Another wrinkle in the story for our characters. What is Gerald up to now? Read on to find out...

Aubrey arrived at work at 7:30, carrying a box of a dozen donuts as he whistled a cheerful tune. He was tired as hell, and he knew he would probably crash tonight as soon as he got home. Of that he had no doubt, but he knew it was worth it as he remembered the morning delight he'd received from Jessica in the shower and then the pancakes she'd made for breakfast. Yawning as he got off the elevator, he chuckled to himself. Yeah, I might crash hard this evening...but I'll crash with Jessica in my arms...and I'm looking forward to that..she makes it all worthwhile...

Walking into the break room, he greeted a couple agents who were in early like he was. Arriving in the bullpen, he was surprised to see Steve Bower typing on the computer.

"Steve? A bit early for you, isn't it?"

Sipping his coffee, the other man nodded. "Yeah, but I got an anonymous tip at 3:00 this morning about the phone that was used in last week's bomb threat. Mitzi's working the graveyard shift this weekend, and I was up anyway, so I checked it out as soon as I could."

"Was it legit?"

"Yeah, it was, Boss." Steve yawned and stretched a bit as he glanced up at Aubrey. "I got down to Ashley Anders' apartment building about 4:30-"

"Did you say Ashley Anders? The Jeffersonian Intern?" When Steve nodded, Aubrey knew he had to tread carefully. "Sorry...go ahead."

"So, I left Casper to continue Gerald's surveillance while Agent Bell and I went dumpster diving until we found all of Ms. Anders' trash bags. I got ahold of Dr. Hodgins, and he met me at the Jeffersonian about 6:30 this morning and took possession of the bags. He, myself, and some new pathologist lady searched through them until we found a phone inside." Steve rubbed his face as he grimaced in disgust. "Apparently she's a vegan and the food scraps she had in there stunk to high heaven…"

Aubrey gestured to move things along. "Did you find anything else?"

"Just the usual girl stuff, Boss, along with a few empty bottles of Langatun Whiskey."

"Fancy tastes...no surprise.", Aubrey cracked. "But what I meant was...did you find anything relevant to the case?"

"Maybe...I mean, nothing that screamed 'mad bomber', but we found a couple single use ice packs that had been used...you know, like the ones people put on bruises? Dr. Hodgins is still going through the trash, so who knows what else they'll find." Steve yawned again. "I ran home, took a quick shower, saw my Mitzi Muffin, and came into work. She was pissed about my smelly clothes…"

"Yeah...I'm sure she was, Steve.", Aubrey replied. "Keep me and Agent Shaw posted, okay?"

"You got it, Boss…"

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

Jessica had finally finished her examination of a set of remains in Limbo. Confirming her report in her tablet, she emailed the report to Dr. B. After putting the bones away carefully, she went back upstairs to the main lab.

Passing by the Ookey Room, she saw Hodgins and Dr. Thompson, the new interim pathologist, hard at work searching what looked like a pile of garbage. She felt bad that he was without an intern today, as Ashley was going to Harold Maxwell's wake. However, when she had checked in earlier that morning, Hodgins had immediately sent her to work with Dr. B. He had been rather abrupt about it, but she chalked it up to exhaustion, since Angela had told her in passing he had been called in to work around 6:30. Whatever the reason, it must have been important.

Arriving at her mentor's office, she knocked and came in when given permission. "Dr. B, would you like me to continue in Limbo after my break?"

"Actually, the Maryland State Police are sending in a set of remains that were found outside Baltimore on the construction side of a new federal building. We will need your assistance with the examination when it arrives."

"Okay. Would you like anything from the coffee cart, Dr. B?"

"No, thank you, Ms. Warren."

Jessica left and Brennan made a call. "Hodgins, are you almost done with your examination...good...those remains should be here soon and then you can use Ms. Warren after that." Brennan paused as she listened. "Yes, I agree with your assessment that Ms. Warren was not to assist you this morning...I'll let you know when they get here. Good bye."

Brennan hung up the phone and returned to the manuscript for her latest book. If things turned out like they predicted, they might have one more piece of evidence that could be used in the Gerald Maxwell case in order put him away for good...at least she hoped so.

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

Two hours later, Jessica finished setting up specimens in the MSGC in the Ookey Room. Setting the parameters, she started the machine. "How else can I help you, Curly?"

Hodgins looked up from the item he was examining with a magnifying glass. "That should be it, Jessica. I'll be fine until Ashley gets here."

"Are you sure, Curly? I'm sorry that Dr. B needed me right away in Limbo when I came in this morning, but she said I could help you now until Ashley gets here..."

"That's okay, Jessica, and yes, I'm good. Harold Maxwell's wake ended about 30 minutes ago. I told Ashley to grab a quick lunch before coming in, so she'll be here anytime."

Jessica's curiosity finally got the best of her. "When is Harold Maxwell's funeral?"

Hodgins typed notes into the computer and began examining another piece of evidence. "10:00 tomorrow at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls."

The redhead shrugged as she removed her gloves. "I didn't know the Maxwells were religious."

"They were when it counted, I guess.", Hodgins said with a tinge of bitterness. "That's something that has never changed over the years. They went to church on Easter and Christmas for sure, and maybe another Sunday or two during the year...enough to keep their standing as church members..."

"Well, I'm truly sorry for the family, but…not that sorry. I'm hoping that the process server has enough taste at least to serve Gerald regarding my lawsuit after the viewing.", Jessica replied while washing her hands. Hearing her phone buzz, she pulled it out of her pocket and read it. "Aubrey's just pulled in. He's having lunch with me here today since we're short handed...unless you need me to wait until Ashley gets here."

Hodgins laughed as he looked up from his computer. "Jessica, I worked for several years without an intern and did just fine. Really, I'm good. Go have lunch with your boyfriend. Dr. B is with Booth at the diner, so I'll email her that you're taking your lunch break."

"Okay." Seeing the petri dishes, she pointed to them. "Do you want me to run these to Angela for you quick since it's on my way?"

"Actually, yeah, if you could." Hodgins wheeled over to the dishes to check their contents. "She may be napping, so if she is, can you wake her up? She just wanted to lay down for an hour. I just need to finish what I'm doing here so we can go to lunch."

"Is the pregnancy wearing her out?", Jessica asked.

Hodgins nodded. "Yeah, but I know better than to tell her to take it easy, though."

Jessica picked up the small tray. "I'll be right back."

Jessica walked to her friend's office, where she was indeed napping on the couch. In the background there was a scan commencing on the Angelatron and what looked like a phone hooked up to something else. Setting the tray with the dishes down, she gently shook the woman. "Angela, Hodgins wanted me to wake you up."

Opening her eyes, Angela stretched and grinned up at her friend. "Thanks, Jessica. This little guy is wearing me out a lot these days. I love being pregnant, but being knocked up at 38 is different than at 31…just saying…"

Jessica smiled as she put the three petri dishes on the table. "I'm going to return the tray to Hodgins and then have lunch with Aubrey…"

"Yes, go have lunch with your cute agent, Jessica.", Angela said playfully. "Perhaps you two sneak away for another round of what brought you here in such a cheerful mood this morning."

Jessica turned beet red. "Angela…we're at work…"

"Never stopped Hodgins and me…and I was right." Angela pointed at the intern and chuckled. "You and Aubrey did have some 'before work' morning nookie…what a great way to start the day, right?"

"I'll talk to you later.", the redhead said with a smirk before walking out with the tray. Seeing Aubrey walk in with a large bag, she got his attention and he walked over to her.

"Hey there, beautiful…the reason for my good morning...", Aubrey smiled widely.

Giving her boyfriend a peck on the cheek, Jessica agreed. "Yes, it has been a good morning…I'll meet you up in the break area in a minute. I just need to return this tray to Curly."

"Sounds great…I have to check in with Angela when we're done with lunch to see if she found anything on the phone Steve brought in this morning. It might be connected to the asshole who called in last week's bomb threat.", Aubrey's voice trailed off when he saw an angry woman stomp towards the Ookey Room. "Um, tread carefully, Jess. Ashley looks pissed."

"I'll be quick." Jessica walked briskly, wanted to get in and out. When she got to the doorway, she heard the reason for the woman's irritation.

"…he got served as we were walking out of the church! Dr. Hodgins…that's so distasteful and disgusting! Between his siblings and his mother giving him the cold shoulder and two of his ex-girlfriends trying to flirt with him at his father's wake…it's been a trying day for Gerald."

Hodgins nodded as he hung up his blue lab coat. "Sounds like it, Ashley. Flirting with an ex at his father's service is pretty gauche."

"He even had to take one of them aside in the back of the sanctuary to talk some sense into her. They were gone over twenty minutes. When they came out, his shirt and her skirt were rumpled and he said it was because she jumped him. Ugh."

"Well, Ashley, I'm sure it was a…trying day for him.", Hodgins replied in a very polite tone as he noticed Jessica in the doorway. "Now, I need you to check on all the arachnids in the group study next door. Then we'll go over your assignments today before I take Angie to lunch."

When the other intern was gone, Hodgins waved Jessica in. Setting the tray down, she mouthed, "Thank you" to Hodgins, who nodded before she walked back out.

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

"He actually had sex with another woman during his father's wake…with his girlfriend there?" A disgusted Aubrey sipped his chocolate shake. "Jess, that is…beyond despicable, even for Gerald."

"I know…Ashley believed him when he said the other woman jumped him and he had to fight her off, but…I can't worry about that anymore.", the intern replied, biting into her salad.

"And you shouldn't. You have enough to deal with." Aubrey noticed a couple of older women he recognized as lab technicians giving haughty looks to his girlfriend. "Don't you ladies have something better to do than staring at an intern that can run circles around you?"

Offended, the two women grabbed their coffee and stormed away. Jessica tried to hold in her giggle, but it burst out. "Superman…you're a dick…"

"And they're judgmental and snotty. What's your point?" Aubrey smirked before dipping a French fry into his garlic mayo-ketchup mix. "Consider it yet another thank you for making my very early morning a better one. Hear back from Daisy at all since she left the house at the butt crack of dawn?"

"I sent her a text earlier asking how she was feeling. She replied with, 'not as poopy as this morning...hiding in office today.'"

"Well, maybe next time she won't chug a bottle of red wine and then champagne when she's pissed off...of course, that didn't stop her when we had dinner with her and Beau back in November." Aubrey bit into his triple bacon cheeseburger and chewed thoughtfully. "She's putting her marriage in jeopardy, Jess. Not just with the Oliver thing, but also with her complete obstinacy in not compromising with Beau in regards to his career. It sounds like the deal he would get with the CFL if he passes their training camp would be much better than with the Redskins."

"I agree."

Aubrey paused slightly, choosing his words carefully as he continued. "I know she loves her job, but it wouldn't hurt her to put Beau first for a change. Yeah, there's a lot I don't like about him, but you can't deny that he's tried to consider Daisy's needs lately...when he's not being a pain in the ass, that is."

"It's weird, though, because when I first suggested last week that maybe he could commute back to DC in the off season, she said that when she proposed that idea to him, he turned her down flat, saying they needed to stay together and be a family unit. When I brought it up again after picking her up from the airport yesterday, this time she didn't even want to consider it."

Aubrey made a face. "That's weird. Why the change?"

"She said that since her schedule is so erratic at the NFL that even going to see him some weekends in Canada during the season would not be possible in any way. She also needs to set an example for her staff like Dr. B used to. However, from what Wendell, Angela, and Curly have told me, even Dr. B would make exceptions for her family and Booth back in the day. I don't understand it." Jessica took a sip of her pop, deciding to change the subject. "So did Booth hear back about Harold Maxwell's autopsy?"

"Yep, we heard this morning. It was a stroke. The medical examiner's report stated that there was a 90% blockage in one of the arteries leading to his heart as well as a small one in his brain. The pathologist found about what you had suggested...the clot broke off from the larger blockage and lodged in his brain. With his wife's testimony of symptoms he presented with several days beforehand, it looks like he was a time bomb waiting to go off. While there are other possibilities, the pathologist says it was likely that the screaming match he got into with Gerald is probably what triggered the stroke and that Harold Maxwell was probably dead before he hit the floor. The head injury was just incidental."

"It's good that Gerald didn't kill his father, like the rumors going around suggested…", Jessica said quietly. "So you said that Steve might have found a phone that the idiot who called here last week may have used?"

"Yeah, uh, Angela was going to do a trace on it..." Aubrey trailed off when the woman in question came up to the break area. "Hey, your ears must have been burning…"

"I'm glad you're still here. I've already called Bower to let him know, but I've traced the phone he found this morning back to the store where it was purchased. From there, I got the information about the owner of the credit card that used to pay for it. He's on his way to pick her up now."

"Who's was it?"

Before she could answer, Ashley arrived in the break area. Seeing the redhead, the young woman walked up to her, ignoring the others. "I can't believe you would be so cold to have Gerald served with a lawsuit during his father's wake. I never thought you would stoop so low."

Taking a breath, Jessica turned to her fellow intern. "Ashley, I put the paperwork in before Harold Maxwell collapsed and died. I have no control on when they served Gerald with the papers. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to enjoy lunch with my boyfriend without you jumping on your Poor Gerald soapbox."

Ashley registered surprise at Jessica's words before her anger came back. Her jaw tightened before she stormed back downstairs to the lab floor.

Aubrey gasped quietly. "Jess…that was…cold…not your usual manner…"

The redhead stabbed her Caesar salad. "I'm fed up with being nice, Aubrey. I just want this shit over with so we can get back to a somewhat normal life."

"Wow...you go, girl…", Angela said, impressed. "She must still have that cold though. Her voice has sounded like shit for over a week."

Aubrey turned back to the artist. "You said 'her', Angela. Who did it belong to?"

"Yeah, the credit card belonged to-" Hearing commotion downstairs, the three moved to the railing to see Steve and Ashley on the lab floor.

"You can either come with me voluntarily, or I can arrest you right here, Ms. Anders. I would prefer not to do that." Agent Bower stood with his hands on his hips. "It's your choice, ma'am."

"I would never call in a bomb threat…you're mistaken.", Ashley stammered. "I don't know what you're talking about…"

Steve pointed towards Angela's office. "We found the phone that was used to make the call in your trash this morning. Using the serial number, Ms. Montenegro traced it back to the store where it was purchased last Thursday. The credit card that was used to pay for it is in your name. Now, come with me quietly, please, or else I'm going to have to arrest you in front of everyone."

The young woman could feel all eyes on her and she became nauseated. "Let me just go tell Dr. Hodgins where I'm going."

Back upstairs, Angela stood there, shaking her head in surprise. "I called him ten minutes ago and he's already here. Damn, he's quick."

"Aubrey, how did Steve find the phone?", Jessica asked

"Steve got an anonymous tip that the phone used to make the call would be found in Ashley's trash.", Aubrey said. "Since you don't need a search warrant to dig through trash…"

"Steve Bower actually dug through trash?"

Aubrey nodded. "Yep, with the help of Agent Bell, who was assigned to Gerald's surveillance. After some trial and error, they found Ashley's trash bags in the dumpster outside her apartment and Steve ran them over to Hodgins before you came in this morning."

Obviously surprised by Aubrey's remark, Jessica told Aubrey what had happened earlier in the day. "Hodgins never said a word to me. I saw he was examining stuff with Dr. Thompson, who's really cool, by the way, when I came in to say good morning. He immediately told me to go find Dr. B. It was a bit abrupt, but I figured the two were engrossed in something good…"

"Yeah, it was something good all right. The smell didn't do my office any favors, though." Angela cringed as she patted her baby bump. "My little guy was not happy."

"I bet." Aubrey turned to Jessica. "With the rule of two people examining all evidence from the Maxwell cases, Hodgins used Dr. Thompson because she's not connected to either of the cases, and she was probably the first available. He's also making sure that Janis Jergins cannot create reasonable doubt by stating you recruited Hodgins to gang up on Gerald."

Jessica was horrified. "Wait, do they really think Ashley put in a bomb threat?"

"I don't think she did it. However, with it being traced back to her credit card, Steve has to follow the trail until he find another lead."

Jessica made another realization. "A bomb threat here is a federal offense…Ashley could go to prison for that. Superman, we can't let that happen…"

"Jess…all I can promise is if we can somehow prove she didn't know what was going to happen, maybe she can help us nail who did it."

"We all know who did it...that piece of shit…setting her up like that...", Angela muttered.

"I agree, but if we can't find any other evidence, then she's going down for it." Aubrey shook his head, knowing who was actually guilty. "What a prick…"

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

An hour later, Aubrey and Booth watch Ashley's interrogation through the two way mirror.

"Okay, let's go through this again, Ms. Anders.", Steve said, fidgeting with a folder. "You say that you couldn't have purchased the phone and made the bomb threat because your credit card is always in your purse."

"Yes, that's correct. However, I loaned it to my boyfriend Friday to pay his lawyer's retainer so he could start his defamation lawsuit against Jessica Warren."

"Why were you paying the retainer?", Steve asked in surprise. "The Maxwells are loaded."

"Mr. Maxwell cut him off with all this stuff going on with Jessica Warren, saying that Gerald was destroying the family name by defending himself instead of settling it quietly. His mother gave him ten thousand on the side, but he needed that to repair a dent in his Alfa Romeo and to live on since the Jefferson fired him for no good reason."

"According to his former supervisor at the Jeffersonian, Dr. David Miller, your boyfriend was fired from his internship because it was proven that he committed vandalism and theft-"

"Nothing but lies Jessica Warren created. My boyfriend...had a moment of weakness with her, but then he realized his mistake. She wanted to use him to make Agent Aubrey jealous and Gerald refused to go along with her, so she set him up as revenge."

"What about the other women who say he sexually harassed them?"

"Gerald told me about how Jessica's family is wealthy and they are paying those women off to cover for her BS. She's told the lies about Mr. Maxwell to deflect attention from her family's crimes."

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

"The Warrens are financially comfortable but they're not mega millionaires." Aubrey shook his head in frustration. "Why do people keep saying that?"

"Just listen, Aubrey…", Booth replied.

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

"So explain to me why your credit card was traced back to this phone…" Steve pointed to the picture of the phone. "...that we found in your trash after an anonymous tip. The phone records prove that someone made a call to the Jeffersonian Security Office at 1:52 PM on January 6th. The number dialed is not a published number, Ms. Anders. Only an employee would know that direct extension."

"Gerald lost my card by accident. He didn't want to upset me, so he tried finding it first. Luckily, it was found on Friday by the law firm, and he picked it up while everyone was at the Governing Board hearing. At the time, I was glad that I didn't have to cancel the account, but now I wish I had. As for calling the direct line, they're either mistaken or someone is setting me up because I'm supporting Gerald against these vicious lies."

"Or you disguised your voice to make that threat so that the Governing Board hearing would either be delayed or canceled.", Steve replied, testing the young woman's reaction. "You would do anything for Gerald Maxwell, wouldn't you, Ashley?"

Biting her lip anxiously, the young woman sighed softly. "Yes, I would, most of the time, but I would never do that. I've worked hard to get my internship under Dr. Hodgins and I would never do anything so crazy for any reason. Gerald wouldn't, either. He knows he and his father were innocent. There was no need to call in a bomb threat. It's just a travesty that Mr. Maxwell lost his seat on the board...a seat that his family had held for multiple generations...all because a woman couldn't take rejection."

"You're lying, Ms. Anders. Either you made the call or you know who made the call…"

"No, I don't. Just talk to Gerald and he'll tell you what happened with my credit card."

Steve sat back. "I hope he does, or you're in a mess of trouble, young lady."

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

"That asshole is setting her up, Booth.", Aubrey muttered. "She's just the patsy…"

"I know he is, Aubrey. Angela is trying to track down any security footage from the store the card was used at. Hopefully it will prove her innocence."

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

Ashley shifted in her chair, causing part of her heavy turtleneck to fall down her neck. Immediately, Steve paused as he saw something suspicious. "Ms. Anders, you have some ugly bruises on your neck. What happened?"

Pushing the fabric up around her throat, the young woman looked at the table. "I fell yesterday."

Steve Bower knew he had messed up a lot as an agent over the years, but getting his life together and marrying Mitzi had made him determined to get something right. Remembering a conversation he'd had with her this morning as she got home about what happened during her shift, one thing in particular stood out in his mind as he looked at the woman.

"Your voice sounds...hoarse. That must have been some fall…and anyway, that's kind of a weird place to be bruised, isn't it? Where exactly did you fall?"

"On some stairs." Feeling uncomfortable with the direction of the questions, Ashley put her hand over the turtleneck to hold it up. "I fell forward going up a flight of stairs, and I hit the steps pretty hard. It hurts to talk."

"That's not true. Those aren't fresh bruises." Narrowing his eyes at Ashley, Bower shook his head at her. "You didn't fall yesterday, Ms. Anders. I know it and you know it. Now...what really happened?"

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

"Son of a bitch…", Aubrey replied in a voice of suppressed rage. "He's beating on her, too? Jess said her voice has been gravelly since last week but everything thinks it's because of a cold..."

"Get out of here, Aubrey.", Booth said abruptly, pushing his friend out of the interrogation booth.

"What the hell are you-"

"You can't be involved in Gerald's case or with any case that he may be involved in, Aubrey. You need to recuse yourself immediately from this case and put Genny in charge."

"Bower is my agent. I'm not-"

"Aubrey...we're skirting into dangerous territory for you. We both know that this shit has Gerald Maxwell written all over it. However, if they find out you may have even been sniffing around and didn't recuse yourself immediately, Janis Jergins can use it as a way to introduce reasonable doubt...possibly even getting Jessica's case thrown out." Booth softened as he shook his head. "You know I'm right, Aubrey. Do this for Jessica…"

Aubrey knew he could never forgive himself if his pride caused him to get Jessica's case thrown out of court. "Fine...you're right…"

"I know. Go work on some admin stuff. I'm going to talk to Genny right now and let her know that you've recused yourself and that she's the point person for Steve when he finishes his interrogation. She was going through Jill's case file earlier on Harold to see if there was anything that could be used for her case. Maybe she found something tangible." Booth put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Besides, you're going to have a shitty morning tomorrow."

"Don't remind me…", Aubrey sighed. "Okay, I'm going."

Aubrey walked away, angry that once again he had to step aside because of Gerald Maxwell. However, he knew that Booth was right and he wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize Jessica's case.

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

An hour later, Aubrey was returning to Major Crimes with a cup of coffee when he saw Steve lead a crying Ashley out of the interrogation room in handcuffs. Genny followed him out but then headed to her office.

Determined to get some information if at all possible, Aubrey knocked on her door. "Hey…"

Genny had an idea about why he was there, but she knew she couldn't cave in. "Hey, Boss.", she said quietly. "Listen...about this case…"

"Yeah...the case." Aubrey put his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the door frame. "What am I allowed to know?"

"Not much." The ASAC turned to her friend and boss. She felt bad, but they both knew her hands were tied. "She's been arrested for making a bomb threat against a federal establishment. She's going to be arraigned in night court, then she can arrange bail. That's all I can tell you, Aubrey."

He pursed his lips, thinking over what he'd heard while he was still in the booth. "Do you think she did it?"

Genny put her file aside. "No, I don't, Boss, and neither does Steve. However, until Angela can find more information, we're stuck. The evidence is circumstantial, but it's enough to hold her…"

"I understand." Slowly turning to walk away, Aubrey shook his head. This has Gerald Maxwell written all over it...

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

"Do I still get a phone call?", Ashley asked as she rode the elevator with Steve.

'Poor dumb girl.' Steve thought. "Yeah, you do. There's a phone in booking you can use, but then you're being held until your arraignment. I recommend calling a good lawyer."

Getting off the elevator, he led her to an office and a phone. Ashley immediately called the person she knew would help her. However, it kept ringing until she got Gerald's voice mail. Crying, she waited for the prompt.

"Gerald, it's Ashley...I need your help. I'm in jail. They arrested me for that bomb threat and...I'm really scared...I know you're probably with your family but I'll need you to bail me out...I'm going to night court at 8:00. Please be there. I love you. Bye."

Ashley hung up the phone. "He must be with his family. His father's funeral is tomorrow…"

Steve knew better. "I'm sure that's it. Come on Ashley...it's time to fingerprint and book you…"

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

At Ashley's apartment, Gerald's phone buzzed as a brunette and Gerald were having sex. "Whoever called left a voicemail…"

"I don't give a fuck...I just...want to fuck...you Amanda...yeah…", Gerald spit out as he pushed harder inside of his partner. "It's nobody important…"

"Are you sure your...girlfriend won't...be home…"

Gerald didn't want to hear anything except Amanda's moans. "Trust me, she won't be home. Now be quiet so I can concentrate…"

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

"So she's still in jail?", Jessica asked as she got under the covers in their bed.

Aubrey pulled the sheets back and crawled under them as well. "Yeah. She was supposed to go to night court, but with the water main bursting due to the cold, all arraignments were delayed until tomorrow morning."

"Has Gerald even called Hodgins to look for her?", Jessica asked. "He has to know by now that she's not home and something is up."

Aubrey shook his head. "Nope. Hodgins said he would let me know as a courtesy, but as of now, we've heard nothing from him. I've checked around and there have been no police reports called in, either. Genny did let me know a while ago that his surveillance team reported a female visitor entered the apartment building with Gerald this afternoon. My guess, he not only was having sex with another woman while his girlfriend was in jail, he knows where Ashley is but he doesn't care."

"Hodgins is going to her arraignment in the morning and plans to post her bail. Do you think Gerald will show up tomorrow?"

"He could...but probably not. Gerald will use the funeral as an excuse, but I'm sure he plans to leave her in jail to take the fall. With his father gone, Ashley's usefulness is wearing off for him."

"I hope Angela finds something clearing Ashley. No way would she would do that...not even for Gerald." The redhead settled down under the covers. "She loves her internship too much."

"I hope so, Jess. I really do.", Aubrey said, staring at the ceiling.

Jessica realized why Aubrey's mood was subdued. "You're thinking about your meeting with Karen tomorrow, aren't you?"

Aubrey nodded. "I really don't want to be there, but I don't have a choice. Booth is right when he says I should be there to refute any teary eyed denials she tries to tell Jake. I just don't...get her."

"I know Karen has had several failed relationships. I also know that she has feelings for you, but...it's like she doesn't see you as a partner anymore, but as some prize to be won. I…" Jessica put her palm on her chest. "...don't like what she does to you. She makes you angry."

"Yeah, she makes me angry, Jessica, because for the last several months, she has messed with both of us since, in her mind, you're the obstacle keeping her and me apart. She feels like you are conspiring to destroy her life. I've tried being nice...I've tried ignoring her...and I've tried to be an asshole and nothing works. I was raised to be respectful, but I'm sick of her shit. Just thinking about her makes my blood pressure go up."

Jessica touched his shoulder. "I know, Aubrey."

"I didn't want to go to Jake Tanner, but I'm done. I could deal if it was just me but it's affecting you...it's affecting everyone at the lab...hell, if my suspicions are correct, it's even affected Gerald Maxwell and his family. She's toxic...and until she gets her shit together...I can't deal with her."

"You still think she had something to do with Gerald's stuff with me, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I think she wanted you fired and out of my life, but I don't think she solicited him to attack you because I can't see even her going that far. Obviously, she had no way of knowing how much of a perv Gerald was, but whatever Karen said or did has pushed him to take it further with you than with any other woman. I just can't prove it, but even if I could, if she didn't solicit criminal activity, she can't be fired. However, I can get an asterisk by her name, and not only will her FBI career stall but that note in her file will follow her wherever she goes outside of us."

"You'll prove it, Aubrey. I know you will." Jessica took his hand and squeezed it gently. "I trust you…"

"What really scares the hell out of me is that you're different somehow to Gerald." Aubrey turned to his girlfriend and gently caressed her shoulder and arm. "Something about you has...stirred something vile in him. I know you're fearless, Jessica, but my gut is telling me that he's out for blood…just don't take any unnecessary risks, okay?

"James Aubrey, I'm not a child-"

"Jessica, I know you're not a child. You're an independent woman who can take care of herself, but this guy has several screws loose. He's got a plan for injuring you...and it's more than just hurting you physically. If I could be at your side 24 hours a day, I would...that's how much I'm worried about what's going to happen."

"I know, but you can't...and I promise you, I'll be careful. Now, let's go to bed. I'm off tomorrow but you have your meeting at Quantico in the morning."

"Good idea." Aubrey laid down and faced Jessica. "You're working this weekend, right?"

"8 to 3. Oliver will be there, too. Should be fun." Jessica kissed her boyfriend. "Good night, Superman. I love you."

"Good night, Jess." He reached up to turn off the bedside lamp before pulling her into his embrace. "I love you, too."