Moments—Chapter 9

Disclaimer: Um, is this really necessary anymore? I believe we all know that I don't own them.

Author's notes: I hope everyone had a nice holiday and had the opportunity to enjoy the reruns from Season 1 of BONES that the FOX network had the good sense to show.

My dearest Jean—do you doubt my ability to wrap this story up in the next two chapters? Really? (big grin) I thought I would be nice and shorten your torment. (LOL) By the way, I hope you are feeling better. I read your review of my New Year's story and I was very sorry to hear that you were feeling under the weather.

Howdylynn—I have never ever, ever doubted your loyalty! I think when I read the "it's not you, it's me" line, it felt like a break-up. (wink) Believe me, I always anticipate and love to read your reviews and delightful insights…and it's good to know that you're still woo-hooing at every update.

And no, my lovely, lovely readers, I have not forgotten what the title of this fic is. I promise there will be more moments between our favorite agent and anthropologist…just bear with me.

Okay everyone, please read, enjoy and let me know what you think!

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The two and a half hour drive from DC had done nothing to diminish Booth's anger. That fact became even more obvious when the tires of the SUV squealed as he turned the corner onto Pleasant Street. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he stepped on the brake to slow the speeding vehicle.

"Booth," Brennan said in a tense voice as she gripped the armrest of her seat. She slowly began to relax as he stopped the SUV in front of the Stonestreet residence. "Before we speak to him I think you need to take a moment to calm down."

His hand was on the door handle when he felt Brennan's hand grasp his forearm. He turned his face toward hers and saw the immense concern in her azure eyes. Booth removed his hand from the door handle and placed it on top of her hand which was still resting on his arm. "I just wanna get this bastard…"

"And we will," she stated in a soft reassuring voice.

He took a deep breath and rubbed his hand over hers, enjoying the contact. "Okay. Let's go wrap this case up Bones."

They exited the vehicle and quickly approached the front door where Margie Stonestreet, looking even more frail and lost than before, greeted them.

"Mrs. Stonestreet, we need to speak with your husband." Booth's tone was firm and businesslike with a small hint of anger that only Brennan could detect.

"He's not here Agent…uh…."

"Booth, ma'am. Can you tell us where he is?" His jaw clenched and unclenched as his dark eyes looked past Margie into the residence, scanning the visible areas for any sign that she was lying to them.

"Work, he's at work." Her speech was slow and slightly slurred and Brennan detected an odor of alcohol when Margie moved to close the door.

"Mrs. Stonestreet, can you tell us where he's working today?" Brennan asked as she placed her hand on the door to halt the woman's retreat. "It's about Katie."

The older woman's red-rimmed eyes focused on the anthropologist as tears suddenly formed. "Katie? My little Katie?"

Brennan nodded and held her hand firm against the door. "We have very important information about Katie that we need to discuss with your husband."

"He and the other guys were movin' equipment to Logdon Street…400 block…they're tearing down some houses…"

"Thank you Mrs. Stonestreet." Brennan removed her hand from the door and turned to catch up with Booth who was already at the SUV.

"Yeah, 400 block of Logdon Street. Inform the officers that they'll be assisting a federal agent with apprehending a homicide suspect." He closed his phone and glanced at Brennan across the hood of the vehicle. "This way we have backup in case his co-workers try to help him out of the situation."

She simply nodded as she entered the SUV knowing from his current tone that he was not in the mood for any further discussions.

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A light misting rain fell from the dark sky as they approached the construction site. Brennan warily eyed the copious areas of mud around the site as she and Booth walked over large wooden planks that crisscrossed the ground.

"Hey, either of you seen Carl Stonestreet around here?" Booth questioned two men as he held up his badge. A tall, lanky man nodded and gestured toward the large house that was the future object of their destruction. Booth nodded his thanks in return and motioned for his partner to walk in front of him. Although she had been oblivious to the stares from the construction workers, he had not been. If there was ever a time to display alpha male tendencies, he surmised now would be appropriate.

They entered the cool damp house and searched the area for Carl or anyone else who could direct them to their suspect. The sound of heavy machinery and the patter of light rain on the roof seemed to echo through the large empty spaces of the abandoned house.

"I don't think he's in here," Brennan said.

Booth placed his hands on his hips and sighed. "Something tells me that Margie made a phone call after we left."

"Why?" She turned to face Booth, her eyes boring into his.

"This is just like a magic act. They direct our attention here while the real action is taking place somewhere else—in other words, Carl's hiding from us."

"But why would Margie call and warn him?"

"I don't think Margie does anything without Carl's approval Bones and talking to us…probably not on the list of things he would approve of," he said as he ran his hand through his hair.

Before Brennan could comment on his obvious frustration a sudden movement outside the window behind her partner caught her attention. As her mind registered what was about to occur, Brennan ran forward and threw her body against Booth's. The couple fell to the ground just as a wrecking ball slammed through the wall and window where the agent had been standing.

Brennan felt a sharp shooting pain in her left wrist as she and Booth collided with the hard cold floor. Booth's protective instincts kicked in, immediately shielding his partner from the falling debris as the wrecking ball moved back through the large hole in the side of the house. As he stood, he grabbed the lapels of her jacket, swiftly bringing Brennan to her feet before ushering her out of the house.

The rain was now heavier and large drops of water pelted the mud around the site that was not covered by wooden planks. As they exited the house Booth glanced up to see that the operator of the wrecking ball was none other than their murder suspect. The first Dover police officer pulled up in his patrol car and Carl climbed down from the large piece of machinery as quickly as his robust body could carry him.

Fueled by sheer anger, Booth ran through the mud and quickly caught up to his suspect. He tackled the large man and pushed his face down in a mud hole. Carl coughed and sputtered as Booth pulled his head up from the murky water. "Carl Stonestreet, you're under arrest for the attempted murder of a federal agent—me—and my partner. And pretty soon I'm gonna add Katie's murder to those charges. You have the right to remain silent…"

"Screw you," Carl spewed out as Booth snapped the handcuffs on one of the man's large meaty wrists.

"Where you're going Carl, they don't like child molesters or killers. What you did to Katie….let's just say karma is gonna be a real bitch," he hissed as he shoved the older man's face into the mud hole once again.

"Agent Booth! Are you okay?" He glanced up to see a young officer running toward him.

He pulled Carl's head out of the water once more and listened as the man coughed and struggled to catch his breath. "Yeah I'm fine but I have a feeling Mr. Stonestreet here will be requesting medical attention."

"Sure, no problem. We've already called EMS for your partner anyway…"

Booth felt a lump form in his throat as he struggled to find his footing in the mud. "Bones," he whispered. He motioned for the officer to take care of Carl as he ran to find his partner.

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Booth's nose crinkled as a strong wave of disinfected cleaner wafted through the hallway of the hospital. He paced in front of a couple of drink machines and gritted his teeth as his mud caked shoes squeaked with every step. Brennan, in all her stubborn glory, had refused medical attention at the construction site and diagnosed her wrist as merely sprained. He had insisted that she see a physician at the local hospital where Carl had been taken after his arrest, just as Booth had predicted.

Brennan had sat in on part of the interrogation, cradling her injured wrist, while she waited for a doctor. The interrogation had ended fifteen minutes ago and Booth still saw no sign of his partner. He put on his best charm smile and held up his badge when he saw a nurse meandering down the hallway.

"Excuse me, I'm Special Agent Booth and I was wondering if you could tell me where my partner is." He forced the tone of his voice to stay calm and even as the woman took in his disheveled muddy appearance.

"What's your partner's name?"

"Dr. Temperance Brennan…she had an injured wrist."

"Oh yeah, she's around the corner, first door on the right."

"Thank you." He quickly turned and walked down the hall, each stride marked by the squeaky soles of his shoes. Booth found her sitting on the examination table, inspecting her slightly swollen wrist.

"Bones, where the hell is the doctor?"

Brennan glanced up at him before resuming her inspection. "He's waiting on x-rays. Apparently they only have one technician on duty at the moment."

"So he thinks it's broken?"

"No, not broken. But the possibility of a hairline fracture is significant…."

"Thank you," he said softly, interrupting her self diagnosis.

"For what?" Her brow creased in confusion as she looked up at him noting that his brown eyes were watching her intently. Booth took a step toward her and gingerly ran his index finger over the swollen bluish hue of her wrist.

"For saving my life…again." He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as his eyes found hers once more. The shooting incident with Gil Lappin automatically replayed itself in both of their minds. Brennan closed her eyes and lowered her head as the images flooded her brain.

"I wish I could say that the nightmares don't last that long Temperance but I can't," he confessed softly. Confusion again graced her features as Brennan looked up at him.

"How did…?"

"You're my partner and my best friend," he answered as he smiled slightly. "Plus you talk in your sleep."

She shook her head as her gaze found its way to her wrist again. "Did Mr. Stonestreet finally confess?"

He sighed at the realization that there would be no further discussion of her nightmares. For a brief moment she had allowed him access to her pain—a pain he so desperately wanted to erase. "He said it was an accident."

"He's lying, Booth," she replied angrily. "Katie fought him…"

"I know Bones."

"She sustained several injuries during the attack…"

"Bones," he said as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I know. I told him that we knew the truth; that we knew what really happened and he broke. He finally admitted that he tracked her to DC and killed her when she threatened to tell everyone what he had been doing to her."

"Okay." It was the only response she could think of considering the close proximity of Booth's body and the feel of his large warm hands resting on her shoulders. They stared at each other for a long moment and Brennan suddenly realized that Booth's face was moving closer to her own, their mouths mere inches apart.

Before she had an opportunity to choose between panicking or giving in to her desire, the physician entered the room and interrupted the moment. Booth quickly removed his hands from Brennan's shoulders and took a step back, acting like a guilty teenager who had been caught making out with his girlfriend.

"Well Dr. Brennan, just as we suspected you have suffered a hairline fracture," the small stocky doctor informed her as he held up the x-rays of her arm. "From the x-ray I think you'll be okay with a functional cast."

Brennan cleared her throat and nodded. "So does that mean I can leave now?"

The doctor chuckled at Brennan's impatience as he lowered her x-rays. "As soon as we provide you with a cast and your discharge papers." He chuckled again as his gaze settled on Booth. "You know, most people remove their clothing before indulging in a mud bath….extremely good for the skin."

The agent grimaced at the thought of his new, now ruined, suit. "Funny," he muttered. "Stupid unlucky leprechaun socks." His squeaking shoes only added to his humiliation as he walked out the door to wait for Brennan in the hallway.