him. After struggling with their relationship Hannah left.

"Sure Caroline, I'll check in to it." He paused, 'But that doesn't mean I'm going to do anything about it." He assured her or more trying to assure himself.

"Great Cherie, but you haven't even looked at the file yet." She said pushing the file towards him, purposely tempting him.

He reluctantly took the file and opened it and started to skim over the material. After a few moments of reading and flipping through the evidence he looked up at Caroline, "What exactly do you want me to do with this?" he questioned, "There have been five bodies found." He traced a line with his finger, "All decomposed beyond recognition…" he skimmed, "Possible serial killer. No cause of death. No time of death." He pointed out looking back at Caroline, "Did you come here to toss around ideas?"

"No!" she said looking taken back, "I can't believe you would think that." She then looked at him, 'You used to be the agent that would jump on a case like this."

'I'm under Sweets supervision." He blurted up looking up at Caroline from the file.

Caroline shook her head at him, "Not so fast." She said dropping another piece of paper in front of him, "According to the young and brilliant psychologist you've been cleared for field duty for over five months. You're the one that doesn't want to get back to work."

"Sweets is just a kid. He doesn't know what's what." Booth tried to defend himself. How did Caroline get her hands on that? He questioned himself. He really wished that she hadn't gone to Sweets or Hacker to get the clearance sheet. He knew he had been cleared but he was extremely apprehensive about going back in the field. He knew he was physically fully capable of doing the job. He just didn't know if he could mentally handle it. If he worked alone he might be fine. He was worrisome about working with an agent again, let alone a young, inexperienced one. That might be too much for him to handle at once. He needed someone who was experienced if he was going to try and tackle this case.

Caroline raised an eyebrow at him, "I'm a prosecutor. I know when someone is lying. I don't know if this still has to do with Agent Briggs or your lovely scientist friend but you've gotta move on, Cherie."

"Even if I did want to jump on this case I don't have a team." Booth reminded her, "Or a good one like I did before."

"You still talk to Dr. Brennan correct?" she asked seeming annoyed by Booth's apprehension, "She would be perfect for this case. It's all bones."

Bones…. He thought the mention of bones brought back so many memories. Two years ago they decided that going their own ways for a while was for the best. Booth had confessed his feelings to Brennan shortly before their departures. They both were fully aware of her fear of being hurt was wrapped tightly up in logic and rational. Even if she wanted to at that pivotal moment she couldn't face the same feelings. Booth could feel that she had the same feelings too but it irked him how after six years he was still not able to break down all the walls of logic. They mutually agreed that their life choices at the time would give them space and room for thought. It was only suppose to be a year but it eventually turned into two. Booth came back from Afghanistan after only a couple months of service. He had decided that the army was not what he wanted anymore. Bones on the other hand was up to her knees in desert sand looking for the missing link to humanity. Everyone especially Booth knew that Bones absolutely loved it. She had no plans on coming back until the link was found.

When Booth come back to DC he was given a new partner, not a forensic anthropologist but a young eager FBI agent named Grant Briggs. Grant as Booth recalled was a twenty four year old who recently graduated from the academy. He was a young sniper in the Rangers, like Booth. The FBI had very high expectations of the young agent. The Bureau believed that Booth was the best of the best. His experience and crime solving rate being nearly impeccable he was the right agent to mentor Grant Briggs. Booth remembered how well the two of them worked together too. Although he had loved working with Bones working with a guy who he could discuss sports with was quite refreshing. Agent Briggs was a Flyers fan too, which was definitely an incentive. While working with the young agent Booth had seen a lot of himself in Grant. Grant Briggs had a very promising career at the FBI until the tragic day in December. Booth would never forgive himself for that day.

Booth thought for a moment coming back to reality, "I haven't talked to Bones in forever." His statement was partially correct. They talked frequently over the first year they were apart but after the incident with Booth their calls were very sporadic.

"It's the twenty first century. I'm sure she still has a satellite phone." Caroline admitted, "If you can get her back then you can get Angela back which includes Hodgins as a package deal. Cam is still the federal coroner in DC and she's had a few of those weird interns working for her." She smiled, "It's quite simple, and that is as long as you're on board."

Booth smiled, "You know Bones is in Ethiopia looking for the missing link to humanity. We also know she's not one to give in easily."

"You'll figure something out. She won't be able to deny your good looks." Caroline got up from the chair and gathered her things, "I'll leave the file with you, it's a career killer but that's what you and your squints are good at."

Caroline headed for the glass door leaving the file on Booth's desk. She put her hand on the door before turning back to look at Booth, "You know what Cherie?" Caroline asked Booth looked up, "I liked you a whole lot better when you wore those awful socks and the cocky belt buckle."

Booth looked down and looked over his attire. It was definitely standard FBI: black suit and tie, normal belt buckle, and black socks. Booth sighed looking at Caroline, "Me too."

With that Caroline pushed the glass door opened and headed out. Booth sighed again before returning to the lengthy file. He sighed taking his cell phone out of his pocket. He looked through his phone book and found Brennan's phone number. He decided against calling her at the moment and leaned back in his chair pulling out his poker chip again. He toyed with it in his fingers before glancing up at the far wall. Something caught his eye. It wasn't the famous picture of the Kennedy brothers discussing the Bay of Pigs situation but a smaller 8x10 picture frame centered next to it. It was a newspaper article from the Washington Post about him and Bones. Unlikely Partnership Solve Impossible case, the article read. There was a black and white picture of him and Bones sitting with a cup of coffee outside the DC court house. He recalled it was the controversial case of Emma Herring, their second case together. He had always believed in fate and at that moment it was a sign, or as Bones would put it the multiple variables in the universe lead him to this conclusion. He laughed at the thought. He pulled out his phone again and dialed her number.