Guys, I'm blown away by the positive responses I got for the first chapter. You're all amazing! Thanks to Kareneb, LoveShipper, chanevlovesbones, 554Laura, gatewatcher, Pamela Carmo (reunion sounds good and I hope we do get one), NatesMama (sorry I don't write anybody else very well except B&B so it's unlikely I'll be doing one on Hodgela), conservativegirl, monkeypots, Monique Sampson, jsboneslover (yeah it did seem like they could go on for another season and I wish they did), mendenbar.

This is a much longer one-shot.

Addiction

A gambling addiction. It was something Booth knew he would have to fight against for the rest of his life. It had been many years since Booth gave up gambling during the first case he worked with Brennan. The Gemma Arington case. He had told her a half-truth before he kissed her that night in the pouring rain. Even back then he knew he had to be a better man if he wanted a relationship with the brilliant Dr Brennan and he had resolved just before their lips met that he would stop. And even though they hadn't managed to start a relationship then, he had become determined to overcome his gambling problem. Just that one kiss had made him want to change for the better.

It wasn't until years later when said Dr Brennan found out she was pregnant with their second child before his addiction got the better of him. Addictions are like that, just when you thought you had it under control it surprised you and erupted in the worse possible way. Like a dormant volcano, nobody knew when it would erupt. It lay silent, biding it's time, waiting to explode.

It was now almost two years since he had almost lost everything he held dear to his addiction.

Their most recent case involved them carrying out surveillance on a suspect who was an obvious gambling addict. Aubrey had immediately suggested that Booth stay at the Hoover but Booth had insisted he would not be tempted. If their surveillance took only one day, Booth would have been right, but they had spent the past three days tailing said suspect, watching him from the cameras that had been hacked into, recording footage from the underground gambling den that the suspect frequented. The case hit too close to home in Aubrey's opinion, as it bore too much resemblance to the last case they worked where Booth had succumbed to his gambling addiction.

No matter what Aubrey said, Booth had insisted he was fine. He wasn't going undercover this time. All they had to do was watch and wait. The surveillance footage gave both FBI agents a bird's eye view of the action at the poker tables and Booth now regretted belatedly that he should have recognised the signs. The adrenaline rush he experienced each time they surveyed their suspect and examined footage should have given it away.

Although her husband's current case did not require involvement from the Jeffersonian, Brennan knew what Booth was required to do. He had assured her that he had learnt his lesson. He wasn't going to throw away the life he had built with her. Nonetheless, Brennan worried.

When sufficient evidence needed to implicate their suspect had been gathered, Booth and Aubrey had raided the gambling den with the backing of the FBI SWAT team, arresting and subduing all present without much resistance.

That was when Booth's troubles began.

As the team swept the room, Booth let his fingers linger too long over the hastily discarded poker cards that had been strewn over the table. Poker cards that had been in the hands of people who had won and lost money over the past three days. He felt the insatiable itch grow. He ran his hands over a pile of poker chips that had been knocked over during the raid. Instinctively he jammed his hand into his pants pocket. He regretted that he was in standard issue FBI tactical gear and not in his usual suit. The sobriety chip he kept in his pants pocket that served as a reminder to fight his past addiction was missing. He grasped at nothing.

Get out!

Booth hurried out the door, the bright light of day doing nothing to help him overcome the mounting urge to gamble. He stumbled into the small back alley way, trying to fight the urge, trying to get a grip on himself. Leaning against the wall, he took deep breaths, acknowledging the feeling, the adrenaline rush that his mind and body had come to associate with the sound of poker chips and shuffling cards. No! I promised Bones. I won't betray her again.

It felt like an itch he couldn't scratch and he wanted nothing more than to pick up the phone and call his bookie.

"Booth?" Aubrey's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

"No. You're not."

"Aubrey, I said I'm –" Booth stopped. He remembered the last time he gambled. He had made the mistake of not admitting right at the start when Brennan found out, that he had a problem and needed help.

"I – " he wasn't sure how to continue. "I feel like… "

"You feel like you want to gamble." Aubrey completed the sentence for him.

Booth lowered his head, avoiding the younger agent's gaze. "Yeah."

"You need help. Call your sponsor."

"I just – " Booth ran a hand through his hair.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of. This case was too much temptation for you. I should have insisted that you didn't take this case."

"No, it's not your fault. This is just something I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life."

"But you don't have to deal with this alone." Aubrey gave Booth a reassuring nod. "Take out your phone and give your sponsor a call. Do it now."

The kid could be a pain in the ass but Booth couldn't argue with him now. He slung his rifle over his shoulder then fished his phone out of his pocket placing a call to Gavin. The two men spoke in hushed tones and the call ended with Booth arranging to meet him later that evening at a GA meeting.

"There done." Booth said.

"No, not done. I heard the conversation. You're only meeting with him tonight."

"Yeah but you also heard that I talked to Gavin and we worked through it."

"No, not good enough. Look Booth, I respect you and you're too good a friend to let slide down this slippery slope again. I had front row seats the last time this happened. I'm not gonna let it happen again."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying let's go get something to eat. I'm starving. Plus, I'm not letting you out of my sight until you go to that GA meeting tonight. And I'm coming with you."

Booth snorted. "Seriously?"

"Yes seriously. Hand me your phone."

"What?"

"Just do it Booth."

"No!"

Aubrey made a grab for Booth's phone but Booth held it up higher, preventing Aubrey from grabbing it. The little tussle for the phone continued briefly much to the amusement of the other FBI agents around before Booth grudgingly handed it over to him.

"Don't worry I'm not ratting you out to Dr Brennan. But I am hanging on to this for now. It's way too easy to place a bet with a smartphone these days."

Booth watched as Aubrey used his own phone and sent a text message. "There I told Dr Brennan you'll be having dinner with me tonight while we work on the case. It isn't exactly a lie."

Booth sighed. The urge to gamble lessened after his talk with Gavin, but he hated to admit that he was grateful for Aubrey's company. Even if it meant he had to watch Aubrey wolf down enough food to feed a small country.

That night after the GA meeting, as they parted ways, Booth offered his thanks.

"Aubrey, thanks. For today and for the last time when I gambled and you helped Bones. I really appreciate it."

"Hey what are friends for right? And you already thanked me back then."

Booth chuckled. "I'm lucky to have a friend like you."

"So you're buying me breakfast for the rest of the week."

"What?! I named my son after you. Isn't that good enough?"

"Henry James Booth does have a nice ring to it. But that only goes so far. A man's gotta eat right?"

"Fine." Booth rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. "I'll get you a box of donuts tomorrow."

… …

On the drive home, Booth had toyed with the idea of keeping the day's events a secret from Brennan, but he knew better. He wasn't keeping any secrets from her again. He couldn't risk losing her or his children. He would come clean and whatever the consequences, he would bear them. When Booth unlocked the door to his house that night, it was late. Almost midnight. He was surprised to find Brennan sitting on the couch waiting for him.

"Hey." She greeted him as he took her into his arms holding her tightly to him. He inhaled deeply, breathing in the familiar scent he had come to associate with love, comfort and home. He was glad he didn't fall this time, he was glad he didn't let the woman in his arms down.

"I have a confession to make." Booth said as they broke the hug. He shoved his hands into his jeans pocket, grateful this time that his missing sobriety chip was now there in its rightful place. He clenched it tightly.

"What?" Brennan eyed him with a look of worry, afraid that her suspicions would be confirmed. When she had found out that Booth was working a case that involved gambling, she had worried. If he succumbed to temptation, she had resolved to be by his side. She would support him and help him get over this setback. What she didn't want to experience again was the heartache of betrayal from secrets that he had kept from her. His previous brush with his gambling addiction had severely tested her faith in him and their marriage and it had been a difficult time. She desperately wanted to believe that Booth would not hurt her again.

"It's about the case. You know what it was about."

"Gambling." She stated, a feeling of unease beginning to build in the pit of her stomach.

"Yeah. I was this close. You and Aubrey, you both tried to warn me, but I was too stubborn, too proud."

Brennan grew increasingly worried, but he quickly assured her. "I didn't gamble Bones. Aubrey, he stopped me before I could do anything stupid. I promised you I wouldn't let you down again but I was struggling and he knew. He kept checking on me. He made me call Gavin. I went to a GA meeting tonight, not dinner with Aubrey. You mad at me?"

Brennan smiled and Booth breathed a sigh of relief.

"No. I'm relieved you didn't give in. And I'm glad Aubrey was there when you needed."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken this case. I should've just stayed at the Hoover like you and Aubrey wanted me to. The next time something like this happens again, I'll make sure I turn down the case. I'm sorry I made you worry."

"Addictions are notoriously hard to overcome. I made the decision to stand by you a long time ago, when I was well aware of the fact that you were a gambling addict. It's something the both of us will have to deal with, for as long as we're both alive I should imagine. I shall remain vigilant, as will you I'm sure."

"You're amazing you know that Bones?" Booth smiled as he leaned down to give his wife a kiss.

… …

Special Agent James Aubrey was about to drift off to sleep when his cell phone beeped. He groaned. He had been looking forward to a night of sleep in his bed, a luxury he had been deprived of while working the recent case with Booth. His heart sank when he saw that the text was from his partner's wife. Probably a set of remains that he needed to go look at. The text message was not what he had expected.

Thank you for what you did for us today. You saved us again. If I believed in luck, I would dare say we're very fortunate to have a friend like you.

... ...

I love Aubrey, I'm glad we got his character written into the show. I wish we had him for more seasons. Don't get me wrong I love Sweets too but I was re-watching season 5 and realised how much I missed seeing Aubrey and how I love the dynamic he brings to the team. His friendship and loyalty to Booth is underrated.