That evening, Brennan walked in the door and locked it behind her with a tired and frustrated grunt; her first day had been awful and dripping with stress and unnecessary visitations from Chase to make sure she was OK every ten minutes. If it was possible, she hated him even more today than she did last night. She grumbled angrily to herself as she slid off her jacket and shoes to place them by the door. The only good thing that that waste of testosterone had done was giving her a good excuse to jump Booth. Booth. That thought instantly brought a smile to her face. Maybe her partner could help her relax- or at least wear her out until she collapsed. Grinning wickedly, she stepped into the living room and once she set eyes on the man she adored, her breath hitched in her throat.

There he was, fast asleep on the couch with the game still on TV. He was still sitting up with his head tilted back against the back of the couch and his arms hanging limply by his sides. Where others would see a worn out man who was headed for a sore neck upon awakening, she saw opportunity. She saw that she had a clear view of his throat and his arms gave her full access to his chest and lap. The day for Temperance Brennan was taking a very pleasant turn.

Another wicked grin flashed across her face as she unbuttoned her blouse and slid it off her shoulders revealing a cream-colored camisole; she put one knee next to his hip and then swung her other leg over so that she was straddling his waist. He shifted slightly in his sleep and murmured something that was inaudible, but she was almost sure that he said her name. She let out a small laugh and then she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his throat in a sweet kiss and then he let out a groan, driving her further. Her hands rubbed slow circles against his ribcage through the shirt and her mouth was leaving a trail of moist kisses, pausing here and there to suck lightly at his skin.

"Bones," he smiled softly, keeping his eyes closed. His hands found their strength and rose to drag themselves up the backs of her thighs and slid up the back of her shirt.

"Did someone miss me?" he breathed huskily while his fingers sleepily fumbled for the clasp of her bra. "I thought we talked about this."

"In all fairness," she purred as her lips met his. "you're not wearing the shoulder holster."

"Hm," he mumbled as his words were cut off by her tongue entering his mouth. She shifted herself so that she was resting flush against him while slipping her hands up to run them through his hair and lightly scratching his scalp with her nails, unleashing a shiver from the man under her.

"How was work?" Booth asked casually as he threw her bra away from them and moved to taste her collarbone.

"Well," she gasped. "I hate my job."

"I never thought I'd hear you say that," he chuckled, breath dancing across her skin.

"Someone alert the media."

"Well, I was bored here too if it makes you feel any better."

"Yeah?" she laughed as she reclaimed his mouth.

He grinned through their kiss and then his hand brushed against the raised flesh on her side. The scar. Suddenly, at that contact, their act came to a screeching halt; she jumped away from him and stood with her back towards him.

"Bones."

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"Bones," his voice grew more persistent.

Still no response other than the heavy sigh. He got up from the couch with surprising speed given his physical state and walked over to her. Once again, he had to handle this situation as if it were a bomb. But this was his Bones he was talking about; she wouldn't hurt him too badly if he did something wrong.

"Temperance," he murmured while he snaked his arms around her waist from behind and wrapped her in an intimate embrace. She responded by letting her head fall back to rest on his shoulder and resting her hands on his arms.

"We were working a case. The unsub was a psychotic cannibal that liked his victims alive and screaming when he- he ate them," she swallowed hard and continued. "He preferred the taste of women and he had a thing for brunettes."

He clenched his eyes shut as he resisted the urge to track the bastard down and rip him apart. No one touched his Bones. She lifted a hand to cup his cheek as his arms tightened protectively around her and he buried his face in her neck.

"When we asked him why he went after me, he simply said that he was getting bored and I presented a challenge."

Booth inhaled her shampoo to comfort himself.

"I'm sorry, I-" he trailed off, realizing that he couldn't apologize for not protecting her when he didn't even know her when it had happened.

"Don't be," she shook her head, hair brushing across his face as she did so. "It just hurt so bad and all I can remember thinking while his- teeth were i-in me was 'I hope I die quickly'."

Burning, acidic tears scorched his eyes as he imagined this beautiful woman in such horrible pain; he shuddered and let out a shaky breath against her skin.

"I love you so much," he whispered against her neck. A long exhalation was the only response he received for a long time.

Had he scared her? Booth was planning on waiting a little longer before he sprung his strong love for her on the poor anthropologist- not anthropologist. Assassin? Profiler? Marine? Spy? What the hell was she? Didn't matter, no matter what she did she would always be his Bones. So, he didn't leave the confession at just that.

"So much that it hurts."

She turned her head so that her cheek brushed against his face; now her blue eyes were piercing into his skull and silently asking him if he meant what he said.

"I love you too," she rasped, voice heavy laden with emotion.

If at all possible, he fell even more in love with her at that moment. Instead of verbalizing what he felt for the next few hours, he showed her exactly how much value she held in his heart.

you guys know the drill...now I'm GOING TO SLEEP! There had better be reviews when I wake up!! haha lol! but seriously i want feedback