BOOTH
I crane my neck to check the oncoming traffic then hit the gas and cut left through the intersection when the way is clear. Bones' cell rings, leaving me to my own thoughts while she speaks to whoever it is.
We'd barely finished making love that last time, when the ring of Bones' cell had reminded us the outside world was still there and demanding our attention. Particulate tests run by Hodgins along with Angela's sharp eyes had led them to believe there was an access card missing from Leishenger's wallet. Bones and me had fallen easily back into our roles as partners… some might think too easily. Not me. We're old hands at putting aside the personal so we can focus fully on a case. I would probably be worried if we hadn't. Bones and I haven't talked about it yet, but we'll have to keep this change in our relationship under wraps until Caroline can work her magic with the FBI.
Now that I think of it, I kind of like the idea of no one knowing for a while. Just Bones and me. Once it gets out, it'll all start: The looks, the questions and the well-meaning but unwanted advice. Sweets with that sappy voice wanting to get all shrinky on me. Then there would be couples' dinners with Angela and Bug Boy, which probably wouldn't be so bad, but I'll still have to put up the obligatory resistance to prevent it from becoming a weekly thing. Sweets will want us to go out with him and Daisy-
I turn my head quickly before Bones can catch a glimpse of the sudden look of horror on my face.
Sweets and Daisy. Daisy who reminds me of a female Urkel hopped up coke. Nooo, no-no-no. I'd rather wake up to find myself snuggling with a clown. Now, all I have to do is convince Bones it's a really, really bad idea when the time comes.
"Cam would like us to be at the Jeffersonian tonight," Bones begins to rattle off as she hangs up the phone. "She's arranged for Mr. Nigel-Murrays' remains to be sent home at seven. I told her we'd be there if we were back in time." Taking a right, we're only a few blocks from the Jeffersonian. The 'we' has caught my attention and I do a double-take to see if she is serious which, of course, she is.
"Didn't you say something about needing to take another look at Leishenger's remains?" I try to distract her with the question while I prepare what I hope will be a rational argument. She's not coming with me. Not this time.
"His skull, yes. I can't let go of the feeling my eyes are seeing something that my brain's not processing… Something that could be important."
"Sounds like you just need a while to tickle the 'ole bones'," I suggest in an exaggerated voice and with a big smile. "Bones tickling bones…" I chuckle, trying to coax a laugh from her. Instead, she gives me a sour look. Oh well, I thought it was kind of amusing.
"Dr. Edison has agreed to cover for me when we leave." Her nose crinkles and brows draw together. "I know it's not logical, but it feels… wrong… somehow to call another intern in."
"It's not illogical, Bones," I tell her in all seriousness while glancing at her. "It means you recognize people aren't interchangeable or replaceable. That's a good thing." She looks at me as though she's not so sure. She falls silent as I ease the truck into the turning lane.
"Mr. Nigel-Murray bragged to his friends about he and I being each other's sexual playthings," Bones announces casually. I promptly run over the curb leading into the parking lot. I know I haven't had much sleep, but I couldn't have heard what I thought I'd heard. Could I?
"Wait. What? You?! And the English squintern?!"
"Yes," she confirms. "Although," she draws out the word, "I must admit, I'm still curious how he managed to make my iguana stay on his head all night." I pull the truck into a parking spot and turn off the engine.
"What are you talking about?" The tip of her head and the widening of her eyes suggest I should understand.
"Mr. Nigel-Murray. At a party, he wore my iguana on his head like a hat all evening." What?! I feel like I've fallen into a bad episode of The Twilight Zone.
"Let's just forget about the iguana for a minute, can we?" I plead. "You and the squintern were…" She laughs aloud.
"Don't be absurd, Booth," Bones chastises. "Mr. Nigel-Murray was an alcoholic and part of his recovery was making amends. He spread rumors much the same about Angela and Cam." I reach for the door handle at the same time Bones does and getting out of the truck we meet near the front bumper. In step, we walk towards the door of the Jeffersonian. "The sooner you get to the office the sooner we may have the answer to where he's going."
"Yeah, um, about that, Bones. I have Shaw bringing in Leishenger's boss to see if he knows what the access card is used for. Once I know where Broadsky's heading, I'm going after him… alone." She stops abruptly and spins to face me.
"I'm your partner! It's my job to watch your back," she reminds.
"Not this time. This is between Broadsky and me," I insist in a tone that no one would dare argue with – except, of course, Bones. She stops in her tracks as we step onto the walkway leading to the front doors of the Jeffersonian
"Which is exactly what Broadsky wants! You've made this personal and that is affecting your ability to think rationally."
"Yeah, Bones, it's personal," I acknowledge irritably. "Snipers don't get to choose who lives or dies, those orders come from above. Broadsky doesn't get to make those calls while leaving collateral damage everywhere he goes and not giving a damn. Tracy Leveque, Paula Ashwaldt, Matt Leishenger… your squintern… and that's not including holding me at gunpoint in my own home, threatening to make Parker collateral damage by killing me, and you, Bones. He's made you collateral damage, too." She shakes her head adamantly.
"Me?" she asks, her irritation with me growing. "I'm right here, Booth. I'm fine."
"Were you fine when you watched your squintern killed right in front of you?" I shoot back, my own temper rising. "Were you okay last night?" Pain followed by fury flash through her eyes, "What if I'd given you the phone, Bones? Have you thought about that? I can't stop thinking about it! What if I'd answered the phone as Broadsky planned?"
"Have you considered I'll still be collateral damage if Broadsky kills you and I wasn't there to try to stop it?" Sometimes her mind is a major pain in the foot. I hadn't thought of that, but there's no way she is going with me. Not this time.
"Okay, you like logic and rationale," I argue in return. "Broadsky's not just any target, Bones. He knows me and he knows I'll give myself up before letting my partner get taken down. You go with me and he spots you, it goes one of two ways: He holds you in his scope until I show myself, or, worse, he'll shoot you to draw me out, putting both of our lives on the line." Her lips thin, briefly, expressing how angry she is, and then follows the look with a sharp nod of her head.
"You're reasoning is sound and perfectly logical." I don't even get to enjoy my feeling of relief that she understands for more than a second. Then she turns on her heel again and begins to walks away, quickly. I sigh and drop my shoulders. This is not how I wanted the day to start.
"Bones," I call out a plea to her, "Wait up." Clearly that was wrong the thing to say. She turns again to face me, walking backwards and throwing out her arms.
"Why?" she demands. "Simple reasoning – or logic, if you will – says Broadsky can't be on the run and a threat to me walking into the Jeffersonian simultaneously, meaning I am perfectly fine walking the rest of the way on my own." Damn. No. This is not how I wanted to day to start at all.
"Bones, try to understand. It's not that I don't want you there. You're my partner. Of course I want you to come, but not at the risk—"
"You've made your preference and your reasoning perfectly clear," she cuts me off, taking off again. I quickly reach out and grab her hand.
"Bones, c'mon…" She yanks her hand from mine then, spinning to face me, jabs a finger into my chest.
"Don't you dare die."
With those final words, she stalks away, leaving me staring at her back until she disappears through the doors.