A/N: I'm happy you all liked the family-date time. Hope you like this chapter as well. It's a bit different.

Temperance's shoes echoed through the halls of the Jeffersonian as the doctor made her way to her office, a bright smile plastered on her face. She greeted everybody she passed on the way and barely noticed their weird expression and the tone in which they replied. The ones who knew her also knew that Temperance Booth was not a morning person, so did not greet anybody until she had had her first cup of coffee. Yet, today, here she was greeting even strangers. If only one of them would have stopped to ask her why she was such in a great mood, she would have told them about the wonderful week-end she had spent with her family.

At her door, Temperance took out her keys and unlocked her door. Opening it, she stepped inside and flicked on the light to find Ryan already sitting on her couch. She jumped, startled.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him as she walked to her desk and dropped the bag in which she carried her laptop. "Actually, let me rephrase this. What are you doing here, sitting in the dark?"

Ryan turned to his partner.

"I was thinking about the case. The dark helps me think."

Temperance nodded, unsure. Sitting down, she fought the urge to ask him how he had gotten in, considering he didn't have the key to unlock the door. For some unknown reason, she kept her question to herself and waited patiently in silence as her computer booted up. She typed in her password and checked her e-mails. She had none. She turned to Ryan.

"Did you come up with anything over the week-end?"

"Not really. I talked to the father again, over the phone this time, but he still wasn't keen on talking to me. The call didn't even last five minutes. I looked over the file to see if perhaps there was something I had missed but found nothing that I didn't already know. The fire was accidental, the kids didn't die in the fire and were actually kidnapped."

"Nothing that we didn't already know, I agree."

Ryan examined his partner's expression. She had that strange look upon her face and if he was reading her correctly, and he most likely was, she was hiding something from him. He knew that look. She was debating whether or not to tell him.

"What's the matter?" The agent asked.

Temperance shook her head.

"Nothing. I was just thinking..."

"Tempe, I know that look. There's something you're not telling me. What is it?"

She turned her attention back to her computer. She wasn't sure whether or not she should mention the strange phone call from Saturday night. After all, it could have just been a coincidence and actually have nothing to do with the case. It could have been one of Russ' children playing a trick on their aunt.

Don't be ridiculous, Brennan. Your brother's kids are younger than yours.

His stepchildren then?

As she continued to debate whether or not to talk, Ryan stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Well if you don't feel like sharing your piece of information, I might as well leave. I have plenty of work piled on my desk at the Bureau. I'm probably more useful there than here."

Temperance sighed.

"Ryan, just sit down. I'll tell you what's wrong."

Going back to the couch, Ryan smiled to himself. If parenting had taught him one thing was that reverse psychology worked almost all of the time, no matter who the person was.

And she says she doesn't believe in psychology. He thought as he sat down. He wondered how she would react if he told her what exactly had just happened.

"I'm listening." He told her instead.

Leaning forward, he rested his forearms on his thighs and looked expectantly at the doctor sitting in front of him.

"Saturday night, I got a phone call."

"Okay..." Ryan replied, unsure of where she was going. "At what time?"

"It was a little past two in the morning."

Ryan looked at her, questioningly.

"A little late for a phone call, don't you think?"

"That's what I thought."

"Who called?"

"I don't know. The person didn't say anything and my caller ID said the call came from a private number."

"Do you know anybody who's number is private?"

"Other than yours and some people who work here, no, I don't."

Ryan nodded.

"I could try to trace the call if you want."

Temperance shook her head.

"It won't be necessary."

"Okay but if it ever happens again, let me know. This could be our killer."

"I hardly doubt it, Ryan."

"And I wouldn't be so sure if I were you."

Ryan got up and walked out of the office, leaving his partner behind him. Temperance shook her head once again, to herself this time. The caller couldn't have been the killer. How would he have gotten her number? No, it was just someone she knew. Maybe it had been Angela.

Getting up, she mentally prepared herself for what was coming today. There would probably be remains to analyze, as always. Finding confidence in the fact that at least she wouldn't have to think about that strange call, she went on her way to the morning staff meeting.

"Dr. Addy will be performing the examination." Dr. Goodman said as he wrote down Zach's name beside Body #4 on the black board.

Temperance's heart skipped a beat at her boss' statement and her hand shot up in the air. It was impossible. Zach couldn't get first pick.

"Yes, Dr. Booth?" Goodmain said, knowing fully well what the words coming out of her mouth were going to be.

"Dr. Goodman, shouldn't I have priority on the remains?"

She glanced briefly at Zach, who had turned a deep shade of red, then back to her boss who was looking at her disapprovingly and somewhat nervously.

"I'm sorry Dr. Booth but the local police specifically asked for Dr. Addy's expertise. I cannot go against their will."

"But I'm head anthropologist here. I should have the priority."

Dr. Goodman sighed.

"I hear you loud and clear, Dr. Booth but the decision is final. Dr. Addy will work with Body #4 while you concentrate on Bodies #6 and #8."

Turning towards the black board, he wrote Dr. Temperance Booth beside the two bodies. Temperance growled silently.

"The remains of two children were discovered in a dumpster near a McDonald's. Dr. Black will perform the autopsy..."

Temperance had already tuned out.

She quickly walked back to her office, oblivious to the footsteps following closely behind her. She walked in the room and would have closed the door shut if Angela hadn't been there to make sure she wasn't going to collide with a closing door.

She sat down at her desk. Dropping her head in her hands, she closed her eyes and relived this morning's staff meeting. Dr. Addy's expertise? Since when had Zach gotten better at his job than she was? If it hadn't been for her, he would have still been a student to this day and would have never finished his doctorate before becoming a certified forensic anthropologist.

"Are you okay?"

Angela's voice startled her.

Relax Brennan. You're so edgy today.

She turned to her best friend.

"I'm fine."

Her tone was sharp and her voice was cool.

"Don't play dumb with me, Brennan. I know something's not right."

Even though she had been married to Booth for three years, Angela still called her Brennan, much like Temperance herself sometimes did.

Temperance sighed in frustration.

"I'm the head forensic anthropologist here yet Zach gets priority on remains."

Angela nodded knowingly before walking to her friend's desk and sitting on the corner.

"It's okay to feel jealous at the beginning but don't you think you could get over it? I mean, Zach's been an official forensic anthropologist ever since you and Booth got married."

"Yes but nobody ever asked that he be the only one who examines a body. I'm the head forensic anthropologist here."

"I know. You said that already."

"I should get consulted when decisions like that are made."

"Zach didn't choose to be become the local police's favorite. He's only doing his job and right now, he thinks you're mad at him."

Temperance looked at her best friend, puzzled. Why on earth would Zach think she was mad at him? He hadn't done anything. Suddenly, she felt rather stupid for getting all worked up.

"Yeah I guess you're right."

Angela's eyes grew wide in surprise.

"Did you just admit that I was right?" Angela asked, teasingly.

Temperance chuckled.

"Yes but don't get used to it."

Angela nodded as she laughed.

"So how was your week-end with your family?"

Temperance couldn't help the smile that spread immediately over her face. The last week-end had been the greatest one she had had in years. She told her best friend so.

"What did you guys do?"

"Well Saturday, I got breakfast in bed."

Angela's jaw dropped. Breakfast in bed? She couldn't remember the last time Booth had done that for her best friend. She squeeled in happiness and Temperance's smile grew larger.

"Then Booth took the kids outside and he taught them how to ride their bikes without their training wheels."

"Did Riley do it?"

"Yes and she was even better than her brother. Booth bought chinese food for dinner and then we went to the park to play. Sunday, Booth's brother and wife came over and we had barbecue for dinner. It was an amazing week-end, Ange! You have no idea."

"Sounds that way. Maybe you'll spend more time at home now."

"I guess I should, huh? Especially if I want another baby."

"You what?" Angela asked, surprised.

Her best friend, the one who never really wanted children in the first place, now wanted another one?

The world is coming to an end. She thought. She laughed inwardly at her thought.

"I want another baby." Temperance replied, calmly.

"Does Booth know about this?"

Seriousness had come back.

"Yes, I told him Saturday night."

"And what did he say?"

"He told me to wait until my case was over and then we would talk about it again."

"Wise answer."

"What do you mean?"

Angela looked away from her friend for a split second. It was obvious she was uncomfortable with what she was about to say. She knew her best friend was a good mother and that she was doing the best she could with her but she had secretly disapproved her friend's behavior over the last months. Temperance, who had been abandoned by her parents, was now abandoning her own children.

"Well he only wants to make sure that you'll be home to take care of it. It's one thing to want one now but it's another thing to still want it once it's there."

Temperance nodded. That's what Booth had said Sunday morning when she had asked him what he had meant by she should wait until her case was over.

Angela, not wanting to upset her friend, changed the subject.

"Ryan mentioned a strange call to me just before he left."

Temperance's head shot up. Ryan had talked to Angela? Why? He hated Angela.

"Who do you think it came from?" she asked.

"Ryan thinks it's the killer but I don't think so. How would he have gotten my cellphone number?"

Angela shrugged.

The sound of a bell was heard and Temperance turned to her computer screen. You have a new message was written at the bottom left side of her screen. She clicked on the message and a new window popped up. She turned to Angela who was looking at her questioningly.

"Who's it from?"

Temperance turned back to her screen but was unable to respond. What she saw sent chills up her spine.

bites nails nervously See you in the next chapter. :-)