The Woman in the Forest

Okay so this is my first ever Fan fiction so don't expect any award winning literature here! Also reviews both good and bad would be appreciated.

Apologies must be made in advance, because I am from Ireland, some little weird British words or slang might creep in….

Chapter 1

It was 11 O'clock before Temperance Brennan finally left the Jeffersonian and drove the short distance to her D.C apartment and flopped onto her four poster bed. She inhaled the soft scent of home as she sprawled out fully clothed on top of her $300 throw.

She was exhausted both mentally and physically after a particularly tiresome case she had just been working on; it had required a lot of energy because time was of the essence as she and Booth were racing the clock to try and find a serial killer with a deadly attraction to college students. Although the killer was now behind bars, she could still see the faces of the victims at the back of her mind, Angela's drawings some how coming to life in her head, especially the most recent of the victims, Emily Sharpe reminding her that if she ha only worked a bit faster her life could have been saved. Exhausted and emotionally drained, Tempe tried to sleep, tossing and turning until eventually near 1 AM she gave up.

She was just hauling herself out of bed when she heard a familiar knock on the door, rolling her eyes she allowed a small smile to creep over her face as she padded down the hall. Looking through the peephole she saw the broad shouldered figure of Booth still in suit with a solemn expression on his face and opened the door.

He smiled and raised his eyes in an unspoken request to come in, and she stepped back to allow him through the door, and followed him trough her impressive apartment to the sitting room and she silently went to the kitchen and retrieved two Beers form the fridge as he sank into the sofa, soon to be followed by Tempe so sat softly down beside him, handing him a beer. Both of them knew why he was their and they sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, the pair of them going over the case in their heads.

Booth pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a sight, running a quick eye over Temperance, noticing how her usually bright eyes and delicate face he loved so much were drained of their usual colour.

"Bones, no offence, but you don't look so god, you should really get some sleep." He said, knowing that she had been thinking about Emily.

"Hey! It's not my fault that you knock on my door at midnight, you know that is when most people do tend to sleep!" She retorted, but only half meaning it.

"Bones, listen it's okay to be upset about it, but it's not your fault right? Forensics should have picked it up the weapon sooner…"

"But if I had identified it before."

"They still wouldn't have got round to testing it until they did," he cut in, "it' on them Temperance not us."

"No Booth! I….I should have realised it sooner, it's the first time I've failed at something like this," her voice softened, "that's what I did Booth, failed."

He felt his heart almost breaking as she walked over to the window and looked down at her feet and trying to stop her voice cracking.

"I failed you, I failed Angela Zach and Hodgins because they all did as much as they could, but I failed Emily and it cost her her life…" Her eyes started to well up and as soon as Booth saw her starting to break down he was across the room in seconds and took her arms comforting him in a way that he alone was capable of.

"Shush it's OK, it's alright, listen to me Temperance, you didn't fail her ok?" He asked looking directly into her eyes, "You didn't fail her you gave her her identity back, meaning that she could have a proper burial, and most importantly you caught the bastard that did this to her! Only you could have done that Bones, you sid yourself you have an indispensable skill! Also, Jack, Zach and especially Angela all look up to you so much you could ever let them down even if you did fail them which you didn't! As for me, do you actually think that I could ever be disappointed in you? Every day you continue to amaze me Temperance Brennan; with you I literally do learn something new every day! How many times do I have to point out that for someone so smart, you can be so clueless?"

Temperance buried her face in his shirt inhaling the smell of him, grateful for the solid support. Seeley rocked her for a few minutes like he would Parker after a particularly bad nightmare, stroking her hair softly and rubbing small circles on the small of her back.

Bones looked up sheepishly, embarrassed by her breakdown.

"I'm really sorry I've mussed up your shirt," looking at the mascara stained shirt blushing. Booth just smiled and wiped her eyes with his thumbs.

"Never you worry Bones, I'll send you the dry cleaning bill O.K?"

She pushed him playfully in the shoulder, "Thanks Seeley."

"Hey its no problem, that's what partners are for right?"

"No, that's what friends are for."

He smiled, touched, "You should really be getting to bed," and his smile doubled when Temperance let out a huge yaw in an inadvertent response.

"I'll see you in the morning, trust me you'll feel heaps better after a goodnight's sleep."

With that he leant in and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, which frankly surprised them both then hurried out of the apartment, cannoning of a table as he went. Temperance stood shocked then smiled as he made her way to bed, feeling so much better already.

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Thanks for reading I'll update ASAP!!