Title: Baring It All
Author: Tom's gg
Chapter: 19/?
Chapter Title: Good Intentions
Characters: Brennan/ Booth
Rating: M - Strong Sexual Content
Spoilers: None

I do not own the characters- that distinction belongs to FOX… but God I wish I did!

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These last three chapters have come pretty quickly because they were all sort of tangled together before my sudden burst of inspiration after my conversation with Ms. M. I just wanted to give you this bit of information about the case before we move on.

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They were damn near out the door when Brennan's cell phone rang.

"Yeah Sweetie, how're ya doin'?"

"Hey Ange'. We were just headed over to grab some breakfast. What's up?"

There was a tinkling of laughter. "Oh sweetie… you really need to ask Booth that question."

There was more laughter, followed by a very frustrated, "Ange'!"

"Ok" big sigh. " … back to business. Do you already have your computer locked up? Because we'd really like to show you something."

Brennan had automatically clicked the speaker phone button. "Who's we?" Booth challenged.

"Hey Tiger," Angela razzed. "We're all here." There was a chorus of male voices from the other end of the line as Jack and Zack vied for prominence.

"What the hell are you all doing in the lab so early?" Booth mocked.

"Ummm, Sweetie. It's 10 o'clock. Even us slackers are in to work by now." Angela's laugh tinkled through the line again. Booth could just imagine the mental picture Angela had painted for herself. Of course… Booth adjusted his belt… this time she wouldn't be wrong.

"Yeah, Ange'. I've got my laptop right here. Just let me hook back up real quick."

Booth exchanged pleasantries with Jack as Bones pulled out her computer and satellite modem. They were quickly hooked up via webcam. "What is it you need us to see?"

"Well," Angela started, "they finally sent us all of Charlotte's notes and information. She had tons of these notebooks with some kind of code in them. No one could decipher anything in it. Then Zack-"

"I began to see patterns in the symbols," Zach interjected. "This is a personal cipher based on a variation of current texting iconography. When I compared these notes, along with her date book, and some of her previous articles, using frequency analysis, I was able to isolate the syntax of her polyalphabetic cipher-"

"Look Bren," Angela took control of the conversation again. "Her latest notebooks are full of notes on illegal art trafficking, and Mayan art and ritual sites. She mentions two sites specifically, The Well, where her bones were found, and a place called La Puerta del Cielo."

"That translates to 'Heaven's Gate'," Zack interrupted again.

Booth and Brennan looked at each other skeptically. "There are no coincidences in a murder investigation… right?" Brennan frowned.

"It'll take a while before we get a complete transcript," Angela continued. "We just thought you might want to know what we found. I'll put together a list of some of the names we've run across as well and email it to you."

"Good work Ange'. - Umm, by any chance does Andrew know about this?"

"Uh… no. We haven't seen Agent Romero since that first morning. He's sent me some emails and messaged over some of this paperwork. But he only came by the lab once. Why?"

"Because we don't want you to mention any of this to him," Booth interrupted. "As a matter of fact, you should consider this information that no one else needs to know. As far as anyone else is concerned, those notebooks are still unreadable. You got it?"

There was a chorus of confused affirmative replies, but whether they understood or not, Booth knew they'd do as he'd asked them. "Good work guys- Zack. Really good work."

There was an almost stunned silence before Zack quietly acknowledged Booth's compliment.

"Thanks for calling Ange'," Brennan chimed in. "Great job everyone, really. Get us that list and the transcripts as soon as possible. Okay?"

Brennan didn't even wait for a response before she closed down her computer and packed it up again. "God I'm famished," she sighed.

They contemplated each other over their pancakes. Booth started to say something several times but stopped.

"The Heaven's Gate site is the closest one to Mexico City, you know," Brennan finally spoke. "And a lot of people know about it. It might just be two sites Charlotte was planning on visiting."

Booth bristled. Surely she wasn't defending him. "Yeah. It could also be that our little Federal Agent is up to no good. There are no coincidences in a murder investigation Bones… remember."

"Well I think we should wait to jump to any conclusions until we get the complete transcripts. I mean… I agree that we should keep this information quiet. I just think it's too soon to condemn anyone specifically yet."

Booth felt a fight coming on. This was definitely one of those moments in the case when his gut was painting a picture she wasn't going to like, and she was going to drive him crazy with all her scientific mumbo jumbo and rationale. Before Booth could respond, she continued.

"We need to give Zack and Angela more time. We're pretty close to Philadelphia. I mean… it's practically on the way."

"Yeah," Booth jerked up in surprise at her mentioning his home town.

"I just thought maybe you'd like to stop by there and… I don't know… see your parents or something. I mean… I could go by Temple University- I have an old friend there. That is… if you'd like some privacy."

Booth very rarely got to see Bones so flustered, and he enjoyed it tremendously. He was stunned that she had been the one to suggest a trip to his parents' house. He'd have thought it would take all his charm to convince her to make this trip.

"No. I'd really love to go by and see my folks. And I'd really love it if you'd come with me. I mean. They've heard enough about you- I mean as my partner. Anyway… that would be great Bones. Thanks."

She smiled at him. That smile made him want to drag her back to that hotel room and spend the rest of the day finding ways to keep it planted firmly on her face.

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So, we're off to meet the parents. I know this story plays heavy on the relationship side… but there actually is a case in there. Do I have you all intrigued yet? I love speculation, so let me know what you're thinking.

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Toad the Wet Sprocket - Good Intentions