Note: Someone suggested a follow-up to the last one. Now, the last one wasn't one of my favourites, so I wasn't really interested in doing a follow-up, and I have another idea that I've been – well, not working on, but thinking about for a couple of months, so really, no interest in a sequel.
Here it is.
What if? Booth and Brennan knew each other before The Parts in the Sum of the Whole
AU? Yes
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He told himself he had to stay away. She'd just broken up with his best friend, and there was no way she'd be interested in dating him.
Besides, Sully still hadn't picked up the rest of his stuff, and Booth really needed to find a new place to live. He'd give her time to move on, and himself time to get his life together.
It worked, for a while.
And then a week after he moved into his new place, he took his visiting aunt out for dinner and saw her in the corner of the restaurant, looking very cozy with some slimy-looking guy in a suit. He'd missed his chance. It was time to move on.
He met Rebecca the next week.
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Brennan twirled around in excitement, belatedly looking around to make sure no one had noticed.
The Jeffersonian Institution. Only the best of the best were offered the opportunity to work there, and they wanted her.
She couldn't wait to tell Michael.
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Parker wailed and Booth tried to assemble the bottle one-handled. "Hang on, little guy", he said, bouncing slightly in an attempt to sooth him.
Man, he wished Rebecca were there.
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Brennan extended her hand in the socially-proscribed greeting. "Welcome to the Jeffersonian", she said. "Let me show you where you'll be working."
Zach followed her, trying to memorize every detail.
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"Booth!" Booth slid his chair back, standing respectfully as his boss tossed a case file on his desk. "This one's yours."
He picked up the file and started to read. It was a nasty one – a teenage girl found in a landfill.
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Brennan read the email with interest. As emotionally difficult as the work would be, she liked the idea of giving people answers about the fate of their loved ones.
Besides, she'd never been to Guatemala. She forwarded it to Dr. Goodman, knowing as she did that he would certainly have something to say about the way she planned to use her vacation.
It didn't matter what he said, though. There was no way she'd rather spend her time away from the Jeffersonian.
Besides, the ancient remains they were expecting would be there when she got back.
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He hated thinking that that weasel would get away with murder.
It was typical, though. Some rich, hot-shot federal judge kills a teenage girl and expects that no one will ask too many questions.
He'd asked the questions, but it didn't do much good if he couldn't get the answers.
He slammed his fist onto his desk just as Cam walked through the door.
Over pie at the Wong Fu's, he found himself telling her about the federal judge, the teenage girl, and the complete lack of proof.
When she gave him the name of someone who could help him, he remembered her instantly.
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He finally found the classroom and ducked through the door.
She was at the front, lecturing on defleshing techniques. She'd always had a knack for bringing up disgusting topics.
At least he wasn't trying to eat this time.
She was a little older, a little more polished, but mostly she was the same Temperance. He couldn't help but smile.
And then she saw him and she smiled back.
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I have a list of suggestions, but I'd still appreciate prompts (even if they're one word, like … well, if I could think of any, I wouldn't need prompts.)