This is a reminder that this story is very AU. Thank you for your continued interest in my story.

I don't own Bones.

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Spying Brennan as she entered the diner, Booth stood up and waved. Once she was actually standing next to him, he smiled at her and pointed at the chair across from him. "Thanks for seeing me. I know you're pretty busy."

Brennan sat down and placed her purse on the table next to the window. "I'm sorry that I wasn't at the Lab the couple of times you came by. I was on a dig."

Glad to see her again, Booth smiled and tried to assure her it was okay. "Nah, that's alright. You did tell me you're one of the top forensic anthropologists in the country. I Googled you and you weren't kidding. You've had a very impressive career so far. I even saw that you wrote a book and it was published a couple of months ago. I plan to buy it and read it as soon as I can."

Placing an order for coffee, Brennan returned her attention to Booth. "Booth . . . I want you to know that I tried to get the boat pilot to go back and get you, but he refused. We abandoned you when you needed our help and I . . . "

Surprised that she was apologizing, Booth reached out and placed his hand over her hand. "No Dr. Brennan, he did exactly what he was supposed to do. I was there to see to it that you and Dr. Gold got out of there safely and that was the important part. He was doing what he was ordered to do."

Staring at his hand covering hers, Brennan wanted to explain why she hadn't contacted him. "I never got your letter. Hodgins said you gave it to him and he lost it. If I had received it I would have answered it and if you had liked I would have arranged to meet with you . . . I was relieved when I heard that you were alright. I had tried to find out if you had . . . I tried to find out about you after I was rescued, but I couldn't. Everyone I contacted told me that I didn't have enough security clearance and I wasn't a family member. It was very frustrating. They wouldn't even tell me that you'd survived your mission. I . . . I assumed that maybe you'd died."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." Booth knew that it would have been impossible for her to get any information about him. "A lot of my Army career was spent on special assignments. I wasn't allowed to talk about what I did and well . . . I tried to see you in person as soon as I could, but by that time you were on another dig. I had written you a letter and I was going to mail it to you but . . . I didn't and when I got some leave and I found out you were gone, I just handed the letter over to someone where you work. I guess I should have mailed it . . . To tell you the truth I wasn't sure what to think when you didn't contact me after I left the letter." Removing his hand from hers, he picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip. "I thought we were getting to be friends that last day we were together, but I wasn't sure . . . You know never mind about the letter. I should have tried to call you or see you again, but I was busy and I knew you were too. Except for the week I came to see you, my job had me out of the country until I got out of the service."

Sitting back and allowing the waitress to place her cup of coffee on the table in front of her, Brennan waited for the waitress to leave. "You gave Dr. Goodman your card . . . you're an FBI agent now."

Proud of his accomplishment, Booth grinned. "Yeah, my tour of duty was up four months after we met and I had several job offers. The FBI seemed like the right move for me so I entered the academy. I was at Quantico for twenty weeks of training to become an agent and well . . . It's been a crazy two years. . . . I know you've been pretty busy too."

"Yes, I've been on three digs in the last two years." Hesitating, Brennan glanced at her coffee cup and then at Booth. "Did you and your girlfriend get married?"

His smile fading from his lips, Booth shook his head. "Nah. . . no she refused to marry me. I guess I wasn't good enough for her . . . I used to gamble and to tell you the truth it was almost an obsession, but I gave it up. I haven't gambled since I met you actually. It's too late for Rebecca, but it's not too late for me."

Surprised with herself, Brennan felt a sense of relief about Booth's bad fortune with his girlfriend. Puzzled, she sat back and stared at the determined look on his face. "Are you seeing anyone at this time?"

Shaking his head, Booth glanced out of the window. "No. Not really. Nothing serious. . . . How about you?"

"No, I've been very busy so I haven't had time for any sexual liaisons." Seeing his surprised look, Brennan reminded him, "I believe I told you that I don't believe in marriage. I date, but I have no intention of forming any monogamous relationships with anyone."

With a sense of disappointment, Booth nodded his head. "I see." Picking up his cup of coffee, he finished it and placed the cup down. The silence becoming uncomfortable, Booth felt that Brennan was ready for their meeting to end. "Well, it's getting late. It was nice seeing you again, Dr. Brennan. Thank you for seeing me. Maybe we can have coffee sometime."

Unsure why she was feeling disappointed, Brennan awkwardly responded, "Yes . . . yes that would be nice. . . . You don't have to call me Dr. Brennan, Booth, you may call me Temperance if you'd like to."

Reaching over and patting her hand, Booth smiled at her. "Thank you, I'd like that." Pulling his hand free. he laid a few bills on the table and stood up. "I'll call you sometime or maybe you can call me . . . maybe we can meet for dinner or drinks whenever you like."

She tried to think of a way to prevent him from leaving but not sure how to accomplish it, Brennan nodded her head. "Yes, of course."

Walking away from Brennan, Booth felt a tightness in his chest and rubbed it as he approached the entrance to the diner. Feeling a little foolish, he stopped, turned back, walked to the table and sat down across from Brennan. "Look, Temperance, I'm working on a cold case and I was wondering if you'd be willing to help me with it?"

Uncertain, Brennan shook her head. "I don't understand, how can I help you?"

Placing his arms on the table, he leaned forward. "Well, I've been investigating the murder of a young woman and I've hit a dead end. You're a forensic anthropologist and you study bones from people that have been dead for a while. I was thinking that you might look at her remains and see if you can see anything that my FBI techs missed . . . I mean if you don't mind. I'd understand if you don't want to do it. I just thought it might be nice to work with someone of your caliber."

Pleased that he thought so highly of her, Brennan held her hand up and smiled. "No, that's okay. I'd like to help. If you could have the remains sent to the Jeffersonian and anything else found where the body was found I could look at it. I have some people that I work with that might also give you some input in to your case."

Excited that she'd agreed, Booth replied, "Great, that's great. I'll have them sent over to you tomorrow . . . I mean if that's okay. I . . . "

Eager, Brennan leaned forward and interrupted him. "Yes that would be fine."

Pleased that he would have an excuse to see her again, Booth looked at his watch. "Hey, how'd you like to go to dinner? I'll buy."

"Yes, that would be nice, thank you." Pulling her purse towards her, Brennan retrieved some bills from her wallet to pay for her coffee. "Do you like Thai food?"

Standing, Booth waited for Brennan to stand. "I love Thai food. I know this great place about two blocks from here."

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Standing on the sidewalk outside her apartment, Booth glanced up at the building and then back at Brennan. "It was nice seeing you again Temperance, real nice. I . . . uh . . . I'll have those remains sent over to you and then we'll see what happens. God knows I'm stuck, so if you can help me I'd really appreciate it."

She'd enjoyed his company and was disappointed their time together was ending so soon. "Perhaps once I've looked over everything I will be able to point you in a new direction."

Reaching out and touching her arm, Booth smiled at her. "Great. I'll look forward to hearing from you." Moving away from her, Booth glanced back. "Call me, Temperance or I'll call you."

"Yes, I will." Disappointed that he hadn't tried to come up to her apartment, Brennan frowned at his retreating figure. "Perhaps we can meet for coffee again."

Walking backwards, Booth smiled. "Great, it's a date." Turning, he started to run towards his truck as the heavens opened up and it started to rain.

Brennan, watching her friend running away from her, turned and raced towards her apartment building entrance.

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Reviews would be great. Thank you.

A/N: yes, I know it's weird to hear him call her Temperance. Give it time, that will change.