Chapter 11

The swoosh of the automatic doors propelled a burst of air into the direction of the weary visitor as he made his way into the pediatric wing. Booth's audible footsteps kept a steady rhythm as he followed the corridors leading to his son's room. Once again his path led him by the nurses' station, his arrival gathering attention.

"Mr. Booth?" a nurse in her mid fifties spoke from behind the desk gaining Booth's attention. "Parker's doing just fine. May I ask why the sudden return?"

Flashing her a genuine smile, he answered, "Just couldn't stand the thought of him waking up alone."

The nurse nodded in understanding as Booth once again set out toward Parker's room.

"Umm, Mr. Booth," a blonde twenty something spoke. "I could show you to his room."

"Thank you, but I can find it on my own," Booth's reply was courteous but short as he picked up his pace toward the far room.

"Janice, honey," the older nurse spoke quietly, but still in ear shot of Booth, "he's married."

"Big deal, Anna" the younger nurse replied, "doesn't mean he has to stay that way."

"Oh, sweetie," Anna's voice spoke like a parent's wisdom, "you didn't see the way he looked at her. A look like that doesn't allow a marriage to fall apart."

Booth's smile grew with every word.

ooOooOooOoo

She stood in the doorway for the longest time just staring at the bed. His bed. She had been walking on eggshells the past couple of days where her feelings for him were concerned. 'There's a line' she'd say to herself over and over. Hoping that speaking the words would somehow bring Seeley Booth's line into visual existence. So far that wasn't working out too well for her. If this line could suddenly become visible, her life would be much less complicated. To top it all off, she had drummed up this fib, no lie, about being Booth's wife.

"Stupid!" she murmured under her breath as her fingers massaged her temples.

Finally relenting to her exhaustion, Temperance padded toward the bed. Slowly she bent herself into a sitting position, prolonging the moment before her body made contact with the white linens. Allowing her muscles to relax slightly, she found herself sitting on the mattress's edge.

"This is silly," her voice filled the silent void, "it's just a bed."

Her legs stretched out burying themselves under the down comforter. The coolness of the sheets caused her to quickly bunch the linens in her hand swinging them over her body as her head landed into the pillow. And suddenly she was surrounded by him. She could see him, smell him, feel him, and like a distant dream she could almost touch him. Her once heavy eyes shot opened.

"That's it," she groaned as she flipped the covers aside, "I can't stay here."

As her legs began to move, her mind replayed…

"Deal?"….."Deal."

Her legs flopped onto the mattress with a resounding thud.

"Fine!" she screamed into the darkness. "Fine! I'll just stay here, wide awake till morning."

ooOooOooOoo

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

Brennan swatted aimlessly at the night stand finally succeeding at silencing the obnoxious sound. Temperance rolled onto her side with expectation of slowing rolling right on out of bed. Her progress was brought to a sudden stop as a weight fell onto her middle rolling her back into the warmth of the bed.

"Just another hour," came a rough protest from the opposite side.

"Booth?" Brennan's voice was clearly shaken.

"Yeah, Bones, it's me," his voice wavering in and out of sleep. "Expecting someone else?"

Temperance turned her head to take in the man who was now lying beside her. Spread eagle and still donning clothes from the day before, Booth's appearance was far from the norm. The problem was that his wrinkled clothing, mused hair and stubble were not helping her resolve.

"Whatcha thinkin Bones?" he mumbled.

Silence.

"Bones," his tired voice sang.

Suddenly flustered, she answered, "Um…um..what?"

Opening one eye slightly, Booth gave her an inquisitive stare.

"Um…I mean…WhataboutParker?" the words spilled as soon as her mind created the lie.

"Mom."

"Rebecca? You called Rebecca?" her voice slightly raised with confusion,

"Oomph," he groaned as his hand covered his ear. "A littler quieter please."

"Sorry," she flinched.

"Not mom as in Rebecca," he clarified. "My mom. Called her last night…this morning…and she agreed to come and help out for a few days till Parker's feeling better."

"Oh," was all she could manage.

"Now," he began as he pulled her closer, "no more talking. Sleep."

ooOooOooOoo

The pair awoke with a start to the sound of their cell phones ringing. Rolling, the pair reached their opposite night stands and quickly retrieved the demanding devices.

"Booth." "Brennan," their response simultaneous.

Realizing the possible implications, Booth quickly exited the room to finish his conversation leaving Brennan still in bed.

Returning moments later, Booth announced, "We've got a body."

"So I heard," she stated waving her toward him. "Give me a minute to change."

"Could you hurry?" he pleaded. "I could really use some coffee before this day gets too hectic."

"Aw," she mocked, "what's wrong. Not enough beauty sleep."

"Smart ass," he grumbled; smoothing his hands over his wrinkled shirt.

"I'll have to add that to my resume," she laughed. "Not only do I have a genius level IQ, but my ass is smart too!"

She managed to shut the bathroom door just as his tie collided with the wooden exterior.

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Brennan noticed the smile that tickled her lips and the laugh that was shinning in her eyes. The bruise on her check and the cut above her brow were still very noticeable, but for some strange reason they no longer mattered. For the first time since Monday, she felt like herself again. She felt alive.

Five minutes later, Brennan emerged from the bathroom, changed and ready to go. Wondering down the hallway, she found Booth gathering a few loose items; dressed in jeans and a tee shirt.

"Ready?" he asked before she announced her presence.

"How?" she stammered.

"Ranger," his reply short. "Ready?"

Giving a quick nod, she made her way across the living room with his hand guiding her out the door.

ooOooOooOoo

After a quick side stop for coffee, the pair found their way to the crime scene. A park not far from the James' residence; a park where Connor and Parker spent many of their afternoons together.

"Agent Booth! Dr. Brennan!" a young uniformed officer yelled motioning the pair to follow him toward the playground area.

Picking up their pace, the pair quickly caught up to the officer. They weren't prepared for the sight before them. The charred remains of the victim were bound hands and legs to one of the swings.

Careful not to disturb the area around the swing, Brennan approached with caution.

"Male, mid to late thirties," she voiced in Booth's direction.

"Anything else?" Booth queried.

"Nothing precise. Multiple stab wounds, but I can't tell much more till we get back to lab," she admitted with defeat.

"You heard the lady," Booth shouted. "Get all of this back to the Jeffersonian."

ooOooOooOoo

Arriving at the Jeffersonian, Booth parked the SUV in the visitor's parking.

"Booth?" Brennan was puzzled by his actions.

"I'm gonna make sure all the necessary security measures have been taken before leaving you here," he insisted.

Rolling her eyes, she retorted, "I don't think that's necessary."

"Well, I do," he quipped.

Making their way to the entrance of the Jeffersonian, Brennan detoured toward the lab while Booth checked with the updated security.

After informing the team of the new case and the remains that were in transit, Brennan retreated to her office reviewing to files of the first two victims. Somehow she sensed they were related and she had an odd feeling that this last victim was Samson James.

A curt knock brought her back to the present. For the last forty minutes, she'd lost herself in the files of Grant Dillon and Anna James and an eerie familiarity she couldn't explain.

"Dr. Brennan?" Zack requested her attention. "The remains have arrived."

"I'll be right there. Thank you, Zack," she quickly closed the files and stood pulling on her lab coat.

By the time Booth was satisfied with the security detail; Brennan had already finished the examination of the victim and was recording her findings as Booth approached the platform.

"Got anything for me?" he asked as he bounded up the steps.

Clicking the recorder, Temperance captured his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Booth," she began, "but in correlation to the medical reports in his file the victim appears to be Samson James."

"You sure?" he asked releasing a frustrated sigh.

She gave a quick nod and added, "Angela's waiting for Zack to finish cleaning the bones, but I doubt her findings will be any different."

"Alright," he began, "I want you to stay put. Security's all checked out. I'm gonna pay a visit to Dillon's current employers and see what I can't turn up. You keep doing what you do best."

"Booth," she whispered, "we'll find out who did this."

"We always do Bones," he smiled at her comforting words. "We always do."

Good? Bad? Ugly? I know it's been a long time, but come on give me some review lovin', please! :) Good news?...chapter 12 ready and raring to go...just gotta let me know.