Spoilers: Nope.

Disclaimer: I don't really care anymore, to be honest.

Author's Note: Okay, well, this is the last of the hand-written chapters that I had to retype (thank the Devil). This was one of the hardest, too. I actually had a bit of a hard time in the first half. I don't have all that much more to say about this chapter, actually. Except, have lots of fun reading it, and thank you to all my reviewwers. This chapter is dedcated to Bethany, who helped me out when I didn't have the internet to check things, and is in the process of writing a wonderful fic. There is a link to her profile in mine, so go check her out!

Brennan woke up at six-thirty the next morning, out of pure habit, and wrapped her blankets tighter around her. She suddenly regretted taking Booth's sleeping advice. Wrapping her sheet around her, she grabbed all her clothes on the way to the bathroom, double checking she had everything before closing the door.

She cranked the hot water, dropped the sheet on the floor, and stepped, relieved, into the shower, thankful that she could at least see through one aspect of personal hygiene.

As she washed her hair, her mind wandered, as it usually did; one string of thoughts led to another. Dinner the night before, Lili's unexplained fingerprint, questionable hotel-shampoo, Maxim's tiny body, Zach's solo investigation back in D.C.

She'd just finished getting dressed when she heard a knock a the door. She shot a quick glance at the mirror before hurrying out. Booth stood at the peephole, grinning stupidly, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feel. Brennan smiled as she opened the door.

"Ready to go, Booth?" Brennan grabbed her coat and moved to go out the door. Booth held up his hands.

"Whoa, whoa, Bones. It's only seven o'clock!" She looked at him blankly. "No one but us is awake yet," he explained.

"Then why are you here?" Brennan was as blunt as usual. Booth grinned a Charm Smile, scaring Brennan slightly. He wants something...

"Because, Bones, I brought you something." He flashed his eyebrows and reached behind him. "Close your eyes," he sang. Brennan narrowed her eyes cautiously.

"Booth..." she warned.

"Don't you trust me?" Booth put on his most innocent face. He looked amazingly like Parker, and Brennan couldn't refuse him. She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes dramatically, then closed them. Only seconds later Booth excitedly whispered an 'open'. Brennan opened her eyes and came face to face with a bright blue toothbrush.

"Booth," she laughed. She found his melodramatic attitude extremely amusing. She took the toothbrush from his hands, smiling in thanks.

"Well, I'm going to brush my teeth," Brennan stated. Booth checked his watch. Seven-oh-five.

"Okay, I'll meet you in the lobby in...ten?" Booth suggested. Brennan nodded.

"Sure. Oh, and thanks, Booth."

He grinned happily and bowed slightly, making her smile. "You're welcome, Bones." And with that, he spun on his heels and walked to the elevator, humming obliviously.

Brennan closed the door quietly and suddenly realized that this morning's 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' were not at all like the ones the morning before: this time, they'd both meant it. Then, it had just been something to fill an awkward silence.

Ten minutes later, Brennan walked into the lobby, happy to be clean again. She looked around for Booth and spotted him standing by the door, chatting with a young maid. She rolled her eyes as the girl laughed flirtatiously, but Brennan stayed put.

She was suddenly jealous of the girl; being allowed to flirt with Booth at will, unhidingly. Brennan looked daggers at the oblivious girl, and clenched her jaw, gritting her teeth slightly.

Then she remembered the toothbrush Booth had delivered to her door not half an hour ago. She smiled. Yes, but he cares about me.

Emboldened by this, she approached the two. Booth's eyes flicked over to Brennan and caught hers; Brennan was smirking, Booth went slightly red. The girl finally noticed this and followed hid gaze, quickly excusing herself and hurrying in the opposite direction. Brennan hadn't realized before that Booth was holding something, and she laughed under her breath as she realized what it was: a paper bad and two coffees.

Looking slightly guilty, Booth approached her, handing her a coffee, taking a sip of his own. Booth opened his mouth to explain then shut it again.

"Having a nice early-morning coquette, there, Booth?" Brennan asked, smirking. Booth choked on his coffee, nearly spitting it out. Brennan smiled, proud of her timing.

"Okay, Bones, if you're gonna say something like that, at least say it in words, you know, people know." He raised his eyebrows. "Coquette?"

"It means flirt, Booth."

"..Oh...Okay, we off then?" Brennan was not at all surprised or confused by the sudden change of subject. She nodded her assent and they made their way to the car. Just before getting in, Booth opened the bag and pulled out a bagel, shoving it in his mouth as he opened the car door.

Brennan was already in her seat.

"Hey, where's mine?" she asked, pouting as he started the car.

"Huh? Oh, I figured since you normally don't eat breakfast, I wouldn't bother," he said through a mouthful of bagel, teasing her. Booth pulled out off the kerb, yanking the bag away from Brennan as she made a grab for it.

"Give me the bag, Booth," she said sternly. He only grinned in response and took another bite. Brennan sat still, sulking for a few minutes, letting Booth relax, then reached out and grabbed the bag out of Booth's hand. She made a small cry of victory.

"It's your favourite," Booth said as she opened the bag. She looked over at his grinning and mischievous face and rolled her eyes. She couldn't help but smile back.

-

As they pulled up outside the Tucker's house they briefly ran through their plan and summed up all the evidence they had.

"Okay, let's go," said Brennan, taking off her seatbelt.

"Onward! Charge!" Booth mocked, throwing his fist in the air like Superman. Brennan laughed as Booth accidentally smacked his fist on the windshield.

"Wuss," she muttered as they walked up the path, Booth rubbing his fist gently. He was about to retort her comment when the front door opened and Lili came rushing out yelling, "Agent Booth! Miss Brennan!"

"Actually, it's Doct-" she stopped as Booth shot her a funny look. "You know what? Just call me 'Tempe'," Brennan amended. Lili thought for a second, as if committing it to memory, or weighing her options before nodding violently, grinning. Booth looked at Brennan and nodded, something odd showing in his face, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Brennan frowned slightly. What was that? He looked at me like...No. Not that. She couldn't bring herself to admit what she was thinking.

"Tempe!" They were both brought back to reality by Lili's statement. "Okay!" She grabbed them both by the hand, standing between them, and pulled them towards the door. Booth looked between the little girl and His Bones, and an odd emotion came over him. He couldn't name it, but it was both pleasing and terrifying at the same time.

What is this? It's like Bones is my...Shut up, Seeley! It's not going to happen, Booth argued with himself. Suddenly Lili stopped, making Booth snap out of it. Booth and Brennan looked up.

A boy of about eighteen stood in the doorway, blocking their path.

"Lili, come here." He motioned slightly with his hand. Lili looked between the boy and Booth before hurrying to the boy's side. The boy put a protective arm around Lili. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice hostile. Booth stepped out, offering his hand, his badge in the other.

"I'm Special Agent Seeley Booth, FBI. This is me partner, Doctor Brennan. He paused, studying the boy. "You must be Lachlan."

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