Chapter Two

It was five minutes after four a.m. when the FBI finished its examination of her car. They had processed her car of any evidence, and had called her down to the garage to collect the only clue they had, the ear Epps had left for her. Temperance knew the chances of getting an identification off an ear was practically zero, but she could still tell a lot from an ear. She could tell the sex of whom the ear belonged to, she could estimate the age of the person who belonged to the ear, and she could tell if that person was still alive when the ear was taken from them. Yes, Temperance had a lot of work to do, and she wanted to get to it as soon as possible. While the FBI had processed her car, she had called her brother Russ, and let him know that she wouldn't be able to come and see him this weekend, explaining that a case had come up. She had also called Angela and asked her to come in first thing in the morning, so that she could look at the ear as well. By the time Booth walked in with a cup of coffee for her, she was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open, but she had to process the ear. The sooner they caught Epps the better. Temperance looked up into Booth's face and saw that he had lines of fatigue around his eyes, and she knew that probably was just as exhausted as she was. But she also saw the same grim determination in his eyes that was keeping her going.

"Brought you a cup of coffee Bones, it looks like you need it."

"Thanks, Booth, you read my mind. You know, you don't have to stick around here while I process the ear, you can head home, you look dead tired."

"Bones, you don't look so hot yourself, but no thanks I'm not going anywhere without you."

"Excuse me?"

"I said I'm not going anywhere with out you, at least until we catch Epps, so from now on your stuck with me like white on rice."

"Booth, I don't need your protection, I am a big girl who can take care of herself, and Epps doesn't want to kill me, he'd rather toy with me."

"Bones, I'm sorry this is not up for negotiation, so until we catch Epps you will be with me when you eat, sleep, shower, work, walk, talk, and basically anything else that you do."

By the time Booth had finished his tirade, he realized what he had said. He probably would have just ignored it and moved on if not for the open mouth stare that Bones was giving him. Now he was embarrassed, and his efforts at backpedaling only made it worse.

"What I mean is," Booth said as he cleared his throat, "we will have to stick together, I mean we won't shower together, per se, but I will be there, I mean, in the same place you are, I mean, I'll watch TV while you shower, ah, shit Bones you know what I mean."

"Yes Booth, I know what you mean, but it really isn't necessary. Epps will not hurt me physically, he'd rather hurt me emotionally."

"That's not a risk I'm willing to take, and so on that note, you're stuck with me."

Booth wondered how he was going to be able to handle all that close proximity to Bones. This growing attraction he had for her was something unwelcome. He did not want to mess up one of the only good things in his life. Besides his son, Parker, Bones was the only constant in his life. He cared about her more than he was willing to admit, and if he ever lost her, he didn't know if he could continue working for the FBI. More than a partner, she was his best friend. It was that age old struggle of do you give up what you have with your best friend, in order for you to satisfy the lust that you feel. He didn't think he was willing to take that risk. What if things didn't work out between them. There was too much at stake to take that risk. But his body was telling him something completely different. The very male side of him was telling him, take her. Ease your body into hers, and take her for all it was worth. His body was telling him it would be the best sex of his life. His body was aching to take her, and after that kiss, it had only made it worse. Every time he thought about her lips parting slightly to allow his tongue inside her mouth, and the slight tremor of her body as his hands had grazed the underside of her breasts, his cock had tightened painfully against his jeans. And that had happened more often tonight than he cared to admit. His dick probably had the imprint of zipper on it, as often as it had happened. Oh yeah, this was going to be hell. He felt like a cartoon, with an angel on one shoulder telling him, she was his best friend, his partner, you care to much, and a devil on the other shoulder telling him, just fuck her, she'll love it, you'll love it, what have you got to lose.

"Booth?" Temperance asked softly.

"What Bones?"

"So your going to be with me at all times, then where are we going to stay?"

"At my place Bones, at least there I have a TV."

"I have a TV, why can't you stay at my place."

"Bones, your TV is broken, remember, and besides, Epps probably knows where you live, he doesn't know where I live."

"Ok, I see your logic in that, but still, I don't need your protection."

Booth came up beside her and put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a reassuring pat.

"Come on Bones, it will be fun, we'll do each others hair and nails, play truth or dare, just like a slumber party."

"I never went to slumber parties, so I don't know what your talking about."

"I was just joking Bones, but seriously finish up with that ear, and we'll swing by your place for that suitcase you always keep packed, and then we'll get some sleep."

"Ok, give me a couple hours with the ear, and then I'll be ready."

Booth walked out of her office leaving her to contemplate the ear that was sitting on the lab table. It also left her to contemplate staying at Booth's place until Epps was caught. She didn't know what to think. She had never been to his place. She thought he would have stayed at her place, because he didn't want her to see his personal space. That's why it was surprising when he insisted she stay at his place. And even though she had given Booth a perfectly logical explanation for the kiss they shared, it didn't feel logical at all. They had been in stressful situations before and that had never happened. Why had it happened then? Her brain was still trying to sort through the emotions of the day. Starting with the kiss. It had melted her. Dr. Temperance Brennen was not a mushy woman. She knew that she did not have the same emotional responses to things that other people had, but she also knew that no other kiss in her life, had left her feeling this confused. In any other instance she would have recognized the physical desire and told herself to act on the desire, because lust was perfectly natural human response. But in this instance she didn't know what to do. She only knew that when Booth kissed her it was the most intense kiss she had ever had. But in the back of mind, she knew it was wrong. Booth had become her family, her friend, and her partner. He was one of the most important people in her life, and she didn't want that to end. Temperance had never believed in romantic love. It was an emotion that she had never experienced and when other people claimed to be in love, she felt it was only the chemical response to desire and compatability. She did believe that people could love each other, like a mother loves a child, or a friend loves a friend, but there was no lust to muck up those feelings. She knew that she cared for Booth, but she didn't want to mess up those feelings with lust. Lust was what she felt for Seeley Booth. When he had kissed her, the warmth had suffused her body, liquefying her bones, and settling between her legs. She had wanted to wrap her legs around his waist, and rub her body against the massive erection she had felt through his jeans. She had been out of sorts since the kiss, and that was why she hadn't protested too loudly when Booth said that he would have to stay with her until Epps was caught. Secretly she was hoping that he might kiss her again. But she didn't want to mess up what they already had. This was too complicated, and she needed to talk to someone who understood human emotion. That's why she was so glad when Angela walked into her office as soon as Booth walked out.

"Hi, sweetie, you look beat."

"Thanks Angela, you look great as usual."

"Booth filled me in on the details, and I am at your disposal, what do you need me to do?"

"Well first, I have determined that the ear is from a female, between the ages of 15 and 23, and that she was alive when Epps removed the ear. However, I need you to see if you can find out what kind of bone structure a person would have if this was their ear. We know she's caucasion, but maybe you can work something to see if there are any other identifying characteristics you can come up with. Also Booth and I kissed."

"You What!"

"Well, you see he was upset with me for not taking his advice about Epps, and we were both stressed, and so he kissed me."

"Details, more details please."

"Well, basically, it was the best kiss of my life, and now I want to do it again, but I don't want to mess up what we already have."

"Sweetie, you and Booth, have something special, and you two getting together, will only make it better, I promise."

"But I care about Booth, and I don't want to lose that. Kissing him was great, but I don't want emotion to get involved with the lust of the matter."

"Honey, emotion is already involved, you said it yourself, you care about him, that's what makes it better, that's why the kiss was the best in your life, because you two already know each other in every other way than the physical. You two being physical is only the logical next step."

"But Angela, it's not logical to be emotional. What I feel for Booth is both friendship and lust. I don't want to mess up the friendship with the lust."

"Tempe, you and Booth were made for each other, and the lust is only going to make the friendship better."

"Well, I've got some good news for you then. I will be staying at Booth's place until Epps is caught. So who knows how long that will be."

"Oooh, I love it. You and Booth in close proximity, all that sexual tension with nowhere to go but the bedroom."

"Angela…"

"Oh come on sweetie, you and I both know, that you two have been working up to this since you first started working together."

"I no nothing of the sort."

"Come on honey, you were so jealous when you found out that he slept with Rebecca and Cam."

Oh crap, Angela thought. Temperance didn't know Booth had slept with Cam. She was going to be pissed that no one told her.

"Angela, are you telling me that Booth slept with Cam? When?"

"Ummm, about a month ago, but you weren't supposed to know that."

"Uh, why not?"

"Because, you would have been mad."

Temperance just looked at Angela, her expression freezing into that cold scientific look she got when she shut off all emotion.

"I'm not mad, Angela, Booth can sleep with whomever he wants. Now let's get back to the ear."

Angela could tell that Tempe was hurt, but deep down, she knew Temperance knew that Booth sleeping with Cam meant nothing. It still did not make it hurt any less. For the next hour Temperance and Angela worked on creating a bone structure for their Jane Doe Ear, but with little luck. Temperance looked ready to fold, so Angela suggested they take a break. Tempe went to the bathroom, while Angela called Booth on his cell, and told him to come get Temperance, she looked ready to pass out. A few minutes later Booth made an appearance. Temperance was still in the bathroom, and he could tell by the smirk on Angela's face that Bones had told her about their kiss.

"I want you take care of Temperance, Booth, because this bastard's truly sick. He cut off this girl's ear while she was still alive, he wouldn't hesitate to hurt Temperance."

"Of course, Angela, you know that I would die to protect Bones."

"That's what worries me. I don't know what she would do if you left her too. Even though she is extremely independent, she has become dependent on you, and if you hurt her by leaving, or any other way, I would be extremely pissed."

Booth knew what she was talking about. Her next statement shocked the hell out of him.

"Booth, are you and Cam over or are you still sleeping together?"

Oh shit, Booth thought, he thought him and Cam had kept a lid on things, and no one knew.

"Angela, I don't think that's any of your business, and by the way how did you find out."

"Oh please Booth, the whole lab knew, except Brennen, well at least she didn't know."

"Angela, please don't tell me you told Bones?"

Temperance took that moment to walk into her office.

"Tell me what?" she said coldly, facing Booth.

"Um, nothing, sweetie, just that you weren't looking forward to spending time away from your house."

"Are you ready to leave Bones, we need to get some sleep."

"Sure Booth, I'm beat."

Booth knew that Brennen was pissed. He could tell by her body language. Oh boy this was going to be a very long day.