(The Woman in the Sand)

I don't own Bones.

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He really hadn't been that excited about flying across the country just to get Brennan to verify that a body found in a desert belonged to a missing Federal Prosecutor. After five years, the body was just bones and that meant that Brennan's skills were needed to make the official identification, but Booth had spent enough time in deserts to know that he hated them. Give me green grass and trees anytime.

While they were doing their job, Brennan had noticed vultures circling overhead not too far from where they were and the reason turned out to be a badly decomposed body partially buried in the sand. Now they had two bodies to deal with instead of one. One a Federal Prosecutor who had been murdered five years ago and the other a young woman in her twenties who had died ten days earlier.

Brennan had identified the skeletal body as Mason Roberts and with the help of a serial number on a hearing aid the other body had been identified at Billie Morgan. Her job done, Brennan had wanted to return to D.C. at once, but Booth had found himself part of a wider investigation and since he was going to be doing most of his investigative work in Las Vegas he needed Brennan to stay. Embarrassed to explain why he'd needed her, he'd pointed out that it was possible that there would be more bodies to identify since their case had grown from one to two and he needed her there. It had been a while since he'd been in a casino and he knew that it was going to be hard to fight his addiction by himself.

It wasn't until they had entered a casino to interview a loan shark named Lewis Mackey that Brennan realized why Booth had wanted her to stay. As they crossed the lobby and into the gambling hall, Brennan had observed her boyfriend's sudden change. His eyes were almost wild in their state of panic. His breathing was shallower and his hands had a slight shake. "Oh my God Booth. I completely forgot. You can't be here. You're a degenerate gambler." Why didn't I remember his gambling addiction?

His eyes on the flashing lights denoting a winner at one of the one-armed bandits, Booth swallowed and tried to control his reactions. "Former gambler, okay? Not degenerate. I've been through the program." A movement in the corner of his eye and Booth recognized the man they were looking for. "He's on the move." The sounds and the sights of the gambling going on around him were causing him some distress, but he resolved to focus on his job. Damn it. This is ridiculous. I've been through the fucking program. I can do this.

Brennan didn't care about Mackey or anyone else. "Booth, do you need to leave or sit down? You look so strange."

Forcing his gaze to move towards his girlfriend, Booth knew he had to be honest with her, even if it was embarrassing. "It'll pass, I think . . . I hope. That's why I need you here. It's the sound of the winning . . . it's . . . it's the sound of the winning, but if you're here with me . . . with me . . ." His heart was beating faster than normal and his skin felt clammy.

"I understand Booth." And she did. Booth had never hidden his gambling addiction from her and she knew that right now he was in trouble. "I'm with you. I'm not going anywhere. You go talk to Mackey and I will be nearby in case you need me." He needs me and I will not fail him.

Grateful for her kindness, Booth finally collected his thoughts and tamped down his need, his want. "Yeah, thanks Bones . . . I'm alright now." He wasn't really alright, but at that moment he knew he had someone to back him up and he knew he wouldn't gamble with her there. He would not throw his relationship with her away for dice or cards. She was his shield and he would use that shield while he was there. Thank God she stayed.

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After Booth was severely beaten while participating in an underground fight club, they had confronted Joe Noland about his role in the slaying of Mason Roberts and Billie Morgan. Joe hadn't killed either one, but he knew who did and he was willing to testify against the culprits. Once Joe was turned over to the local Federal Agents, Booth was more than happy to retire to his hotel room.

When Booth and Brennan had taken rooms at the hotel, they had booked separate rooms that were side by side. They had to rent separate rooms to maintain their subterfuge that they were just partners, but they had kept the door open between the rooms and they both slept in Booth's room.

After they returned to their rooms, Brennan left her room and retrieved ice from the ice machine down the hall while Booth stripped and sat in a tub full of hot water. Once she was back, she placed the container of ice on the dresser in Booth's room and entered the bathroom to check on Booth. Shocked, she had stopped just inside the doorway and stared at her battered boyfriend.

"It's alright, Bones." Booth knew he looked a sight with the numerous bruises all over his upper body and his face. "I've had worse done to me." And that wasn't a lie. He'd been tortured while he was a prisoner of war during Operation Desert Storm and the beating he'd had that night, though brutal wasn't worth worrying about. Once you've had your feet broken, a few punches aren't really anything to get shook up about.

Brennan knew that Booth didn't consider his beating something she should worry about, but she did worry about it. It had been awful to watch him being beat in the first place and she was so happy to help him bring down the beefy fighter by pointing out some physical flaws the man had. "I have some ice on the dresser . . . would you like me to order some dinner. We haven't eaten this evening. I can order something light since I know your mandibular ramus and mental foramen suffered blows."

Not really sure what she was talking about, he assumed she was talking about his jaw or face. He was learning the bones in the body, but it was a slow process and at that moment he didn't want to ask her to explain. "Um, thanks. Some soup would be great. Maybe some bread and butter. I'm pretty sure I don't want to saw through a steak right now, some of my teeth feel loose . . . oh and an ice cold beer or two would be great."

In need of something to do, Brennan nodded her head. "Yes, that sounds good. I'll order the same for me." After she left the room, she sat on the bed and held the phone in her lap. He's going to be alright. I'm fairly sure he hasn't broken anything, but I will insist once his bath is done that he let me examine his body to make sure.

Once she was out of the room, Booth groaned and sank down further in to the hot water. The tub was big and his large frame wasn't squeezed in like it was in his tub at home. Shit I'm getting too old to take a beating like this. At least most of the bruises are on my body and not my face. I don't want to freak Parker out when he sees me next weekend.

Their food ordered, Brennan returned in the bathroom and sat down on the edge of the tub. "When you're done, I'd like to inspect your body to make sure you didn't break any bones."

A leer on his face, Booth smiled at Brennan. "Sure you do."

"Booth, I need to make sure you're alright." She wasn't sure why he had said what he said, but she wanted to assure him that she was just trying to look out for him. "If you have any broken bones, you'll need to go the hospital."

Before he could answer a phone rang in the other room. Brennan patted Booth on the shoulder and left to answer it.

Since the water was cooling rapidly, Booth reached out and flipped the lever to drain the tub. Once that was accomplished he stood up, stepped out and grabbed a towel. After he was dry, he gabbed the robe lying on the sink, slipped it on and left the room.

On the phone, Brennan nodded at Booth to acknowledge his presence. "Yes, the case has been resolved. We're leaving in the morning . . . No Angela we have separate rooms, we're just partners . . . No Angela, separate rooms . . . I'll probably see you tomorrow . . . Yes, good-bye."

Booth was certain he knew what Angela was hassling Brennan about and he wasn't amused. Damn busy body.

Her call ended, Brennan stood up and moved over to where Booth was standing. "Alright, remove your robe and let me examine you."

A little self-conscious, Booth removed the robe and let it drop at his feet. "I told you I'm fine, Bones. This isn't necessary." This is what it's like to have a forensic anthropologist as a girlfriend. Oh well, it's kind of hot.

Brennan carefully moved her fingers over the areas that were bruised and tried not hurt her boyfriend too much. After a while, she smiled and kissed him. "I don't think anything is broken. I would prefer you to go to the hospital and make sure, but I suppose you won't go."

Her concern for him both pleased him and made him feel loved. "No, I told you I'm fine." As he leaned over to kiss her a knock at the door interrupted him. Quickly grabbing his robe, he shrugged it on while Brennan moved towards the door. A quick glance back assured her that Booth was covered and presentable, so she could open the door.

The waiter moved the table laden with covered dishes into the room and smiled. "Your dinner Madam."

After she presented the man with a tip, Brennan saw him out and locked the door. "Angela told me I should take the opportunity while we're here and have sex with you. She said that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Whatever that means."

"It means that you can do naughty stuff here and once you leave you can pretend it never happened." Booth removed the covers from the dishes and found two bowls filled with vegetable soup, two small salads and sliced bread with butter. There were also two bottles of beer.

Brennan thought about it for a moment and then shook her head. "No, if I'm going to do anything naughty, I'd prefer to remember it." As quickly as she could, Brennan pulled Booth's robe away letting it fall to the floor. "I find I like you like this. The bruises are jarring, but it doesn't detract too much from the effect."

Stepping closer to Brennan, Booth reached for her blouse and began to unbutton it. "Well, I think if we're going to be naughty, you'll have to join me . . . you wearing clothes and me not . . . that's not going to happen Bones."

Amused, Brennan let Booth undress her smiling the whole time he was disrobing her.

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