CHAPTER. Chapter 13. Hide and Seek

DISCLAIMER. There are many things I own, but Bones is not one of them. All characters belong to Kathy Reichs, Hart Hanson and FOX.

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"So, do you still want me to keep this shirt or not?" Booth asked, holding up his light blue dress shirt.

Isn't that the soft one? "Yes," I replied and snatched it out of his hands.

"Why?" He scratched the back of his head in curiosity. "It's not like it fits me anymore. I have too much muscle for that," he smirked, as he showed off his biceps.

He wasn't wearing a shirt. Oh my gosh. He's so damn hot. Hmmm...How did I get so lucky to have him? I subconsciously licked my lips. He smirked and that's when I realized that I was staring at him. My cheeks flushed red.

"Um...I want it. It's...um...comfortable. Very comfortable." My cheeks were probably a bright and bold scarlet.

He smirked again and raised one of his eyebrows in amusement. "Since when did you start wearing my dress shirts?"

"I snuck that one into my drawer one day when you weren't looking, so that I could wear it when you're not here," I said very quietly, hoping he wouldn't catch it. He did, however.

"Why?" he asked with amusement.

"So that your scent was here when I'm sleeping...So that it would feel that you're here...With me..." My voice trailed off at "with me".

He smiled and walked over, enveloping me in a hug. He breathed in deeply, then placed a kiss into my hair.

He pulled away and continued to unpack his belongings. He took out a picture frame and smiled at it. Why is he smiling?

"What's that? Why are you smiling?" I strolled over to where he was.

He held the picture frame to me. It was a picture of Booth and I kissing in the pool at Jack and Angela's barbeque. Angela strikes yet again! She always seemed to know when to take a picture of us without us realizing it. How did Booth get this photo?

He read my mind. "The day after the barbeque, Angela gave me this photo before I went to see you in your office. She said that we looked 'hot and adorable'." He chuckled at the last sentence.

I chuckled along.

"Do you mind if I scan it onto my computer?"

"Really? You want it?" He looked puzzled.

"Yes. If that's alright with you."

"Of course." He took the photo out and handed it to me. "I just wouldn't have guessed that you would want a copy."

I smiled, took the photo and went to my office. I booted up my computer and waited. The "Windows XP" image flashed across the screen. Seconds later, the welcome screen came on. I clicked my username, "Bones". I'll just keep this as a secret between me and the computer... I typed in my password and pressed "Go." I hope Booth doesn't figure out this password too. I looked for the scanner program, then proceeded to turning on my scanner.

"Bones! Bones! What's this?" he called.

I got up and walked into my bedroom, where he was holding onto a wooden box with a light blue combination lock on it.

"What's this, Bones?"

"It's...um...where I keep all my valuables and secrets. Do you want me to open it?" I faltered.

He shook his head. "No. Unless you want to, of course." He handed the box back to me.

I sighed. I think it's time to show him the items in the box. "I think I should let you see what's inside."

I sat on my bed, him following suit. I fiddled with the combination lock. It clicked open after the last number.

"I've collected a lot of things in the past from many people and some objects I created myself." I passed the box to him and he took out a shoe.

"Why do you have a shoe in here Bones?" he asked.

"Look at the bottom of it." He flipped it over and read the list of names.

"Is this a list of all your foster families?" He looked at me and I nodded without saying anymore. He took that gesture to continue on.

He took out a photo of my parents and Russ and smiled. Placing them back into the box, he took out Brainy Smurf and Jasper. He laughed. "You kept them?"

I looked at him with a smile. "Of course I did. It was a kind gesture and I was kind of...um...in love...with you then..." He grinned and leaned forward to capture my lips with his. He pulled back and placed his forehead against mine. "I was in love with you then, too." He kissed my nose and continued looking through the box. He pulled out a letter that was addressed to him. My breath hitched.

"What's this?" He paused. "Why does it have my name on it?"

"Um..." He unfolded the letter and started to read.

"Dear Booth,

Since you are reading this letter, it means that you have found Hodgins and I, and that we are dead. Please don't punish yourself because you probably did everything you could. I know you would never give up on us and for that reason alone, I love you. Yes, I'm in love with you, but it's too late to say it to you.

Farewell Booth.

Love, Temperance."

He turned to me then, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "I love you too Temperance."

My eyes were watery, but I managed to smile.

After two hours of unpacking, Booth's belongings were finally back into my apartment, as if nothing happened. His DVD collection in my apartment, seemed to have grown twice it's size than I recall. In my closet, it looked as if the amount of clothes he had doubled as well. Everything that can be counted, doubled or sometimes even tripled. He's taking over my apartment! It wasn't a terrible thing, however. It's actually pretty normal for two mature adults that are in a romantic relationship to have belongings in each other's home. Heck, I probably have as many articles in his apartment, as he does here. Why was I worrying?

Ring. Beep. Ring. Beep.

"Hello?" I heard Booth say into his cell.

"Ok...Yes...Mhm...Yes...Ok. We'll be on our way." He clicked his phone shut.

"Today's your lucky day Bones! We have a case! Get dressed and we'll go." He disappeared into my bedroom closet.

Approximately twenty minutes later, we were on the road, sirens blaring and red lights flashing to the less populated part of the D.C. downtown area. We sat in a comfortable verbal silence and listened to the gentle tunes on the radio. Upon turning to the crime scene, the silence was broken by a question from him.

"Bones, you're coming to Angela's friendly gathering right?"

"You mean at the Checkerbox?" He nodded. "Yes, why?"

"Really? I mean you're going to go to that place, even though I got shot there and that's where all the horrible singers are gathered?"

"First of all, those people aren't that bad. You're just jealous. Second, if it wasn't for Pam, who was obsessed with you, and thought that we were together then, then it wouldn't have happened. Lastly, I don't want to talk about what happened that night. It still gives me nightmares sometimes." I turned my attention back out the window.

He stopped the vehicle at the police line and pulled the SUV to "park".

"I'm sorry Bones. I didn't mean to." He gently lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "And for your information, I am not jealous."

I glanced back at him. "Apology accepted. And yes, you are, but I'm not going to push any further. I have remains to examine." With that I exited the vehicle with my bag.

Free Gift: A copy of Booth's cell phone number, so you can call him anytime you want. LOL
Reviews?: Will help identify the remains.