Thanks for the reviews and alerts:D glad you guys gave it a chance. Hugs to my beta for the help.

So, if you're confused on the timeline, I apologize. I guess I forgot to put that this is set in the future; maybe during s6 or after…soon you guys will know what happened to Brennan and why she didn't return before…that being said, here's the next chap.

Disclaimer: Bones belongs to Fox.

Cam swiped her ID card to shut the alarms off. Angela took little Jack from Hodgins and soothed him. Neither one of the partners said a thing. Sensing the tension, Angela took junior to her office even though she wanted to see what would happen between the partners. She said she would be in her office if anyone needed her.

"Dr. Brennan, it's good to see you." Cam hugged the anthropologist. The pathologist briefed the bug man and Daisy on their newest case and took Brennan to her office. Cam wondered what the hell was going on. A few days ago she'd receive an envelope from the State Department granting Brennan access to work on cases and now she was back.

After a short talk, Cam asked with a wide smile, "So, do we have you back on the team?"

"If you'll take me back." Brennan returned the smile.

"Hah, like we're letting you go." Cam grinned.

Tox screens, x-rays and dentals later the day was moving on quickly. The remains were de-fleshed and Daisy set the bones out in anatomical order on a lab table.

Cam was busy running tests on the flesh, Hodgins was sifting through bugs and dirt, Angela was working on her sketch of the victim while junior napped, and Brennan and Daisy were busy cataloging the injuries on the bones. Booth was at the Hoover waiting to hear something from the squints. He couldn't believe Brennan hadn't even said 'hello'…well, he hadn't said 'hello' either, but he wasn't the one that left.

By the end of the work day, Booth was given a positive ID for their victim. He set out to talk to the family without Brennan.

Angela wanted to talk to her friend and ask her what had happened, but she could see her friend needed space and time. Soon Angela would find the right time to talk to her friend.

Brennan cleaned her apartment and threw in a few loads in the washer. She kept herself busy and was able to fall asleep from exhaustion.

Booth tossed in bed unable to sleep. She was back and all he wanted to do was hug her and kiss her, but he also wanted to know what the hell had happened.

B&B

Two days passed and they made progress on the case. The victim's boyfriend was their only suspect and Booth kept an eye on him since his alibi didn't check out.

Hodgins found particles and metal specs on the victims skull that indicated she was struck with a common wrench. The particles indicated the victim was killed elsewhere and dragged to where the body had been found.

Booth and Brennan were stuck to visit the place where Hodgins said the victim was killed. The squints had all made excuses to not accompany Booth and Booth suspected they were trying to get him to be partners again with Brennan.

Brennan found a bloody wrench hidden in the grassy field, a few miles away from where the body was actually found. The wrench was the one they had agreed to be the murder weapon. She placed it in an evidence bag and placed the evidence bag inside her bag and started walking towards the SUV.

Booth was furious. How could she just show up and work with him without telling him anything?

"Why didn't you answer my messages or my calls? You just disappeared." Brennan was still walking towards the SUV. "I know we had an argument, but you just erased yourself off the phase of the earth. What the hell?" He grabbed her arm forcefully, instantly regretting it. He released her and was about to apologize when she slugged him. He fell on his side; she still had a kick ass punch.

"Don't touch me." She yelled before turning and walking down the dirt road. It would be about a twenty minute walk to the main road, but she wasn't riding with him. She'd figure out how she'd get to the lab once she was on the main road. And if she didn't get lucky enough for a taxi to pass by, then she'd walk the one hour walk to the Jeffersonian.

Booth drove towards the main road. He felt like an idiot. What the hell had he done? He didn't even know himself anymore. Booth took a right when he reached the main road. "Damn it, she walks fast." He said as he stepped on it, finding her walking by the side of the road. A car was rolling slowly. Booth could see a guy talking to her and Booth didn't need to hear the man's words to know what he was saying. Booth honked and the man unwillingly sped up. Booth honked again, but Brennan didn't turn to face him. "Hey, come on, Bones. Get in the car." He called, but Brennan still didn't turn to look at him. She just said 'don't call me Bones' and continued to walk.

B&B

"Is Brennan back yet?" Booth made a quick stop at the Hoover before he went to the lab, hoping she'd be back at the lab by the time he got there. Booth stepped on the platform searching for Brennan. Everyone looked at him confused, not missing the fact that he called her Brennan and not Bones.

"She went with you to the real crime scene." Angela stated. Booth told them they'd had a disagreement and she had walked it back to the Jeffersonian.

"She what!" Cam shrieked before grabbing Booth by the arm and dragging him to her office. She locked the door and turned to look at Booth. "What happened? And don't lie to me." She stated, hands on hips. Booth told her he had grabbed Brennan's arm after he said some harsh things.

"And she slugged you?" Cam asked and he nodded. "Good." Cam grinned. "It's about time someone puts you in your place. You're always grouchy. You're not gambling are you?" She asked, searching his eyes.

"No, I'm done gambling." He stated honestly. He had taken a chance with Brennan and she hadran away.

"Sweetie, what happened?" Angela asked, taking in her friend's sun-red face. Brennan didn't say anything and went into work mode.

After giving Booth his talk, Cam moved to talk with Brennan. "What ever happened between you two personally has a negative effect in your working relationship. I've given Sweets a call. You two need the evaluation before you continue to work together." Cam was the boss but she was also their friend. Cam asked Brennan about what was happening with the State Department and her absence. Cam actually thought Brennan would not tell her, but Brennan gave the pathologist the short and authorized version of the events that kept her from returning to DC.

Cam listened with her mouth wide open. They had all assumed that Brennan wanted to get away, but they'd all been so wrong. "I had no idea." Cam wanted to hug the anthropologist but she felt like she'd be pushing it. She could only imagine the horrors that hide behind the 'authorized' version of the events.

B&B

The next day the partners had to meet with Sweets.

Brennan sat across from the shrink in her usual spot. After a few minutes of silence, Brennan wondered if Booth would show up. Sweets told her that their first half hour would just be them. He asked her if she wanted to talk about what happened to her in El Salvador. Brennan's head snapped up and she stared at the psychologist. She didn't know that the FBI was already aware of the situation. She really didn't want to talk about her time in captivity with the shrink. All she wanted was to fall back where she'd left off, but she knew that would be difficult to do and she didn't mention it, knowing the shrink would have something to say about that.

Booth knocked on the door before he entered the shrink's office. "Am I late?" He asked worriedly.

"No. Take a seat, agent Booth." Booth took a seat and Sweets noted how the partners instinctively settled close to each other without knowing it.

After their session with Sweets, they headed to the little kitchen area in the FBI. Brennan drank some water and Booth made some coffee.

"I'm going to question the suspect. Do you want to tag along?" Booth asked, subconsciously running a hand over his beard. Brennan told him she had work to do.

Hacker crossed Brennan as she walked towards the elevators. "Tempe!" He gave her a smile, hugging her tightly. He whispered something in her ear that Booth couldn't make out. He was too interested in the conversation Brennan was having with Hacker that he didn't see Marissa approaching.

"Hello." She punched Booth's arm playfully. By the time Booth looked to where Brennan and Hacker had been standing, he saw they were already gone. "Are you heading out to lunch?" She asked him and Booth told her he couldn't, that he had work to do. He lied; he could have squeezed lunch in.

Brennan saw the dark haired woman place a hand on Booth's shoulder, shaking her head in laughter. A blonde one and a dark haired one? That two timing b… her thoughts were interrupted as Hacker called her name and ushered her inside his office.

"Nice wig." Marissa wore a different wig everyday. Booth didn't know why, but she always looked good with a wig on. He'd never seen her real hair. Marissa said 'bye' and headed back the way she came from.

Booth received a call from Cam. She told him the DNA on the murder weapon was not only their victim's but their suspect's too. Their suspect had DNA on file for an assault charge a few years back. Booth smiled when he hung up; they had their man now.

Booth walked to his office before heading out to make an arrest. He passed by Hacker's office on the way and saw that Brennan and Hacker where inside. Booth couldn't see her face, but Hacker's face was all seriousness. Booth wondered what was going on. First, Sweets talked with Brennan alone and now Hacker. Booth decided he would need to find out what he was being kept out of.

Please review:D I'd like to know your thoughts on this new chap:)