(The Man in the SUV)

A/N: I should probably mention that this story is being woven through the Bones show and therefore I'm not going to write up the cases. I will mention them as they influence this story but I am definitely not retelling the show. Thank you for your wonderful reviews.

I don't own Bones.

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Filled with sadness, Booth tossed back his Scotch and placed the empty glass back on the table before him. Brennan concerned that her friend was so sad, held her glass of Scotch between her hands as it rested on the table. "You saved so many people Booth. You had to shoot him. He was going to detonate his bomb."

Booth rubbed his forehead and sighed. "I still took a life, Bones . . . There's no pleasure in taking anyone's life and if I could have stopped him some other way I would have."

"Yes, but you didn't have any other options." Rubbing her finger through the sweat on her glass, Brennan frowned at her damp fingers. "He made his choices Booth. There are always repercussions when you make decisions like he made. He murdered his own brother and was going to murder hundreds more. The price he paid was the price he deserved. It's all on him not you."

His eyes resting on her lovely face, Booth's lips attempted to form a smile. "Thanks, Bones. It's just never easy for me that's all."

Reaching across the table, Brennan placed her hand on his wrist. "That's the way it should be Booth. It's the way it should always be."

Her hand a comfort to him, her cool hand against his warm flesh, Booth stared at her long slim fingers resting on his wrist. "I left the Army because I was so tired of killing but . . . this doesn't seem to be any different. I'm still killing people and . . ." Trailing off, Booth stared at his empty glass.

Her concern growing, Brennan fretted at his ramblings. "You're not considering leaving the FBI are you? You're doing so well and I thought it was something you really wanted to do. You're very good and have already been promoted since our first case."

Aware that his friend was worried, Booth forced himself to stop his flight into depression. "Listen Bones, just ignore me. I'm always like this when I kill someone. I'm just talking. It doesn't mean anything. I'm not going to give up on the FBI and I'm not going to give up on our partnership. I'm just sad that's all and when I get sad I talk a load of crap . . . It's a coping mechanism, it's how I cope."

Relieved, Brennan squeezed his wrist. "I'm your friend, Booth. I'm your partner. If there is anything I can do for you then please tell me."

Picking up his empty glass, Booth looked for the barman. "Why don't we have one more drink and then just go for a walk. That's what I need right now because I sure as hell am not going to be sleeping tonight."

Releasing his wrist, Brennan finished her drink. "Of course. That seems like an excellent plan."

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Standing outside her apartment building, Brennan reached out and touched Booth's arm. "Would you like to come up to my apartment? I could make some coffee."

His hands shoved in his jacket pocket, Booth shook his head. "Nah, it's after two in the morning. I'm just going to go home. Thanks for walking with me, Bones. It meant a lot to me that you did that."

Removing her hand, Brennan crossed her arms in the chill night air. "It was nice, Booth. Are you going to go home now?"

Booth glanced across the street and nodded his head. "Yeah, I'll walk back to the Founding Fathers and then drive home. I might even get a little sleep. I'm not going to work until later this afternoon. I'm going to have to face a board of inquiry because of the shooting but it's just pro forma. They'll look at what I did and why and they'll agree that it was the right thing to do and that will be that."

"If you need a witness, call me Booth." Glancing up at her apartment window, Brennan turned her gaze back to her partner. "If you'd like you could spend the night at my place and then go back to your apartment in the morning. I have a guest bedroom and the mattress is very comfortable."

Reaching out and resting his hand on her upper arm, Booth smiled at her. "That's very nice of you Bones, but I don't mind being alone. I'll be okay."

Concerned for him, she searched his face in the semi-dark and saw a man close to exhaustion. "Please Booth, I'm offering my guest bedroom as a friend. Let me be your friend."

Weary, Booth stepped closer towards her. "Sure, Bones."

Pleased that he'd agreed to her request, Brennan led her partner upstairs to her apartment. Once they were in her living room, Brennan pointed to an open doorway. "That's the guest bedroom. You may stay as long as you like. I won't disturb you."

Walking over to the doorway, Booth looked back. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night, Booth." Moving over to her bedroom door, Brennan opened it and stepped into the room closing the door behind her.

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Once Booth was sure that Brennan was asleep, he moved off the bed, placed his shoes and jacket back on and left the apartment. Walking slowly back to the Founding Fathers, he thought about his life and the decisions he'd made since he was old enough to have a say in his life. One of the constant worries in his life was that he'd turn out to be like his father. Determined not to follow the path of a loser like his father Booth tried to live by a certain moral code. After retrieving his truck, Booth drove over to a bar he'd recently discovered.

After parking his truck next door to the bar, Booth entered the establishment and looked around. Spying an old friend, Booth sat down on a bar stool and lifted a finger. "Scotch, neat."

Startled at the sight of Booth, Aldo turned and stared at him. "Oh my God . . . how did you find me?"

Snorting, Booth laughed at his friend. "I work for the fucking FBI, Father."

Placing his hands on the bar, Aldo shook his head. "I'm not a priest anymore and you know that."

Disappointed, Booth Booth stared at his friend. "Are you telling me that you refuse to hear my confession?"

Nodding his head, Aldo adamantly replied, "You're damn right. I'll sell you a drink and that's all I can do for you."

"Then give me the drink." As Aldo poured a glass with Scotch, Booth asked the former priest, "So as a bar owner, isn't it traditional for you to hear your patrons sob stories?"

Wary of Booth, Aldo nodded his head. "Yeah, I guess so."

Drinking the entire shot of Scotch, Booth placed the glass down on the bar, crossed himself and folded his hands. "Forgive me Father for I have sinned. I killed a man yesterday . . ."

Not really surprised, Aldo rolled his eyes. "For God's sake . . ."

Ignoring him, Booth continued his confession. Exasperated, Aldo shook his head and listened.

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"I met someone." Lifting his refilled glass up to his lips, Booth smiled. "I've never met anyone like her before."

Wiping the bar in front of him, Aldo asked him, "You're serious about her?"

Slowly shaking his head, Booth sipped his drink. "She's my partner."

Confused, the bar owner placed the rag on top of the bar. "Partner? What kind of partner?"

Placing his glass down, Booth stared at the amber liquid in his glass. "I work with her. . . . She's the smartest person I've ever met. She's beautiful and smart and we're friends. I've never had a friend like her. I can ask her anything and she won't bat an eye. She's strong and smart and doesn't take bullshit from anyone . . . wow, some guy touched her a couple of days and ago and she flipped him on his ass. That was so damn hot. She definitely can take care of herself. She doesn't like people she doesn't know to touch her. . . . I've been her partner for a while and because of her I've been promoted. I have my own office now. She helped me close some cold cases that were dead in the water and it got the Director's attention."

Curious, Aldo boldly stated, "You love her."

Raising his glass and swallowing the last of the Scotch, Booth placed the glass down very carefully on the bar. "And I think I love her."

Not sure what the problem was, Aldo refilled Booth's glass. "Tell her then. Go for it while she's still available . . . I assume she's available."

Booth sighed. "She's available . . . There's a problem with your suggestion. She doesn't believe in love or marriage or even commitment. She told me she won't be in a monogamous relationship with anyone. Her parents disappeared when she was fifteen and I think she just gave up on love. It's sad really."

Pursing his lips, Aldo shook his head. "Oh."

Disgusted with his situation, Booth sighed again. "Yeah, oh."

Pouring more Scotch in Booth's glass, Aldo stared at his friend. "What are you going to do?"

Studying his reflection in the glass behind the bar, Booth finally answered. "I'm going to be her friend and I'm going to show her that I'm someone she can trust. I hope that I can also show her that I'm someone she can love. It's worth a try. God knows she's worth the effort. I'm not going to have any damn one night stand with her I can tell you that. I want her but I want her to be mine. I want to be hers. I just need to figure out how to do it."

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