Best Laid Plans of Agents and Anthropologists

by LizD

What if Maluku was a bust? What if Tempe had to change whether she knew how or not? What if Booth's experience was less than he had hoped for as well? What if something forced them back together before they were ready? - COMPLETE!

11. Chapter 11

The Best Laid Plans of Agents and Anthropologists

By LizD

Chapter 11

A/N: I know I said ALL BOOTH/BRENNAN all the time, but there are some other people still hanging around the fringe that need to be ... disposed of before Booth and Brennan can really get down to it. Let's make heroes out of some and send them on their way, let's make villains out of the other ones and kick them to the curb – of course the core group will get back to the way they were and the center will hold.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Sully, Booth and Walker were ordered back to the FBI but Sully 'swung' by the hospital claiming that they needed to drop Max off to get his shoulder looked at. Booth asked at admitting where Brennan was and was told that it was not visiting hours. Sully again stepped in to keep him from exploding explaining to the nurse on duty that Dr. Brennan was witness to a crime and they needed to take her statement. The nurse made a BIG concession to allow only one agent to see Dr. Brennan. Sully nodded for Booth to go, and escorted Walker out under protest expecting Booth to find his own way back. Max followed Booth waiting for his turn to see his daughter.

The news of Taffet's death hit the news like they were on scene. Sully was accosted when he arrived back at the Hoover building by every news outlet in print or TV from Los Angeles to London. His NO COMMENTS were not received well, but he had a command performance with Director Rapaport and Assistant Director Hacker. He still didn't know what he would say. While it was true that she did not surrender, it was also true that they probably could have captured her alive. One round through the engine block would have disabled her vehicle. She did have a gun at the warehouse, so it was reasonable to assume that she still had it with her in the car, though none was found. Did he need to point out the possibilities? Or could he just report the events as they happened with no editorial? The SWAT guys were not a problem, they knew about reporting events as factually as possible and not editorializing. Booth would do that too. Walker was the wild card and she might have an agenda despite her protestations.

Sully was having a hard time figuring out Walker. Clearly Booth and she had a past - ancient and recent. She was the one who brought him back to DC when Taffet escaped. When had she turned on Booth? When had she decided she didn't want him working the case? Was it before or after Brennan returned? Was it after she realized that Booth would stop at nothing to protect Brennan? If Walker didn't know that before Taffet was taken down, she knew it after. But had she realized that Booth didn't stop at trying to protect Brennan. That the two of them would not give up until Daisy, Max and Walker were all returned, nor would they have stopped looking for Taffet. Did Walker not understand that about Booth and Brennan - that their sense of justice for everyone was paramount? It was the one way that they were alike. That's what was so disturbing about the Taffet shooting. Booth was out of character. He would kill when he needed to, but he normally did everything in his power not to until there was no other alternative. In the end, Taffet left him no other alternative; that was all that needed to be said. The rest was between Booth and his Father Confessor. Now to get Walker to tow that party line.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Brennan was asleep when Booth entered the room. The light from above cast a soft glow across her face. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. The soft beeping of the EKG quietly crooning out her normal rhythm was music to him. There were other monitors hooked up but he would need her to explain them to him. He would need her to explain a lot of things to him. He would need her ... period. He silently pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down. He would wait, he would watch over her, he would be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes. What would she think of what he had done? He had killed in the line of duty before, but why did this time feel different? He shot a fleeing felon that was all, but it wasn't. Taffet had gotten to him. He wanted her dead and that was against everything he had ever known or believed about himself. He had been trained to kill, from the time he was 18 he was trained to kill, in war, as a sniper, as a cop. He was trained to serve and protect and kill if necessary in the performance of his sworn duties, his responsibilities. But he was never trained to hate. He was never trained to hate his combatants, his targets, his suspects, or his felons. In fact the training was to take the emotion out of it all together – or so they said. Killing another human being changed a person regardless if it was a premeditated murder, an accident or in the performance of duty. It didn't matter if it was a first kill or a 68th kill. It changed a person. It should change a person. If it didn't then he was just like Taffet and every other sociopath out there. But how much had it changed him and could he live with the change?

"Booth?"

Her voice was smooth like silk and a welcome relief to his Super Ego barking like a drill instructor in his ears. "Hey, Bones!" His face lit up. "I didn't want to wake you."

"They wake me up every hour anyway," she said. "Are you ... you are OK?"

He stood up and leaned over her. "I'm not the one who got shot." He brushed some nonexistent strand of hair off her face just so he could feel her soft skin. Her eyes were clear and blue and focused on him. He loved when she looked at him, just him, when neither one could look away. He could live with what he had done. She was safe. He had made her safe. That was all that mattered. "How are you?"

"I'm fine ... bit of a headache that they won't give me anything for. They are worried about concussion. But I should be able to go home this afternoon."

"That's good." She tried to sit up but he put a gentle hand on her shoulder to keep her down. "Rest, Temperance."

"What time is it?"

"It is after 8AM ... took me a little longer to get here than I had planned. I'm sorry."

"Is everything OK?"

His face washed with something she couldn't quite read. "Taffet is dead," he said flatly.

Without saying another word Brennan knew that Booth was the one who had killed her. She didn't know the circumstances, but she was sure that Booth had been the one to pull the trigger. "I'm sorry you had to do that. I know how much you hate to kill someone even someone like Taffet." He sat down again. She reached for his hand. "What happened?"

He shook his head. "Not now, Bones."

"Yes, now Booth," she pressed. "What happened?"

Reluctantly he told her in short sentences. There was no embellishment, no commentary. It was quite literally just the facts.

"I'm sorry," she said again pressing his hand.

"Yeah, me too." He looked everywhere but in her eyes.

She sat up. "Booth." She forced him to look at her. She pulled slightly on his hand. She wanted to comfort him but he would have to help with the logistics.

He did look at her, he did respond to her gentle tug. He sat down on the bed facing her and allowed her to put her arms around him. After a moment he wrapped his around her and he buried his face in her hair. It smelled of hospital shampoo, blood and whatever they used to clean her wound with - mediciny. It wasn't how he remembered her smell, but he remembered how she felt in his arms and it was Brennan - his Bones. She whispered something in his ear but he didn't hear it. His head was too full of other stuff.

She said it again, louder. "I love you," she braved the second - rather third declaration. It was all she could think to say. So many other declarations were just not enough, maybe that wasn't enough either.

He sat back to look at her, all other thoughts left his mind. She had told him that before; it seemed like ages ago. She told him when he couldn't respond the way he wanted to. "Do you? Do you really?" That had always been the biggest issue between them, verbal communication. They could use the same terms (like love) but they didn't mean the same thing.

"Yes." She was worried by his expression. "More than as a partner, a friend," she explained. "Romantically … sexual-"

"I get it, Bones." He flashed a great grin quickly and then got serious. "I love you too," he said simply. "But you already knew that."

"No," she said keeping steady eye contact with him. "I honestly thought you had moved on."

He smiled slightly. "Nowhere to go after you, Bones. You are the end of the line for me."

"That is more ... romantic than accurate," she said in her all-go science way. She was still using Walker as her evidence.

"It's more than accurate. It's an unprovable fact, but a fact anyway. But I really don't want to have a debate right now." Walker or what Brennan thought of her never entered his mind. He leaned in close to her, his lips almost touching hers. "Is this OK?" he asked. She closed the short distance between them giving him her answer. It was more than OK.

Could it only have been 24 hours since she had kissed him in her kitchen? So much had happened. So much had been prevented from happening. So much had been finished. She wanted so much to get back to that moment only in this moment or the next. She wanted to be somewhere where they wouldn't be interrupted; somewhere where they could just be alone to talk, to explain, to apologize, to make plans, to not talk. Time had slowed to near stopping over the past 24 hours, now she wanted to speed past this next bit (hospitals and reports) and get to the part where it was just the two of them. She poured all those yearnings and desires into that kiss. He felt and returned each and every one of them.

"Interesting interrogation technique," the nurse called from the door. "Is that how the FBI questions all their witnesses? Because I am sure I have witnessed a crime or two that I would be more than willing to have sucked out of me." She liked her lips.

Booth refused to look guilty and it didn't occur to Brennan that she should. He was unceremoniously excused from the room. He promised to wait and be back as soon the nurse was done. He was again told that Dr. Brennan needed her rest. Bones smiled at him and shook her head. She didn't want to 'rest' any more. He understood her perfectly. He had a feeling that verbal communication would always be a challenge for them, but he had a new tool in his tool box to smooth out those challenges.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Booth waited in the hall down from her room, his head in his hands. He didn't want to deal with Nurse Ratchet again so he was hoping he could be invisible. Not likely. She had looked at him like he was an ice cream sundae and she had the only spoon.

"How is she?" Sully asked.

Booth looked up at the sound of his voice. "Might be a concussion, but no worse."

"Very lucky."

"Heard that." He leaned back and exhaled covering his eyes with his arm.

"The director wants to see you," Sully reminded him. Booth just nodded. "How well do you know Agent Walker?" Sully asked.

"Well enough."

"Well enough but not TOO well?" he pressed.

Booth fixed him with a glare. "What are you driving at, Sully?"

"Just wondering if she was the type to throw you under a bus because of some personal agenda she was pushing."

"Under a bus?" He shook his head. "No. No, of course not. She doesn't have a personal agenda."

"Oh no?" Sully smirked. "She dragged you back from Afghanistan pulling all kinds of strings to do it just to get your "help" on this case. Then as soon as Tempe is back in the mix, she tries to kick you both out of this investigation." Sully paused waiting to see if Booth would respond. "Just think she might have something other agenda."

He shook it off. "No. It's not her way."

"Are you sure about that? Woman scorned and all." Booth waved him off. "Booth, you and I both know that the events of this morning can be spun a little differently; spun in such a way to put you and your partnership with Tempe in a bad light. It might make the bureau question their reasons for keeping you, or her or questioning the cost benefit ratio of your continued partnership."

"I can't imagine that Maggie would …" Something occurred to Booth, maybe Sully would.

"I would check in with her to be sure. She dismissed me from the room before she gave her oral report to the director. I'm just saying." Sully handed him some paper. "Here's my report in writing. I want you to read it before I hand it in – so there are no misunderstandings between us."

Booth's eyes narrowed. "Say what you want to say, Sully." He pushed the papers back at him. "Follow your own conscience."

"I have. I was officially in charge of this investigation -."

"Why do you care? You are going back to your little island now, aren't you?"

"That is my point … if they need to find a scapegoat, let them use me. You are an excellent agent, Booth. Better than I ever was. You and Tempe together are unstoppable. This morning may not have gone down by the book, but I am willing to bet the results would have been the same. Taffet was not going to go back to prison. So it could have been me who had to take her down. It should have been me."

Booth saw the nurse that was in with Brennan pass him. "Yeah … whatever … it wasn't you and you know what, if the bureau wants to fire me or break Bones and me up – that is just fine with me." He started back down the hall.

"As long as it's your choice, Booth." Booth waved him off. It of course wasn't fine, but at least he knew that regardless of their professional relationship, the personal was about to take off.

-x-x-x-x-

Booth slipped backed into Brennan's room. "Hey, you still up for a visitor?"

"You're not a visitor," she smiled easily at him.

"No, but your Dad is still out there waiting for you and you boy Sully is here."

"He is not my anything, Booth," she declared. "Jealousy is an irrational response to perceived encroachment of -"

"Who said I was jealous?"

"For my part I will own that I found it difficult to form an objective opinion about Agent Walker - as irrational as that is considering that I barely know her. And I find that I am relieved to know that she will no longer be working with us now that this case is over. I assume she won't, is that correct?"

"Correct."

"Will you continue to court her?"

"Court? Are we in the 1800s?"

"When I mention sex, you tend to get very ... prudish."

"I am not prudish, Bones."

"Will you continue to have sex with her?"

He took a deep breath and let it out slowing. "No." Booth got very serious. "You have no reason to be jealous of Maggie," he stated. "She's someone I knew a very long time ago ... before I met you."

"And someone you reconnected with emotionally and sexually while you were in Afghanistan."

"As you did with Sully," he tried to hide the bitterness in his voice.

"This is not a competition," she scolded. "The difference between you and I - one of them - was that you were looking for a long term relationship - one that you suggested you wanted to last for 50 years. While I have always stated that I did not seek that kind of relationship." She didn't add that she hadn't believed in them at the time - like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. She has since revised her view. "So it follows that any relationship that I had with Sully or anyone else would be temporary, transitory, satisfying sexual urges without the –"

"I get it Bones." He wondered if Sully GOT IT too.

"See … prudish," she commented. "You, on the other hand, and the relationship you forged with Agent Walker would be one that was leading somewhere or you would not have entered into it."

"Big assumption there, Bones." He smiled and shook his head. "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

"I know the reference," she puzzled. "Freud's dream analysis, right? I don't see how it applies here."

Booth felt like he needed to get her to understand before they could move on (they would deal with Sully and the whole island adventure when they had more time). "I told you before that you were the end of the line for me. I knew that ... hell I knew that a long time ago."

"What does that mean, exactly?"

"You have ruined women for me." She shook her head still not understanding. "It means that I was never going to find anyone like you - and you are the standard. That any woman I ever met would never come close to being someone I would want to spend the rest of my life with. That saying I was going to 'move on' and actually being able to do it were vastly different things."

"You're relationship with Agent Walker -."

"Fleeting, transitory ... convenient ... as rude as that sounds ... for both of us A concept you should understand." She shrugged a nod. He smirked at her. "Just wasn't going to happen for me. I was doomed to walk the earth alone," he grinned. "If you would not have me."

"You can't know that," she protested.

"Maybe not ... but I can feel it and I can believe it to be true. Believing comes before knowing."

"That is not rational and it can lead to wrong -."

"Bones." He exhaled forcefully. "Maggie was just a friend, a colleague with benefits at a time and place that I needed that. But it was not serious and it certainly wasn't leading anywhere."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Very sure."

"Are you sure that Agent Walker has the same attitude?"

"You are the second person who has suggested that to me in the past ten minutes."

"That might lend credence to a something that apparently escaped your notice."

"I don't think so. We mostly talked about you." It was a bit of an embellishment, but she didn't need to know that. He sat down on the bed next to her. "I don't want a debate on truth or faith or to discuss ex-lovers."

"No?" she asked playfully. "What do you want?"

"You are feeling better, aren't you?" He leaned forward, combed his hand through her hair and let his fingers curl around the back of her neck being very careful not to touch her wound or the lump he could feel at the base of her skull. "You, Bones. Only you. And box seats to the Fliers."

He leaned closer pulling her toward him ever so slightly. Their lips met lightly at first attempting a gentle, proper, hospital connection. But gentleness was not on her agenda. She pulled herself tightly against him and opened herself completely to what would have been a knee weakening (if she were standing) tangle of lips, tongues and arms. Booth found that her hospital gown did indeed open in the back and the soft, warm skin was more than a little ... distracting, encouraging, enticing. He could easily lose himself in the moment. The increased beeping of the EKG made Booth cognizant of their location and hers – as well as his – level of … interest. He put an end to it rather abruptly.

"Wow, whoa there, Bones ... don't think this is what the doctor had in mind when he ordered bed rest."

She flushed with desire and slight embarrassment. She was surprised at how his proximity could make her lose so much control and increase her already supercharged libido. She concluded it was due to her feelings for him. She had never been in love before – it truly was intoxicating.

"Did you blush?" He tilted her face up toward his. "Wow, never thought I would see you blush," he teased. "Guess that is one for my side," he leaned into kiss her again – it was more than hospital but less than 'let's take this to another room.' He pulled away slowly and let a soft sexy grin spread wide across his face. "They are releasing you this afternoon, aren't they?" She nodded. "Then you need to get some rest. I have to give my report to the director." May have a lot of free time after that, he thought. "I will meet you back here ... when? 3PM? To take you home."

"Ok," she said almost too quietly to hear.

"You Ok, Bones?" She nodded and smiled weakly. "What is it? Tell me."

"I was just reminded that this isn't over."

"No ma'am," he said proudly. "This has just begun." He attempted to kiss her but she turned away.

"No, I mean the case. There are reports to be filed, evidence to be catalogued. We have to prove the Taffet was behind the kidnappings with as much evidence as if we were going to trial. She was not just an escaped prisoner. And then there is Rachel Dawes. We need to make sure we have the evidence to put her in prison as well. This case is far from over."

"That is for tomorrow Bones, or the next day." He tilted her face back up. "We deserve a well earned pause in the action. Do you know what I mean?"

"There is just so much ... so much to do, so much to say ... so much ... too much."

"Not too much, Bones. We'll do it together. Just like always, OK? We haven't failed yet. And we won't start now."

He drew her into an embrace and she allowed it, but it was far from comforting. They still had Taffet-Fallout hanging over their heads.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Sully knocked and opened the door to Brennan's room shortly after he saw Booth leave. "You up for another visitor?" he asked.

"Sure," she said pulling up her blankets around her. "Booth said my Dad is out there."

"I didn't see him. He might have gone home to get some sleep." He looked her over. "You OK?"

"I'll be fine. Will probably have to comb my hair differently for a while, but I should be OK."

"Good." He hesitated a moment. "Did Booth tell you what happened?"

"He did."

"Well he is off to see the director right now." He shrugged. "Things should be OK."

"Of course they will."

He paused for a long moment. "So, Tempe … you aren't coming back, are you?"

"I will be back to close up the cottage, but I expect it is time for me to come home."

"Dead of winter here," he nudged. She nodded. "I only want you to be happy – whatever that means to you. And I want you to know that you will always be welcome at my little shack on the beach."

"So being back in the thick of it hasn't made you want to rethink your bohemian lifestyle?"

"Actually it has. There are benefits to this job … not the least of which are the actual benefits – steady paycheck, health insurance, living in a town that has more than one traffic light."

She smiled. "Not sure that is such a benefit. You'd have to wear shoes – all the time."

"There are downsides too." He reached out to take her hand. "It was great having you around."

"Thank you, Sully," she said earnestly. "Thank you for everything. You gave me a safe place to find myself again and to discover things I never would have about myself, and people and life."

"I need to ask … just because … because I need to - your choice of Booth … you are good with that? You are sure about that?"

"You are a very good, kind, descent man who is sexy as hell and a fine cook – one of your multitudinous talents. I didn't choose Booth over you, I chose Booth over being alone." As soon as she said it she realized how harsh that sounded. "Which isn't to say -."

"I understand, Tempe."

"You like your freedom, Sully … and if I were looking for someone to share an island with, you would be my first choice. But -."

"I get it, I really do." He shook her hand warmly. "Friends then … we stay friends."

"Always."

He nodded and let go of her hand. "I am not leaving town just yet … things to wrap up on this case. But I'll get out of your apartment. Wasn't there long enough to shower; you don't even need to change the sheets."

"That is not necessary, Sully."

"It is. It really is." He let go of her hand and walked out with his shoulders square. When the door closed behind him he exhaled the breath he was holding. It was silly to ever think that she would choose him, but like they say … you can't win if you don't play. Booth was a good man. He respected him. He would be good for and to Tempe. Maybe he had taught her how to loosen up and she would pass that on to Booth. Maybe. In any case, they were friends, all three of them. He was happy for them.

"Oh shit," he said. "Dawes … I didn't tell her about Dawes." It could wait, he decided. She had had enough for one day.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Booth ran into Maggie in the parking structure of the Hoover building. She was exiting in a hurry and he was arriving rather slowly.

"Maggie," he said. She hadn't noticed him.

"Booth," she said coldly. "You saw Sully."

"I did." He studied her for a moment and concluded that Sully may not be entirely wrong. "Was there something you wanted to say to me?"

"I have nothing to hide, Booth."

"So, say what you have to say."

"I think your relationship … your connection with Brennan -."

"DR. Brennan," he corrected harshly.

She gave him a scathing glance. "DR. Brennan has affected your judgment and you ability to make good decisions. My recommendation was to end the partnership in the field. If she wants to continue to consult with the FBI, she can do it from the Jeffersonian."

Booth shook his head and smiled. He wasn't going to fight with her. It just wasn't worth it.

"Look Booth, she didn't need to be there." Booth just shook his head. "And we could have taken Taffet in – you didn't need to kill her."

"Then you should have stepped up at the time," he declared unapologetically.

"Yes, I should have."

"Thanks for your … your … I guess it was help with this Agent Walker though I am hard pressed to know what your contribution actually was. I'm sure the director will take your recommendation under advisement." He started to walk by her.

"Booth," she called to him. "I gave my opinion in the best interest of the FBI and for you ... and her. She almost died out there, next time she might not be so lucky. How would you live with that?"

He snickered. "You know you keep saying that you are only looking out for me … and Bones, but I have to wonder if there is something else going on."

"Like what?"

He turned to face her to ask her straight out. "Maggie, did you think there was more going on between us?" She smirked and looked away; pointedly not answering the question. "What did you think happened between us 9 years ago.

"Rebecca ... Rebecca happened."

"Rebecca?"

"You broke up with me because she got pregnant."

"We never had a 'relationship,' Maggie. We were friends, colleagues actually. And we hadn't slept together for months before Rebecca got pregnant."

"We were together the night you told me she refused your proposal."

"On a stake out," he added. "We were on a stake out that night. I remember specifically because that was one of the reasons Rebecca turned me down."

"Because of me?"

"Because of the job - the hours, the danger, the fact that I would get up and go at a moment's notice. It had nothing to do with you, you and I weren't involved – that was your call." He stepped toward her so he could keep his voice down. "Maggie, you defined our relationship a long time ago in a very un-PC way."

"Friends with Benefits?"

"Fuck buddies," he said harshly. "I didn't think it was a good idea back then, but you made a very compelling case. We had some fun but it was never more than that. If you wanted to change the rules, you didn't tell me."

"You used me."

"No one was used ... consenting adults with no strings attached. Those were your ground rules." He paused to see if she would respond. "I've never lied to you and I have never said or implied anything that wasn't the absolute truth. And I would never sabotage you professionally or personally."

"Is that what you think I did?" She shook her head. "Then we really don't know each other at all." Her eyes grew dark and mean. "I hope your Dr. Brennan is still here when you get back ... but maybe she will have gone back to her tropical island and her lover."

"Back? When I get back from where?"

"I got you pulled from Afghanistan for this case only ... you'll have to go back to finish your tour."

The idea that he would have to finish his tour was always in the back of his mind, but he couldn't understand her vitriol when she spit that fact at him. "When did you turn so vindictive?"

"Happens to a woman who is shit on by every man she has ever known."

"I have done nothing to deserve that, Maggie," he stated. "Might want to look at the common denominator... you." Booth turned and walked away.

Maggie wasn't who he thought she was or maybe she had changed in the years since he first knew her. He washed her from his mind with thought of how different Brennan was. It was one of the reasons he was drawn to her in the first place - she was rationed, reasoned, logical (to a fault) and what you saw was what you got. So unlike anyone he had ever known – for good and bad. She didn't play games, she didn't change the rules, she would take less than was offered or nothing at all and be satisfied. It was her choice. When faced with logic she would admit she was wrong. She would never turn on a colleague professionally for vindictive or personal reasons. The colleagues that she left in Maluku whose work she could tear apart in her sleep, she left to their own Karma (even though she didn't believe in Karma). She had honor. She wouldn't describe it that way. She would say that there was no rational reason to do something like that, but it was the same thing as far as Booth was concerned.

He paused before he hit the button that would take him to the director's floor. He would have to go back. The director had requested Hacker to get him pulled back for good, but that was unlikely to happen. So he would go back to a war zone, back to training men how to stay alive and still watching some die. Maybe he could die – or worse. There were four months left on his tour. He wasn't concerned that Brennan wouldn't wait for him, but it was the first time he had gone to war when he left 'a girl back home'. He had always counted himself lucky on that score. Never had to worry about how things would change while he was gone. He knew a lot of guys who got the Dear John, or who made it home only to find that home wasn't how it was left, or to find out that it wasn't that easy to slip back into home life. All of those things were possible – well maybe not the Dear John. But anything could happen over there without warning. Anything. Did he have the right to change the direction of their relationship when he couldn't predict what the next four months would bring? What if he came back hurt, broken, different? Should he expect her to take him in at all costs? He caught his reflection in the panel of the elevator. He laughed at himself. This was not a decision he could make by himself. There had been enough of that between them for too long. And they had come too far to turn back now.

He hit the button. Now to face the music from the director.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"OK honey," Max said standing up. "I'm going to let you get your rest. I'm going home to my own shower and my own bed." He kissed her forehead. "I love your brother. Amy and the girls are fantastic, but a man needs his privacy."

"I'm sorry about all this, Dad." She said for the umpteenth time during that conversation.

"Baby, I wish I could say that it was the worst thing that ever happened to me, but in all honesty … it isn't, doesn't even rank. And I know you won't approve of me saying this, but I'm glad Taffet is dead. Booth should have let me kill her eight months ago."

"Dad, stop."

"So tell me, honey, are you back to stay?" She nodded. "And you and Booth?" She smiled and nodded slightly. "Well it's about damned time. Will do this family good to have a cop in it."

"Dad, it's not like that."

"Not yet it isn't. But after five years, I think the courtship will be pretty short." He smiled brightly. "Besides, need me some grandkids."

"Dad," she scolded.

"Baby, I will tell you this but you can't repeat it – to anyone especially Booth. He is a good man and he is good for you. Better than I ever was. You can trust him."

"I know."

"And I'll tell you something else – this you can tell him, if he ever hurts you or lets you down in anyway … he will have me to contend with and it won't be pretty."

"I can take care of myself, Dad."

"I know you can, just call it Father's Prerogative." She shook her head. "Let's do dinner, just you and me, when you are feeling better OK?"

"Sure."

"You need me to give you a ride home, or is Booth going to take you?"

"Booth is coming back. We have a lot to talk about."

"Don't talk too much, honey. Remember actions speak louder than words."

"I'll call you tomorrow, Dad."

"Bye honey. I love you."

"I love you too."

Max left and Brennan was left with an overwhelming feeling that things were going to be OK.

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Booth waited outside the director's office for twenty minutes before he was called. It felt like longer. He came in, stood two feet in front of the director's desk and remained at attention waiting for Rapaport to finish his phone call. Rapaport gestured more than once for Booth to take a seat, but he remain at attention. Being back in the army pulled up some very old behaviors.

"Booth," the director said hanging up the phone and standing up. "Well done!" he exclaimed extending his hand across the desk. Booth hesitated but extended his hand and allowed the director to shake it. "Very well done. Saving the hostages, getting Taffet ... in less than six days ... has to be a record for you and your squint squad."

"Yes, sir." Booth was slightly confused by the director's apparent GLEE over the situation.

"And how is Dr. Brennan doing? Will she heal quickly?"

"Yes, sir."

"Of course I will need your official report, but I think we have enough to close this case with what Sullivan gave us."

"Yes, sir."

"How about a drink?"

"No, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Booth, this is not the army ... at the hell ease OK?"

Booth released his attention but didn't actually relax."

"So Walker ... now there is a pistol, huh?"

"Agent Walker?"

"Yes, used to be FBI and now doing DCIS's bidding."

"Yes sir, and she was tasked to the Army for two years in Afghanistan."

"Right, right ... where you two ... what do the kids say these days? Right, HOOKED UP. Funny, I always thought that you and that pretty scientist had a thing going."

"Sir, Agent Walker and I are colleagues."

"With benefits though, huh?"

"Sir," Booth didn't like this whole line of inquiry.

"Relax Booth ... I've been around the block a few times and I know how it goes. This isn't the first time Walker has tried to get an agent fired or tried to break up an otherwise VERY successful partnership. She has got a bit of a reputation, though you would have no way of knowing that because we at the top are not as dumb as we look ... sometimes."

Booth nodded and smiled. It was nice not to have to protect himself or play the bigger man and go down without a fight.

"Besides," the director continued. "We have no intention of breaking you and the Jeffersonian Squint Squad up - at least we won't when you get back."

"Back, sir?"

"Yeah," he drawled. "Seems that the Army has a direct line to the president ... well at least the Secretary of Defense and while he SecDef has no interest in you at the moment, any string pulling from the FBI will cause a little red flag to go up and we will get more interest than we can bare. Sorry, Booth ... for the greater good of the FBI, you need to finish your tour."

"Yes, sir."

"But your office, your job and your Squint Squad will be waiting for you when you get back."

"Thank you, sir."

"Hey, maybe by then they will have this Rachel Dawes thing rapped up."

"Rachel Dawes?"

"Seems she was released last night with the help of Agent Robert Hendricks. He's gone missing."

"Sir, we need to ..."

"You need to do nothing, Sergeant Major Booth, but pack your duffle and head back to your unit. We survived without you before, think we can do it again."

"Sir." He was shot down.

"We'll keep your people safe, Booth." He nodded his gratitude. "I did get you 48 hours ... so take the weekend to say good-bye to your kid and whoever else you need to say good-bye to and stay safe over there. You can email me your report."

"Thank you, Sir.

"Good job, Booth."

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Booth arrived at the hospital shortly before 4PM. He had gone to see Parker and to get an earful from Rebecca. It was worth it just to see his son, who was very proud of his dad. He stepped off the elevator and saw Maggie exiting Brennan's room. She ducked down the stairs opting to avoid contact with Booth. A wise choice. Booth knocked and entered. Brennan was up and dressed and looked very ready to leave. Whatever passed between Walker and Brennan was not evident, then again Brennan gave a new meaning to the term poker face.

"Hey," he said with a bright smile.

"Hi," she returned easily.

"What did Walker want?"

Brennan looked confused for a moment as if she were trying to place the name. "She wanted to give me an anthropology lesson."

"Oh? How did that go."

"I think she was surprised that I was more knowledgeable on the subject than she was."

"Bones," he thought he better explain. "Let me -"

"Booth, please ... you don't need to say anything, OK? If I were in her position I might -"

"You will never be in her position and you would never do what she has tried and failed to do."

She nodded. "I will accept both of those things as true though I am hesitant to believe them without further details. Details I would rather not discuss at the moment."

"But you still won't tell me what she said."

"She reminded me that homo sapiens are not a monogamous species and that typically the male requires multiple partners to maintain his Alpha Male status." Booth looked shocked, like he was caught with his pants down. "I reminded her that that was a biological imperative to ensure the survival of the species and that since the likelihood of humans from going extinct was remote, that that imperative could easily be controlled. Further every group was made of individuals, and that all individuals do not always follow the group dynamic. Further that the knowledge and acceptance of such group behavior should lessen any individuals negative experience should it occur."

"Bones," he started to think of some defense but was really at a loss.

"Booth, do you want to have sexual intercourse with Agent Walker?"

"No," he said quickly and still jarred by her directness.

"Then that, I suspect, was her reason for the reminder." She slung her bag over her shoulder. "Now, I believe we have a conversation to finish."

Did Booth just get a free pass from Brennan? Funny, all his life he had wanted a woman who wouldn't be jealous of other women, who would accept and allow him his sexual freedom while keeping the core relationship strong and intact. Of course being a good Catholic Boy meant that he would never ask for or expect the woman in his life to accept infidelity as matter of course. That was not the funny part; that was just the Y factor being heard. The funny part was that since he woke up from that coma, he didn't want any other woman. For the first time in his life he believed (in his bones) that he could be happily monogamous. Walker was a mistake (then and now), but she was right about one thing: he never should have allowed Brennan to walk away from him and their partnership eight months ago.

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"You didn't have a say in the matter," Brennan stated with very little affect when he whispered that 'sweet nothing' in her ear.

The car ride back to her apartment was filled with newsy information about Parker, Max, Daisy & Sweets, Dawes untimely release from holding and what was being done to track her down. Work and Work related stuff. It wasn't 'just like the old days' but it wasn't uncomfortable either. Both were very aware that things were about to change for them as partners and as a couple so they were both a little hesitant and cautious with each other. Of course Booth was probably being overly cautious since what he had to say was more of a wedge than something that would get them together. When they arrived at the apartment neither one spoke. She stepped into an embrace that quickly turned to a kiss that ended in an embrace in which Booth whispered his belief that things should have been different. It was a typical guy thing to say that should have been romantic and rhetorical, and to demonstrate his remorse. But he should have known better; Brennan for all that she had changed, hadn't changed that much.

"There was nothing I could have done or said at the time that would have gotten you to change your mind?" he asked.

"That is something I can't answer, you can't answer, we can't know," she said. "So it is pointless to speculate. We need to start from here, with the history we have, are you still willing?"

"Of course," he said. "I love you ... have loved you ... But -."

"But?"

"There is something you need to know." He paused for a long moment. "It may make you want to put this all on hold." He didn't want to bring it up. He still didn't know if he should ask her to wait or if he should let her if she offered. Waiting really wasn't the issue, they had come back together after eight months of nothing, another four would net the same result. The issue was how would they define their relationship upon his departure, and how they would proceed for the next two days. Could it and should it be spent in new romance - making love and saying all the things they needed to say, sharing hoped and dreams. Brennan didn't like to do that anyway. With Booth being in a war zone and her being alone, increased the chances that anything they did say or promise, might not come to pass. This was not a decision he could make on his own. He just wished he had an opinion. "I have to go back ... finish my tour. Four months left."

She sunk down on to the couch. For some reason it never occurred to her that he would have to go back. It should have, but it didn't - at least not on any conscious level. "Oh."

"I don't like it any more than you do," he said. "But there is nothing I can do." He sat down next to her and took her hand. He liked that he had liberty to do that. He was never worried about touching her in the past, at least not before that night - the night of Sweets' book, but after that he was more than a little reserved. She had felt that too. It made her very sad.

"I understand," she said softly. She did enjoy his familiarity physically and was anticipating so much more. "When do you leave?"

"Monday ... 8AM I report back to base."

"Here or in Afghanistan?"

"Here ... will take a day or more to get the transport and hook up with my unit." She nodded. "I will understand if you want to wait until I get back ... to talk."

"No," she looked up at him. "I mean ... no, I wouldn't ... would you?" He shook his head - so he did have an opinion. "There is so much I thought I needed to tell you," she went on. "So much I thought I wanted you to know."

"I want to hear it all," he edged closer to her.

"It doesn't seem important now."

"Of course it's important, Bones."

She looked down and spoke to lap. "I wrote a book while we were apart. It was a love story."

"Well your readers will be surprised at that." He was a little confused where she was going with the whole book thing.

"I met an elder on the island. She had been born and raised there and was a teacher. She fell in love when she was young, very young with a sailor. They had a very short time together before he had to go back out to sea. His ship was lost, no survivors. When I met her some seventy to eighty years later she was as much in love with the sailor then as she was when she was a girl. She said that she knew they would be together again one day in this life or the next. It sounded romantic and idealized, and to me it was an excuse to live a life of solitude. When I said that to her, she claimed that I had never known love." She paused and thought about what to say next. She didn't meet Booth's eye. "I decided to write her story, to see if I could understand it. You know that I am not good with psychology."

"You're learning," he smiled at her.

"Well, the story didn't work," she stated. "Not for lack of trying. My heroine - also a teacher - did meet and fall in love with a sailor, and the sailor did indeed die. However my sailor was murdered. Enter the marshal."

"Marshal?"

"He came to solve the murder of the sailor." She stole a quick glance at him. "For the first time in my writing career my characters refused to do what I wrote."

"I don't understand."

"I couldn't have my teacher return the affections of the marshal, that would devalue and change the story of eternal love as outlined by the woman I met. To portray the life of solitude holding on to a memory of something greater than herself."

"So what happened."

"The teacher and the marshal left town together one night starting an adventure and love story of their own."

"Very romantic, Temperance," he smiled at her. "Was it eternal?"

"I have no way of knowing," she smiled. "Who knows what will befall them in the future. What was important was that they trusted themselves and each other to try." She paused for a moment. "Living a life alone is safe and uncomplicated," she protested.

"It can be," he admitted.

"It's also very unrewarding ... risking pain, risking unforeseen events to find joy in the moment is ... intoxicating."

"Is that what you learned on that island adventure of yours?"

She nodded. "I'm willing to risk what I can't control and can't foresee to find joy in the moment ... with you."

It wasn't the kind of declaration he had been expecting, but then again Brennan was nothing if not unexpected. Of course his statement of 'I want to give this a chance' was pretty soft too. "Just the moment?"

"I can't promise what will happen Booth, any more than you can ... but I can't imagine my life without you, not any more. I now know that I can be something other than a scientist. I can change and I can be happy. What is that poker expression you use?"

"Bluffing?" he joked. "Going all in?"

"Yes, that is the one. If I understand it correctly, it is the act of pushing all the chips you have on the table into the pot and risking the win on the cards that are dealt."

"Would prefer you don't reduce our relationship to a hand of poker ... particularly considering my issue with gambling, but your ... analogy is good."

"I love you, Booth," she stated again. Each time is was more freeing. "You have been my partner for years and the most profound relationship that I have ever had in my life. While I still believe risking that for more is a little scary, I also don't think I can go back to just being your partner."

"Bones, do you think there is a chance that I would not want to ..." He couldn't think of the words he wanted to say.

"There is always a chance."

"No, Bones ... not for me ... not for us. I can't imagine my life without you either." He kissed her.

Finally the talking was over.

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The next two days was nothing less than a honeymoon with friends. Booth and Brennan didn't lock themselves away from the world, rather they embraced it with their new status. Saturday was lunch with Parker and a trip to the zoo after a very leisurely breakfast in bed. They had dinner and drinks with the Jeffersonian group and Max which involved a lot of laughing now that Taffet was out of the picture. Angela and Hodgins got to finally announce their pregnancy and became the stars of the night. Daisy and Sweets were back together - not engaged, but together. Daisy was hoping to come back to DC, but that would wait until Monday. Though Booth and Brennan didn't announce their new status, it was understood and accepted with a great sigh of relief. They also didn't tell the group that Booth had to go back to Afghanistan, that was Brennan's idea. She didn't want there to be anything to mar the evening. Going home together that night after a day with family and friends was natural and uncomplicated. They were natural together. Making love was somewhat tamer than Brennan had suspected, but she was still recovering from a pretty nasty head wound and the knot on the back of her skull was only starting to receded.

Sunday was spent by themselves. A late morning, late brunch, afternoon walk in the park, early dinner and lots of light conversation about hopes and dreams, past and future, and a lot of enjoying the moment.

Early Monday morning, hours before dawn they lay comfortably in each other's arms not sleeping but not talking either. Unsolicited and out of the blue Brennan said, "You got your wish."

"My wish?"

"You wished I would find happiness - love, laughter, friendship, purpose."

"Do you remember everything I say?" He pulled her tightly to him and kissed the top of her head.

"Many of the things you have said to me in the past were very sweet. I choose to remember them," she defended.

"Well you missed one important part of that wish."

"No, I didn't," she protested. "I'm happy, I've found happiness ... with you."

"But I wished you love, laughter, friendship, purpose and ... a dance." He pulled away from her and stood up extending his hand to her. "May I have the honor, Dr. Brennan?"

She hesitated. "There is no music ... we are not dressed ... it is late."

"Come on, Bones." He took her hand and pulled her up into his arms and in the moonlight they danced to their own music, laughed at their own joy and loved a lifetime. Soon they would part for a time, but they would be back together again soon.

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A/N: Whoa ... that was like a DOUBLE CHAPTER PLUS ... worth the 10 that came before?

Thanks for all the comments and Story Alerts (four more and there will be an even 100 – even though the story is over - ALERT ME!). It really makes it all worth it to know that people are reading and getting enough enjoyment to want to read more. This has been quite a rollicking ride for me; typically don't do the case type stories. Very much looking forward to Season 6. And if you were with me for A BRIDE FOR BOOTH and this whole saga, I hope the desensitizing has worked for you as well as it has for me. I say BRING HANNAH ON. Remember Cam was supposed to be a love interest for Booth and she was supposed to get written out like yesterday's news (dead I think), but she has stuck around for four more years and is still with us. The dynamic between Booth and Cam is fun and interesting. I actually love Cam and Brennan. Wouldn't it be fun to have another GIRL for Brennan to BOND with and wouldn't that just piss Booth off (particularly if he only brought her home to make Brennan jealous). We all know that Brennan has his heart, nothing else matters. Who cares if there are other sexual partners – Booth and Brennan are all work and no play. So who is gonna get more time with Booth? Who will he break dinner dates for? Who will he get up out of bed for? Who would he kill for? Who will he die for? Hannah poses no real threat. Just the writers towing the party line. And hey, do we honestly think that Booth has been celibate since Cam? I think not. B&B will survive.

One last thing ... do you need to see the union when Booth gets back in four months? Something short and sweet? Or do you want me to leave it to your own imagination? Hmmmmmm ...