The Ties that Bind

I own nothing; Bones belongs to Fox and its affiliates as well as Kathy Reich's. I simply want to borrow them for my own amusement. All constructive reviews are appreciated and welcome, no flames please. To everyone that has reviewed. THANK YOU, your appreciation has me continuing. Originally I had planned to make this part of the last chapter, but I thought the slight tiff was a good prelude. This chapter is the inevitable breakdown. Please remember when reading this that Brennan is off kilter, it's the same night, she is tired and Booth's behaviour has irked and fascinated her. So if it's slightly OOC hang in there.

Chapter 5- The First Cut Is Always The Deepest

Infuriating that's what he is. Utterly infuriating from his constant jibes to his blatant jealousy he was driving her nuts. Stupid male chauvinistic idiot how dare he, after all he had no claim on her all she was to him was a source of amusement. No, that really wasn't fair he was a friend, a good one but his behaviour sometimes made her what to just throttle him. Thinking back to the young captain she winced. She had no real interest, just flattered by his interest. He noticed her and not her degree which made her happy. Shifting in her seat she found her feet to be very cold, looking down she realized that she was barefoot recalling that she had left her shoes at the crime scene. Growling impatiently she turned to hear the lieutenant's voice calling her.

"Dr. Brennan, are you alright? He looked nervous but that could be because she was scowling at him.

"I left my shoes at the scene" her voice was still tinged with impatience

"Well there is a turnoff here, we can go back and—"

"NO!" her voiced surprised even her, taking a deep breath she composed herself and turned to the young lieutenant

"I'm sorry, it's just been a really long night, and I appreciate your willingness to drive me to the Jeffersonian as well as for putting up with me." Her smile was sincere and he smiled back.

"Not a problem, you know you're somewhat of a legend around here, Agent Booth always speaks so highly of you, of your work it really is a pleasure to meet you."

She smiles politely and sits back in her seat rejoicing at the site of the Jeffersonian thanking the young man she heads into the building and her latest project with all its mysteries.

After changing into slacks and a light blue blouse and donning her lab coat she felt more at ease. With the body on the table in front of her she looses herself in her work. Loosing all tract of time as she often does, she jumped at the sound of someone on the stairs. Looking up she saw Booth with two styrofoam cups in his hand he hands her a hot chocolate as his silent apology and asks about the case.

"Anything?"

"Nothing yet, thanks for the drink though"

"Welcome, listen Bones about earlier—" he was interrupted by a delivery person at the door

"Dr. Brennan?" he inquired

"That's me" accepting the packages she turns to Booth "They are from Captain Richards."

"Oh Goody" the sarcasm was back

"Booth what do you have against him anyway, he is assisting us on this case." She was irked again

"Bones, your brilliant you really are but you cannot see that this man is making a play for you honestly this "sweet damsel- in -distress watch me bat my eyelashes" routine is getting tiresome." He was snapping at her now, overcome with jealousy.

"Routine, Booth have you lost your mind what are you talking about?" she is looking at him now in shock.

"Oh don't play dumb Bones, you love it all of us men tripping over you fawning over you all the while you stand there with you sob story, so isolated from the world, cold, calculating unfeeling. I can't believe that you with your intelligence you can't see what is right in front of you Bones-"he was cut off by a swift slap across the face

"How dare you, how dare you presume to know me, you the man who took people's lies for a living you have no idea what I've seen, how I feel. Cold and unfeeling is that how you see me." She laughs now in pain "I thought you were different Seeley I really did, you know your just like them I'm a freak to the rest of the world well you know what I don't care. Do you have any idea what its like to be a child told that you parents are gone, to be ripped crying from your brothers arms, loaded in a car and dropped off to people who only look at you with pity." She could no longer hide the tears. "Get out."

"Bones, please I'm sorry—"he was pleading, feeling like a total ass.

"GET OUT." She was screaming at him now "Just get out, go away and stay away from me." She turned and fled towards her office, feeling so isolated and alone.

Booth was stunned, how could he have done this. She was at least his best friend and at most the woman of his dreams. She had opened up to him, trusted him and he made her feel ostracized like everyone else. He wiped the moisture from his face and turned feeling helpless. How was he ever going to fix this? He picked up her cup gently, cherishing it in an odd way. He felt the guilt surging and threw it violently at the wall. Defeated he stormed into the night.