(After 'The Beginning in the End')

Per several requests, this is a sequel to chapters 188, 189 and 190.

I don't own Bones.

Oooooooooooooooo

Surprisingly, Booth arrived in Germany and got a call from Hodgins. The entomologist had found out from Angela who had been told by Brennan that Booth was coming home and he wanted to get the agent home as soon as possible. He considered Brennan a very close friend and he wanted to make her happy. He knew that getting Booth safely home would make her very happy and it cost him very little to get someone working for the Cantilever Group in Europe to meet Booth at the airport as he came in and escort him to a private jet owned by the company and fly him home.

Booth had appreciated the offer. "Thank Hodgins. Are you and Angela still in Paris?"

We are, but we're talking about coming back. Since you and Brennan are going back to work then we may cut our stay and come back too. It's been a nice visit, but I'd love to get back to work. We can come back to Paris for vacations or long weekends.

"Alright. Don't tell Bones you're getting me home sooner. I want it to be a surprise." He waited to see if Hodgins would agree since he knew that the man was loyal to Brennan.

Sure, I don't see any harm in that and it might make your reunion more interesting.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Wary, Booth knew that Hodgins had been in the airport and had seen the kiss, but he wasn't sure where he and Brennan were in their relationship yet and he wasn't going to push her into a physical relationship if she wasn't ready. He wouldn't risk losing her. Not now.

Nothing. Don't read more into what I said than was there. Okay? I'm not going to tell her you're coming. Or, let me put it this way, I'm not going to tell Angela so she can't tell Dr. B.

"Thanks, Buddy. I owe you one."

You really do.

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

It had been a very luxurious trip home as far as Booth was concerned. He was the only passenger on the jet and for dinner he was served a ribeye steak dinner with a loaded baked potato and a piece of cherry pie for dessert. He had been offered wine or beer with his meal and he chose beer. He liked wine, but when it came to steak he thought beer complimented the meal better. It was a great meal and when it came time for him to sleep he laid on the couch and had the use of a pillow and a very soft blanket. He knew that the rich had it made when it came to traveling and usually he despised them for it, but this ride had been given to him by a man who Booth knew to be a kind and generous soul.

Once he arrived at his final destination, he thanked the flight attendant and the pilot for getting him home so quickly. Hailing a cab in front of the airport, Booth sat in the back of the taxi and watched the sites as he was driven by them. He had only been gone for a few weeks, but he knew that he had been very lucky that he had been able to come home so early and he felt grateful to be seeing the sites of home again. He considered calling Rebecca and telling her he was back, but he decided to wait until the morning. He had an important reunion in front of him and he didn't want to play twenty questions with his ex. He wanted to be relaxed and focused.

After being dropped off in front of Brennan's apartment building he looked at his watch and debated with himself whether or not he was being selfish. There was a six hour difference between Germany and Washington D.C. and he was looking up at her apartment window at 11:27 p.m. It had been a nine hour flight and it felt odd to wake up at the end of his trip and find himself home and not in Afghanistan. To kill time and to prevent jet lag he had slept on the way back home and now he was wide awake. He hoped he wasn't going to make Brennan angry, but at that moment he was alert and ready to talk to her. He glanced at his watch once more, considered his options and decided he couldn't bring himself to go home without seeing his partner. He had missed Brennan and he wanted to at least let her know he was back in town and to not go to the airport to wait for him to arrive.

After another glance at the darkened window above him, Booth threw his duffle bag over his shoulder and walked across the deserted street. Once he was in the lobby, he walked over to the check in counter and greeted the man sitting behind the desk. "Hey Jeb, I'm back. How's Alice? Did she get that gallbladder surgery done like her doctor told her to do?"

Glad to see Booth, Jeb MacGruber smiled, stood up and shook the agent's hand. "She sure did and she's feeling better already. Thanks for asking Agent Booth . . . I'm glad you're back. Are you going up to see Dr. Brennan? She got home about an hour ago."

"Well." Booth looked at his watch, glanced at the elevator then turned to nod his head at the security guard. "Yeah, she knows I'm coming home, but not when. I'd like to surprise her if that's okay."

Waving Booth towards the elevator, Jeb sat down. "You go ahead. I'm sure it'll be okay."

Oooooooooooooooooooo

After knocking on the door and waiting for a few minutes, Booth started to feel foolish. Brennan had worked late and in the past he had fussed at her more than once for not getting enough sleep and here he was, trying to wake her up. Moving towards the elevator, he heard the door open behind him and his name called out.

"Booth?" Brennan was surprised to see her partner. She had thought he might arrive the next day or the day after but not so soon. "Booth?"

Turning, Booth gave Brennan a broad smile. "I'm home."

Rushing down the short hallway, Brennan grabbed her partner's waist, leaned up on bare feet and met his lips as he lowered his head. She heard him drop his duffle bag and felt his arms move around her, holding her body against his. Her hands moving up his back, she deepened the kiss and he responded. Soon, they parted and both laughed.

"You're not supposed to be here for another day or two." Excited, she pulled him towards her doorway, pausing to allow him to grab his duffle bag before continuing. Once they were in her apartment, she slammed the door shut and turned to face her partner. "How did you get back so fast?"

Dropping his duffle bag near the couch, Booth moved closer to Brennan and took her hands in his hands. "You told Angela that I was coming home and she told Hodgins. He contacted someone at the Cantilever Group in Europe and had someone fly me home on a company plane . . . you look great."

"Thank you." Brennan felt a little self-conscious standing in front of Booth in her bare feet wearing an old faded pair of shorts and a t-shirt she had borrowed from his dresser the year before. "I was in bed."

"And that's where you should be at midnight." Booth chuckled, released her hands and walked back over to where his duffle bag lay. "I was going to talk to you, but it's late and it can wait until tomorrow morning."

She didn't want him to leave and held up her hand. "You don't have to leave, Booth. I'm awake . . . Let's talk."

"Well, if you're not sleepy." He dropped his duffle bag, turned and sat down on the couch. After Brennan sat down next to him, Booth took her hand in his and smiled. "I practiced what I was going to say to you on the plane, but . . . well, you don't need a speech from me. While I was gone, I couldn't wait to get back. I thought about what it was going to be like when I did come home and I want to assure you that we're not going to change that much Bones. You and me. We're going to solve crimes and work as partners. I know you worry about that. I called Caroline when I found out I was coming home and she talked to the Director and well, we're good. You and me. If . . . I mean now that we're going to work on being in a closer relationship that won't affect our jobs and who we are. Okay?" That didn't go as smoothly as Booth had hoped, but he knew Brennan got the gist of what he was trying to say. "Our working partnership is safe."

Relieved, Brennan smiled. "Good, I was worried about that, but I'm glad that we will remain partners . . . I too thought about what I was going to say to you when you came home and . . . well, I love you Booth and I trust you. I want to make this relationship work, but you must promise to tell me if you . . . if you want . . ."

"I'm not going anywhere Temperance Brennan." He knew what she had wanted to say to him and he wasn't going to let her go down that road of doubt. "I know who you are . . . I know who you really are, okay? I love you because of who you are. I don't want you to change. You can trust me. I want to be with you and . . . and we will make this work."

She wanted to trust him. She did trust him. She had never trusted anyone like she did the man sitting next to her. She had been betrayed many times in her life, but Booth had never done that to her. "I do trust you, Booth and yes, we will make this work."

Glad she was willing to move forward, Booth glanced at the front door. "It's getting late. You need your rest. Why don't I go home and we'll have breakfast tomorrow morning at the Royal Diner?"

"Why can't we have breakfast here tomorrow morning?" Brennan watched her partner's face and saw the look of concern on his face. "I'm ready to start our relationship if you are." She stood up still holding his hand. "You can stay with me tonight."

Without hesitation, Booth stood up and kissed her. "Why don't I do that?"

Ooooooooooooooooooo

Let me know what you think of my story. Thank you.