A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed and said so many nice things. You made my tired little heart very happy!

And in response to a couple of questions I was asked, no I have never been to Quantico myself (us general public types aren't allowed, dammit!) but I did a little research & asked a few people who have been there so the factual info is largely accurate, though please forgive me a little poetic licence. That said, yes Hogan's Alley does actually have a casino to teach agents to gamble, which is just asking for trouble if you ask me….

Anyway, back to Bones. It's gonna get a little more angsty & gory from here on in. Hope you like it, and please don't forget to review. The first five today get a chance at winning my soul….

Thanks as ever go to the lovely Ava, cheerleader extrordinaire!

Temperance Brennan's feet pounded the path as she raced through the trees, the morning dew sticking to her shoes as she sliced through the damp air.

While at Quantico, she had decided to take full advantage of the facilities. Although she was still waiting for approval to use her gun on the multiple firing ranges, she was allowed to use the training grounds.

Skirting round one of the many obstacles on the course, Brennan kept on running, trying to rid herself of some of the anger that had built up from the day before. Her disagreement with Doctor Harwood and the look of frustration on Booth's face just kept playing through her mind.

No, she corrected herself, it was worse than that. It had been a look of disappointment in his eyes, something she'd rarely seen before. It had hurt more than she cared to admit.

Still running, Brennan evaluated how she could deal with the situation. She had not seen Doctor Harwood since she left the dining room the night before. Instead, various new recruits had escorted her and the others around the premises, showing them the labs and taking them to their rooms. The rest of her team were decidedly awkward around her following the argument, though they had relaxed back to their normal selves within the hour.

She hadn't seen Booth all night either and that bothered her most of all. He was supposed to be her partner, not wandering off after former… Former what? Recruits, partners, girlfriends?

She swallowed hard, her feet speeding up as she charged onwards, her breath becoming a little ragged in her lungs as she took on a steep incline.

Brennan began to weigh up her possible courses of action. Once she got back to her room and showered, she had about an hour's spare time before her lecture would start. Maybe she could track down Doctor Harwood and apologise.

She frowned, shaking her head to herself as she ran. She didn't want to apologise, not really. She had believed in what she said. Psychology was a soft science as far as she was concerned. Guesswork and hunches were never going to be as good as the facts.

You should have been more tactful in your opinions, Temperance. All the books you've read on conducting professional relationships, the things you've learnt from being around Booth, you should have been nicer to Katie. She hasn't done anything to you except be friendly. Especially with Booth…

The sudden realisation of what was really bothering her nearly stopped her in her tracks. Speeding up as she came over the crest of the hill, Brennan knew all her problems with the Doctor came down to the simple fact that Booth was friendly with her. A little too friendly.

He went charging off after her, not me.

Realising the ridiculous nature of her thoughts, she broke through the tree line and slowed to a jog as she approached the main building. Marching through the lobby, she nodded in greeting at a few recruits making their way to breakfast. All staring at her open-mouthed and clutching her book, she knew she'd be seeing them at her lecture.

Weaving through the multiple glass corridors until she reached the dormitories, Brennan strolled in to her room and flicked on the light.

Something was wrong.

Instantly on the alert, Brennan felt herself instinctively move in to a battle-ready position, her fists clenched as she rocked on the balls of her feet. Hearing movement behind her, she swung round and slammed the intruder hard into the wall, her forearm pressing against their throat.

It took her a moment to realise who it was and release him. Backing away slightly, she offered up a sheepish grin.

"I'm really sorry, Booth. You just took me by surprise."

Rubbing his throat, he shook his head with a chuckle. Hearing his laughter, Brennan felt herself relax as she perched on the edge of her bed, removing her trainers.

"It's alright, Bones. I thought you might want some breakfast."

Brennan nodded as she smiled up at her partner.

"Sure. I'm just glad you're not mad at me. You know, about everything…"

Her voice was hopeful as they locked eyes. She saw frustration flash across his face but it was gone as quickly as it had arrived. Instead, he was giving her his charm smile as he threw a towel at her.

"You're my partner so I guess I'm just stuck with you, no matter how opinionated you are. Now get a shower before you really start to stink."

Grinning, she moved in to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She heard Booth turn on the tv in the other room and she sighed happily as she turned on the shower, feeling the hot spray washing away the tenseness in her shoulders.

He was her partner. Smiling in to the stream of water, Brennan felt the relief flood through her. He was always going to be her partner.

And I'll always be his.

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Walking in to the enormous dining hall, Brennan and Booth made their way over to the long table where the rest of the team were tucking in to breakfast. Angela grinned up at them, obviously relieved that the pair were talking again.

"Hey you two, we wondered where you'd got to."

Booth grinned down at her and snatched what was left of a sausage off her plate, ignoring the glare he received in return. A deep voice approached, causing the agent to turn.

"Seeley! It's good to see you again."

An easy grin spread across Booth's face as he shook his old teacher's hand.

"Nate, it's good to see you too."

He turned back around, presenting his friend to the group.

"Everyone, this is Agent Nathaniel Rouse. Sir, this is Angela Montenegro, Zach Addy, Doctor Jack Hodgins and Doctor Temperance Brennan."

He shook each person's hand in turn, smiling broadly.

"Your reputations precede you all, especially yours Doctor Brennan. I'm looking forward to your lecture this morning. If it's anything like your books, I'm sure it will be both highly entertaining and educational."

Brennan smiled, shaking his hand warmly.

"Thank you, Agent Rouse. I believe it's actually you who is introducing me today, right?"

He grinned, waving a finger in her direction.

"Indeed I am, but you really must call me Nate. If I can get an old army boy like Seeley here to stop calling me sir, I'm sure you can manage."

She smiled and nodded. Nate was friendly and incredibly charming, his broad smile reminding her of Booth's somewhat. Maybe this was where he learnt it.

"I'll do my best, Nate. And please, call me Temperance."

She cast an appreciative eye over the instructor, who she guessed to be in his late forties. He was wearing a dark blue suit, the jacket slung over a muscular forearm, the deep green of his tie highlighting the hazel in his eyes. She caught herself smiling as she noticed there was no wedding ring on his finger.

Turning away to look at the others, she hoped the group - and Booth in particular - hadn't noticed the blush that had begun to creep up her neck.

A glimpse of blonde caught Brennan's eye. Turning, she saw Doctor Harwood at the end of the cafeteria queue, deliberating over what to eat. Brennan took a deep breath to steady herself and smiled at the group.

"Excuse me for a minute."

She moved away from them, aware of Booth's eyes watching her with an expression of thanks. He knew how stubborn she was and that apologising wasn't easy for her so she hoped he would appreciate the gesture she was about to offer up.

Grabbing a tray, she slipped in to the queue behind Katie.

"Good morning, Doctor Harwood."

She turned, surprised. The smile she offered back was professional but the look in her eye showed that Brennan's words the day before had cut deeper than she'd realised.

"Doctor Brennan, I trust you slept well."

Temperance swallowed hard and decided to just bite the bullet.

"Doctor Harwood… Katie, I feel I should apologise to you for what I said yesterday."

The profiler stopped, turning to face Brennan with a slight look of surprise. With a sigh, she nodded slowly.

"I understand your hesitations with my profession. I had just hoped…"

She tailed off and Brennan felt a distinct sense of guilt gnawing at her stomach.

"Whatever I feel about profiling or psychology in general, that is no reflection on you, Doctor Harwood. You were right to criticise me for my lack of respect. It was unprofessional and unfair. It won't happen again."

Katie smiled and offered her hand towards the anthropologist, one eyebrow raised.

"Let's just agree to disagree then, shall we?"

Brennan shook her hand, smiling broadly.

"Indeed. Now, do they have anything for breakfast that's not fried to within an inch of its life?"

Katie just laughed and pointed at the cereals further down the line. Brennan smiled, feeling a strange sense of relief. The vulnerability and hurt she had seen in Katie's eyes had rid Brennan of the bad feeling she'd been holding about the profiler. Booth was right to be friendly with her, she actually seemed quite nice.

Moving away to raid the cereal section, Brennan didn't notice Booth watching her from the other side of the dining hall, his eyes full of pride.

He knew she probably hadn't wanted to apologise and that she'd mainly done it for him, but that was just one of the many reasons why he was happy to be her partner.

It was just one of the many reasons why he loved her.

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The lecture was almost over and Brennan knew it had gone well. Zach, Hodgins and Angela stared up from the front row, their expressions a mixture of pride and support. Brennan had not seen Booth but she knew he was somewhere in the full lecture theatre. She could feel it.

Leaning in towards the microphone, she clicked the button for the next slide to appear behind her, her voice carrying over the 1,000 seat lecture hall. Not that people were just sat in seats. Recruits and instructors alike were crammed into every nook and cranny, lining the walls and sitting in the aisles.

"As far back as 1938, the Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, wrote to the then Curator of the Jeffersonian Institute, Professor Daniel Payne, to aid in the evaluation of specimens that were though to be irrefutably human. This was the result."

Glancing behind her at the screen as the drawing of an angry chimp appeared, laughter rumbled through the auditorium. Catching Nate's eye, he grinned at her and winked. Brennan smiled briefly and turned back to the crowd.

"Despite this early disagreement, the FBI and the Jeffersonian have forged a mutually beneficial, if somewhat tense, relationship which survives to this day. Thank you."

Hearty applause erupted throughout the hall, led enthusiastically by a beaming Angela. Brennan grinned back at her as Agent Rouse crossed to the microphone.

"That's it for today everyone. Those who brought copies of 'Bred In The Bone' with them may form an orderly queue as Doctor Brennan has kindly agreed to sign them."

He pointed a stern finger at a pale young man with glasses scrambling through the crowd.

"I said orderly queue Mr Reynolds…"

He turned back to Brennan with a charismatic smile that revealed rows of perfect teeth, clapping a hand on her back in congratulations.

"That was a simply superb lecture, Temperance. Well done!"

She couldn't help but grin back at him, feeling like a pupil who'd just been awarded an A by her favourite teacher.

"Thank you, Nate, that's very kind of you."

"Kind has nothing to do with it, Doctor. You truly are a credit to your field. And by the way, the photograph on the book jacket does not do you justice."

He wandered away, offering a quick wink at her as he crossed to the queue at the side of the stage, leaving Brennan to gather her notes with a bemused smile. Angela appeared at her side, grinning from ear to ear.

"I think Agent Hottie over there was flirting with you, Bren."

Brennan suppressed the urge to laugh as she slid her papers in to her case.

"I don't think he's quite young enough for you to be referring to him as a hottie, Ange."

The artist shrugged, her eyes roaming the older man.

"Well, he's hardly Agent OAP is he? If I knew the FBI churned out guys like him and Booth, I'd have joined years ago…"

Rouse turned to Brennan, beckoning her over to the crowd waiting at the side of the stage. For a moment, she was caught in his gaze and felt the blush returning to her cheeks. She broke the stare first, cursing herself for feeling like a little school girl in his presence. Angela nudged her forward.

"Your adoring fans await, my lady. Better not keep them waiting."

Shooting a look at her best friend, she moved across the stage. As she walked, she let her eyes roam the architecture of Rouse's face.

His dark hair was peppered grey and cut close to his head, giving him a distinguished air of authority that matched his roman nose and otherwise soft features. The skin around his eyes had developed crow's feet, revealing that he often smiled, though the lines across his forehead from frowning proved his serious side too.

Reaching the head of the queue, Brennan accepted the pen from Rouse, trying to ignore the frisson of electricity she felt as his hand brushed against hers. Turning to the crowd, she accepted the book that was thrust at her by the eager recruit Rouse had admonished for rushing earlier.

About to ask his name, the scream that split through the murmuring crowd tore Brennan's eyes away. Looking up through the tiers of seating to the back row, she saw Booth charging through the throng to reach a young woman who was pointing frantically at someone hunched over in their seat. Slinging a reassuring arm over the cadet's shoulders, Booth gave the man a quick glance before his gaze found Brennan's.

She didn't need to ask. The man was dead.

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Booth watched his partner's speech from the back of the packed lecture hall. He'd never seen the place so full, but then it wasn't often that the Academy played host to a bona fide celebrity.

He found it hard to reconcile his Brennan with the image all her fans held. Looking around the numerous young men staring at his partner lustfully, he knew the book's sex scenes had definitely been a major part of the draw for them to be here.

He couldn't help but shudder at the thought of all these men looking at Temperance, his Temperance. Sure, she was an incredibly good looking woman and she drew plenty of attention, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

The lecture ended and he clapped heartily, unable to keep the proud smile off his face as he heard a couple of girls sat in the back row whispering how they wished they were as smart as Doctor Brennan.

His eyes settled back on his partner as she brushed a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear, grinning up at Nate. Booth couldn't help but frown as he watched the interaction between his partner and his mentor.

They were flirting. Those smiles, the hand on her back, the way her eyes examined him. They were flirting.

Booth felt his jaw clench as his grip tightened around the poker chip in his pocket, a chip he'd surreptitiously stolen from this very institution.

How dare he make a move on my partner? How dare she let him?

He let out a long breath, trying to steady himself as he watched her cross the stage towards Rouse. He didn't even notice the crowds of people swarming past him to the exit, his eyes locked on his partner.

That's right, Booth, your partner. It's not like the two of you are dating. She's not yours to own. She should be able to flirt with whoever she wants.

His admonishment of himself did nothing to quell the feelings now gnawing at his stomach. He refused to admit it was jealousy.

Swallowing back his objections, Booth turned to leave when the scream tore through the theatre, causing everyone to freeze. Jumping over the seat in front of him, he darted right and pushed his way through the crowd to reach the young cadet standing on the back row.

Her eyes wide and full of tears, one hand covered her open mouth while the other pointed frantically at the man sat before her. Booth wrapped an arm around her shoulders, squeezing them slightly in support as he leant over the man.

Underneath the baseball cap, Booth could just see the man's mouth in the shadows. He was deathly pale, a thin trickle of blood beginning to congeal on his chin. Carefully, he wrapped his fingers round the man's wrist, already knowing he'd find no pulse under the cold skin.

Standing up straight, his eyes automatically found Brennan's. He didn't need to say anything. She already knew.

They had a case.

A/N: Yes, the end of Brennan's speech was what she said in 'The Boy In The Bush' but I don't know enough about anthropology to write my own version. That, and I just love the fact the FBI thought that a chimp was a person, hee hee. Please don't hate me… Reviewers get a chance at my soul. Yes, I'm selling it for encouragement. I'm a review ho, deal with it...