CHAPTER 16

"Good Morning everyone," Tempe cheerfully said as she made her way to her office.

"Good morning," Jack and Zack said as they watched some bugs scurry around on a table.

"Good Morning, sweetie", Angela said looking like she was going to burst.

Tempe held out her hand and Angela squealed. Angela heard Seeley say he was going to ask her but he was nervous and she wasn't sure if he had lost his nerve last night or not.

Zack, Jack came running in to see what was going on.

Angela had Tempe in a big hug not letting go as the others started to ask questions.

Tempe held out her hand once again, ensuring more hugging from the guys and squealing from Angela that permeated Tempe's office.

"So when is the big day?" Angela asked still smiling from ear to ear.

"May. Don't have a specific date yet though."

"I am so happy for you two. You two are meant to be together," Angela said wiping a tear of happiness from her face.

"Thanks Ange.

"We have to get back work," Jack said. "Congratulations."

"Thanks."

The two women were left alone in the office. Tempe sat down in her chair, looked at her ring, and smiled.

"Ange, will you be my maid of honor?"

"Oh sweetie, yes. I am honored you asked me."

"It will be a small wedding. I don't want anything big or fancy. Seeley said that was OK with him."

"It's your day. Whatever you want, just ask and I will be there to help."

"You're the best Ange. Thank you."

"Anytime", and she gave Tempe one last hug before she left her office.

"Bones, I need to focus on bones," Tempe muttered to herself.

She read her emails, returned a few calls and checked her date book for the week. Just as she finished, Goodman entered and asked the team to meet ASAP.

They gathered and listened intently to Goodman as he explained the delicate details of the body that had just been brought in. An FBI agent had been undercover and was found shot, stabbed and tortured earlier in the morning by a passer by. Finding out who the killer/killers were, was to be their top priority

Just as Goodman was finishing up, Seeley walked in. His boss had already briefed him so he knew what the meeting was about. He stood looking at the young woman's body lying on the table. Being an agent was risky work, being an undercover agent was dicey on the best of days.

Goodman was still talking so Tempe and Seeley had only acknowledged each other with looks. He stared at the body until Tempe came over, put her hand on his shoulder and asked, "Did you know her?"

He shook his head. "I knew of her though. She had been undercover for almost a year. She was trying to help bring down some big time drug dealers."

His face was pale and worn. In the few hours since she had left him at home, the news of Agent Daley's murder had hit him hard.

"Her son is six", was all he could manage to say as he stood watching the fallen agent's lifeless body.

"I'm going home for a bit, then I will be back," Seeley told Tempe as he gave her a kiss and headed to his car.

As he left, Tempe started to get to work on the remains as she normally would. Then out of nowhere, her body seized and she felt the blood rush from her face and her stomach turn. Temperance Brennan NEVER had this reaction in all her career as a Forensic Anthropologist.

"Are you OK Dr. Brennan?" Zack asked his colleague.

She remained frozen, her hand clutching the edge of the table as if were her only source of life.

Angela noticed Tempe as she walked by and stopped to see if she was OK. One look at her face close up and she knew she wasn't.

"Tempe, what's wrong? It's me, Angela." She touched her hand that was holding on for what seemed dear life. Tempe's clutch loosened and she pulled it back to her side.

"That could be Seeley."

The words fell off her tongue as though she had them repressed in her mind for years. Actually, she had had them in her mind since they first started working together. Sure, Tempe got into trouble but Seeley Booth was always there to find her and protect her. What if Seeley needed help and she could not reach him?

"Sweetie, come here," and she took her best friend in a hug where Tempe let her tears flow. Angela knew there were no words of comfort for Tempe: Seeley had a high risk job and she chose to accept that as part of who is was when she started working with him, dating him, moved in with him and said yes to his marriage proposal last night.

"Ange, what have I done?" Tempe said through sobs of tears.

Angela knew exactly what she was talking about.

"You have said you will spend the rest of your life with the man you love with all your heart and who loves you with all his heart."

She knew Angela was right but it didn't take away from the feelings she was having at the moment.

Tempe shook her as if to clear her thoughts, stood up straight, wipe her face and took a deep breath.

"I just got emotional seeing the body. I should get back to work now."

Angela knew Tempe was downplaying her emotions but also knew there wasn't anything else she could do. She would have to work this one out on her own.

At home, Seeley sat outside on the front step of his house, staring down the street. He told Cullen he would be out for few hours but would come back before the end of the day.

So many things went running through his head that he started to feel sick to his stomach. He knew his job was high risk and that his family could be left without him at any given moment. The thought alone made him even more nauseas even though he didn't think that could be possible at that moment. He was jolted out of his deep thoughts by the ring of his cell phone which he didn't want to answer. He looked at the caller ID: Jeffersonian Institute. He would let it go to voice mail and check it in a bit. What if one day she tries to call me and I don't answer, I can't answer

He picked up his phone and dialed Rebecca's work number.

"Hi Rebecca, I was wondering if could pick up Parker after school and take him until you get home from work.

"Seeley, you can't just start calling …."

"I need to see him. It has been, no it is a shity day and I would like to see my son for few hours." His voice was drained and he could feel it starting to crack.

"Seeley, what is it?" Rebecca inquired.

"An agent was murdered. Her body was just found." He needn't say another word as Rebecca had been through this with him twice before.

"Sure, I'll let Rosa know."

"Thanks. What time should I drop him off?"

"Do you want to keep him for dinner?"

"That would be great."

"Ok, see you around 6pm then?" Rebecca said.

"See you at 6pm," Seeley replied.

As he hung up the phone, he knew this would be just what he needed. He had been so caught up in his own emotional turmoil, he hadn't conceived a notion that Tempe may be having similar feelings.

Tempe called his cell again and no answer. She tried the home phone and no answer. He said he was going home

Gazillion thoughts raced through her mind as to why he wasn't answering the phone. That's it, I'm going home

As she made her way home, she prayed to God that Seeley was all right. She made it clear to God that she didn't believe in him but that Seeley did so could he listen for him.

As she pulled up in the driveway, she was relieved his car was there. She called out his name but he didn't answer. She went out back and there he sat in a patio chair, bundled in his coat and gloves staring at the table.

"Seeley."

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"I, well, I." She didn't want to talk, not right now. She walked over to him, pulled up a chair and pulled him into a hug that released all of her built up anxiety she had accumulated over the past few hours.

"What was that for?" he asked, his face a bit more perkier now.

"I just wanted to make sure you were safe and hold you."

At that very instance, he smacked his forehead.

"Damn it Seeley, how could you be so insensitive? I'm sorry Tempe, I was so caught up in my own feelings, and it didn't even occur to me what you might be feeling. I'm sorry."

"It's OK. Now that I know you are safe, I feel much better."

He took off his gloves and entwined his hands into hers.

"I think about it too, Tempe. A day doesn't go by that I don't."

"We don't have to talk about this now, Seeley."

He leaned towards her, kissed her forehead, and then like magnets their lips attached.