Hi everyone - I'm really sorry for the delay on updates. When I started the story I was home for an extended visit but have since taken a teaching post in Korea again, so the last few months I've been busy with packing, foreign visas, travel, settling in, etc. My life is slowly returning to normal though, and I'm back to this story to try and get it wrapped up. I have a couple more chapters written, but it's taken me some time to get the feel of the story again so bear with me. As always, please let me know what you think :)

Chapter 38

Founding Fathers was busy that night and Hodgins placed an arm behind Angela to protect her from the jostling crowd at the bar. She smiled her appreciation as they leaned against the bar, waiting for their drink order. "I'm glad Cam enforced this idea of an evening out of the lab," she admitted as she looked over at the table of interns a short distance away.

"Cam's a shrewd woman - she knew a few of those newbies were on the verge of cracking," Hodgins replied. He allowed his gaze to settle on her as he added, "And the newbies aren't the only ones. You're not sleeping Angie. Do you want to talk about it?"

Angela clasped her hands in front of her and stared at them for a moment before meeting his eyes. "I have a really bad feeling about this case, Jack. This killer has a personal connection to Bren and not only that, he's completely obsessed with her. She may not want to admit it, but every one of those victims is her. Every time I start a facial reconstruction I start seeing Brennan's features. He's been killing my best friend over and over for years and eventually the substitutes won't cut it anymore, and then what? He'll come after her and I'm afraid she's not taking that seriously enough."

"Hey, Angie it will be -" Hodgins stopped suddenly. He wanted to reassure her but he suddenly felt that platitudes were not what she needed now. He reached out instead and put a hand over hers. "I can't promise that everything will be fine because obviously we don't know that. What I can promise is this - whatever happens I'll be there for you if you need a shoulder. I don't want you to feel like you're in this alone because I'm worried too. Brennan is... well, she's like family to me now. We're all like family; crazy and dysfunctional at times, but still a family."

Angela suddenly laughed, feeling a weight lift as she turned one hand up to clasp his. "How do you always know the right thing to say to me?"

His lips quirked up in a smile as he answered, "I just know you Ange."

Her expression turned serious for a moment before an answering smile lit up her face. "Yeah you do," she said softly. They maintained eye contact until the bartender brought their drinks over. As they stood up to return to their table, Angela felt something between them she hadn't felt in a long time. It was tentative, unfurling like the petals of a rosebud and just as delicate, but it was definitely there. She wondered if Jack felt it too and then as he held the chair out for her, his fingers brushed against her shoulder and she knew he did.

As they settled in at the end of the long table, Hodgins noticed Hannah laughing as she playfully pushed Chris' shoulder. He tilted his head toward them. "She seems to be in a better mood now. Think they'll be the next Sweets and Daisy?"

Angela pursed her lips as she shook her head. "Hannah's wasting her time."

Hodgins raised his eyebrows. "What makes you think that?"

She shrugged. "Call it women's intuition, but Chris isn't that into her. He's a player, the type of guy you can't get a good read on because he's charming, but the charm is mostly surface. He flirts with her occasionally, the same way I've seen him flirt with a few of the lab assistants, but he's not serious about pursuing it."

"Hey I can be charming too but that doesn't make me a player," Hodgins protested. "Maybe you're being too hard on him."

Angela raised her eyebrows. "Jack, your charm is less "playa" and more like an acquired taste."

"Are you saying I don't have game? Because I do, I have more game than most women can handle."

"Trust me, your game was a few innings short - I knew you wanted to sleep with me the first day I met you."

"Huh, I thought I was smoother than that," he said as he leaned back and then suddenly grinned. "Game or no, I batted it out of the ballpark eventually. Admit it, you had a hard time resisting me."

Angela rolled her eyes as she continued to survey the interns. Simon was the quietest member of the group as he cast hopeful glances toward the door every time it opened. "Hannah would be better off making a move on Simon. Maybe it would help him get over his puppy love crush on Brennan before Booth gets fed up with it."

"I had a talk with him about that actually," Hodgins admitted. "I warned him that Booth's emotions are on edge with this case, so it's not exactly the best time to be antagonizing him. Simon is a little like Zach; his crush on Dr. B is a cerebral experience for him but he doesn't have the stones to actually stand up to Booth so I think he'll back off."

Angela watched as Simon's face lit up and followed his gaze to the door to see Booth, Brennan and Sweets walking in. Sweets headed over to greet Daisy while Booth ushered Brennan toward the two empty chairs beside Angela and Hodgins.

"One drink, Bones," Booth said as he pulled the chair back for her. Brennan sighed as she sat down, but it was clear that Booth had won this round. He headed to the bar and Angela leaned over to hug her friend; surprised, Brennan hugged her back.

"Is something wrong?" Brennan asked.

"I'm just happy you're here and you're you," Angela said with a smile.

"I don't know what that means. Who else am I supposed to be?"

Angela laughed again at the endearing expression of confusion that crossed Brennan's face. "No one, sweetie, I'm just happy to see you."

"I'm happy to see you as well, but I still think our time could be better spent at the lab. However, Cam apparently ordered everyone not to return until tomorrow morning and Booth insisted that we come here to join you. He said we're promoting "solidarity among the ranks" but I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. He's a very confusing man to be in a relationship with." Brennan glanced over at Booth as she said this.

Angela followed Brennan's gaze and saw that Booth was looking back at Brennan as he waited for their drinks. The heat that flared between them when their eyes met was palpable even across the room and Angela smiled again. "He's worried about you pushing yourself too hard on this case because he loves you, Bren. All those times over the years that he forced you to leave the lab to eat, have a drink, or go to the park when he had Parker, that was all because he loves you. And all this fighting you two have been doing? The extra security and his insistence that you not run around town with a gun? That's also because he loves you. You should really cut him some slack, because that man worships the ground you walk on and not many women ever know what that feels like. You're lucky, sweetie - don't forget that."

Brennan felt her eyes stinging briefly as she watched Booth walk back to their table. "I know I am, Ange." She tried to relax as Booth and Hodgins discussed a hockey game and Angela told her about a new software program she was working on. Cam joined them later and as Brennan sipped her wine and sat with her friends, she eventually realized that she actually did feel more relaxed than she had earlier. She smiled as Hodgins laughed at something Cam said, Cam and Angela joining in.

"That's what I wanted to see," Booth said suddenly as he slid his arm along the back of her chair.

"What?" Brennan glanced at him curiously.

"That beautiful smile of yours; I've missed it," he replied simply.

"Neither of us has had much reason to smile today," she pointed out.

"Which is exactly when you have to start looking for reasons, Bones."

"I'll concede that joining everyone here tonight was a good idea and I do feel better as a result. While the case should be our first priority, I understand the need for a release from the pressure of the case. I suppose I can't expect my interns to be capable of compartmentalizing the facts as rationally as I can."

Booth suppressed a chuckle. "Is that your way of telling me that I was right?"

Brennan's eyes sparkled as she leaned into his shoulder. "If it's that important to you then yes, you were right. It's interesting that no matter how many years pass, from an anthropological point of view human behavior has remained the same. Gathering in social groups for the purpose of food and entertainment has its roots in the earliest societies and cultures of mankind. In fact, " she was cut off abruptly as Booth leaned in and kissed her. It was slow and sweet and she felt his hand cupping the back of her neck gently.

Booth pulled back and ran his hand through her hair, caressing the silky strands. "You know, you used to confuse the hell out of me when you boiled things down to anthropological examples. It should probably worry me that I now understand exactly what you're talking about most of the time."

Brennan leaned into his touch. "You always understood me, Booth. I may not have recognized it back then but I do now." She felt warmth spreading through her entire body as his fingers massaged the back of her neck. She reached out and slid her hand across his shoulder as she leaned forward to murmer, "I think I'm ready to go home now though."

"Am I still sleeping on the couch?" he whispered, letting his hand glide along her back.

"I think we can negotiate more agreeable terms," she answered with a smile as he stood and pulled her up with him. They said their goodbyes quickly, oblivious to the amused looks of their friends as they made a hasty exit.

So, the next chapter will have some B&B/Parker fluff and then we dive back into the case - missing head, anyone?