(The Boneless Bride in the River)

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I don't own Bones.

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The pounding on the door was so loud it should have been enough to wake up the dead, if the dead could be awakened. Brennan groaned, rolled over and pushed on Booth's back. "Booth someone is at the door. Go see who it is and make them leave."

Comfortable lying on his stomach, Booth turned his head to face the wall. "No . . . if you want to know who's at the door you go."

Irritated, Brennan pushed on Booth's shoulder. "This is your apartment not mine. Go tell whoever is at the door to go away."

Moaning, Booth rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Damn it." Using his right foot, he pulled his boxers over towards him and as soon as they were close enough, he leaned over and grabbed them from the floor. "We're on vacation damn it . . . This better be important." Slowly standing up, the sting of pain swept through his feet and up his legs causing him to grit his teeth. Once the pain eased a little, he hobbled out of the bedroom, through the living room and down the hallway. Once he was there the pounding on the door seemed to intensify. Furious that his vacation was being disturbed, he unlocked the door and yanked it open.

Not sure why Sully was standing in his doorway, Booth glared at the man and tried to control his temper. He failed. "What the fuck do you want? I'm on vacation and it's nine in the morning."

Taking in the disheveled look and the lack of clothes, Sully stared at Booth's candy apple red boxers. "Man when you go on vacation you go on vacation."

Not amused, Booth tried to slam the door closed only to have Sully block it with his hand. "Whoa partner. I need to talk to you. It won't take long."

Tired, Booth nodded his head and leaned against the wall. "Talk and leave."

Amused at how tired Booth looked, Sully pointed at the floor near Booth's feet. "Can I come in?" A shake of Booth's head and Sully shrugged his shoulders. "Fine. I'm looking for Brennan. I know you two are on vacation, but I have a weird ass case and I need her help. I was hoping you'd know where she is."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Booth thought about it and nodded his head. "Yeah, I know where she is. I'll call her in a little while and ask her to call you . . . Is that it?"

"Yeah, thanks." Sully tried to ask Booth why he hadn't gone somewhere for his vacation, but before he could utter a word, Booth pushed him away from the door further into the hallway and slammed the door. "I see you still have that sunny morning disposition." Anxious that Booth call Brennan, Sully raised his voice and shouted. "Call her Booth." That done, he walked over to the elevator and waited for the car to arrive. Hopefully Brennan would call him soon.

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After he returned to the bedroom, Booth grabbed Brennan's phone from her charger, slid back into bed and placed the phone on her stomach. "Call Sully."

Reluctant to open her eyes, Brennan shook her head. "I'm on vacation."

Rolling back onto his side, Booth closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep. They'd had a long night together enjoying each other and neither of them had gone to sleep until after six that morning. "He'll be back if you don't call him."

His logic sound, Brennan opened her eyes, made the call and tried to sound alert when Sully answered his phone. "Booth says you're looking for me. I am on vacation."

I know, but I have this case and it's so weird. Cam could use your help identifying the body. If you'd just come in and help her for an hour or so, I'd really appreciate it . . . Please.

"I'm actually busy right now." Brennan yawned and tried to remain alert. "I will come in around noon, but I will only stay for an hour at the most. I am entitled to vacation time."

Thanks Tempe. You're a real life saver.

Abruptly ending the call, Brennan yawned once more. "I have to go into the Lab at noon."

An exhausted Booth was asleep and did not respond to his girlfriend. Irritated, Brennan dropped the phone on the nightstand, rolled over and went back to sleep.

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Once she had looked at the knee cap of the victim, Brennan determined that the almost boneless body belonged to a female of Asian descent and in her early 20's. The one bone left in the body suggested that she had suffered from Fong's disease and may have grown up in a non-industrial rural environment. After she recommended that Zach do an osteological profile, she left to return to Booth and her vacation.

When she arrived at Booth's apartment, she found him still asleep. Carrying a pizza box into the bedroom, Brennan removed her slacks and blouse and sat on the bed, her back against the headboard. After she removed a slice of pizza from the box, she waved the slice over Booth's nose, dropping a black olive on his cheek.

Startled, Booth opened his eyes and wiped his hand across his cheek knocking the olive onto his chest. "What the hell?" Removing the olive from where it had landed, he picked it up, inspected and popped it into his mouth. "Okay, I'm awake." Hungry, Booth sat up and leaned against the headboard, his shoulder almost touching his girlfriend's shoulder. "Got some pizza for me?"

Her mouth full, Brennan handed the pizza box to Booth and watched him attack a slice of pizza taking big bites. Once her bite was gone, Brennan smiled. "I don't know why they called me in. Zach could have taken care of it . . . I have another pizza on the dining room table."

Hungry, Booth grabbed another slice and inspected it. "No meat?"

"No." Brennan pulled the box from his hand and took a smaller slice. "When you buy pizza you can get one with meat. I bought the pizza, so no animal by-products."

Since he was so hungry, Booth chose to overlook the lack of pepperoni. "That's okay. I'm so hungry I could eat tofu . . . well maybe not tofu, but those vegetable spring rolls you like anyway."

Her hunger now gone, Brennan debated whether or not to eat another slice. "Maybe we should leave before someone comes back here looking for you or me. While I've enjoyed our vacation so far, we don't have to spend it here and I'd rather not be called back in if I can help it."

Swallowing his bite of pizza, Booth picked up a third slice. "Fine by me. As soon as we finish eating, let's pack a couple of bags and make a run for it. Maybe we can drive up to Philly and see Pops."

Brennan removed a slice of pizza from the box and picked up a stray piece of onion that had fallen on her thigh. "Alright. We can take our leftover pizza with us."

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Surprised to see his grandson standing on his porch, Hank Booth stepped through the doorway and pulled the younger man into a hug. "Seeley, this is a surprise."

Booth was glad to see that his grandfather appeared to be healthy. He worried about the old man and often wondered how long his grandfather could continue to live by himself. "Looking good, Pops."

Aware that a woman was standing on the top step of the porch, Hank released his grandson and stepped around him. "I bet you're Temperance." As she stepped up onto the porch, Hank placed his arms around her and gave her a welcoming hug.

Not comfortable with strangers touching her, Brennan allowed the old man to hug her, touching his sides and then letting them go. "I'm glad to finally meet you Mr. Booth."

"Oh no, Honey." Hank stood back and shook his head. "Call me Hank or Pops, whatever makes you comfortable."

Feeling a little shy, Brennan nodded her head. "You have a nice home, Hank."

Proud of his house and the neighborhood he lived in, Hank beamed at Brennan. "Come on you two, grab your bags and bring them in. I was just getting ready to cook dinner. I was going to make some biscuits and gravy."

"Pops, Bones is a vegetarian." Booth glanced at Brennan and smiled. "We can cook dinner if you'd like."

"I would not like." Hank huffed and he led his guests to the kitchen. "I can make the gravy without sausage. It won't hurt me to eat a meal without meat. Now drop your bags and come on."

Booth took Brennan's bag and placed it and his bag near the staircase leading up stairs and followed his grandfather into the kitchen.

Concerned that they might be a burden, Brennan entered the kitchen and noticed how neat and clean it was. "I hope you don't mind us coming without calling you first. Booth thought you wouldn't mind."

"I don't." Hank pulled the box of Bisquick from the cabinet and retrieved the milk from the fridge. "You two can stay as long as you like. The more the merrier I always say."

Booth found the container for the flour and took a skillet from the cabinet next to the stove. "I'll make the gravy Pops while you make the biscuits."

"Make sure you don't burn it then." Hank removed a mixing bowl from the cabinet over the sink. "You know I hate burnt gravy." Quickly, the old man measured and poured some Bisquick mix and milk into the bowl, preparing his biscuit batter.

"I won't burn it Pops." Booth winked at Brennan and pointed at the kitchen table. "Take a load off Bones. We'll have dinner ready in no time."

Fascinated with the synchronized way the two men moved around the room, never bumping in each other, she knew that they had cooked together many times. "Thank you. I'm looking forward to tasting it."

A little surprised, Hank turned to stare at Brennan while he stirred his batter. "Haven't you ever eaten biscuits and gravy?"

"No I haven't." Brennan smiled at the sad look on the old man's face. "Booth has been cooking various meals for me that he considers comfort food, but he hasn't made this dish yet."

Hank nudged his grandson and shook his head. "Boy that was probably one of the first things you should have shown her. My goodness, your grandmother loved biscuits and gravy."

"I know Pops." Amused, Booth poured a little oil in the skillet and waited for it to heat up. "I was going to get to it. She likes my pancakes, so I've cooked a lot of those. She makes a great Macaroni and Cheese Pops. It's really the best. Lots of cheese."

Hank turned and flashed a grin at his guest. "Well, I'll have to get you to make that for me. If you don't mind."

"Oh I don't mind at all." Brennan loved the fact that Hank was welcoming her so quickly. She had been afraid that he might reject her since he knew nothing about her and she was a little awkward in social settings. "Thank you for inviting me into your home."

Before he shaped his biscuits for the baking sheet, Hank walked over and took Brennan's hand in his hand. "You're family Honey. Of course you're welcome."

Proud and happy that his grandfather was being so kind to his girlfriend, Booth winked at Brennan and turned to pour some flour in the hot grease. Once he had a roux, he poured in the milk and sprinkled it with black pepper. A feeling of happiness washed over Booth and he felt like he was finally getting past his problems or at least some of them. He'd just needed to come see his Pops with his partner. Life was finally starting to look up.

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