Disclaimer: I only own the characters not normally seen on the show.

Previously: It was a wild night for the Squints, who all got smashed, including Brennan, who--though she doesn't remember it--kissed Booth quite passionately on the beach in the rain. When she woke up, she found food, aspirin and that she running late for her meeting at the morgue.

(---)

It only took Brennan just short of ten minutes to get ready. When she stepped from the bathroom, she found Booth standing by the door--shades on, her bag leaning against his side, and another cup of coffee in his hand. He smiled as he handed her the coffee and grabbed the bag--slinging it over his shoulder. With Brennan following closely behind him, Booth shut the door and headed to the elevators.

Brennan paused to press the button, but Booth had already opened the door to the stairs. He grabbed Brennan's hand and dragged her forward. She protested only a little bit but soon she quietly engrossed herself in her very strong and very good coffee.

When they reached the lobby, Angela, Hodgins and Zack were already there. Zack was leaning on the counter, in heated conversation with a pretty woman in a hotel employee's uniform. Brennan raised an eyebrow and jabbed her thumb over to the pair. Angela shrugged her shoulders and shook her head--for once either not knowing or not caring what went on in the lives of her coworkers.

She looked a little worse for wear anyway--in fact, they all did. The only one of them that looked completely rested was Booth and Brennan glared at his back--wishing him to feel the headache still tingling behind her eyes. Hodgins handed a travel coffee cup to Angela who took is graciously, giving him a look that Brennan had never seen on Angela--it was reserved, almost shy--but Temperance just brushed it away when Hawthorne pulled up with the FBI's SUV.

"Morning everybody!" Hawthorne said, stepping out of the driver's seat and greeting them. The Squints glared at his overly cheery attitude as they climbed into the car, looks of complete and utter misery on their faces. Hawthorne looked disheartened when they offered him looks of daggers. Booth felt bad for the guy, he was just trying to be friends with them. He knew that the Squints could sometimes be overbearing.

"Don't worry, they just had a long night," Booth said, patting Hawthorne's shoulder. Hawthorne's eyes brightened in amusement as he climbed into the car.

"Oh, I see, you four were out drinking last night, weren't ya?" Hawthorne asked as he started the engine and left the Halekulani parking lot.

"Yes and my head thanks you for recommending the luau! It could never have hurt this badly without you," Angela snapped, covering her eyes with her free hand.

"Ignore her, she's a miserable drunk," Brennan said.

"And what's got you so hideously chipper this morning?" Hodgins asked from the backseat. Brennan tossed him a look that said she didn't feel like sharing, but Hodgins raised eyebrow pushed the matter further.

"If you must know, I woke up to room service and aspirin," Brennan answered facing forward--her eyes intent on study every discrepancy in the back of Hawthorne's headrest. Angela, however, had her eyes focused solely on Brennan. She took a moment to glance at the back of Booth's seat before looking back at Brennan.

"Oh," Angela said, drawing out the word as if something completely foreign had just dawned on her. She smiled, a knowing smile, and faced forward again. Brennan gave Angela a sideways glance--she was making her nervous--before Zack caught her eye and she remembered the girl at the front desk.

"Zack," she asked, "who were you talking to back there?"

All eyes turned on Zack who blushed bright red. He dropped his eyes to his hands resting in his lap so he wouldn't have to see his friends staring at him, impatiently waiting a response.

"No one, she's just a friend from college," Zack answered avoiding everyone's intruding looks.

"How good a friend was she?" Hodgins asked, cuffing Zack's shoulder from behind.

"Ow, we just studied together," Zack replied rubbing his shoulder.

"Studied, right…" Angela nodded in disbelief.

"Studied what? Anatomy?" Booth inquired, offering a lopsided grin, and a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Yes, actually, we were both--hey!" Zack realized what Booth had meant and stopped short of finishing his sentence, "That's not funny!" Everyone in the car, including Bones, was laughing at Zack's responses.

"Sorry, buddy, but it is," Hodgins answered, chuckling in Zack's ear.

"Well, people, we have arrived," Hawthorne announced as they pulled into the parking lot of the morgue. The Squints, Booth and Hawthorne, piled out of the SUV, coffees in hand. Hawthorne led the way into the cold-looking building. They reached a desk in the lobby, behind which was an ancient looking rent-a-cop. Hawthorne flashed his badge and they were allowed entrance inside.

Booth got a chill as they walked further into the building. He hated morgues, he just didn't really know why. It couldn't be the bodies; he didn't hate the Jeffersonian, after all. Whatever it was, he hated it. And the ominous feelings he was getting now just reinforced that hate.

The group reached a small, well-lit, lab in the back of the building. There were three metal tables, on which were three sheet covered bodies. In the furthest corner was a desk, where a woman was sitting, with her back toward them. She was wearing a white lab coat and her hair was up in a loose bun.

"Patty," Hawthorne said, the woman turned around. She was in her early twenties, pretty, with light brown hair, and square glasses. She gave the visitors a warm smile as she stood up to greet them.

"Rich, is this the group from D.C.?" she asked walking toward them.

"Yeah, this is Dr. Brennan, from the Jeffersonian," Hawthorne announced as Brennan stepped forward to take the woman's hand.

"Hi, Dr. Brennan, it's nice to meet you, I'm Dr. Patty Morgan," she said with a smile. Brennan smiled in return, happy to be able to finally focus on the case.

"Hello, um, this is my team: this Dr. Jack Hodgins, Angela Montenegro, and my assistant Zack Addy," Brennan pointed to each member of the group. A slight cough on her left side caused Brennan to glance behind her at Booth, "oh, and this Special Agent Booth."

Booth stepped forward with a charming smile and shook hands with Dr. Morgan. Brennan noted how Morgan's eyelashes fluttered a little when Booth smiled at her--and for some unknown reason, Brennan felt a flash of something in her stomach. She felt her insides burn with a sudden dislike for this woman, which was completely illogical because she'd only just met her.

Brennan was busy contemplating the reasons for her immediate loathing when a man stepped into the room. He was tall, almost taller than Booth, and he was handsome. His features were chiseled and perfect. He was thin, but Brennan could tell that he worked out, from his rolled up sleeves exposing the muscles in his arms.

"Oh, Patty, I didn't realize we had guests," he said, "hello, everyone, I'm Dr. Perry Long." He offered them a charming smile--one that could rival Booth's. Brennan felt her heart flutter a little bit in her chest. Dr. Long saw her standing, almost completely blocked by Booth, and sidestepped the FBI agent.

"Oh my god, you're Dr. Temperance Brennan, aren't you? I'm a huge fan of your work! I must say, that jacket photo didn't do you justice, you are simply exquisite," Dr. Long held her hand in his.

Booth's jaw dropped. Who did this guy think he was anyway? Hitting on Brennan right in front of him, not that Booth had any claim but at least he'd known Brennan for more than five minutes. Booth glanced at Brennan, expecting to see abject offense on her face--but what he saw amazed him more than Long's presumptiveness--she wasn't pissed, in fact, she looked almost like she was liking having him fawn over her.

"Okay, Casanova," Booth said, stepping between them and breaking the contact of their hands, "Dr. Brennan has a case to work on, so why don't we let her do that, shall we?" Booth placed a hand on the small of Brennan's back and guided her over to the metal table closest to them.

Dr. Morgan stood on the opposite side of the table as she scanned over her notes from previous inspection. Brennan waited patiently, her arms crossed expectantly as Morgan seemed to stall.

"Now, understand, this is not going to be pretty. I understand that Miss Montenegro is a sketch artist--."

"Yes, I reconstruct faces," Angela interrupted, stepping up to Brennan's right side, Booth having taken position on her left.

"Well, I don't think--."

"Oh, Angela's the best at what she does--." This time it was Brennan who interrupted Dr. Morgan.

"Oh, yes, I understand but--."

"Then what's the problem?" Brennan asked.

"Maybe it would be easier if I just showed you," Dr. Morgan said. She took a deep breath and pulled back the sheet covering the girl's face. Angela covered her mouth in abject horror, looking away in disgust. Hodgins followed suit, turning away. Zack covered his mouth and ran from the room, looking very green. Booth cringed, closing his eyes and attempting to calm himself by taking deep breaths. Brennan stared down at the grisly mess that was once the face of a young woman. But there wasn't a face there anymore. Brennan swallowed--the sight made her want to cry but she didn't.

She felt a hand on her elbow and she tore her eyes away from the mangled face. Booth's sad eyes met hers and he motioned to the door. They could hear Zack in the hallway, throwing up. The Squints left the room as Dr. Morgan covered the girl up again.

Zack was curled up on the floor, a wastebasket sitting beside him. He still looked green although the contents of the garbage proved he probably didn't have anything else in his stomach. Angela slid down the wall and sat next to him, placing a comforting hand on his knee. Brennan bent down in front of him.

"Zack," he looked up, "I know that what you saw in there is a little more gruesome than we usually experience but it is your job to go back in there and identify those girls."

"I can't Dr. Brennan," Zack shook his head, tears splashing against his cheeks.

"Yes you can, you have to," Brennan replied.

"Please, Dr. Brennan, I can't."

"Zack, it is your job. There is no 'I can't'; you have to."

"Please…"

"Don't beg, Zack. Get up, get back in there and do what you were trained to do."

"Temperance!" Angela exclaimed warningly. Brennan stood up, hands on her hips, as she looked down at Zack.

"Hodgins, help him up and get him back in the lab," Brennan ordered.

"No," Hodgins replied. Brennan looked at him, "He doesn't want to Brennan."

"I don't care if he wants to or not. This is his job, and it's your job too. Angela, get the door, Booth, Hodgins, help him up."

"No, Bones," Booth said from behind her. Temperance turned around, her hands still on her hips.

"Brennan, that girl didn't have a face. None of us were ready for that--I know that you're our boss, and everything Bren, but you're also our friend. So for two seconds stop being a bitch and be a friend. Now, I'm taking Zack back to the hotel, you can stay here and rot," Angela said angrily. She helped Zack to his feet and headed toward the door. Hodgins gave the fuming Brennan a sad look before following Angela from the building.

"I suppose you're leaving too?" Brennan said turning to Booth. He stood by the door that led into the lab. His arms were crossed tightly against his chest, a position that Brennan knew to be one of anger and disappointment. She knew he was disappointed in her, but she couldn't help it--that girl, she…her…Brennan brushed the thought from her mind.

"I have a job to do," Booth replied.

"At least someone understands that," Brennan snapped. She opened the door to the lab, beginning her entry, when Booth's hand slammed the door shut in front of her face. She spun around, "Booth what the hell is your problem!"

"My prob--my problem, really, Bones, I'm the one with the problem?" Booth asked cornering Brennan against the wall.

"Yeah, what's--." He cut her off.

"You're the one that's been in a pissing mood since we got here," Booth said, "first you bitch out Hawthorne, who's a nice guy and was only trying to help us; then, while they deserved because they're assholes, but it was rude nonetheless, you verbally abuse Orville and Wilbur. Now, you go all Wicked Witch of the West and yell at Zack because he's upset by the slightly," he separated his thumb and forefinger slightly to emphasize his point, "disturbing sight we just witnessed. So, no, Bones, I don't have a problem, but you, you do have one. I mean, I'm trying to be sympathetic and all, Bones, but you're really starting to piss me off!"

"Well, I guess you can just leave then!"

"Maybe I will!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!" Booth stalked off toward the exit of the building.

"Coward!" Brennan yelled after him, but Booth continued leaving, un-phased by her calling him names. He disappeared out the door, leaving Brennan alone in the hallway. She crossed her arms over her chest and breathed a little, trying to calm herself before she felt tears burn at the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall; she brushed at them furiously, don't show weakness, she reminded herself. She took another deep breath and went back inside the lab.

Dr. Morgan was still there but Dr. Long had left. Brennan stepped up to the table as Morgan noticed her and looked up. She could see that Brennan looked upset, possibly had even been crying, but she didn't say anything.

"Here's the case file for the first girl. We've made some preliminary identifications but we were waiting for you to make any final ids," Morgan said, handing Brennan the file folder.

"Thank you," Temperance replied, accepting it with a shaky hand. She opened it and had to blink a few times. The pictures were just as horrific as the real thing. She closed the folder and placed on the corner of the table, "what can you tell me about her injuries?"

"Well, the front part of her skull was crushed by a solid object, possibly a rock--."

"We don't have room for conjecture, Dr. Morgan, please stick to straight facts for right now," Brennan interrupted with little conviction. Morgan ignored her desire to bite back, she knew that Brennan was probably used to bossing people around, so Morgan let it slide.

"Sorry…the internal carotid artery was cut in the fashion of a slit throat. The only other injury was to her arm, which was broken at the elbow," Morgan explained.

"A defensive wound," Brennan said.

"Maybe she got a piece of the guy before he--…"

"We can only hope," Brennan said, "will you check under her nails for tissue samples, so I can have Dr. Hodgins look at it tomorrow?"

"Yes, of course, would you like to examine the other two bodies yourself?" Morgan offered.

"Yes, thank you." Brennan moved to one of the other tables. She removed the sheet and saw the same disturbing scene. Brennan took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the work at hand.

(--)

Booth sat on the floor of the hotel room, a beer in hand, and the case files spread out in front of him. He scanned over the horrendous pictures that had been taken at the crime scene. So far, he'd found nothing that would help him id the killer, he only hoped Bones had found something at the lab.

Bones…his mind flashed back to her face in the hallway of the morgue--it was one of pure shock. He'd never yelled at her like that before. He hadn't intended to do so but she just tipped him over the edge with her comments. He could usually control his anger, but there was something about today…maybe the fact that she had practically killed Dr. Morgan with her icy glare when Booth had shook her hand--making him feel like a child in trouble--and then proceeded to flirt uncontrollably with Dr. Long--why the hell kinda name was that anyway?

He took another swig from his beer when he heard the faint sound of the keycard in the lock. He looked up as the door opened, revealing a ragged looking Bones. Booth's heart broke when he looked at her. He could tell she'd probably cried the entire way back from the lab. He stood up quickly, the awkwardness of the moment radiating between them.

"I'm sorry," she breathed.

"You don't have to--."

"Yes, I do. Booth, all I wanted to do was curl up next to Zack and cry--but I couldn't, I couldn't because I had to be strong."

"You don't always have to be strong, Bones."

"I was scared, Booth. I was scared of what I saw in there."

"Bones--…"

"As for yesterday, I--Angela said we would have fun--and I was scared--I was scared that I'd--I don't know, forget about the case--that someone would get hurt because I was having fun…it sounds so stupid now," Brennan shook her head. Booth stepped toward her and took her in his arms. She melted into his embrace as her tears began again.

"It's okay, Bones; everything is gonna be okay," Booth whispered softly against her ear.

(--)

Knock, knock, knock. Zack looked up from his book. Someone was outside the door. Angela and Hodgins had been playing cards at the table, they too looked up. All three knew who was standing in the hallway. Angela took a claming breath before standing and walking across the room. She opened the door and sure enough, there was Brennan, Booth standing behind her like the guardian angel he was.

"Angela…"

"I know, Bren…we all know, and don't worry we still love you." Angela said with a comforting tone. Brennan stepped into Angela's open hug. Hodgins crossed the room and picked up Angela's position in Brennan's arms. Zack, however, remained in the center of the room. When Hodgins and Brennan stepped apart, Brennan moved toward Zack.

"Zack, I am so sorry, I--…"

"You don't have to apologize, Dr. Brennan," Zack said, "I understand." Still, Brennan took Zack in her arms and hugged him hard for a few minutes.

"I threw up too," she whispered in his ear before stepping back.

"Okay, now that's all out of the way, how are we supposed to handle the case?" Angela asked.

"Well, we need to focus…but we'll be no good to those girls if we're exhausted," Brennan noted.

"Bren, are you suggesting we relax a little?" Hodgins asked in mock shock.

"It can't hurt, right?" Brennan asked.

The others laughed. Booth had come into the room and closed the door behind him. Brennan looked at him and he offered her a genuine smile. She felt a something warm in the pit of her stomach to think that this smile seemed truer than the one he'd given Dr. Morgan back at the lab.

"So, I was thinking, how 'bout if we go out--?"

"Oh, no!" Hodgins, Zack and Angela exclaimed.

"Sorry, Brennan, but my head has hurt enough for two lifetimes, I think I'm just gonna go to bed."

"I think I'm gonna following Angela and go to bed--not with her!--I mean in my own room--um, I'm gonna go now," Hodgins walked into his own room. They could hear the sounds of the television as Hodgins tried to drown them out.

"Zack?"

"Sorry, Dr. Brennan, but I already have plans," Zack replied.

"I guess it's just us, tonight, huh, Bones?" Booth said once they were back in the hall.

"We could watch a movie," Brennan suggested.

"Sure, you go back to the room and pick out a movie, and I'll go get us some sustenance," Booth said. He took off down the hall toward the elevators as Brennan headed back to the room.

(--)

TBC…Chapter 6: "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, Please"…

A/N: Ah, the dreaded explanatory chapter. I'm sure how I feel about this. I attempted to make the case part less narrative and more emotional. I really wanted to show how the case affected each Squint. Brennan in particular; I had to write her out of character because I needed her to loose it completely when Booth yells at her. She doesn't cry much on the show, only when Booth's around it seems, so I wanted to play up on that. Please tell me if I've gone way off kilter, or if this works. Thanks!