AN: So this is the first chapter I've written for this story entirely on my own since taking over this account from its previous owner. Let me know what you think!

Follow me on my new Twitter at boothaddict77 for ficwriting updates and other tidbits.

NOTE: Dialogue in italics AND double quotes is from the show - that they are shooting in the story and as we know it.

DOUBLE NOTE: Dialogue is copied almost verbatim from the original Pilot script, working title "Brennan" (previously "Bones"). If you're a fan, you should check it out. Some bits are drastically changed since they were written before DB and ED came in and changed the whole dynamic. Booth arrests Brennan for impersonating a federal officer!

The End in the Beginning

'She's good.'

'No, she's amazing.'

"These are human remains, ma'am. You are illegally transporting human remains. Not to mention you assaulted a Homeland Security agent."

"Look, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you in front of your friends, but next time, you should have identified yourself before grabbing me" Then she turned and addressed Booth. "Step in any time."

A badge flashed. A book picked up off the table. "FBI Special Agent Andy Lister, Homicide Investigations Unit. I can vouch for Dr. Reichs. When victims' remains are too badly decomposed for a regular pathologist, we bring in Bones to make an identification."

An exaggerated eye roll. A coy smile. "Don't call me-"

'I can't do this!'

One month. One month since that ridiculous earth-shattering life-changing kiss in the rain. One month since he'd last laid eyes on her. One month since everything he thought he knew had been flushed down a toilet bowl like none of it had ever mattered. Because only one thing did anymore.

'Cut!'

Drawing a deep breath, Goodman massaged his temples. 'What is it now, Mr. Booth?'

Booth flashed an apologetic smile at the blonde sitting at the table in front of the still-rolling cameras before making his way over to . 'Can I talk to you for a moment?'

'Ofcourse', Goodman replied solicitously, as if refusal was an option. He walked the few steps to his office and waved Booth inside. 'Is there a problem?' He shut the door behind him and turned to face the young actor who was pacing the room, a patient mask on his face. Hole in the wall, cement. Torn paper, gluestick. Toilet bowl, plunger. Actors, patience. That's the way of the world, son, his father had told him once, and Goodman recalled the words, in need of the reminder. That's just how things work. Booth turned to him as though surprised he was even there, hand resting on his chin.

'Yeah'. He massaged his temples, scrubbed a hand over his face. 'I'm just not…I'm just not feeling it out there.'

Calmly, Goodman raised a questioning eyebrow, making sure to keep his expression neutral.

'What are you saying, Mr. Booth?'

Booth turned to him, resolve written all over his face. 'I'm saying…look, I'm sorry, but I'm not doing this thing without her.'

Goodman didn't have to ask, but he did anyway.

'Ms. Brennan?'

'Yes.'

'You want to bring her back?'

'Yes.'

'Despite the fact that the network heads would be severely displeased?'

'Yes. Look, I know this Hannah girl's great at what she does, but she's not…she's not Bones.'

'And you are aware of the fact that you're on a contract, which they will hold you to regardless of whether the fate of the show hangs in balance-'

'So they'll sue me for a mill. Big deal. I've got loads of those. I'm not doing it without her.'

'And you think we should risk everything to get her back?'

'Yes. And no matter what it takes-'

'I agree.'

'Look, Doc, I don't care if-what?'

'I agree, Mr. Booth.'

'Oh. Good.' Booth resumed pacing again and then paused and scratched the back of his head, addressing Goodman in an uncharacteristically uncertain voice that almost made the older man crack a smile. Almost. 'What do you suggest we do next?'

'Go over the heads of the major executives and straight to the boss.'

'You think we should talk to Cullen?'

'Oh, no, Mr. Booth. I think you should talk to Cullen.'

'Right.'

'Thought you said she wouldn't work with you anymore.'

Sam Cullen leaned back in his chair and surveyed the man in front of him over steepled fingers. Seeley Booth. A young star with style, charisma, and –more unusual still– smarts, oozing with charm and endless potential. Hollywood's hottest property. Who now belonged to him.

'The last time we talked, she had a great audition but I didn't give her much credence.'

'Why not?'

'Because she's never done a role onscreen before.'

'Well, I wouldn't give her much credence, either.

'Turns out she's done a bunch of roles on stage, though, worked with some of the best-Webber, Sam Mendes.'

'Why haven't we heard of her, then?'

'She performed on West End. She's got a ton of wins and nominations, including three Laurence Olivier and some Critic's Circle Theatre Awards.'

'She's good.' He stated it as more of a question. What he was really asking was, is she that good? She must be, if Booth was willing to pull out all the stops for her like this, risking his reputation and a lawsuit.

'No, she's amazing. Only way I can get her back on my side is to pull out all the stops...I'm willing.'

Cullen stared at him silently for a moment, and Booth refused to flinch under the weight of his gaze. Finally, he said, 'Fine. She's on you. Take an unknown out in front of the cameras, she's your responsibility.'

'Yes, sir.'

One down, one to go.

'Look, Caroline-'

'Nuh uh, Cherie, it ain't gonna happen.'

'Ms. Julian', Dr. Goodman stepped in front of her smoothly with a serenely pleasant expression. 'Would you give us just a moment of your time?'

'Fine. But only because you asked so nicely.' She turned to face both men, arms crossed and foot tapping. 'This had better be good.'

They both looked at each other, and then Booth turned back to the intimidating woman in front of him.

'Well?' Soon Booth had explained the facts of the case to Caroline, as he had to Goodman a while ago.

'Oh, no, Mr. Booth. I think you should talk to Cullen.'

'There's one more thing.'

'You have my attention.'

'See, if Hasty finds out about us bringing Brennan back on the show and kicks up a fuss…I don't want her name to be dragged in the mud before her career even kicks off the ground.'

'What are you suggesting, Mr. Booth?'

'The last month that we had before shooting, I, uh, did some looking in into Hasty's previous offences. I spoke to an old buddy of mine in the FBI and I had him compile a file.'

'On Hasty?' Goodman took the proferred dossier and flipped to the page Booth indicated.

'Yeah. And this one woman – this one right here? She's willing to testify that he assaulted her in the parking garage in this very studio lot. Turns out there was some accompanying footage from the security cameras, but it was discarded 'cause the case never came to trial.'

'What happened?'

'The usual. Hasty threated to fire her and when that didn't work he said he'd go after her kids.'

'Good God. Will he stop at anything? The man has no morals.'

'You can say that again.'

' ?' Goodman looked up from the document in his hands at the young man standing in front of him.

'Yeah?'

'Do you mean to tell me you had a federal agent compile a file on Miles Hasty because he propositioned Ms. Brennan?' Booth simply swallowed. 'And you did some of the research personally, yes?'

Booth didn't respond, but the truth of his feelings for Temperance Brennan seemed to ring out in that one unspoken moment.

'I just really want her in the show.' Booth shrugged, wanting to make it known that his motivation was professional, and to remind Goodman of that as much as himself. That's right. Professional. This is purely professional. Nothing to do with the fact that she's haunted your dreams every night since you first met her and the memory of that kiss has consumed every waking moment, and your subconscious has been overtaken by…yeah, OK, we get the point.

'Ofcourse.'

'And also because, Hasty's, you know, a slimeball, and he should be spending the rest of his life rotting in jail with an overfriendly cellmate.'

'Too true, Mr. Booth. Too true.' They began walking towards the exit, ready to set their plan in motion and execute the first stages. 'You know, I have seen many instances where an actor comes to bear a strong likeness to his character, or atleast develop a few traits that help him identify with the role, but you have taken method acting up a notch, Mr. Booth. It seems you missed your calling. You would have made a fine Special Agent.'

As both men chuckled and walked out together, Goodman looked back down at the dossier. 'There are quite a number of young women in here. And the case you pointed out is particularly promising.'

'You know what they say, you get one confession and they all start coming out of the woodwork.'

'Yes, well. The evidence on this appears to be airtight.'

'And you'd know, right Doc?'

Goodman looked up in surprise and Booth just grinned at him, cocky bravado back in full swing. 'I already did my research on you a long time ago, Doc. I know you minored in law and finished top of your class, and even thought of taking it up professionally at one point.'

'FBI?' Goodman raised an eyebrow sardonically.

'Nope. People.' Booth grinned. 'But don't worry, Doc. I don't think you missed your calling.'

Back in the present, Caroline was reviewing the file before her, periodically shaking her head in disbelief – or Booth hoped that was the expression on her face, anyway. 'If you're wrong about this, my career is over. ' She looked up at him, snapping the file shut. 'And you'd better not be, because irritating a television mogul – very unwise.'

Booth barely managed to contain his excitement. 'So what, do the press release?'

'Do the press release.'

Brennan was in New York when she got the call from a hysterical Angela telling her to get her ass down to L.A yesterday. Cam, too, had received a similar call from Caroline Julian, cutting short her two month vacation in the Caribbean. She had, however, managed to catch the news and a quick bite to eat when she went into the office that morning, unlike her other coworkers who were gathered in the conference room when she walked in.

'Yeah, but I fired her-'

Cam's head snapped up as she interrtuped Booth midsentence.

'You fired Brennan?'

'Yeah, Caroline made me. She punched a network exec right in the nose.' And it was HOT.

'They got the network exec.' Cam handed over the latest file Sully had compiled – and brought over to her house when there was no reason at all to go to the trouble.

'They got the network exec! This is good news.'

'What did I tell you?'

'And this girl was sexually assaulted by him.

'Here's the evidence.'

'Oh, more stickman cartoons?'

'Yes, but, you know, you can jazz it up with computers before trial.' Booth pitched in helpfully. Caroline simply gave him a look that would have made a lesser man wither.

'Look at the evidence.'

'If you're wrong about this, my career is over. So, don't tell me to look at the evidence, because you know I'm going to look at the evidence.'

'And, you, reassure me.'

Yeah-yes. Cam and I, we-we did have Sull look at the evidence, and we all feel that there is enough here to get a warrant to arrest Hasty.'

'You fire this Temperance Brennan already?

'Yeah, of course.'

'Hire her back.'

'Okay.'

'And push come to shove, you be ready to testify that judge assaulted you if need be.'

'Yeah.'

'I'll have your warrant in an hour.' Booth stood rooted to the spot, feeling somewhat giddy. He was going to see her again. The prospect made him happier than he could recall being. He was over the moon. He was beyond ecstatic. He was floating on clouds. He was-

'So why are you still here?'

Good point.

AN: Well, there you have it. More to come soon, with some B and B climbing an olive branch. Remember, if you enjoy the story, don't be shy - SHARE. Share with your peeps or Tweet your friends in the Bones verse and tell them to follow me on Twitter at boothaddict77 and check out these stories!

And please review? Believe it or not, reviews really do motivate us ficwriters. The last chapter of Purak received HALF the usual number of reviews :( And this story - only 79 reviews across nine chapters? I think I can safely say, without being biased by my friendship with old Boothaddict77 who wrote those chapters, that this is one of the better - one of the best stories in Bonesverse. I can only hope I'll do it justice in moving forward now that I've taken over. So please? I know it's New Year's and you're busy and all, but a review would be the nicest New Year's gift you could possibly give this ficwriter.