My apologies for such a long delay in updating. I got excited about my other stories. I suspect only a chapter or two is left of this story anyhow. Thanks for sticking with me this far! Happy reading :)


"Cate Pritchard," Booth said, smiling. He shook the woman's hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm flattered that you requested my presence."

"Portia Frampton and her family are American. Her father requested you, not me, and who is this?" Cate asked, looking at Brennan.

"This is Temperance Brennan. She's tagging along with me," Booth answered.

"What are her qualifications?" Cate asked.

"I'm a doctor actually," Brennan answered for Booth. He stared at her.

"Really? In what?"

"Forensic anthropology and anthropology. I was headed in a different direction at that time, and it was after I'd completed those doctorates that I discovered I actually wanted to teach science."

"Wow. So a doctor and a school teacher. Fascinating," Cate said, nodding. Booth was still staring.

"I didn't know that," he said.

"You didn't ask," Brennan teased.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we have a car to pull out of the river," Cate said. She gestured to the waiting car for them to join her.

"Pleasant," Brennan noted. Booth just laughed, and they got into the car with Cate. Once they arrived at the scene, a man approached them.

"Finally," he said to Cate. "Took you long enough."

"This is Dr. Ian Wexler," Cate said. "He identifies remains that I find for him."

"Cool," Booth said. "We have that back home. Dr. Zack Addy is our guy." Then he remembered that he wasn't anymore. In fact, they didn't have anyone now aside from Clark.

"You didn't bring him with you?" Ian asked, puzzled.

"He doesn't like to travel," Booth lied.

"So who is this charming young lady?" Ian asked, reaching to shake Brennan's hand.

"I'm Dr. Temperance Brennan," she answered. She had never used that title before, and it felt so good coming off her lips.

"A pleasure," Ian said, kissing her hand.

"Ahem," Booth coughed. Ian released her hand and looked at him.

"My apologies. Are you two together?"

"Yes," Booth answered. "Thank you. Can we look at remains now?" He gave an annoyed look at Ian when he turned his back. Brennan stifled a laugh. As they approached the car, Booth looked at her.

"Will you be all right looking at human remains?"

"I believe so," she nodded. She had seen photographs during school, and they didn't bother her then.

"So, Dr. Brennan," Ian said. "What do you think?"

"Me?" she asked, surprised.

"Sure. Let's put your talent to the test," Ian smiled.

"Well, okay," she agreed. She knelt to examine the remains on the ground in front of her.

"Male or female?" Ian asked.

"Female."

"Mmhmm."

"Late teens early twenties. She also has a penetrating trauma to the parietal bone."

"Wow," Booth said, staring at her. She looked up at him and smiled. It all came back to her, her training. It hadn't been completely forgotten.

"So what does it mean?" Cate asked.

"She was struck in the head with a sharp object," Ian answered.

"Is it murder?" Cate questioned.

"I'd say so," Brennan nodded.

"Indeed it is," Ian said. "Good work, Dr. Brennan."

"So, if this is Portia, her father will request American FBI involvement," Cate said, looking at Booth.

"No gun, no deal," he said, crossing his arms.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Just give the man a gun," Ian ordered.

"I will do my very best," Cate sighed.

"All righty then. Send this stuff back to my lab at home. They're the best, and they will solve this," Booth said. He took Brennan's hand in his as they walked away.

"What do we do now?"

"Go find our hotel," he answered.

...

"So, you're a doctor in anthropology and forensic anthropology," Booth said, sipping his drink. They were in the hotel for the night, and Booth was still amazed at this newfound fact.

"I am," she nodded.

"But you're a school teacher."

"You're very observant."

"You're very funny," Booth said, nudging her. "Go on then. Tell me why you decided to be a teacher."

"I just decided that it would be more fun," she shrugged. "My Dad used to be a science teacher. I loved hearing his stories about the kids and what they learned each day. It just seemed more appealing than identifying remains all the time."

"Do you regret it?" Booth asked. "Not pursuing a career doing that instead?"

"Sometimes," Brennan said, hesitating. "I imagine I could have been at the Jeffersonian and met you there."

"Perhaps," he smiled. He was getting an idea.

"But it doesn't matter now. I am where I am, and you are where you are. Maybe in a different life," she shrugged.

"Or maybe in this life," Booth said. She looked at him, puzzled. "Think about it. We just lost our anthropologist. There's a spot waiting for a replacement. It could be you."

"No, I couldn't," Brennan shook her head. "I couldn't just quit the school."

"Sure you could. We could be partners, solving murders together," Booth said, getting excited.

"It's very appealing, but I don't know if it's a good idea," Brennan responded.

"Just promise me you will think about it," Booth urged.

"I'll think about it," she nodded. He grinned. Brennan couldn't help but feel a tiny bit excited inside herself. Her working at the Jeffersonian? It had been a dream of hers before. Why couldn't it be a dream again? Better yet, a dream that actually came true?

...

"You all set?" Matthew asked Sabrina. They were getting ready to leave the hospital. Ruth was swaddled and sleeping in Sabrina's arms. Matthew had gone to rent a car with a car seat in it to take them to a motel for the night. They'd search for a place tomorrow.

"Um, Matthew?" Sabrina said hesitantly.

"Yea?" he responded, looking at her.

"I called my Mom," Sabrina said. It took a second to sink in for Matthew.

"You did?"

"Yea. This whole thing really made me miss her, and she cried when she heard I'd had the baby. She's not mad at me anymore."

"So she's coming to get you?" Matthew asked.

"Yes," Sabrina nodded. "I really appreciate that you were going to look out for me, but I think I should go home. I should never have run away."

"Why did you?" Matthew asked.

"I was scared. My parents weren't excited that I was having a baby, so I figured it would be better for everyone if I just left. I was angry with them."

"And going back now, won't it just be the same?" Matthew pressed.

"I don't think so," Sabrina shook her head. "I may have exaggerated their displeasure about the baby a little too much. I was still angry."

"I see," Matthew nodded. He looked at her then, her tired eyes and her weary stance. A daughter needing her mother.

"Are you upset with me?"

"Not at all, honey. I encourage you to work on your relationship with your parents."

"What are you running from?" she asked him then. He hesitated, knowing he couldn't tell her.

"Just decided to have a change of scenery," he said. She smiled sadly at him.

"Whatever it is you're running from, I hope you change your mind," she said. Then she turned to go back inside to wait for her mother.

...

"What the hell kind of coffee is this?" Booth asked, wincing.

"That's tea, Booth," Brennan pointed out. They were on their way to meet Cate and Ian. The first chance he got, Booth dumped the cup into the bushes.

"Good morning," Cate said. "So Portia has been missing for two weeks, and she was last seen leaving her home the morning after her 21rst birthday party."

"You work for her father," Booth said, looking at Ian.

"For the city, not for him, but let me have a peek at my diary to see if I wrote down the grisly details of how I murdered her, shall I?" Ian asked sarcastically.

"Keep it up, funny boy, and I might bring you in for questioning," Booth said sharply. He didn't like this guy, and he definitely didn't like the way he kept staring at Brennan.

"Okay, so we go talk to the family," Cate interrupted.

"We're coming with you," Booth said.

"Her too?"

"Yes. I want to see if she can solve this," Booth answered, looking at Brennan. She blushed.

...

Angela was walking Ripley around the block when someone shouted after her.

"Wait up!"

She turned, seeing Hodgins hurrying towards her.

"Hey," she smiled. "What are you doing?"

"I was looking for you actually," he answered. "But you weren't home."

"I'm dogsitting for Brennan, so we're just out for a jaunt," she gestured.

"Hey, buddy," Hodgins said to Ripley, who gave a whine in response.

"How are you?" Angela asked. "I haven't seen you in a bit."

"I'm doing better. I've been talking to Sweets, and he's been helping me get through the whole Zack thing."

"That's good."

"Did you wanna hang out?"

"Sure," she agreed. "You can finish our walk with us if you want."

"Sounds good," Hodgins grinned. They set off together.

"So, how's the painting going?" he asked her after a while.

"Really great. I'm considering doing a show," she answered.

"Really?!"

"Yea. I did one years ago, but I feel like my newer projects are better."

"I'd love to help."

"You're sweet," Angela smiled. His phone rang then, and he gave a disgruntled sigh. She gave him space while he talked.

"That was work," he groaned. "We have a case from England that I have to help with."

"From England?" Angela asked. Then she got thinking. "Brennan is in England with Booth."

"It's his case," Hodgins nodded.

"Wow," she said. So Brennan was helping with a case. She wondered if it would spark something inside of Brennan. Angela knew her friend well, and she knew that Brennan didn't always want to teach.

"You're welcome to come if you want," Hodgins said.

"Actually, that would be nice," Angela agreed. She had nothing else to do, and she was curious about the Jeffersonian herself.

"Great," Hodgins beamed. "We can take my car."

"Just let me drop off Ripley," Angela said. They hurried back to her place to let Ripley back inside, and then they drove off together.

...

Whatever it is you're running from, I hope you change your mind.

Matthew couldn't shake these words from his mind. Sabrina was right. He was running. He waited in the rental car until he saw a woman approaching the hospital and Sabrina greeting her. He watched as they hugged and cried and how her mother reached for the baby, a smile on her face. Sabrina had faced her fear, and it was worth it. Matthew was beginning to think that perhaps he should face Brennan again, whether she wanted him to or not. He wasn't going to lose his family without a fight.

...

"Hey," Angela said, looking at the photos while Hodgins worked.

"What?" he asked, looking up at her.

"Something was in the backseat of this car," she said, pointing. He joined her and looked too.

"You're right," he breathed. He rushed over to his pile of evidence on the table.

"What are you looking for?" she asked.

"This," he answered, pulling up strips of something. "From the car. I'll analyze it."

"Cool," Angela grinned. She watched him do the procedure. Hodgins loved that she was so into it.

"ST-90 transmission oils, made with poly-alpha-olefin, leaded, acidic H2O residue, and plenty of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons," Hodgins read off the report.

"Um, English please?"

"Right. A motorcycle was in the backseat of that car."

"I bet it was a scooter," she said, peering at the photo again. "For the size of the car."

"Let's tell Cam!" Hodgins exclaimed, taking her hand and dragging her with him.

...

Brennan was fascinated with the entire process. They were gaining facts and finding clues. She loved it. They had learned that the victim had been pregnant by Harry, the heir of the Duke of Innesford. They had spoken to that family, and Brennan had been in awe of their home. Booth had gotten right to the point. He even got Harry to attempt to intimidate him. They were now talking to Clark and Cam from the Jeffersonian. Brennan was even more surprised to see Angela come on the screen with Hodgins.

"Brennan?!" Angela said.

"Ange?!"

"This is so cool!"

"What are you doing there?"

"She totally helped us out," Hodgins said. He explained quickly about the scooter.

"Can you look at these photos and tell us something from them?" Booth asked. He watched as Cam brought them up. Angela squinted at them.

"Zoom in," she instructed. They watched as she clicked and worked away. Booth started to wiggle his leg from boredom.

"Got it," she said. "There is a reflection in Portia's eyes, and this white silver spot indicates the photo was taken behind glass."

"Amazing," Hodgins said.

"Okay, so someone was in the house taking her photo," Booth said.

"Who would do that?" Cate asked.

"Let's go find out," Booth smiled.

...

"Have you ever thought of working in crime?" Hodgins asked Angela after they disconnected with Booth.

"No," she shook her head. "I'm an artist. I belong in Paris."

"I think you'd be a really great asset to our team here..."

"Hodgins, you're sweet, but I'm happy where I am," Angela said, patting his shoulder. "But thank you."

"Can you just look at one more thing before you go?" Hodgins asked. "There was paper found on Portia. I thought maybe you could figure out what it was."

"All right. Then it's back to art," Angela said.

...

Angela revealed a letter from Portia's mother, and Cam told them about the VHL disease, which led them to the conclusion that Frank wasn't Portia's real father. When asked, he didn't deny it. Brennan put together that the Duke was actually Portia's father, meaning Harry was her half brother. The butler stepped up and said he had murdered her, which Booth suspected he was possibly covering for the Duke, but it was out of his hands. Now, they were sitting at a restaurant, and Booth was waiting for the bridge to go up.

"This has been really fun," Brennan said, sipping her coffee.

"I really enjoyed working with you," Booth told her.

"Me too."

"Have you thought about my offer?" he asked. She paused for a moment.

"I'm still unsure," she answered truthfully.

"Tell you what, if that bridge goes up, you take it," Booth said.

"What? Why?"

"Because. It rarely goes up, so if it does, then the universe is telling you we should do it."

"That's ridiculous."

"Come here," he said. She went and sat on his knees while he put his arms around her. They watched the bridge together.

"I love you," he said suddenly. "I know I say it more than enough, but I really do. I am such a lucky man to have met you, and I can't imagine not ever knowing you."

"I can't imagine it either," she confessed. She pressed her face against his.

"Thanks for coming with me."

"Thanks for letting me help with the case."

"Hey, look at that," Booth said, pointing. Brennan turned to see the bridge starting to go up. Her heart fluttered.

"I guess the universe wants us to work together."

"Is that a yes?"

She looked at him full on then, knowing what her answer was going to be.

"Yes, Booth. I will work with you solving murders."

"Woohoo!" he whooped, kissing her heartily. Brennan held him close, and she knew she was making the right decision. It was a new chapter of her life, and she couldn't wait to get started.