(The Skull in the Desert)

Remember, this story is AU. I am not really retelling the show. I am using the episodes as a vehicle for my story.

I don't own Bones.

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

Her friend was in trouble and Brennan had to help her. Quickly packing an overnight bag, Brennan looked around her bedroom and spied the picture she had of Booth and Parker on the nightstand. I hope he will understand, but even if he doesn't I have to go. Removing her phone from her jacket pocket, Brennan called her boyfriend and partner.

Booth.

"It's me." Brennan picked up her bag and carried it into the living room. "Angela needs me. I've booked a flight to Santa Fe, New Mexico."

What's going on? Is she hurt?

"No, she's not hurt as far as I know." Brennan sat down and made a note for her cleaning service. She needed them to clean the carpets better than they had been doing. "Her boyfriend, Kirk Persinger is missing along with his guide. It's been several days and there is a possibility he's dead. Someone delivered a skull to the Sheriff's department and Angela is afraid that the skull belongs to Kirk. I need to check on it and make sure."

Wow. Look, Bones, let me go with you. Maybe I can put some FBI muscle into this thing.

After propping the note against the centerpiece on the table, so the cleaning crew would see it, Brennan stood up. "I don't want to inconvenience you, Booth. I'll just fly out there, look at the skull and if it is Kirk's then at least the Sheriff's office will know what they are dealing with."

Look, I'm going to call Cullen and tell him that you're needed in New Mexico. Where you go, I go. We're partners. Swing by my place. I'm on the way over there now. I'll pack a bag and we can go to the airport together from there . . . Oh, call whatever airline you're using and book me a flight too.

"Booth, this isn't necessary." Brennan didn't think she'd need her boyfriend's help and she didn't want him to make an unnecessary trip to New Mexico. "I'll only be gone long enough to verify if the skull belongs to Kirk."

If it is Kirk's skull, you'll need to determine if he was murdered. If it is a murder and you want to investigate then I need to be there. This isn't a waste of my time. It's what we do. Besides, I'll miss you. You don't want me to be lonely do you?

A smile creeping on her face, Brennan felt wanted and loved. He really was so kind to her. "No, I wouldn't want that to happen. I'll call the airline and I'll meet you at your apartment."

Fine. See you there . . . I love you.

"I know." Brennan ended the call. She felt bad that she didn't repeat his words, but she was uncomfortable saying it and that worried her. She had yet to say to Booth that she loved him and he didn't seem to mind, but that didn't ease her qualms.

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

Once they were in New Mexico at Kirk's place, Booth let Brennan enter the house first while he carried their bags. Angela was in the living room and was shocked to see both Brennan and Booth enter the house. "I am so sorry. I didn't expect you both to drop what you were doing and come out here. I'm just so worried and I thought Bren could look at the skull at the Sheriff's office and then leave. I . . . I don't think its Kirk's skull. I just . . ."

"Angela, of course we had to come." Booth wanted to ease her mind. Standing next to the couch, he dropped their bags and placed his sunglasses in his shirt pocket. "Hey, if there's a murder then Bones and I can help the Sheriff handle it. If it isn't a murder, well at least we got a little mini vacation out of this."

Brennan walked across the room and hugged Angela. "We're here to help, Angela."

Appreciative, Angela returned Brennan's hug and began to cry. "Thank you. Both of you. Thank you. I don't think its Kirk's skull. It can't be."

Ooooooooooooooooooo

It had been a long day and both Booth and Brennan were tired. The skull had been identified as Kirk's and using some information about a coyote with a wonky jaw that Hodgins and Dr. Goodman had come up with, they both planned to join Sheriff Dawes along with Angela and a search party the next day. They now had a rough idea where Kirk's body might be and they were going to search the area after day break in hopes that they might find his body and hopefully his guide, Dhani alive and well.

Angela had retired to Kirk's bedroom and the couple were sitting on the couch staring at each other. "So this lets out into a bed." Booth sighed. "You take the bed and I'll sleep on the floor. Some blankets and a pillow and it should be okay."

"No Booth, you can sleep with me." Brennan hated the idea of Booth sleeping on the floor.

Booth took her hand and squeezed it. "We can't sleep together, Bones. Angela is in the next room . . . Come on, I've slept in worse conditions, believe me . . ."

"I'll sleep on the floor and you sleep on the bed." Brennan knew that Booth's bones were in poor shape and sleeping on a hard wood floor would not be a good idea. "Your back shouldn't be abused like that, Booth. If you were to sleep on the floor you may not be able to function tomorrow."

Irritated, Booth released her hand and stood up. "I'm not crippled, Bones. One or two nights on a floor will not kill me."

Raising her voice, Brennan stood up and glared at Booth. "You are being stubborn. Sleep on the bed and I'll sleep on the floor."

"Ahem." Angela stood in the bedroom doorway and shook her head. "Booth, you can sleep in here and I'll sleep with Brennan. If I was thinking right, I'd have offered sooner. I'm sorry."

Interrupted, the couple turned to stare at their friend. Brennan moved over to the couch and grabbed her overnight bag. "Thank you, Angela."

"Yeah, thanks." Booth was embarrassed and he wasn't happy with his girlfriend at the moment. On the other hand, now he wouldn't have to sleep on the floor. After he grabbed his bag, he entered Kirk's bedroom and closed the door behind him.

"Honey, you and Booth are just tired." Angela moved over to the couch, pulled the bed out, retrieved two blankets and pillows from a closet and placed them on the bed while Brennan changed her clothes to a t-shirt and shorts. "Thank you for coming, Bren. You and Booth have really helped me. I hate to see you two argue."

Brennan walked over to the bathroom and paused in the doorway. "Oh we weren't arguing. We were just bickering. Booth says its natural since we are both pig-headed. That means we are stubborn. He doesn't really mean we have heads like pigs. It's just a colloquialism."

"Got it Sweetie." Angela laid down, plumped her pillow and exhaled. "Um, I knew it was Kirk. I just hoped it wasn't. I wanted you to come here and prove it wasn't him."

"I'm sorry, Angela for your loss." Brennan stared at her friend. "We will find out who killed him and we will find Dhani."

Angela closed her eyes and tried to relax. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Before entering the bathroom, Brennan turned to stare at the door leading into the bedroom Booth was now in. This was going to be the first night she wasn't going to be sleeping with her boyfriend since they'd become a couple and she realized that she missed him. Don't be silly. He's in that room, resting. You need to do the same.

Meanwhile, Booth laid on the bed, stared at the ceiling and grimly realized that he was going to have a terrible night. We should have rented a couple of hotel rooms, damn it. Oh well. It's just for a day or two . . . Fuck!

Oooooooooooooooooo

The sun was barely up, when Booth exited the bedroom and walked over to the kitchen. Checking the fridge and the pantry, he quickly put together some pancake mix and heated up a skillet on the stove.

Noise from the kitchen woke Brennan up. Sitting up, she glanced at a still sleeping Angela and moved as quietly as she could off of the bed. Hurrying into the kitchen, she quickly moved over to where Booth was standing and after making sure they were alone, kissed him.

Booth returned the kiss and moved to face the stove again. "Missed you."

"I missed you too." Brennan opened the fridge and pulled a bottle of water from one of the shelves. After she cracked the cap off, she drank most of the water and replaced the cap on the bottle. "Do you need my help?"

Booth flipped a pancake on to a plate and replied. "Nah, get dressed and wake up Angela. Once we eat we have to go meet the Sheriff. We don't want to miss going out with the search party."

Stepping back into the living room, Brennan spotted Angela sitting up in bed and stretching. "Booth is making pancakes."

Wearily, Angela nodded her head and moved off of the bed. "Alright. Is there any coffee?"

Booth over heard her from the kitchen and called out. "I'm making it now."

With a sad smile, Angela sighed. "Kirk made me breakfast and coffee every morning . . . He was sweet like that."

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

The case finally solved and Dhani Webber rescued, Booth offered to drive Angela to the airport. "You want to come back with us?"

Sitting next to Brennan on the couch, Angela looked over at the agent and shook her head. "No, I need to contact Kirk's brother and let him know what happened. I need to find out what he wants to do about a funeral and this house. I'll probably be back next week."

Brennan hugged her friend. "I'm sorry this happened, Angela." Releasing her friend, she stood up and walked over to the door where Booth was waiting with their bags. "If you need me, call me Angela. I won't mind."

Angela nodded her head. "Thank you. I will . . . Thank you for helping find Dhani. If it hadn't been for you and Booth, she'd be dead now. I . . . thank you."

"We're friends, Angela." Booth shifted the straps of the bags in his hands. "You need us, call us." Since Angela remained silent, Booth turned and left the house, Brennan following behind him.

Once they were in the car, Booth turned on the A/C and sighed. Placing his sunglasses on, Booth started his truck and paused before placing the truck in drive. "Bones, I have an idea . . . it's a good idea too."

Curious, Brennan shifted on her seat and looked at her boyfriend. "What is it?"

"Well," Booth licked his lips before he continued. "How about you and me rent a hotel room and spend the day in bed? We can go back to D.C. tonight."

A gleam in her eyes, Brennan smiled. "That is an excellent idea, Booth. The bed I slept in for the last few days was quite uncomfortable. I could use some rest on a good mattress."

"Bones." Booth couldn't believe what she had just said. "Are you kidding me? We haven't slept together for three days . . . three days."

Amused, Brennan laughed. "Gotcha Booth. I have no intention in sleeping. I wish to make love to you."

His teeth flashing a wide grin. Booth leaned over and kissed her quickly on the cheek. "Very funny, Bones. Very funny."

"I thought so." Brennan leaned back against her seat and smiled. "I can be quite amusing."

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Let me know what you think of my story. Thanks.