A/N: Long time, no posting XD. To be honest I was slightly too demotivated to continue writing. And I had different plans for chapter 6, so the originally planned chapter 6 will have to wait a little longer :). Thank you, F.H. Blake, for the most extensive review I ever read on this website XD. I am really grateful for the review. I hope I got the paragraph thingy right this time around.

"Oh hello agent Booth, sorry I almost collided with you", a young woman said.

Booth cursed inwardly as he checked if the coffee had sloshed over the edge of his apparently not quite perfectly closed travel mug. Booth and Lilly had just stepped outside of the FBI coffee corner, filling their travel mugs before hitting the road to go to a murder site.

"I am sorry to hear you broke up with your girlfriend."

Lilly took in the woman, sharply dressed according to FBI regulations. Lilly was sure the woman was about Lilly's age, maybe a couple of years older than herself. Apparently the woman knew a lot about agent Booth, because this was the first time Lilly heard anything about a break up or a girlfriend.

"Agent Perotta, what are you doing here?" The mention of Booth's private life made the special agent´s eyes glaze over with an icy look that almost made it to his voice.

"Oh the assistant deputy director asked me to come by to sign my new contract. I'll be moving to the LA field office for an undercover operation." Perotta had continued, babbling away happily, happy that she had ran into the famous agent that she admired in more than one way. "I'll be leaving in three days and this is one of the last things I still needed to take care of."

"Maybe we can get together before I leave?"

Lilly raised an eyebrow at the suggestively asked question, silently observing the conversation unfold in front of her. Was it weird that the female agent didn't even notice her standing next to agent Booth? And you'd think a subject like that was sensitive enough to go for some privacy.

Taking a look in Booth´s direction she noticed how the senior agent´s eyes got even darker and more dangerous. Within the FBI agent Booth was known for his near perfect marksmanship, his and dr. Brennan's closing rate, his protectiveness of his private life and his anger issues. Looking down Lilly noticed that his arms were twitching in irritation as he tried not to clench his fists and keep some of his calm exterior intact. It seemed like those last two aspects of his notoriety were causing him trouble now. Returning her gaze back to the female agent, Lilly noticed Perotta just stood there with a radiating smile, hoping for an affirmative answer.

"Yeah, maybe", he curtly responded, trying out his voice, as the young agent's question had stunned him into silence. "I am kind of busy, you know, a new murder investigation and what not. So I don´t think I´ll have time to go out for drinks." He tried to keep his voice even and he hoped he could prevent himself from snapping at Perotta in front of Lilly. "If you'll excuse us, we have to get to a crime scene." Booth placed his palm below Lilly's shoulder blades to guide both of them away from the conversation.

Perotta glanced over to Lilly like it was the first time that she noticed the intern. After ignoring Lilly throughout the entire conversation and Booth practically dragging her away now, there was no time for Perotta to introduce herself. Deciding to forget about that less than ideal part of their interaction Perotta continued her way to the assistant deputy director´s office, her mind running over the possibilities of 'drinks' with Booth. God she hoped he would give her a call, it would be one of her favorite memories of D.C.

Lilly felt like applauding agent Booth´s expert rejection. Not only did he tell her he wasn´t interested in getting together, but from the looks of it 'going out for drinks' meant Booth would be tossing a glass of ice cold water in the young agent´s face to make sure she got the message.

"You can let go of me now, you know." Lilly spoke up, looking up at agent Booth as he was still leading her through the hallway towards the stairs, just to prevent the possibility of having to stand in the same elevator as agent Perotta. "I am kind of starting to feel like a suspect", she said gently, trying to also lighten the mood of the tensed agent.

Immediately Booth dropped his hand from the small of her back. He uttered an apology and he felt his cheeks warming up with a blush at the awkwardness of his actions. Booth's first objective had been to get both of them out of the uncomfortable conversation and prevent agent Perotta from revealing more uncomfortable parts off his private life. Now that his privacy was safe, he could think about what the hell just happened.

And he was fuming at the unprofessional behavior of the otherwise promising agent. How could she just ask him something like that in the middle of the bullpen? He thought Perotta knew that, after that initial sparkle when they worked together two years ago, there was no chance of them ever sleeping together. That one question alone made him lose his respect for her as a person and - while that normally made his romantic heart ache - it now just annoyed him to no end. Maybe that was all he was good for: sex. It seemed to be the only thing women wanted from him. Not the long term relationship ending in marriage and a family with kids, just his body for sex before they moved onto a successful relationship.

Lilly couldn't believe that this agent Perotta blatantly had asked agent Booth to have sex. To Lilly, agent Booth didn't seem to be the type of guy for a one night stand with a colleague. That gut feeling had quickly gathered support by the way Booth had glanced over at herwhen the female agent had mentioned his recent break up. His eyes had flickered with a mixture of panic and annoyance, and maybe a little hope that Lilly hadn't heard that part of the conversation.

Come to realize, that break up was probably what had been bothering agent Booth for as long as Lilly had been around. That sure would explain why he sometimes stared into space, like the first time they went to the FBI gym. It also made sense why he would snap at people for seemingly no good reason. Ouch, that must have been quite the relationship if the mention of the break up by a coworker still got him this worked up. She almost winced at the heartache he must be dealing with as the revelation sunk in.

He didn't have to worry about Lilly fishing for more information about any of it though, if he wanted to talk about the woman who obviously hurt him, he was the one going to have to bring it up. She had noticed before how agent Booth valued and defended his privacy and that was fine with her; his dating life was none of her business.

As they were descending the stairs Booth tried to collect his thoughts. Somehow he kept falling into this death trap, of him thinking he was unworthy of long-lasting love, his insecurities had set out for him. Wait, how come Lilly hadn't started asking him questions about this rather obviously uncomfortable situation? He knew that she would have picked up on the awkwardness as she wasn't the usual squintern. Bones wouldn't have noticed something like that, unless Angela would have told her about that specific euphemism. By the time Lilly would be his age, she would be a successful prosecutor with honed instincts that would even talk career criminals into taking an unfavorable plea deal.

What would the young woman, walking down the stairs next to him, be thinking? He had noticed Lilly's expression when Perotta asked him to get together. She had gotten her face back in check pretty fast though. He hoped she didn't have the idea that he wanted to sleep with Perotta, which could make working together rather uncomfortable.

Maybe he should talk to Perotta about her unprofessional behavior. On the other hand, she would be leaving in three days for an indefinite period of time and if he called her, she would think it was a booty call. Ugh, that would make that conversation even more uncomfortable than it already would be. No, he decided, he wouldn't talk to Perotta. He hoped she would be smart enough to see her mistake in time on her own. He was going to let it slide and see how the situation would work out. God why had she even asked a question like that? It just went to show that Perotta knew nothing about him. Maybe she doesn't care about that, his little voice volunteered. Or that you have some sort of sex freak reputation, it countered.

Turning a corner on the plateau between the steps of the stairs, he was beginning to hate the silence between him and Lilly. Was it a sign that Lilly already was feeling uncomfortable around him? It would be so much easier if Lilly just asked about agent Perotta and his failed relationship with Hannah. Then they could move on and focus on the case once again.

Somehow the silence was turning uncomfortable, but Lilly wasn't sure what had changed since a second ago and if breaking the silence would be any better. Glancing sideways, she noticed that agent Booth's jaw was tensed and he seemed to be clutching the handrail. He must be deep in thought. So she decided to let it up to agent Booth to start a conversation, if he wanted to.

"I am sorry you had to hear that", he started, no longer able to take the silence. This was ironic, considering he had been in much more difficult situations where he had to stay silent to protect and serve his country. "I don't know what got into agent Perotta there." Great now he was apologizing for other FBI agents instead of himself. He must have missed self-criticism-hour on his schedule.

Well I do know what didn't get into her, Lilly thought. "So this isn't a normal work day for you? A young female employee coming up to you and proposing a hot steamy night?" Lilly said with a smile trying to lighten the mood, her voice thick with sarcasm. She was glad he had chosen to break the silence. Although it surprised her that he was actually acknowledging the run in with Perotta. If she'd had to guess, she would have figured he would have started talking about the current case or maybe something as trivial as the weather.

"What?" Booth asked, frightened by the question until he saw the smirk on Lilly's face, her eyes gentle as she had been trying to break the ice.

"Don't worry about it, agent Booth, you don't seem to be the hump'em and dump'em type anyways." Lilly responded casually.

"Don't try to deny that it crossed your mind that I might take agent Perotta up on her offer." Booth said sternly.

Lilly looked up at him shocked by the tone of his voice, feeling busted and instantly flustering. She tried to figure out why he would go for that specific comment and to decide if she was going to answer that question. Worrying that she might be silent for too long she went with "well actually, I wondered if she slept her way to her promotion."

He sighed. An evasive politically correct answer that didn't help him any further. "Look, I don't sleep with younger or lower ranking agents. Actually, I've never slept with any FBI personnel."

"Hey, you don't have to defend yourself." Lilly said, raising her hands like she was surrendering herself for arrest. "Besides, it isn't illegal for you to sleep with colleagues. It probably is against FBI regulations though." Lilly mused, considering the possible consequences if agent Booth indeed were to sleep with agent Perotta. Coming back from her meandering thoughts to what she was trying to say: "So as far as I am concerned, there is no reason for you not to sleep with impolite horny agent." Lilly snorted at the idea of agent Booth having to ask for permission or something. She could imagine the header for that form: permission for infiltration.

"Impolite horny agent?" Booth repeated, surprised at Lilly's lack of respect for a fellow woman on the right side of the law.

Lilly shrugged. "Well yeah, she didn't introduce herself or even acknowledge me standing beside you, did she? And I guess you can figure out the horny part on your own."

He nodded at Lilly´s explanation. "So you don't have any questions? About Perotta or about my recent break up?" He looked down at his neatly polished dress shoes, carefully placing his feet on the steps of the stairs on their descend.

Lilly looked at the agent. It was obvious he was bothered by the way she had found out of his recent break up. It made him sound like he was asking her if she had any questions about the birds and the bees. Same hesitation, same level of not wanting to talk about it. "Nope, I don't have the right to ask you those questions, as it involves your private life. However, if you want to talk about it, go right ahead, but don't feel obligated to talk just because agent Perotta spilled the beans."

Lilly saw how Booth was sizing her up, trying to decide if he was going to trust her with intimate details of his personal life. Details he apparently hadn't shared with many people.

Booth hesitated. He probably needed to talk about his break up with Hannah. Ever since his blackout at the gym he subconsciously had wanted to talk about it and his gut told him that Lilly would be the right person to open up to.

He really felt there was a friendly connection between the federal justice department intern and himself. Unlike most members of the Jeffersonian Lilly was well versed in pop culture and they actually enjoyed a lot of the same things. She definitely had the ability to blend in with whatever group she was in. Social butterfly. Be one of the guys while maintaining her femininity in his team.

It actually was hilarious to see how Lilly had put some of his rocky agents (back) in their place. Lilly already knew a lot about interrogations and she definitely knew a lot more about the trial part of the job than the rookies. Some of the newbies had assumed she was one of the squints and had disrespected her. Lilly had immediately told them how she thought about that and that squints deserved at least the same amount of their respect as they gave their fellow agents. Lilly hadn't been worried that they probably could kick her ass badly, if they had wanted to. Words were her weapon and she hadn't been afraid to wield it.

Booth nodded, apparently having made a decision whether or not he was going to talk to Lilly about his ex girlfriend. As he didn't continue their conversation Lilly figured that was it. Maybe she should change the subject to make him feel more comfortable.

Reaching the SUV and buckling in, Booth turned the key, making the engine come to life and turning down the awakening radio.

"Right, so I met Hannah in Afghanistan. She is a journalist, was and is stationed there. I saved her from a Taliban sniper when she was sneaking inside their camp to interview one of the leaders and then I arrested her. One thing led to another and next thing I know we are together as much as we could. When I came back here she surprised me by moving to DC so we could be together and everything was just peachy."

Lilly listened carefully, not wanting to interrupt him until he was done with his summary of his relationship.

"Then one night I went out with Sweets." Booth rolled his eyes, not even remembering how they ended up shopping for diamond rings. "Sweets was talking about asking Daisy to marry him and since I always wanted to be married I think I may have panicked that a 26 year old was going to be married before me. And I thought since Hannah had moved across the world to be here with me she would be open to marry me as well. But apparently I couldn't have been more wrong."

Booth wryly remembered how Sweets had eyed him with suspicion and asked if he had been planning to marry Hannah for a long time. He had lied to his friend and himself.

"She even told me she wasn't the long-term relationship type. She never allowed a relationship to last longer than two years. But still, hearing her tell me no, it crushed me. Like my heart broke into a million pieces and scattered away. Knowing she didn't want a long term relationship we both went our separate ways."

Booth sighed, followed by taking in a deep breath. "So that's what happened, now you know." Quickly looking to the passenger seat while they were waiting for the light to turn green.

After a few seconds of silence to let all Booth just told her about his fast developed and ended relationship sink in, Lilly responded. "Sorry, did you just say Sweets is 26?", was her first reaction.

Booth smiled at her attempt to make him feel a little better by digging into Sweets - and as usual it worked. "Yeah I know right? He sure acts like a 12 year old."

Lilly snorted. "Sorry I am totally focusing on the wrong detail here." Hoping that lessened Booth's discomfort enough to feel comfortable to answer a couple of questions Lilly had, she turned a little more serious. "How long did your relationship with Hannah last?"

"A little over 8 months", Booth answered like it was a pop quiz question and he would get bonus points for answering quickly. Or maybe he was just trying to rip of the bandage quickly.

Lilly nodded. "That is quite some time. And you broke up how long ago?"

"About seven weeks now."

"No wonder you are still angry. I'd say that wound is still pretty fresh and gnarly."

Booth nodded as he sighed a sad yeah.

"Do you miss her?" Lilly asked him, careful like if the wrong tone of voice could hurt Booth even further.

Booth bit his lip. He had been asking himself the same question for a while now. "I don't know", he said simply but honestly. "I really did love her, but at the same time we both pretended to be something we weren't. I guess I am just angry at the whole situation. Angry at her, angry at myself, angry that it was the second time I was turned down when I proposed, angry that she was the third woman who didn't want me, angry that apparently no woman is interested in a long term relationship with me."

"And agent Perotta mentioning it just made the anger and hurt resurface all over again." Lilly concluded for him, not giving him a chance to apologize for his self-pity. "I am sorry. The aftermath of a love that didn't work out is never pretty, well except for pretty painful. And it all sucks big time. But honestly, I think you're doing okay dealing with it all."

"Oh really how come?" Booth asked skeptically, his insecurities shining through.

"Yeah sure, you're letting yourself feel your emotions, you are currently talking about it and on top of that you are still a fully functioning member of society. I am certain a lot of people don't deal that well with their personal issues. Or maybe I just happen to know a lot of ice-eating-sweatpants-on-the-couch type of people. Time is supposed to make all wounds better, but that sure takes a lot of patience."

As Booth's phone ringed he didn't get a chance to respond to Lilly's words of comfort. It was an FBI technician with the latest directions to the crime scene. When Booth hung up, silence took over the car. Booth tried to remember where the conversation had left off, but maybe the moment of openness between them had passed.

Lilly looked at Booth who was staring at the road ahead while he took a sip of his coffee mug, obviously trying to find cover from the silence. "You know what might help, I think you should just hump someone."

Booth chocked on his sip of coffee. What was up with coffee today? He coughed a couple of times before his voice allowed him a raspy "What?" Quickly cleaning the excess coffee out of the corners of his mouth with the napkin Lilly handed him.

Lilly felt that it was time to make the conversation a little more relaxed after such a heavy emotional conversation. And what was more relaxing than a little discomfort during a friendly conversation? Booth's reaction didn't disappoint at all. Her smile met her eyes before she repeated: "I said, you should find yourself a nice girl, take her home and rebound the ..."

Booth coughed his interruption, "I heard you the first time" as he raised his right hand in a gesture to silence her.

Lilly grinned, enjoying his reactions."So what didn't you understand then?"

God she could be as blunt as Bones, but Booth was well aware that Lilly knew exactly that she was shocking him. It apparently had taken her very little time to figure him out, also meaning she knew what made him tick. He also could see the playful sparkle in her eyes as she lightheartedly toyed with him.

"I don't think it would be fair to use a woman just to get my rocks off while I am still so angry. Wouldn't you agree?"

Lilly shrugged. "Well if you are as angry at womankind as you say, you really shouldn't care about being fair to women right? On top of that, there are a lot of women who would love the chance to get into your bed, not caring what your reasons for the get together would be. So I am not sure you would really using a woman like that; it be more like you are both using each other. Like some sort of a sexual win-win-situation."

If he would have been drinking another sip of coffee, it would have been splayed across the windshield. "Regardless, I haven't 'rebounded' anyone since I passed 35." Booth conveniently decided tumbling into bed with Hannah on the same day they met (because he had saved her life!) wasn't a one night stand as they had began dating afterwards.

Lilly shrugged with one shoulder. "So? That doesn't mean you couldn't start 'rebounding' now and I doubt much has changed, you're still very attractive, so picking up someone from a bar or a club shouldn't take you too much time out of your busy schedule. Hell, if you're too busy to go clubbing, all you have to do is call agent Barbie."

Booth was surprised at the casual attitude Lilly had in regard to sex. But then again, when he was in his mid twenties he hadn't been much of a saint either.

Booth grinned, deciding to turn the tables of uncomfortable topics on her. "Ah I take it that is how you roll then? Go to a club or bar and take home the first guy you see." Not willing to touch the Perotta reference even if he had a ten foot pole.

"Well, yes", Lilly stated boldly as she turned to face him, returning his grin. Glad that he had found his smile again. "That is indeed how I would roll if I needed a rebound. Although it probably wouldn't be the first guy I see. I still want to feel a connection before we get busy. I mean, if I want an orgasm I don't need to go out and find some unknown man for the night. But my last relationship ended three years ago so after a couple of weeks of rebounding I was done with it."

Booth looked slightly surprised, daring to take his eyes of the road. "Really? Three years?"

Lilly nodded and hummed her agreement. "After that relationship - and the rebounding, she grinned cheekily - I had my year abroad, then when I came back school still had me super busy and I was trying to fix up my new apartment. So basically I have been too focused on other things to consider having a relationship again."

It amazed Booth how easily Lilly talked about her past relationship or dating tactics and weirdly enough it didn't make him uncomfortable listening to it. "So how badly did he break your heart?" Booth asked interested in the young woman beside him. Curious how she had felt when dealing with her own love sickness.

"In hindsight, not that bad", Lilly stated. "We only had been dating for a couple of months and we figured out that we weren't that compatible. So I don't think it compares that well with what you are going through at the moment. What hurt the most was that he had a new girlfriend within ten days, but that was his good right; we had already broken up. But it sure hurt at the time." Lilly simply explained.

He nodded. "Yeah I get that. But really… three years? You must take a lot of long showers."

Lilly snorted. "I think that is more of a male solution." When Booth didn't respond Lilly added; "Sorry, did I melt your brain with that piece of information?"

He felt a warmth creeping up his neck, feeling busted for being lost in thought. "Maybe, sorry. It's just that", he struggled to find the right words; "in the years between 22 and 25 I probably didn't have sex for three days at a time tops."

Lilly grinned. "You don't have to brag you know." Waiting until Booth had made another quick glance her way before she continued." And what can I say I am a good girl." The humor shining through in her voice, accompanied by another one shoulder shrug.

Booth laughed out loud. "In my experience the women who say they are aren't." Booth looked at her after he pulled his SUV over to the side, parking behind a couple of FBI support vans on the side of the road. "Thanks for listening and then taking my mind of my misery and making me laugh." Seriousness and appreciation for how she had managed to ease his mind and to get him relaxed enough to smile again sounding through his voice.

Lilly nodded. "No problem and I am sorry I almost made you ruin your shirt. Everyone needs someone to listen to them every once in a while. If you need to talk again I'll be there. Or when you need a wing woman to pick up that rebound lady for you. " The corners of her mouth curling upwards in a sly grin.

Booth smiled. "Sure I'll keep that in mind." His voice almost concealing his appreciative sarcasm.