A/N: Sorry for the incredibly long wait. But this chapter is eleven pages and 3,897 words. I hope it was well worth the wait.

Oh, and before I forget, this chapter is rated 'M' due to a rather steamy scene towards the end. After reading some other BB sex scenes in other fics I could see what you guys meant by "hard" now and have improved upon said hardness of sex scene. I hope you all enjoy!

"Told you so." Brennan smirked not even bothering to give Booth the knowing look.

"Told me what, Bones? The skiing could be related to the case."

She gave him a pointed look before he sighed and moved in behind the wheel.

Chapter 8:

The questions with Ms. Rodriguez went much the same as with the previous parents. Faced with a forty five minute car drive Brennan was ready to walk to the next place if it meant that she could escape cage that was Booth's vehicle.

"Hey Bones, did you want to drive?" Booth asked just as they were approaching the back of the vehicle.

"Really, Booth?" She looked at him, clearly shocked. He never let her drive.

"Of course, you've been a very good girl." Booth grinned at her cheekily.

Not wanting to lose this opportunity, she snatched the keys from his open hand before he could take it back. She climbed into the driver's side seat and started the car, happy for the first time that day. That was, until Booth climbed into the passenger seat. Putting the SUV into drive (from the curb) they began the journey. Convinced that Booth would just look over the case and compare it to the newest facts they learned she almost sighed aloud.

Booth pulled out the files and let them sit in his lap.

"So now that we're alone and you can't run..." Booth started.

She spared him a panicked side glance while remaining silent.

"I know you've felt the sexual tension between us from the beginning, Bones."

Brennan was getting fidgety listening to him talk so bluntly.

"I don't want us to be just about sex is the thing," Booth began.

"Of course it can't be just about sex, Booth, we have our partnership and friendship to maintain as well."

He looked at her as if she had grown three heads.

Not wanting either of themselves to embarrass the other she continued.

"Angela once mentioned to me before that friends with benefits could be..." she paused, mentally searching for the correct word, "fun." It would have to do.

Schooling his face, Booth fought not to show the pained expression fighting to replace the neutral one on his face.

"Maybe we could just keep this as more of a casual sex relationship so it doesn't interfere with our working lives." She suggested logically. Maybe if she could get him to take this offer they'd be able to keep their friendship, working relationship, and she would still get to touch his hard body as he buried himself in her. Fighting the inevitable blush, she turned to stare out onto the road ahead of her.

Trying to maintain his composure Booth finally spoke up. "You want to be fuck buddies?"

"I – "

"Friends who have sex, Bones."

"Do you?" She asked nervously.

"I – " He paused, trying to think it all through. He'd been waiting months for a chance to come along where he could tell her his true feelings towards her, and this could be a window. But it looked like she didn't really want a conventional relationship with him. Of course, nothing involving the brilliant Temperance Brennan was ever conventional to begin with. If he could just shed his "stodgy" and traditional way of looking at relationships for a little while maybe she could learn to love him as he loved her. It was a big risk, but one he was willing to take to sway her mind in his favor. "Sure, Bones."

"Are you positive?" She asked, needing to be reassured.

"Yeah," he tried to say with as much confidence he wasn't feeling. He moved his hand to her upper thigh and squeezed it gently.

She turned and smiled sweetly at him making his heart do a most unnatural flutter. He was doomed. If all she had to do was smile like that to turn him into putty then he would give her the world to see it just once more then he was going to die a very lonely man if she didn't want him.

The remainder of the drive was spent talking details about the case, something that made them both more comfortable.

They arrived to the Zwittle residence by one o'clock that afternoon and they were both ready for a long nap. As they approached the front door a man in his late thirties was on his way out, whistling a tune and about to lock up.

Booth cleared his throat to get the guys attention and when he turned around the man looked momentarily shocked.

"Are you Harry Zwittle?" Booth asked taking a couple steps closer to the man.

"Yes, that's me."

"I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth, with the FBI and this is my partner Dr. Brennan. If we could just come in we have some news and questions for you."

"I was actually on my way out to work, could this wait?" The man asked, trying to skirt around the agent and doctor. "I'm already late."

"We have news about your wife, sir." Brennan added insistently.

"My Holly? Of course, come in. Please." He opened the door and allowed them to enter first. They took seats in the living room opposite Mr. Zwittle.

"I'm sorry to inform you that your wife had been found." Booth said solemly.

The man looked grief stricken. His features slumped into a uniform frown.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zwittle."

"When was the last time you saw your wife?" Brennan asked with more tact than usual.

Taking a deep breath the man began, "Holly left for her trip with her friend, Niki, on April 3rd to Maine. They were supposed to be back on April 11th, and I reported her missing the next day."

"Did she call while on this trip?" Booth asked.

"No, I'm afraid not." He shook his head in disappointment with himself. "Now that I look at it I wish I would have insisted that she contact me periodically."

"What was Niki's last name?" Booth asked. Brennan was eerily quiet beside him.

"Frans. Niki Frans."

"When did you last see Niki?" Brennan asked.

"When she came to pick up my wife. She stopped in only for a minute to help carry a few bags out to the car they were planning on driving.

"We'll let you be on your way to work, but if you think of something that may be important, please call me." Booth handed the man a card.

When they got back into the car, Brennan was the first to speak.

"I know it's rather illogical; but I don't like that man."

"Bones, are you using your gut?" Booth gave her his big charm smile.

"No."

"Maybe... your instincts?" His grin only grew.

"Most definitely, not." She said coldly, as stubborn as ever.

"I think I'm finally starting to rub off on you, Bones." It seemed his grin was contagious because Brennan couldn't help but smile even though she was fighting it inch by inch.

When they arrived to the next victim's home it looked deserted. Booth approached the front door with caution and held his arm out to the side to keep the doctor behind him. He was nearing the path to the door when Brennan brushed past him and made a beeline for the door.

"Bones!" Booth whined, exasperated.

"What? It's just a house!" She turned to say this to him, neglecting the abandoned house all together.

"BONES!" He rushed to her side and pushed her behind him. "I – "

"Alright, just play cop and get it over with," Brennan said, crossing her arms over her chest. If he was going to be the overprotective fool, then they might as well get it over with.

Booth approached the door and knocked with the hand that wasn't holding his gun. When there was no response he tried to jiggle the knob to find that it wouldn't budge. Brennan sighed exasperatedly and started checking windows for any sign of life.

"Nothing," She sighed.

They went back to the SUV and made there way back to the morgue to pick up the rest of the squints. Booth drove this time, since he had gotten all of the information he wanted out of her while she was driving. The drive was silent as both of them were running through the case; Brennan the evidence, and Booth his conjecture.

Brennan soon became drowsy and fell asleep with her face plastered to the window pane. Booth chuckled quietly at her. Anyone else would say that she looked ruffled and not so attractive with the tiniest hint of drool coming out the corner of her mouth, but he thought she was absolutely adorable.

Her phone rang towards the end of the trip and Booth thought she'd for sure wake up to answer it, but she was oblivious as she continued her car nap. Wincing, Booth reached across the vehicle and tried to tug the phone out of the breast pocket of her corduroy jacket with out making it seem like he was groping her in her sleep. After the fourth ring he was successful in rescuing the phone.

"Bones' phone," he said after flipping it open.

"D – Agent Booth?" Zach sputtered, clearly confused.

"Bones is asleep for the moment, what have you got for us?"

"Well, science-talk aside, all the victims were bound by chain and hovered over fire and burned alive. It looks as if they were beaten and tortured while being strung up too."

Booth winced at the plain way in which Zack spoke of the victim's dark fate; he was clearly learning fast from Brennan on the detachment portion of being a forensic anthropologist.

"Are you using my phone, again?" Brennan scowled at him, half awake.

Instead of arguing with her he handed her the phone and mouthed 'Zack' to her. She leaned across the vehicle and took the phone from his hand.

"Zack, what've you got?" Brennan listened, "yeah – okay." More listening. "We're coming by to pick you guys up and go back to the hotel. See you in..." She paused and looked over at Booth to answer for her.

"Ten minutes."

"Ten minutes," Brennan mimicked.

She closed the phone and placed it back into her pocket. Booth constantly stole glances at her for the remaining trip. Brennan looked to be phased out and asleep with her eyes open, otherwise she would've made some snide remark about how he kept staring.

They arrived and the squints were waiting outside and hopped in when the vehicle slowed to a stop. Through the car ride back, Brennan took reports from each member of the team – soaking in as much information as possible.

They now knew that victims one and two have been buried for four months, victims three and four had been buried for three months, and victims five and six had been buried for about a month.

"If the trend holds true, then our killer is probably looking for his next two victims." Brennan stated.

"And so far we know that the pairs of victims were friends, probably very close." Booth added.

"Were they kidnapped at the same time?" Angela asked from the back window seat.

"No, each girl was taken on different days, except in the case of Niki and Holly." Booth said.

"So someone knew that these girls and women were best friends and selected them for that reason or another." Angela said.

"A best friend killer?" Brennan said sarcastically. "I highly doubt it. We don't know if these girls were best friends or just girls who had a class together or women who were in a book club together. This is all just conjecture. So far the facts say that these women were about the same age and knew each other – and this may not even hold true for our last two victims. We haven't even met with their parents yet."

"It's just an idea," Angela defended half heartedly.

When they arrived at the hotel they again checked for another room but were let down once again.

"I think we could all use a drink to relax," Hodgins suggested.

The squints all nodded, including Brennan, who looked like she could fall asleep standing.

"I'm going to pass for a shower. I'll meet you guys at the hotel restaurant for dinner at eight?" Booth asked.

They nodded and parted ways.

Booth climbed into the shower seeking a brief minute or two of relaxation and relief from the tension that was seeping into his back muscles from the day spent in a vehicle with the bane of his existence. Turning the hot water as high as it would go he rolled his shoulders and groaned with satisfaction. Rubbing his hands through his short hair he began to stretch out his achy limbs that were sore from last night's acrobatics and being cramped in a vehicle for long periods of time. Crossing his arms in front of him he rested his forearms on the wall under the hot spray of water and let his head fall onto his arms. Each muscle began to slowly relax as he let his thoughts wander to his Bones.

She was just so infuriating! Why did he have to fall for her of all people? She was stubborn, had horrible social skills, never said anything right, and – guh!

He heard the bathroom door quietly open and shut.

"You squints are horrible at respecting other people's privacy. I – "

The curtains drew back causing Booth to flinch and cover himself from any view. Brennan stepped in completely naked and after looking at Booth in his defensive position she laughed heartily at him. Booth's eyes widened at the heavenly sight before him. She looked like a Goddess out of an exotic fairy tale. Her skin had a light glow and her hair was tossled in wild waves. Her eyes were a deep shade of green with a hint of blue and he couldn't help but peruse the rest of her beautiful body while she stood only a foot and half away from him.

Her face flushed a light pink and she shied away from his intense gaze before he pulled her roughly to his body, which was already responding in a manner that left no doubt in Brennan's head that he found her attractive. He urgently pressed his mouth to hers as if he was depending on her for oxygen and she reciprocated in the same fashion. His large hands roamed up and down her sides making Temperance lose her train of thought. The feelings he was causing to rush through her very core, taking over her body so she had no will power of her own was addictive.

Knowing what she wanted, Brennan scraped her fingers down the front of his chiseled chest and let her right hand rest on his large member while her left hand massaged his balls. Booth jolted back at the extreme amount of pleasure she was causing him and at her direct approach. She always did go straight to the goal with out taking any illogical detours. He returned to be pressed to her body once recovered from the initial shock. Her skin felt so soft against his. He ran his hands up from her waist line to her creamy globes and balanced them in his large hands before letting his fingers work their magic over her breasts. She arched into his touch allowing her head to fall back in the moment, gasping for much needed air.

He watched her slightly damp hair cling to the smooth skin of her neck before gently sucking on her pulse point and placing gentle but urgent kisses along her jaw line.

"Seeley..." His name passed her lips and he swore that he'd never hear it from anyone else's for as long as he lived if he could just hear her say it for the rest of their lives.

Dropping down so his head was level with her breasts, her hands losing their place on his body he enveloped a hardened nipple into his mouth and swirled it around with his tongue and nibbled until her moans and whimpers became a constant song in his ears. Her hands were tangled in his hair, not allowing him to move from his place. The woman was strong! He kissed his way to her other breast before allowing it the same pleasure its equal received only moments before.

"Fuck me, Booth," she whispered urgently.

"Tsk, tsk, Bones, ask nicely."

Seeley could feel himself growing close under the ministrations of her delicate hands and quickly grabbed her wrists to stop her. She pulled away from his lips to look at him inquisitively as if trying to analyze what his reaction was and why he had done it. He wanted to laugh at her, but he was too far gone in lust for that. He needed her desperately.

Letting go of her wrists, Seeley let his hands grip her hips before quickly spinning her around so her back was to him.

"What – " Temperance whispered, before his fingers began to explore her moist folds. Gently probing and stroking making her whimper and squirm. She pressed her hands on the wall in front of her to keep from falling as her knees began to wobble out of her control. It seemed that the only thing keeping her grounded was the one hand still on her hip and the marble wall of the shower/bath. His fingers deftly maneuvered around her slick opening, teasing her until she almost couldn't bare it any longer.

He removed his fingers, much to Brennan's disappointment, but before she could make her opinion heard she felt something hot at her opening before his dick was sheathed completely into her womb. A strangled cry of pleasure escaped her lips before she could stop it. Slowly, with his hands gripping her hips he moved in and out of her while she bit her lip trying not to scream from the ecstasy she was feeling with him inside of her.

Leaning over Seeley moved one of his hands to her breasts that were slowly swaying in time with their movements. He went back and forth between massaging her breast and pinching her taught nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

Temperance could feel herself growing close and she was panting with the effort standing in place. Wanting to go faster she bucked her hips into his and he groaned aloud with pleasure. Grinning, she continued to up the pace until Booth's hands stayed her hips so that he was tortuously going in and out of her so slowly that she thought she was going to explode.

"Booth!" She whined, trying on her own to go faster, seeking the release she needed so desperately.

A deep laugh fell past his lips at her impatience.

"I knew you'd be bossy in bed," Booth said mockingly.

Growling, Temperance moved to turn around and strangle him when he began to plunge in and out of her in quick successions. Gasping and moaning Brennan met him push for push.

Seeley was getting very close to coming and he could feel his partner close as well, but to be sure that she came first he brought his right hand around to the front of her hips and rolled his two fingers over her sensitive nub causing her hips to buck back and a loud gasp to escape her mouth. Her walls clenched around his stiff member before causing him to orgasm right behind her with a last couple thrusts.

Both felt their legs giving out on them slowly and so they sat with the spray of freezing water dousing their aching and exhausted bodies. Booth collected Tempe's weak body into his arms and lovingly stroked her back and arm, willing the love he felt for her into every touch.

Tempe, who normally wasn't into post-coital touching and feeling felt her body ache in an entirely different way then it normally did. She felt so safe and sheltered in his embrace. His touch was invoking emotions she had only read about and she felt herself growing close to tears for seemingly no reason. So, she snuggled closer into his arms and wished that she would never have to move, no matter how illogical the idea.

"I think this bathroom has seen way too much sex for just a few days," Booth joked.

"Booth, bathrooms don't have eyes, ergo, they can't see anything," Brennan rationalized from the warm cove of his arms, not daring to move and ruin the moment.

He chuckled, sending a deep resonate sound through his chest cavity and into Brennan's ear. It was like music that she would never get sick of.

"As much as I love holding you in a shower absolutely naked, the other squints could be back up here any minute." Booth said, his voice low and deep, causing Brennan to flush with heat she would now associate with this man.

Nodding, Brennan eased herself up and off her partner and offered him a hand. He took it and got to his feet.

"Now if you'll just let me finish my shower," Booth turned his back to her and began groping for a small bottle of shampoo he had brought.

"Nuh huh, it's my turn. You've had your time."

He turned to look at her in confusion.

"You heard me. Out!" Brennan giggled at his expression of defeat and began nudging him gently out of the shower.

"But now I've got soap in my hair!"

"Alright, rinse, then you're out." Brennan said in mock-fairness.

Scowling at her, Booth rinsed off quickly and stepped out of the shower, leaving Brennan to wash up.

Minutes passed after she heard the bathroom door shut and open and all the while Brennan couldn't move her mind past Booth. He was such an enigma to her. One moment he was mocking her with some pop culture and the next he was causing her more pleasure than anyone else in the past. Besides pleasure, he also showed her how to be happy with things that weren't ancient skeletons or artifacts. He continually brought to her cases that brought out the worst in human nature, and of course it got to her – every time, but he also got her out to see the best in human nature. Things she couldn't find outside the lab.

There was a pounding on the bathroom door, waking her from her thoughts.

"Bones! Angela is missing! We can't find her anywhere!" Booth's voice turned her insides to ice as she leapt out of the shower. Not even drying off she threw on jeans and a tank top that happened to be on the floor – not even concerned with undergarments.

Her best friend was missing.

A/N: Tada! This is it folks, the longest chapter ever written by myself, and I believe that it deserves many reviews! Please?

Next chapter up sooner, I promise.