A / N – Thank you for all your reviews. I adore receiving them. Chapter 6 is based around the song 'No One' by Alicia Keys. Although I do feel like its a bit of a cop out. On reflection the lyrics are quite bland. Moving along, thank you to Moonlight Gardenias for your help with the dialog.

Disclaimer – The locations are mine. The characters are not. Sigh.

Enjoy.

"You weren't joking!"

"I wouldn't when it's this bad."

"I call the bed"

"What? No way. My hellhole. You're an uninvited guest."

Seeley Booth stood back to allow Max Keenen in to the apartment the FBI had provided.

"Now, what was it the papers called me? 'Psychopathic cop killer'." he smirked. Max had every intention of sleeping in the bed - for tonight at least.

"Pure Evil, I think I read in one. You know, Bones has had to deal... "

"Roxy."

"...with a hell of a lot. What?"

"Her name is Roxy. Get used to it. I thought you were good at this?"

"I am. Point taken"

"So, I am taking the bed. Age before beauty. You get the floor." Max threw his bag onto the bed and sauntered into the bathroom.

Booth lent against the counter in the kitchenette and thought about what had just happened at the diner. Bones had been selected by his superiors to join him on an undercover mission, and was now posing as a waitress, called Roxy, in the eatery he was currently frequenting for the best part of the day. 'Roxy. Of all the names, why did she have to choose Roxy? Damn.'

I just want you close
where you can stay forever
you can be sure
that it will only get better

And he was Tony, Ex-con, who had shared a block with an infamous killer - who was now washing up in his bathroom - and who's daughter was the bestselling author Dr. Temperance Brennan - whose most recent novel was dedicated to 'my best friend – Booth' and was laying on the counter next to him in said apartment - while the new waitress, Roxy, had no connection to either of them whatsoever.

There was no room for any mistakes.

Things would look clearer after a good night's sleep. Glancing at the old fraying carpet, he sighed. Pity he wasn't going to get any.

you and me together
through the days and nights
i don't worry 'cause
everything's going to be alright

As he lay in the darkness Booth though of the situation.

They would make this work. They would catch the bad guys. They would go back to their own real lives. And maybe they would be together. When he had sat with her on the bench he had not intended to expose his feelings. But the words had just slipped out. Had she heard them? Had she understood them?

people keep talking they can say what they like
but all i know is everything's going to be alright

And yes, he had drawn a line but everyone around them seemed intent on tearing it to shreds. Angela with her constant hints and innuendos. She had even gotten Hodgins in on the act. And Sweets with his 'seduction by pie' comments and comparisons. Caroline's puckishness instigating a physical connection between them.

God, that was an amazing kiss.

But he doubted Cam would be happy. After all, the official reason they weren't together was because of their professionalism. He wondered if she already saw his adoration of her employee. And Cullen. There is no way he would continue to condone their partnership if they were involved. Unless - maybe Sweets could use his status to persuade Cullen that it would still work.

Booth turned over, struggling to make himself comfortable. He heard something scurry past through the darkness.

"Damned cockroaches"

"You know, Booth...

"Tony, remember. I thought you were good at this." Booth grumbled, throwing Max's earlier words right back at him.

"You know, Tony." Max leaned over the edge of the bed. "You could always spend tomorrow night at your girlfriend's place."

"Don't have one" Booth replied in irritation.

"Sure you do. Did I forget to mention that's part of Roxy's remit. You feed her the info, she conveys it back to the FBI. No need for her to have any direct contact with the targets."

"You did 'forget'. But the no contact part is good to know."

"As, I suspect, is the fact you'll need to- " Max paused as if to emphasize the point. "Date her."

"What?" Booth sat up to face Max

"You know. Take her out. On dates. To keep up appearances." He was almost chuckling.

"I understand that part." Booth retorted. "I just don't get why you're finding this so funny?"

"I'm not stupid. I've seen you look at her." Max lay back down.

"Kinda hard not to look at someone when you work with them."

"I mean the way you look at her." He smiled to himself, reminiscing. "It's that same way I used to look at Christine."

Booth stood and flicked on the lamp.

"Christ, that's bright." Max shielded he eyes from the light. "What are you doing? It's three a.m.."

"Takin' a walk." Throwing on his clothes, his brain was doing somersaults inside his skull. Who the hell did Max Keenen think he was? Ordering him around. Telling him how he felt. - He already knew that. Not that he was planning on sharing that intel with the older man, who had commandeered his bed. He grabbed a glass from the counter and flicked on the tap. He took a mouthful, and spat the putrid liquid back into the sink. "Ugh."

"Booth...Tony. Go back to sleep. You're gonna need your rest."

"Today's Christmas Eve. Ain't nothin gonna happen for the next week. It's the holidays. And I'm stuck here, in this crappy apartment, with a 'crazed killer', who is way too interested in his daughter's social life, by the way, and who evicts me from my own bed so I have to sleep on the floor while 'roaches celebrate the holiday season inches from my face." Booth slammed the glass back down. "And I miss my son."

"I'm sensing you're not an early morning person."

Booth gritted his teeth together and, grabbing his jacket, slammed the door behind him. Hard.

no one, no one, no one

can get in the way of what i'm feeling
no one, no one, no one
can get in the way of what i feel for you, you, you
can get in the way of what i feel for you

It was still raining when Booth stepped out into the night air. He wasn't entirely alone. Occasional traffic rumbled by. He saw activity in several shops as they rushed to restock shelves for the day ahead. Revelers heading home. Others rushed by to begin their working day. Before long, he was back at the diner. Another advantage he had found there was that they were open all twenty-four hours.

He wandered in and took his place at the same table as before. Aside from a young couple, taking shelter from the rain, and the older guy behind the counter, the place was empty. He ordered coffee and deliberated whether he was hungry yet.

As he thought, he nursed the coffee, slowly cooling, between his hands.

when the rain is pouring down
and my heart is hurting
you will always be around
this i know for certain

He felt someone slide into the seat opposite and place their breakfast down. Booth glanced up and smiled. She pushed the slice of pie across the table to him, then brought her coffee to her lips. Booth watched, transfixed.

"Early shift." she commented.

They sat, neither saying another word. And when the early morning customers began to arrive she took her place behind the counter as he looked on at the amazing woman who had captured his heart.

you and me together
through the days and nights
i don't worry 'cause
everything's going to be alright
people keep talking they can say what they like
but all i know is everything's going to be alright

no one, no one, no one
can get in the way of what i'm feeling
no one, no one, no one
can get in the way of what i feel for you, you, you
can get in the way of what i feel

A little while after eight, Max walked in. It was almost light out now and the rain had finally stopped. He ordered breakfast with a wink at his daughter, and she laughed. Booth loved that sound more than almost anything else. She actually seemed to be enjoying herself behind the counter. Although, he had noticed, especially since the place got busy, that she was conscious of her skirt when working out front, particularly when wiping tables. Admittedly, he was enjoying the view.

i know some people search the world
to find something like what we have
i know people will try try to divide something so real
so till the end of time i'm telling you there ain't no one

Max sat down. "She's called Roxy, she's new in town, unattached, and waiting. So, you gonna ask her?"

"Huh?"

"Out. On. A. Date. Jesus, Tony. You need to get some sleep. " Max fumed, though he knew full well he'd gotten his point across.

Booth looked sheepishly at the table. He knew they had to set the scene, but this wasn't how he had pictured it. Reluctantly he moved over to the counter.

"Hey."

"Somethin' I can get you?" she held a notepad aloft and held his gaze.

"Umm." Booth was lost for words. As his mind worked overtime to try and string a sentence together she continued to speak.

"What's your weakness?"

"You?"

no one, no one, no one
can get in the way of what i'm feeling
no one, no one, no one
can get in the way of what i feel for you, you, you
can get in the way of what i feel for you

A/N - While I have this story planned out (I've even written it down) I am really interested on what you see happening next? Maybe you have some good ideas I overlooked. Maybe I want to keep you guessing by not being too predictable. Maybe I'm an attention seeker who just want a reason to check my email. So please. Give me a little click!