Special Agent Seeley Booth held the yellow crime scene tape up so that his partner, Doctor Temperance Brennan, could walk under it.

"One body was found, but no one else sustained more than a concussion or some cuts and burns." he said as they walked together to the mostly burnt book store.

Brennan was dressed in her usual crime scene get-up of dark blue cover-alls with the seal of the Jeffersonian Institution on the back. Underneath, however, she wore a white tank-top that hugged her curves exquisitely and blue jeans that matched the denim jacket she had left in Booth's car along with her black ankle-boots. A small turquoise stone hung from her neck by a string of small, dark-grey beads. Her brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun, the strays, and the small turquoise beads that hung from her ears, blew gently in the light breeze. She looked intense and serious, as she usually did at a crime scene.

Booth, however, looked relaxed in his form-hugging, dark-blue jeans. His black, button-up dress shirt lay taunt over his chest muscles and under a shoulder gun holster. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbow and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, giving just a glimpse of his strong chest. The hem flipped up occasionally in the breeze, giving attention to the "Cocky" belt buckle he was quite fond of that was on his dark-brown leather belt.

It was a shame that such a pleasant Saturday was ruined by the horror of a book store bombing. The early afternoon sun was shining, but it didn't lighten the expression of shock that was worn by the victims of the blast. They were scattered across the area that was taped off, being treated for cuts and slight burns by fire-fighters and EMTs.

"When did the bomb go off?" she asked, taking his hand for balance to walk through and step over the massive amount of rubble.

He followed her through the debris, helping her keep on her feet, "About an hour ago, they just finished putting the fire out." his answer made her stop in her tracks.

"What's wrong, Bones?" he asked, using the nickname he gave her just after they met.

"Nothing," she started walking again.

He shrugged it off, figuring she would tell him if it were important enough.

"Here it is." Booth pointed to the burnt skeleton, "This is supposed to be the book signing area." he motioned around them, "It's also ground-zero."

This made her freeze in shock again, but she was able to shake herself out of it before he noticed.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw something on the ground and picked it up, smiling, "Look, Bones, it's your book!"

As a chill headed up her spine, she faked a smile for him then got to work on the remains.

"Female, Caucasian, 25 to 35." Brennan held the detached skull in her hands, "There's not much more that I can tell you until we get back to the lab."

She bagged, tagged and packed everything she felt necessary, then carefully put the bones into the body bag beside her. When she was finished, she stood and let some lab interns take the body and the evidence to the transport truck which would soon be on its way to the Jeffersonian. Brennan was silent as she and Booth walked out of the rubble.

"Are you okay?" he asked, holding the tape up for her again, "You seem deeper in thought than normal."

"I just have something on my mind." she replied as they went to the back of his black SUV. He opened the hatch and she sat her kit inside the trunk.

"If you need to talk, you know I'm here." he smiled comfortingly.

"I know, Booth, and I appreciate that," she said, removing her cover-alls and black hiking boots and putting them inside as well, "but I don't think it's important." She sat in the trunk and put on her ankle-boots then stood. He helped her with her jacket then closed the hatch and said "Important or not, it's always good to talk."

They climbed into the SUV and pulled out into the D.C. traffic.

"So, do you want to get a late lunch first, or go strait to work and eat something later?" he asked.

She pondered his question for a moment and as they stopped at a red light, an idea struck them both at the same time. They looked at each other with smiles and said in unison, "Chinese in my/your office."

With that and a laugh from both of them, she called and placed the pickup order. Thai food was their favorite, aside from their usuals of pie, fries and a salad at the Royal Diner, but sometimes the need for change came around, and this was one of those times. Soon they were stopped in front of Wong Foo's and Booth went in to get the food. He walked right up to the bar and was greeted by the familiar face of Sid, the bartender.

"Hey, Booth." he greeted his regular customer.

"Hey, Sid. I've got a pickup order in Bone's name."

"Got it right here." he handed Booth the large box full of eight containers, "How is she?"

"She's great. I'll tell her you said hi." Booth dug the money out of his wallet and handed it to Sid.

Thanks to his training as a sniper, Booth could easily sense someone was staring at him and turned around to see a man that was mopping the floor. He was staring at Booth with what looked to be disgust. He was about an inch shorter than the agent, with brown hair and green eyes. His face never changed from an angry look, even when he looked back at the floor and continued to mop.

"New guy?" Booth asked.

"Yeah, he just started today. He's a little creepy, but seems harmless." whispered Sid.

"Yeah, just a little creepy." Booth said sarcastically, taking the box under his arm.

Giving a nod goodbye to Sid as he pushed through the front door and headed to the SUV. The mopper's vicious stare followed Booth as he put the food in the back seat and then got behind the wheel. That's when he saw her, Brennan, sitting in the passenger seat. He looked at her with rage in his eyes as he gripped the mop handle so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"He knows Dr. Temperance Brennan? The author?" he asked Sid. Though already knowing the obvious answer, he wanted a way to get information about them without sounding suspicious.

"Yeah, they get dinner here sometimes. They seem close, but Booth claims that they're not together. I don't believe it." he replied with a small laugh, causing the mopper to squeeze the mop handle tighter.

********

Sitting on the black couch in her office with the food on the coffee table in front of them, they started talking about random subjects and soon the stress she felt melted away with the laughter and the sight of his contagious smile. In an hour's time they finished the meal, save for their fortune cookies. Booth handed one to Brennan and picked up the other for himself.

"Okay, time to see into the future." he smiled as he took his cookie out of the plastic wrap.

"These are so ridiculous and have no relevance. There is no way to tell the future." she smiled "So why do I enjoy it so much?"

He laughed at her rhetorical question as they broke their cookies at the same time. Booth read his note and his smile suddenly melted into a frown and his eyes were became filled with heroic concern, "Bones, please tell me your fortune says something different than mine."

Brennan read hers and a feeling of fear made her stomach drop.

"Temperance Brennan will be dead within 24 hours." she said with a catch in her throat.