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A/N

Okay...I don't think it's the actual case I struggle with...it's the winding up of the darn thing!

....in my world.....Booth is just so tough the baddies take one look at him and put their hands in the air and surrender! This of course allows Booth time for the more important pursuits in life... duh!!!!

... For me..it's not about the case.....it's all about the dance.....

... I think the problem is I'm just not that detail orientated!

Okay let's get this dang thing solved....

I've mentioned it before....any holes in the plot are mine...you can't have them!


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They were comfortably seated in the back of the limousine.... 'bickering'.

The subject: money.

This woman made more money in a year than he would in a lifetime. She earned a lucrative income from being the best in her field career wise (as she frequently told him) and she had made a ton of 'moola' writing bestselling books. How did she manage to walk up to a card game and win every single time? In Booth's opinion it wasn't right...it just wasn't right. And the fact that she was so cool in her attitude to money blew his mind.

He had wanted to know what she was going to do with her winnings. The way he had asked the question had started the argument....

He thought he was winning their argument....

She thought her arguments were far more logical....

Their 'bickering' escalated....both shouting over the other and consequently they hadn't noticed that the limousine had glided to a halt.

They were mid rant when unexpectedly Thomas opened Brennan's door and thrust a gun in her face.

"The money please Mrs Scallion."......

"Thomas?" She said totally surprised!

"Do not make any sudden movements there Mr Scallion....this gun is loaded and pointed directly at your beautiful wife, so....money please...NOW"

"It's on the floor near your feet Tony...." She said without looking away from the gun, hoping he would play along.

Thomas took his gaze off Brennan and motioned for Booth to get the money.....

Booth leaned forward.

Thomas was watching Booth intently, making sure he didn't make any sudden movements. His major tactical mistake was not keeping his eyes on her....

Booth was pretending to reach for the money on the floor....Thomas' gaze was trying to see if he had found it....and Brennan used that moment to attack. She kicked out....her aim landing straight and true in Thomas' extremely sensitive region. With a loud 'Ooooommmmph,' he began to crumble and Booth lashed out landing an upper cut to the driver's jaw. The double whammy saw their driver land on the pavement wailing in pain.

By the time Booth and Brennan had exited the car and located the dropped gun, the FBI agents following them had descended on the scene.

"Well he didn't put up much of a fight did he Booth?" she asked sounding a little disappointed.

He looked at her and shook his head. "I'm sure he didn't expect you to take him on Bones....I've said it before and I'll say it again...You are one surprising woman!"

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It didn't take long for Thomas to start talking. He was one angry man....... Twelve months ago Thomas' wife had left him, left him six days into their honeymoon, clearing out his life savings in the process. The man definitely didn't believe in everlasting love now that was for sure!.....Booth could feel Bones' glance on him during this part of his disclosure.

The 'gang' had all been friends for some time. The idea of preying upon successful gamblers had been a joint idea between all members, the fact they decided to target honeymooners in the end was simply Thomas' revenge on the institute of marriage.

Couples were targeted, packages to entice them into the scheme were distributed and then it was simply a matter of wait. Each sting took approximately two to three weeks and had provided them with a lucrative income over the past eight months. The 'luckier' couples soon became unlucky!

Three different hotel workers and one casino employee were charged with abetting and one limousine driver charged with murder. Case closed; Closure for the victims' families and.... closure on the Scallion marriage.....

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There was little conversation between them on the flight home.

She could already feel him withdrawing. Although she often had trouble 'reading' a situation, she knew it was going to be awkward when they got home. She knew he found her physically attractive....she knew he thought of her as a good friend.... she knew he respected her as his partner....but he had given no indication that he had any deeper feelings for her. Better to be safe than sorry she had decided.....back to compartmentalising....back to just partners.....back behind the line.....

The thought almost made her physically ill.

Once again she got out the photo of her parents and as she had done many times in the last few days simply stared at it....as if it would give her the answers she was looking for.

Even though he sat beside her he could feel the emotional distance between them grow. He could sense she was already compartmentalising their relationship, already withdrawing. He knew she found him sexually compatible.....he knew she thought of him as a good friend....but she had given him no indication that her feelings ran any deeper than that...friendship and biological urges! If their relationship was going to regress to what it had been prior to the trip, he knew he was going to find it difficult being close to her when they got home. He had had a taste of the good life....how was he supposed to revert to being just being partners?

The thought almost made him sick.

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