Thank you, thank you, thank you for the reviews! I'm very stoked about this story now, and I've started watching season 4 so I can get some more ideas. I hope you like this chapter.

Brennan was in her office sifting through file folders trying not to think about the past week's events. It all seemed surreal at times. Zack was put on a suspension for being solicited by a serial killer and stealing a skeleton without consulting her or Booth. He had taken this punishment with grace as he knew he could be in more trouble than he was in. Two months off was appealing to him anyway. Brennan perused through the names of the interns Cam was forcing her to choose to come work at the Jeffersonian in Zack's absence. Each one seemed dedicated to the job and had certain unique qualities she admired, but she could only choose six, which was making everything difficult. She already decided that Dr. Clark Edison should return as he was very helpful in the past during Zack's absence to Iraq and with her father's case. That left five others to choose. She picked up another file.

"Wendell Bray," she murmured to herself, reading his qualifications and education background. He'd gained a scholarship to help him be an intern. She went through his capabilities and mentally ticked off the ones she approved of. He'd make a great fit she believed. She picked up another one-Colin Fisher. She was intrigued by his thesis of how bones scatter when they fall. She set his aside with Edison and Bray's. Then she sighed, resting her head in her hands. This was getting tiring.

"Bones?" Booth's voice entered her ears, making her look up to the doorway. He stood there, hesitant. Things had been tense between them since she shot Gormogon. Even though it was cleared as a clean hit, she felt he was still angry she had done it.

"Come in," she gestured. He sauntered in, feeling relieved she let him do so. He was thinking she was still pissed that he faked his death.

"Whatcha doing?" he asked, plopping down onto the chair in front of her.

"Going through potential interns," she explained. He picked up a file.

"Oooh who's this?" he asked, examining it.

"Booth!" she snapped, reaching for it. "You can't read those!" He held it out of her reach.

"'Facts are the reliable blocks of everything?'" he read, laughing. "Who are these people?"

"Geniuses," she shot at him, snatching it out of his hands. She looked at it because what Booth read had sounded interesting.

"You're not seriously considering that one?" he said, pointing. She glared at him.

"Vincent Nigel-Murray," she said out loud. "He seems like a good candidate. Very factual. I like that."

"You're just picking him to spite me," Booth scoffed. She shook her head.

"On the contrary. He had interested me before you came in here and started mocking my people."

"Your people?" Booth laughed.

"Yes! You have the military and the FBI as your people, and I have my scientists as mine," she commented.

"I'm not one of your people?" he asked, faking outrage.

"I haven't decided," she said dismissively. He hid a smile.

"So how many do you have to pick?" he asked, looking at the big stack.

"Six," she replied. She picked up another file, placing it in front of her. Booth read it upside down.

"Arastoo Vazoozoo?" he asked.

"Vaziri."

"Arastoo?" Booth asked again.

"Va-zi-ri," Brennan said again, more slowly this time.

"Okay," he said. "Sounds like a fake name to me. Did you do a background check on any of these people to make sure they're legit?"

"I think he sounds brilliant," she went on, ignoring him. She added him to the pile with the others. This was getting easier. The more he picked on her choices, the more she wanted them.

"One more?"

"Yes. I've already decided. Daisy Wick. She appeals to me very much," Brennan replied. She picked up the others who didn't make the cut. In a way, this saddened her. She wished she could take them all. They'd learn a lot from her.

"Are you going to stay mad at me forever?" Booth asked, watching her put the files in her drawer across the room.

"What? I'm not mad at you," she said.

"You're not?"

"No. We discussed why you faked your death and didn't tell your best partner, but if you feel we need to discuss it further..."

"No! No, no," Booth cut her off. "It's been discussed."

"Good. Now, will you tell me why you're angry at me?"

"Who said I was?"

"I can tell. You were angry that I took your kill shot at Gormogon," she said matter of factly.

"I wasn't...I'm not..." Booth spluttered. "I was annoyed that you didn't listen to me. You could have been killed."

"Clearly I wasn't. Yet, I still get the impression you're angry with me," she pressed. He sat there, exhaling deeply. She raised her brow at him to prompt an answer.

"I just...I get scared when you run out into the field," he started. "I worry that you'll get into trouble that I can't save you from."

"You don't have to save me. I have a gun," she intercepted. He held up his hand to stop her.

"Will you let me finish?" he asked. She nodded. "I got angry because I didn't know you were out there with me. I thought you were safe in the car. It just reminded me of how I could have failed to protect you."

"Booth..."

"Bones, I really do care about you, and that's why I got angry. You get angry at those you..." he stopped abruptly. Brennan cocked her head.

"Those you what?" she asked. He met her eyes, hesitating. "Booth?"

"Hey, you guys," Angela said, entering suddenly and making both of them jump. "Whoa. Did I just kill a mood?" she asked, looking intrigued.

"No, not at all," Brennan said quickly. "What is it, Angela?" Booth felt a little relieved to be off the hook but also disappointed. He'd been going back and forth with deciding whether or not he should confess his feelings, but there just never seemed to be a right time.

"I heard something about you two going to London?" Angela asked. "Thought I'd come wish you well."

"You're going to London too?" Booth asked, incredulous.

"Yes. I am attending the Oxford University to give a speech. I'm also meeting with Dr. Ian Wexler, a colleague of mine," Brennan explained.

"That's exciting!" Angela said before Booth could say anything. "Why are you going, Booth?"

"To give a lecture at Scotland Yard," Booth answered absently. They were going together? How ironic was that? "When were you going to tell me?" he asked Brennan.

"I figured you already knew," Brennan shrugged. He stared at her. "Clearly not."

"I'm heading out anyway," Angela said, noticing there was a mood here. "Just wanted to wish you luck!" She gave Brennan a big hug before exiting.

"So we're going to London," Booth said again.

"Yes," Brennan agreed. She crossed her arms. "Are you okay with that?"

"Of course!" he grinned. "London baby!" He raised his hand towards her.

"I don't know what that means," she said, confused.

"Just give me a high five," he instructed.

"Why?"

"Because."

"I don't see the point."

"It's the principal," he said. She wrinkled her nose at him. He sighed loudly, dropping his hand. "Fine."

"I'll see you tomorrow at the airport?" she asked.

"I can pick you up," he offered.

"Okay. See you at seven?"

"Sure." He stood to leave. She smiled at him, which made him feel a little better about their relationship.

"Goodnight," she said as he walked out.

"Goodnight," he replied, waving. He had a spring in his step now. He and Bones were going to London.

Hodgins & Zack

"So you really weren't working with him?" Hodgins asked Zack. They were at home eating pizza and drinking beer while Planet Earth played in the background. Zack still lived in the apartment attached to Hodgins's home.

"No!" Zack exclaimed. "For the last time, I was not working with Gormogon! He thought I could be persuaded to work with him, but I didn't. I used it to help us catch him."

"Okay," Hodgins said. "I feel a little better."

"It's the beer," Zack pointed out. "It's well known that alcohol messes with our judgment."

"That's not helping your case," Hodgins commented.

"Right. Sorry," Zack said. "Do you think Dr. Brennan will even let me come back to work?"

"Dude, relax. She already misses you. We have to put up with interns until you come back," Hodgins said.

"Interns? Oh," Zack responded, worried. "They might be better than me."

"Zack! You're the best. You're not fired, just suspended. Trust me, Brennan would pick you over anyone else in a heartbeat. Now, can we stop talking and watch this?" Hodgins asked, gesturing to the TV.

"Okay," Zack agreed. He was just glad he hadn't lost his best friend. That would have been detrimental to him.

"Knock, knock!" Angela called, coming into the house. "Where are you guys?"

"In here!" Hodgins called. She entered, carrying wings.

"Ooohh baby you know me too well," he crowed, planting a kiss on her lips. Zack averted his eyes. He still wasn't used to seeing this type of display between the two of them.

"Hey, Zack," Angela said. "I brought you some mac and cheese."

"Thanks, Angela," Zack replied, taking it from her. She knew him well too.

"So what are we watching?" she asked, plopping down onto the couch beside Hodgins. He wrapped an arm around her immediately.

"Planet Earth," Zack answered.

"Sounds exciting," Angela said sarcastically. She rested her head on Hodgins's shoulder.

"Just wait," he told her. "You'll get into it." Zack disagreed. Angela wasn't really the science type.

"You'll like the photography and scenery," Zack told her, trying to make her feel better. She laughed.

"Thanks for trying, Zack," she smiled. Zack glowed inside. He always held a special place in his heart for Angela. He had been jealous at first that she chose Jack Hodgins over him, but he soon let it go as he had found other women that interested him more and were into his lifestyle. He rested his arms behind his head. This was exactly what he wanted from life. Hanging out with his best friends and enjoying some good television. He couldn't ask for more.

London, England

"Hey, Booth!" Brennan shouted, waking Booth up. He jolted awake, jumping up.

"Yea, I'm here. What's up?" he asked, making the crowd titter with laughter. Then he realized where he was. She gestured for him to stand, which he did.

"Agent Booth is not the logical empiricist that I am," Brennan went on with her speech as he stood there feeling ridiculous. "And I'm learning more each day how to be more like the intuitive humanist he is. What he's taught me is that we scientists need to be armed with more than just logic." She smiled at him warmly. He flushed. He had no idea he had any impact on her that way. His eyes flicked over to Ian Wexler, who was also looking rather warmly at Brennan. Booth didn't like the guy very much. He got the impression that Wexler just wanted into Brennan's pants, and he wasn't about to let that happen.

"You can sit down, Booth," Brennan said, making him feel embarrassed again. She smiled brightly at Wexler. Booth sighed. This trip wasn't going at all the way he was hoping it would. Once the lecture was over, he trailed after Brennan outside.

"Did you like my speech?" she asked him, looking hopeful. "Or was it too much?"

"It was good. I liked the part you said about me," he grinned at her

"That's because you slept throughout the rest," she pointed out, disappointed.

"It's not my fault the damn boobies made me drink beer last night!" he defended himself.

"Bobbies, Booth. They're bobbies not boobies."

"They were girls with boobs, hence boobies," Booth explained. Brennan rolled her eyes at him. She felt disappointed again that he had been out with girls last night. This was surprising to her. Booth changed the subject quickly.

"So what's with Wexler?" he asked.

"What about him?"

"He seems interested in you very much," Booth said.

"Is he?" she asked, playing along and fluffing her hair suddenly as Ian came into view. Booth groaned inwardly. Him and his big mouth.

"What a fabulous lecture," Ian said, coming up to her smiling. Brennan thanked him. He was charming and had made hints about a date, but Brennan hadn't accepted yet. She wasn't sure why.

"A moment with my colleague?" Ian asked Booth.

"Sure. Whatever. She's not my property," he replied. Brennan shot him a quizzical look that made him cringe inside. He was not on his game today.

"Why don't we have dinner tonight?" Ian asked once out of Booth's earshot.

"Because I've been warned about you," Brennan answered.

"That makes me sound dangerous," Ian laughed. "Which I can assure you, I'm not." His phone rang. He ignored it while staring at Brennan, waiting for an answer.

"You should get that," she said. Ian sighed, answering his phone. He gestured for her to stay.

"Murder you say?" he said into the phone. Brennan's ears perked. He hung up. "Are you interested?"

"Very!" she agreed.

"Then grab your cowboy and let's go," Ian said.

"Oh, don't call him that," she said quickly.

"Why? Is that an insult?"

"No. He'd love it. I'd rather his head not get too big right now as I need it," she explained.

"Ah," Ian said.

At the Crime Scene

The car was pulled out, making Booth feel sad. He never liked drowning victims. He always thought it was a terrifying way to die as you could try to hold out as long as you could instead of being dead in an instant. A black haired woman made her way towards them.

"Inspector Cate Pritchard," she said to Brennan warmly, shaking her hand.

"This is my partner..." Brennan began.

"Booth!" Cate smiled hugely. "We met at his lecture already."

"Were you one of his 'boobies' last night?" Brennan wanted to know.

"Excuse me?" Cate asked, confused.

"She's joking," Booth cut in, going red. "Bones, get back to the bones." Brennan hid her smirk. She enjoyed making him uncomfortable in front of other women.

"Female. Late teens to early twenties," Brennan confirmed. "Penetrating trauma to the parietal bone."

"That's Portia's description," Cate agreed. "And what?"

"She was hit on the head with a sharp object," Wexler translated. Cate gave him a look in return.

"It's like watching an English version of ourselves," Booth said to Brennan.

"What?"

"Nevermind. So, when do I get a gun?" Booth asked Cate.

"I'll try to get you clearance, but don't get your hopes up," Cate answered. "However, since Portia and her family are American, we will need FBI on the case, so you might get lucky."

"I believe in luck," Booth winked. Brennan rolled her eyes. She did not.

"Everything needs to go to the Jeffersonian," Brennan instructed, moving things along.

"Yup," Booth agreed. "It all goes there." Cate looked at him curiously. He shrugged.

"Come on," Brennan said to him, starting off.

"Where can I get a car?" he asked Cate.