Chapter 6

"Sorry I was late, had to finish a few things from work" Booth said casually, his eyes on the road, as he was driving in the darkness towards Wong Foo's. He looked at her from the corner of his eye, as he said it, making sure she wasn't suspicious. So far so good, he thought to himself

"No problem. I had a few last minute changes I wanted to research on my next book anyway" Bones replied easily, her gaze locked on the horizon, watching the world pass by. "My publisher is really pushing for another novel, perhaps a sequel to the one I just finished" she went on. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about anyway Booth? We didn't have to go out to eat you know, we could have just talked at my place" she said, glancing over at him with a curious expression in her eyes.

"Nah, I was looking for an excuse to go eat there anyway and I know you like it so…" he trailed off, shrugging. Rain poured down the windshield, his wipers on high. Matched his mood, he thought grimly.

10 minutes later, they were seated in their regular spot, chatting about anything but what he had brought there for, after talking briefly to Sid, who would be bringing them what he thought they needed for dinner.

"Listen, Bones. Why I brought you here…this isn't easy for me to say, so just hear me out, no interruptions, okay? Can you do that?" He eyed her warily, really not wanting to do this, but seeing no other way. He tipped back the bottle of beer into his mouth, swallowed and tried to proceed. He drummed his fingers on the bar and cleared his throat, and slid the beer bottle to the edge of the bar, to silently indicate he wanted another.

"Fine, but get it over with would you? I am really curious now," she said to him quickly, her eyes sparkling in the dimly lit restaurant.

"Okay. Well, I had to have a dinner with a possible informant/witness to a case I am working on the other night, and I was to meet this guy on the other side of town – some ritzy restaurant called DeGidios-"

Bones cut him off "OH! David took me there, they have fantastic Italian food!" she exclaimed, smiling

"Bones, no interruptions, remember?" he said testily, glancing at her quickly and fidgeting with the napkin on the bar, figures he would take her there too he thought, and suppressed his desire to roll his eyes.

"Sorry..." she said, looking chastised, her hands back down in her lap, quiet again.

"Anyway, like I was saying, I was supposed to meet this guy, and he never showed, I was getting ready to leave, and I overheard this couple at the next table over having a conversation…" he swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry, his eyes skipping around the room.

"And…?" she prompted, her brow furrowed in a frown "Booth, I don't see…"

"BONES!" he exclaimed, "can you just be quiet for a second and let me finish!" he said impatiently, took a swallow from his fresh beer, and went on.

"Anyway, like I said, I overheard this conversation, and the guy was talking about you. YOU Bones, his voice seemed familiar, and I had nothing better to do, and then you know, I heard your name, so of course I listened." He stopped for a moment, wanting to tell her and wanting to shield her from the news at the same time. With a sigh, he continued.

"Bones…it was David. I saw him leave. He is only dating you because he was planning on taking your money you wanted him to invest, and going to the Cayman Islands with it to spend…. with his wife" Booth felt a huge relief at finally getting it off his chest, he glanced over at her to see how she was taking it.

She simply stared at him. Her mouth parted slightly, her eyes clouded, eyebrows raised.

Finally, she said something, she sputtered out angrily "Booth, you're wrong. David isn't married. He is single…. we met on an internet dating service Angela told me about, he…" she swallowed hard over the lump forming in her throat, slowly shaking her head. Disbelief clouded her eyes. She looked down at her hands in her lap, saying nothing.

"Bones…. he was looking for a way to get rich quick, he is married…. I did some digging…you know, to make sure what I overheard was right…his real, um name is Mark Tilseth, and he has been married to Genie for over 6 years. Listen, Bones, I'm sorry, I know you didn't know, and I…"

"Stop. I don't believe you. I am going to call him right now and straighten this out" she said, as she fished for her cell phone in her pockets. "Dammit…" she muttered, and finally found it, and dialed first his cell phone, then his home. He found himself holding his breath as she did so.

Booth silently watched her has the expression on her face changed from anger to resignation. She clicked her cell phone shut, and slipped it back into her pocket. "No answer…same with his home number" she leaned back and looked away. She then said in a quiet voice "I don't even know where he lives. Why would he do that Booth? Why didn't I see it? Maybe I should look his address up, go talk to him in person" she said, a small flicker of hope lighting up her eyes.

"Bones. I'm sorry. Here comes Sid, lets eat, and then I'll take you home, okay?" he said watching her body language closely.

She was quiet throughout their meal, said very little, and picked at her food for the most part. She wasn't sitting up straight anymore, he noted to himself as he watched her carefully, her shoulders were turned in, her posture poor. He felt terrible having had to tell her, but he'd feel worse yet if that creep would have taken her money and flew the coop. She would feel much worse too he tried to console himself.

"Hey…you okay Bones?" he said, glancing over at her, as he drove her home, it had been a very quiet trip so far, and since he gave her the news, and although he couldn't blame her, he also was dying to know what she was feeling, what she was thinking.

"Yes, about as good as can be expected after finding out my boyfriend tried to take my money and run away with his WIFE" she said, putting emphasis on the word wife, she said without even looking in his direction. Her eyes were firmly set on the road in front of them.

Grimacing at her sharp words, he chose to go the silent route. She had a lot to think about, and he thought it might be a good idea to let her do that on her own, being the only male in her presence right now didn't seem wise. In his peripheral vision, he saw her gazing out the side window of the SUV now, clearly not wanting to communicate much in any way.

After what seemed like an eternity, he pulled up in front of her apartment building, and put the vehicle in park. He turned and looked at her, as she dug out her keys.

"You don't have to see me up Booth, I will be fine" she said as she got out and slammed the door shut, and jogging up to the door that led into her building.

Sitting there a moment, listening to the SUV idle, he wasn't sure what to do next. He still had about an hour to kill before he had to go back and check to make sure David was in fact gone, and he had no doubt he would be, recalling the look in the other mans eyes, but he had to be sure.

Still mildly concerned about Bones, but not wanting to get in her face, he figured he'd just sit here and keep an eye on her for a while from the street below her window. Its what a friend would do, he consoled himself guiltily. He turned on a classic rock station and pulled out of the lot into the desired position, and watched as her apartment light came on. He could see her silhouette moving around in her apartment through the mini blinds.

With a deep sigh, he turned his vehicle off and tipped his head back on the headrest. This sucked.

End ch. 6 – I love reviews! Make me happy – review!