We've got identity and murder scene on the Jane Doe. I'll keep you posted.

Brennan read the text message and slid her phone back into her bag while she walked out of the small hangar where the private plane had taxied. A sedan was waiting for her nearby and she tossed her bag in first and climbed in herself, the chauffer closing the door behind her. She took the opportunity to call Booth and let him know she had arrived back in D.C.

The phone didn't even complete one ring when it was answered. "Booth."

"I'm home, Booth. You can stop worrying," she said.

"Are you really home, or are you on your way home?"

She wondered how he always knew things she hadn't told him. "In the car on the way back to my place. I wanted to talk to you about something. Meet me at the diner?"

"I'm actually closer to your place right now. I'll meet you there in 20 minutes."

"Oh. Okay, then. See you soon." She hung up.

"Why would he be over by my place?" she asked aloud, then realized that the chauffer could hear her. She reigned in her self-communication for the rest of the ride home.

Booth's SUV was already parked in her lot and he was getting out of the car when her sedan pulled up. The chauffer got out and opened the door for her. She pulled several bills from her wallet, but he shook his head. "Mr. Castle took care of everything, Ms. Brennan. No tip needed." Brennan thanked him as he shut the door behind her and walked back around the car. She fished her keys out of her bag and almost ran directly into Booth, who was now standing between her and the door to her building.

"How was New York?" he asked.

She couldn't read the emotion playing across his face, but she was certain that he was not happy. "It was a good trip."

"Good," he replied. "Great."

Brennan raised her eyebrows. "Shall we go inside?"

He smiled. "Of course." He stepped aside as she walked forward.

Brennan never quite understood the phrase, but she assumed that the elevator ride's silence could be described as deafening. She had a feeling Booth's awkward quiet had to do with the fact that she told him she had a date while in New York. As she stepped inside and set her bag down near the door, she turned abruptly. "I didn't have sex with him."

Booth stopped dead in his tracks. "What?"

"I think you are experiencing some jealousy, based on what I told you about my trip, but I want you to know that I did not have sex with the man I met."

"Well then." Booth's mouth opened and closed several times before he continued. "I was not going to ask."

"So you were jealous?"

"What? No, of course not. I was not jealous."

"Your vehemence suggests you actually were."

"Psychology is not your thing Bones, remember? Let's just drop it. Unless that was actually what you needed to talk to me about."

"No," Brennan replied. "Please have a seat. Do you want a drink?"

Booth plopped onto her couch. "Beer would be great. Not that weird one that tastes like cinnamon though."

Brennan grabbed a beer and a bottle of water before joining him in her living room. She looked at him fully for the first time, taking in the casually worn long-sleeved shirt and belted jeans. His face was getting tan as spring had finally blossomed in D.C. and the sun was now up for the latter half of his early morning run. His eyes met hers, expectancy showing in his features. "Of course. I wanted to talk to you about a potential case in New York that I received some information on while I was there."

"A case? Like a murder?"

"At least one, yes, but possibly four. Bodies were found in a dumpster in various stages of decomposition, and only one was a whole body. The NYPD is investigating, but my source thinks they will be needing assistance with identification and possibly other forensic avenues. I was wondering if the FBI could intervene, but with you as the sole liaison to the NYPD and me in my usual capacity as an attaché to the FBI."

Brennan watched as his brain worked through what she had relayed to him. "Has it crossed state lines?"

"No. So far, it is just in New York."

"You know the basic drill, Bones. Until it crosses state lines, the FBI leaves it to the local team."

"Aren't there instances where the FBI can intervene?"

Booth set his beer down on the coffee table. "If we think they need help or aren't doing a satisfactory investigation, yeah. How long has this case been open?"

Brennan looked down. "Since yesterday morning."

"Bones, how did you get this information?"

Brennan sat back in her chair. "The friend I met shared it with me and asked for help."

"You have a friend in the NYPD?"

"Not exactly. He works with them pretty often. Mostly for research."

"Well, Bones, unless you can give me proof that the NYPD is shirking their responsibilities or has hit a wall in the investigation, I don't think there is much we can do to help. They could hire you directly, couldn't they?"

"They can't afford me Booth. My consultation fee is very high."

"Then unless they ask us for help, I guess they are on their own. I'm interested in helping, but for now it looks like the ball is in their court."

She looked at him blankly at that statement and he chuckled.

After finishing their drinks and having a late lunch, Booth bid Brennan farewell and headed home with the promise of seeing her at the lab tomorrow. Brennan slowly unpacked her small bag, still wondering why Booth had seemed so angry with her. It was not the first date she had gone on. It wasn't the first time she had left town without telling him where she was going. She thought she detected jealousy, but Booth had always been hard for her to read.

Brennan grabbed her cell phone and typed a quick text message. Sorry, Rick. Booth says the balls are off your court now. I don't know what that means, but we can't help unless it gets into FBI jurisdiction or the NYPD becomes negligent in the investigation. She sent it and settled down on the couch for an evening correcting a paper on identifying sternal foramens.


A/N: Well the Bones finale was also a shocker, wasn't it? I've been quite happy with where my season-enders have gone this year. But between Castle and Bones my mind has been going 24/7 trying to figure out the next steps in the stories (and the steps we didn't get to see...). I can't wait to see what the amazing thinkers on this site will come up with. There are going to be some great stories out there in the next couple of months.

I want to give a quick shoutout to my boyfriend for helping me talk through where I see the story going and how it's going to get there. I appreciate his feedback and want to say thank you.

And thank you to those of you who have been reviewing. I really love hearing your thoughts.