Things have been tense for our favorite couple over the last few days, and tempers have flared. Can they get back to a better place?

PS: Happy 2nd anniversary to the 2017 Women's March. This chapter and next week's I hope are very appropo to that significant event.

Aubrey walked to Booth's SUV and forced a smile on his face when he saw Christine and Hank in the back seat. "Hey there, Mini Booths."

"Hi, Uncle Aubrey.", Christine said happily. "Mommy said Jessica has to work on an important case with her, and that she still doesn't feel good."

"Yeah, your mom needed her because Jessica is one of her best interns.", Aubrey said quietly, turning to the little girl as Booth drove away from the house. "She hates that she couldn't see you tonight, but I promise you'll see her tomorrow. You just have to be careful when you hug her."

"Okay." Satisfied, Christine settled back in her seat before holding up a picture of a little girl with blonde hair with a taller girl with bright red hair standing with a skeleton. "I have a picture that I drew for her. Do you think she'll like it?"

Aubrey smiled at the young blonde. "That is a beautiful picture, Christine, and yes, she'll love it, especially since you drew it just for her."

For the rest of the 30 minute drive, Aubrey listened as Christine nattered on about her day at school and how excited she was that her mother was speaking at the Women's March tomorrow.

"I wish I could go, but Mommy said it would be very crowded."

"Yeah, it is, Monkey, but we're going to watch it on TV when she speaks and we're going to cheer really loud.", Booth said. "Your mommy is doing a great thing for you and all other girls out there."

When Booth's phone buzzed, the Bluetooth on the Navigator showed it was from Brennan. After ensuring that Christine put her earbuds in to watch her tablet, Booth pushed 'Ignore' to view it later.

Seeing Christine was occupied, Aubrey turned to Booth and whispered. "Are you keeping the kids home because of those protests after the Inauguration?"

"Yeah. I can't stop Bones from speaking, but we both agreed keeping the kids home just in case was best.", Booth replied quietly. "She still refuses to let me go with her tomorrow because she's worried about my job."

"Jess said the same thing last weekend when we talked about it...the day before everything happened at the lab…"

It was quiet for a few minutes before Christine spoke up again. "I had to miss the Inauguration Parade today, Uncle Aubrey."

Startled by his daughter's voice, Booth looked in the mirror. "It was really cold today, Sweetie, and a lot of people stayed home because of it. Don't worry, though. We'll go to the next one in 2020."

"But Mommy said yesterday that we weren't going because there was no reason to celebrate a myogisic troglodyte for our new President, Daddy."

'Bones...', Booth grumbled under his breath. "That's misogynistic, Monkey."

"What does that mean, Daddy? You said that to Mommy about that Harold Maxwell guy, too and that he got what he deserved."

Booth eyeballed his daughter from the rearview mirror. "Christine, were you eavesdropping again when Mommy and me were talking privately? We've talked about that."

"Sorry…"

Aubrey could see that Booth was struggling and decided to tell as much of the truth as he could to an eight-year-old little girl. "It means a man who thinks that women can't do the same things that men can."

"Are you two mysogin…mysog…"

"Nooooooo!", Booth and Aubrey said together before the older man explained further. "That's misogynistic, and no, your Uncle Aubrey and I are very supportive of women. So's your Uncle Hodgins, Arastoo, and Parker. Pops and Grandpa Max also supported women. A man who doesn't think a woman can do what a man can is not a nice one, Christine. You remember that when you get older."

As they crossed into Virginia, Christine asked another question. "Daddy, is that man that hurt Jessica, Aunt Angela, and those other people at the lab misog...misogynistic?"

"Yes, Monkey, he is.", Booth replied quietly as he peeked at Aubrey. "Gerald Maxwell and other men who hurt women are bad men."

"Is that Gerald guy related to that Harold guy, Daddy?"

"Yes, Christine. Harold was Gerald's father."

"Did he hurt Jessica, too?"

Aubrey knew Christine's questions were innocent but the more they talked about what had happened, the more flustered he became. Afraid to blurt out something to the child, Aubrey kept his mouth shut.

Booth could see Aubrey struggling and decided to it was time to move on. "Yes, he did, but Jessica is a strong woman like your mommy is…and Aunt Angela…and your Aunt Cam and she's going to get better soon."

Christine pondered her father's words with an expression not unlike her mother's when she considered an idea. "Uncle Aubrey, can I help Jessica get better?"

"You sure can, Christine." Aubrey smiled at the child's question before turning around. "That picture will help her a lot."

"Okay, now, Christine, let's not talk about what happened to Jessica anymore, all right? Remember what Mommy and I have said about talking about someone when they're not around?"

"It's not nice, especially if it's bad or makes that person sad."

"Good girl." Booth pulled into Hodgins and Angela's driveway. "Aubrey, I'm just taking the kids inside. I'll be right back."

"Okay."

As Aubrey waited for Booth to return, he kept replaying the fight from earlier that evening. He had been an insensitive ass to blow up like he did at Jessica. Yes, he was still angry with her for giving Karen a second chance and for her being nasty to him all week, but he didn't have to be a jerk about it. He wasn't the one who was almost murdered a week ago and he had no right to yell at her as she was still recovering.

He still didn't understand why Jessica had let Karen off the hook so easily. Yeah, she said it wouldn't help her if the profiler was fired, but it didn't matter. Karen had tried to ruin their lives by hurting Jessica and his guilt had allowed it to happen. Karen may have won today, but he wouldn't stop until the profiler paid for what she did.

He was startled when Booth opened the door. "Alright, Hodgins and Angela say hello. Angela was curious about why the kids were coming over tonight but I told her that you and I were planning a surprise for Jessica while she and Bones were working an old case together to hold back her snooping. I didn't think you wanted her to know what happened."

"No, I didn't. Thank you." Aubrey saw Booth check his messages. "What did Dr. B say?"

"Don't shoot the messenger, but it looks like Jessica is staying at our house tonight, Aubrey." Booth put the phone down and backed out of the driveway. "With what happened earlier, it's probably a good idea for you two to take a break tonight."

"But her not coming home?" Aubrey looked out the window as Booth reentered Washington DC. "That's not a break, that's…"

"Aubrey, Jessica locked herself in the bathroom because she was scared after you two were screaming at each other. I haven't asked any questions about why my children are staying over with Hodgins and Angela instead of visiting Jessica, but I will be later on." Booth saw the look of fear in the younger man's face. "Aubrey, it's just so you two can take a breather, that's all. If Bones felt that it was for the best, I trust her judgement."

Aubrey reluctantly nodded. "Fine…"

Booth saw Aubrey looking forlorn. "How about a triple cheeseburger over at Founding Fathers? I'll get us a couple of beers…some onion rings...Bones doesn't let me eat those when she's around."

"I'm not hungry, Booth…"

"Come on, we'll get some of those sliders you like so much, plus potato skins, and other junk…" Booth didn't see Aubrey give his usual response to the food. "Aubrey, I didn't get any dinner earlier because you called us while we were on the way to the diner. Angela and Hodgins are feeding my kids tonight and I owe them. Now we either go to Founding Fathers where we can talk or you're buying me a pizza, a fifth of my favorite and expensive scotch, and I'm taking over your bed to sleep in tonight."

Stunned, Aubrey turned to Booth. "But that's my bed!"

"I'm your landlord!". Booth retorted. "So what's it going to be?"

Aubrey knew he was stuck. "Fine…wait, you're spending the night?"

Booth parked his vehicle about a block from their favorite watering hole. "Yep. Bones said that you and I should talk and it would be better to have just her and Jessica at the house. I'm glad I have my go to bag with an extra set of clothes and stuff. Now, if I'm stuck with you instead of in my warm bed next to my wife tonight, you're going to make it worth my while."

Booth got out and leaned into the driver's side. "Now come on, Aubrey. I need a beer and I'm sure you do, too, after today. Then we can talk about what the hell happened to you and Jessica earlier."

Aubrey only nodded before getting out the vehicle and followed Booth to Founding Fathers.

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

After getting their beers and food, Aubrey laid out all that happened with Jessica earlier that evening. Booth sat patiently and listened, ceasing the conversation when their second round of drinks came to the table. When done, Aubrey looked at his friend.

"Booth…I fucked up…really bad, man. She probably hates me now."

Booth took a drink from his beer. "No, she doesn't, Aubrey. Remember our talk last week? Jessica is dealing with some PTSD from what Gerald did to her. He's not there for her to take her anger out on, so you're the lucky one."

"I'm a major jackass for yelling at her like that. I didn't have to tell her how much of a pain in the ass she's been…"

"No, you didn't, but you're a human being, Aubrey. Being repeatedly pushed away and taking the brunt of her frustrations had to be hard." Booth chewed on an onion ring. "I know I didn't make it easy for Bones when I came home from prison."

"Really?" Aubrey was surprised. "You two seemed so…tight when I first met you."

"Glad you thought so, but we weren't…not right away. I had so many things going on in me…I come home to a new house, a job where people looked at me like I was a murderer, the only people I could trust were my wife, the squints at the lab, and Sweets…then he was killed…"

"Then you had to deal with me, Mr. Eager Beaver.", Aubrey muttered.

"Well, I wasn't much better with you either, Aubrey. You took the brunt of my…all that was going on when Sweets was murdered. I wasn't going to church, I kept everyone at arm's length, but I'm getting off track." Booth bit into his cheeseburger. "When I got out of prison, I was angry…so angry…and yes, scared. In prison, I had guys trying to kill me because I was a cop and now I know also because of Durant. I miss my Pop's funeral, my son and daughter had to deal with people talking shit about me, my wife and the lab were working on helping me in secret so they wouldn't get caught…I made Sanderson the focus of everything. It was easy to blame him…"

"He was set up to be your patsy, Booth…"

"Yeah, I know that now, but at the time I didn't realize what was going on. When it looked like he was at the head of the conspiracy, I refused to see him as nothing more than the man who'd set me up and tried to kill me and Bones. I wanted vengeance so badly for what happened that I was going to go out and kill the bastard…"

Aubrey dropped his slider back onto his plate. "What?"

"Yeah, Aubrey, I was." Booth was quiet. "Bones came home and saw me with my guns out of my locked cabinet getting ready to ambush Sanderson. I was on…a tear to kill the man because he was the reason for everything…"

"Why didn't you?", Aubrey asked.

"Bones." Booth looked his friend straight in the eye. "She confronted me so I gave as good as I got. Even after she grabbed her keys to take Christine away from me because I was scaring her, I refused to see her side of things. That finally pushed her over the edge and she tossed her keys and got in my face, yelling about how could I not have faith in her or in my God to help me. It hurt, but…she was completely right, Aubrey. I was so focused on revenge that I…didn't see that I was hurting Bones…or even Christine, although she didn't understand. Once I got past that anger…I was able to put my focus back where it needed to be..."

"The conspiracy, busting Durant…and putting up with me.", Aubrey said with a wry grin.

Booth smirked. "Yeah…and you…"

The humor of the moment turned into sorrow as Aubrey thought about earlier. "Are you saying that I did the right thing by being a dick?"

"You were frustrated, Aubrey, and while it was good you told her how you felt, maybe tact would have served you well. However, the bigger issue right now is your focus on Karen as your target to blame for what happened. You need to let that go before it eats you alive and hurts Jessica even more."

"But I'm the one who let her do that shit!"

"Quit making this about you, Aubrey!", Booth admonished. When he got his friend's attention, he continued. "You didn't let her do anything. You were, as Angela would say…a douche, but you owned up to that and apologized more than once. After that, you'd showed her kindness by bending over backwards to be nice to her, even letting her stay for your birthday party when she crashed it."

"I didn't want to be an asshole, Booth…"

"Of course not, Aubrey. I get that, and honestly, I would probably done the same thing that you did. Now, get it through your thick skull that it's not your fault that Karen refused to accept that you didn't want more than friendship with her. It's also not your fault that instead of accepting that you wanted to be with someone else, Karen retaliated by trying to run Jessica out of her your life."

"I should have known after that first meeting when Karen asked me if we could still be friends that something was up. I mean, Genny warned me to be on my guard, but I was stupid enough to not take my ASAC's advice. I should have realized that…"

"Aubrey! She first talked to Gerald hours before that breakfast meeting because she was pissed about your birthday. That was before your first major confrontation with her. How in the hell were any of us supposed to know that she was talking shit to Gerald and Harold Maxwell? She had a new boyfriend, for crying out loud, and was acting like the consummate professional at work. Yeah, she was rude to Jessica, but that was to be expected. When Genny questioned her after Gerald was first arrested, she told just enough truth to make that prick look like a liar. The word of an FBI profiler is usually more trustworthy than one of a criminal. Hell, with that mentality, you should be blaming Genny for not asking about Harold Maxwell."

"Genny didn't know Harold had done anything besides used his influence to try yanking back dollars from the lab's security budget! Blaming her makes no sense!"

"It doesn't, does it? Just like it makes no sense that any of us would know that Karen was scheming behind all our backs to get Jessica canned from the lab, unless we were psychic." Booth continued to make his point. "Jessica was the one who refused to file a harassment report with the FBI in October. Is it her fault that Karen came after her later?"

"Fuck, no! What the hell, Booth? It's not Jessica's fault!"

"No, it isn't, nor is it yours. Yes, you gave Karen the benefit of the doubt, but you had enough of a backbone to confront her twice and warn her to leave Jessica alone and she still chose to ignore you, Aubrey. After all that shit with Gerald went down in December, Karen didn't come forward with what she knew. You gave her more leeway than most would, Aubrey, until you finally were forced to file a report for sexual harassment and her other crap. That's called being decent."

Booth sat back in his chair. " I know how embarrassing that had to be for you to talk to Jake about that stuff, especially with the way Karen gossips."

"I didn't have any other choice. Jessica didn't want to file a harassment report because she was afraid to escalate things, but something had to be done." Aubrey sighed. "But it wasn't enough…Jess still got hurt…"

"Yeah, Karen put a bug in his ear, but don't forget that Gerald Maxwell was furious that Jessica had stood up to him and was willing to press charges against him. That prick that was so desperate to not go to jail that he not only decided to kill her so she couldn't testify against him, but he gave into his sick and perverse desires by relieving himself on her before attempting to rape and degrade her. That's on him, Aubrey, not you. We're going to get the bastard for what he did last weekend to her, Oliver, Angela, Hodgins' intern, and those security guards."

Booth's word affected Aubrey deeply. Looking down at the table, he fidgeted with a nearby fork. "Booth...it almost sounds like you're defending Karen. What gives?"

Booth pressed forward to get his point across. "What gives is that Karen didn't solicit him to assault Jessica, Aubrey, and you know it. It's easier to focus the blame on her because of the guilt you feel, but that won't get you anywhere. You did nothing wrong, Aubrey."

"But—"

"Aubrey!", Booth admonished. "Remember me telling you how going to prison and vengeance gave me tunnel vision? Don't do what I did, alright? If it wasn't for Bones telling me off, who knows what I would have done to an innocent man? What's even worse is even after all that, I still didn't completely deal with my anger, which led me to fall back into gambling and put my family, not to mention your career by helping me, at risk. Bones had to kick me out before I finally got help. Do you want to have that anger slowly eat at your relationship with Jessica like my anger did with my life?"

"No.", Aubrey replied quietly.

"Jessica did the right thing, Aubrey, not just for her, but for you, too. Trust me, Karen has been punished in spades for what she pulled with you two. She has just enough of her career intact to hopefully make a fresh start somewhere…" Booth ate his last French fry. "…and now that you and Jessica pretty much got all your feelings out in the open, you two can now work on putting what happened with Karen and Gerald behind you and move forward."

"You think we're going to be okay, Booth?" Aubrey caught his breath. "I love her so much…I just want her in my life…"

"Well, she's been traumatized, Aubrey. It's going to take time for her to heal. Bones…" Booth hesitated for a moment. "...has had experiences in the past like Jessica's…"

Aubrey was surprised at his friend's intimate confession. "Really?"

"Yeah." Booth saw the questions in Aubrey's mind churning so he held his hand up. "Now, I'm not going to go into chapter and verse about it because I don't think even Angela knows and it's not my place to tell the story. I think for this situation, she'll understand why I'm mentioning it."

"Okay." Aubrey nodded, the fact that his friend trusted him with something so personal was a big deal. "I'll keep it to myself."

"Thank you." Booth crossed his arms. "I wanted to kill when Bones told me about what happened to her, but I had to keep that to myself because it was years after the fact. When we talked about how she coped, she described not only being angry, but also shame like she brought it on herself, which she described as illogical. Even with her negative view of love as only a chemical reaction and sex as merely a biological need, she...described feeling like that she couldn't tell anyone, especially a potential lover, because she was afraid that they would look at her like that she was damaged, or repulsive, or something like that. Bones's past probably played a part in why she was able to compartmentalize what happened so easily and move on. Of course, not everyone is like Bones."

Aubrey felt sick at what he heard. "God...I don't care what's happened to Jessica…I don't look at her differently or feel ashamed of her. I hope Jess doesn't think that I feel that way…"

"I don't know, Aubrey but…my advice to you is reassure Jessica that you love her no matter what and to follow her lead. When she's ready to move...forward, she'll let you know, but don't push her."

Aubrey realized what his friend was intimating. "What the hell, Booth? I would never-"

"Hold up! I'm not saying you would, but I had to put that out there, okay?" When his friend settled down, he continued. "Bones thinks the March and it's message of female empowerment may be what your girlfriend needs to help her deal with what happened, Aubrey, and I agree."

"Yeah, I think so, too, but I'm just worried about her overexerting herself…she's doing better but it's still hard for her to walk and breathe. Her doctor approved the modified yoga routine her instructor created for her and she's has an appointment with her the Monday after next for a recheck of her ribs and other injuries."

"That's good, Aubrey. I think you're so hesitant not only because you're worried about her health but also because you weren't there when she was assaulted."

"She needed someone to take care of her, Booth. She was confined to the recliner except to go to the bathroom and to take a bath. I wasn't her constant shadow, either. I left her at home alone a couple of times…"

"Yeah, in your house with a security system and a video doorbell." Booth retorted. "I know you're scared but you have to let Jessica do this. If she gets hurt, she gets hurt." Booth saw his friend's face. "I know, I know…sounds easier said than done, but…she has to push herself, Aubrey, and gain some independence, to recover physically…and emotionally. Just be there for her…and give yourself a break for earlier, all right? You've been pretty stressed, too."

"Okay." Feeling better, Aubrey bit into his burger with gusto. "Since Dr. B kicked you out tonight, want to watch kung fu movies later?"

"Works for me." Booth turned and saw Daisy at the bar. "Oh shit…I didn't know she was here."

Aubrey also looked and saw her sipping a glass of red wine. "Holy crap, I didn't either. I forgot Jess had plans with her tonight. If she's here I'm assuming they were canceled...wow, she's not alone tonight. She's been hanging out with her dear friend Merlot."

Booth saw the four empty wine glasses and whistled. "Wow, that's a lot of wine for a little thing like her. Okay, let's just keep an eye on her so she doesn't do anything stupid. I'll drive her home if I have to."

"Traffic is nuts, Booth."

"I know, but I don't feel right just dumping her in a cab." Booth sipped his beer and replied sarcastically, "What's another trip into Virginia and back to DC during Inauguration Day going to hurt?"

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

Daisy started on her fifth glass of red wine, brooding over her night. First, her visit with Oliver went nothing like she had planned, and then Jessica canceled their girls' night after she arrived at an empty house. Deciding to not make her night into a total loss, she had woven through all the detours still set up for the Inauguration, avoiding all the protesters, and found herself at Founding Fathers, where she consoled herself with a glass of Merlot. After chugging it quickly, she ordered three more as she considered her options.

She sat at the bar, lost in her thoughts until she saw Rani Mittipalli walk in laughing with another female. Her anger and intoxication overrode her common sense as she stormed over to the woman.

Back at Booth and Aubrey's table, the two men saw her get up and stomp towards the front. "Daisy, what are you up to….", Booth muttered.

Aubrey saw who had come in and stood up. "Oh shit, Booth. If she's going to confront Rani this isn't good. She going to get herself into trouble."

"I don't know what's going on but at least you do.", Booth retorted as he followed his friend to where the two women were in a confrontation.

"You're not going to get away with this, you fucking bitch!", Daisy screamed at Rani.

"Daisy, I'm not going to fight with you about whatever you're mad about this time. I just came here for a late dinner and drinks with my colleague here. Excuse me." Weary, Rani backed away and tried going around her, but the anthropologist blocked her.

"He told me to stay away from him! He said that whatever we had is now gone and that I need to commit to my husband. What did you say to him?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Daisy, but it's obvious that you're drunk and I'm not going to continue this conversation while you're like this. If Oliver told you to leave him alone, then he wants you to leave him alone. If you're really the friend you say you are, honor that request. Now if you'll excuse me-ow!" Rani grabbed her face as the sting from Daisy's slap tingled. "What the hell?"

"You are a miserable bitch who can't handle the fact that Oliver may care about someone else. You made him tell me those things."

"No, I didn't make Oliver do anything, Dr. Wicks. Now, I'll give you a pass on slapping me this time because you're drunk and upset, but next time, I'm pressing assault charges. I'm sure your NFL player husband would like that in the papers. The National Forensics Laboratory may not appreciate the publicity, either."

"You bitch!" Daisy raised her hand before Booth stopped her and held her back.

"Daisy, you're drunk. Come on...walk away..."

"Agent Booth…Aubrey, keep her away from me. I'm fed up with her and apparently so is my boyfriend.", Rani said before she and her friend stepped around the three.

"You're not getting away with this,you slut!", Daisy screamed as she struggled to get away from Booth, her breath reeking of alcohol.

"Daisy, damn it, cool down!", Aubrey admonished as he saw many of the bar patrons, most in their cups already over today's events, gawking at her.

Mike, the regular bartender, walked over. "Booth, Aubrey, I know she's having a bad day, but I'm cutting her off. Either she sobers up and chills out or one of you take her home. I like her, but I can't have that shit here. Hopefully, no one says anything to her husband. He's a regular here."

The mention of Beau seemed to have a calming effect on Daisy. Looking around, she saw all the patrons looking at her and was embarrassed. "I'm sorry, everyone. Actually, coffee sounds good right now. I'll head back to the bar…"

Booth didn't want to take a chance. "No, you're sitting with us, Daisy. Come on."

The three walked back to the table, not noticing the young woman eating her meal by herself at a nearby booth where she had witnessed everything that happened.

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

Five hours after listening to Daisy's long explanation of how Rani was a mean person, driving her back to her condo in Virginia, a return trip to Aubrey's house, followed by two kung fu movies, and three more beers and munchies later, Booth and Aubrey decided it was time for bed.

"Hopefully, Daisy doesn't make an ass out of herself tomorrow. Isn't Rani supposed to be with the ladies?", Booth asked.

"If she still joins the ladies, I'll be surprised.", Aubrey replied. "I know this goes without saying, but what I told you about Daisy and Oliver, please keep to yourself, man. Jess told me that in confidence. I only told you that so you would understand her flake out earlier."

"I won't even mention it to Bones, but even she's noticed how jealous Daisy is about Oliver and Rani, but she better get over that because Beau will be home Sunday. Hopefully, he doesn't suspect anything." Booth shook his head. "Enough about that. Let's talk about tomorrow. So the ladies are heading out early in the morning and meeting at the Jeffersonian since it's on Independence Avenue and the Metro stop is nearby. Is still cool for all the guys and kids to hang out here, Aubrey?"

Aubrey rinsed out the bowl they used for their popcorn. "Yeah. I've got plenty of room and it will be easier for us all to go at once to meet everyone later at Founding Fathers. I don't know which ladies are riding with whom, though."

Booth set the bottles in the sink. "Daisy, Cam, and Angela will meet up with Bones and Jessica in the morning and take the Metro into town from McLean to meet up with Caroline and Andie. Since Bones is speaking they get to hang out in some reserved area until it's her turn, and they're letting her take the ladies on stage with her."

"Jess said they're meeting up with Gail, Nadia, and the girls tomorrow, too. Nadia and the twins are staying out at the main house in Bethesda tonight with Gail."

"I'm still pissed that Bones and Jessica won't let us support them tomorrow just because of our jobs. I mean...ugh."

Aubrey put the bowl in the dishwasher. "In theory, Caroline is risking her job, too, by being with them. Did you mention that to Dr. B?"

"Well, when I mentioned that Caroline was also a federal employee, Bones said it was different for her because our favorite US Attorney is her own person…and that if the federal government fired her then they were idiots, and yes, she used that word, not a fancy one."

Aubrey had his first laugh in hours. "Yeah, they would be, but Caroline Julian will never be fired. She scares them too much. I'm just surprised that Dr. B isn't worried about her job."

"Bones said that she has many other prospects, as do Cam and Angela, especially since she got that MacArthur grant. She'll still teach at American University and can mentor Jessica and her other interns anywhere. Hodgins said that the museum is getting great publicity because Bones is speaking, so their jobs are probably safe."

"That's good.", Aubrey trailed off as he stared outside the window.

Booth watched his friend and shook his head. "Aubrey, you two are going to be fine."

"It's just…we haven't…slept apart since…I was shot. You know…you get used to someone being there with you…and…you don't like to be without them…"

Booth thought about his question. "Is this about you and Jessica living together, Aubrey?"

Aubrey became exasperated. "We're not living together…she's been staying with me…"

"Yeah, since you've been shot and she couldn't sleep at her apartment." Booth crossed his arms and held back a chuckle at the other man's serious face. "I'll tell you what. When you two make it official, let me know so I can alter the lease, all right?"

"Not sure if she'll be here much longer…"

"Shut it, Aubrey. You two are going to get past this, then eventually I'll be adding her to the lease and you two will live your weird lives happily ever after, all right?" Booth stuck his thumb towards the back. "Is the downstairs bedroom free for me to sleep in?"

"Yeah, you can sleep in there or on the futon in the den. They're the only two rooms besides my bedroom that have a bed."

"I thought you were going to get new mattresses for the other bedrooms after you moved in here?", Booth asked.

"I was, but then we got busy with the holidays and then I got shot…Jess and I have been busy with work and the crap with Gerald..."

"Well, when you two finally admit you're living together, she can bring her bed from her apartment for one of the bedrooms.", Booth said as he walked away. "Good night, Aubrey."

"But we aren't…" Seeing he'd already lost the argument, he gave up. "Night, Booth."

Aubrey turned out the lights and he headed upstairs to sleep for the first time since last weekend. Stripping, he tossed his clothes in the closet hamper before getting a clean shirt and flannel pants out of the dresser. Heading into the bathroom to brush his teeth, he stopped and recalled their very memorable and intimate shower Sunday morning. His fingers still tingled from making her sing and his arms still felt how soft and warm she was afterwards.

Then three hours later, she was attacked by a madman and their lives changed.

Their fight earlier came back to him and he took a deep breath to compose himself. Booth was right…they would be all right, but they needed to talk. However, he wasn't sure what to say to her.

'Sorry I yelled at you because I was a baby? Sorry I made Karen getting in trouble all about me? Sorry that I was mad that you spoke your mind at the hearing instead of what I wanted to hear?'

Deciding that a good night's sleep would help him more than wracking his tired mind, Aubrey got into bed, followed by Skinner. Turning out the light, he laid there wide awake until he heard a buzz on his phone. What he saw Jessica's text message, he was relieved.

Hi.

Aubrey texted back. Hi.

Did I wake u up?

Aubrey sent another message. No, watched movies w Booth. Laying in bed thinking abt earlier tonite.

Jessica responded almost immediately. Me 2 Superman. We have a lot 2 talk abt.

Aubrey typed back, Yes we do.

Jessica's response was almost immediate. I'm sorry 4 scaring u earlier & being mean 2 u all wk.

Wiping away a tear, the agent responded. I'm sorry 4 being asshole & not consider your feelings abt everything.

Just when Aubrey thought Jessica fell asleep, she sent another message. We have things 2 work out & I want 2 move fwd. Will u help me?

Aubrey wiped away a tear he didn't realize was brewing until he felt the wetness on his face. I'll do anything 4 u Jessica.

Will we b ok?

Aubrey smiled and typed back. We r ok. I promise.

Yawning here. Getting up early 2 meet everyone.

Yawning himself, Aubrey decided sleep would be a good idea and responded to Jessica. Me 2. TTY after WM. Love u.

Love u 2 James. Good nite.

Good nite.

Plugging his phone into his Millenium Falcon charger, Aubrey settled in with his cat and fell asleep soundly.