Saturday, one month later

He laughed at her story about her ex-husband and her diamond earrings. As they wander further into the aquarium, he reflected back on their first meeting….

"Hold the elevator, please."

He slammed his hand against the elevator door forcing them to reopen.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

She stood slightly in front of him. Long wavy jet black hair, medium height, dressed in a black skirt and pink sleeveless top. He had caught a quick glace at her face before she turned and he liked what he saw.

Watching as she went to press 5 only to find that he had already pressed it, she turned and flashed him a smile.

"Fifth floor is pretty popular," sometimes he wanted to shoot himself at the corny lines that would fall out of his mouth.

"Appears that way."

The elevator stopped on 2, but no one got on.

"Ghost." He needed to shut up.

"J Edgar Hoover perhaps," she joked.

By now they had both turned towards each other and he noticed her visitor's badge.

"Special Agent Seeley Booth," he stuck out his hand.

"Dr. Catherine Bryar."

He smiled. What was up with all the hot doctors in his life? "What brings you to the FBI?"

The doors opened onto the 5th floor. They both stepped out and over to the side.

"A dead tiger shark was found with an undigested human leg in its stomach."

"Wow and ow"

She nodded, "Yes. Anyway, I was stopping by to check with Agent Sullivan to see if there was any progress made on the case."

"I can show you to his office, if you'd like?"

"That would be great."

He held the bullpen door open for her as they made their way down the hall.

"You said you were a doctor?"

"Yes. I'm a Marine Biologist with The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."

"Well I'm impressed." He gave her his best grin.

She smiled back.

"Here we are."

"Thank you, Agent Booth."

"My pleasure."

Fifteen minutes later he looked up from his desk to find her in his doorway.

"Hi."

"Hello again."

"Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

He stood and ushered her into his office, "Sure."

"I was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime?"

He accidentally bumped his desk on his way back to his seat he was so thrown by the question.

"Maybe this weekend? Unless you can't date me cause I may be a suspect."

Recovering, he replied, "Well, We aren't allowed to date suspects." He was such a hypocrite, but forged on, "But I don't know much about your particular case; so, why don't you give me your number and I'll check with Agent Sullivan."

"Sounds great."

So here he was, out in public on a date with a woman who wasn't a suspect. They continued their behind the scenes tour of the aquarium then made their way over to a Cuban restaurant near her townhouse.

They ate; they laughed and had too many glasses of wine. Next thing Booth knew they were stumbling into her place pulling at each other's clothes. They were fumbling their way up her stairs when his cell phone vibrated from inside his pants pocket.

"Oh," she jumped back with a surprised look on her face.

"Sorry." He apologized, fished out his cell phone to show her what caused the disruption.

She laughed, "I was gonna say…"

He looked at the display and saw it was the number for the FBI switchboard.

"Booth," he barked into the phone.

"Agent Booth, please hold for Agent Perotta."

"Sure."

Catherine began to nibble on his neck, her hand working its way down the front of his pants.

"Booth?"

"Yah. What is it?" Her hand had found its prize and he wanted to enjoy it.

"There's been an incident at Dr. Brennan's residence."

Booth's heart leapt to his throat. He stepped back from Catherine, held up a finger and mouthed 'sorry'.

"What kind of incident?"

"She came home from an event and discovered a large pool of blood in her foyer. According to her it's too much blood for someone to loose and still be alive."

He exhaled. She was safe. "So there was no body? What about her assistant, Zach?"

"He was with her."

"Where are you now?" he asked.

"I'm about ten minutes out. Virginia state police are already there."

"Okay. I'll meet you there." He snapped his phone shut.

"You have to go." She stated while buttoning up her blouse.

"Yah. I'm really sorry."

"Don't worry about it," she smiled. "Do you need me to call you a cab?"

He then remembered how tipsy he felt. "That would be great."

Moments late, the cab arrived. He kissed her and told he'd make it up to her real soon.

He immediately saw the flashing red and blue when he arrived at her house. Hopping out of the cab he flashed his badge and made his way in. His eyes immediately fell on a massive pool of blood.

"Agent Booth."

His gaze shifted to the living room doorway to his left. Booth walked over to Perotta and saw Temperance, her back to him, sitting on the sofa. Zach in a chair next to her.

"Any updates?"

"Police checked the house and are now sweeping the yard. Crime lab will be here in a bit."

He rounded the sofa and took a seat across from her, "How are you holding up, Dr. Brennan?"

"I'm fine."

"Good. Can you tell me exactly what you told Agent Perotta?"

"Sure. Zach and I left the house around 5:00 to attend a cocktail reception for my publishing company at Capital Grill in DC. Followed by dinner with my agent till about 9:30, after which Zach drove me home where we arrived a little before 10pm. Upon entering from the garage, I noticed that the alarm was not on, but I just figured Zach forgot to set it. I went to the study and that's when I saw the blood and called the police."

He nodded and turned to Zach, "And where were you during her dinner and reception?"

"I met a friend in the city. We saw a movie and grabbed some pizza."

"What movie?"

"Inception."

"Pay with cash?"

"You couldn't possibly think…"Temperance interrupted.

"I'll ask the questions, Dr. Brennan."

She gave him a look that would have made Medusa proud.

"For the movie, yes. The dinner, no."

"I'm going to need you to give me the number of your friend and your credit card number."

Zach nodded.

"Also, to the best of your knowledge, did you set the alarm before you left?"

"To the best of my knowledge, yes I did."

Booth nodded.

"Who else knows the code?" he asked Temperance.

"No one. Just Zach and me."

"Is that all?" Temperance asked.

"Where will you be staying?"

"I'll be staying here. This is my home." She stated.

"Fine. We'll make sure there's someone watching your place."

"That won't be necessary."

"Too bad." He glared.

The Crime Lab arrived and he and Perotta went to observe. The police reported that they found no body on the premise or any signs of a forced entry.

"I just have a few more questions for Dr Brennan. Zach, where did she go?"

"She went to her bedroom."

"Upstairs, I assume?"

Zach tried not to smile, "Yes. Up the stairs and to the right. It's the room with the French doors, Agent Booth."

"Thank you."

He entered her bedroom to find her reading in bed. She set her book to the side as he took a seat on the bed next to her hip.

"You okay?" he placed his hand atop her's.

She nodded.

"You don't have any idea what this is all about, do you?"

"No."

He picked up her hand and kissed her palm. "I just want to make sure you're safe."

"I'll be fine. I've been taking care of myself for years."

"Yah. I still worry though."

She leaned forward and hugged him. He squeezed her close. When they separated she had a huge grin on her face.

"What?" he asked self consciously.

"You were with another woman tonight."

His first instinct said to deny it and then he thought why should he. "Yes. How did you know?"

"You smell like woman's perfume."

"Really?" he turned to sniff his shoulder and she laughed.

"It smells nice. She has good taste."

"Yah…" he sheepishly looked down.

"Listen. I just found blood to someone who is mostly dead in my house. Your sex life ranks really low on my list of things to be concerned about right now."

"Of course," he nodded. "They are almost done. I'm heading out, but I'll be in touch."

"Okay. Thank you."

"Promise me you'll call me if you think of anything or need anything."

"Even if, what's the phrase, I have an itch I can't reach?"

"Scratch. Can't scratch. And you can definitely call me for that." He leaned forward and kissed her quickly before departing her room.

He met Perotta at the bottom of the stairs. "Crime Lab is just finishing up."

"Great. Any way I can catch a ride back into the city with you? I had to cab here."

Her look asked 'why'.

"Too many glasses of wine. I was on a date when you called."

"Oh."

He had to admit. Agent Perotta looked more upset by his date news than Temperance.


And the plot thickens...

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