A short chapter before the weekend.

PS - only 1 review for my last chapter? You guys really must not like Catherine ;-)

One month later

He raced to her house, sirens on, weaving in and out of traffic. Screeching to a stop, he banged on the door until it was finally opened by Tempe.

"What…?"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs to her room.

"Booth. What is going on?"

"Where's Zach?"

"He has the day off."

"Call him right now and tell him to leave town for a bit. Visit his folks or something." He tossed her his phone, "Use my cell."

"I will not call him until you tell me what the hell is going on."

He was now in her closet, pulling out a large suitcase, "start packing."

"I will do no such thing until you tell me what is going on!"

He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Just start packing and I'll explain."

The fear in his eyes must have done the trick because she just nodded and began going through her clothes.

"I figured out the connection between Garrett Delaney and yourself."

"The man who's blood was in my foyer? What's the connection?"

"Your father and the Deputy Director of the FBI. My boss's boss's boss who just suspended me without pay."

"I'm still confused. Why am I packing?"

He rubbed his hands over his face, "I'm getting you out of here. I've stepped into something I wasn't supposed to and now it's probably cost me my job. We established that Garrett was sent here to kill you and now I know by whom."

She stopped, "Who? Your boss's boss's boss?"

"Robert Kirby. And yes."

"But how?"

"Back in the 70's Kirby was the lead investigator on your parent's and the gang they ran with case. One of the safety deposit boxes they stole was that of an FBI Agent who reported to Kirby. Who also died under mysterious circumstances. Apparently your dad still has the contents of that box and Kirby wants whatever was in it back. I guess he figured killing you would drive Max out. Looks like you are not the only one who's looking for your dad."

She nodded and asked, "You really think he's still after me?"

"He called off your protection and took away my badge and gun. I'd say yes. So let's go. Chop. Chop."

"But where? For how long?

"That's for me to know. As for the how long: no idea. Just until I can figure out what to do next."

"Okay." She nodded. "I trust you."

3:45am

He pulled into the hotel parking lot and put the car into park. The jerking motion woke her up.

"Where are we?" she asked sitting up.

"New Bern, North Carolina. Stay here while I check us in."

He checked them in using cash under the name Anthony and Roxanne Hanson.

"Roxanne!" she exclaimed when they entered their room.

"Just paying homage to your artist friend."

"Right," she rolled her eyes. "And Anthony?"

"My best friend growing up and Hanson was the last name of the MILF who lived across the street."

She shook her head, grabbed her nightgown and toiletries out of her suitcase and went into the bathroom.

He stripped down into his boxer, sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. He hoped he was doing the right thing.

Looking up when her hand touched his shoulder, he found her in that cream slip.

"Bathroom's all yours."

He slashed some water on his face and brushed his teeth. Shutting off the light, he climbed into bed next to Temperance and stared at the ceiling.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

He turned his head. "Why are you sorry?"

"I feel like this is my entire fault. Or at least my dad's fault."

"No. No. It's Kirby's fault and I'll figure this all out. Don't worry." He hoped he wasn't lying.

"Okay," she shifted over and kissed the corner of his mouth.

He closed his eyes and sighed. How he just wanted to take her in his arms and make love to her.

She must have sensed his dilemma, "what is it?"

"I can't…we can't."

"Oh," she shifted away from him. "Okay."

He turned on his side, "it's not you. I just…I've been seeing someone and it wouldn't be fair to her."

He could see her nodded against her pillow, "Perfume girl?"

"Yah. Her name is Catherine."

"What does she think about you running off with another woman?"

"I had Agent Sullivan tell her I had to go undercover."

"Can you trust him?"

"Yes and even if he tells, no one knows where we are."

"Right. So, Catherine. Is she… is she the one?" she whispered.

"I don't know," he huffed.

"Don't you guys usually say you know?"

"Usually. I thought I knew once, but I was wrong so what do I know."

"Rebecca?"

"No."

They lay there quietly.

"Goodnight, Anthony."

He smiled in the dark, "Goodnight, Roxanne."