Its me again, I know this has taken forever but college has been a bit crazy lately what with coursework and university applications its pretty much zapped all my time but I'm still on track to hopefully finish this before christmas so stick with me :)

Thanks for all your reviews, they were great as usual and I think I managed to reply to pretty much everyone and if I missed you I'm very sorry and I'll definitely reply this time :)

Also, this chapter was a bit hard to write and now its finished I think its because I struggle writing Cullen, so I just want you to remember that even though he seems a bit mean in this chapter he does have a job to do after all.

Disclaimer: I dont own Bones

Sound and Vision

Chapter 38

The Royal Diner, Washington D.C., Tuesday, 8th July 2008, 03:32 pm

The diner was as welcoming as ever. The shiny red seats and plastic table-tops humble in their functionality. The elderly waitress beamed at Booth and his partner at they walked though the door, the bell chiming amiably at the visitors. The pair slipped into their usual booth and waited to be served, ordering their lunch and chatting whilst they waited.

'You really do think it was the boyfriend don't you?'

'Huh?'

Brennan laughed lightly as Booth tore his eyes away from the freshly baked apple pie sitting on the counter and focussed his attention on her.

'Abigail Brown. You're convinced it was Alex that killed her aren't you'

'Well that's the way the evidence is pointing.'

'Not forensically. There's nothing to tie him to the body or the crime scene.'

'Ah but that's where you're wrong, he is linked t the crime scene. Thomas Brown reckons Alex was pretty friendly with our friend Mr Roddick, who we know lied to us about meeting someone…'

'Although we still don't know who.'

'Yeah, surveillance are still working on the cctv from the area but nothing yet. Anyway, like I was saying. Roddick owned the land Abigail was found on and Alex apparently working for him as some kind of runner.'

'That doesn't mean he whacked his sixteen year old girlfriend on the head and then buried her does it.'

'No, but it doesn't mean he didn't either.'

'I just don't buy it Booth, Alex was so quiet, and he seemed to really care for Abigail.'

'Maybe he's just a good actor, or maybe he isn't, maybe he really did love her. The point is we've seen it time and time again, just because you love someone doesn't mean you wont hurt them.'

Brennan knew there was more to Booths final statement than the case but she didn't have time to press the issue as Booths phone vibrated in his pocket, the fabric buzzing against the red leatherette seat. He glanced at it to read his text and Brennan watched as a smug grin slipped onto his lips.

'What?'

His grin grew broader.

'Come on, what is it?'

'It would seem you might have to admit defeat on this one Bones. I've had a text from the tech guys, CCTV's given a positive ID on the guy Roddick met... that night.'

The night we first slept together. She didn't say it but she thought it and it hung in the air for a moment, still between them.

'It was Alex.'

'What!'

'Roddick's meeting that night was with Alex and according to the tech guys Roddick gave him something.'

'Gave him what?'

'Money, drugs, who knows. It doesn't matter, what does matter is that if they weren't before then Alex and Roddick are now officially our number one suspects.'

Brennan sighed still not wanting to believe that the seemingly sweet misguided boy she had witnessed profess his love for Abigail in the interrogation room was really responsible for her death.

'So now what?'

'Well we'll bring them both in again and then I suppose…'

They were interrupted yet again by the sound of Booth's cell ringing. He flipped it open with a slightly irritated sigh.

'Booth…sir…but I…yes sir of course…when…but what…ok…ok…of course, goodbye sir.'

He flipped the phone shut and looked to his partner.

'Cullen?'

'Yeah he wants to see me asap.'

'Now? Cant it wait till after we eat?'

'Apparently not. Sorry Bones but it looks like I'm going to have to go.'

'Its ok, I understand.'

'I'll see you later though right?'

She heard the uncertainty in his voice and smiled gently.

'Sure, I'll be at the lab for the rest of the day.'

'Ok, I'll see you later then.'

He leaned in and ran a thumb across her hand, kissing her softly on the cheek. Kissing in public was risky and on the lips was out of the question but he was still running high from their encounter in the interrogation room and was struggling to curb his actions. She drew in a shuddered breath and smiled at him, whispering sweetly.

'Go on, Cullen's waiting.'

He smiled and nodded turning from her and walking from the diner. She watched through the window as he crossed the street to the Tahoe, leaving her…again.

'Is he coming back?'

She whipped her head round to find the waitress stood beside her.

'No, work. You'd better cancel his order.'

She smiled politely and the waitress turned to leave. Brennan halted her, jumping to her feet.

'Actually, you can cancel mine too. I don't feel too hungry after all.'

She grabbed her jacket and walked out of the diner and down the sidewalk. If she couldn't eat with him then the whole experience was over-rated and she really was better off at work. So wrapped up was she in her own worldly troubles that she didn't notice the man watching her from across the street, the same man that coincidently had just watched with interest as her partner had left.

'Sit down Booth.'

Sam Cullen stood facing away from the younger agent and was staring pensively out of the office window.

'Sir, why am I here? Is this about the case because…'

'Its not about the case it…well, I'll get to that in a minute.'

Cullen turned to him and seated himself behind the desk whilst Booth shuffled nervously on his chair.

'If it isn't about the case then what is it?'

Cullen sighed.

'Do you enjoy your job Booth, the work you do?'

Booth nodded slowly, unsure of where this was going.

'Yes sir, well maybe not enjoy, I think that's probably the wrong word to use when your work involves murderers, rapists and every piece of human failing in-between but I do find my work satisfying, yes sir.'

'And you like being based here, in D.C.?'

'Yes sir, this is my home, I like the city, I like working here.'

'And you have your son here?'

'Exactly.'

Cullen nodded gravely and sighed again, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the desk as he spoke in a low dangerous voice.

'I thought as much, which is why I have to ask myself 'why on earth would a promising agent, with his whole career ahead of him, a son to support, a sick mother…why would he risk all of that?''

'Sir?'

'Tell me Booth, why would someone like you, someone who, if he keeps at it, will almost certainly within the next ten years or so rise through the ranks to become a senior ranking agent in this organisation, why would you risk everything for a quick fling with your f***ing partner for crying out loud!'

Booth sat shocked for a moment before attempting a stuttered reply.

'Sir I don't…'

'I SAW YOU TOGETHER! I saw you together Booth, in the interrogation room. You were all over each other. Are you seriously going to sit there and tell me you're not sleeping with her?'

Booth closed his eyes briefly and hung his head.

'No sir. I couldn't tell you that.'

'No, because despite your other apparent faults one thing you aren't is a liar.'

Cullen stood up, apparently restless with frustration, and paced behind his desk.

'Why Booth? You're an intelligent guy. Why on earth did you think this was a good idea? I mean I know how this sounds but of all the women in the world why did you have to have an affair with her? One, she's you're partner, strictly off limits, you know that…'

'She isn't an agent.'

'You think the suits above my head would care about that? No, they wouldn't. Two, I warned you about her, I told you about Davison. Hell, after the year she's had I'd warn any man to stay away from her…'

Booth looked up, a sliver of anger and defiance spiking in his eyes.

'Sir, that's out of line.'

'No, it isn't. And do you know why it isn't? Because I get it ok, I do. She fell apart, I get that and if that hadn't happened then maybe everything else wouldn't have. If she hadn't fell apart like she did maybe whatever the hell it was she had with Davison never would have happened, maybe she wouldn't have messed up on the case like she did. Who knows, maybe if she hadn't messed up like she did she'd have been somewhere else by now, teaching or whatever it is she wants to do. But she did mess up, she did fall apart…and I'm not naive enough not to know that the reason she fell apart is because you left her.'

Booth didn't try to defend himself, he couldn't. He knew Cullen was right.

'I love her.'

Cullen sat back and ran a hand across his tired eyes. His expression softened and he regarded Booth with something approaching concern and fatherly affection.

'I know Booth. That's another thing I understand and its problem number three.'

Cullen sighed once more.

'I cant lay the blame for this at least entirely at your door. I'm not stupid, I saw this coming. Before you left I thought the same as everyone else, you seemed great together…but I was foolish. I should have put a stop to it, should have snuffed it out before it even started but…but you were both so professional. I just assumed that either nothing would come of it, or if it did you'd both be professional enough to either end it quick or at least be discrete. I suppose I figured it would work itself out. Then you left…and I figured it wasn't an issue anymore. Apparently I was wrong.'

'This is more than a fling Sir, I mean it, I love her.'

'I know, and I'm sorry for that. She's your partner, she's a mess and she's engaged Booth. She's off limits and what you have has to end.'

'Why, why does this have to end?'

'Did you miss the part where she's engaged?'

'She might leave him.'

'Has she promised you that?'

Booth was silent.

'I thought not. Look Booth I have no doubt that what you say is true, that you do love her, but this relationship is destructive and its going to end in heartache for one of you, and this is where we get to the heart of it, because if it her that gets hurt then…'

It all suddenly made sense and Booth frowned in disbelief at his boss an one-time mentor.

'…you cant risk her falling apart again. You need her, need her to keep doing what she does, and you don't think this will work, you think I'll leave her.'

'If you don't leave her she'll leave you or are you forgetting the fiancé again.'

Booth jaw tightened and his lips formed a thin line as he rose slowly from his seat.

'Sir, I understand what your doing but with all due respect I don't take relationship advice from the FBI. I do my job and I do it well and until you have a problem with the way I work I think we're done talking.'

And with that Seeley Booth made one of the bravest, or most stupid, moves of his life and walked out of the office, turning his back on Cullen and yet another part of his life he thought he had all figured out.

Coming up: When Brennan has to cope with the media as well as her job everything starts to unravel, but will this be the push she needs to make the most crucial decision of her life so far?