I don't own Bones, I know I have 206 in my body, but the Bones from Fox isn't mine.

Another

Almost three weeks after the first murder, their phones rang again. They didn't expect it to be him, especially after they found out the body, was in Pennsylvania. They arrived on the scene, and saw the body in a hallway. When Booth saw the note, he groaned.

"What's it say Bones?"

"I guess you didn't get it

I didn't think you would.

Now it's time to recommit,

To trying to be good."

"What the hell is wrong with this guy? This makes as much sense as the last one. He wants to be good? Then why doesn't he stop murdering? Why another body? And I bet this one has as much evidence as the last one."

He was pacing, and his voice was getting louder. Bones placed a hand on his arm.

"Booth, why don't you take a walk, while I inspect the remains?"

"Yeah, I'm going to talk to that guy who found him." He walked away shaking his head.

When he came back later, he was calmer.

"Sorry Bones, what do you have for me?"

"Female, approximately twenty-five years old, 172 cm, about 61 kg. Possible ligature marks on neck, also tortured in the same way."

"Other than the note, and torturing, no other similarities?"

"Not that I can see, but I need to bring the body to the lab first."

"Do you want the floor again?"

"Yes, and I'm ready to go."

The driving was killing them. This one was almost four hours away, too close to fly, and yet far enough to make driving difficult. After six hours on the road, Booth was cranky.

"Booth what's bothering you? I have never seen you act that way at a crime scene. You were unusually irritable."

"I'm sorry it's this case. I just want to catch they guy and put him away for good. One less killer out there is good for me."

"We will catch him, we always do."

"I know, but I want it done now. Now that there are two bodies, and the notes, we know it's a serial killer. I want him off the streets now. I don't understand why we can't get this one done."

He was again becoming agitated.

"Booth we had trouble solving cases before, why is this one so different?"

"I don't know, maybe its Brodsky, maybe it's because I'm worried about you. I'm not sure."

"Me, why are you worried about me?"

"I just don't want you to be one of the victims. I keep seeing Cam in that hospital bed, when she inhaled that substance from Epps. Relationships make everything harder for me. I love you so much; I don't think I could handle it if you were to be harmed."

Bones turned in the seat to look at him.

"What did you say?"

Booth instantly realized his mistake. He had been holding off on telling her he loved her for so long he forgot that he never told her.

"Nothing. Just that I don't want you hurt."

He continued driving avoiding her eyes. Bones let the subject drop. She already knew he loved her, she had heard him say it many times while he thought she was asleep. She just wasn't sure how to handle the admission. She wasn't ready to say it back to him, although, she knew she loved him. She had for a long time, it's just that she never told anybody that before, and she was scared. Not so scared that she would run, but still scared.

He was worried about her reaction, and her non-reaction worried him even more. He thought back to that morning, when he woke first and just watched her sleep. He could see the baby moving inside her, his baby. His daughter. He knew he loved Rebecca and Hannah, but not like this. This love was deeper. She was becoming part of him, and he knew if he ever lost her, he wouldn't survive. She interrupted his thoughts.

"Booth, could we stop to eat?"

"Since when do you want to eat?"

"Well, I am hungry, but I noticed that you are more irritable when hungry, so I thought it could help your mood."

"Yeah, I'll stop. Sorry, I'm just worried. Every time he kills I think it could be you."

"Booth, nothing is going to happen to me. Stop worrying. I can take care of myself."

"I know Bones, you're always the self-reliant one, but I would feel better if you wouldn't work on this case."

"I'm not going to let a murderer stop me from helping the victim, besides if I stay on the case, we will catch him faster, and then he won't have a chance to get me."

"Bones, I know that sounds sensible, but it doesn't make me feel better."

"Booth, the only logical thing is for me to find him. You know I'm the best. We will get him. I know we will."

They found a small Diner along the route, and stopped to eat. On the rest of the return trip, Booth was in a better mood.

The body beat them to the lab, and Cam and Hodgins, were already working when they arrived. He dropped her off and went back to the Hoover.

"Looks like he struck again." Cam said.

"Yeah, but don't say too much to Booth, he very irritable today."

"What's wrong?"

"He keeps thinking of when you were harmed in the Epps case. He is afraid this time it will be me."

Cam looked at Bones' growing belly.

"Maybe he's right. You need to think of her too, you know."

"You mean the baby?"

"Yes."

"I can take care of both of us. I don't need any help."

Cam just shook her head, and went back to work; she knew it was senseless to argue with Brennan.

Later that evening, they discovered her identity, Bones called Booth.

"Booth we have an identity. Her name was Maryanne Scarlet, and she lived in Uniontown, PA. She has a brother and two sisters, one of whom, reported her missing on Saturday. They all live in the same town."

"I'll make arrangements first thing in the morning; we will stay overnight, I'm not doing that drive again. We can question the neighbors, friends and employees the next day. Do you want to go with me?"

He knew it was foolish, but he hoped the remains would keep her occupied.

"Of course, do you want me to bring Hodgins?"

"Yeah, that might be a good idea."

They were up early the next morning, and after picking up Hodgins, they drove out to talk to her family. Booth had called ahead, and they were all meeting at the brother's house. They said they would invite her fiancée too.

They arrived to a very expectant, but sorrowful family.

"Maryanne's dead, isn't she." The brother said the minute they walked through the door.

Booth sat down on the couch.

"Yes, I'm afraid she is. She was murdered Friday night."

"Murdered? By who?"

"We don't know that yet. We are still investigating."

"Do you know anybody who would want her dead?" Bones asked.

"No, my sister was very kind and thoughtful. Everyone loved her."

Someone knocked on the door.

"That must be Bruce, her fiancé."

A young man entered the room.

"Hey, I got here as soon as I could, what happened?"

"Maryanne's dead. Someone murdered her Friday night." Her sister, Lynn said.

He sat down in a chair, and sobbed.

"What happened?"

"We don't know yet." Booth said. "We are still investigating."

"Can I see her?" Bruce asked.

Bones answered, "It would be best if you didn't. We know it's your fiancée by the facial reconstruction, but I don't think you should see her."

Booth looked at Bones surprised by the tactful way she explained the situation.

"No, I need to see her. I need to know."

"The body was left in a house for four days, I'm sorry, but you won't recognize her."

She gave Booth a glance that said, I tried. He understood.

Bruce began to cry again.

"Here's my card, if anything comes up, like maybe someone at work, or an old friend who would be angry with her, please call me."

They stood up and left the house.

They went from there to her home, to secure the evidence. Again, there was very little to find. That night, they stayed at a hotel to interview the neighbors the next day.

When they got to the hotel, Booth noticed that Bones was crying.

"Bones what's wrong?"

"I don't know, I guess I'm just sad. That family loved their sister, and now she's gone. They will never see her again. Sometimes I liked my life better when I hid all these feelings inside."

Booth pulled her close.

"Bones, if this is too much for you, I can go alone tomorrow and you can stay at the hotel. You don't need to come with me."

"No, I'm ok. Maybe it's just the hormones. I don't know, lately I feel like I'm on a roller coaster ride. One minute I'm happy, the next I'm sad. Being pregnant is a lot more difficult than I thought."

"Are you regretting it?" Booth was becoming concerned.

"No, not at all. I've wanted your baby for years, Booth. I finally got what I've always wanted, and in the way I never imagined. I will never regret this decision."

"Bones, you know what?" he was trying to lighten her mood.

"What Booth?"

"This is the first time we are staying in a hotel together."

"Booth we have stayed in many hotels over the years."

"I know but this is the first time 'together'." He emphasized the word together.

"Booth when we went undercover to Las Vegas we stayed together, and when we were in the circus. I could name several other times we were together."

"Bones, this time I can touch you." He stood behind her and kissed her neck.

"Do you have any idea how hard it was to sleep next to you, and not touch you? I very rarely slept, because I was always afraid I would disturb you in the night. Once I was asleep, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself. Just laying near you, and smelling your hair, feeling your skin, I couldn't stand it."

She turned in his arms and looked in his eyes.

"I felt the same way Booth. I always wondered how you were able to stay away. I thought you didn't feel that way toward me. There was one time, in the trailer, when you pulled me close and held me near you, I felt so safe and secure. I wanted to turn around and kiss you that night, but I knew we shouldn't go there, so I got up. When I came back to bed, you were back on your side. Leaving you that night was the hardest thing I ever did."

"Oh, I'm sorry Bones, I had no idea. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

He was again kissing her neck, and nibbling her ears.

"Booth, do you want to go to bed? Together?"

He pulled her down to the bed.

"Definitely."

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