A/N: my apologies for having to wait for this chapter. The fan fiction site has been down so I couldn't publish this last chapter as soon as I wanted to.

Several days had passed since Dick Vorstenbach's death, and Booth was relieved that things finally seemed to be getting back to normal at the Hoover...or at least as normal as possible, considering everything that had happened lately.

He'd been stunned when he learned that it was Bones who'd shot and killed the bastard, not because she'd used deadly force...she'd done that before, saving his life in the process. It was more because, at the time, he hadn't expected her to be there at the park. He assumed she was still in their hotel suite, out of harm's way.

Of course, looking back, it was obvious why she was there...he should've realized that she'd show up that morning, no matter what he'd wanted her to do. It would've taken more than one FBI agent to make her stay at the hotel...in fact, it was likely that a whole battalion of agents would've been useless against her stubbornness. She was going to do what she wanted to do, no matter what he said. That determination could be maddening...but it was also one of the things he loved about her. She was fearless...she was ferocious...and best of all, she was his.

He chuckled softly as he entered his office and got ready to start the day. As aggravated as he'd been with her at the time, it was hard to ignore the fact that she'd shown up at the park that morning because she loved him. Her decision to follow him to the park had seemed perfectly logical to her...he'd need back up, and she was going to be there to provide it, since she wanted to assure his safety...and because she cared for him deeply.

She loves me...and we're finally on the same page. We can go forward together…maybe I finally caught a break... Booth couldn't help but grin. In spite of all the terrible things that had happened over the last few months, there was a silver lining in those storm clouds after all. They were a couple now, and life was good.

He was checking his email when he heard a knock at the door. Rising to shake hands with his visitor, he smiled. "Hey, Sam. How ya doin'? Come on in...have a seat. Want some water? Coffee?"

Sam Cullen shook his head as he sat down. "Nah...I'm fine. I just came by to check on how things are going. How are you doing? How's Dr. Brennan?"

"We're both doing fine." Booth cleared his throat slightly. "Bones has an appointment to go see the new FBI shrink, Dr. Blakely, today...you know, it's protocol, since she shot and killed Vorstenbach...anyway, I almost feel sorry for the guy. He has no idea what he's in for, dealing with her and her hatred of psychology…"

Cullen laughed softly. "Ain't that the truth? He comes highly recommended, though...I called Dr. Wyatt to see if he knew anyone who might fit the bill, and Blakely was on his shortlist. He says the guy's not easily riled...that he's got a good head on his shoulders."

"Well, that's good. Maybe that means Bones won't make him feel like pulling his hair out after their first appointment." Booth eyed Cullen suspiciously. "So...that's all you wanted? To see how we were?"

The older man grinned as he sat back in his chair. "Not exactly." He studied Booth for a minute before continuing. "Okay, Booth...here's the deal. I want to get Joe Turner over here in our office. He's too good to be stuck over there in Baltimore…"

"Um...okay. That sounds good" Booth shrugged. "So...why tell me? You don't need my permission to go for it. Call him up...see what he says."

"Well, the problem is that he's on a fast track over there, so I need to be able to offer him a bigger prize over here...like maybe a Special Agent in Charge position...you know, something enticing…something that would make the headache of moving to a different office worthwhile. It has to be a good position in an important division..."

"And so you want to give him my job? No way, Sam." Booth scowled at Cullen. "I'm not even gonna play that game…"

Cullen put his hands up to interrupt Booth. "Just listen, okay? Look, you know I want you to take the Deputy Director's position that Hacker had, but maybe not right away, okay? Let's see if Turner will come over and be the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Major Crimes, working with you for six months or so, with the idea that he'll get to take over your position eventually."

"No...you listen, Sam…" Booth sighed audibly. "I'm not even sure I want to be a Deputy Director, okay? I'm not a desk jockey kind of guy…and I'm real happy with what I do." He glared at the older man. "Besides, we've already discussed this, alright? I don't want to give up field work, and I feel like I'm making a difference with the sort of thing I do here….working on cases and taking down bad guys makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile with my life."

"I get that...I really do." Cullen pursed his lips slightly. "And in reality, I don't want you to give that up, either. Your solve rate is too impressive, okay? And in conjunction with the Jeffersonian, with you as their liaison, you've got an excellent team. I'd be a fool to give that up, so I came up with a possible compromise."

Curious, Booth cocked his head to one side. "I'm listening…"

"Well, I've been talking things over with the top guy...you know, the head of the agency...and it seems to me that we can put your expertise to use in a different way...if you'd be willing, that is. I'm thinking that maybe we can make you the Deputy Director in charge of...I don't know...training? Like you'd be the guy who makes sure the training agents and the rookies assigned to them were meshing together. The agents doing the training would work with you for a set period of time to see how you do things, and then earn some sort of certificate before they train others in those same methods. I mean, you know your shit, right? So why not train others in the methods you use, so they can have great solve rates as well? That way you could work on real cases in the field with Dr. Brennan, but still get the money that's owed to a Deputy Director." Seeing Booth's hesitation, Cullen continued. "This would also allow you to gradually cut back on field work as you got older, if you wanted...and it might open the door for you to work over at Quantico, since you'll have experience training other agents. At least consider it, okay? I mean, why not try it out with Turner? Let him work with you for awhile and see how he handles being over here…"

Before Booth could answer, there was a knock at the door. "Well...speak of the Devil.," Cullen began with a laugh. "Come on in, Turner…Booth and I were just discussing your future."

"Oh…okay." Unsure of what to make of that comment, Turner grimaced slightly. "Well...I just wanted to let you both know that Ms. Montenegro has found a gold mine on Vorstenbach's home computer. Hard to imagine that guy was a technology whiz, but evidently he knew what he was doing. It seems the bastard kept some big files and incriminating photos pertaining to The Council and the Persians in an encrypted file on his hard drive. I guess he was worried about C-Synch pulling the ol' doublecross on him, so he had listed names...dates...information about hits he'd been paid for...and other shit like that...it's all there in the file. If you add it to the stuff we got from Hacker's phone and computer, and Booth's information from when he was working undercover for RICO, it's probably enough to put The Council out of business for good. At any rate, we'll be able to 'strongly encourage' C-Synch to make a deal that would be mutually beneficial. I think he's smart enough to realize that the only way he'll ever be able to stay alive is to be in a federal penitentiary somewhere far away from the DC area. In fact, the Persians may be gunning for him already." Turner held up his phone. "I had a message from my office just before I got here...that clown called, wanting to make an appointment to see me…at my office…with his attorney."

"That's good work, isn't it, Booth?" Standing up to leave, Cullen shook hands with the young man. "Well, I need to get going. Maybe you and Booth can finalize all the details about the evidence and that sort of stuff, okay?" Turning to Booth, the director gave him a pointed glance. "Don't take too long figuring out what you want to do…"

"Right. I'll run it by Bones. Talk to you soon."

There was an awkward bit of silence as the agents watched Cullen leave. Finally Turner cleared his throat. "So what's that about?"

Booth tapped a pencil on his desk. "Well...he wants you to transfer to our office with the idea that one day you'll have my job."

"Wow…" Turner grinned for a minute before he realized something. "Why am I on his radar? And what about you? Where are you going?"

"You really impressed both of us with the way you ran the investigation into Hacker's murder, you know? You were in a tough spot, and you did a great job, so Cullen wants you to work with me for awhile...kind of like on the job training, and then when I move up the ladder, you'll take my spot." Seeing how eager Turner was, Booth shook his head. "But the deal is, we don't know when that'll be. I mean, I like this job, but the job Cullen just offered me sounds like something I'd like, too...but before I decide anything I need to talk to Bones. Anyway, you ought to make an appointment to sit down with Cullen and see what he can offer you in DC. If you decide to come over here, you'd be working with one of the best field offices in the country, so there is that…"

"Yeah, it sounds great! Thanks. I'll make sure I do that." Turner paused, staring at the front of Booth's desk. "So, anyway...there is one other thing…"

Seeing the uncomfortable expression on Turner's face, Booth sighed. "What?"

"I was asked to give you a message." Pulling at his collar, the younger man grimaced. "Sweets is going to be remanded to federal custody and then he'll be transferred to the minimum security prison at Morgantown the day after tomorrow. He says he'd like to see you and Dr. Brennan before he leaves. He says he wants to apologize…"

"And why would I want to see that slimy little son of a bitch?," Booth roared, slamming his fist on his desk. "Do you have any idea how much havoc he's created in our lives? He almost got Bones killed…"

"I know….I know." Summoning his strength, Turner looked Booth in the eye. "But here's another thing I know, too. If you don't make your peace with him, one way or another, you'll never be able to move past this part of your life. You'll think you're both okay, but you won't be, because it'll eat at you. Trust me...I've been there." He held up his hand to interrupt Booth's angry bluster. "It doesn't make sense, but it's true."

Pausing for a few seconds, Turner wiped some tears from his eyes. "The guy driving the car that hit my wife's car? He survived the crash with only a broken arm. I was so angry...can you imagine? Sharla and Lilah were dead within a few seconds, and he practically walked away. I wanted to kill him."

Booth was horrified. "I don't know what to say, Joe…"

Turner shook his head emphatically. "Yeah...neither did I. It wore me out, thinking about it all the time, you know? And then one day the prison chaplain called me and said the fucking idiot wanted to talk to me...he wanted to apologize for killing my family, and so I said no fucking way…"

Nodding, Booth puffed out a sigh. "Understandable…"

"...but a week or two later, I was talking it over with my grief counselor, and she asked me what I was afraid of. The guy wouldn't be getting out of prison for at least forty years...was I really gonna stay angry that long? And if I did, would it return Sharla and Lilah to me?" He choked back a sob. "So I made an appointment, and I went to see him. I sat there and listened as he expressed remorse, and I wondered if he really meant it...but then I realized that it didn't make any difference. My counselor was right..if I ever wanted to get on with my life, I was gonna have to forgive that bastard, or I'd never heal. Meeting with the guy was a good place for me to start the process. I got to tell him how helpless and hopeless I felt...how angry I was...how I hated him...and it was cathartic, getting all that out in the open." He sighed softly. "And I think that's the way it'll be with you all and Sweets, too. You need to come to a point somewhere in the future where you'll forgive him, or it'll haunt you forever. I've been there...I know. That sort of closure is a good thing. For my money, you need to go say goodbye to the kid...but it's up to you."

He stood up, adjusting his tie as he got ready to leave. "I'll be in touch."

"Yeah. In touch." Booth studied the young man in front of him, admiring the guy's nerve, and knowing he'd make a great agent in charge one day. "Don't forget to call Cullen."

"Right. Call me if you want to go see Sweets."

"Okay. I'll think about it. Bye."

Booth sat in silence for a few minutes, pondering over what Turner had said. "I guess it couldn't hurt…"

He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text.

Hey, Bones...what are you doing tomorrow afternoon?

Oooooooooo

Booth and Brennan met at the Founding Fathers for dinner later that evening. After checking up with a bit of small talk, Booth finally got up the nerve to ask the question he'd been thinking about all afternoon.

"So...um...how did things go with Dr. Blakely?" He pretended to give her a stern look. "Did you behave yourself?"

Rolling her eyes at him, Brennan sipped her water. "It was a complete waste of time, but at least we could both acknowledge that fact. He'd read over the incident report, so he knew that I had acted in self defense and also in an effort to defend the FBI agent who was with me. The whole meeting took about ten minutes, and then he signed my form, so I left."

"I see." Nodding, Booth smiled, arching an eyebrow at her. "But you didn't really answer my question, did you?"

She sighed in exasperation. "I expressed my views about psychiatry and psychology both being soft sciences, and while he didn't agree, he wasn't obnoxious about it. As adults we can have opposing viewpoints and still work together as necessary."

Seeing that Booth was somewhat placated, she continued. "So we're going to visit Sweets tomorrow? Whatever for?"

"Mostly as a favor to Turner. He seems to think we need to get some 'closure' with the whole deal or we won't be able to put it behind us."

Brennan smirked at him. "More psychology?"

"I suppose so." Booth reached over to take her hand. "But I have something more important we need to discuss instead of Sweets."

Appreciating the sexy undercurrent in his voice, Brennan smiled. "What would that be?"

"About tonight...my place or yours?"

She giggled softly as she winked at him. "Oh...that is important." She hesitated, thinking over his inquiry. "I think my place...I have an appointment with Dr. Tran early tomorrow morning, and I'd rather leave from my apartment since it's closer to her office."

"Sounds good." He gave her a flirty grin. "You know, sooner or later, we're gonna need to look for a new place...a place we can share together…no more of this 'my place' or 'your place'...it'll be 'our place'."

"Hmm...an interesting proposition. Let's discuss it tomorrow over breakfast."

"Yeah...let's."

Oooooooooo

Pacing nervously in front of the holding cell the next day, Booth checked his phone once again, hoping that Brennan had left him a message. "She said she'd be here…"

He grumbled as Agent Turner poked his head through the doorway. "Are you ready, Booth?"

"I'm still waiting for Bones...but if she's not here in a few minutes, we can go ahead…"

"Booth!" Racing down the hall, Brennan quickly joined him. "I'm so sorry...my appointment took much longer than I anticipated…"

He gazed at her in concern. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, of course. We can discuss it over dinner." She gave him a pointed look. "Shall we?"

They entered the room and sat down across from Sweets. Dressed in jeans and a tee shirt instead of his usual suit, dress shirt and tie, he looked like an unhappy teenager. Glancing up at them, he was grim as he greeted the couple.

"Thanks for meeting me like this. I know it's weird, but…"

Booth cleared his throat as he nodded towards Brennan. "Agent Turner said you had something to say to both of us."

"Yeah...I do." He stared at his folded hands. "I wanted to let you both know how sorry I am for everything that happened. I should've known better…"

Agent Turner sat down next to him. "Why don't you tell us what happened? All of it?"

Sweets nodded. "Alright." He looked at Booth. "It all started after your brain tumor surgery. Hacker called me into his office, saying that he was concerned about you. He said that since Dr. Brennan was busy helping you with your recovery, he was relying on me to keep him informed about how you were doing." The young man exhaled slowly. "It all seemed so benign at first. I was just supposed to check in with him daily to let him know how you were...no big deal...no privacy violations. Then he began to ask more personal questions...and he also wondered if I could plant suggestions in your mind via hypnosis. I refused, of course, and he dropped that idea, but soon he had other things he wanted...like a lot of private details. He kept saying he was so worried about you, Booth, and he seemed so sincere...but now I know he had his own agenda. He was trying to find out things for The Council...he was trying to curry favor with C-Synch. Unfortunately, by the time I figured out what he was doing, Dr. Brennan had already been kidnapped."

Trying to hold his temper, Booth clenched his fists. "Did Hacker have anything to do with her kidnapping?"

"I don't know, but he was fond of Dr. Brennan, so I doubt it. However, when that happened, I told him I wanted out...I realized he was dragging me down with him, but then he told me about Vorstenbach...how he'd have the guy work on taking me out, too...and I was scared." He ran his hand through his hair. "I was a coward. I should've told Director Cullen about my concerns with Hacker, but I was too afraid of what the hitman would do to me."

Booth glared at Sweets. "And telling Bones I was dead...whose idea was that?"

Closing his eyes, Sweets swore softly. "It was mine. I knew you were at the burn unit, but I didn't want Dr. Brennan to look for you...and I knew she wouldn't rest if she thought you were alive. I was trying to avoid compromising our plan." He looked over at Brennan. "I'm so sorry. I know I put you through a lot of grief...and I know that false information caused you to undergo artificial insemination...and that you lost your child. I can't imagine how you must feel…"

"It has been quite painful." Brennan brushed a tear away. "You've done that to me twice...you experimented on me by telling me that Booth was dead…and I find that I resent it immensely."

"It wasn't an experiment this time...not that it's any excuse. I really was concerned for Booth's safety." Sweets stifled a sob. "I know you may not believe this, but over the years, I've considered both of you to be my closest friends...almost like family...and knowing how I've hurt you both...it makes me sick. I can hardly look at myself in the mirror without being disgusted. You both have every right to hate me, and I understand that. I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for all of my stupidity, and how relieved I am that you're both alright."

Booth took Brennan's hand in his. "We're going to be alright, no thanks to you. We were your friends, and you betrayed us. You almost got Bones killed." He paused as a thought occurred to him. "Did you tell Hacker that Bones was going to stay with Angela after she was released from the hospital? If so, you're an accessory in the death of two federal agents, because Hacker must've told Vorstenbach…"

"He asked me what was going on, but I swear, I didn't tell him about that plan...just that she was being dismissed. He must've been at the hospital when they left…maybe he followed them and then called Vorstenbach. I don't know. I just know it wasn't me."

"Fine...but you still may have said something that tipped him off to some extent." Booth shook his head. "I trusted you. I let you in...I treated you as a friend, and you basically fucked me over. It's going to be a long time until I can forgive you, Sweets, but maybe someday..."

"I understand." The young man nodded sadly as they rose to leave. "Thanks for coming by." He coughed softly. "When I get out of prison, I plan to move away from this area. If you don't mind, I'll send you my email address...no obligation, of course, but maybe…maybe we could keep in touch..."

"We'll see. Come on, Bones."

They left the room and silently walked down the hall, hand in hand. After a few minutes, Brennan glanced at Booth. "What do you think?"

He sighed softly. "I think he's a stupid kid who got played by a conniving bastard, but I don't think he really intended any harm."

"So you'll be able to forgive him some day?"

"Maybe, but I don't want to talk about that right now." He turned her so she was facing him. "What did the doctor say?"

Just then her phone rang. "Really? Thank you. Yes, I'll be in touch." Putting her phone away, she smiled. "I have to go. Meet me for dinner at Rigoletto's...say 6:30?"

"Fine." He bent down to give her a kiss. "Only this time, don't be late!"

Oooooooooo

They'd enjoyed a lovely Italian dinner, and each other's company, but Booth was getting restless. He still didn't have an answer to his question, since his companion had changed the subject whenever he tried to bring it up.

As the tiramisu and coffee arrived at their table, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Okay...enough bobbing and weaving. Tell me what Dr. Tran said at your appointment this morning."

"Very well." She primly wiped her mouth with her napkin before folding her hands in her lap. "After a thorough examination, she expressed concern that we'd begun to participate in sexual intercourse so soon after my miscarriage."

"Oh." Booth cringed and ducked his head. "I'm sorry…"

"It's not your fault...I wanted to have sex with you as badly as you wanted to have sex with me." Seeing the start of his cocky grin, she continued. "However, even though she would've liked us to wait longer, she doesn't feel as if that factor will have any adverse effects on my pregnancy. She would like to see me more often in the first trimester than is recommended, but other than that…"

"Wait…" Booth felt his heart rate accelerate as he tried to figure what she was telling him. "...so...you're pregnant?"

"That's what I'm trying to tell you. I finally got in to see her, thinking that she'd be able to make sure I'd suffered no damage from the miscarriage and also to ask for a prescription for contraceptives, but, to my surprise, she suspected I was already pregnant...approximately four to six weeks into the gestational period." Brennan's brow furrowed slightly. "Of course, given the frequency with which we've had intercourse lately, I suppose it's disingenuous for me to be surprised that I've conceived a chld. I suppose the timing of our coupling just happened to be correct." Shyly glancing at Booth, she bit her lip. "I know this must be a shock for you...and even though the child is yours, I don't expect anything from you as far as child support, since I was the one who instigated our sexual contact, knowing that I wasn't using birth control…"

"Oh, Bones…" Booth was grinning from ear to ear. "You're gonna get a lot more than child support from me, okay? You and this baby are gonna get years and years of love." He brushed away a tear. "It's kind of like your book, right? The one you read me while I was in the coma? You were pregnant at the end of it…and you're pregnant now…with a little baby boy..."

"Or a girl...and so we'll have a happy ending, won't we?" Smiling happily, she took her hand in his. "I love you, Booth…"

"I love you, too, Bones." He grinned as he gazed into her eyes. "You've made my dreams come true."

I know...it may be a stretch to believe that Brennan would be pregnant, but that's the fun of fan fiction, right? I hope you enjoyed my story. Laura.