It's the morning after the Jeffersonian Halloween Gala. What's next for our favorite couple? And where do Aubrey's socks fit into the grand scheme of things? Read on to find out.

PS: Watch for a Love & Carbonite Extra on Tumblr or on Twitter ( mphs95).

The next morning, Aubrey's bedroom was a mess. Half of the bed's pillows were lying haphazardly in front of the bathroom door. His comforter and the blanket he'd left on the foot of his bed were heaped on the floor. Leading from that pile were his socks, her heels, and other odds and ends that went out past the bedroom entryway.

On the bed, the agent was snoring softly when he was disturbed by a weight on his abdomen. Opening his eyes, he was momentarily startled to see an orange tabby with large green ones staring back at him.

"Quit staring at me like that, Skinner. You know I hate that.", he muttered grumpily. "Let me guess...you're hungry, right? What time is it?"

Looking at the clock, he was shocked it see it was 9:52. However, he and Jessica didn't go to sleep until after 3:00. At least, that was the time he saw on the clock before the redhead's legs wrapped around his neck so they could make love once more.

He sighed in contentment as he stretched lazily in the bed. The Halloween Gala was definitely the best party he had ever attended at the Jeffersonian...and the after party in his bedroom had been even better.

His only regret from the evening, besides having to deal with that asshole Gerald Maxwell, was that they didn't get to Rounds Four and Five, but after their third go round, they fell asleep in exhaustion. He didn't know who to thank more for their stamina...the FBI's stringent physical standards for their Special Agents or Yoga for Jessica's flexibility, strong thighs, and her very open hips.

Turning over, he saw his girlfriend with half tousled, half pinned hair sleeping in the middle of the bed. God, she was sexy as hell last night. First, the retro stockings with the seam going up the back. Then the silver lace garter belt. Their quickie in the intern locker room had been the icing on the cake.

The agent watched Jessica for a minute and chuckled when she snorted in her sleep. As she turned onto her side, Aubrey grimaced as his bed creaked loudly like it had after their rather energetic final romp a few hours earlier. Quickly, he realized that the shopping trip he'd planned on after the New Year for two new mattresses sets for his spare bedrooms would have to be moved up, and he'd also need include a new set for his bedroom.

While spending an extra several hundred dollars on bedding wasn't planned, under the circumstances, he didn't care. Six out of the last eight nights, he and Jessica had put his bed through the wringer as they made up for the last two months and it was worth every single tumble with his girlfriend.

His brass headboard had taken a beating as well Friday night from Jessica accidentally hitting the wall with it while his tongue had engaged her in some rather enjoyable foreplay.

'Definitely need a wooden headboard and a king sized bed. Jess and I need room to engage...especially when she does her awesome Yoga stuff.'

Their activities of late gave him another reason to be grateful to be living in Booth's house now instead of his former apartment with its thin walls and floors.

It was devastating to hear the score of Game 4 on the radio as they were driving home last night. Thankfully his Jessica had given him a very enjoyable distraction...more like multiple distractions...from the sad news.

His Cubbies were now down 3 – 1 and tonight, Game 5 would decide their fate. He'd prayed daily that his beloved team would make it all the way. They hadn't been to a World Series since 1945 and he had a hunch that 2016 would be the year to break curses.

Still, he didn't want to tempt fate, which is why he wore the same socks for each game day since they'd won the National League Central. Jessica was not thrilled with it, but she was accepting of his quirk. While he knew the main reason why was because she loved him, he was also privy to her secret of wearing green bras and panties for all of MSU's games during March Madness.

The NCAA tournament next year would be very interesting for the two of them.

His ponderings were interrupted by a paw swatting at his face. Looking at the culprit, he gave him a dirty look. "All right, all right, I'm getting up, Skinner. Chill out."

Pushing his annoyed cat off him, he got out from under the covers and felt a chill against his bare skin. Finding a pair of flannel plaid pajama pants in a drawer, he put them on, making a note that he would soon have to turn on the furnace in his new house.

As he walked around his bed, he chuckled at Jessica's stockings and garter belt lying haphazardly at the end of it. He remembered how hot she looked after he stripped her down to only those two items and her surprise when he'd asked her to keep them on for the second time. For Round Three, he'd had the personal pleasure of removing them slowly.

Then there was the lingerie. He appreciated her choices, particularly her preferences in underwear. His favorite panties were what she called her 'cheekies'. He didn't care what they were called. He just liked the look of her lovely ass in them and the access they gave him to her soft skin.

However, over the last eight days they had been an impediment. As a government employee and a SAC, it was his duty to solve problems quickly and efficiently. Much like he did last night at the Gala, he simply approached the situation like he always did when he was working a case.

Problem: Blocked by an obstacle from mind blowing pleasure from his girlfriend.

Solution: Remove said obstacle quickly, by force if necessary, and engage.

As they rested between lovemaking sessions, she revealed that she purchased the stockings, garter belt, and her now destroyed panties separate from her costume. Then to his further delight, she also hinted that she may have indulged in similar items for his enjoyment in the future.

Just another reason to be in love with his beautiful, nerdy squintern.

Following the trail of clothes, he found his boxer shorts lying outside the Star Wars room. A few feet away, Jessica's dress led another trail of items down the long hallway. His costume pants, followed by his shoes, and then his spats at the top of the stairs.

As he came downstairs, he saw his tie hanging on the bannister, followed by his shirt. Reaching the main level, he observed his jacket on the entryway floor. At the front door, he spotted the headband that had fallen off when he pushed her against it after arriving home around 1:00 AM. He took a breath to control himself as he recalled kneeling down before throwing her left leg over his shoulder and exploring her private treasure with his lips and tongue until she screamed his name.

Jessica Warren would be the death of him...and he loved it.

Walking to the kitchen, he grabbed Skinner's bag of food from where he kept it hidden after he'd come home to find the feline face first in the bag three days earlier. He poured some kibbles and put fresh water in his water fountain. Standing at the kitchen, his thoughts drifted.

Last Saturday morning, his birthday started with a day on the job as he and Jessica were friends working towards a mutual goal of more. Eight days later, they were hot lovers who couldn't keep their hands off each other. The sex was great the first time around, but this time it wasn't just better...it was amazing.

Although he had no regrets about his times with previous lovers, Jessica brought out a passion inside him that he'd never felt with anyone else. Only the redhead had inspired him to rip her panties off because he was so emotionally desperate to be with her or to use his tongue to drive her senseless against his front door. Feeling a slight sting across his lower back, he smiled at the scratches Jessica had left on his skin this morning because she couldn't control herself as they made passionate love. She had definitely marked him as her own, and that made him deliriously happy.

He knew they would slow down eventually, but he was in no hurry.

Their time apart had been agonizing, empty, sad…so many adjectives that he didn't want to contemplate again. In many ways he was grateful that he didn't take the promotion to LA. He'd considered it when she'd broken up with him that awful day, but he just couldn't do it. Even if he hadn't gotten the offer to take Halko's former position, he would have stayed in DC.

Maybe he'd had one of those 'vibes' his girlfriend always had. He wasn't one to just jump into gut feelings like Booth, but intuition was something he tried to listen to. Maybe that's why Jessica was good for him. He sometimes got too involved in the practical, in being careful…most likely a result of his father taking off, abandoning his wife and son almost twenty years before.

His father. Jessica said she felt shut out when it came to that jackass. However, it was so hard to articulate the feelings he had for the man, much less discuss with someone else what it had been like growing up with Philip Aubrey. When he found out that his father had hired Frank to keep tabs on him, all the emotions that he thought were dealt with years earlier rushed back to the surface. Of course, it had happened only a few weeks after he and Jessica finally decided to go for being together.

Until they talked that night at the Mall, he never knew how much his silence had hurt her, but her silence had hurt him as well. He knew that her mother was mentally ill and that her parents' marriage was bad. However, it wasn't until that night that he truly understood why Jessica had always seemed to be guarded when it came to her heart.

It also explained her reaction that night out by the subway, when he'd told her that he was serious about her. At the time, though, he was too scared to ask why she seemed nervous, so he pulled back. Simultaneously, she was too scared to push him. However, they were working on learning to communicate better with each other. Jessica was opening up to him and they were working together to feel safe enough to be honest to the other. They weren't perfect yet, but they were getting there.

He'd told her the truth that night at the Mall about how he couldn't love anyone like he loved her. Sometimes, he wondered if he had always been in love with her, but wasn't ready to acknowledge it.

But he was ready now. Things weren't always perfect, though. It bugged him when Jessica left lights on when she left a room. She was also like a dog with a bone when she wanted to talk, sometimes to his detriment. She didn't always say the right thing, they shared some philosophical differences, and yes, he knew that if he entered politics someday she may not be the perfect political spouse.

But she was perfect for him. All Aubrey knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with the quirky redhead.

Tired of contemplation, he pulled some coffee beans out of the cupboard as he planned the breakfast he was going to make. It was time for his redhead to wake up. Perhaps they could sneak in a shower or some private time before heading to Angela and Hodgins' later that day.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Jessica moved over to the other side of the bed but woke up when she felt the empty spot next to her. Opening her eyes, she saw that Aubrey was gone and realized he probably had gotten up to feed Skinner.

The redhead smiled as she recalled the passionate lovemaking that was bestowed onto her when they came home from the party last night. James Aubrey was wiry, but underneath those suits he was all muscle, and she was the lucky girl who got to feel every sinew and layer as they made love. One day, she would thank the FBI for their stringent physical standards.

Looking back on the conversation she had with Dr. Saroyan during the Lola Marshall case, she cringed as she recalled the frustration at Aubrey's slow pace in moving toward their relationship.

Now, she could say with pride that it had been worth the wait.

He was the best lover she'd ever had in the ten years she had been sexually active. Her boyfriend could alternate between tender, ruthless, gentle, and methodical all at the same time. Aubrey always knew just where his touch would make her see stars. More than once while making love, she had unintentionally gouged his back as he drove into her, turning her inhibitions loose. While not shy, only with her boyfriend did she feel truly safe to let go completely.

However, James Aubrey wasn't just her lover, but also her best friend. Someday, she would get the courage to make the step towards them living together. After that, perhaps she could be ready for the ultimate leap together...to a permanent commitment. Of course, Aubrey wasn't ready for those steps, either. She sighed in contentment. It was wonderful to realize that unlike the first time they were together, she wasn't terrified if he happened to get there first.

Because he promised to wait for her.

Nobody had ever done that for her before. His patience, his acceptance of who she was, his respect of her intelligence, and yes, his unconditional love, made Jessica fall for him a little more each day. She was in love with the goofy, science fiction loving, devoted cat daddy, and courageous FBI agent.

Aubrey wasn't perfect. He was stubborn as a mule. Sometimes he still had a black and white sense of right and wrong with no gray area. He left his socks on the floor in his bedroom...and on hers. He would try to protect her even though she could take care of herself and his love of junk food knew no end. With his diet, it was a miracle he still had all of his teeth.

A life with him would be scary, unpredictable, fearful every day he worked, and at times sad and painful, but it would also have times of fun, love, friendship, and the feeling of being content, knowing she was in the right place with the right person.

In the end, life without her best friend would be empty and unhappy...and she couldn't go back there again.

It was those thoughts that helped her drift back to sleep. She wasn't sure how long she was out, but an irresistible aroma wafted through her nostrils. Opening her eyes, she saw a Princess Leia coffee cup near her nose. Looking up, she saw a handsome, shirtless man with killer blue eyes flashing a dimpled smile at her.

"Good morning, Sunshine."

The redhead wiped her eyes and held out her hand. "Give me plasma…"

Aubrey held the mug just out of her reach. "Wow, so my presence is not stimulating enough for you, Ms. Warren?"

Jessica narrowed her eyes at him. "You were the one who kept me up until almost four in the morning, Mr. Aubrey."

"How could I refuse a woman who wrapped her long and attractive legs around my neck?", Aubrey replied with a smirk before handing her the coffee, waiting until after she took a drink to continue. "It's only right that I get to wear you like a scarf."

Jessica's jaw dropped in shock as Aubrey looked at the clock. "Wow...I was going to make you breakfast, but it looks like it will be brunch now."

"I would appreciate that.", the redhead said while sitting up, holding the blanket against her naked body, and taking another drink. "Wow...bringing me coffee in bed...such a wonderful boyfriend..."

"But of course, Jessica."

Then, realization hit Jessica. "Wait a minute. Coffee in bed...you're going to be wearing those Cubs socks again, aren't you? Superman, you've worn them since Game 1 of the NLCS. They are getting super ripe! Please don't..."

"I have to, Jess.", Aubrey said as he sat next to her. "They're down 3 – 1. I can't let my Cubbies down."

Jessica saw his earnest face. Giving up, she laughed. "Everyone may kick you out if they smell you, Aubrey."

"Nah.", the agent said. "A man has to do what a man has to do for his team. Booth does the same thing when his Flyers are in the playoffs."

"So what time are we meeting them tonight?"

Aubrey stood up and took a drink of his own coffee. "Angela said come over about 4:00. I picked up the beer yesterday while I was grocery shopping."

"And I'm going to make my garlic dip.", Jessica said.

"Sweet.", the agent said before bending down to kiss his girlfriend. "Now, get your lazy ass up. I'm going to cook breakfast...lunch...brunch...whatever."

"What are you making?"

The agent turned around in the doorway and smirked. "You'll see."

"Aubrey…", Jessica said but he had already disappeared. "Aubrey…you're ignoring me on purpose…"

Getting up, she found his bathrobe hanging on the door of the closet. She put it on before seeing Skinner on the bed. Calling him, he got up and stood next to the redhead.

"Come on, buddy. Let's make sure Daddy doesn't make any weird food."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Aubrey surprised his girlfriend with a late breakfast of scrambled eggs with ham, spinach, and an amazing chipotle espresso cheddar cheese. He accompanied the meal with marble rye toast and thick cut bacon. To his pleasure, she thanked him with her tongue as she knelt on the kitchen floor.

An hour later, Aubrey was in the shower when he heard the door open. Turning around, he was greeted by a nude Jessica.

"Care to share?"

The agent flashed back to his birthday dream. "Always with my favorite squintern."

Jessica got under the water of the main head and got her hair wet. Grabbing the bottle of shampoo she brought there, she lathered it. "So am I just bringing dip and you're bringing beer tonight?"

"I have the stuff for deviled eggs also, if you want to make yours."

The redhead smiled as she rinsed her hair. "For you, Superman, I will, but you have to share them with everyone else. You can't eat almost all of them like you did last week. Booth and Wendell weren't very happy."

Aubrey grabbed his girlfriend's cherry body wash and put some in his hand. "I was hungry, Jess…and yours are the best."

Jessica got out from under the water and felt her boyfriend massage body wash onto her shoulders. "Of course. So are we still handing out candy tomorrow night while watching the sci fi horror movie marathon on Comet?"

"Uh, yeah. We started a tradition last year, Jessica. It must continue.", Aubrey said before he stopped rubbing her shoulders and with his arm pulled her close. "It would have been sad if you weren't here for that."

The anthropologist put her arm on his. "I know."

They remained that way for a moment, enjoying each other's closeness. However, Aubrey's more basic instinct took over as his hand moved down slowly until he found the juncture between her creamy thighs. Feeling her shiver, he continued exploring.

"Are we…yes…ever going to…don't stop, James…slow down…ohhhhh.", Jessica moaned as her boyfriend's fingers manipulated her to perfection.

"Eventually…but you drive me fucking insane, Jessica.", Aubrey responded in a low timbre as his other hand caressed her wet breast. "I want you all the time."

"I...want you all...the time too, James...oh yes…", the redhead moaned as she leaned against the glass with her boyfriend right behind her.

Skinner made his way into the steamy bathroom. He got closer to the shower but stopped when he heard a loud female moan.

"Yes…James…yes…"

The ferocity of the voice scared the tabby out of the bathroom.

At 6:30 PM, everyone was sitting around the large study at Hodgins and Angela's house either watching the pregame show or socializing.

Jessica, Andie, and Angela sat with Daisy talking while Brennan and Cam were getting drinks. The artist looked at Wendell's girlfriend with a smile before turning to the redhead.

"So Jessica...we saw the way you dragged Aubrey from the party after he put that piece of shit in his place last night.", Angela asked in a mischievous tone. "Where did you go?"

Jessica took a deep breath. "Oh...I took him aside and thanked him."

At that moment Cam and Brennan returned to the group. "That must have been some thank you, Jessica. You were gone for quite a while.", the pathologist said.

Jessica looked nervously at Brennan, who remained silent while enjoying a slice of vegetable pizza. "Aubrey was a gentleman and I wanted to give him a proper thank you without embarrassing him. You know how private he is."

"Beau would have kicked Gerald's ass if that jerk had talked to me like that.", Daisy said before drinking her beer. "That POS would've been missing several teeth from that perfect smile."

Jessica looked around and saw the expressions on the other women's faces. It seemed she wasn't the only one who noticed that the normally bubbly forensic anthropologist seemed to be on edge.

"I'm glad Aubrey didn't stoop to that loser's level, Daisy.", the redhead said diplomatically. "I don't want his career to be in jeopardy because he lost his temper with some ignorant asshole like Gerald."

"Sorry that the Redskins tied Cincinnati this morning, Daisy.", Angela said as she sipped her ginger ale, trying to diffuse the situation. "When is the team coming home from London?"

"When I talked to Beau before coming here, he said the plane would land in Dulles tomorrow morning at 10:30 our time.", Daisy said quietly. "He's pissed that he was only in during the 2nd quarter today."

"Sorry, Daisy.", Andie said quietly.

"Beau has been studying the plays and practicing so hard, but he is upset he isn't getting more playing time. I've tried telling him that they're always going to use their starter and second string first, but that just made him more upset. Now, he's talking about joining another team that will appreciate him more. That's not going to work…at all."

In shock, the ladies looked at their friend and realized now why she was irritated this evening. After a moment, Jessica spoke up. "Can you transfer to one of the other NFL laboratories, Dais, if Beau signs with another team?"

"Yes, Daisy, there are satellite facilities in Denver, New York City, Houston, Los Angeles, and Chicago.", Cam replied.

"I could transfer if there is another lead forensic anthropologist position available, but that's doubtful. I'd probably have to take a demotion or find another job. However, it doesn't matter because he's not going to uproot me and Lance just because he's unhappy. I've worked too hard to get where I am now, and I don't want to give it all up." Daisy took a sip of her beer before noticing her friends all looking at her and smiled. "Don't worry girls...Beau and I will work it out. We always do."

Sensing a change in subject was in order, Andie spoke up. "So girls, what did you think of my costume last night?"

"I thought a female hockey player was very impressive, Ms. Roberts.", Brennan said after she chewed her pizza.

"Wendell kept checking you out all night, Andie.", Angela said. "It seems he was appreciative of your choice."

"Oh, he was, Angela.", Andie said before taking a sip of her beer. "And my paratrooper let me know how much after we got back to my apartment...all night…"

"You always did like a man in uniform…", Jessica quipped to everyone's chuckles before getting up. "Excuse me girls...gotta pee."

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Aubrey was talking to the guys on the other side of the study. The agent propped up his leg onto his knee but was immediately chastised by Booth.

"Aubrey, either put your shoes on or keep your foot down. That downwind odor is killing me."

The agent shrugged as he put his foot down. "Booth, you did the same thing when the Flyers were a Wild Card for the Stanley Cup playoffs."

"Yeah…and see how far it got me?", Booth said.

Hodgins put his beer down and leaned toward them. "Aubrey, I called Dr. Miller from the Antiquities department before everyone got here. He couldn't attend last night, but Gerald and his father called him at like 9:00 this morning telling him their version of the events. I guess you supposedly got in Gerald's face, telling him stay away from Jessica, and then you told his date to get tested for any sexually transmitted infections."

"That's bullshit—"

"I know, Aubrey.", Hodgins said as he held his hand up to interrupt Aubrey's angry response. "David thought the same thing, and several of our colleagues at the Jeffersonian also called him to back you up. I'm meeting with him and Gerald at 10:00 tomorrow morning and he requested you come if you're able."

"I'll be there. It will save me a phone call. What he said to Jessica is sexual harassment. She can't be the only woman he's treated like that."

"He's always been like that Aubrey.", Wendell said. "The prick thinks he's God's gift to women and hates it when he's made to look like the slime he really is. I know a couple of ladies that rejected him and they said after that, he was a douchebag to them."

"I went to school with a couple of the Maxwells and they're all snobs who think their shit doesn't stink.", Hodgins said. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree with that family. They have a huge sense of entitlement."

"Hate pricks like that.", Aubrey said.

"Dr. Miller sounded excited to nail the little jackass. He took over Antiquities just last April after Doctor Vanderbrook was caught having sex with his barely eighteen year old intern one night. Since then, he's been trying to clean house by weeding out half ass staff members and all of Batuhan's groupies that stayed after Dr. B's shooting."

"Moving on.", Booth said, not wanting to think about that time again.

"Sorry, Booth." Hodgins grimaced slightly before he continued. "My colleague said Maxwell knows his stuff and is a competent intern, but he has a history of constantly being late or of getting caught as he leaves his area to go flirt with other women at the museum. However, Batuhan and Vanderbrook let him get away with it, probably because of his father."

"Yeah, those pesky fathers…", Aubrey muttered before sipping his beer, only heard by Booth.

Hodgins munched on some nuts. "I guess when Dr. Miller took over, Gerald was a brown noser who tried to schmooze him. When the fall semester started back up and he pulled all his shit, Miller put the little prick on notice that he wouldn't get away with half assing his job there anymore simply because of his father's position on the Governor's Board. When Harold Maxwell confronted him the next day, he repeated the same thing, which probably shocked the hell out of the old bastard."

"Gerald Maxwell is also a racist prick.", Arastoo said before sipping his tea. "At one of the intern social gatherings a couple of years back, he made it a point to discuss how Muslims were making this country unsafe when I was nearby, as well as telling some stupid towelhead jokes. When I called him out on his bigotry in front of his fellow interns, he joked that I should watch what I say or he would have his father use his connections to pull my Green Card. Joke was on him when I told him I was a US Citizen and my father probably had more money than his."

"Dude, I remember that. His mouth dropped to the floor.", Wendell said after he sipped his beer. "Wait, wasn't that right after Jessica started at the lab?"

"One and the same.", Arastoo said. "Remember how he wouldn't leave her alone the entire night, Wendell?"

"Yeah, either you, Clark, or me had to stick with her so he wouldn't bother her again after he was a pig while she was getting a beer from the bar."

"He chased her even then?", Aubrey asked. "That nasty son of a bitch…"

"Yes, he did.", Arastoo said. "I guess he introduced himself after she placed her order. First he tried to pay for her, but she refused."

"Jess is never stupid.", Aubrey muttered.

"Then while she was waiting for her stuff, he bragged to her about all his 'connections in DC' before telling her that he knew a secluded place where…crap, what did he tell her, Wendell?", Clark chimed in.

The blonde man shook his head. "He knew a secluded place where he could introduce her to the delights of the museum and make her scream. He was pretty handsy with her, too, but she shut him down pretty quickly, took her beer, and walked away."

Aubrey kept himself calm. "That's disgusting. I'm glad she didn't put up with his shit."

"After that, he toned himself down considerably to just flirting and boring her with stories of his country club membership and other stupid shit. Jessica's reputation...didn't help matters, but she was a single female and didn't owe anyone an explanation about anything.", Clark said quietly. "Although once she started hanging out with you, Aubrey, she didn't date anyone else."

"Really?" The agent was shocked. "We were just friends, though."

"Really. Several guys asked her out, including that douchebag, but she turned them all down cold.", Wendell said before taking a drink. "She was waiting for you to make your move, Dude."

"I heard it really pissed him off when you two finally got together, Aubrey.", Arastoo said. "I think he figured she was playing hard to get but the fact she rejected him for a Federal Agent really got him."

"It's not like he didn't have women who would jump for him in a heartbeat.", Hodgins said. "What upsets David more is that he's also heard rumors of him intimidating several female interns, so he's been keeping a close eye on Maxwell. However, no one has been coming forward to point a finger at the twerp."

"Because they're probably too scared or bought off?", Aubrey asked in frustration. "How the hell does he get away with all this shit? Where the hell was his advisor from GWU?"

"I guess the kid's old advisor was a Dr. Jennings. I'm sure it was a total coincidence that Harold Maxwell gave generously to the Antiquities program and funded more than one of his digs around the world.", Hodgins said. "He died last summer and Gerald got a new advisor. From what David said, this new advisor is younger and not impressed with the Maxwell name, so our intern friend may have screwed himself completely with his stunt last night."

Aubrey chugged his beer to hold his temper down. "I would have kicked his ass last night, Hodgins, if we hadn't been at the Gala. I barely held back after he called Jessica a cheap whore and made those other disgusting comments about her. He keeps threatening not only to sue her for damage to his car from the tow truck at the convention four weeks ago, but he also says that he will press charges against her because she was secretly trying to steal his car as revenge for him leaving her at the convention."

"Sounds like he's trying to intimidate her.", Booth said before turning to his friend. "Good for Jessica for standing her ground. It helps when she has someone in her corner."

"He must still really have the hots for her to go to a Star Wars convention as her date. I figured he would have given up on her by now.", Arastoo said to the agent before looking back at the others. "Still can't believe the idiot was too proud to just call for a second set of keys or to call Jessica when he saw they were missing."

"I can.", Aubrey said. "You didn't see how pissed he was after Jess caught onto his phony act and she called him on it to his face. When he threatened her in the parking lot after we gave back his keys, she just blew him off. It's obvious that he doesn't seem fond of women he can't blind with money and gifts or bully into submission."

"That asshole's time is coming, though. He can't use his father to put a spin on what he did last night.", Hodgins said before he laughed. "Is it true that he wet himself after you got in his face and threatened him, Aubrey?"

The agent shrugged and downplayed what happened. "He isn't used to someone standing up to him, that's all."

"Yeah, Dude...Karen ran over to the table with that Agent Bower behind her, marveling about how you put Gerald in his place. Then she showed everyone the soaking wet spot on her costume's tail from when he tripped. Of course, Dr. B noticed the smell before any of us.", Wendell chuckled before drinking his beer.

"Oh, Aubrey was sooooo magnificent putting that bully in his place…", Arastoo mimicked in Karen's voice. "Oh, you should have seen him…I was actually worried that he might hurt Gerald."

Everyone else cracked up as they remembered the profiler's retelling of the fight. "I think Agent Bower was too caught up in traveling down Karen's Yellow Brick Road to realize that she was drooling over Aubrey.", Booth added.

"Agent Bower said there was a puddle of yellow liquid by where he was standing on that white marble floor.", Hodgins chuckled. "You can't hide anything on that floor."

Everyone laughed before Arastoo picked up his tea. "Aubrey...that's awesome. He's got at least fifty pounds on you and you scared him that much. You're the man."

"Thanks.", Aubrey replied, feeling slightly guilty for the pride he had for his handling of Gerald's bad behavior. "Yeah, he's bigger than me, but I'm also trained to inflict some major damage on someone if I'm confronted...or even worse, if it's self defense. I would have taken him on if it was just us, but I wasn't going to stoop down to his level with everyone around unless I had to. Jessica didn't need any more embarrassment."

"I'm sure she appreciated it.", Wendell said with a chuckle.

Arastoo chuckled. "Yeah, I bet she showed you her appreciation. Cam said she and Angela saw Jessica practically drag you away from the buffet room after it happened. What did you guys do, make out in one of the storage rooms?"

Aubrey's eyes got big before peeking at Booth furtively, who merely drank his beer. As much as he wanted to brag about their tryst in the locker room, he respected Jessica too much to do that. However, it also seemed that his girlfriend was right that everyone probably figured things out. Making a quick decision, he answered his friends.

"No…she just wanted to tell me how much she appreciated me sticking up for her. Not many guys have done that. She's my best friend, guys. It doesn't matter what happens to me because no one is going to treat my girlfriend like that and get away with it. I did what most decent men, including you all, would do."

The men all nodded in agreement before they tipped their drinks back in solidarity, not realizing that Jessica overheard everything as she was returning from the restroom. Quietly, the anthropologist turned around and re-entered the study from the other entryway.

During the bottom of the ninth inning, everyone watched as Aroldis Chapman pitched again for Chicago. When the Indians got their third out, the game was over and Aubrey standing up and hooting.

"Yes! Yes! My Cubbies rock! Yes!"

"Aubrey! Our son and their children are sleeping upstairs.", Angela gently admonished as she pointed between her, Booth, and Brennan.

The agent looked rightfully rebuked. "Sorry."

"It's okay, Dude. It was pretty exciting.", Hodgins said before turning to everyone. "Okay, folks, hate to break up the party, but tomorrow is Monday."

"We'll help you clean up, Curly.", Jessica said before picking up beer bottles and cups.

With everyone helping, clean up was quick and afterwards, everyone said their goodbyes before getting into their vehicles and heading home.

In Aubrey's SUV, the agent saw his girlfriend looking out the window in a pensive manner. Practically seeing the wheels turning in her head, he grabbed her hand and kissed it. "A credit for your thoughts."

Chuckling at the Star Wars reference, Jessica perked up. "I don't know if one will cut it, Superman."

"Try me.", Aubrey said as they crossed back into Washington DC.

Jessica was hesitant to speak her thoughts aloud, but realized that her boyfriend wouldn't let it rest until she spoke. "I used to sleep around, Aubrey. Gerald wasn't that far off when he said that last night."

Aubrey took a deep breath as gathered his thoughts. Jessica's previous reputation gave him thought more than once when they were together the first time. He'd held a secret fear that he wouldn't be enough for her and it shamed him because his past wasn't much better. Now, he had faith in their friendship and love for each other to push away those old insecurities because Jessica didn't deserve that.

"I know. I wasn't a saint either, Jess, before we got together.", the agent replied. "My past...your past...it doesn't matter. What matters now is us...working as partners to move forward from before and trusting each other."

The redhead took a breath. "I want you to know I'm faithful. I've never been unfaithful to you, Aubrey...or anyone."

His girlfriend's words struck a nerve with Aubrey as he remembered his father. "I know that, Jessica. I'm faithful to you, too. I've never cheated on you or anyone…and I never will."

Jessica stared out the window. "I don't want you to ever wonder if I'm settling. I also don't want you to have to put your reputation on the line for me because of mistakes I made when I was stupid enough to believe in bullshit gossip."

Concerned, Aubrey pulled into the playground by his house and put the vehicle in PARK. "Jessica, what's this about?"

"I'm the one who was stupid enough to go on two dates with Gerald Maxwell, Aubrey. I'm the one who got in his face and told him off.", Jessica said before taking a deep breath. "I'm the one he's angry at, not you."

"I beg to differ, Jess.", Aubrey retorted. "After last night, I'm probably on his hit list, too."

Jessica's lip quivered and she couldn't look her boyfriend in the eye. "His father is on the Governing Board, and from what I hear, he has a lot of powerful friends, including at the DOJ. I don't want him or his family to do something to torpedo your career because you stood up for me."

Aubrey realized she overheard him talking to the guys earlier. He could also feel her retreating and he needed to make it stop…now.

"Jessica. Look at me." When she did, he continued to speak. "I'm not worried about me. One, there were many witnesses to what happened Saturday and also with what happened in the parking lot at Dulles, so any lies he tells will be refuted. Two, sexual harassment is against the law and Dr. B told me earlier that there's a zero tolerance policy at the Jeffersonian. Even as a non-practicing lawyer, I can tell you that you have a case to sue his ass for mega bucks in civil court. However, you're not like that. Three, he's running scared. If he's still grousing about his car, it's because you had his number, so he's trying to intimidate you as payback. Four…he badly underestimated me, and that was a big mistake on his part."

When she looked down, he gently tilted her head up with his finger. "No one is going to hurt you, Jessica, as long as I'm around. If he tries to go after me, I have enough friends of my own that I can use against him, and I will win. So do you. Now, quit worrying about me…please. Worry about what's important right now."

"Putting Gerald in his place?"

Aubrey put the SUV into gear and drove out before making a left onto Janus Street. "No, Skinner. I fed him an early dinner and he probably ate it all. You know how pissed off he gets when he's hungry."

Jessica laughed her ass off as Aubrey slowed down and turned into his driveway. "Only you can make me laugh at a moment like this, Superman."

Aubrey pulled into his garage, turned off the ignition, and he twitched an eyebrow at his girlfriend. "Yeah? Well, watch out, because when we get upstairs, I'm gonna make you scream my name…"

"Really?", the redhead remarked saucily. "Well, what are we waiting for then?"

The couple got out of the vehicle and walked out of the garage. After Aubrey pressed the fob to close the door, they ran up to the front door giggling. He quickly unlocked the door and they ran inside the house before slamming the door shut.