What can I say? Next chapter is ready.
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Chapter 8:

Temperance Brennan was lead to Cullen's office by SA Freeman, although she had pointed out that she knew the way and that she would be safe enough in the FBI headquarters... but Freeman was having none of it and stubbornly placed a hand on her shoulder to steer her the way he wanted her to go.

This was too much alike Booth for her to ignore. She stopped abruptly and looked at him, a glare that - though not deadly – was threatening to cause serious damage. When she addressed him, her voice was cold: "Don't touch me! I know the way and I don't like to be pushed. I am perfectly able to walk on my own." Freeman winced a bit at her harsh words.

She whirled around to move on and he strode after her, keeping a safe distance. When she stopped at the desk of Cullen's secretary he made sure to remain an arm's length away from her, observing her thoughtfully as she spoke to the elderly woman who sat behind the desk.

He had heard her words and accepted that she did not want him to touch her... but he remembered seeing her with Booth. She had not objected to him touching her and steering her wherever he wanted her to go. A smile tugged on his lips and he now knew what the Dr. Chen had meant when he had left Booth's room muttering "Partners, my ass."

"Why the smile, Freeman?" Cullen's secretary asked curiously, sensing new material for the FBI-gossip factory.

"Nothin' just thinking of how man bossy women there are nowadays." Freeman winked at her and she rolled her eyes, but then cocked her head as she heard a voice coming from the earphones of her headset.

"Deputy Director Cullen is awaiting you... both of you... And... " she covered the microphone with one hand "...you better wipe that silly grin off your face, Freeman, he's in an awful mood today." She gestured towards the door.

Brennan had ignored the exchange of words between them and had rushed towards the door after the words is "awaiting you" had left the secretary's mouth. Cullen was standing at the window, looking outside, with his back to the door, but he turned around when he heard Brennan entering the room.

"Dr. Brennan." He addressed them. "Special Agent Freeman." Cullen motioned for her and Freeman to sit down.

"Deputy Director." Freeman greeted, but Brennan remained silent, deciding to restrict her greeting to a nod. She was not in the mood for polite conversation and she always had had the impression, that Cullen did not like her anyway. Why bother with courtesy.

"Dr. Brennan, I am glad to see that you remained unhurt." Cullen said, his voice soft.

She looked up at him, astonished and after a moment she retorted: "I can't take credit for that myself. Booth was the one who thought of a bomb and got us out just in time... I remember I cursed him for dragging me out..." Her voice faded away and she swallowed hard.

"This would lead me to my questions on the incident, Dr. Brennan. How did Booth know about the bomb? But first of all, how is he?" Cullen asked

"He woke up. He recalls everything... until he fell unconscious... He seemed to be orientated, and the doctor was satisfied with his condition. If he stays stable, the tube will get removed tomorrow in the late afternoon." She tried to keep herself composed and her voice emotionless.
"As for the bomb... I don't know. Gut feeling, I suppose." Normally her voice would have dripped of sarcasm at mentioning a gut feeling... but since said feeling had saved her life earlier this day, she just said it as she would have stated any other fact.

Cullen nodded. A former "field agent" himself he knew gut feelings were no myth, but something useful... most times, at least. And in this very case, it had definitely been useful... saving the life of one of his most valued agents and a world-known forensic anthropologist.

One of his fears regarding squints going out with his agents had been the thought of holding a press conference to announce the death of Dr. Temperance Brennan while helping the investigations of a homicide case... That would have been very bad publicity for the FBI.

But those had been his thoughts before Dr. Brennan had insisted on finding out why his daughter had had to suffer from bone cancer. It had not saved Amy's life, but they had found the truth and saved other lives.

Through that, she had earned his respect, he even had grown to like her. So he was not only relieved for the sake of the FBI's reputation to see her unharmed, but also because he simply did not want her to get injured. He gave her another thoughtful look and took in her appearance: Her eyes were red and a bit swollen, obviously she had been crying. And who would blame her for that? Her clothes were dirty, stained with what he assumed was Booth's blood, a sleeve torn and her hair was a mess. She looked like she had aged by five or ten years during the day. He sighed.

"You look tired, Dr. Brennan. I promise I won't pester you too long with my questions." Cullen quietly said.

"That's what her bossy friend said too... and not using the most polite words, I might add, Sir." Freeman threw in, a hint of condescension and annoyance in his voice.

Cullen gave him a sharp look. "In case you are talking about Miss Montenegro, I don't want to hear that tone again. I value her highly!"

This caught Freeman off guard, his eyes widened and he stammered: "Uhm, ...Sorry, Sir. I will make sure to treat her with respect, Sir."

A hint of amusement flickered over Brennan's face. She knew very well, that Cullen not only valued and respected Angela, he genuinely liked her. It would indeed be advisable for Freeman to be nice to Angela. Somehow she was looking forward to the evening with Angela and Freeman now... it would be interesting to observe how he would squirm and writhe now that he knew Angela had Cullen's support.

"Now, Dr. Brennan, please just tell me, what happened when you arrived at the Henderson's house." Cullen turned towards her again and from the corner of her eye, she saw how Freeman relaxed in relief.

She reported how they had entered the house after knocking without success, found the door unlocked and had entered. How Booth had suddenly tensed and dragged her out although she had cursed and tried to stop him, how the explosion had hit them and how they had landed on the pavement. How he had successfully shielded her from the wood and bricks only to end up with that huge splinter of wood in his back. In fact she told him nothing he had not known before, from her report when she had called him earlier that day.
He knew there was something she did not tell him, but he figured it was something of personal nature and let her leave it unvoiced.

He nodded slowly and finally said: "Dr. Brennan, the Jeffersonian will not work on this case anymore. I can not risk civilians. I am not keen on risking my agents either, but I don't have a choice. And don't try to discuss this matter with me!
Our scientists are already analysing the evidence that has been brought from... the scene. We are pretty sure that the bomb was activated when you opened the front door, but exploded with a delay of a minute. We must assume that the intention of this delay was, to make sure you are inside the house and near the bomb during the explosion. You see, this was well-planned.
We have to take this very seriously. That's why I assigned Special Agent Freeman as your personal protection. He is going to stay with you as long as necessary. He is – despite the attitude he showed earlier – a very good and loyal agent. Please do trust his gut feelings as you would Booth's."

Brennan briefly closed her eyes at his words. 'Trust? Kicking and cursing while he only wants to get me away from a bomb is not what I would call trust.' She thought, but did not dare to say a word.

"And Freeman," Cullen addressed the agent "Make sure she does not even get a scratch.
Booth got her out of an explosion without a single bruise... make sure she stays that way. Booth would not be fun to work with in future, if you don't manage to keep his Bones safe!"

Freeman paled slightly, but also looked a bit confused.

Brennan scowled at Cullen. "I am not HIS. What is it about men that they always have to display territorial and possessive behaviour around women?" She muttered.

Cullen only shrugged her words away, a corner of his mouth kicking up lightly as she showed a bit of her normal behaviour.

Upon hearing her words Freeman turned towards her and gave her an incredulous look: "You are BONES?"

"It's Booth's silly nickname for me." She said and shrugged. She knew Booth would have objected now and told her – with a cocky lift of his eyebrow and a smile – that it was more a term of endearment.
And despite her words and her annoyed behaviour she liked it, when he called her Bones... his Bones.

She banned those thoughts for now and concentrated on the next task. "Angela told me you know when Booth's parents will arrive?"

Cullen nodded. "They'll arrive at 11 pm. They are going to stay at a hotel near the hospital. Somebody will pick them up at the airport and inform them on Booth's progress. Don't worry, Dr. Brennan. It's all arranged."

Brennan nodded, relieved, that she did not have to speak to his parents, but there was still something else. "I am going to call the mother of his son." She said. She wanted to explain his condition to Rebecca herself. That he was intubated and weak and that Parker should not see him like that. That he would not be able to talk immediately after the removal of the tube. She sighed.

Before Cullen could protest she added: "I know Booth well enough to know what I should tell her. We ... hmm... were able to communicate about that at hospital."

"Very well. Call her, but no details.." Cullen said. "...on the case. I know" Brennan finished.

"Good. Get her home, Freeman, she needs to rest." Cullen said and gave her an encouraging look. "You'll feel better after a night's sleep, Dr. Brennan."

She nodded. 'Assuming I can get sleep' she thought sarcastically. After saying good bye she and Freeman left the office and she pulled out her phone to call Rebecca. She noticed that Freeman did not try to touch her arm again.

Okay, please tell me what you think! You like Freeman? I am so looking forward to his interaction with Angela... will be fun to write...