So is it just me or does anyone else miss the old "take charge" Booth? If so, this chapter is for you :) Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to review!

Chapter 29

Booth stared through the window of the interrogation room as Agent Patterson finished questioning the suspect brought in. Jonathan Ford looked like any average citizen you passed on the street a hundred times a day. What disturbed Booth was his admission that he had been following Brennan for months now. He wondered if he was slipping, if his instincts had become dulled by the pattern his days had settled into. He and Brennan certainly had an established routine, one this guy had caught onto all too easily.

Booth turned to Sweets and asked, "So what do you think? I'd love to believe he's the killer but my gut says no."

Sweets shook his head. "He's highly intelligent but he's far too delusional to have carried out the careful planning these murders would have required. He honestly believed that if he removed you from the equation he would have a chance with Dr. Brennan. He also has serious impulse control issues. When he saw you together and became aware of your personal relationship with her he reacted without planning or thinking anything through. He just showed up at the courthouse and starting shooting in front of dozens of deputies and federal officers. If the killer had the same impulse control issues he would never have been able to hide his crimes for this long."

Booth rolled his shoulders as he tried to release some of his building tension. "Dammit," he muttered.

Sweets glanced over at him. "How are you holding up? I'm actually surprised you allowed Patterson to conduct the interview alone."

"I wanted to get a feel for him first but make no mistake – I intend to have my shot at him," Booth replied grimly.

A few minutes later Patterson joined them in the observation room. "He's definitely been stalking Dr. Brennan and we've got him on the shooting hands down – the gun, witnesses," he said. "But there's no way he's responsible for the murders. He's been hospitalized twice in the last three years for delusional behavior and one of those stays coincided with the disappearance of Melissa Scott six months ago." Patterson hesitated for a moment before turning to Booth. "He's asking to speak to you."

Booth smiled grimly. "Oh I'm ready." He followed Patterson into the interrogation room and approached the table like a jungle cat stalking his prey. He pulled a chair back and sat down, his unhurried movements completely at odds with the feral gleam in his eyes. "Mr. Ford," Booth nodded. "Agent Patterson says you asked to speak to me personally."

Jonathan smiled at Booth. "How does it feel to know you're a failure Agent Booth?"

Booth leaned back and offered a smile of his own. "Since you're currently in custody of the FBI I'd say you have that backward Mr. Ford."

"Do you know how many times I've been close enough to Temperance to reach out and touch her? I actually have touched her before you know. At one of her book signings our fingers met and I knew then."

"Knew what exactly?"

"I knew I loved her," he said simply. "I've even exchanged greetings with her a few times. She's always courteous to all of her fans but I could see that the way she responded to me was special. I knew it was only a matter of time before Temperance realized it as well. Of course that bullet was never meant for her but it served one purpose very well. You've failed her now, failed to keep her safe. I would never fail her in that way."

Booth's jaw clenched and a red haze settled over his vision for a moment before his calm demeanor established itself once more. "No you just shot her – hell of a way to say 'I love you.' Maybe Hallmark will buy that but I can assure you in no uncertain terms that Dr. Brennan isn't interested in you or in anything you have to say."

Jonathan cast a sly glance at Booth. "I won't be in here forever you know."

Booth stood up and walked casually around the edge of the table, his demeanor almost amiable. His next movements were so sudden Patterson never had a chance to react. He grasped the back of Jonathan's collar as his foot swept the chair leg out from under him. Jonathan's head slammed against the table and Booth held him there as he leaned down close to his ear. His voice was calm, almost conversational, as he said, "I'm counting on that actually. One day you'll leave your cozy little hospital room and start living your life again. You'll start thinking about Dr. Brennan and maybe you'll be tempted to make contact, seek her out. But I see you now and you can't hide from me. I will be there watching you."

Jonathan resisted the urge to wet himself even as he spat back at Booth, "You don't scare me Agent Booth. You have rules to follow, you can't touch me."

Booth applied just the right amount of pressure to the nerves at the back of Jonathan's neck and he squealed. "I have killed men before for no other reason than that my government wanted them dead to protect the greater good. I hunted them and I took them out and I was a ghost – in and out with no one the wiser. Do you really think I would do less for my partner? So you think about that Mr. Ford and if you ever get close to her again just know that I will be right behind you and you will never see it coming." Booth slammed Jonathan's head down once more to make his point before turning and walking out of the room.

Patterson followed a moment later and Booth turned to him. "I know you're obligated to report what I said in there."

Patterson shook his head. "As far as I'm concerned, all I heard was a friendly conversation with a delusional stalker."

Booth smiled ruefully. "Thanks man." He glanced over at Sweets. "I'm guessing you're going to want me in your office for mandatory therapy again?"

Sweets grinned and headed for the door. "I think you're dealing ok."