The buzzing of his cellphone woke Booth at a time he decided was definitely too early. The warm weight resting against him changed his mood from sour as he remembered just who it was that was snuggled into his chest. He struggled to get out from underneath the sleeping anthropologist after she tightened her grip on his shirt, eventually turning her on her side and placing her arms around a pillow. The buzzing of his phone only got louder so he scrambled from the bed searching for his jacket where he knew it was.

When he finally found it he switched the alarm function off and checked his messages. There was one from Rebecca letting him know that she would be taking Parker to Utah for her mother's birthday that weekend and he cursed rubbing a hand over his unshaven face. He was supposed to have Parker that weekend but it seemed that Rebecca chose every opportunity to take his son away from him. He already saw Parker for a limited time and he hated to lose any of it.

He went back over to where Brennan lay and rested the back of his hand on her forehead. Her fever seemed to have gone down and her cheeks weren't as flushed as they had been earlier but she still looked paler than usual which worried him. He knew her fever would come back. His experience with Parker taught him that. Sitting on the edge of the bed next to her he scrolled through his phone till he found the number the police officer had given him yesterday. The phone rang a few times before the Sheriff picked up.

"Hi Sheriff North this is Special Agent Seeley Booth," he said.

"The FBI guy from yesterday?" the Sheriff asked.

"The one and only," Booth said looking down when Brennan shifted on the bed next to him, groaning as she rubbed her eyes.

"What can I do for you this morning Special Agent Seeley Booth?" the Sheriff asked.

"Booth," Brennan mumbled, "Who are you talking to?"

"It's the Sheriff," he said holding his hand over the receiver.

"Agent Booth?" the Sheriff said in his ear.

"Yes I'm here," Booth said uncovering the receiver, "I'm just calling to let you know Dr. Brennan and I won't be able to come in to ID the body today."

"What! Why?" Brennan called sitting up.

"You're sick Bones," he hissed covering the receiver again.

"I'm fine," she said and he sighed. She was too stubborn for her own good.

"You're not fine," he muttered, "You had a 102 degree temperature and you practically coughed up a lung last night."

"That was last night," she said grabbing the phone from him before he had a chance to stop her, "Yes hello Sheriff, this is Dr. Brennan. Agent Booth and I will be there within the hour," she said clicking the phone shut and handing it back to him.

"Bones! There's no way I'm letting you go into the lab," Booth cried.

"I'm a fully grown woman Booth you can't tell me what to do," she retorted climbing around him to hop off the bed, "We were brought here to do a job and that's what we're going to do."

"There's no harm in waiting a couple of days until you're better," Booth argued, "The body is still going to be there."

"By that time the remains could have been compromised," the anthropologist retorted riffling through her suitcase.

"I thought you said it was easy to ID the body from her cyber leg bone," Booth said.

"It's not a cyber leg bone Booth," she told him rolling her eyes, "I would still like to conduct a thorough and complete examination of the body so that I can compile a detailed report for the Senator."

"Can't you for once just do the basics," he sighed, "We're only here for the ID."

"I have a reputation for being the best for a reason Booth," she said, "You should get some clothes to change into you look like you've seen through a wringer."

"It's been through the wringer Bones," he said hopping up off the bed and going to stand in front of her, "Are you sure you're okay? Nobody is going to question your greatness because you took a sick day."

"I'm fine," she said with enough conviction that he almost started to believe her. If it wasn't for the paleness of her skin and the slight stuffiness of her voice he would have thought she was okay.

"We get in and get out," he said sternly, "We don't stay any longer than it takes and you don't dawdle. If I think you're doing some squinty dawdling thing then we're out of there. And you let me stop off at the chemist before we get there to pick up some TamiFlu which will do you no harm if you really are as fine as you say."

She was right, she was a grown woman and he had no right to tell her what to do but he would be there with her if she decided she wanted to ask for his help and even if she didn't. Booth knew he would follow her wherever she went.

"There is no need for that," she said, "But if it will make you feel better than I suppose it would not be all that terrible. I'm going to have a shower and then we can get going."

By the time she had finished in the shower Booth had changed, had a quick conversation with a disappointed Parker who was just as upset that they wouldn't be seeing each other that weekend and called down to the front desk to find out where the nearest pharmacy was.

"Ready to go?" he asked as she gathered up her things.

"Yes," she nodded rummaging through her bag, "As soon as I locate where I put the rental car keys."

"You mean these car keys," he said slyly shaking the keys in her face, "No way are you driving two days in a row Bones."

"Your actions don't relay your age," she scowled walking past him.

"You could just say I'm acting like a kid Bones," he chuckled placing his hand in the small of her back and steering her towards the door.

The lab they arrived at was nothing like the one he was used to visiting at the Jeffersonian and for a second Booth was sure that Brennan was going to make some inappropriate comment about the lack of facilities. He was surprised when she kept her thoughts to herself and followed a few steps behind as they followed the Sheriff towards where the remains lay on a cold steel table.

"Everyone in the precinct was jealous when I told them I would be working with the two of you," he said to them, "Got quite the reputation you do."

"I am the best," Brennan shrugged making Booth shake his head.

"She's modest to," he said.

"Honesty is a virtue," the Sheriff said smiling, "Not enough people practice it these days."

"Don't encourage her," the FBI agent muttered his focus drawn back to his partner when she stopped and put a hand to her head, "Bones, are you okay?"

"Fine," she threw over her shoulder, "I'm ready to look at the remains."