Chapter Four:

Booth paced around the small apartment, angry knowing that he had made her cry. He had hurt her, causing her to find comfort with another person that had kept her safe at one point. Booth quickly downed his beer, reaching into the fridge for another one. He wasn't going to drink into oblivion, he was just going to drink until he felt good, he rationalized to himself. Booth stared at the adjoining the door, torturing himself with what his partner was doing with another man inside. If only he had listened to his heart instead of his head. He was always trying to get Brennan to do that, now when it mattered, he couldn't take his own damn advice.

He looked around the dim apartment more, taking in his surroundings that he would be stuck in until they solved the case or until it went cold. There wasn't much too the place. A picture of Parker was hanging on the fridge, it was the only thing he had brought from DC. It was a completely plausible story that he had a son halfway across the states back where he was from.

"Damn, where am I supposed to be from again?" He wondered aloud to himself, crossing the apartment to his personal file. "Jacob Booth, "Jake," born and raised in New Liberty, Iowa. One son, lives there." He sighed, staring at the picture of his son. Parker of course understood why his dad had to leave. He put on a brave smile and hugged him, making him swear to come home. Booth knew the dangers of the job, but he knew someone had to do it. "Damn my sense of duty." He cursed to himself. He stared at the door, taking one last swig of his beer, dumping the empty bottle into recycling, hoping that his sense of duty didn't get him or his partner killed this time around.

--

Booth woke the next morning to the smell of coffee in his apartment. He knew she must have come through the adjoining door. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, working out the kinks he acquired sleeping. He made his way down the short hallway preparing himself for the day ahead, not quite ready to meet up with his partner who was a few short feet away.

"Did you have a good night with Sully?" He asked bitterly, pouring himself a cup of coffee, not even looking at her. Booth knew he couldn't handle her without his cup of coffee.

"At least Sully and I don't have damn line to worry about." Brennan spat back at him. She watched him sip his coffee, adjusting to the morning light that was spilling in through the apartment. He rubbed his eyes, finally getting a look at his partner.

He stared at her, memorizing the way she looked that very moment. Her face was completely void of makeup, with just a hint of natural color. Her lips had just a touch of gloss for moisture, her hair was still wet and in a ponytail. She was wearing a robe, and white socks. He didn't want to think of what was under that robe. God, if he didn't stop thinking of her that way, he would have to blow the line up soon.

"Bones that line is the only thing that is going to keep us safe on this assignment. You are going to be very un-Bones like, and I am going to have to act like a womanizer. I'm going to have to ogle you," He paused. "And the other strippers and waitresses." He amended quickly, catching his slip of the tongue. "This line is going to remind us who we are because it is going to get blurry very quickly. We don't want to do anything that ruins our partnership." He grounded out.

"No we wouldn't want to do that." Brennan agreed, silently hoping that the line could just be forgotten on one case. All she wanted to do was touch his chiseled chest, which was right in front of her, begging to have her hands on it. "Anyway I came by for some moral support. Sully said you might have some difficulties putting on the uniform again. I don't know why, it's just some clothes."

"It's the same reason why your mother's earring meant so much to you. It's a symbol of something deeper Bones. It turned me into a killer."

Brennan had crossed the room with her coffee mug, running her fingers over the ribbons that adorned his officer uniform. "You are not a killer Booth."

"Tell that to the children of the people I have killed." Booth said to her approaching behind her.

"The things you have done was for the greater good of mankind, and because of that you are going to go to heaven. You feel for the people affected by your actions and that is what separates you from real killers." She reached over and handed him the standard issue undershirt. "Why don't you go get ready and I will have a bagel waiting for you."

"Bones you don't eat breakfast." He said softly, accepting the shirt.

"You do." She headed over to the cupboard. "I'm here for you Seeley."

He nodded, knowing that he would die for her. He stood for a second, watching her get on her tiptoes straining to reach the bagels. Her robe slipped off her shoulder, Booth groaned at the sight of her bare shoulder. I bet that skin is really soft. It would be incredibly soft. Damn it Seeley, focus on the assignment. If you don't focus on the assignment you could lose the most important person in your life.

"Bones, I'm gonna hop in the shower. Do you need me to reach anything for you?" He asked as she triumphantly pulled the bagels from the top shelf. He realized how much height she lost without her shoes on. I'm going to need a nice cold shower, he thought, as she pulled her robe back up around her shoulder.

"Nope I got it."

He shot one last glance at her popping a bagel in the toaster. I could get used to her walking around barefoot in my kitchen. Booth entered his bathroom, hearing her sing as she made breakfast. "I'm going to protect her with every breath in my body." He swore to his reflection in the mirror.

--

The shower did Booth wonders. He threw walked out into the living room with just his undershirt and boxers on. He helped himself to the hot bagel on the counter. He smiled gratefully at her. "Thanks Bones. I really needed you this morning."

"Don't mention it Booth." She started pacing around the living room. "Are you going to be at The Attic tonight?"

"Most likely." Booth told her.

"Good. I would like some moral support. I hate having to do this." Brennan admitted quietly.

"Bones you can still back out."

"No I can't. These women had loved ones, they were somebody, and this killer tried to take that away from them. We have to stop this killer before it happens again."

"I'll protect your six." He swore to her.

"What's a six?" She asked him.

"It's military slag for backside." He informed her.

"Then why don't they just say backside?" She questioned biting into her bagel. She licked some of the cream cheese from her lips.

"It's just the way it has been for years." He informed her, concentrating on the way her tongue lined her lips innocently, attempting to tie his tie. Focus Seeley, focus damn it.

"Oh." She watched as he straightened out his tie on his uniform, watching as he fumbled with it. She could tell he was nervous being back in uniform, or maybe it was the assignment. "Here." She stood behind him, pressing herself against his back, helping him tie his tie. "I used to help my father do this." She whispered into his ear, concentrating on her movements in the mirror. About a minute later then tie was perfect. They separated, each missing each other's touch.

"I'll see you tonight Bones." He found his keys. She walked up beside him, kissing him on the cheek.

Brennan didn't know what possessed her to do that, at the hospital he had let her brother have a couple of moments with his family, here he was just leaving for work. "Be safe." She whispered to him.

"You too." He turned, pretending that the innocent kiss on the cheek didn't affect him, but he could still feel where her lips had touched him on his drive to work.

--

AN: It wasn't Abandoned, it just took a little bit to figure out where to go. Here is the next installment. There will be smut, soonishly, I think. Please send a little note letting me know what you think.