OMG So many reviews and wow, I am so happy that so many people love this story so much. So here is the next chapter.

Disclaimer: Althyand Jackie are the only things I own besides this story and I totally love her


Chapter 24

Suspended

Zach and I arrived home and I checked the answering machine. "You have one new message." it sang and played the message:

"You bitch; I'll get you for that one. You haven't heard the last of Haley Front; I'll sue your ass off." It ended there.

"Yeah, yeah, I look forward to that day in court." I said laughing. My neck hurt like crazy. I needed to sit and each cheesecake with Zach while watching re-runs of firefly. "Would you like some Cheesecake?"

"I'd love some." replied Zach. He sat down at the kitchen counter and I got the cheesecake out of the fridge. I placed it onto the counter and cut two pieces before placing them onto plates. I sat one infront of Zach and the other infront of an empty space for me. I grabbed two spoons and placed those as well before sitting down. "You are extremely calm for someone who is being threatened with a law suit."

"Oh come on if I took every threat of a law suit I have ever gotten seriously I'd be well over my head in lawyer fees." I stuck the spoon into the cake and pulled forward before pulling out. It tasted like little bits of heaven inside my mouth. It was so yummy.

"Althea I worry about you."

"Now you sound like mother." I told him. "Don't worry Zach. I know what I'm doing."

The next day we came into work to the smell of burning flesh. It wasn't like anything anyone has ever smelled before. It was awful. Zach headed strait for the lab work and I came into my office. No assistant today, I thought. Oh well looks like I'll have to do it all myself. I didn't mind.

I had managed to do most of the work before...A figure came into the office. A look of distress was on their face.

"Althy," called Angela shaking.

"What is it Ang?"

"I…uh…got a match of the…"

"So who is it?"

"Haley Front."

"What, Ang, that is so not funny."

"I'm not joking…see for yourself." I had to come over to Angela's office and see for myself. I trusted Angela, I did. But I wanted to see it. I had to see it. I couldn't believe it.

On the screen there she was the face of Haley Front. I stood there for a good few minutes. Cam came in. She did not look happy.

"Dr. Calloway."

"Oh that's not good." I told her. "You're being formal. That means something is wrong."

"When you're right, you're right."

"And I'm always right." I added.

"As of right now you are on suspension…fully paid until we can determine if you were responsible for the death of Haley Front."

"Cam, come on I am not a killer,"

"I'm sorry Althy a police uniform will follow you and Zach home."

"Zach is suspended too?"

"Yes, we are brining in a couple of interns as temps. I'm sorry Althy…"

I sighed and walked out of Angela's office. I grabbed my jacket and motioned for Zach to get going. He sighed too and we headed out to the parking lot. The officer was behind us the whole time. It was rather annoying. I needed to find out whom and what killed Haley Front, but how would I do that with out letting people know what I'm doing. Who to call for help?

We got back to the house and I went into my room. I came out relieved and feeling a bit less frustrated.

"You didn't throw the laptop did you?" asked Zach,

"I only threw the pillow." I said as a phone like ring was heard. "Oh it's the laptop. Jamesie is calling."

Zach smiled and followed me back to my bedroom. He saw the pillow on the floor from when I threw it against the wall. I opened up my laptop and saw James's face.

"Hey pilot, how's life?"

"Everything is great." said James "Well as great as it can be. It's a bit quiet. So that's a really good thing. So how are you?"

"Suspended," I replied.

"What?"

"Just until they figure out that I didn't kill Haley Front."

"Who is that?"

"This awful and very unintelligent intern that Althy was assigned. She attempted to hit me."

"Hit on him." I explained. James looked like he was about to laugh. "I'm serious."

"Right, next you'll tell me that Dad hired her." When I looked away from the Camera he understood everything.

"Oh…sorry…right um…the reason I'm calling is that my tour of duty is ending a little early."

"Why earlier?"

"My buddy and I saved this fresh out of school pilot from crashing into a civilian neighborhood and well…we got two weeks deducted from our tour." (A/N I do not know if that could actually happen, but bare with me)

"That's great, so when are you getting back then?"

"I'll be back two weeks before Christmas,"

"That's great mom will be so happy." I told him

"Oh and one more thing before I go." said James. "Hey Zach, that thing you e-mailed me about. Go for it. You have my total support."

"Uh….thank you I will." replied Zach. He was nervous. Why was Zach asking James for advice? "Well goodbye James."

"Bye Jamesie,"

"Bye Althy."

I closed my laptop and turned to Zach. He looked flushed and nervous. It was all over his face. He was up to something he didn't want me to know about.

"Zach what are you up too?"

"I have a novel I've been meaning to finish." said Zach

"Novel," I asked tilting my head questioningly. He simply smiled and left.

The following day Zach was cleared for work. I was still suspended. That morning I got out of bed and headed to the kitchen.

"Morning," I said wrapped in my soft, silky, warm, purple robe. Zach was unusually happy. It was December, what was he so happy about? He walked over to me almost running and kissed me. "Not a bad way to say good morning."

"I love you." he said brightly, "Hodgins, are you still taking me t…to the place?"

"What place….oh you mean the…yeah I'll take you. Just don't wait to long to use it."

"What place? Wait to use what?" I all but shouted, but the others ignored me as Angela placed a cup of hot coffee infront of me.

"So what are you going to do today?" asked Angela

"I thought I'd type, send a few emails, do a little snooping." I added in a whisper.

"Sounds great." said Jack.

"Yeah, I also need to call Nan and spread the happy news."

"Which is…." pressed Jack

"Jamesie is coming home two weeks early." I said "Pre-Christmas. He's so excited to meet Betty. He didn't say anything but I can tell."

"Cool, so you're busy then?"

"Yeah, I might also do a little dusting." I smiled. They smiled back and a few minutes later they headed to work. I was smart. I transferred all my findings to a USB drive and took it home with me yesterday.

Meanwhile the rest of the Jeffersonian team including Sweets and Booth sat in the conference room with Caroline.

"It is most likely so far that Althea Calloway killed Haley Front. Now if this thing goes to trial. You will all have to testify…"

"No," said Zach.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no, I believe I said it in an appropriate volume for you to hear. I will not testify against Althy."

"Neither will we." said Angela speaking for herself and Hodgins.

Caroline and Dr. Brennan looked angry. Caroline was expecting something along those lines, but not exactly that.

"What is the big problem?" asked Dr. Brennan "We testify on cases all the time. It is nothing new."

"But its Althy Dr. Brennan." protested Zach. "I cannot do this because I know that Althy is not a killer." he stood up and headed out of the conference room, "And I will prove it."

"Dr. Sweets, you have to go to the house and do a session with Dr. Calloway to see if she is capable of murder." said Caroline.

"But…fine." he said and walked out. Jackie wasn't going to be happy about this. Given how close she and Althy were he was going to hear about it.

He drove with the radio off. He dreaded the session to come. Althea was going to chew him up and spit him back out just so he could suffer some more. He was too young to handle something so awful.

There was an eerie silence that spread across the grounds of the house. It frightened him. All the trees stood bare in the December cold. He wished the snow would fall to cover them. Lance Sweets thought he knew what he was expecting when he parked his car and walked up to the house. Lance Sweets was wrong, incredibly erroneous…

He rang the doorbell and gulped when he heard footsteps coming towards him from inside. I stood in my soft purple robe when I opened the door. I had not bothered to change.

"Hello Sweets, I assume you're here to evaluate me?" He only nodded. "Come on in." He slowly and carefully walked into the house. "Shoes off please, I just vacuumed."

"You vacuum?" asked Sweets as he took of his shoes and hung up his winter jacket.

"Of course, I grew up in a house with six kids and two full time working parents. Everyone did chores, coffee?"

"What?" snapped Sweets flinching

"Would you like some Coffee?" I asked "I made a fresh pot in anticipation of your visit"

"How did you know I was coming?"

"That's my secret." I replied "Well, coffee?"

"Um…yeah….no." he said.

"Afraid I'm going to put cyanide in it, Lance?" I asked and laughed. He starred at me "I was kidding."

"Oh, he, he….funny…so where should we do this?"

"In the living room if you don't mind. I haven't gotten to cleaning my room yet."

Sweets agreed and followed me into the living room. Two black couches were set up across from each other in between a black coffee table.

"You moved the furniture?"

"What you're going to analyze that too?" I had already switched from friendly to bitchy in a matter of seconds. Now that took serious talent. I sat down on the left couch and he sat down on the right. I now noticed the bag he had with him. He took out a pad and pen from it and wrote down something at the top. "Shall we begin?"

On the next chapter:

After Sweet's visit Althy solves the case and finds the real murderer. She is happy to get back to work, but what happens when she must testify to it? What will we learn about Althy's past prior to meeting Zach? What was it she wasn't proud of? What was it that she almost did? There is only one way to find out. KEEP READING!


NEH! Another chapter finished. Oh is this getting good or what? Even I can't wait to write it.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Time Witch