A/N: Thank you for the reviews – sorry for the delay- hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 7

Booth made his way cautiously into his partners home. His team was on the way here to process her apartment, but he wanted a moment alone to see what was going on, on the off chance this person was still here, however unlikely that seemed. He forced himself to remain calm, because Bones needed him to figure this out. He would not allow anything to happen to her like what had happened last time. He'd loose his mind if something happened to her again.

"FBI! Is anyone there?" Booth called out forcefully, following all steps in FBI procedure in securing an invaded home.

His eyes skipped across the spacious top floor apartment. Her home was quiet, and it quickly became evident that no one was here. Using caution not to disturb any potential evidence, he nudged open her bedroom door with the toe of his shoe, light filtered in from the gauzy, filmy white sheers that fluttered in the breeze of the slightly opened window. From across the room, he spotted something lying on her bed. Hurrying over, he put away his gun he'd drawn when he arrived, and crouched next to the bed to examine what had been left.

It was a doll, maybe a cheap knock off of Barbie, made to look like Bones. A blue lab type coat, but more frightening, was a knife was protruding out from the center of the doll, effectively severing the plastic doll in half. Placed carefully next to the doll was the 3rd in the series of photographs that Jenny had sent him last year. It was a picture of himself and Bones entering the FBI building, his hand placed at the small of her back, the reverse side said "Still watching her Agent Booth".

Cursing under his breath, he rose, and closed his eyes a moment. The next picture that Jenny had sent was Bones in the shower, at home, alone. He had to stop this person before it went any further.

His mind racing, he thought of the people who had access, or knew about those original pictures. None of this seemed like it was the work of a cop, but someone with extreme anger towards him….he had no idea why though. Remembering the day he'd found Bones incased in ice, in his own bathroom, his breath caught, and he scrubbed his hand over his face.

Recalling that she was at his place, unaware of what was going on, he gulped guiltily. Bones would be furious that he didn't call her right away, regardless his intentions or reasons. Before he could react to that train of thought, the crime scene tech's arrived, distracting him.

1 hour later

Frowning, Brennan glanced around her apartment building at the obvious FBI vehicles, crime scene van, and Booth's SUV parked haphazardly around the entrance. What was going on? She wondered suspiciously, as she made her way into the building.

A FBI agent was at the entrance of the elevators, and held up a palm facing her "Excuse me ma'am, do you live here?" the older agent questioned, eyeing her warily

"Yes. I do live here. I would imagine Special Agent Seeley Booth is upstairs right now in apartment 2B correct?" she said, without another word passing the surprised man into the elevator.

Jabbing the 5 button on the elevator impatiently, her anger rising, the small car swiftly took her upward towards where the FBI obviously were congregating.

Taking deep even breaths, in an attempt to calm her rising temper, she took a step forward as the elevator shuddered to a stop on her floor. Her jaw was clenched tight, hands balled into fists. She strode purposefully to her home, ignoring the men who called after her to stop.

Her door was open; Temperance breezed in, and found her partner quickly. His back was facing her; he seemed to be lost in though as he watched the crime scene techs crawl all over her apartment

"Excuse me" she said sarcastically, "But when were you planning on letting me know what the HELL is going on here Booth?" she struggled not to shout at him and make too much of a scene

Visibly startled, he turned to face her, his eyebrows shot up to his hairline, a flicker of guilt crossed his face, quickly being replaced with his patented "Charm Smile"

"Bones! How did you get here? I was just, uh going to…you know call you..." he trailed off, gulping quickly, his adams apple bobbing, His eyes skipped across her apartment, not meeting her eyes

"How long have you been here Booth? Why didn't you call me right away?" she demanded, poking a finger into his chest

Before he could answer, a tech approached him, with the bagged evidence of the doll and the knife. "Agent Booth? The bedroom has been processed; this is the only evidence, no hairs, fibers, nothing. I am going to send this to the lab for further analysis. We confirmed the fax did originate from the fax machine here also. Same thing. No prints, nothing" the other man finished, walking away

"Bones….I was going to call you…." He began hesitantly; he ran a hand through his hair and slipped his other hand into his pocket, fingering the poker chip.

"Oh really? Before or after you went all caveman alpha male? You know how I fell about that, and yet you do it anyway. You know what? I don't need protection from you. I can take care of myself Booth" she shouted at him, her cheeks flushed red with anger. She spun on her heel and stalked out of the apartment, leaving him there with his fellow agents and techs staring at him and snickering.

End this chapter