A/N - This chapter is quite long but when I went through it, it all seemed relevant and I didn't have the heart to chop anything off. Thank you for all the reveiws and kind comments. I appreciate the input and encouragement. Please continue!

Chapter Three – Waltzing Back

Booth awoke with a start, aware of the unfamiliar surroundings and his stiff neck, before he remembered where he was and why he was there. The next thing he became aware of was where he was laying. He obviously moved during his sleep because now he had his cheek on Temperance's thigh, the warm soft flesh burning his skin. The proximity made him blush slightly.

"I knew it was all a ploy to sleep with Brennan."

Angela's voice was teasing above him and he passed a quick glance at the sleeping Temperance to see if she had heard Angela speaking.

"It's ok, she's dead to the world."

"How do you know?"

Angela pointed to Temperance's face.

"Her eyes only do that when she's in a really deep sleep."

Booth moved a little closer and could see Temperance's eyes moving frantically beneath her closed lids.

"I think she's chasing bad guys. What coffee?"

Booth nodded and slipt off the couch making sure his sleeping partner was well covered before moving into the kitchen. He watched as Angela began the slow painful process of making coffee, refusing Booth's help when he offered.

"I can do it myself. I wanted to talk to you about last night anyway."

Booth shook his head as he added some sugar to the cups.

"I didn't see anything Ange. I found you and covered you with a towel."

Angela gave him a lopsided grin.

"I don't care if you saw anything Booth, I trust you. And even if you did, I know you don't like me that way."

Booth cocked his head, suddenly fascinated with Angela's observation.

"And how do you know that?"

Angela rolled her eyes at Booth.

"Come on, if you did you would have made a move on me by now. And I've been at things long enough to know when a guy likes me or my best friend."

Booth opened his mouth to protest but Angela bet him to it with another lop-sided grin.

"You can deny it all you want but you and I both know the truth."

Booth tried on a new topic for size as he watched Angela butter hot toast with her good hand.

"How did you sleep last night?"

Angela swallowed heavily.

"Didn't. Every time I closed my eyes…"

The tears started so suddenly that even Angela seemed surprised by their appearance before she fell completely into sobbing. Booth pulled her into a hug, stroking her hair, whispering her a promise he fully intended to keep.

"I'll get Samuel James for what he did to you Angela. I promise."

Angela nodded against his chest, wishing that her heart would stop breaking and that she would stop remembering.

Angela waited until Temperance and Booth left before heading to the roof of the building, a large brown paper bag under her arm. She found a large rusted bin in the corner, pulling it painfully to the centre before unloading the contents into the bin. She dropped in her once favourite handbag, her wallet, her shoes, her torn and bloody underwear, her skirt, her top as well as the jewellery that she had been wearing the night of the attack. She doused it with accelerator and then touched the lighter flame to the clothes. It burnt with a blue-orange flame, the heat warming her face and hands. She watched and waited until her belongings were burnt down to a fine grey ash, getting rid of a small piece of physical evidence from her attack. Now if only she could do that same to her body, reducing the marks to a pile of ash that she could just blow away. She felt like she had been forced into a half-death and now there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. Except wait. Wait and hope she would heal so that she just might be Angela again.

Angela never really minded being the centre of attention, had never been one to shy away from it. But now, as she felt eyes follow her every move, she knew that she didn't want or need this kind of attention. Hardly anyone had looked her in the eye all day and instead of the careless banter, the office was laced with pity for what had happened to her. Everyone was treating her as some sort of helpless victim, not their colleague and friend. The only two people who looked her in the eye were Booth and Brennan but Angela could see the pity mixed with the concern and it made her fell ill. She wanted everything back to normal. She was more then willing to get lost in her work, to forget what happened, but no one was allowing her that simple luxury.

"Stop fluttering Brennan."

Temperance halted her movement at Angela's side.

"I was not fluttering, I was working."

Angela gave Temperance a doubtful look.

"You're fluttering. You don't need to worry about me, I'm fine."

"I know, I just don't want you to push yourself too hard."

Angela rolled her eyes at her.

"Drawing pictures is hardly physically strenuous Brennan. I'm fine, I just wish people would stop treating me like I have a terminal illness."

Temperance put her hand over Angela's, trying to lend her some support, struggling to understand her point of view.

"They're just not used to dealing with this kind of situation."

Angela pulled her hand out form Temperance's, her eyes dark with anger.

"What and I am? Do any of you realise just how hard it is on me when you look at me with pity in your eyes? It's like being raped all over again."

Angela gave Temperance one last glance before storming out of the office and the lab.

Temperance found herself at Booth's house, not quite sure as to why she was there. Booth didn't ask any questions as he made her a homemade burger and a large screwdriver. They sat down, eating in silence for a little while before Booth spoke.

"So before I die of curiosity, why are you here?"

Booth sipped at his glass as he waited for Temperance to answer.

"I had a fight with Angela just after you left. She's pissed at everyone, me included."

Booth frowned.

"Why is she pissed with everyone?"

Temperance licked the mustard off her thumb before wiping her mouth on a napkin.

"Because of the way everyone was treating her today. She said it was like being raped all over again. I should not have tried to comfort her, I should have just left well enough alone."

Booth shook his head.

"Ange is just in a bad place right now. I don't think anyone saying the right thing is going to make things any better for her. She just needs to heal."

"But I can't seem to not keep my mouth shut. She gets upset and I try to make it better and more often then not, I make it worse. I need to get my mouth sewn shut like a shrunken head I think."

Booth gave Temperance a soft smile.

"As nice as that visual is, I don't think it would work. Angela's just venting and you just happen to be the one who gets it. It's got nothing to do with what you say. Trust me."

Temperance nodded and they sat in silence again, each needing at least three re-fills of their drinks, relaxing for the first time properly since Angela's attack.

"I should be able to do something to make this easier on her, I'm her friend. It's my job."

Temperance's words slurred softly, her eyes a little unfocused as she spoke. Booth moved from his seat to come and sit next to her.

"You're there for her and that makes it a little easier. Short of shooting and killing her rapist and bringing her the head on a platter, I don't think you can do much more.

"I like the killing and shooting thing. Lets do that. Then you'll have to give me a gun. But you can do the decapitation thing. Too messy. Mind you, you could ruin your expensive suit…"

Temperance let her head land on Booth's shoulder, the combination of alcohol and his body heat making her sleepy, her ramblings about decapitation continuing softly into his shirt.

"Hey Bones?"

Booth's voice was close to her ear, his breath caressing the soft skin of her neck.

"Mmm?"

Temperance could not be bothered opening her eyes, didn't want reality to invade her sleepy thoughts.

"Do you want to spend the night?"

All the cobwebs evaporated and Temperance shot into a sitting position, her head no longer on Booth's shoulder.

"I hardly think that's appropriate given the situation – "

Booth started to laugh, his chest shaking as he tried to get some air to explain himself. Temperance sat stunned by his side surprised by his reaction as well as his proposal.

"Bones, you've had enough to drink to put you over the limit. I thought you could sleep in my room and I would take the sofa."

Temperance sagged back into the sofa in relief.

"I knew that. And yes please."

Booth continued to laugh under his breath as he moved into his room and began to straighten things up, shoving unwashed shits into the laundry basket and having a quick smell of the sheets and pillowcases to make sure they were clean.

"You don't need to clean for me. A bed's a bed."

Temperance stood in the doorway, the alcohol causing her to lean heavily on the hard wood doorframe. Booth ran his eyes over her quickly.

"You'll need something to sleep in. Here, take one of my old shirts.

He threw a grey Cubs shirt in her direction, which despite her dopey demeanour, Temperance caught easily, the fabric soft and worn against the skin of her hand. Booth grabbed one of the pillows off the bed and a thick blanket out of the wardrobe before heading back out into the living room.

"Night Bones."

"Night Booth."

Temperance waited until the door was closed securely behind Booth before stripping off and putting Booth's old shirt on and hopping into his bed. She laid still for a moment imaging Angela's reaction if she knew that she was sleeping in Booth's bed, that was until sleep stole all her thoughts away and she fell into a peaceful slumber.

When Booth woke up, it was still dark and he could hear footsteps padding into the kitchen. Ever since he could remember, he knew how to read people's footsteps. When he was little he knew exactly who was coming down the hallway, whether it was his mother, father or brothers, just by listening to the footfalls. And it still was a talent he carried with his now. Angela's footsteps were quick and confident, Zach's hurried and nervous, Hodgins ones were kind of lazy and his own were more of a confident stride. Temperance had more of a hard confident step, as if she always had somewhere to go, something to do. And now as she padded quietly into the kitchen, he knew she was almost tiptoeing as to not disturb him. He peeked his head out over the top of the couch, watching as Temperance poured herself a glass of OJ, the arm movement pulling the old grey shirt to her mid-thigh, exposing white flesh to Booth's watchful gaze. Booth fell back into the couch, trying to convince himself that he had seen nothing. Trying to tell himself that a fully grown man, an FBI agent no less can not be jealous of an old t-shirt. As he lay on the couch, listening as Temperance quietly closed the fridge and padded back into his room to sleep in his bed, he knew that he would not be getting to sleep. Because jealousy seemed to be the perfect way to keep it at bay

He felt the anger seep into his pores as he watched her kiss another man. She was his and she was cheating on him in front of the whole world. He could kill her right then had he wanted to but he decided to wait. She was going on holiday soon and he would follow and then he would love her out of state. He would teach her how cheaters paid for their sins.

Angela had called the meeting only hours earlier and as she stood in front of her friends and colleagues, her confidence returned. She had to do this, had to make sure that they knew what they thought was right was actually wrong for her.

"Thank you gathering on such short notice. I know that you all have heard what happened to me almost three weeks ago, whether it be through the papers or just general office gossip. And I know that you all feel sorry for what happened and I appreciate that. But it would help me a lot more if you treated me that same as you always have, no special treatment. I am still the same Angela and it would help me a lot if I were treated that way. Thank you."

Angela stepped out of the room and moved back into her office, sinking into her seat, her head coming to rest on her desk. She had finally had her stitched removed and all the bruising and cuts had finally faded into nothingness. According to the doctor, she was physically fine. But mentally, Angela could still feel the ripples of the attack. The smell of cigars and whisky made her physically sick and the idea of using an ATM made her feel faint and weak. As for being intimate with a man, at this point Angela would be happy to remain celibate, join Temperance in her crusade to be without a man and die an old spinster. Angela found herself wishing she had the power ti stop the world for a little while she that she could get herself back on track before falling back into her everyday routine again.

"Hey Angela, nice speech."

Hodgins stood in the doorway, a small smile on his face.

"What is it Hodgins?"

Angela gave him a hard look as he settled himself in the seat across from her.

"I wanted to apologize. For the way I've been acting lately. It was completely sub-conscious I promise."

Angela gave him a smile, meeting his eyes properly for the first time in weeks.

"Thanks, it means a lot for you to say that."

Hodgins nodded firmly.

"Good. Booth showed a picture of Samuel James around the office, told us to memorize his face. I took one home so I could practise my darts. Booth's on a crusade to catch this guy."

Angela smiled.

"Yeah he is. He made me a promise and he's a man of his word."

Hodgins stood, pausing at the doorway.

"I just wanted you to know that we are doing everything in our power to help."

"I know and I appreciate that."

He made a move to leave before changing his mind and turning to Angela again.

"Are you and Dr Brennan still fighting?"

Angela shrugged, even she was unsure.

"Don't know. Why?"

"Because you really can't afford to push her away when you need her so much."

Hodgins gave Angela a quick nod as he left the room. Angela put her head back on her desk, wondering when he had turned so Dr. Phil on her.

"Brennan?"

Temperance closed the Samuel James file quickly, pushing it under some other files before turning her attention to Angela.

"Yeah Angela?"

Angela stayed where she was in the doorway, hands in her pockets.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you the other day"

Temperance waved the apology away with a smile.

"Not a problem. After we fought, I slept at Booth's anyway."

Angela's mouth fell open.

"You slept with Booth?"

Temperance smiled.

"I never said that. I slept in his bed and he slept on the sofa."

Angela gave her a wide smile.

"You really should not get a girl worked up like that."

Angela moved further into the room, more then happy to loose herself in some Booth/Brennan gossip. She settled herself in a chair opposite her friend, her smile twisted into a sly grin.

"So you and Booth huh?"

Temperance shook her head.

"There is no me and Booth."

Angela nodded slowly.

"Oh yeah there is. He likes you Brennan and you like him. A blind man on a galloping horse could see it."

Temperance looked confused as she opened her mouth to protest, Angela beating her to the punch.

"It's a saying sweetie. It means that you guys are obvious. So did you have a change of clothes?"

Temperance shrugged.

"Not really. He gave me an old cubs T-shirt."

"Oh sexy."

Temperance rolled her eyes at her friend.

"I swear Angela, it's all in your head. Booth and I are partners and friends, end of story."

Angela shrugged, not quite finished with the argument yet.

"Denial is not just a river in Egypt."

Temperance frowned at Angela.

"The Nile actually runs through Egypt."

Angela shrugged.

"Whatever. So are we ok?"

Temperance smiled.

"Always. How are you feeling?"

Angela frowned a little, not liking the attention being on her again.

"Yeah ok I suppose. I'm going to a rape support group a couple of times a week as well as the counselling that my doctor ordered for me. It's just odd talking about it, it almost feels like it happened to another person named Angela, not me."

Temperance stayed silent as Angela continued to talk.

"The police think they have a lead as to where James is but they don't know if it's for real. Remember how Booth said that people didn't want to say anything because of threats and stuff? They are concerned that it might just be a false lead."

"Booth never said anything to me about it."

"I know, I figured he would have told me as well. Turns out that they won't let Booth have any kind of involvement in the case because it's classed as personal because of his friendship with me."

Temperance frowned.

"Really? That's stupid. So I wonder how Booth's doing his tracking then."

Angela shrugged.

"I don't care as long as they catch him soon. It creeps me out no end that he's still out there prowling for his next victim."

"Me too."

He looked at the packed suitcase before him, smiling to himself as he envisioned just how this trip would go. He would leave her be for a couple of days, watching at a distance before moving in for the fun and games. He could hardly wait to tell her just how much he loved he and to hear her scream for mercy.

Booth was sick to death of red tape. And the statement 'You can't be in on this Booth, you are too involved with the squints' that people threw into his face every time he tried to get information. And that's why he was doing what he was today, walking into the under belly of DC, trying all of his connections to find out where James was. Of course when she heard of his plan, Temperance had insisted on coming along for the ride. And he was glad for her company, as annoying as it sometimes was. So that's how Booth found himself walking with Temperance down a ratty pathway, passing some kids who were double-dutching. He had gone a few more steps before he realised the Temperance was no longer by his side, and looked up to find her watching the kids double-dutching, her hands keeping in rhythm to the ropes as they brushed the cracked concrete.

"Bones, what are you doing?"

Temperance kept her eyes on the ropes, her head moving slightly with their movement.

"You ever double-dutched Booth?"

Booth ran his hand through his hair with a sigh.

"Bones we don't really have-"

And with that, Temperance threw herself in amongst the ropes, her hair bouncing off her shoulders as she jumped neatly. She looked at Booth through the ropes, a smile on her face.

"Come on Booth, you know you want too."

Booth sighed again, knowing that he was waging a loosing battle against the fun, teasing grin on Temperance's face.

"I don't know how to double-Dutch Brennan. Jump rope was never one of my strongest activities."

Temperance left the ropes neatly, coming to stand beside Booth, a little out of breath.

"All you do is watch the ropes and you'll see the rhythm, then you jump in."

Booth did as he was told, and as promised the rhythm soon came through.

"You ready Booth?"

Temperance didn't wait for an answer, just grabbed his hand and pulled him into the ropes beside her. And Booth could not stop the grin from coming on his face as he kept up with the ropes, matching his jumps with Temperance with well-practised ease. In fact it was Temperance who hooked the rope on her boot, ending the games for now. They thanked the kids before continuing their journey down the road.

"What was that about Bones?"

Temperance shrugged.

"Angela said I'm never spontaneous. That was me being spontaneous."

Booth shook his head, giving up, just for the moment, his crusade to untangle the mystery that was Temperance Brennan. He would tackle it after this situation was sorted.

"Ok Bones, I need you to stay quite ok? No talking, nothing. Pretend you have a sewn mouth like a shrunken head for a little while ok?"

Temperance nodded as Booth thumped loudly on the door of the house that looked like a strong wind would bring it crashing around their ears. Booth thumped again, this time adding his voice to get the tenants attention.

"Come on Harry, open this door! I will knock it down if you don't open it!"

Temperance heard the security chain slide off the door and watched as it opened just a crack. Having expected a vicious criminal, Temperance found herself a little disappointed with the man before her. He was a little person or dwarf, as they were more commonly known. His was wearing a white sleeve less undershirt that Temperance could see used to be white but was now blotched with food and other stains. The only thing that scared her about this man was the BO marks underneath his arms that had stained the shirt yellow.

"What the hell do you want Booth?"

Booth leaned on the doorway, looking down at the little dirty man.

"You owe me a favour and I'm looking to collect."

It was then that Harry noticed Temperance, who had stepped back slightly, to get away from the strong smell coming from the house. His eyes travelled up and down her body and she kept her hands in her pockets to stop herself from punching him hard in the jaw.

"Don't look at her like that Harry, she'll break you in half."

Harry glared at booth before opening the door wider, allowing Booth and Temperance to enter his home, before closing it in a hurry behind them. Temperance had no desire to be inside the house, the smell of rotting food and drugs making her head spin. She continued to stand as Booth sat in a chair that looked like the only one that could bear any kind of weight, his posture casual.

"So as I said, I need to collect on a favour. I need information on the rape that happened in Grove Road."

Harry nodded vaguely, his eyes watching Temperance as she investigated the apartment. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her, it's not often she would get to go into a dealers apartment. And she was utterly disgusted by how this man lived. The dishes were stacked so high that she could not reach the top dish even in her high boots. She could smell the marijuana and could see white powder on a mirror that she was certain had nothing to do with making icing for a cake.

"What do you need to know?"

Booth leaned forward.

"Where he is."

Harry held up his hands, his confidence falling from his face.

"I can't tell you that Booth, they'll kill me for even talking to you."

Booth frowned.

"Who are they?"

"James's family and supporters. You don't want to tangle with them."

Booth gave Harry a hard look.

"This is personal for me Harry. Talk to me now."

Harry shook his head, his mouth closed tightly. Temperance had seen the movement, moving quickly to Booth's side, reaching out and grabbing Harry wrist, twisting it into an unnatural position. Harry cried out, his face turning red in pain.

"My partner here is not just a pretty face. You don't talk and she'll do things to you that would make the James family look like a bunch of clowns. I'll let her break your wrist, then your fingers, then your arms and maybe your legs. Changed your mind yet Harry?"

Harry nodded and Temperance released his arm, fighting the urge to wipe her hand on her pants to clean it off.

"He's gone to Nevada with his new girlfriend."

Booth frowned.

"His girlfriend or another victim Harry?"

Harry rubbed his wrist, his face stormy with anger.

"He's never had a relationship Booth, you do the math."

Booth nodded his thanks, opening the front door for Temperance and closing it behind him. Temperance took great gulps of fresh air before speaking.

"Where to now?"

Booth gave her a quick smile.

"Nevada."

Temperance was in her office tying up loose ends when Angela walked in, glancing at the suitcases in the centre of the room.

"Going somewhere?"

Temperance nodded as she stacked the files she had finished with into a haphazard pile.

"Nevada. With Booth."

Angela's eyebrows shot into her hairline, her eyes wide.

"Wow you guys move quickly."

Temperance flashed Angela a hard look.

"It's not like that and you know it. Booth has a lead on Samuel James."

Angela nodded, at a loss for words over the dedication of her friends with what had happened to her. Booth was a friend but he didn't have to track this guy down like he was neither did Temperance. But they were. Because they loved her and wanted this guy caught as much if not more then she did.

"You don't have to do this."

"I know but I want to. That and someone needs to control Booth, keep him in line."

Angela smiled.

"Really? I thought it would be the other way around."

Temperance raised one eyebrow.

"I don't loose control. I just extend it a little at times. I should be back in a few days. Move into my place if you want. I have a fully stocked fridge and the most comfortable bed in DC."

Angela shrugged.

"Maybe. Leave your keys with me and I might be there when you get back. Be careful ok?"

Temperance nodded as Angela pulled her into a tight hug. Angela pulled back first, sniffing slightly.

"And you tell Booth to look after you. I don't want to have to hurt him."

"He doesn't need to look after me, I can do fine on my own."

"I don't care just make sure you come home safe and sound ok?"

Temperance nodded as she handed the still sniffing Angela her house keys, picking up her suitcases as she headed out the door.

"And make sure you call me once you get there. No excuses."

Temperance gave Angela a mock salute as she walked out of her office and the lab.

"You were meant to get two rooms Booth. Two!"

Booth threw his suitcase onto the bed, loosing his tie.

"There's nothing they could do Bones. We gave them a days notice and this was all that was available."

Temperance lugged her own suitcase onto the bed with a sigh.

"I know and I'm sorry. I haven't slept much lately and I'm cranky."

"Yeah I can see that. How about we go and get something to eat, drink a bit of coffee to take that edge off the crankiness?"

Temperance nodded and they left their suitcases, unpacked on the bed and headed to a café they had passed on the way to the motel. They settled themselves in a booth and ordered coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches. Once the waitress had left them alone, Temperance turned her attention back to Booth.

"So what's the plan here?"

Booth shrugged as he stirred sugar into his coffee.

"Didn't really have one beyond getting here."

Temperance dropped her spoon into her mug, the silver clattering aggressively against the rim.

"What? You don't have plan? We go over a vicious serial rapist, soon to be a killer and you don't have a plan?"

Booth held up his hands, as if to fend off the verbal attack.

"Bones, calm down. I have friends here who can help me. After lunch we'll go visit the police station ok?"

Temperance felt the wave of panic leave her and returned to stirring her coffee, watching the brown liquid spin faster and faster.

"You know what always got me?"

Booth shook his head he waited for the answer to her own question.

"Why Angela and I are friends."

"Because opposites attract I guess."

Temperance cocked her eyebrow.

"Yeah but even you have to admit we have a pretty serious case of opposites."

Booth nodded a small smile on his face.

"Yeah I'll give you that. But it works."

"I know it does but why does it work? She's so logical and sane. She's the one you go to for relationship advice. You come to me if you want to talk about bones."

Booth shrugged.

"You're pretty logical and sane too."

"Yes I might be but ask me a question about relationships and I'll just end up yabbering about nothing before sending you to Angela."

Booth nodded.

"True. You guys balance each other out. Simple as that. I think you and I get on pretty well despite our differences. We balance each other out as well just in a different way."

Temperance said nothing just sipped quietly at her coffee offering the waitress a smile as she brought them their sandwiches. She watched the waitress leave before throwing another question at Booth.

"Why am I angrier about this whole thing then Angela is?"

Temperance hated feeling normal. She liked to think that sometimes she was above all those feelings that made people so easy to hurt, so easy to destroy. But since Angela's attack all Temperance could feel was a red-hot anger burning in her chest. One that seemed to attach itself to her very core, one that she could not shake. Normally, when she felt anger like that she would go to the gym do a bit of kickboxing and it would be gone. But this anger had become a living, breathing part of her. Booth gave her a small smile.

"I don't know the answer to that. All I know is that Angela is dealing with it much better then other victims of rape I have met."

Temperance cocked her head slightly, her curiosity getting the best of her

"What do you mean?"

Booth cleared his throat as he allowed the memories back in.

"They can kill themselves, self harm, turn to drugs or alcohol to cope or even end up in the loony bin. Angela is a lot stronger then anyone I know aside from you. She'll be ok, it might just take a little time."

"And Samuel James is going to pay for what he did to her."

Booth clanked his mug gently against Temperance's.

"Amen sister. So what is Angela's plans while you are away?"

"I told her to stay at my place. Whether she takes up the offer is entirely up to her. I just don't like the idea of her being alone or unsafe. I feel kind of guilty being here with you and not with her."

"Behold Bones AKA mother hen."

Temperance gave Booth a withering look.

"Don't mock me."

"Me mock you? Now why would I do that?"

"Because it's what you live for"

"True. Oh and women, beer, the sports channel-"

Temperance held up her hands.

"Ok stop now. I get the picture."

She gave Booth the beginnings of a smile before starting on her sandwich, letting the light atmosphere settle on her for a little while. Angela would be annoyed if she didn't relax just a little.