A/N: Thank you to everybody who has reviewed. It totally mean alot. Please bear with this chapter. It'll be explained! Thanks to Goldie for beta-ing!
Special Agent Seeley Booth entered the office with little notice. A sharp knock-knock, then the door opened, and in he walked. Dressed in a tailored dark blue suit and jacket with a crisp white shirt, Booth was not at all what I was expecting. He carried himself with pride and honor, and perhaps an ego… his walk and stance portrayed just that. His hair was dark and his brown eyes shone with intelligence. One look at the FBI agent, and this writer knew that she was dealing with one of the best.
Dr. Temperance Brennan quickly introduced the two of us, explaining why I was there.
Upon hearing that Dr. Brennan worked with the FBI to help identify bodies where normal ID procedures cannot be used, I thought of the two to four cases that I myself work on each year. When I learned that it was a more closely form partnership, between Dr. Brennan and one Agent Booth, to whom her latest book is dedicated, I had to call my old friend and see if the rumors where true. A scientist and a FBI agent…partners? How does that work?
-SB-
Chapter One
The Tag-Along
Jeffersonian, Washington D.C. USA,
Special Agent Seeley Booth strode into the lab at the Jeffersonian with purpose in his walk. His face was a mask of determination and focus. There was a manila folder clenched in his left hand. Angela Montenegro stood, leaning against an empty table, sketchpad pressed to her chest, arms crossed. She followed the agent on his march. She knew the look in his dark brown eyes…it meant that he was bringing a new case. And by the scowl that he wore on his face, he was getting his butt chewed to get it solved. Angela offered her favorite FBI agent a small smile, and when an equally small one got returned instead of Booth's trademark charm smile, she knew she was right. Uh-oh, she thought. It's worst than I thought. Booth stopped only momentarily outside of his partner's office to give a sharp rap before throwing the door open. "Bones, we've got a case," he said, walking in and coming to a stop at her desk. He dropped the folder and added, "And Cullen wants it wrapped up before it's started."
Dr. Temperance Brennan looked up him with her eyes narrowed, her lips pinched in a thin line. Her expression was slightly annoyed and Booth could read 'I don't know what that means' on her face. "How many time do I have to tell you to knock?" she shot at him instead. Booth put his hands on his hips.
"I did," he said back to her, equally annoyed. Brennan darted her eyes away from his and then back. Booth followed where she had looked, and quickly dropped his hands. "Sorry, didn't know you had somebody in here." Sitting in one of Brennan's chairs was a woman with short brown hair and eyes almost as dark as the agent's. She was dressed in a conservative brown business suit.
"Agent Booth?" the mystery woman asked, unfolding her legs and standing up.
"Um, yes, and you are?"
"Shanelle Bryant," the woman answered, holding out her hand. Booth shook it, and looked over at Brennan for an explanation.
"Shanelle is an acquaintance from college," she told him. "She's the owner/editor of a new magazine called Anthropology Now." Booth opened his mouth to say something- most likely a teasing comment, but decided against it when Brennan gave him a warning look.
"Nice to meet you," he said in its place. Shanelle gave him a warm smile.
"A new case?" she asked. "How exciting."
"Shanelle is here to…observe me," Brennan said, earning her a raised eyebrow from Booth.
"Well, I'm afraid she's going to have to observe you later," he said.
"And I'm afraid where Tempe goes," Shanelle started, "then so do I." Booth turned his back on the writer and looked Brennan in the eyes.
"You care to explain?"
"My fault," a deep voice said from the doorway. The trio turned their eyes toward Dr. Daniel Goodman. "I thought it would be good for the museum to showcase yours and Dr. Brennan's partnership." Booth looked from Goodman to Brennan and then back.
"You're joking, right?" he asked.
"I'm afraid not, Agent Booth." Booth ran a hand through his hair before he continued.
"No offense, Dr. Goodman, but I can't have a tag along," Booth complained. "Cullen isn't happy about Bones being in the field with me, what's he going to say about another non-agent?" Booth hoped that his argument was enough but knew when Goodman locked eyes with him that it wasn't.
"Dr. Bryant won't be in the field with you, per say, but close by. Observing how this most…interesting and unusual partnership works."
"Unusual," Booth started. Our partnership is unusual? He then shook his head to clear it. When he begun again, it was with more argument. "But, Dr. Goodman, Cullen."
"No worries about Director Cullen," Goodman interrupted. "I'll call him and explain everything. I'm sure he'll fully understand and agree that this article will be nothing but good for both our organizations." Booth glared at the doctor and then turned to face Brennan.
"Get your overnight bag ready," he growled. "We're heading to South Carolina."
"South Carolina?" Shanelle questioned, before Brennan could say anything. Booth ignored her.
"A body was found in some woods," Booth went on, still addressing Brennan.
"You know I don't do bodies," Brennan told him.
"I think you'll fine this one…interesting and unusual," Booth said, reaching over and tapping the folder. "You read and be ready to go first thing in the morning. Pick you…and your friend up at 7." With that he turned to leave. "Dr. Goodman," he said curtly. Goodman stepped aside, letting Booth leave the office.
Angela sat at the same table she was leaning against when Booth had entered the lab. She looked up from her drawing as the agent left Brennan's office. A deeper scowl was plastered on his face, his hands curled into fists. His walk betrayed his annoyance in the present situation. When Brennan had told her earlier that day about Shanelle Bryant and the fact that Goodman wanted her to tag along on her and Booth's next case, the artist had told her friend that Booth wouldn't be happy. Brennan had agreed but said there was no way out of it. Angela sighed as she watched Booth leave. She turned her eyes back towards the office. Goodman stood in the doorway also watching the retreating back of the agent. He glanced in Angela's direction, gave a brief nod and then started to leave the lab as well. Angela didn't hear everything that was said, but knew Goodman had 'pulled rank' so to say. She also knew that whatever the case was about, having Shanelle along would just make it that much harder to solve. Angela let her eyes fall to the picture that she was working on. She lifted her hand away from the paper and took in what she had so far…a full body sketch of Brennan. The anthropologist had most of her weight on her right foot, her left one was slightly forward and turned a little outward. Brennan had her arms crossed over her chest in a stance of strength yet not of annoyance. No, Angela had begun to draw her friend in a completely natural and relaxed pose. A pose that the scientist struck quite often. Especially when a certain FBI agent was teasing her. It was never a stance of anger, but normally one of mock-frustration. The artist smiled at her progress. This picture is gonna rock, she thought. Even if I do say so myself.
If you didn't figure it out, the first part is some of an article that is being written by 'Shanelle Bryant'. Please review, and more will be coming next week!
TBC...and don't forget to review! Please.
