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Resting on the couch, Booth heard a rap on the front door. Standing, he used the remote to turn off the TV and walked slowly over to the door. Opening it, he was confronted by a sight he thought he'd never see. "Yeah? What do you want?"

Puzzled, Michael Stires looked Booth down and then back up. Concerned to find a man, wearing sweat pants, a t-shirt and barefoot standing in front of him, Stires glanced down the hallway and back. "I'm sorry, I thought this was the home of Dr. Temperance Brennan."

Filled with malice, Booth placed his hands on his hips. "Yeah, you aren't wrong. What do you want?"

Realization hitting him, Stires stared intently at Booth. "Wait, you're Tempe's FBI partner, aren't you?"

Placing his hand on the doorknob, Booth moved a step forward. "Yeah, I am. I'm only going to ask you one more time . . . what do you want?"

Irritated, Stires drew himself up and lifted his chin. "I would like to speak to Temperance, so go find her and tell her I'm here."

Shaking his head slowly, Booth smiled in contempt. "Not going to happen, Sport." As he started to close the door, Booth found his action stopped by the anthropologist when Stires darted out his hand and placed it palm wide on the door.

Furious with Booth, Stires held the door open. "I want to speak to Temperance. You have no right to keep me from talking to her."

Trying to hold his temper in check, Booth took a calming breath. "I'm the boyfriend you dick. I have every right to protect her from a creep like you . . . Get lost."

Enraged, Stires stepped forward and threw a punch at his rival. Booth seeing the fist coming, threw his hand out to stop it, which caused the wounds in his back and chest pull and cause a searing pain to cross his chest. Gasping, he stepped back which allowed the anthropologist to follow him into the room.

Stepping closer to Booth, Stires sneered. "You're hurt you dumbass. I heard all about it at the courthouse. I could beat the shit out of you right now and there wouldn't be a damn thing you could do to stop me."

Coldly, Booth planted his feet and moved his fists up. "Try me asshole. It'll be the last thing you ever do."

Clearing her throat, Brennan interrupted Booth. "Michael, what are you doing here?"

Turning, her former professor pasted a charming smile on his face. "Tempe, I merely came by to see you and this Neanderthal told me I couldn't. I never would have believed that you'd allow someone to run interference for you." Turning and sneering at Booth, he turned back to Brennan. "This person seems to think he has control over whom you can see or not see. You really need to put a leash on him."

Her expression neutral, Brennan glanced at Booth and then back to Stires and motioned for her former lover to step out into the hallway. Once he was no longer in her apartment, Brennan placed her grocery sack down on the floor at her feet. Turning to look at Booth, she pointed at the door. "Booth, I'd like to talk to Michael alone, please."

His face an unemotional mask, Booth closed the door and walked back into the living room. Sitting on the couch, he waited for Brennan. Certain that he may have damaged his relationship with her, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch. Holding his arm tightly against his chest, he ignored the ripples of pain running across his chest.

After the door was closed, Brennan turned her gaze upon Stires. "So . . . you think it's alright to beat a man that has just been released from the hospital just a couple of weeks ago? A man who almost died from a gunshot wound?"

Embarrassed, Stires pursed his lips. "I was provoked. I merely threatened the man. I wasn't actually going to go through with it. He thinks he can control you. I merely wanted to point out that he had no right to do that. I was protecting you."

Laughing in disbelief, Brennan shook her head ."I'm not a 22 year old intern, Michael and I am most definitely not a fool. Booth is not just my partner, he is my boyfriend. I don't care for the term considering his and my age, but none the less that is what he is. You on the other hand are a coward. Only a coward would threaten a man who was in a weakened condition . . . Actually I shouldn't have interfered. Even in his weakened state, Booth could kill you with little effort. You have no idea who you were threatening. No idea at all."

Sneering, Stires shook his head in disbelief. "An FBI agent is not a ninja, Temperance. I could . . ."

"Booth is special forces, Michael." Picking up her grocery sack, Brennan shook her head. "You don't know how lucky you were that I came home when I did. Do not try to contact me again. The next time I will not stop Booth from hurting you. You've been warned."

Stepping around him, she opened the apartment door and entered the living room. Not bothering to look at Michael again, she closed the door firmly behind her and locked it. Carrying her sack into the kitchen, she unloaded it and placed the contents in the fridge. As she worked to control her anger, she removed a bottle of water from the top shelf, twisted off the cap and drank most of the contents. Her fury finally under control, she placed the bottle on the counter and walked into the living room. Booth was still sitting on the couch, so she walked across the room and sat down beside him.

Embarrassed that Michael had had the nerve to threaten Booth, Brennan placed her hand on his thigh. "Booth . . . I'm sorry. I shouldn't have interfered, but I didn't want you to hurt Michael. It would just have made trouble for you and me."

Surprised, Booth opened his eyes and stared at Brennan. "What did you say?"

Grimacing, Brennan repeated her apology. "I said that I'm sorry that I interfered. I just didn't want you to get into trouble for hurting Michael. He isn't worth it. He hasn't been for a long time."

Not sure what was going on, Booth placed his hand over her hand. "You're not mad at me?"

Leaning over and kissing him, Brennan smiled. "You were trying to protect me from someone you consider unsavory. It's what you do. It's who you are and I do appreciate it. I do want to remind you though that I don't really need to be protected from anyone. I am quite capable of protecting myself."

Relieved that Brennan wasn't angry with him, Booth returned her kiss. "Yeah, I know you can handle douche bags like Michael Stires, but he pissed me off and I wanted him to leave you alone . . . So did you bring back some pie?"

Shaking her head, Brennan chuckled. "Yes, I did. I expect you to pay me. You did promise me."

Booth leaned closer to her and smiled. "I believe I promised you kisses to take your breathe away."

Laughing, Brennan moved closer allowing her lips to lightly touch his. Feeling a sudden need to prove how much he loved her, Booth pressed his lips harder against hers. The urgency of the kiss taking over, Brennan gave into the moment.

Finally separating, Brennan leaned back, "I do love you Booth."

"Those are the sweetest words I've ever heard, Bones. Thank you." Leaning his head against hers, he closed his eyes and tried to regain his breath. "You make me so happy."

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