Thanks for your continued interest in this story.

I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

The meeting with Cullen hadn't quite turned out like he thought it would. The meeting had lasted a half hour and once it was completed Booth felt that his situation was improved. He had thought that Cullen would balk at his request; but, much to his surprise, Cullen had acceded to his request.

Leaving Cullen's office, Booth walked down the hall and back to his office. Once he entered his office, Booth sat down behind his desk and took his phone from his pocket. Calling Brennan, Booth whistled while he waited for her to answer.

"Brennan"

Smiling, Booth said, "Hey, Bones. How's my favorite girl doing this morning?"

Frowning, Brennan said, "I'm fine. Did you have your meeting with Cullen yet?"

Nodding his head, Booth said, "Yeah, I just left his office. I didn't get that position at Quantico. "

Brennan looking at the ring on her left hand, said, "I don't understand, three weeks ago you were offered the position in the Firearms Training Unit at Quantico? Did Cullen withdraw the offer? If he did, he's just being foolish. Your skills with firearms are invaluable to the FBI and you'd be a great teacher."

Shrugging his shoulders, Booth said, "Yeah, well, he had a better offer for me and I took it."

Curious and a little worried, Brennan asked, "What's the position?"

Smiling, Booth said, "Oh, Special Agent in Charge at the Washington D.C. Office. Of course, my duties will be different here than if I was at a field office; but, that's ok. The best part of the promotion is that I won't be called out for sniper duty anymore. Cullen agreed that I'd done enough of that so I won't have to do that part of the job anymore"

Knowing what the answer would be, Brennan asked, "And our partnership? Will you still be my partner?"

Frowning, Booth looked at the ring on this left hand and said, "Only at home, Bones. Cullen took our work partnership away from me. I'm supposed to choose a new FBI liaison for the Jeffersonian and give my recommendations to Cullen by the end of the day today."

Pursing her lips, Brennan said, "I don't really care who you choose, Booth as long as it isn't Agent Cantor or Harris."

Laughing, Booth said, "God, Bones. Do you think I'm crazy? I know you hate those guys. It won't be either one of them."

Nodding her head, Brennan said, "Good. In that case, just make sure that whomever you choose is as smart as the last liaison that the FBI assigned to the Jeffersonian."

Smirking, Booth said, "I don't know, Bones. That might be a tall order; but, I'll try. What do you think of Agent Alex Sokolek?"

Frowning, Brennan said, "I don't remember Agent Sokolek. Have I met him before?"

Looking out at the agents sitting outside his office, Booth said, "Oh yeah. He's as smart as a whip and can follow squint speak better than anyone I've ever met. He's the one that threatened to kick your ass that time you told off Agent McKnee for letting the Richmond coroner look over that burned body in the railroad car before you arrived on the scene."

Smiling, Brennan said, "Oh yes, I remember the incident. The Sheriff wanted the coroner to proclaim the victim dead for his paper work and he didn't want to wait for me to arrive first. I believe it had something to do with budgets and overtime."

Picking up a post it note that had been affixed to the top of his bobble headed Bobby, Booth said, "Yeah, the sheriff wanted to release the body to the FBI and he needed someone to say murder for him to do it. He didn't want to pay overtime to deputies standing around waiting for us to show up."

Nodding her head, Brennan said, "Agent Sokolek will be acceptable. I wouldn't care to work with an agent that is easily intimidated. I need to work with the best and that requires that the agent have as many attributes as you have. I will not work with inferior agents, Booth."

Frowning at the post it note, Booth said, "I know. Hey, I got to go. I'll see you at lunch time."

Ending his call, Booth didn't realize that he hadn't say good bye to Brennan or told her that he loved her. His mind had suddenly become occupied by the message printed on the post it note.

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

Transferring his phone to his left hand, Booth called his friend, Hank Latrell. Hearing his friend answer, Booth said, "Hey, it's Booth. What's up?"

Sadly, Hank said, "Hey, Booth. I thought I'd call you and let you know something. You'll probably hear about it soon enough; but, she's your friend and I thought I'd let you know now."

A little fearful, Booth said, "Just spit it out Hank. You're torturing me."

Sighing, Hank said, "Caroline Julian's daughter was killed in a car accident this morning. She was on the way to work and I guess her car was stopped in traffic. Some semi driver didn't see the stopped traffic in time and he plowed into the back of a SUV behind her car. The SUV was totaled and was pushed into Sherry's car. Sherry's car caught on fire and some people tried to get her out of the car; but, the seat belt wouldn't open. They tried; but, they just couldn't. Some guy tried to cut it off with a pocket knife; but, the fire got too intense and it drove him away. He got bad burns on his hands and arms trying."

Shaking his head, Booth said, "Oh my God. Not Sherry. God this is awful."

Feeling sick, Hank said, "Thank God her kids weren't in the car. She'd just dropped them off at Day Care. I heard that an EMT had to be called to Caroline's office when her ex-husband came in to tell her a little while."

Feeling his heart pounding in his chest, Booth said, "Where's Caroline now? Do you know?"

Sighing, Hank said, "Her ex, David Barron, took her home. He said he was going to be staying with her for awhile."

Swallowing hard, Booth rubbed his eyes and said, "Thanks for letting me know Hank. I uh, thanks."

Hearing the call end, Booth put his phone down on his desk and turned his chair to face towards the wall behind his desk. Putting his trembling hands on the arms of his chair, Booth stared at the wall, not seeing it.

Oooooooooooooooooo

Sorry for the sad turn on events. Let me know what you think. Any good? Don't like where this is going? It's all part of my master plan. Yes I do have a plan.