Authors note:

To each and every one of you who either read or reviewed this or either one of my other stories….I thank you SO much your words and alerts really made me happy.….I apologizes for the lengthy delay in updating.

To understand why there were delays please refer to my profile.

Bones and Booth are not mine….if they were well things may be just a little different…..

(All rights belong to Hart Hanson and Fox productions)

Chapter 3

This has got to stop

"Bones!" bellowed Booth simultaneously as he pounded on her bathroom door.

She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. 'What do you want, Booth?' She asked still sounding caustic as she felt. "I told you I was going to take a bath."

"Bones what the hell were you thinking leaving the door not only unlocked but actually open?" demanded Booth with a lethal tone. Wondering not for the first time what was it going to take to get this woman to act responsible about her safety?

"I was trying to make it easy for my stalker." murmured Brennan sarcastically thinking she'd slammed the door when she came in.

"Not funny Bones!" replied Booth completely missing the point that she was referring to him. He clutched his jaw in a valiant effort not to say anything more. "Really really not funny!" He wondered if she was trying…actively trying to drive him crazy.

Her blue eyes immediately glanced toward the door. She actually hadn't meant for him to hear that little quip. Yet she could not help but smile when she imagined the serious and very sexy look she knew currently adorned his face. She believed he was completely irrational when it came to her safety, it was as if he stayed in a perpetual state of fear that something was going to happen to her. She didn't need to worry about her safety because he worried enough for the both of them. Now it had gotten to the point he was trying to intimidate and or interrogate her dates and it was going to stop! She was so infuriated right now, she'd put up with his bullshit for just about as long as she intended to. She knew why he behaved they way he did and she'd known for a long long time …She was genius after all and she was patient woman contrary to what her annoying partner thought but when she seen him parked outside her apartment tonight he had successfully pushed her to the limit. Now it was time for her to push back!

"Just one good reason!" questioned Booth his anger matching hers "just one!" he knew he needed to let this go, they'd been over this so many times in the last couple of years. But he was so tired of her blatant disregard for her own safety. Ever since that lunatic fan of hers just waltzed into her apartment a few months ago asking for an autograph he'd thought he had actually gotten through to her but no… apparently not. He sighed thinking sometimes talking to her was like talking to a brick wall.

"I can take care of myself Booth you know that!" hissed Temperance through clenched teeth as she lowered herself into the deep tub "Ow….damn it!"

"What? What's wrong?" he asked feeling his temples starting to pound like they did when she got him like this. Taking a deep cleansing breath Booth was trying to regain control of both his temper as well as the thoughts of his beautiful sexy infuriating partner being naked on the other side of the door. He looked around her room and tried to focus on something –anything to clear his thoughts. He swallowed hard when his eyes moved over her bed and his thoughts traveled back to the worst night of his life, the night she'd been taken by the gravedigger. At around three that morning Cam had found him lying on the couch in Bones office and insisted he go home. When he refused she threatened to call security and to this day he wasn't sure if she would have. But he just couldn't go home so he came here to her apartment and slept on her bed for a few hours before heading back to his office. He'd always meant to tell her but he never did. He promised himself and God that if he found her in time he'd always protect her. He didn't know why she wanted to make it so hard for him, but he was damn sure going to find out and tonight seemed like as good of night as any.

She rolled her eyes again "It's not anything you can shoot, arrest or beat up Booth it's just the water… it's too hot..." She answered him sarcastically knowing it would annoy him. "How many times do we have to go over this Booth? I'm capable of taking care of myself and I'm certainly in no danger in my own damn bathtub!"

Her little smart mouthed comment and lackadaisical attitude pissed him off and pulled him back to reality. A reality where he was angry and frustrated and didn't even know why. A reality where he was shouting through a bathroom door at his partner. "You know what? - This is ridiculous!" complained Booth tilting his head back silently begging any and all Saints for help.

"I concur!" Replied Bones sharply as she stepped into the tub and sat down enjoying the feel of the oil infused water encompassing her body. She closed her eyes and leaned back taking in the scent of her favorite bath oil. She hoped that the aromatherapy would take an edge off of her seeming uncontrollable emotions.

He was surprised she heard him over what he assumed was cold water running. He placed his hand on the door knob and turned it, but before pushing the door open he asked "Bones are you decent?"

"Well… I try to be a good person. I'm generous with both my time and money to many good causes. Plus I work with the FBI to catch murders. So yes I'd say I'm decent." Replied Temperance nodding her head and biting her lower lip as she turned off the cold water faucet with her foot.

"Bones, that's not what the fuck I meant and you know it!" shouted Booth as he pushed open her bathroom door. He froze as he walked through the door completely unprepared for the attack on his senses. He reminded himself to breath as his eyes readjusted to the lack of light, the entire room smelled like a fresh peach not just any peach but a sweet ripe peach. He opened his mouth to say something but was unable to form a coherent thought. She looked so beautiful her hair was pinned up on her head but, wispy little tendrils hung down around her neck. She had not yet washed off the make-up that she'd wore for her date, it was applied darker and more sultry that she usually wore it.

"Why are you standing in my bathroom Booth I thought you were going to the store and the pizzeria?" asked Brennan nonchalantly as she turned her head toward her partner who seemed unable to move.

"Not with your Godammed door open and unlocked with you …you know…" explained Booth not really hiding his irritation towards his partner who was bathed in candle light. He wondered when she'd ever looked more beautiful, the entire setting made him grateful for the fact he was wearing boxers and loose fitting pants.

As mad as she was at him and she was fighting mad she couldn't resist the urge to tease him. "Naked in the bath tub." She asked her voice low sexy voice. She watched his larynx moved as he swallowed and heard him suck in a breath and she could tell he was uncomfortable. She watched his awkwardness with a slight amusement, but it was just one more thing she was tired of.

"Bones, I know you seem to be mad at me right now but that's no reason to leave the damn door open." Said Booth trying to look straight into her eyes and no where else. Already sure he never be able to eat a peach again with out the image of Bones submerged in soaking tub full of bubbles.

"Excuse me?" Asked Bones ignoring his outrage as she grabbed her sea sponge and slowly ran it up and down the length of her arm "I only seem to be angry?"

"What the hell did I do?" he asked rising his voice pointing at himself knowing she was mad because she'd seen him outside. When did the simple act of washing one's arm be a sensual act? Wondered Booth as he followed the sponge as it slowly crept up her arm. "Any crazy or deranged psycho could just walk in here and do who the hell knows what to you." said Booth completely unsure how he'd been able to form a complete sentence.

"Don't talk to me like I'm a child Booth" she insisted her voice steady and she glared at him "I'm not a child."

"I can see that Bones" replied Booth breathlessly as he absently ran his hand through is hair wondering what ever possessed him to walk into her bathroom in the first place "I mean I know that. But admit it Bones leaving the door open while you are in a vulnerable state of being relaxed in the tub was not a rational thing to do.

She rolled her eyes and began glaring at him…he knew her lack of response meant she begrudgingly agreed with him. "What if your date decided to come back?"

"Booth" she hissed angrily "Rick is not a deranged psycho or a criminal and I don't like you referring to him like that."

"Look… all I'm saying is any lunatic could be standing here." Responded Booth unconvinced that Ricardo wasn't just some smooth talking asshole who would never in a million years understand his Bones.

"Yet the only person standing in my bathroom acting like a lunatic is you" explained Temperance.

"Ah ha… but the difference is I'm not a lunatic… Bones" grinned Booth with a hint of mischief in his eyes nodding his head and winking at her.

"But you are standing in my bathroom." She said dryly

"Right" admitted Booth looking around at the spa like room, feeling a little embarrassed that he'd barged into her bathroom now that some of the adrenalin and anger had worn off.

She had no intention of allowing his boyish charm to melt her icy anger. She was still angry, actually she was pissed off and no way in hell was he going to make her forget that fact by flashing his smile at her. The mere fact he was trying to use his charm to disarm her anger simply magnified her resolve. "Are you for once actually going to do what I asked and go to the pizzeria or are you staying in here all night?" Questioned Temperance harshly trying to keep the upper hand in what she knew was going to be a long night.

Her sharp tone caught him off guard because as much as they bickered … they didn't actually jab each other to the point where blood was drawn, but there was no doubt he'd just felt the tip of her sword pierce his skin. Never being one to back down from a fight and especially not one from the mighty Temperance… Booth stepped toward the soaking tub and asked "What is it you want me to do, Bones?" his husky tone and words surprising both the partners.

Their eyes locked and for a moment neither one actually took a breath. The flickering of the candlelight seemed to hypnotize them both. She slide down just a bit into the water to disguise the involuntary shutter her body had to his intense stare. Her body's reaction to his passionate gazes was becoming an all too familiar thing. He felt like she could see right inside his soul when she looked at him like that. He wondered how she couldn't know just how much she meant to him.

"Booth" she said softly looking away "I'll finish my bath and be out of the tub by the time you get back."

He knew she was still mad so he was surprised she'd backed down. He thought about how aggravated he felt and wondered if he should call it a night and tell her he'd see her on Sunday for their regular brunch date. But instead he sucked in a deep breath and turned towards the door and said "Okay Bones… extra cheese on your half I heard you loud and clear."

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Thanks for taking the time to read this chapter....Let me know what you think.

Pamela the peaches are for you...