5: Life goes on

As promised Booth took her back to his place and they crashed because they were both tired. As they were so tired, all they did was stripped down and fell asleep entwined in each other.

Bones woke early the next morning with the sunrise and in hindsight, she should have remembered the lack of her clothes at Booths' apartment. Still she was not be deterred and refused to wear a two-day-walk-of-shame outfit, with that in mind Bones decided to raid Booth's shirts. She finally settled on a choice that suited her, choosing one of his long black shirts. It was win-win she could take her belt, wear it over her black slacks, and keep his smell close. Not that she would ever admit that was one of the reasons for her choice.

She finished dressing and silently wondered into his kitchen, "What's for Breakfast?"

Booth turned around and upon seeing her outfit his higher brain functions ceased for a few moments. Temperance had a decidedly non-Bones like smile gracing her face, a little too innocent she asked, "Everything okay?"

Booth managed to remember his speech centre, "Nice shirt."

She twirled, adding innocently, "You like?"

He shrugged and settled on attempting nonchalance, "Looks better on you than me."

He did not need to add that he was more than okay with her wearing his shirt. As Alpha male statements went, it was probably the best one he could make.


The scientists were all in the medico-lab; Cam had finished her autopsy and turned the bones over to Wendell. Wendell was tired but had managed to strip the bones and he was almost finished in arranging the bones. He had seen the same thing as Dr Brennan had mentioned about the missing scrap of bone missing from the severed head. He had also noted strange marks along the neck vertebrae almost as if the victim had been subjected to a knife attack.

He heard the voices of Dr Brennan and Agent Booth before he saw them. It seems like Dr Brennan wanted to go back to her apartment to gather a few things. It seemed Booth was valiantly trying to persuade her otherwise but was facing a loosing battle.

She just threw Booth a secret smile before looking at Wendell, "What have we found?"

He stood back and gave an oral report, "Well I've cleaned the bones and have arranged them. There is a scrapping missing of the severed vertebrae. On top of this there is evidence of the victim being attached by a long sharp knife." He pointed to the part of the bone to let her examine the area herself.

She frowned running the possible weaponry through her head. The one thing that her new memories had given her was a fantastic understanding of all the weapons. She knew these marks they were very familiar to her, it struck her in that moment. She looked directly to Booth, "Well someone is running around with a Scottish dirk."

Booth's eyes widened a little at that, but identifying the weapon did tell them a lot, "So we looking for someone who has a deep knowledge of medieval swords and strong enough to use a heavy broadsword."

"That would be my assessment. Sweets will probably have more for you."

She caught Wendell's look of surprise, so did Booth, "Careful you'll have Sweets thinking you like him."

Bones gave a delicate shrug, "His okay for a soft scientist. I'll let you know when we have more information."

Booth nodded, "Okay see you later."

As they were at work, she settled with giving him a warm smile, "See you later Booth."

She allowed herself to watch him leave before turning back to her student, "Come closer Wendell let me show you the difference in the marks."

Wendell listened and absorbed everything that he was being told. After all, he knew that listening to Dr Brennan he would learn more than he could possibly ever learn from anyone else. She diligently explained to Wendell how he could identify the different potential weapons by the marks on the bones. They spent the afternoon diligently examining the bones. It was not until nearly seven in the evening that she was satisfied that they had gathered all the evidence they could from the bones.

She stretched out her muscles, "That will be all until tomorrow Wendell. I'll go let Booth know what we have found out."

She figured she should go find out what the others had found out. She wondered into the main part of the lab, "What have you found out Hodgin's?"

"Well the slash marks and the clothing fibres that they found had chromium metal particles that could not have come from the sword itself as it was too early for this particular alloy."

That was good news it might clue them in to where the victim had been kept before they were murdered. She ran what she already knew through her head, "Run the list and look for abandoned factories, storage place etc and they would need to be far away from normal human dwellings."

"Okay. I'll let Booth and you know the minute I come back with something solid."

"I know see you I the morning Hodgin's."


Brennan walked into the FBI offices that were almost empty because it was so late. She hah no doubt that Booth was still in his office. She did not have to knock before he registered her presence just like as of old.

"What you got for me because normal leads are not very useful."

"Hodgin's had identified some unusual particles and is compiling a list of likely locations."

Booth let out a breath, some days he really loved science not that he would ever say that aloud. He noticed that his partner was fidgeting; as a slayer, she would have energy to burn and not necessarily many outlets. In fairness, he was not much better; he could not spar against human opponents until he got use to his new strengths. He had a playful smile, "Fancy a spar? The gym would be empty this late."

"What does winner get?" She coyly asked.

Now he had an openly flirtatious smile, "We'll work something out."

Temperance recognised that smile, "Well do not expect me to go easy on you."

"Where's the fun in that?"

She would not let him have the last word her voice all innuendo, "Don't worry I won't let you get too hurt. Then it really will be no fun."

They started the same way they did all those years ago in Sunnydale. The Tai-chi moves never forgotten were being completed with an unnatural grace. The moves were perfect and they showed they were still in-sync now despite their different lives they moved smoothly from one form to another. Once they felt the warmed up, Bones gave him a fiendish grin, "Shall we dance?"

They definitely danced; Booth could now remember older martial art forms. He was glad that they had done this late at night or they would have definitely drawn a crowd.

Bones was a tricky opponent, especially; as she never stuck to one form, in fact, after a minute, she started to continually switch forms. It made sure that Booth could never settle and had to pay attention.

They were so focussed on their spar that they did not notice they did have one spectator who watching through the gym window. Director Cullen had caught the light in the gym as he left his office. The deadly grace on show by the two sparing partners was simply amazing. In a strange way it was a good thing to watch, the partners had to trust each other implicitly to spar at this level. Not only that, it was clear that neither was giving an inch to the other no matter there personal feelings were. He watched for a few moments more before allowing them some privacy. Cullen could almost feel sorry for the criminals that crossed their paths, well until he remembered that they chased murderers and it was only fair that they face justice.