(The Titan on the Tracks)

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I really don't own Bones.

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Even if she wouldn't admit it to Cam Saroyan, Brennan was impressed with how her supervisor had handled the Federal Prosecutor in their strategy meeting about Rick Turco. Cam had stood up for her employees and surprisingly she had told the lawyer, Lisa Supack to register future complaints about the Lab and it's personnel in private and not in public. Cam had exhibited the hallmarks of a good leader and that impressed Brennan. She was still unsure about Cam's usefulness in the Lab since she was oriented towards the flesh instead of the bone, but Brennan was waiting for further evidence as new cases came in before she made her final judgment.

Back at Booth's apartment after visiting her mother's gravesite, Booth complained that his lower back was hurting as well as his feet and decided to soak in the tub for a while. Brennan knew he was in pain from the obvious way he was limping. They had had a busy day and she knew he'd been on his feet too much that day.

As Booth stripped in the bathroom, Brennan decided to make a light dinner of salad and soup. Once that was prepared, she entered the bathroom and found her boyfriend leaning back in the tub with his eyes closed. "Perhaps we should stay in my apartment tomorrow evening instead of waiting for the weekend. The tub in my apartment has jet sprays which help ease the stiffness in your back and feet."

His eyes still closed, Booth nodded his head. "Sounds like a good idea. Those jet sprays really help a lot. I wish I could afford a tub like that, but I can use your tub, so it's all good." A little drowsy from sitting in a tub of very hot water, Booth eyelids fluttered while he fought the urge to fall asleep. "I need to buy some new shoes I guess. The arch supports are starting to fail."

Kneeling next the tub, Brennan placed her arms on the rim of the tub and stared at her lover's body, admiring his musculature.

Aware that he was being examined, Booth opened his eyes and grinned. "I feel like a piece of meat lying here. See anything you like?"

Her hand dipping in the water, she splashed water on his chest and face. "I like everything I see."

Amused, Booth caught her hand in his hand and kissed some of her fingers. "I'd invite you in, but I'm trying to work out a kink in my back and you in here would definitely make that a problem."

Her laughter rich and low, Brennan removed her hand from his hand and moved it towards his thigh. "Well, that's alright." Moving her hand a little over she saw him react and grab her hand again.

"Bones, play fair." Booth shook his head and lifted her hand out of the water. "If you let me soak some more, I might be up for some love making later this evening."

Her eyes on the lower portion of his body, Brennan laughed once more. "I think you're up for it now."

Shaking his head, Booth closed his eyes, "Just a reminder, I don't have control over every bit of me and you know it. Now go away and let me soak some more."

A feeling of happiness swept through her and Brennan knew it was because of the man in the tub. "I'm going to go set the table . . . I love you Booth." She knew she needed to say it sometime and filled with happiness she decided to try it at least once.

Surprised, Booth kept his eyes closed and smiled. "I love you right back Bones." The last thing he wanted to do was make a big deal about her declaration, but inside where Brennan couldn't see, Booth was jumping up and down with joy. Oh my God, she said she loves me. I thought it would be a while before she said it and damn she said it. I am the luckiest man alive and that's a fact.

Grateful that Booth had just accepted what she had said and not made a big performance about it, Brennan grinned and left the room. I do love him. I should tell him at least once in a while. I trust him. He won't use my emotions against me. He isn't like my parents. He really does love me.

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His bath done, his back and feet not as troublesome as they were earlier, Booth entered the kitchen in a ragged pair of jeans and a faded concert t-shirt. "Thanks for letting me soak, it really helped." The bowls on the counter waiting to be filled with soup, Booth filled both bowls and carried them to the table where he placed one in front of Brennan and the other on the table in front of his spot. "The salad looks good." After he sat down, Booth grabbed the plate of sliced French bread and placed a couple of slices on the rim of his salad bowl. "So what do you think of Cam now? She really came to bat for the team." I hope Bones doesn't quit. She really loves that job. If she quits and has to move away to get a new job, I guess I'd have to give up Major Crimes Division, but man I hope it doesn't come down to that. If Dr. Goodman was in front of me I'd kick his ass. The least he could have done was talk to Bones before he took off.

Taking the bread plate from Booth, Brennan placed a slice of bread on a napkin next to her soup bowl and picked up her spoon. "I'm starting to see why she got the job. She stood up to Lisa Supack and protected her employees which is a good sign. I still reserve judgment about her competence though. I've only seen her perform one autopsy."

"That's fair." Booth picked up his fork and speared a cucumber slice. "She can be New York tough, but she's fair when it comes to handling her employees and her department."

"I'm not sure what that means." Brennan picked up her glass of tea and sipped some of the iced beverage. "She told me she was responsible overseeing 5,500 autopsies a year when she was coroner in New York, so I imagine that would be considered tough."

Since he didn't really want to side track the conversation explaining slang, Booth nodded his head and swallowed his bite of salad. "Yeah. Well, whatever you decide to do, I'll back you one hundred percent. If you quit, I'll just have to follow you to where ever you go. We're a couple now and since your profession is rarer than mine I'll have to be the one to move to where ever you get a job. If it's in the US I can just transfer in the FBI to some other field office. If it's outside the country, well . . . I don't know. I'm sure I could get a job doing something even if was just as an investigator or something . . . Of course we won't worry about that until we have to."

Stunned, Brennan placed her spoon down and stared at her boyfriend. "You'd do that for me? You'd leave Major Crimes if I got a job elsewhere?" Never had Brennan dreamed that anyone would ever do something like that for her. It was her experience that few people were that generous and it made her realize that any decision she made would not just affect her. "I wouldn't dream of asking you to give up your position in the FBI for me, Booth." He can't be serious, can he? He . . . Does he really love me that much?

"Of course I'm serious." Booth reached across the table and grasped her hand. "You and me are a couple now, a . . . what do you call it? We're in a monogamous relationship. We can't be together if we're not living together. You've got a specialized job. You took years to get where you're at in your field. Me, I'm just a cop. If I had to, I could give up being in the FBI and get something in law enforcement somewhere else." Although I hope that doesn't happen because I really love my job. "I love you Bones. I'm not going to lose you now that we're together. Not going to happen."

I can't let him make that kind of sacrifice for me. Parker needs his father. He needs to be here in Washington. "I'm not saying I'm going to quit, Booth. So far Cam seems to be competent and if she proves to be useful at the Lab then I will be more than happy to stay in my current position." Brennan had never felt so loved and yet so frightened at the same time. The man she loved was willing to give up a job he loved to be with her. She hadn't considered what it would mean if she quit, but Booth was forcing her to think about it and the thought of destroying his career was almost too much pressure for her to handle. "Booth if I have to quit my job, you cannot quit the FBI. Parker needs you here. There would be no guarantee I could get a job in this area and to give up your career for me would be ridiculous."

He saw the anger on her face, but he knew that he was making the right decision. "It's my life, Bones. If I want to quit to follow you to wherever you have to go for a new job then that's up to me. I love my son. Parker is important to me, but Rebecca has sole custody of my son. If I moved away, I'd try to visit him as much as I can, but Bones this . . . this thing we're talking about is important. You and me, we're together. One of us making sacrifices for the other is what being together is all about. If our roles were reversed then I would expect you to move where I moved to. I'm just a cop and I can get a job almost anywhere."

"Don't do that." Brennan removed her hand from under Booth's hand. She was angry and she was growing angrier by the minute. "What you do is important. You're brilliant as an investigator and you run Major Crimes with exemplary skill. Your department has set records for crimes solved. You just got that promotion a few months ago. The FBI values your services . . . you cannot give up your job for me." I can't believe he's saying he'll do that. It's not logical. It's not a sane thing to do.

"What I do is important, but what I do is not who I am." Booth spoke softly. He knew their conversation was a little out of control and he needed to calm the situation down. "I've never loved anyone like I love you, Bones. I will not give you up now or ever. If worse comes to worse and you quit and get hired somewhere else, well I could just retire. Wherever you are, that's where I'm going to be. You're stuck with me, do you understand? I'm committed to what we have together. I told you that when we decided to give this thing a try. The world may not know what's going on between us right now, but that could change in a heartbeat. If you quit and you have to leave, I'm going with you. I love you Temperance Brennan. Yeah it's scary and who knows what the future is going to bring, but I know one thing. I'm going to be wherever you are."

Slowly, Brennan nodded her head and finally accepted what Booth was saying to her. I guess I better try to get along with Cam. I will not destroy Booth's career over something as ridiculous as not caring for my new supervisor. "If she is as good as you and she claim then this entire conversation is moot. I work with the best, Booth. The Jeffersonian is the best. If Cam is equal to the task then I will stay. If she is truly incompetent, then I will have consider any future job with Booth in mind. I never realized how much responsibility is involved when you are committed to someone. He loves me. I need to make this work. I want to make this work.

Glad that Brennan had finally calmed down, Booth smiled and dunked his piece of bread in his soup. "Bones, I want you to be happy. If you can't be happy working for Cam then do what you have to do. We're going to be fine. I promise. Just be happy. You have a right to be happy."

"You have that right too, Booth." Brennan watched him take a bite out of his piece of bread. "I don't want you to regret being with me."

Booth swallowed and shook his head. "Never, Bones. I don't regret us at all."

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