Spoilers: Last chapter!!

Disclaimer: Sob, sob. I'll need chocolate to help me get over this.

Author's Note: Oooh!! Last chapter!!! It's the longest, so love me? Haa! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you all rock. Oh, and the 100th reviewer gets lots of imaginary-candy! And many, many Brownie Points. So, without further ado, that final, last, completing chapter of The Child in the Playground:

Booth and Brennan made their way downstairs, Booth's arm around her shoulders, her head resting on his. They simultaneously disentangled to assume a more professional stance when they reached the bottom of the stairs, and prepared to go outside.

As soon as they stepped outside, Booth was shocked. How was it that the media could be there already, and the crime scene boys hadn't even arrived yet? He looked at Brennan, and rolled his eyes dramatically, shouting "No comment" as they made their way down the path to the police cruisers parked around the street.

Booth spoke angrily to a senior officer. "Why hasn't this area been taped off?"

The man looked at him with obvious resentment. Brennan studied him with amusement. He didn't want the FBI pushing him around, breathing down his neck, but he couldn't disobey them. He obviously had friends in high places, or else he wouldn't have this job, and he seemed to think that now he did have it, no one could push him around.

"Look, I know you think you're in charge of this operation, Agent Booth," - he spoke through clenched jaws - "But I assure you, this is my investigation now. Thank you for all the work you've spared us." It wasn't a thanks. "This isn't officially a crime scene, that's why it's not taped off."

"Look, I don't know how you do things down here, but this area should be taped off, whether you want to or not. Potentially, this is a crime scene, and I don't want the press all over my evidence. The crime scene guys need to be able to check this house out without the press on their heels!" Booth said through his teeth.

Brennan rolled her eyes at their obvious territorial issues. She decided to help Booth out. "This area should be taped off," she said plainly, turning to face the officer in charge, who seemed to have not previously noticed her. Instead of looking outnumbered, he looked smug. Brennan narrowed her eyes at him. His expression turned into a full out grin as he looked her up and down.

Booth tensed, ready to hit the bastard. She's mine, he warned inwardly. He pushed back the urge to growl at him. The officer stated to talk, still looking at Brennan, who was staring at him warningly.

"Now, now. What's a pretty little lady like you doin' hangin' 'round 'ere? You should be at home or somthin'; cooking..." Booth's eyes flicked between Brennan and the officer, trying to figure out whether to intervene or not. By Brennan's expression, he decided not. He almost changed his mind though when the officer continued.

"Or pleasurin'," he drawled, running his hand down Brennan's arm, again looking her up and down. Booth smiled. Bad move, Buddy. By the time the thought had reached his head, Brennan had flipped the officer onto the ground, her shoe resting on his chest, obviously painfully so. Booth grinned again.

Brennan looked at Booth and smiled slightly. "I don't like it when slimy people touch me." She pulled a face, then turned back to the officer pinned under her foot.

"Tape it off," Brennan said sternly, but disconcertingly quietly. The officer stared daggers at her. Brennan only smiled. Removing her foot, she walked away brusquely, leaving Booth and the officer alone.

Booth offered him a hand and the officer ignored it, staring directly at Booth, obviously pissed off. The officer flattened out his uniform then turned to leave. Booth stopped him with a steel hand on his shoulder.

"Ah, ah, ah. Now, you heard what the lady said." It wasn't a question. "Do it. Oh, one last thing." Booth leaned into the officer, so he was speaking directly in his ear. "Don't touch her again." He enunciated every word perfectly, making the officer's charade wane slightly. Booth pulled away to look him in the face. "Kapisch?"

The officer stared at him for a second before realizing that the question wasn't rhetorical. "Yes, Agent Booth," he said impatiently, trying to maintain his poise.

Booth smiled as if he hadn't just threatened the officer. "Good. Now tape it off." He turned on his heels and moved to join Brennan, leaving the officer seething.

"Nicely done, Bones!" he said cheerily as he got into the car. Brennan looked at him, obvious distaste in her expression.

"He was a creep," she said. She looked around thoughtfully at the scene carrying on outside. The crime scene team had arrived, and the house was begrudgingly being taped off by two officers. "I don't like Virginia," Brennan stated thoughtfully. She looked at Booth, recalling their earlier scene.

"Okay, I don't like Virginians," she smiled. Booth chuckled.

"Ready?" he asked. Brennan looked again at the scene outside, taking a deep breath. She turned back to Booth and nodded her assent, leaning back into the seat.

"You know what?" she asked, smiling slightly. Booth looked at her curious as to her tone.

"What?"

"I'm glad I don't have to drive today. I don't think I could have resisted driving over that officer." Booth looked at her, amused.

"Trust me; it took a lot of willpower not to." He shuddered slightly, as if recalling something disgusting. "Besides, I never would have let you drive, anyway." He looked at her smugly, and she rolled her eyes, laying her head back against the headrest. Booth watched her with a sight smile as she closed her eyes and breathed deliberately slowly, as if warding off thought.

But he knew her better. She wasn't warding them off, just controlling them. Booth looked back to the road, but not without first seeing her smile, eyes still closed.

-

About an hour into the trip, Booth noticed that Brennan was almost asleep, looking very uncomfortable sitting upright in her seat. He reached over to touch her, pulling his hand away at the last second. "Bones. Bones?" he said quietly, his eyes flashing between her and the road. Brennan opened her eyes sleepily.

"What, Booth? Did something happen?" She looked around, slightly worried. Booth laughed quietly.

"No, Bones. It's just...you looked uncomfortable...like that, so I thought you might like to go lay in the back seat, instead. Just to be more comfortable," Booth added quickly. Brennan gave him a strange look, then rolled her eyes and lay back against the headrest, closing them. It surprised him when she grabbed his free hand and squeezed it once, letting it go.

Booth smiled triumphantly, thankful that her eyes were still closed. He resisted the urge to dance, albeit difficultly.

-

Brennan and Booth arrived at the lab just before the end of the workday. Booth smiled, and winced, as he remembered what they had been doing at five thirty the night before. Puffins, he thought dryly. What the hell?

Just before they walked in the door, Brennan stopped him, turning to face him, looking at him seriously. Booth raised his eyebrows in question, cocking his head slightly. Brennan had trouble concentrating on what she was about to say. She shook her head, trying to clear it; or at the very least unfocus her eyes.

She looked at him again; he still looked...irresistible. "Booth."

"Yes," Booth stated back, looking slightly worried. Brennan opened her mouth, only to shut it again. "Are you alright?" Booth asked, amusedly putting his hand to her head. Brennan's eyes closed, despite her attempt at nonchalance.

"Don't...Not a word to Angela," she said as sternly as she could in her current state. Booth grinned cheekily.

"About what?" Brennan looked at him and smiled, meaning to thank him, when he moved his hand from her forehead to her chin, cupping it and pulling her closer. "About this?" he asked teasingly, his breath playing with hers.

Brennan stuttered an affirmation, and forced herself to open her eyes. That was a big mistake. When she opened her eyes, she was staring straight into Booth's; his eyes were smoldering. Her words caught in her throat. Booth smiled.

"Not a word," he stated, leaning over and pushing the door open. "After you." Brennan looked on in stunned silence for a few seconds then walked into the building, struggling to regain her composure.

Of course, the first person they ran into was Angela. Or, rather, ran into them. She hugged them both, grinning. "Oh my God, I'm so happy you're back! The thing was all over the news. That father did it? Geez..." Angela was silent for a second, then grabbed Brennan and hugged her again. Brennan made an 'oomph' sound, and Booth laughed, getting a glare from Brennan.

Angela turned to Booth again, and stared at him. Booth shook his head and Brennan shot them both confused looks, which went completely unnoticed by the two, who were busy having some sort of silent conversation. Really, they were staring each other down. Angela was the first to speak.

"You didn't." It was half question, half statement. Booth looked at her, irked.

"No, Angela. I do things on my own time. Besides, it isn't just my time we're playing with, here, now, is it?" Booth continued staring at her.

"Fine. I'll grant you that. But get it together. Soon!" Angela finished, exasperated. Brennan still looked confused. She turned to Booth.

"Booth, what are you talking about?"

"Yeah, sure, just ask Booth! Typical. You know, Booth, it's saying something when she asks you instead of her best friend." Angela nodded haughtily, smiling suggestively.

Brennan shot her a look. "That's why I don't ask you, Ange. No offence, but your answers never make logical sense...Well, at least not immediately." Booth and Angela simply looked at Brennan, neither saying a word.

They were saved, though, when Hodgins, Zach and Cam walked over to join them. Cam hugged Booth, and he smiled at her uncomfortably. Hodgins offered Booth a high five, and Booth looked at him like he was crazy. Zach stood watching it all looking awkward. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do.

"Welcome back, Doctor Brennan," was what he settled with. Brennan smiled; she'd always liked Zach. She thought of him almost as a younger brother.

"Thanks, Zach. Good work, too. You helped catch this guy," she said proudly, meaning it. Zach beamed, and Booth patted his shoulder, nodding. Open palm! Zach thought excitedly.

The group chatted for a few minutes, laughing, describing what Booth and Brennan had missed when the team had tried out their shoe-size-theory. Angela laughed. "No, really, it was almost as gross as the pig-in-the-wood-chipper thing!" she exclaimed, pulling a face. Hodgins patted her on the shoulder, and Cam looked at them all, confused, sure she was missing some in-joke.

Booth shot a quick look at Brennan, who was laughing with the rest of the Squints. He didn't want to pull her away from her friends, but he couldn't help himself. "Bones," he called quietly, nodding towards the outer hallway, which was blocked off from the rest of the lab. She looked at him strangely, then back at the group. They'll live without me, Brennan thought. They all looked pretty absorbed in their conversation, anyway, and Brennan had no idea what they were talking about.

She followed Booth into the hallway. She looked at him warily, but half-smiling. "What?"

Booth didn't trust himself to answer, so instead he shot one last glance at the rest of the Squints then grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. Brennan looked at him, obviously conflicted. Booth smiled. He could change that. He grazed his lips across hers, like he had on the couch the morning before.

It was just as effective. Her breath caught and her eyes closed. Booth pulled away. Changed, he thought, struggling to control himself.

Brennan opened her eyes, confused as to why Booth had stopped. She watched him study her, completely oblivious that she had noticed. When his eyes met hers, they were smoldering again, and Brennan raised a hand to his chest, placing it there cautiously. Booth put his hand over hers, and leaned in.

Angela looked over into the corridor. It had not gone unnoticed by her that they had left. She saw Booth do something that could only be construed as un-partner-ly, and she stifled a squeal, instead settling for a huge grin, torn between watching the 'interaction' and giving them privacy. Deciding both would be rather frustrating, she politely excused herself and made her way back to her office, whispering something most likely sexual in Hodgins' ear.

He followed her instantly. Cam and Zach were suddenly left alone, staring at each other wordlessly. "Goodnight," they both said in unison, turning around and leaving in opposite directions.

Booth and Brennan forced themselves apart, struggling to control their breathing, still barely an inch apart. Booth's hands were tangled in her hair, not letting her move more than he deemed necessary. He flicked a look at the lab, laughing when he noticed that the Squints were all gone. "How long have we been here?" he asked breathlessly. Brennan shrugged.

"Not long enough," she replied, smiling mischievously. Booth liked this side of her. She turned to look in the direction he was, smiling, too, when she saw that everyone was gone. She didn't, however, seem to find it as attention-grabbing as Booth did, and she turned back to face him, putting a hand on his face, turning his gaze back to her. She smiled again, moving in to capture his lips with hers.

He pulled her closer, growling unconsciously as she did something very un-partner-ly.

Oh, yes, he definitely liked this side of her.

Okay, I'm about to have an emotional breakdown. Bath and tea sound like a good idea. I'll try not to, you know, sink into depression.

Anywho, my issues aside: What do you think? Is it an acceptable final chapter?