Brennan was livid. She had stopped by the FBI building just to see if Booth could take off a little early so they could spend some quiet time together after this horrific day. He wasn't in his office and she had been directed to Cullen's office by Booth's secretary. Nobody was in the outer office and Cullen's door was ajar so she walked over intending to see if anyone was there, but froze on the spot when she recognized Agent Black's voice apologizing to Booth for today's fiasco and Booth's shouted response. She really didn't mean to eavesdrop but before she could make up her mind whether to leave or request entry, Agent Black started his tale. She was rooted to the spot, her incredulity and anger growing by leaps and bounds. How dare that…woman (she would have to ask Angela to supply a properly scathing term) say those things about her? And how dare Agent Black believe them? She had given him no indication that she was interested in him on a personal level. In fact, she had been completely rude and dismissive with him. As for Perotta, it appeared that they needed to have another little chat and Brennan was fairly certain that she knew how to get her point across in a way that Perotta would never forget. Her fantasies of breaking Perotta into tiny pieces were interrupted by someone clearing their throat behind her. She spun around to see that Charlie had entered the room. Thinking quickly, she tried to smile at him, but that is hard to do when your jaw is clenched so tightly that your teeth are grinding together.

"Hello, Charlie." At least her voice came out normal. Or so she thought. Charlie swallowed hard at the look in her eyes and tone of her voice and fervently prayed that he hadn't been the one to piss her off.

"Hello, Dr. Brennan." A calculating light came into her eyes and it made Charlie very, very nervous.

"Charlie, I was wondering if you could help me with something?" Heck, yeah, he'd help her with whatever she wanted. He didn't want her letting loose on him.

"Sure, Dr. Brennan. What can I do for you?" He was running his finger under his shirt collar nervously. She tried another smile but still couldn't unclench her jaw.

"Can you tell me where to find Agent Perotta?" Charlie was surprised by the request, but, hey, if that's what she wanted, then sure, he could do it.

"You could try her desk. Would you like me to check and see if she's there for you." This time, Brennan managed a small genuine smile. It was a smile filled with evil glee but it was a smile all the same.

"Yes, Charlie, thank you. I would very much like for you to determine her present location." He thought Booth would want him to help the doc out. After determining that Perotta was at her desk, he gave Brennan directions. The smile she gave him made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

"Thank you, Charlie." She patted his arm on the way out, but, somehow, he didn't find it reassuring. Charlie didn't have a good feeling about this. He decided to let Booth know what was going on.

Brennan came to a stop beside an unmanned desk. She was sure that she had correctly navigated the maze that was the FBI building and arrived at her intended destination, but, as the desk did not have a nameplate, she asked anyway.

"Excuse me. Is this Agent Perotta's desk?" The woman on the phone at the next desk just nodded. "Do you know where she went?" The woman pointed. "Thank you." Brennan said with a smile. It still wasn't a good smile.

Three minutes later, Booth came running into the bullpen followed by a panting Cullen, Charlie and Adam. Everyone in the room froze at the sight. Cullen and Booth shouted their questions at the same time.

"Has anyone seen Perotta?"

"Has anyone seen Bones?"

About ten people pointed. Some were answering Booth and some were answering Cullen, but they all pointed in the same direction. Booth did not find this reassuring. The four men took off again.

Perotta meandered down the hallway. She wasn't going anywhere in particular; she just thought it might be a good idea for her to get away from her desk for a while. That phone call from Charlie made her a little nervous. She had seen Cullen and Booth leaving the office earlier as if the hounds of hell were nipping at their heels and smiled smugly to herself. Way to go. Adam had finally grown a pair and followed her advice. She had known he wouldn't be able to resist after sharing that little fantasy with him at the bar last night. She figured that another man groping Dr Brennan in public would get back to Booth and, at the very least cause friction between them (Not that she thought they were sleeping together) or Dr Brennan would seriously injure the man doing the groping and get her status as an FBI consultant revoked. Either way, win/win for me, thought Perotta. She wasn't worried about Adam carrying tales. She didn't think he was all that bright and if he did figure out that she had lied to him; he would be too embarrassed to admit it. Besides, what had she actually done? Just told a few little stories. What could they really do to her for that?

Booth jogged down the hallway followed by his conga line of FBI personnel. And the line seemed to be getting longer with every step. The people not joining in the chase stood and gaped at the sight before them. Booth didn't even notice that practically half the personnel in the building were behind him. Cullen did. He stopped suddenly and whirled around, glaring at people as they attempted to stop but wound up bumping into each other instead.

"All right, people, show's over. Get back to work." Cullen yelled. They didn't move fast enough to suit him. "NOW!!" he roared. They moved then. Cullen thought that Brennan had been through enough today. She and Booth didn't need any more witnesses to whatever was about to happen. At that thought, he glanced around to see that Booth, Charlie and Black had disappeared. Cursing under his breath, he jogged off to find them.

Brennan stalked down the hallway; glancing into every office she passed to make sure she didn't miss Perotta. Her rage grew with each step and she sincerely didn't know what she would do to Perotta when she found her. She hoped that she would be able to tell her what a despicable person that she was and walk away. That was her intent, anyway. But she really, really, really wanted to hit her once or twice (or twenty or thirty times). Getting more and more frustrated, she started to turn into a large office to check the back rooms when blonde hair further down the hallway caught her eye. Eyes narrowing, jaw clenching, she followed.

Booth caught sight of Brennan as she peered into an office and wanted to sag in relief that he had gotten to her in time. Stopping, he bent forward, resting his hands on his knees catching his breath. Glancing up, he saw Brennan's head turn and her whole body stiffen, then she took off down the hallway. Looking in that direction, Booth saw a blonde head disappear around the corner. Crap. He took off at a sprint.

"Bones," he yelled, "Bones, stop!" He didn't know if she didn't hear him or chose to ignore him. Either way, this was not good. Perotta heard him and turned to see Brennan fast approaching with an expression of murderous rage on her face. Suddenly Petotta didn't feel quite so safe in this building. She frantically looked around for a hiding spot and smiled when she spotted a break room with two women inside. She hurried inside and turned to smirk at Brennan as she entered the room. She didn't think Brennan would dare do anything to her in the FBI building with witnesses. She was dead wrong.

Cullen, alerted by the urgency in Booth's voice, put on a burst of speed and caught up with him just as Brennan stepped into the break room. Perotta cast a smug smile at Brennan and taunted, "What's wrong, Dr Brennan? Have a bad day at work?" Brennan stiffened and her hands formed fists, but she didn't move toward Perotta. "Dr. Brennan, you should just turn around and go home. We both know you're not going to do anything to me in front of witnesses." Perotta was openly laughing now. Until the two "witnesses" spoke simultaneously.

"We won't see a thing," they assured Brennan. Perotta glared at them. She didn't even remember that she had slept with the shorter woman's husband and now they were separated. The other woman just didn't like how difficult women like Perotta made it for competent, professional women to get the respect they deserved in the workplace. Brennan glanced at the two women and saw that they were sincere in their offer. She gave them a genuine smile.

"Thank you," she said softly, "but that won't be necessary. I couldn't ask you to lie for me." And she wouldn't have to if the plan forming in her mind worked. She threw a scathingly dismissive look at Perotta. Turning back to the women, she gave them a conspiratorial smile, "She just not worth it." The women nodded their agreement. Perotta's eyes narrowed and her fists clenched. Laughing and looking Perotta up and down with a sneer curling her lip, Brennan whispered, "We all know that she's only good for one thing." The women burst out laughing. Brennan had no idea what she had just said but the one time she had heard Angela say it, the person she said it about had been very, very angry. Giving Perotta a last dismissive look, Brennan turned to leave the room.

Perotta was furious. Who the hell did she think she was? Coming in here and insulting her? She couldn't do that. She just did. Well, she's not going to get away with it. I'd say she is, as she's almost out the door. Hell, no, that is not going to happen. Then you better stop her fast. Perotta grabbed Brennan's arm and swung her around delivering a stinging slap to her cheek. She didn't realize that she had seriously miscalculated the situation until she saw the smile spread across Brennan's face. She never saw the fist moving toward her face.

Booth felt like he was moving in slow motion. He saw Brennan turn to leave the room and Perotta swing her around. He heard the sound of her hand connecting with Brennan's cheek echo down the hallway and he was infuriated.

"Hey," Booth yelled. Cullen grabbed his arm. He was looking at Brennan with something akin to pride on his face.

"My God, that woman is brilliant," he whispered, almost in awe. Booth gave him a look of disbelief. He couldn't believe that Cullen wanted to discuss Brennan's intelligence now. Booth attempted to pull his arm free but Cullen tightened his grip and shook his head.

"Our girl deserves a couple of free shots after what Perotta did." Booth thought he must have entered an alternate reality or else his brain tumor was back because he couldn't believe that Sam Cullen was standing here, calmly telling him to let Bones beat up another agent. Booth shook his head to clear it.

"Sir?"

"Besides, Perotta threw the first punch and we're all witnesses." Cullen indicated the six people within sight other than Perotta and Brennan. Then Booth understood what Cullen was saying. It was self defense. Pure and simple. Brennan couldn't be prosecuted for defending herself. She had goaded Perotta into striking her first. Damn, she was good. Booth couldn't have been prouder. His attention was drawn back to the women by the sound of a fist connecting with flesh. Patting Booth's shoulder in a fatherly manner, Cullen released his arm.

"Go on, son. Just don't let her kill Perotta. I'd hate to have to make you arrest her for murder. Something tells me she might not take too kindly to that in her present mood." Cullen turned and wandered down the hall, whistling. Booth entered the break room to find Perotta lying on the floor a bloody mess and Brennan…..sitting at a table, calmly sipping coffee with two female agents. Now, Booth was certain that he was in bizzarro world. He leaned down to make sure Perotta was still breathing and caught sight of Brennan rolling her eyes at her companions.

"She's not mortally wounded, Booth. Those particular injuries just bleed a lot. We've already called for medical assistance." Rising, Booth approached the table where the three women were seated. Planting his hands on his hips, he narrowed his eyes and tried to keep his lips from twitching.

"Feel better now?" His eyebrow crawled up his forehead.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do feel better now." She was completely serious.

"Bones, did you really have to beat up two people today?"

"Apparently, I did, Booth." Booth scrubbed his hand over his face, but before he could say anything else, Brennan turned her head toward the door as medical personnel entered and he caught sight of the imprint of Perotta's hand clearly visible on her cheek. Booth squatted down beside her chair and taking her chin gently in his hand turned her head to get a better look at her injury. He brushed his thumb over the reddened area so tenderly that the female agents sighed.

"Are you ok?" She put her hand over his and smiled.

"I'm fine, Booth. She only hit me once."

"How many times did you hit her?"

"Not nearly enough," she muttered under her breath. Booth gave her a disapproving look. "What? I really thought she'd be tougher than that?" The female agents were trying, and failing, to hide their laughter at Brennan's disgruntlement that she hadn't gotten to hit Perotta more and the exchange between Booth and Brennan. Perotta had been loaded onto a gurney and was being wheeled out when one of the EMT's leaned over and picked up something off the floor. He peered at it curiously then walked over to the table and extended his hand to show them what he held.

"Is this a tooth?" Brennan leaned forward and peered at it closely.

"Yes, that does appear to be a human tooth," she confirmed.

"Bones, you knocked out one of her teeth?" Booth was shocked.

"No."

"Good."

"I knocked out at least three of her teeth."Booth reached out and covered her hand on the table.

"How badly is she hurt?" Brennan shrugged.

"Any broken bones?"

"I don't think so. I'm not certain about the mandible. I felt it pop, but it could have been a dislocation rather than a fracture." At his questioning look, she clarified. "The mandible is the jawbone. And her nose doesn't really count because that's cartilage, not bone. The rest should just be bruising. Oh, and these teeth that I'm sure about." She clenched her teeth and grimaced to expose her own teeth and pointed to the two top and one of the bottom front teeth to indicate that these were the ones Perotta was missing.

"Agent Booth, Rachel and I would like to give a statement on behalf of Dr. Brennan concerning this incident." Brennan was touched that these strangers would stand up for her against one of their own. So was Booth.

"Thanks, Janet. Just go see Cullen in the morning. But, right now, it's quitting time. You ready to go?" He held out his hand to help Brennan up and threw his arm across her shoulders as they headed out of the room.

"So, how many people do you think you'll beat up tomorrow?" asked Booth playfully.

"Why?"

"Because it's not fair. I didn't get to hit anybody today." He whined.

"So, you're not upset because I beat up two people today but because you didn't beat up anyone?" Brennan needed clarification.

"Yep." Brennan patted his arm sympathetically.

"There's always tomorrow, Booth. If you're really lucky, maybe you'll get to beat up some scumsack tomorrow."

"Scumbag, Bones, not scumsack." Rachel and Janet smiled at each other as the couples voices faded into the distance.