Summer:

Dawn:

Dr. Temperance Brennan sighed. She hated these public appearance requirements. It was the annual 4th of July picnic for employees of the Jeffersonian Institution- and the donors as well. The donors were the reason that her presence was required. And so she had donned an appropriate costume consisting of elements of red, white, and blue, and made sure she smiled at and greeted everyone who introduced themselves. Dr. Goodman had stressed many times the need for good public relations with the donor community.

"Hello," a man tapped her on the shoulder and extended his hand, "I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth with the FBI. Are you Temperance Brennan?"

She couldn't think what the FBI might want with her. Had they located her parents finally? Or perhaps Russ was a wanted fugitive by now? A part of her mind recalled Dr. Goodman mentioning that they might be called upon for some consulting work as well. He was speaking again-

"-said my name is Special Agent Seeley Booth from the FBI. I'm looking for Dr. Temperance Brennan," he sounded agitated, though she wasn't quite certain why.

"I'm Dr. Temperance Brennan," she informed him.

"Good," he sounded relieved, "You're the bone lady, right?"

She cringed at the terminology, "Forensic anthropologist. I aid in determining the cause, manner and mode of death using skeletal remains."

"Yeah, I said that," he hurried on, "The Bureau sent me over to ask you for a consult."

"At a work function?" not that she was there for the enjoyment factor, but still she did have people she needed to introduce herself to, "I do keep office hours."

"Couldn't get past your assistant, Jack," he shrugged.

"Zack," she corrected, "Jack is our entomologist."

"Whatever. Can you do the consult?" he waved the file in front of her face.

"Can? Yes," the man was getting on her nerves and she ground out her response, "Will? Not at this moment. Drop it off at my office during office hours and I will see that it gets looked at."

"Look," he put his hands on his hips, "Why can't I just give these to you, have you take a look at them and then you can let me know what you think?"

"There is a proper chain of command for this Agent-" she couldn't recall his name.

"Booth," he supplied.

" Booth," she didn't miss a beat, "And I do have other remains that require my attention at the moment."

"Here," he put the file in her hands, "Just take it and get back to me, OK? And don't take too long, 'cause I don't like having murderers on the loose."

She sighed and took the folder, "You are very pushy, you realize."

"I take murder very seriously, Bones."

"As you should, being an FBI agent," her brain caught up with his words, "What did you call me?"

"Bones. You know? The whole working with skeletons thing? Bones."

"I don't know what you mean, but that seems like a very derogatory name, so I would appreciate it if you would refrain from using it again."

"Aw, com'on! It makes perfect sense."

She rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Will you at least look at the file, Bones?" he called.

She waved, using the file, and continued walking.

Around her the party was in full swing. She could see that under one of the larger tents, Dr. Goodman had become very inebriated and was making a rather large fool of himself in front of their colleagues and the donors. She spotted her assistant, Zack Addy, watching the scene with barely hidden amusement.

"What happened to Dr. Goodman?" she inquired.

"It appears he imbibed a good deal of punch," came the reply.

"Yeah," Jack Hodgins boasted, coming up behind Zack and clapping the younger man on the shoulder, "We spiked it with our own special brew from the lab."

"This is turning into a total fiasco," Angela Montanegro warned, joining the small group, a glass of punch in her own hand, "You guys are going to be dead if he ever finds out." She noticed the file Brennan was holding, "What'cha got there, Sweetie?"

"Nothing," Brennan answered, "Oh, and Zack, if a man named Special Agent Seeley Booth calls, don't let him get through to me."