EVERYBODY HAS UPS AND DOWNS...EVEN JESSICA AND AUBREY...


Jessica woke up Thursday morning in a quandary.

Since last week, she'd had a very important question to ask her boyfriend. Of course, his answer depended on his plans for that day. However, it seemed like for the last several days, every time she thought to bring it up, it either didn't seem like the right time, or something happened.

She'd thought about asking Sunday morning. However, the couple slept late before spending the morning and part of the afternoon in bed. Afterwards, they'd made a modified schedule for completing the remaining items to be done to his house.

Monday morning, Wendell called her at 6:30 asking her to cover his morning shift with Clark due to a raging case of strep throat that had been diagnosed less than an hour before at an urgent care clinic. Between working all day in Cultural Anthropology and her yoga class, she didn't get home until late.

Tuesday, everything was crazy as Aubrey was stuck in meetings all day and Jessica got called to assist at a scene with Booth due to Brennan having a faculty meeting at the university. Once again, she didn't get home until after 9:00.

Yesterday, she'd covered for Adam, another intern for Dr. B, who had come down with a nasty case of food poisoning. Due to the new lab schedule Hodgins and Dr. B were trying out this semester, he had been scheduled to work until 8:00. The only time she spent with Aubrey was when he brought her dinner from the diner and they had a quick meal together. Not getting home until late, she crashed before getting up and barely making it to Dr. B's class by 7:45 to set things up.

As she drove to the lab, the debate continued in her mind.

Was it too soon? Would he want to come? Would he get freaked out by being around her family so soon after their reconciliation? She did tell him enough stories about them over the eighteen months they've been together. What if she scared him off?

After getting settled in with Hodgins, the entomologist gave her instructions to collect trace from the decedent that had been brought to the lab that morning. After he and Angela left, she went merrily about her task, but that thing kept creeping up in her mind.

Should she bring Aubrey home for Thanksgiving?

"Ugh! I don't know…"

Finally realizing she was at an impasse, she headed first to Angela's office before remembering that she and Curly was gone.

'That's right...Curly and Angela went to lunch before her OB appointment. I'm not comfortable talking to that bitch FBI pathologist lady. Clark is busy and Wendell is on the other side of this wing with Dr. Anderson. Andie is swamped with her schedule and classes this week. Daisy is all up in her own shit right now. Who can I talk to….'

Shaking her head as she realized the answer, Jessica walked to the other side of the lab. Arriving at Brennan's office, she knocked on the door.

"Dr. B, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Working on an article she wrote for Medicinal Physics Quarterly, Brennan didn't take her eyes from her monitor. "Of course, Ms. Warren. I'll be with you in just a moment."

The redhead sat patiently as she waited for her mentor to finish typing her thought. When done, Brennan turned to Jessica. "Now, do you have a question in regards to the decedent that came in this morning?"

"No.", Jessica said. "It's about Thanksgiving...it's next week."

"I am well aware of that.", Brennan said before making a face. "My husband insists on cooking a dead bird in my oven. Of course, you are invited, Ms. Warren, if you have no other plans."

"My brothers, well, three of them, and their families, along with my dad, are getting together at our old house for Thanksgiving, but I hope to stop by later.", Jessica said. "I...well...there's something I want to do...but I'm not sure if it's...I would really love it, but Aubrey…"

Brennan had an idea of what the young woman was getting at. "Ms. Warren."

Jessica stopped her stammering. "Yes?"

Brennan smiled. "If you want to ask Aubrey to join you and your family for Thanksgiving, I'm sure he'll be happy to go. He is particularly fond of the food associated with the holiday."

The redhead sat across from her mentor and fidgeted with the cuff of her lab coat. "It's just...we just got back together recently, and I don't want to rush him...plus my brothers are a little overprotective of me, and I'm afraid that they'll try to intimidate him..."

Brennan stood up and walked around to lean against her desk. "Ms. Warren, Aubrey is very much in love with you. I think he would be very happy to be asked to go with you, especially since he doesn't have any family."

"Yes, he does, Dr. B.", Jessica said quietly. "He's got you and Booth, Hodgins, Angela, Dr. Saroyan, me...all the squints. We're the family that counts."

"Well, thank you...and you're right. Booth has taught me that there's more to being a family than a biological relationship.", Brennan replied with a smile. "As for them trying to intimidate him, Aubrey is a warm, caring person, but he will also stand his ground when it comes to something important, such as his relationship with you. My older brother Russ wasn't...always fond of Booth, but eventually...they came to an understanding. I'm sure your siblings and Aubrey will do the same. From what you have mentioned in the time you have been here, your older siblings care about you a great deal and want you to be happy."

"So you think I should ask him?" Seeing Brennan's resolute nod, Jessica sighed with satisfaction. "Excellent. Thanks, Dr. B…"

"Any time." Brennan watched as her intern walked out of her office and back to the Ookey Room. Grinning, she returned to her article.


Jessica pulled up in Aubrey's driveway past his open gates around 7:00 with her overnight bag, happy to spend some time with her Superman after barely seeing each other the last few days. After shutting off her engine, she pulled out her overnight bag and a six pack of Yuengling out of the back end of her Jeep Cherokee. As she got on the porch, Aubrey opened the door, looking very cute in his Star Wars shirt and jeans.

"Hey. The pizza got here a few minutes ago."

"Great. I'm starving."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Thirty minutes later, Jessica was finishing her final slice while Aubrey was part way through the second pizza. She enjoyed how much he relished food and how he was game for trying almost anything. However, her Superman's Kryptonite would always be soy cheese.

Remembering what her mentor had told her earlier today, she steadied her nerves. "Aubrey?"

"Yeah, Jess.", the agent replied with a full mouth of Meat Lovers pizza.

"Um...would you like to come with me to Thanksgiving dinner with my family?"

Aubrey was ecstatic. He knew that meeting her family was a big deal but he didn't want to assume the invitation. "Wow...I…"

Jessica saw her boyfriend's surprised expression and misunderstood. "Crap...you already had plans with Dr. B and Booth. It's just that three of my brothers and my father will be there, plus my nieces and nephews. Lots of food and beer...I'm pushing, I'm sorry-"

Aubrey heard his girlfriend's stammering and realized she misunderstood. "Jess! I would love to go."

"Really?", Jessica said. "You don't mind?"

Aubrey put his pizza back onto his plate. "Jessica, it means a lot to me you want to bring me home to your family. I just hope I'm good enough."

"Good enough? Aubrey, my dad loves you...Aaron and Nadia like you. It's them and their kids...plus Stephan and his wife Gail. Jack and Greg will be there too, and will be bringing some of the apple and other fruit hard ciders the winery has been working on during the off season. Of course, there will be football and old movies as well."

'Family, football, old movies, new alcohol beverages...but we're missing one important thing.' Aubrey thought. "So, in regards to food…"

"Superman, you will be well fed, I promise. We usually do a mix of turkey and traditional stuff. Nadia also makes traditional Romanian fare like mici-

"That's sausage, right?", Aubrey asked as his mouth began to water. "Lots of spices with lamb, beef, and other good stuff?"

Jessica smiled. "Yes, and we can hit Dr. B and Booth's later in the day for more food and to watch Beau's game."

"I'm so in, Jess. Thanks for asking.", Aubrey said before pulling her into a long kiss. Letting go, he smirked as the redhead needed to compose herself.

"Whew, Superman.", Jessica breathed. "You sure know now to knock a girl off her feet."

"Damn right, I do.", Aubrey said before taking his girlfriend's beer out of her hand. "Now, dinner was great...but I'm ready for dessert."

"What's for dessert, Agent Aubrey?", Jessica said with a grin.

"Oh, just a little something sweet...like you! Duh.", Aubrey replied before taking his girlfriend in his arms and drawing her into another passionate kiss.

After they let go, Jessica was slightly out of breath, but she recovered enough to drag her fingertips slowly down the front of his tee shirt. "Sounds good, Special Agent Aubrey."

The agent moaned softly as he felt something twitch in his pants. "You know what it does to me when you call me that in that tone."

Jessica smiled while combing the silver streak in his left temple. "What tone would that be, Sir?"

"The sexy anthropologist who wants to have her way with her FBI agent tone.", Aubrey playfully growled before pulling her down on top of him.

"Superman!", Jessica screamed in laughter.


Their following weekend was a mixed bag.

Friday night was fun since instead of going to Founding Fathers for their customary half price appetizers, Jessica made Aubrey her famous fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans almondine. Afterwards, the couple binge watched Doctor Who on Amazon Prime until after 2:00 in the morning.

Saturday had the couple grocery shopping for both of them and picking up odds and ends from the hardware store for Aubrey's house. After dropping off Jessica's food at her apartment, they returned to his house where they painted the den and man cave. After that, they put up the light fixtures Booth and Brennan had purchased for the main floor, since Booth couldn't finish the project due to his bad back. When done, they got ready for dinner with their friends at Old Ebbitt Grill.

Their table was large, as Aubrey and Jessica joined Hodgins and Angela, Booth and Brennan, Daisy and Beau, Wendell and Andie, along with Cam and Arastoo. The waitress brought everyone their drinks before they ordered their appetizers. Everyone was surprised when Beau ordered more than Aubrey, but they kept their opinions to themselves. After the server left, Angela looked towards the entrance and saw who was heading towards them.

"Shit…"

Before she could say anything else, the twosome arrived at their table.

"Look at this...the gang's all here. Mind if we join you?", Karen asked as Steve stood nervously off to one side. "We were told it would be an hour wait for a table."

Everyone knew it would be rude to say no when there were two vacant chairs by Hodgins' wheelchair. Keeping their groans to themselves, Booth spoke up. "Sure...what's two more?"

The party crashers sat down, but were uncomfortable in the smaller space, with Beau on one side of them and Hodgins on the other. "Wow, kind of cramped here."

"It is, isn't it?", Angela said with a smile as a thought crossed her mind. Beggars can't be choosers...

"Perhaps someone smaller could sit next to us.", Karen said while looking at Aubrey and Jessica. "Aubrey, maybe you two can trade with Daisy and Beau. Steve and I are pretty tight here."

"Jess and I are fine where we are Karen.", Aubrey replied before taking a drink of his beer. "Besides, I'd think you'd want to be cozy with Steve…"

Everyone snickered at the profiler's grimace while she made herself as comfortable as she could.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Almost three hours later, the couples were finishing dessert. They enjoyed themselves as much as they could with Karen butting into several conversations as well as her display of PDA with Steve, which, to Jessica and Aubrey's dismay, had not lessened since their lunch at the diner.

"We should do this more often.", Karen said. "I know, Aubrey can have a dinner party at his house next month with all of us together. Wouldn't that be fun?"

"Um...it depends on our schedules, Karen.", Aubrey said as he took another drink of beer.

"We're really busy right now. Aubrey and I are working on his house on the weekends.", Jessica said with a sweet smile. "I'm also working on a dissertation for Dr. B, so my time is limited as well."

"Steve has a nice house, too. What about it, Steevie Weevie? Can we have dinner at your house?", Karen asked her boyfriend in a singsong voice. "Your house is every bit as nice as Aubrey's…".

"Um...we'll see, Karen.", the agent said quietly before taking a bite of his dessert.

"We're all usually pretty busy, Karen.", Angela said pointedly. "That's why when we get together we usually only include our friends."

"Well, I'm free most weekends, so just let me and Steve know.", Karen said before sipping her wine, not noting Agent Bower's wince. "Just contact me by phone, email, or even find me on Facebook."

"Of course, Karen.", Booth said, weary of the profiler and her boyfriend, and annoyed at how they crashed their dinner.

"Oh, you can find me anytime at work.", the profiler said before cutting a bite of her Bourbon Walnut Pie and feeding it to her lover. "Here, Steevie Weevie."

Steve took the bite and groaned, forgetting his discomfort of the last few hours. "Oh, God...that's so good! Thanks, Sugar Booger."

"I know, right?", Karen smirked. "But it will be sweeter when I taste you later tonight, Steevie Weevie."

Everyone made faces at the profiler's implications and gross display of PDA before Brennan turned to whisper to her husband. "Booth, it seems that perhaps Dr. Delfs and Agent Bower are overcompensating with their displays of affection, or perhaps they have no sense of decorum, or, I suppose, both options are possible."

"Both, Bones.", Booth whispered back. "Definitely both."

The waitress returned to the table. "So how are we dividing the check tonight?"

"We have seven couples, so just divide it evenly-", Beau started to say but was interrupted.

"Actually, Ma'am, we are together." Hodgins indicted between him and Angela before pointing to each couple. "The rest of the bills are split between each couple."

"All right...I'll be with you shortly."

As the server left, Beau looked puzzled. "Why aren't we splitting the bill equally?"

Cam turned to the football player. "Because when we get together, the couples usually pay for their own meals and drinks. I wouldn't expect Booth and Brennan or Angela and Hodgins to pay for my stuff. It's not fair to them."

Andie finished a bite of the sundae she was splitting with her boyfriend. Daisy was her friend, but she was tired of her husband taking advantage of them, since not everyone had an unlimited amount of money to spare. "I only planned on treating Wendell tonight."

Aubrey caught the embarrassed look on Daisy's face, but he wasn't going to get suckered into covering the football player's exorbitant tastes again. "I've only taken out enough cash to cover Jess and myself tonight, and to have enough until we get paid next week. I like to eat but I'll only order what I can cover because I still have bills and other expenses to pay every month."

"Oh…", Beau said quietly before pointing to the ring on Daisy's finger. "Hey, did Daisy show you all the new ring I bought her for our three month anniversary of when we met?"

Daisy forgot her embarrassment long enough to hold up her hand, revealing a sparkling ruby cocktail ring. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Everyone admired the expensive ring. "It's beautiful, Daisy.", Jessica said.

"Yeah, and it only set me back about 6500 dollars.", Beau said with pride. "She deserves it since I've been such a bear lately with work and stuff at home. My Daisy is the best. She's worth all the money in the world."

"He wants everyone to pay for his food, but has that kind of cash around to buy Daisy expensive jewelry?", Arastoo whispered to Jessica and Aubrey.

"Yep. Interesting, isn't it?", the FBI agent replied.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

A short time later, the waitress returned with the checks. It didn't escape a few people's attention when Beau winced at their bill. Daisy deftly took the receipt.

"I'm treating you, Beau. Such an amazing husband."

Everyone but Karen and Steve watched what unfolded with amazement, including Jessica and Aubrey. "Jess, they are so...fucking weird."

"They're like Jekyll and Hyde.", Wendell whispered next to them. "Still meeting up with Andie and I at Founding Fathers' after this?"

Aubrey's attention moved back and forth between Daisy and Beau's gushing and Karen pawing at Steve. "How about coming over to my house instead? I need several drinks and you two can crash if you want on the futon in the den."

"That shitty one you had in your storage?", Wendell asked.

"Works for me, Babe. I need a couple of shots to help me forget what we have just seen.", Andie replied.

Karen saw everyone was in their own conversations and ignoring her and Steve. Clinking her glass, she got everyone's attention. "So the night is still young, folks. Where are we going after this?", Karen asked.

"We are not going anywhere, because we have a babysitter to relieve, Dr. Delfs.", Brennan said succinctly.

"As do we, Karen.", Angela said while getting her purse around.

"Michelle is home with the boys tonight and we don't want to take advantage of her while she's home for Thanksgiving.", Arastoo said.

"Oh poo...sucks for you all." The profiler turned to Aubrey and Jessica, who were still talking to Wendell and Andie. "So, peeps, what's on the agenda after we leave here?"

Jessica was fed up with Karen's presence. "Well, Wendell and Andie are coming back to Aubrey's house with us to hang out and have a few drinks."

"Sounds like fun, doesn't it, Steve?", Karen said.

"Karen, I have stuff to do-"

Ignoring her boyfriend, Karen continued to prattle on. "We can just follow you…"

"Sorry, Karen...no one else is invited.", Andie said bluntly, tired of the bitch who messed with her friend for the last several months. "Hopefully, you and Agent Bower find something else to do tonight."

The profiler turned several shades of red with a look of anger in her eyes. Not caring about Karen's humiliation, Jessica snuck her fist behind Aubrey and met with Andie's in a fist bump. All the other couples, including Beau and Daisy bit back their chuckles. Brennan turned to Booth.

"I've always liked Ms. Roberts, Booth. She seems well suited to Mr. Bray.", the anthropologist said, making her husband laugh.


Jessica woke up to a sunny day the following Monday. Checking her phone, the Weather Channel reported sun all day with a high of 46 degrees. Getting up, she cracked her window slightly to get some fresh air in her apartment.

She made herself a cup of catnip tea and had a small breakfast. She only had a couple of hours to work on her dissertation today because she had plans to have lunch with Daisy at the NFL before going to the lab. Her friend wanted to give her a tour of her new workplace as well.

She did want to see the facility, one that was almost on par with the Jeffersonian. Someday she may have to apply there for a job after graduation if she was to stay in the area so Aubrey wouldn't have to uproot his career. However, her anticipation was mixed with dread as she contemplated the rest of her day.

Today was Gerald Maxwell's first day back at work after his three week suspension.

While she would've preferred him to lose his internship entirely, maybe allowing him to come back was for the best. She didn't want his family to do anything to cause problems for Aubrey at work.

There were rumors that his father had friends with the incoming administration being inaugurated January 20th. She could never forgive herself if her boyfriend's trajectory with the FBI was short circuited because she was stupid enough to go on two dates with the douchebag.

Shaking off her thoughts, she finished her food and walked into her bathroom. She started her water and stripped before getting into her shower. She needed to get as much work done this morning as she could and dwelling on Gerald Maxwell wouldn't let her do that.


Aubrey finished the payroll early and sent it on. Looking at the files on his desk, he knew he should finish more of the agent performance reviews, but he was too distracted.

Today was Gerald Maxwell's first day back at the Jeffersonian.

He kept telling himself that things would blow over and the wealthy piece of shit would keep his mouth shut...and his distance from Jessica. But he still couldn't shake that feeling that something was going to happen.

Recalling the meeting with Hodgins, Dr. Miller, and that asshole three weeks earlier, he couldn't forget the smugness of the bastard as he invoked his father's influence over and over. It wasn't until Hodgins came back challenging him with the idea that the entomologist could make up for any lost donations that the man really began to sweat. Gerald had also bragged about getting the lab closed, but that was shot that down as well. The intern was forced to slink away with his tail between his legs.

Next, Aubrey considered what Wendell had said about how Maxwell treated women like shit if they turned him down. It seemed that Jessica fit this pattern in some ways, but not in others. Not only did she turn him down several times before and while she was dating him the first time, but the asshole charmed Jessica into letting him be her date to the greatest movie convention ever after they broke up.

When the idiot showed up two hours late and in the wrong costume, she got right up in Gerald's face and confronted him, making huge cracks in that perfect veneer that he put on for the public and other women. He was then accosted by an FBI agent/Stormtrooper who was not only older than him, but who could also kick the shit out of him before leaving his keys behind in his haste to leave.

He threatened her with a lawsuit for damages to his vehicle and accused her of theft. Surely Gerald knew that he had no case with Jessica regarding the alleged attempted theft of his car.

Of course he did, Aubrey realized. However, unlike what Aubrey suspected was the younger man's standard M.O. of using intimidation and his family's money when he didn't get his own way, Jessica was neither swayed or intimidated by it. Yes, his girlfriend had a trust fund, but it was earmarked for school and emergencies that were not covered by her fellowship. As he remembered from when he was a law student, graduate students usually had a tight budget, something the asshole Maxwell surely knew.

Next, the Gala. Gerald Maxwell was so confident of his family's influence that he sexually harassed another intern in a public party attended by several influential people, including members of the FBI, DOJ, Congress, and other movers and shakers. He went for Jessica's jugular, and it took all the agent had not to beat the life out of the smarmy bastard. However, he stood up to the punk and put the fear of God into him. The fact that he revealed the intern to be all bluster when he pissed himself was just the cherry on the sundae.

That kind of drunken power could be very dangerous. It reminded Aubrey of his father and the parties that he would host at their townhouse when he was growing up. The man would schmooze people, all the while hitting on their wives and daughters behind their backs. He'd always suspected that his father had many tricks up his sleeve that the SEC never caught him on.

He knew Jessica was safe at the lab and that she could take care of herself. He and Booth consulted on the security modifications for the lab redo and their suggestions had all been approved. The Governing Board didn't want another bomb or lapse in security cause a repeat of what had happened a few months back.

But Aubrey worried...because he loved her with all his heart. She was an independent soul who bristled at being protected. He respected that and trusted her. However, he would do what he could to make sure she was secure and safe.

He was aware of the rumors she referred to about Gerald's family and influence in town. As far as he was concerned, they could fuck themselves. Nobody would hurt Jessica Warren as long as there was a breath in his body. If Gerald Maxwell so much as breathed on her wrong, Aubrey would make him pay.

"Boss!"

His thoughts disturbed, he looked up and saw Genny in the doorway. "Sorry...were you calling me?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to see if you had the Tyler case file before you did Agent Satterly's JPR with her. Are you alright?"

"Yeah...just got a lot of my plate is all.", Aubrey said before digging out the requested file and handing it to his ASAC. "Here you go."

"Thanks.", Genny said before walking away but stopping halfway to the door. "Sure you're okay, Boss?"

"Yeah, all good.", Aubrey said, not wanting to talk about what he was thinking.

"Okay.", Genny said.

Aubrey watched his second in command walk away and he exhaled in relief. His mother always told him to do the right thing and that good would come through in the end. More than once Rachael Aubrey's words were proven very prophetic. He hoped with this situation that it would be once again.

Shaking off his thought, he pulled up the review on his laptop. Getting his coffee cup, he walked out. Seeing Karen in the immediate vicinity, he ducked past her and walked in the conference room where a female agent was waiting with her laptop.

"Ready, Deb?"


Jessica pulled into the parking garage of the Jeffersonian around 12:30. She was early, but it couldn't be helped as her lunch with Daisy wasn't the greatest.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

They started with a tour of the facility. It was very impressive and her friend seemed to be in her element. As they walked by the physics division she was surprised to see Oliver Wells working on a platform. Then Daisy made a revelation.

"He's working here part time while Dr. Beesley is on leave. It may become permanent, but he still plans on interning at the Jeffersonian."

Jessica had so many questions, but kept them to herself as they finished the tour and sat down to the lunch Daisy had ordered for them. Halfway through lunch, Beau had called. While the tone was polite, it seemed too polite...almost as if her friend was restraining her answers due to having a visitor and at work. Seeing the anthropologist so tense after ending the call, Jessica asked if she could do anything.

"Nope, Beau and I have to work it out. He just needs to grow up is all."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Getting out of her vehicle, her stomach filled with dread as she got closer to the building. Angry with herself, she muttered, 'Stop it, Jessica. That asshole has better things to do than to worry about you.'

Walking into the locker room, she put her bag down at the bench nearby and smiled. Since the Halloween Gala, whenever she saw it she remembered her very hot quickie with Aubrey on it. He might be a by the book FBI Agent in charge of his own division, but when they were alone, he was definitely not one to blindly follow rules. The fact she was the only one who got to see that side of him gave her shivers.

Then she remembered their plans for Thursday. Aubrey was joining her for dinner with her family before meeting up with everyone else later that night at Booth and Dr. B's. She had never taken a man home to dinner with her family and she was nervous, hoping that everything would go well.

While Aubrey had met Aaron and his wife, he'd never met her other brothers. Michael and Jason had other plans for the holiday, but Stephan and his wife along with Jack and his boyfriend would be there. Her boyfriend would enjoy the food for sure, but she didn't want to scare him off. Her brothers could be overprotective of their little sister.

Suddenly, she got a chill and a sense she was being watched. Turning around, she looked around but didn't see anyone. Chalking up her feelings to having a lot going on, she put on her lab coat, secured her locker, and left.

When she left, Gerald Maxwell came out from the corner with a smirk on his face.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

She talked to Clark about her assignment and when done, she obtained the remains that were found in a newly discovered Viking settlement in Norway. After laying the decedent on the table, she went to work, using her laser focus to concentrate in spite of the many thoughts going through her head. She was so into what she was doing that she didn't hear her name at first. When she finally did, she turned around and her stomach sank.

"Gerald...I didn't expect to see you."

The intern came up to her with a cart that contained a fireproof box and several artifacts. "Well, I'm dropping of more of the Ottoman remains that were discovered, and I was told you were working on them by the anthropologist out in the main area."

The redhead kept her cool. "No, that's Dr. Jessie Wilson. We both are Jessicas but she goes by that to keep us apart. She's two rooms down. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

Gerald pushed the cart closer until he was mere inches away from his fellow intern. "I think we have some things to discuss-"

"There you are. I've been waiting for that stuff."

The redhead sighed in relief. "I think we're set, Gerald. Now, Dr. Wilson is waiting for you, and she doesn't suffer fools."

Both turned to see a 5'11 African American woman with her hands on her hips. "Well, Maxwell, are you coming or not? My work doesn't stop just because you broke a nail or can't hold your water."

Embarrassed, Gerald followed the scientist out of the exam room and Jessica's stiff stance relaxed as she exhaled the breath she didn't realize she was holding.


Aubrey was eating lunch in his office while going over case files in his division. He missed having lunch with his girlfriend, but she ate with Daisy at the NFL today before going to the lab. She was apologetic, but he understood.

Realizing he couldn't concentrate, he got up to get another cup of coffee to have with his lunch. As he walked towards the 4th floor break room, he contemplated the upcoming holiday. This year would be the first time in three years he missed the main feast at Booth and Brennan's.

Because this year, he was having dinner with his girlfriend's family…and he was scared to death.

Things were going so well for them, but he knew enough about Jessica's brothers to realize that they were very protective of their baby sister. While all five wouldn't be there, the prospect of three of them together was daunting.

What if they hated him? What if they didn't consider him good enough for their little sister? He thought of Booth's advice when they talked about it this morning.

"You'll be fine, Aubrey. Just don't eat all the food."

He laughed for a moment. They were going to stop at Booth and Brennan's house later for dessert. Well, Jessica was. Dr. B promised him more turkey and dressing.

Getting his coffee, he poured the cinnamon in it. As he turned to walk back to his office, he heard his name and a familiar unpleasant voice. Turning around, he attempted a smile.

"Hi, Karen. How can I help you?"

The profiler hesitated for a moment. "I have a preliminary profile I need to go over with Steve."

Aubrey felt bad for what he was going to say. "He's not here, Karen. He went back to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving with his family this week."

"Oh…", Karen said before recovering quickly. "I misunderstood. I thought he was leaving tonight. My bad."

Aubrey thought Karen seemed too calm for finding out her boyfriend had taken off on her without letting her know. "I figured you were going to be with him.."

Karen waved her hand in front of Aubrey. "No way! We're not there yet. Not doing the family thing right now…too complicated."

"So you're spending your Thanksgiving with your family, huh?", Aubrey said.

Karen lifted up her files. "No…my parents are going on a cruise and my sister is going to be with her husband's family in Idaho."

"Oh.", Aubrey said, feeling stupid for asking.

"I have a friend who invited me to go with her to visit her family in Falls Church…but I barely know anybody. I may just go to Founding Fathers…", Karen said in a soft voice. "I'm sure there will be people to talk to."

Aubrey felt bad for her but he had plans and he was a guest to both places. Still…no one should be alone on Thanksgiving.

"Aubrey."

Both turned around to see Booth standing by them. "Hey. I was going to email you but I wanted to let you know that dinner on Thursday will be at 1:00 but come by anytime. Hodgins and Angela don't know when they will make it because Billy is in town and Wendell and Andie are eating with her folks, too. Beau's game starts at 4:30."

"Cool.", Aubrey said.

"Must be nice to have all those people together for Thanksgiving.", Karen said. "I hope Founding Fathers has that many people and not a bunch of losers alone on Thanksgiving."

Booth saw Aubrey gesturing towards her while mouthing 'Alone Thursday. Taking a deep breath, he spoke slowly. "Karen, why don't you stop by our house Thursday? Bones makes a ton of food, some of it actually real meat. Always room for one more."

"I couldn't, Agent Booth.", Karen said coyly. "I know how hungry Aubrey gets."

"Actually—"

"There will be plenty for Aubrey, I promise. Now I'll email you the address and directions to our house."

The profiler smiled. "It's a date, Agent Booth. Thank you very much.", Karen said before leaving, but Aubrey stopped her.

"Karen, I can take that preliminary profile."

"Great.", she said as she looked through her folders before sighing. "Shoot, I forgot it. You know, I should work on it a little more. Steve said not to rush it with the holidays. I'll try to get it finished before Thursday. See you later, gentlemen."

When she left, Aubrey turned to Booth. "Thanks for the time, but we probably won't be there until maybe 4:00."

"I know. I overheard Karen giving you her sob story, so I told her 1:00."

"Why?", Aubrey said, obviously confused.

"Because she was trying to sucker an invite out of you, Aubrey. She still wants to get in your pants, so I want to see if she takes the bait."

"Booth, I told you that I talked to her already and put the fear of God into her regarding her career. She's with Agent Bower now anyway."

"Aubrey…she may seem to have turned over a new leaf, but I'm not sure about her. Be careful with her, all right?"

"Booth-"

The older man stared down his friend. "Aubrey, what do you do when your friends look out for you?"

The agent smiled. "Thank you, Booth."

Booth finished pouring his coffee into his Steelers mug. "You're welcome. Now, if you have a few minutes, let's put our heads together on the Vacchio case and see if something new comes out."


By 3:30 Jessica had forgotten about Gerald's earlier interruption as she worked on a different set of remains for Clark while listening to music on her Amazon Prime app. She hummed along to Ella Henderson's 'Ghost' as she cataloged the Viking remains in front of her. As she examined the 6th rib, she heard a loud knock. Startled, she turned around and saw two people, one male and one female. in front of her.

"I'm sorry. Can I help you?"

"Yes. Turn off that music. This is a museum and research facility, not a rock concert."

Immediately, she peeled off her gloves and complied. "My apologies if my music disturbed anyone."

"Remember this for future reference: we do not play loud music or treat this place as anything less than a research facility, Ms. Warren.", the woman stated. "The Governing Board takes their responsibility to maintain the high standards of this facility seriously."

The gentleman with her stepped forward. "Furthermore, you will follow the dress code assigned to all employees of the Jeffersonian. That means—"

"Excuse me, what's going on here?", Clark asked as he entered the room.

The two turned around and the male indicated himself and the woman next to him. "I'm Timothy Swanson and this is Jeanette Larson. We are the aides to the Treasurer and Secretary of the Governing Board. We were explaining to this young lady about how we have high standards here at the Jeffersonian—"

"I'm Dr. Clark Edison, head of Cultural Anthropology, and Ms. Warren is my intern for today. What exactly has she done?"

"Well, there have been complaints about her wardrobe and she was listening to loud music which could be heard by others. This creates a disturbance and that is unacceptable."

Clark stood for a moment before speaking. "I apologize for any confusion, but I need to clarify something. In the future, if there are any concerns regarding the anthropology interns working with myself or Dr. Brennan, you will take those concerns up with either of us or with Dr. Jack Hodgins, the acting head of the Medico-Legal Lab. The Governing Board will not send their interns down here to dress down our interns. Now, is there anything else we can help you with today?"

The two stiffened their spines. "I would think we would have more cooperation from you, Dr. Edison. You are usually very respectful of policy."

"You're right, I am. However, I am seeing an intern who is tastefully dressed in a dress roughly 1 inch above the knee, high heeled shoes, and her hair is neat. I let my interns listen to music while they work because for some, it helps them concentrate, and as long as the music is not full of profanity, I don't see a problem.", Clark said before smiling. "Please give the Governing Board my warmest regards."

Seeing they were being dismissed, the two interns walked out stiffly. When they were gone, Jessica turned to her friend.

"Dr. Edison, I'm sorry for causing a disturbance.", Jessica said, using Clark's title since they were at work.

Clark put his hand up. "You didn't do anything. I don't know what all that was about but if it happens again, you let me know, all right?"

Jessica smiled. "I will. Thanks."

"Go ahead and turn you music back on. No way in hell they heard it outside the doors.", Clark said before leaving.

Turning back to her phone, she started the song back and put on gloves. A few seconds into the song, she sang along softly.

"But your ghost...the ghost of you...is keeping me awake…"


At 6:15, Jessica gathered her stuff together. Shutting her locker, she was startled to see Gerald Maxwell standing in front of her.

"Can I help you, Gerald?", she said in exasperation.

"Yeah…" the intern said. "I just wanted to apologize for what happened at the Halloween Gala."

Jessica nodded. "Apology accepted. Excuse me."

"Wait...I'm not done yet.", Gerald said while holding up his hand out to stop the redhead. "I've been thinking and I realize now that I may have been rash in thinking you were trying to steal my Alfa Romeo."

"Well, I'm glad you're seeing that. Thank you."

Gerald walked up to her. "You're welcome. Now, there's the issue of how to put that ugliness behind us."

"You apologized...I accepted...now we steer clear of each other.", Jessica retorted. "Pretty simple I think."

"I have a better idea.", Gerald said as he leaned in. "I'll help you if you'll help me."

Jessica gulped as she got a bad vibe. "W-with what?"

"I'll drop all those charges that I'm going to file…", the intern said before his finger touched her arm and traced down to her elbow. "...and you'll be friendly with me."

"Thanks, but no thanks. Excuse me." Jessica moved her arm away, but the man grabbed her and held her tight.

"You must have misunderstood me, Jessica. Let me rephrase. You give me what I want, which is a good time like you used to give to the guys here, and I'll let bygones be bygones with my car."

"No, I didn't misunderstand, Gerald, so I'll rephrase." Jessica pried his hand off her arm. "There are no bygones to be made with your car and there's no way in hell I would ever you touch me sexually, you fucking pig. If you were going to sue me, you would have done it a long time ago."

The muscular intern's charming facade fell quickly. "I'm trying to give you another chance, Jessica, and you would be smart to take me up on it."

"You have several other women who would do anything to go out with you, even after you pedal your outdated and trite bullshit. However, you come back to me. What's the matter Gerald? Lonely?", Jessica retorted before she came to a realization. "Is that why you're trying to sucker a screw out of me? Women are not as easy for you as they used to be after Aubrey made you piss yourself at the Gala in front of your daddy's friends?"

"I'm trying to be nice to you after the trouble you caused me.", Gerald said menacingly, his humiliation at the reminder building up again. "I would be more appreciative of my efforts if I were you."

"No, you're trying to intimidate me into sex like I'm sure you've done to other women who see through your bullshit.", Jessica said with all the courage she could muster up. "There's a term for that and it's called 'sexual harassment'. I would recommend you turn around and walk out of here or I may be tempted to talk to Dr. Miller about the desperate bully who hassled me in the intern locker room."

"I'm not sexually harassing you, you little cunt. I'm just trying to save you some embarrassment and get each of us something we want."

"I'm not ashamed of anything I've done and I'm not concerned about being embarrassed. As for having any sort of sexual contact with you, I would rather fuck a syphilic goat. I'm sure if I ask some of the other female interns here about you, they'll agree before we all go to Dr. Miller about you."

Gerald raised himself to his full height of 6'3" and looked down at her with hate. "You better watch your mouth, Jessica.. I've been tolerant of all the trouble you caused me these last several weeks, including riding out a suspension that was unjustified. I have plans for my future and I won't let some redheaded bitch with a big mouth wreck my internship here."

Crossing her arms, she looked up at the tall man and stared him in the eyes. "I don't have to do shit, Gerald, because you can wreck your career all on your own. You're the spoiled brat who was too proud to call someone to get a new set of keys when you lost yours at the Star Wars Convention. You're the one who harassed me and Aubrey at the Gala before my awesome FBI agent boyfriend put you down like the pathetic bug you are. Most of all, you're the douchebag who seems to think we female interns should just spread our legs at your beck and call for your probably small, overcompensating dick because you think you're a stud and you are important when you are not. If you don't work enough hours this semester or do some other stupid thing to lose your internship, that's on you, not me."

The man was furious at the obstinence of the woman in front of him. "Listen to me, Firecrotch. No one is going to interfere with my plans. Either you wise up and take the deal I'm offering you or I'll make sure your internship disappears and your future career anywhere in North America or Europe."

"You think your money can get your anything you want, don't you?", Jessica said as coldly as she could. "You may have pulled that 'Mr. Wonderful' bit in the past and got lucky...or even used your money to pay off someone...but that ends now because you don't scare me, Gerald Maxwell. You're just a spoiled coward who coasts off his family's name because he doesn't have the balls to do anything on his own."

"You're going to regret this, you cheap slut."

"Whatever, Gerald.", Jessica said before turning to pick up her purse and bag. "Now get out of my way and go fuck yourself."

When he wouldn't move, Jessica stepped around the man and walked out the door. When it shut, she leaned against the wall shaking. It didn't surprise her that his charm turned to shit when he didn't get her into bed. However, she didn't expect him to take it so personally. Starting now, she would make it a point to never be alone with him again.

His threats to her internship did make her stop and think for a few minutes, but she knew that Dr. B wouldn't be easily swayed by money, and Curly was same. She'd worked hard to get where she was, and there was no way in hell she would let that man ruin things for her. Gerald Maxwell wasn't the first bully she had encountered in her life and he probably wouldn't be her last. Her brothers and father taught her to always stand her ground and she hadn't looked back since.

Jessica debated telling Aubrey about Gerald's threats, but decided not to. She didn't want her boyfriend to go after the intern in anger and possibly ruin his career. She would not let him do that. James Aubrey's happiness was too precious to her to let a bully ruin that.

Besides, the Antiquities intern was just pissed off because she'd stood up to him. No way would he get his hands dirty and there were plenty of other females who was less discriminate on who they slept with. Everything would blow over soon