Disclaimer: I dont own Bones

Chapter 21

Dona nobis pacem - Give us peace

For the last forty eight hours Temperance had been wrapped in the bliss of a Saturday and Sunday with Booth all to herself…well herself and Toby. She wasn't about to lie, Friday at the park with Parker had been great but it had been a long time since they had done anything alone. The pair had spent the time at her apartment, just together, playing games, talking and generally being a couple. As mundane as it had been it had been good for them and later that night as the pair had fallen into bed it had been easy to forget that a world outside the apartment existed.

The world outside rudely came calling early on Monday morning. Very early.

It was the incessant knocking that woke them before Toby's screams. Temperance groaned as she turned to glance at the digital clock on the table beside her, the time of ten past two glaring at her in mocking red neon. She climbed groggily from the bed, dragging on her robe as she went and was about to head down the hallway to sooth Toby's cries when she heard the voice behind her.

'You go get the door, I'll get him.'

She turned and realised slightly sheepishly that in her sleepy haze she had forgotten Booth was even there. She smiled gratefully and headed from the room towards the front door. She rubbed her eyes as she fumbled with the keys but became wide awake the minute she opened the door.

'Michael! What are you…?'

He pushed his way past her into the apartment and turned to her. Her eyes swept quickly over his dishevelled appearance and the tired lines that had appeared on his face since the last time she had seen him.

'Michael, now's really not the best…'

'Tempe I don't think he's going to go back to sleep, if you want I'll…'

Booth stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of Michael. He jiggled Toby onto his shoulder, a half empty bottle still in his free hand. Temperance wrapped her robe more tightly around herself and wished, she was willing to wager not for the last time, that it wasn't two in the morning. Michael nodded towards Booth, eliciting a grim look and something that was more of a twitch than a nod.

'Agent Booth.'

'Mr. Stires, Michael…you know every time I see you I like you less.'

Temperance observed the exchange and watched as Toby wriggled on Booths shoulder. She strode quickly from the doorway and took the baby from him, pacing to the sofa where she placed him in the Moses-basket at her side and proceeded to rock him gently. She rubbed her eyes and stared up at the ex-lover currently standing in her living room who was still being avidly watched by her current partner.

'So, I take it you're together now then?'

'Yes, got a problem with that?'

'Booth…'

He backed off at the soft warning tone in her voice and sat next to her with Toby between them.

'So does that mean the kids yours?'

'No'

'Definitely not.'

'He's not ours.'

'We're just watching him for a friend.'

Michael smiled a little and took an uninvited seat opposite her and Booth.

'Taking in waifs and strays again? Same old Tempe.'

'No Michael, very different 'Tempe'.'

Michael rolled his eyes a little.

'Riiiight.'

'Look Michael. Its late, I'm tired and we both have work in the morning, I'm assuming you do too so cant this wait?'

'No, I wish it could. Its about Phoebe.'

'Phoebe.'

Michael watched her for a minute as her tired mind sifted through her mental catalogue of the people she knew. He watched as comprehension dawned but only Booth noticed the brief look of pain that flashed across her features.

'Phoebe? Our…my…your Phoebe?'

Michael ran a tired hand across his face.

'Yeah Phoebe. Look I guess I should probably start from the beginning.'

'Yeah that would be good.'

'Booth. Not helping.'

He settled back onto the sofa, his arms folded across his chest.

'Michael, go on.'

'I've been up all night wondering whether or not to come here. I wasn't going to. I know Phoebe isn't the best topic between us but she…she's dead Tempe.'

'What? How?'

'That's why I had to come. I didn't know if you'd want to know about Phoebe, didn't know if you'd care…'

'Don't you dare Michael, not now.'

Booths eyes flashed from one to the other and was relieved that Toby was at least being quiet at last.

'Sorry I didn't mean…oh God this is such a mess. I've been doing some work at the coroners office…two days ago a body came in…it was Phoebe.'

Temperance sighed, her head resting in her hand, Booths hand automatically falling to her shoulder in silent comfort.

'I haven't seen her in so long, not since… How did it happen?'

'That's sort of why I'm here. Before we knew it was her I was the investigations forensic officer on her case. When I examined the body we had hardly anything to go on. She didn't struggle, there were no defensive wounds, no broken bones…no signs of sexual interference. The only thing we did have is the hyoid, cracked in two places, no obvious weapon. Then came the real kicker, a series of number etched into her skull…'

Booth and Brennan exchanged quick knowing glances.

'That's when I heard about your case, with the numbers.'

Booth leaned forward.

'That's a confidential case, how did you get wind of it?'

'From a very reliable source.'

'He means my lab assistant Jennifer Myers. They're sleeping together.'

'I'm impressed, he really has turned you into a detective.'

'It wasn't exactly hard Michael, she likes to talk, Angela told me.'

'Does it bother you?'

She nodded towards Booth.

'Does it look like it bothers me?'

Michael took in their state of relative undress and noted the baby seated between them and the fact that Booth coat was on the hook by the door but couldn't resist one last dig.

'Phoebe bothered you.'

'We're not doing this Michael, not now, not tonight ok. Not again.'

He held up his hands in surrender.

'Ok, ok I get it. I just thought that you should know about it, from what I hear you have a serial killer on your hands and Phoebe matches the description of your killers M.O.'

'Ok…thanks I guess.'

'You're welcome, you'd find out anyway, when I cant determine an exact cause of death the federal court will take the case anyway. I just thought you should know first, you know, considering everything.'

'Yeah, thanks Michael.'

She sighed and he knew it was time to leave.

'I'll see myself out, you should probably both get some sleep.'

'So should you.'

'Yeah well…see you soon?'

'I'll…I'll be in touch.'

'Sure Tempe. Bye Booth.'

He was moving to the door when Temperance's brain offered up something approaching a logical thought.

'Michael!'

He turned.

'Do her family know? Have you told Phoebe's parents yet?'

'Err no, I err thought I leave that one to you.'

He left her with oddly sympathetic smile before leaving the apartment, Booth voice caused Temperance to turn back to him.

'I never did like that guy.'

Ok so this is the bit where I beg you all to review lol