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Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or song lyrics here. But the characters and the non-couple romance both inspire and frustrate me!

My stories are continuous parts of the same tale. If you'd like to start at the beginning please visit my author profile for an ordered listing. There will be at least 2 more stories after the end of this one.

She continued to tick off supplies and equipment until he shut her door and went around the car. "Tell me about the body, Seeley," she asked as he climbed in.

"Maintenance crew on a rooftop found the remains. The body was wedged behind a cooling tower. The crew had no reason to get behind the tower any time in approximately the last 9 months. Body could have been there any amount of time up to that."

"Why do both Dr. Saroyan and I need to be there? If the body has been on the roof for 9 months it's unlikely to have any flesh at all."

"I said up to 9 months and I don't know, Bones. They tell me to bring my bone lady and I do. I thought they said Cam would be there too so I assume there is something for each of you to gleefully sort out and that likely means the body is much fresher than 9 months."

He pulled into the drive at her building and she jumped out. "I'll only be a minute," she said as she reached back in for her purse.

"I'll wait here. Watching you strip might make us very very late," he said with a grin. She rolled her eyes at him but her broad smile betrayed her. "Oh," he called after her retreating form, "you might want to wear something with a high neck, babe."

Puzzled at his remark, she turned and bounded up the stairs. Taking off her dress as she ran down the hallway, she realized that she was hurrying more than usual and it had nothing to do with the crime scene. If we're late they might suspect something. She knew it sounded ridiculous and that altering their behaviours at all was likely to cause more suspicion than it would allay but she felt like she had a big read mark on her head now that reading "Property of Seeley Booth. If found return to..." and that she needed to do something to hide it. She was a terrible liar though. Pulling on a v-neck sweater and jeans she ran to the bathroom for a brush and a quick inspection.

"Damn you Seeley!" The large red mark at the base of her neck was unmistakable. Her entire neck, and especially her chin looked red and irritated. Damn my sensitive skin. Damn his sexy sandpaper scruff. Dammit all. She tore a turtleneck off it's hook and jammed it over her head. Opening drawers left and right, she found her brush and some powder and covered the facial irritations as much as she could.

Temperance knew that shouldn't be mad at him for this. She had kissed him back just as passionately, and just as unendingly. She could not get enough of that mouth. But her anger was building and she couldn't figure out why. She felt helpless and it infuriated her. You're not mad at him, Tempe, her conscience taunted. "Yes, yes I am!" She stamped around her room, collecting the last of her supplies and hoping to banish that little voice. No, you aren't.

"Then why am I mad huh? Why?" She sat down with a thud, cradling her gathered items. "I shouldn't be mad at all. I'm really happy. He makes me so happy." She stared off into space, considering the recent conversations.

"But I don't like lying. I don't want to lie about us. Not to mention I'm absolutely terrible at it." She got up, grabbed her purse and headed out the door with an idea.

"Seeley, what if we just take each of my people aside and tell them about us."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Temperance. Come on, Angela, stay quiet?"

"We can ask them to keep it amongst us only. I can't lie to them, Seeley. I can lie to your people, but not mine. Most of your people don't like me anyway, so it won't be hard."

"That's for sure."

"You can tell Cam and I'll tell Angela, Hodgins and Zack. It's like a preemptive strike. We tell them what they want to know and they like us better and do what we want in return. Cam might have some great advice for you, you know? Since you, and her, were, you know."

"Yeah, I know," he said and cleared his throat. "For someone who hates psychology you really know how to use it to your advantage sometimes."

She ignored the barb and continued,"And I can't have all this new wonderful stuff with you and not tell my best friend."

"Okay, I understand. But lets save it for after this crime scene, okay? I'd really like to just get this done and take you home again."

She smiled at him and took his hand. "I'd like that too."

Pulling into the parking lot they both groaned. Everyone was here, all of them. Cam, Zack, Angela and Hodgins were huddled to the right while technicians carried equipment and supplies up the stairs. "Oh, boy, why would the entire squint squad be out here?"

"Hmm, maybe because Monday is New Year's Eve? They're probably angling to make sure they have it off. If they get the case preliminaries handled quickly then they might get on Cam's good side."

"How abouts you scuttle out there and get on her good side too, okay? I wouldn't mind relaxing with you on Monday too, you know? I get Parker mid-day on Tuesday but Monday can be all yours, babe." He squeezed her hand, wishing he could kiss her. "New rule, from now on we kiss before we leave your place, at the least, okay?"

She grinned at him, "Aye aye, Captain!"

"Okay, lets get this over with." He ticked off his list, "Murder to investigate, friends to coerce, happy holiday together, catch the killer. That's our plan."