Thank you for reviewing just about as quickly as I put up the chapters. amarillo, MickeyBoggs, HarryPassionFan, Cheri Goodman, boothandbones4ever, 1956JohnDeere50, alwaysbrennan.

I'm sorry to say, the angst continues…

She was home. Right where she belonged with Booth. Naked and nestled in his arms in their bed, his form enveloped her, reminding her of the warmth she had so missed. He was spooning her, her back pressed firmly into his well-sculpted body, his desire for her hard and pressing into her ass. He was trailing her the curves of her body with his finger, leaving goose bumps in its wake. She was aching for him, it had been so so long. She closed her eyes savoring the sensations he was causing her.

He blew out a warm breath beside her ear and took one earlobe into his mouth, sucking gently. His hand palmed the weight of her right breast, his thumb moving to flick and caress her nipple in the lightest of touches. It had been too long and his actions were almost enough to make her come, almost. His naked form next to her felt like a furnace. Her need for him was so intense all she knew was that if he wasn't inside her that instant she would combust.

"Booth," his name on her lips, a pleading whisper.

"I know baby," his voice a low husky rumble in her ear.

He slid into her from behind with one fluid stroke, filling and stretching her the way she had wanted him to for the months they had been apart. His hand that was at her breast moved to find her clit, rubbing firm circles round her sensitive nub. She arched back into him, wanting it deeper, faster. She was so close one more stroke and she knew she would explode.

He moved, pulling out of her…..

Her cellphone rang. Annoyed, Brennan, breathed a frustrated "leave it." The phone kept ringing, and her eyes snapped open. The morning sun was all too bright and she threw an arm over her eyes.

She let out a frustrated groan. The reality of being alone in her hotel room and not in bed with her husband struck her. Another hot steamy dream about Booth that left her feeling extremely unsatisfied. She knew it was going to be another counterproductive day at the dig. It was just about two weeks ago when she started to get these frequent dreams about Booth, some were about the times they shared together, meals at the Royal Diner or the Founding Fathers, but most were sensual and erotic, dreams of her and Booth making love.

While she never actually achieved orgasm, in her dreams he always brought her to the brink, leaving her wanting. It never occurred to her to bring her vibrator on the trip, and now she was regretting it. She had managed to get some release with her fingers but nothing like the way Booth could.

She was soaking wet between her legs. She let out a frustrated sigh as she headed for the bathroom to get cleaned up and ready for another day at the dig site. Maybe it was time to go home.

"Are you and Bones getting a divorce?"

Booth nearly choked on his milkshake. It was Saturday, and he was having dinner with Parker at the diner. The boy chose the place to have most of his meals with his father, and Booth understood perfectly well why. The diner reminded him of the times he shared there with Brennan, and he knew it reminded Parker too.

"What makes you say that?"

"Lisa's Mom moved to Miami for a long time, then the other day she said she was going to Miami for the summer cos her Mom lives there now. She said her parents were separated but now they got a divorce. Bones moved away. It means you guys are separated right? Are you guys getting a divorce too?"

"No, no no. We're not."

"But you guys are separated."

"Yeah physically, I mean she's not here, we're not together so yeah we are separated but not in the sense like with Lisa's parents."

"I don't understand."

"Bones and I aren't together, like in the same place, but we still love each other very much. She's just away, you know for work, and she'll come back."

"But you don't call each other all the time like the time when she had to go to New York for her book signing thing, or London for work."

"Yeah, she's real busy and I don't want to interrupt her. You know the faster she gets her work done, the faster she can come back."

"So you guys didn't have like some big fight? Lisa said her Mom and Dad had a big fight cos her Mom decided she liked this other man better and so she wanted to divorce her Dad."

"No buddy, Bones and I didn't have a fight. And I promise you, we are not getting a divorce."

"Good, cos that would make me sad."

"Yeah it would make me sad too son."

Booth knew he had a lot to say at confession the next morning. He had told a lot of lies. Good lies, he told himself. Parker didn't know about the rape and didn't need to know. He didn't need to know the real reason why his step-mother left.

"I miss Bones." Parker grabbed a fry and popped it into his mouth. He had said it so nonchalantly, but Booth knew the boy idolized his step-mother and felt her absence deeply. He blinked back tears, hoping his son hadn't noticed them.

"I miss her too buddy."

Booth felt an anger coiling in his belly. Brennan knew what it was like to be abandoned as a teenager. Didn't she see that she was doing that to Parker right now?

"Hey you know what buddy? When we get back home, I'm gonna let you call Bones ok?"

"But I thought you said we shouldn't interrupt her?"

"I said I shouldn't interrupt her, but I didn't say you can't."

The ringing of her cellphone interrupted Brennan for the second time that day. She slipped off her work gloves then dug in the pocket of her pants, frowning as she recognized Booth's number. He hadn't called her since that day a couple of weeks ago to inform her that her rapist had been caught.

"Booth?"

There was a giggle across the line.

"Yeah it's Booth. Parker Booth."

Brennan laughed.

"Hey Parker, is everything alright?"

"Yes. You're not mad are you?"

"No, why?"

"Cos Dad said we shouldn't interrupt your work."

In the background she heard Booth protesting. "I said I shouldn't, didn't say he couldn't!"

"Did you need help with your homework?"

"No, Dad's pretty good at the science stuff, says he pays attention when you talk."

Brennan laughed but at the same time felt an ache in her heart.

"I told Daddy I missed you, and he said I could call and tell you."

The unexpected reply from Parker made her heart clench and her eyes tear. She missed the boy too.

"I miss you too Parker. It's been awhile since I've seen you. You must have grown."

"I haven't noticed."

Brennan smiled, despite her tears.

"When are you coming back? Is your work done yet?"

How was it an eight year old posed the most difficult questions? She didn't believe in lying to Parker but Booth had said it was ok if it was a lie to protect him. Like Santa Claus.

"I still have some ways to go, but I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Ok. Take care of yourself. I wish you were here to read me a story before bed."

"I wish I was too."

"I'd better go, I love you Bones."

This time Brennan couldn't help the tear that rolled down her cheek. She remembered the child she had lost, and took comfort in the fact that she already had one in Parker.

"I love you too Parker."

"I'll pass the phone to Dad."

Before Brennan could protest, Booth was on the line.

"Hey Bones, I'm sorry, I know you don't like me to call but Parker missed you."

"No it's ok, I missed him too."

"Yeah, so how are you, I haven't talked to you in a really long time."

"I'm good Booth. You?"

"I'm doing ok I guess." Would do better if you were here, but he didn't say it.

"We'll talk more, when I get back."

"Yeah." Booth wanted to ask when, but he daren't. He didn't want to ask because she always had the same answer. Soon. Soon couldn't come quite fast enough.

"I have to go."

She always did.

"Ok. I love you."

"I love you too."

Brennan waited for Booth to hang up. She couldn't deny the pain in her heart. She couldn't deny the urge to get on the next flight back to DC. And to what? Could she offer him what he needed? To be the woman he married? She wasn't sure. If anything the three months in Peru helped her find herself again. She was Dr Temperance Brennan again she could and would put what happened behind her. She would find that intimacy with Booth again.

She was lonely. Here she was surrounded by co-workers, doing what she loved best, but she was desperately lonely. She craved that human touch, her friends, her family, the man she loved. Years ago, she could easily shrug these feelings off. Now she knew irrevocably that she could no longer do so. And it was all because of one Seeley Booth.

"Dr Brennan?"

Brennan quickly swiped the tears away from her eyes. She turned.

"Temperance?"

"Dr Rushton."

"Is everything ok?"

"Yes Tyler it is."

"You've been crying."

Brennan offered a sad smile. "It's nothing."

Tyler motioned to the cellphone still in her hand.

"Home-sick?"

"My step-son called me."

"Ah didn't realize."

"I've never really thought of him as not my biological son anyway. He called to say he missed me."

Tyler offered a sad smile, then reached up to brush a tear that rolled down her cheek. He let his hand linger on her face longer than appropriate. Brennan inexplicably leaned into his touch. The archeologist reminded her a lot of Booth. Physically they were built differently but their characters were similar. He was gentle and kind, genuinely caring for the people around him.

Brennan locked eyes with Tyler for a second, and she saw him move closer as his gaze dropped to her lips, his hand still cupping her face. Their lips made the slightest of contact, barely a brush, a touch of lips so light it might even have been imagined. At that same instant rationality took over. Her brain screamed an anguished No! She stumbled backwards.

It hit her that in that one second, even if he never knew it, she had hurt Booth more than she knew anyone else ever could. Guilt washed over her.

"I'm sorry."

Tyler blushed. "No I should be the one apologizing. You made it very clear, you're married, oyu're not interested."

"I shouldn't have let myself – "

"No, I just can't help it. You looked so lonely and sad, and you're so very beautiful."

"Thank you… it's not you, my husband, he's a good man, like you and I love him very much."

"I understand. It was a moment of weakness."

"Yes it was, I shouldn't have allowed it to happen."

What was the word Angela liked to use? Awkward. It was awkward right now.

"Wish I met you first Temperance."

"May not have made a difference."

Booth was her someone, and even if another man had come along before him, she knew she would not have committed like she had to Booth.

"I love my husband very much, and I should go home to him. He's been waiting for me for longer than I should have allowed him to."

Tyler took a step forward, offering his hand to Brennan. "Well then let's get back to work so that you can go home to him as soon as possible."

Hit the review button, hit the review button, like right now. You've been warned, the angst continues, for awhile longer…. *wink*