Authors note: I have no idea if there is a Washington National Park, but for the purpose of this story, there is now.
Chapter 4
Seeley Booth frowned and snapped shut his cell phone. Bones' cell phone seemed to be shut off, because he was being sent to her voicemail, and her home phone line was busy. Glancing at the clock on the dashboard of this SUV, the clock indicated it was 2:07am.
He was driving down a deserted road in route to her apartment. The night was dark and clear, stars bright in the sky. His thoughts on what she could be doing at this late hour, it's not like she has a social life
He knew she wasn't at the Jeffersonian; he called the security guards there to check. She must be awake online or something, that is why her phone is busy, he assured himself.
He turned onto the side street that went by her building, and saw the living room light on, and a shadow skipped across the closed blinds. Okay. Good, she was there, he thought to himself, relieved.
Pulling into the outside lot, and walking briskly to the door, he took the stairs two at a time, and made his way to her apartment door. He knocked and waited for her to answer. There was no sound coming from inside, it was very quiet.
After a moment, the door swung open, and instead of Bones standing there, it was his former best friend from high school, Jaron Meinke, who he hadn't seen since graduation. They had always competed with each other for everything, captain of the football team, class president, the prettiest girl…
Booth frowned a moment, wondering why Jaron was at Bones' place. Or what he was doing in DC for that matter. He was in Philadelphia last he saw the guy.
He and Jaron had a huge blow out on the night of senior prom, when he caught Jaron and his high school sweetheart having sex in the back of his 1985 Camaro. He will never forget the look on Jaron's face or on his girlfriend Rachel's face for that matter when he went outside to find his date. Rachel looked embarrassed and horrified, Jaron just grinned.
"Jaron?" Booth said, frowning, "What the hell are you doing here?" he pushed past Jaron into Bones apartment, and turned to face the other man
Jaron had a lazy smirk on his face, and sauntered over to the barstool he had been apparently sitting at, drinking a beer, and reading her novel, "Bred in the Bone", which was laying face down open in the middle. He sat back down on the stool, and regarded his old friend.
"Well, I haven't seen you for a while Seeley, how goes it man?" Jaron said casually, as if they had met in a bar or coffee shop, and not at his partners home at 2am.
"Yeah I'm great, what are you doing here, where is Bones?" he said, looking over Jaron's shoulder into the kitchen, and then around the apartment
During this entire exchange, Jaron's lazy smile never left his face. He stood up from the barstool, and leaned back on the counter, his arms crossed over his chest. "Oh, I think she is asleep" then he leaned forward, winked and whispered "I think I wore her out" and grinned again. Perfect white teeth flashed at him.
Booth took a step back and regarded his ex friend. Jaron was wearing black pants, and a white dress shirt, which was totally unbuttoned. His hair was tousled, and he was barefoot. It was obvious to him now why he was in Bones' apartment. He swallowed his anger, willing himself not to hit Jaron, even though it would be so satisfying.
"You never change. Always chasing pretty women, driving fast cars, getting into trouble. Go wake her up. I have a case I need her help on" he said between clenched teeth, trying with all his effort not to beat the hell out of him
Jaron grinned, and replied "Sure man, sure" and he laughed to himself and entered the closed door, shutting it behind him. Booth could hear muffled voices.
Bones emerged a moment later, wrapped only in a white sheet, her hair framing her face in waves, her eyes not yet alert and awake.
"Booth? What are you doing here?" she asked sleepily between yawns
"Gee Bones, if your cell phone wasn't shut off, and your phone wasn't off the hook, I'd have called, ya wanna get dressed? A body was found in the caves over at the Washington National Park area" he said, his gaze wandering down her body, her legs were poking out beneath the sheet, her arms were holding the sheet around her middle, which really left nothing to the imagination, he thought to himself uncomfortably, liking what he saw.
Temperance stood there a moment, perplexed at why he seemed so angry, "Booth, is there a problem here?" she said, and gestured back at Jaron, who had come out of her bedroom, and had one had propped up on the door jam, one leg crossed, hip on door frame, he seemed to be enjoying this entire exchange.
"I'll meet you in the car" was all he could manage civilly, and turned to leave
Booth stormed out of her apartment, and slammed the door. He made his way down to the SUV, got in and leaned his head back on the headrest.
Jaron.
With Bones.
Why does it have to be Jaron?
He raged inwardly Why couldn't it be that internet geek Dick431, or anyone but Jaron
He slammed his fist on the steering wheel and swore. He knew he had no right to be angry or jealous, but he couldn't help himself.
You are with Cam, a small voice reminded him in his head
No I am not. That is just a physical thing, he answered himself mentally
So you can have a physical thing but Bones can't? That little voice countered
"Bones is mine!" He said aloud angrily
Where did THAT come from? startled at his own thoughts
Just at that moment, she pulled open the door of the SUV, glanced at him and smiled
He glared back at her, and started the SUV, and pulled out of the parking area.
"Bones, you don't want to get involved with Jaron" he advised after a long moment, gripping the steering wheel so hard he was loosing feeling in his fingers
"I am a big girl Booth. I think I can manage Jaron" she replied, gazing out the window
"Yeah well I have known him a lot longer than you have, a Tiger doesn't change its stripes Bones" he grumbled, glancing over at her quickly, her hair was pulled into a pony tail, she wore a black tank top, and jeans.
"I don't know what that means" she said looking at him, confused look on her face
Booth sighed heavily "Never mind. So anyway, remains were found in a closed off cave, a couple of teenagers went in there and found it. Scene is secured" he informed her shortly. He was still angry.
Temperance stared at her partner a moment. Obviously he was upset about something
"Booth, you seem upset" she stated bluntly
"Not much gets by you does it Bones?" he said sarcastically, not meeting her gaze
"So you know Jaron then? You never mentioned him before" she prodded, curious now
"Well, I don't like to talk about how he slept with my girlfriend at the prom I took her too, or the fight that got us both suspended" Booth advised her grimly
"So you haven't been in contact with him for a while then" she asked the obvious
"Yeah, we don't exactly exchange Christmas cards every year Bones, can we change the subject here?" he asked her, finally turning to look into her eyes
His eyes skipped down to her neck and chest. "What is that on your neck?" he asked, frowning
Confused look on her face, she flipped down the vanity mirror on the visor, and said nonchalantly "Oh, that is a suction bruise", and closed the mirror and visor, rubbing the spot on her neck
He was silent a moment, then "he gave you a hickey Bones?" He clamped his jaw together tightly, to prevent saying something he'd regret later
Temperance blushed and looked away "how much longer till we get there?" she wondered aloud
End chapter 4
Glad you are all out there still reading and liking my story! Much thanks.
