As they were leaving the office Booths cell rang. "Booth," he said gruffly into the receiver.

"Agent Booth, this is Hall. We got nothing on the trace. It seems to have come from a disposable phone and there is no way to track it." Booth cursed under his breath.

"Thanks," he replied flipping the phone closed. He turned too looked at Brennan. "They couldn't get anything on the trace. It's another dead end. What did he say to you?"

"I told you. He said he couldn't wait to do it again. He wanted to hear me scream for him. He was just so crude and nasty and he sounded like he thinks I enjoyed it." He voice was barley audible and Booth could tell that she didn't want to go into detail but he had to know.

"I'm not going to let him anywhere near you," he was trying to reassure her when his phone rang again. "Booth," he growled.

"Wow big brother, are you having a bad day?"

"Jared, what's up?" Booth asked.

"Just calling to check on you, I haven't heard from you in a while. What's been going on? How is that sexy doctor of yours?"

"Everything is fine. Dr. Brennan is fine. Is that all you wanted?" He asked irritably.

"Well, when I talked to Mom and Dad they said there had been an incident with your lady friend and I just wanted to make sure you didn't need anything. Just trying to show some love bro," love my ass Booth thought.

Brennan was looking at him strangely while he spoke on the phone. It was a rare occasion for Booth to be outwardly rude to anyone. "Don't worry about Bones. I can take care of her just fine."

"You sure you don't need my help big brother?" He snickered as he spoke. Jared had never made any bones about the fact that he wanted Bones and it infuriated him. There was something lacking in character with his little brother but he had never been able to explain it. There was an innate character flaw that seemed to only affect him. He had always been jealous of Booth and had always wanted whatever he had.

"Is there something else Jared? I'm in the middle of something important."

"I thought maybe I could drive down and take you out to dinner." Booth wanted to tell him no without hesitation but he was family and the only brother he had.

"When were you planning on coming down?"

"I thought this weekend. Maybe I could crash with you and we could spend some time you know."

"Jared, I've got Dr. Brennan staying at my place for a few days…while they are working on hers. I really don't have the room to put you up." Booth said in way of an explanation.

"Bro, I promise the couch will be fine and I would love to spend some time with the sexy bone lady." I'm sure you would little brother. A surge of jealousy coursed through Booth's veins. "Come on Seeley, it's me. Are telling me I'm not welcome?" Jared always used the guilt trip.

"Let me talk to Bones for a sec." He turned to face her. "Jared wants to come down for the weekend. If you don't feel comfortable with him there then I'll tell him no."

"Booth, he is your brother. I can't tell you to turn him down." Booth's eyes almost pleaded with hers to deny him but he knew she wouldn't.

"Alright Jared, I guess we'll see you Friday night. Give me a call before you get in okay."

"You bet and tell gorgeous I said hello." Booth was fuming when he hung up the phone. Deep down he loved his brother no matter how hard he made it.

"Are you sure you're okay with this Bones?"

"It's fine really," she replied.

"Thanks," he said. "It's still early enough that we could get some breakfast at the diner. How does that sound?" He was trying his best to ease the tension between them but he was doing a poor job. "Maybe it will give us a chance to talk."

"I hate this Booth," she said as she stepped into the SUV. "I can take the arguing and bickering but I can't stand the anger."

"Me neither. I reacted terribly. I was angry and confused but most of all I think my pride was wounded," he said trying to explain.

"I know what I said bothered you. I won't lie; most of it was true except for the fact that you are the one I wanted to kiss. It wasn't an experiment that made me do but it's that excuse I used to go through with it." Booth was stunned at the explanation she was giving. She was honestly showing him her emotions and he felt elated.

"What exactly are you trying to tell me Bones?" He asked huskily.

"That I wanted to kiss you. I thought I just explained that." He gave her his best charm smile.

"I just wanted to hear you say it again." He started the SUV and put it in drive and headed toward the diner.

They ate in amicable silence, each of them happy that they had gotten past their fight. Both of them had been equally miserable with the tension between them and they were once again settling into their well developed friendship. Each had a secret that they refused to tell the other and that weighed heavily on their hearts and minds. The all consuming love that they felt for one another was destined to be unrequited because of stubbornness or fear. In the end it didn't matter because the result was the same.