A/N: This fic is almost over. So hold on tight. Things are gonna be moving fast from now until the end. Oh, and don't hate me. -evil laugh-

The sun was just starting to peek over the trees. The birds filled the air with song and the campers were just starting to emerge from their cabins. Seeley Booth stood leaning against a tree, arms crossed over his chest, eyes fixed on a wooden door. How much longer can she sleep? he asked himself, willing the door to open and Tempe to come out. Seeley took a deep breath and let his mind drift back to the day before. The scene was perfect- almost perfect, he corrected. He and Tempe had sat under a large tree talking. His heart had skipped a beat when she told him that there was no boyfriend waiting for her. Seeley smiled as he remembered the look on her face when he leaned forward. He could still smell her scent…could feel his lips anticipate how her mouth would feel. His smile grew as the almost-kiss played through his mind. And just as Angela had interrupted the action previously- damn the girl- the door opening interrupted Seeley's thought.

Tempe opened the door and was greeted by a beautiful day. She let her eyes wander before they settled on Seeley. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him there, leaning casually against a tree, his charm smile aimed right in her direction. Tempe glanced over her shoulder at Angela, who still stood in front of the mirror brushing her hair. With a small shake of her head, Tempe stepped out the cabin, closed the door, and then walked down the steps and came to a stop when she reached Seeley.

"Morning," she said.

"Bout time you decided to get up," he teased. He uncrossed his arms and pushed himself away from the tree. "You ready to get a start?"

"What about Angela and Jack?"

"I've left orders with Hodgins," Seeley told her. "They'll be equally busy today." Tempe gave a curt nod, and then followed Seeley as he walked off.

"So what are we going to do today?" Tempe asked, falling into step beside him.

"First, breakfast. Then off to talk to Lucas Ryan."

"Ryan? Why him again? Why not Chuck Matthias?"

"Well, as you've pointed out, he's lying. Now we have the proof."

"The laundry," Tempe said and Seeley nodded.

"Indeed. We've caught him in one lie and we know that there's more. We have some leverage to work with." Seeley gave Tempe his best smile. "And if he doesn't come clean, then I'll just let you kick his butt." Tempe felt her cheeks begin to burn as she thought back to her outburst the first time her and Seeley had talked to Ryan.

"What is it I can do for ya?" Lucas Ryan asked as he backed his way down from a ladder.

"We just have a few more questions," Seeley told him. Just like the first time, Ryan turned toward the duo while wiping his hands on a towel.

"Don't know what else I can tell ya, but I'll give it a go."

"Great," Seeley said. "The first thing is how do you know Rose Smith?"

"Rose who?"

"Don't play dumb, Mr. Ryan," Tempe said, stepping forward. "We know that you lied about talking to Chuck Matthias at the wash hall. Mr. Matthias doesn't wash his own clothes. No reason for him to be at the wash hall." Ryan looked from Tempe to Seeley, who just returned his gaze with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, Mr. Ryan?" Seeley questioned. Ryan swallowed hard and then nodded.

"Okay, okay," Ryan said, holding up his hands. "I never saw Chuck at the wash hall, but I did talk to him."

"We're listening," Tempe said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"The day after the diamond went missing I ran into a guy down by the chicken coop. Tall man, strange accent. Anyhow, I talked to him a little and then left. But I stopped and watched him. I saw him hide something."

"We searched the coop," Seeley informed Ryan. "We found nothing."

"Listen, I'm tellin' the truth. He hid something, but maybe he returned. I swear." Seeley glanced over at Tempe, who shrugged, and then back to Ryan.

"Why didn't you tell us the first time?"

"Listen, man, I'm sorry, but that guy looked tough. So when you came in saying that Chuck told you we talked at the wash hall, it seemed like a good idea."

"Alright," Seeley said. "Thank you." He placed a hand on the small of Tempe's back and lead her away.

"You believe him?" she asked when they had walked away.

"I do. No reason to keep lying. But who's this guy with the weird accent?" Tempe shrugged.

"Don't know, but maybe we should re-interview everybody, and pose the question."

"My thoughts exactly."

Seeley and Tempe sat under a tree eating a sandwich. "How did you get food out of the mess hall?" Tempe asked. Seeley gave her a smile.

"My little secret," he told her. "I didn't feel like the crowd of lunch. Hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Tempe said and then took a bite of her sandwich. "So we're going to talk to Lowery next?"

"Yeah, that's the plan." They finished their lunch in silence. Tempe rubbed her hands together. Why am I nervous? she thought. It's just Seeley. Sexy Seeley, a voice in the back of her mind said. Seeley picked up their trash and put it in a small bag. He took a swing of his soda and then stole a glance at his partner.

"So, um, you about ready to get going?" Tempe asked. "Jack and Angela probably wonder where we're at."

"Tempe," Seeley said.

"I mean, we haven't seen them since this morning."

"Tempe," he tried again, leaning toward her.

"They might have found something useful. And we still have to find Lowery."

"Temperance," Seeley drew the name out, and Tempe turned to look at him. Her heart skipped a beat at how close he was to her. She could feel his warm breath across her face. Tempe parted her lips and let her eyes flutter shut in anticipation of his kiss. But it never came. When she opened her eyes, she found him still close to her, but his brows drawn together.

"What," she began, but Seeley place a finger to her lips.

"Listen," he whispered. Tempe strained her ears to hear what Seeley heard. He got to his feet and taking Tempe's hand, pulled her up as well. He lead the way and then squatted down behind some underbrush. Tempe kneeled beside him. Seeley parted the brush and he and Tempe looked through to find a man near a tree. They watched as the man, talking to himself, dug a hole. The man reached down and picked something up out of the hole, looked around, but kept his back to Seeley and Tempe, and then covered the hole up. Once done, the man hurried away. "I know that man," Seeley said turning from the bush and sat down on the ground.

"You do?" Tempe asked, following his movement. "Who is it?" Seeley shook his head.

"I didn't get a look at his face, but I know him." Seeley searched his mind. Who is he? "Come on," he said. "We have people to talk to."

Now, don't be mad -holds up hands, palm out- I warned you. Not my fault everybody wants a kiss. It'll happen. I promise. Between now and the end.

-laughs evily and then skips away humming 'It's a Small World'-

TBC...