A/N: Disclaimer Repeat - I do not own any part of Bones. This is just for fun. ;) Please be reminded that all of these were written a while ago. None of them are based on anything that is going on in the show right now. Also, this chapter marks the point where I'm going to be changing things up a bit. Instead of just one 'challenge word' there will be several.

Contumacious – obstinate, stubborn

Ribald – characterized by or given to vulgar humor

Ascetic – one who practices extreme self-denial

Exigency – a state of requiring immediate attention or that which is required in a particular situation

Deus-ex-machina – an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble situation

Pertinacious – stubbornly persistent, holding obstinately to a belief, purpose, or design

Booth sat at his desk, staring at the phone, willing it to ring. He hadn't seen or spoken to his partner in three days, and God forgive him, he was almost wishing for a case. At least then he would have an excuse to see her. He leaned forward to put his elbows on the desk and sighed.

"Booth," a soft voice said from the open door. He looked up and she smiled. "You know, there's a woman over at the Jeffersonian wearing an expression identical to yours. What gives, Studly?" She came in and sat in a chair across from him. Booth shrugged in answer.

"Okay, well, I have it on good authority that the two of you haven't spoken in three days." Booth nodded. "Why?" Another shrug. "You know, Booth, the two of you are the most contumacious people I've ever met. So what if there's no case? You guys obviously can't stand to be apart. Go over there and take her to lunch. You know you want to. And she hasn't been out to lunch since Tuesday."

Booth's head snapped up. "She hasn't eaten in three days? Angela! You know she won't take breaks to eat. Is she even going home at night?" He stood up, instantly worried, and began pacing a track in the floor behind his desk.

Angela smiled at the mini Booth meltdown. "Will you relax? I said she hadn't gone out to lunch. Not that she hadn't eaten or gone home." She looked at her watch. "I have to go, now, but you need to go talk to Bren. Just stop being so stubborn already." She waved to him as she walked out the door. Booth stared at the door long after Angela left, wondering if he should go see his partner. He left his office, but instead of heading to the elevator, he went to the break room.

Booth could hear voices coming from the room as he approached. Letting him know that there were several agents in the room, talking and laughing. Before he entered, Booth heard more than one unsavory comment along the lines of "having a 'bone' for Dr. Hottie to examine" that were far beyond what Booth would term ribald. He stepped into the room, and cleared his throat. The agents looked at him, embarrassment barely visible through the expressions of panic and fear on their faces. Booth stared back at them, his face a stony mask. He walked over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup of the hot liquid, before turning to face the men again. "She has three black belts," he told them seriously. "Bones could drop all of you like flies if any of you even tried." He smiled smugly as he left the room.

In her office, Brennan stared at her computer screen blankly. "Dr. Brennan?," Cam called from the door. When she looked up Cam asked her, "Do you have a minute?" Brennan nodded. Cam walked forward to stand in front of the desk. "I know this really isn't in my jurisdiction as your boss and not my business at all. But I couldn't help but notice the notable absence of Booth the last few days in correlation to your melancholy mood. And I was wondering if there was something you wanted to talk about. With someone other than Angela."

"That would be acceptable." Brennan nodded. "You know Booth better than anyone, correct?"

Cam waved her head in shoulder-to-shoulder motion of indecisiveness. "I've known him longer than anyone here. And in some ways I know him better than most. But, overall, I would have to say that you know him better than anyone." At Brennan's look of disbelief, Cam told her "You spend all of your time together. We didn't spend that much time together when we were dating."

Brennan nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm not sure where to begin. But, I'm sure you will have some insights into Booth that no one else will be able to provide." Cam moved over to the couch and sat down. Brennan followed, sitting next to her with her legs folded beneath her, facing Cam. "Things were fine until three days ago, when we finished our last case. But we haven't had any interaction with each other since then. And I don't really know why."

"This is going to sound strange, but does it always affect you this way when you don't see him?"

Brennan shrugged. "We don't have a case. So there's no reason for us to see each other," Brennan reasoned.

Cam smiled, shook her head, and laughed. "True. There's no reason for you to see each other on a professional level. But you guys are friends. Right? So, why don't you see each other on a personal level?"

Brennan considered this. "We are friends. But…"

"The two of you are crazy. Both of you continue with the notion that you are only partners and friends. But you are ascetics," Cam scoffed. "Look, Dr. Brennan, I'm just going to tell you my opinion. I'm not saying this situation has reached a level of exigency, but it shouldn't be ignored. Seeley is a good man. Probably the best out there. He cares about you. Aside form his son; I don't think there's anyone else he cares more about." She sat back. "Can I ask you something?" Brennan nodded. "How do you feel about Booth?"

Without hesitation, Brennan answered, "I would do anything for him. I'm fairly certain he knows that." Cam waited. "He's my deus-ex-machina. Even when I tell him I can take care of myself. He's my constant."

Cam nodded. "I thought so," she said with satisfaction. "Now what are you going to do about it?"

"There's nothing to do. Booth set the parameters of our relationship a long time ago. Nothing I have to say is going to change his pertinacious view on the subject." She let out a long sigh of defeat.

"Maybe. But don't you think you deserve the chance to be heard?," Cam asked.