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I don't own Bones.

Ooooooooooooooo

Entering the Denny's, Booth noticed Kevin and April sitting towards the back of the Diner at one of the Formica covered tables. Leading Hodgins over to the table, Booth removed his sun glasses and placed it in his shirt pocket. Following Booth, Hodgins took a chair next to his partner at the table.

Leaning over Booth shook Keven and April's hand and then picked up a menu. Scanning the food selections he made up his mind quickly as the waitress arrived, "I'll take the sirlon medium rare with zucchini and mashed potatoes and I'd like some coffee, black, thank you."

Hodgins, looked at the waitress and smiled, "I'll have what he's having only make my steak well-done."

The waitress smiled, collected their menus and left the table.

His voice low to keep it from carrying, Booth told Kevin and April what he'd accomplished so far in his investigation. Appreciating the information, Kevin glanced around and spoke quietly, "April and I went birdwatching over near Thomas Diehl's farm this morning and then over to Adam Rinard's farm this afternoon. They're some of the people that Darnell was interested in. We managed to . . ." Pausing, Kevin allowed the waitress to place cups of coffee before Booth and Hodgins and then a plate of pot roast in front of him and a plate of Bourbon chicken in front of April. Leaving, the waitress smiled at Hodgins, "I'll serve yours as soon as the steaks are ready."

After their server walked away, Kevin continued, "We managed to look around the Diehl farm without any trouble. We didn't see anyone and we even managed to get a look in the barn and two of the out buildings. We tried to look in the Rinard barn but we got caught and cussed out pretty thoroughly. April cried and the guy backed off some and we went on our way. That guy was pretty hard ass and I thought for sure I was going to have a fight on my hands."

A grin on her face, April interjected, "I took drama classes in college. I can cry at the drop of a hat when I need to."

Amused, Booth sipped some coffee and placed the cup down. "That's a handy trick, but I'm afraid it wouldn't work for me though."

Laughing, April picked up her fork, "No, probably not, but it's saved our asses more than once."

Holding up his hand, Hodgins quipped, "If we need it I can cry my eyes out."

A smirk on his face, Booth sipped some coffee, "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind."

Gravy dripping off of his pot roast back onto the plate, Kevin pointed his fork at Booth, "We plan to check out Bobby Freeman's place tomorrow. He was the one Darnell seemed to be most concerned about, him and Reed O'Neal."

Shaking his head, Booth cautioned him, "I think Bobby Freeman may be our man. Darnell's contact, Mr. Truax told me that Bobby has been spouting anti-government bullshit for months. Why don't you let me and Hodgins do our tree presentation at the Freeman farm tomorrow and you and Amy tackle the O'Neal farm. We may pay a visit to Adam Rinard too and see if he's interested in our trees. I want to get a look in their barns and out buildings with Hodgins. He's an expert on radioactive stuff and I definitely need him to check out Bobby Freeman's place. Right now, I think we need to consider Freeman as our number one suspect."

The waitress back, she smiled and deposited a plate in front of Booth and Hodgins, "Enjoy."

Watching her walk away, Kevin agreed with Booth's plan. "Alright. April and I will check out the O'Neal place and we have a couple of other places we'd like to check out too. We may try to scope out Rinard's place again while we're at it."

Slicing his steak, Booth nodded his head, "Just be careful. If you go back to the Rinard place he may not fall for the crying thing a second time if he catches you."

Oooooooooooooooo

The volume down on the TV, Booth sat on the bed and called Brennan, "Hey, whatcha doing?"

I just put Christine to bed and I'm doing some research.

Curious, Booth asked her, "So you're going to write that book after all? I thought you wanted to wait until you go back to work before you started?"

I have the time now, Booth. I can do the research while I'm home and once I'm ready to start writing I'll be able to do it with fewer interruptions.

Absently flipping the television channels, Booth responded, "Okay, but remember not to overdo it. If you have any heavy duty stuff that needs to be done wait until I come back home and I'll take care of it."

Don't worry about it, Booth. Dad decided to come over and stay with me for a few days. He said he wanted Christine to get used to him. He's been helping me keep everything clean.

Pleased, Booth stopped flipping the channels and settled on a ball game, "That sounds great. It'll give you two a chance to bond a little too."

How is your investigation going? Have you been able to narrow down your suspect list?"

Placing the remote on the bed, Booth kicked off his shoes and moved onto the bed with his back against the headboard, "Not yet, we just got started. Darnell's tipster seemed to think a farmer named Bobby Freeman was someone we should play close attention to. Hodgins and I are going out to his farm tomorrow morning."

I wish I was there with you. I'm a very good partner and you know you can trust me to have your back. Hodgins is a good scientist but he has no experience undercover.

"Yeah, I wish you were here too, but you got to take care of yourself and our baby, so it's got to be this way for now." Rubbing his eyes, Booth yawned, "I love you Bones. I love you and I miss you and I sure as hell hope I get to come home soon."

I miss you too Booth and I love you too. Hopefully you will find Darnell's murderer very soon and you can return to me and Christine. She misses you.

Surprised, Booth grinned, "You think so?"

Of course. Why wouldn't she miss her Daddy?

A grin plastered on his face, Booth confided, "Well, I figured since she's so young she doesn't really know I'm her Daddy yet. You really think she misses me?"

Yes, I do. Babies are creatures of habit. She's used to you giving her a bath every evening and singing those silly nursery rhymes. She seemed very restless this evening and I don't really know any nursery rhymes so I had to sing something else. She misses you.

"Well, I miss her too." Feeling a little emotional, Booth rubbed his eyes, "So, anyway, I'll call you in the morning and see how you are before I head out to the Freeman place. If you need to call me you can, Bones. I love you."

I love you Booth.

Oooooooooooooooooo

His phone ringing, Booth fumbled on the nightstand until his hand landed on the phone. Pulling it to his ear, Booth hit the accept call option, closed his eyes again and groaned, "What?"

I'm sorry I called you Booth but I needed to hear your voice. Now that I have you may go back to sleep. I'm sorry. I won't wake you up again.

Forcing his eyes open, Booth sat up, "Wait, don't hang up. What's going on? Are you alright? Is the baby okay?"

You're going to think I'm being silly, but I had a bad dream and I needed to hear your voice.

Rubbing the side of his face, Booth replied, "I don't think you're being silly, Bones. You have some pretty nasty dreams and that's a fact. I told you you could call me and I meant it. . . Are you alright?"

Thank you. Yes, I'm fine. I just . . . I just needed to make sure you were okay that's all.

Sleepy, Booth fought a yawn, "I'm fine . . . fine, I promise. Do you want to talk for awhile?"

No, go back to sleep. I heard your voice and I'm satisfied.

Yawning, Booth rubbed his face again, "Okay, but I can talk if you want me to. Call me again if you have to. I love you, Bones. It's not a problem if you call me back."

Thank you. . . I love you Booth.

The call ended, Booth lay back down and closed his eyes, his phone still in his hand. After a few minutes, he was back asleep, the hum of tires on the highway in front of the motel serenading him back to sleep.

Oooooooooooooooo

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