A/N Hope you guys like this one. I apologize in advance if it's kinda confusing.

Disclaimer: It's sad, really.


Crash And Burn

Closing the folder with an exhausted sigh, his fingers automatically moved to their usual place on his closed eyelids. Rubbing jerkily in quasi-circular motions to make the stress go away, he found out after a short interval- as he had also found out, repeatedly, after the past fifty years- that it simply didn't work.

Abruptly standing up from his battered chair and shrugging into his coat, he wearily made his way towards the aging elevator on his floor. The office had had a new one installed the other week, and for all its shiny exterior and pricy buttons, it broke down after three days of abuse.

Grumbling profanities, he impatiently waited for the metal box to make its way up from wherever it was- thoughts of budget cuts and delinquent agents using up all available funding with stupid and costly maneuvers. Like renting Mustangs while on a case.

A name instantly came to his mind, and disbelief filled in for anger.

He still couldn't believe that one of his best agents had gotten together with a squint.

Albeit, she was fine-looking enough to merit attention. But still, it galled him to no end, every time he saw their names side by side in a closed case file.

She was a temperamental brat. Acting like she was above everything- from respect for rules and regulations to proper civilian handling protocol.

That woman stank of trouble. Or maybe of dead bodies.

His thoughts ground to a halt as the elevator chimed like a long lost friend and opened its doors.


Amy looked at the man with incredulity marking her impish features. He was certainly attractive- to a degree. But she had never been one for blind dates and casual pick-ups. She had always needed something- anything- to tell her that the person in front of her was connected in some way to her life, and therefore might be worth a shot.

Dwelling on men and her life made the memory of a certain FBI agent swoop down on her. Wryly, she reiterated to herself that that man was attractive; and intelligent as well. She had grown to know him because coincidence brought them face to face a number of times in the court of law.

She chuckled like some pixie from an island across the sea as she remembered him always testifying against her client.

She had never truly admitted it to herself- at least until she had a few drinks, like now- but she believed in fate; even just a little. Soul mates and destiny and star-crossed lives charming her since adolescence and having never let her go.

Booth had seemed like a very good prospect, for her. And fate had stabbed in more than a couple of instances, making them meet again and again.

But then, she had always been too busy; or too utterly professional.

That had always bothered her, even when she was still an awkward teenager- what would happen if you met your soul mate and didn't do anything? Are you forever doomed to a life of loneliness and what ifs?

Depression set in and she reached for another shot of tequila. She wondered where the object of her despair currently was, concluding with the alacrity of the tipsy that he was probably with that lady scientist.

Thoughts were derailing somewhat until a hand caught her shoulder. Eyes forced hers to meet them.

"So what do you say? Would you like to get some dinner?"

To hell with Booth.

"Sure? Why not?"

She stood up unsteadily and smiled at the man offering her more than just his arm. He was, in all fairness, attractive enough. She never knew, maybe he was the one her soul had been waiting for. Maybe there was some tidbit in both of their pasts that would link them like some cross-stitch pattern of stars.

She grabbed her coat- and after a moment's hesitation- his arm.

"What did you say your name was again? I'm Amy."

"David."


She knew she was being immature, but she had grown so used to the part that she sometimes suspected that she really was just an overgrown brat.

Vehemence colored her mental wanderings as she focused on the woman standing beside her ex-lover.

She hated that woman.

But moreover, she hated him.

Her eyes flickered a violent glaze as she watched her son jump into his father's arms. She really wished him dead, sometimes. How could he do that? How could he be absent from Parker's life the majority of the time and still receive his undying love?

Giggles and stupid masculine baby names ruptured the humid tension on her front lawn. And all she could do was wish it all back. The discomfort was her only weapon, after all.

She had hoped that the unsaid things and pregnant silence would drive him away within a few months after the baby was born. But he had kept on coming, fighting for every spare ounce of custodial rights he could wrangle from a judge who had had a crush on her.

Looking back, she once again allowed some aspect of conscience to admonish her. He had been totally mature and civil about the whole thing, once he gotten the shock and worry out of his system. He had offered marriage, support, and shared responsibility.

She, of course, had denied him almost everything.

Joyous cries shook her from her reverie as Parker pretended that he had defeated his father in a rousing game of imaginary swords.

She really hated how he seemed to have pulled his life together- a son who didn't resent him, a good career, and a beautiful woman by his side. While all she had was a son who was growing up too fast and little else.

And maybe that's why she drove him away from her life. She couldn't help but feel jealous. Couldn't help but be envious of his resilience and strength; and for any woman special enough to tame him.

She looked up at the woman in question, and nodded just enough to be perceived.

A smiling gaze left the quarrelling boys and looked up. Striking eyes that were green, blue, and gray at the same time locked with hers. Confusion slowly melting into uneasy understanding.

Rebecca held the stare for a moment, then turned on her heel and strode towards the house.

Locked doors, plaster walls, and a few things more profound separated her from the happy family on her front lawn. And though she knew she was being immature, she resented them all the more.

She waited there, beside the window, until they left.


Footsteps apologetically echoed across that concrete underbelly of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's building as he walked towards his car.

Rats and shadows playing in the background made the walk pensive.

He still couldn't believe that one of his best agents had fallen for a squint.

But then again, what was so unbelievable about it?

And although he still found her disconcerting and worth his dislike, he admitted to himself that he found no more shortcomings from her.

And as long as the partnership they had tenuously formed gave him results, he was happy to leave it at that.

Deputy Director Sam Cullen, FBI, got into his car, started the engine, and drove the car away from his stencil-marked parking area.

He didn't look back.


A/N: Long, eh? One more chapter to go.

I'm sorry if they seem OOC, I really haven't the foggiest insight into any of their minds, as I haven't seen any episodes where they were allowed to develop. If episodes exist that develop these minor characters I take the responsibility for the OOCness. The only people here I've seen on the show are Cullen(very briefly), and Amy. Same Episode. I haven't the foggiest idea who David is. Except that Bones had a date scheduled with him or something?

Hope I didn't disappoint with this one. This was probably one of the hardest and most technically complex fics I've written so far. I humbly ask for apologies for any mistakes in grammar or spelling. Still using notepad.

The concluding chapter will be up tomorrow, and it will be on Parker. A burger to JacobedRose for mentioning him, solidifying my resolve on using him as a conlusion.

Also, thanks to BonesFAN! For mentioning Amy. Ataea, for mentioning David.

Estreya Star, enough Booth-centered-ness for you?

And finally, hope you keep those reviews a-comin! I truly enjoy them. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.