Chapter Four:

"Hey Bones, want to go down to the Restaurant for dinner?" Booth asked her, standing in the doorway of the bathroom, leaning casually against it.

"Yeah… Sure." She said covering her stomach as it emitted yet another loud rumble. He looked really quite – No Brennan, don't go there. But no, she couldn't deny he looked quite gorgeous out of his suit, in his 'casual' clothes.

Temperance massaged her aching temples, the dinner had been uneventful they had barely talked, but she couldn't help but notice the concerned looks he kept throwing at her. Her throat felt scratchy, and her nose was beginning to run a little. Why did she have to get sick now of all times? She had slept nearly nine hours that day, even though she hadn't slept all that much on the plane; she shouldn't be so achy or tired still.

Temperance tried to arrange her thoughts. So; Booth had been to speak to the officer in charge of the case, she was expected tomorrow morning, she'd finally be meeting this 'Yvonne.' She lay back into the pillows and imagined a tall beautiful blonde, and Booth. Her stomach clenched at the thought – was this what jealousy felt like? If it was, she didn't want to feel it. It hurt.

She was not disappointed. Temperance was surprised this woman was a medical examiner. Yvonne wasn't the one, who had done the initial examination, but she was now in charge of the case – why would anyone in their right mind put her in charge? Blonde hair flowed just past her shoulders, her tall, but curvy frame seemed to be causing every person in the room to admire her. Booth was giving her his charm smile, and Temperance felt the jealousy flare up once more.

"Yvonne…!" He said happily, and reached out for her hand, to shake it she supposed. But Yvonne had different ideas, she closed the gap between them and gave him a hug, which probably lasted a few seconds, but to Temperance it felt like hours.

"How are you Booth Hunny?" She asked touching his cheek, Temperance fought the urge to slap her hand away. But why was she feeling this? It was her partner, so what if Yvonne and he were more than friends?

"I'm good Yvonne," Temperance hid a smile as Booth pushed Yvonne's hand from his face.

"I think Bones is impatient to see the remains…" He winked at Temperance, who rolled her eyes, he was right though.

"It's great to finally meet you Dr. Brennan, I have heard so much about you…" So cliché. Temperance thought but she took the hand held out to her, perfectly manicured just as Tara's had been, and she had the sudden compulsion to go out and get her nails manicured too.

She wondered what Hodgins would say about that, he could probably even come up with a conspiracy theory over that! She missed the "Squints" and Angela at times like this.

xx

"Shall we get going then…?" Temperance asked looking around Yvonne towards the door they had just come through. Yvonne gave her a silky smile.

"Sure, follow me." She touched Booths arm before brushing past them both, Booth watched Temperance's face carefully, but it showed no emotion. He was so certain that moments before when Yvonne had touched his face he had seen a flicker of jealousy on that usually impassive face of hers. He must have been imagining things…

Booth didn't like the conference building they were in; it was obviously newly built and smelled of freshly cut wood. The room was cramped and just had an empty, un-welcoming feel to it; he knew this was his 'gut feeling' kicking in, there was nothing really wrong with the room…

"This will take about twenty minutes; it's fairly close to the Koro Koro dam." Yvonne said. "Officers Jacobs and Ivory will be accompanying us in about a half hour or so." She threw a smile to Booth over her shoulder and he caught up to her. The two of them chattered about idle things. About the weather, about Wellington – What did he think so far? How was Parker?

Temperance led the way down the hill. He watched as she stumbled slightly, and he reached forward to help her but she righted herself and mumbled something about shoes. Soon she sneezed and stopped suddenly so that Yvonne walked straight into her. Temperance turned to apologise, but both Booth and Temperance caught the scowl on Yvonne's face before she could remove it. Temperance shut her mouth and took a tissue from her pocket. Yvonne looked ashamed, but pretended that she had not acted so rudely only moments before.

"Are you sick Hun? This walk will be hard on you…" Yvonne said; voice tinged with false concern. Was she sick? Why hadn't she told him? Temperance began walking again, ignoring Yvonne. Booth wanted to ask her if she was sick, but didn't want to show in front of Yvonne that he didn't know.

Yvonne slipped next, leaning heavily on Booth, who helped her up. She gave him a grateful smile, and held onto his hand much longer than necessary. Booth knew what Yvonne wanted, she wanted this when they had been in high school together too – a relationship. He knew it was a mistake to share an apartment with her after they left, even if it was only for a month.

Booth was so lost in thought, he hadn't even had a chance to take in his surroundings, and he finally did. He was awed at the sight. Towering trees on either side of him, almost majestic; he thought. Ferns lined the path, and here and there were Cabbage trees, and Punga, native to New Zealand. He heard a Tui call, and fantails twittered around him following them, snatching miniscule insects from the air, that as they walked they disturbed.

Temperance was a little further ahead now, and he saw her stop as she reached a bridge, yellow police tape surrounded the area, she ducked under it. A couple of officers sat on the side of the bridge, legs dangling down feet nearly reaching the water of the stream. Officers Ivory and Jacobs introduced themselves, and then made themselves scarce.

It was then Booth heard the thundering sound of water.

"What's that sound?" Temperance asked before Booth could.

"That's the waterfall from the Koro Koro Dam." Yvonne said waving her hand towards the path. "The bodies right here…" She said pointing to a spot at the end of the bridge, ferns surrounded a small patch of soil that had been scraped at with fingers, and then the proper tools had been used to uncover the skeleton. Booth stepped back allowing the two women to discuss the skeleton. But after a while they seemed to be disagreeing over something. He stepped forward – instinctively moving closer to Temperance.

"What's going on?" He asked her.

"I think these breaks were made before she died, but Yvonne thinks they were made afterwards" Temperance said angrily. "Look Booth, this poor girl had every one of her fingers crushed. See both the metacarpal and phalanges of her fingers have been broken, or damaged." She brushed a gloved finger along the delicate bones, and Booth shuddered. This poor girl… It was then that he noticed another set of Bones, considerably different seeming as they were the dogs bones.

"Bones, you're never wrong. But why do you think this was done after she was – er killed…" Temperance gave him a grateful smile, and took out her tissue holding it to her nose, so that her following words sounded a little muffled. She explained how she could tell, but Booth still had no idea what she was talking about. He nodded, and smiled pretending he knew what she was on about. He was going to agree with her – but she ruined everything by frowning and -"Booth, you have no idea what I'm talking about do you?" she said. He shook his head, and she chuckled lightly.

"Oh well, Yvonne you asked me here to give my opinion. My opinion is the only injuries sustained to this skeleton after death is a couple of breaks to the Cervical Vertebrae Temperance said pointing to the neck. "-and the phalanges of the toes…" Temperance eyes scanned the skeleton again. "Although I can't give this skeleton a thorough examination here, I believe this girl to be beaten to death. Possibly strangled due to the broken Hyoid bone, but I can't tell you any of this for certain." Booth was surprised she had told them this much without a thorough examination, she never did. "I'll need to study the dog's skeleton as well."

"So we can move the skeletons now…" Yvonne said coldly, taking off her own surgical gloves and putting them in a nearby bin.

"Yes," Temperance smiled at Yvonne, but Yvonne ignored the smile and looked over at Booth, through her lashes. "Would you like to have dinner, maybe we could catch up and-"

"Actually… I have plans. I'm sorry Yvonne, maybe another night?" Booth said, unsmiling. He was not happy; this new Yvonne was really quite a bitch. He didn't appreciate the way she treated his partner.

"Right, well, you can either walk back the more scenic route – that way," Yvonne pointed down the track. "Or go back the way we came. I guess I'll be seeing you at my lab tomorrow?" She asked directing her question at Temperance.

"I guess you will" Temperance answered – just as cold and unfeeling as Yvonne. Yvonne stalked up the path, and Temperance began unpacking equipment from a nearby bin.

"I'll just pack the skeletons so that it's easier on who ever comes to collect them," she said to Booth. But Booth had a feeling she was doing this because she didn't trust anyone else to do it; she probably expected the skeletons to be damaged. He sat down on the bridge where the officers had been over an hour before hand.

"Okay Bones."

A/n: Okay, I know I'm not very fast updating. But you won't believe how much bad luck I'm having lately! Not that I'm superstitious… Maybe I should be? Who knows why such bad things keep happening to me!

I tried going over my first few chapters, I'm still not happy with them. I'm also not happy with Yvonne's character. There's just something missing…

If anyone has any ideas I'm willing to listen! So please review - ideas – flames – praise- what ever you feel, much appreciated!

HAPPY EASTER!

-- Chrissy