(The Beginning in the End)

I definitely don't own Bones although I do own my bones.

Ooooooooooooooo

Observing Cam as the coroner performed an autopsy on their latest victim, Brennan was surprised to hear her name called from the doorway. Turning, Brennan was surprised to see an old. friend. "Lynn what are you doing here?"

Pleased that Brennan was welcoming, Lynn Hilton stepped into the room and glanced at the body lying on the table next to Brennan. "Apparently rescuing you from an episode of CSI."

A little confused, Brennan shook her head. "I don't know what that means."

Chuckling, Lynn stepped closer to Brennan and looked closer at the body. "CSI is a television show and one of my little guilty pleasures."

Shaking her head, Cam interjected herself into the conversation. "I can't stand crime shows. Give me comedy or steamy love stories anytime."

Amused, Lynn pointed at the body and shook his head. "If I had to deal with that . . . uh . . . that, then I wouldn't want to watch crime shows either. By the way, my name is Lynn Hilton, rescuer of fair damsels in distress and a teacher when my students will allow it."

Scoffing, Brennan shook her head. "Lynn is head of Anthropology at Columbia University."

With a slight bow, Lynn placed his hand over his heart and smiled. "Guilty as charged."

A little impatient, Brennan removed her latex gloves and tossed them in the bio-hazard bin. "What are you doing here? I thought you were already in Indonesia."

Turning his back to the grim sight on the table, Lynn suddenly grew serious. "I came to personally ask you to be my project manager for the Maluku dig. Now really, Temperance, I don't want to take no for an answer."

She hated that he was trying to pressure her, but she knew that their conversation needed to be done in private. "Let's go over to my office and talk."

Shaking his head, Lynn placed his hand on her shoulder. "Actually I'd like to take you out to lunch. My treat. I know a lovely little Bistro that we can go to. I'd like to have a few good meals before I head off to the jungle again."

Well aware that he loved food, Brennan smiled. "Of course. We can go to my office so I get my purse. I also need to wash my hands before we leave."

His gaze back on the body, Lynn patted Brennan's upper back. "Oh well, that goes without saying, Temperance."

Watching them leave the room, Cam exhaled deeply. "Damn it. Not now."

Ooooooooooooooooooo

After Booth entered Brennan's office he noticed that his wife wasn't there. Placing the vase of daffodils on Brennan's coffee table, he walked over to Cam's office and found it unoccupied. Spying, Hodgins, Booth called out to him. "Hey Bug Boy, where's Brennan?"

Not really sure, Hodgins shrugged his shoulders. "The last time I saw her she was in autopsy."

Giving the entomologist a small salute, Booth walked over to the autopsy room and entered it. Cam, weighing the victim's liver noticed her friend standing near the doorway. Pointing towards a chair she kept near the door, the coroner smiled at him. "Take a load off."

Grateful, Booth sat down. "I thought I'd come by and see if Bones wants to go to lunch. Do you know where she is? I don't want to go on a man hunt looking for her."

Resigned that she was the one to give him the news, Cam tried to make light of what she was about to say. "Oh . . . a friend of Dr. Brennan's dropped by and took her out to lunch."

Curious, Booth stared at his friend. "Oh yeah . . . who?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Cam frowned at the empty doorway then turned her gaze back towards Booth. "Dr. Lynn Hilton, do you know him?"

Slowly shaking his head, Booth rubbed his jawline. "No . . . maybe . . . I don't know. Bones talks about egg heads that she knows, but hell if I can keep them straight."

Lifting the liver out of the scale and into a tray, she added some information to some notes she'd written. "Did you have a date with Dr. Brennan?"

"Nah." Shaking his head, Booth frowned at the sight of the gory body lying on the table. "Nah, I thought I'd surprise her and take her to a new vegetarian restaurant Lester told me about. It's okay . . . I'll just go over to the diner and get something." Standing, Booth tried to be casual. "So, is this guy an old friend of Bones or just an acquaintance?"

Cam shrugged her shoulders. "I think they're old friends, but I don't really know. He seemed like he was a friend."

Waving his hand over his shoulder, Booth left the room and shortly afterward the Lab.

Ooooooooooooooo

It was late when Brennan entered the apartment. Booth noticed the tired look on his wife's face and after glancing at the clock, he stood up and met her halfway between the living room and the bedroom. Placing his arms around her, he smiled. "Long day, huh?."

Enjoying the feel of Booth's arms wrapped around her, Brennan leaned against him. "Yes, I didn't mean to stay so long but I really wanted to examine the body after Cam did her autopsy and before my intern cleaned the bones."

Kissing her, Booth knew she needed to do her job and he was fine with that. "I have some pasta primavera in the fridge if you want it. I picked it up a new vegetarian restaurant Lester told me about."

After she returned his kiss, Brennan pulled free from his embrace and walked over to the kitchen. "Thank you Booth. That was very considerate of you. I am very hungry."

Following her into the kitchen, Booth leaned against the door frame and watched her retrieve the pasta from the fridge and stick it in the microwave. "I dropped by to take you to lunch this afternoon, but Cam said you were already gone with someone else."

Brennan pulled a plate from the cabinet, pulled a fork from the flatware drawer and waited for her pasta to heat up. "Yes, Cam told me. Thank you for the flowers, they're lovely."

Trying for casual, Booth slowly nodded his head. "Cam said the guy was a friend of yours and he just dropped by to take you to lunch."

When the microwave pinged, Brennan pulled the warmed up pasta from the microwave and placed it on the kitchen table. "Yes, Lynn is in town and he came by to see me. He's head of anthropology at Columbia."

Folding his arms across his chest, Booth suddenly felt nervous. "So, why's he in town? Anything to do with . . . I don't know . . . the Jeffersonian?"

Once she settled on a chair, Brennan spooned some of the pasta on to her plate. "No, he's working on recruitment for his dig in Indonesia."

"Indonesia?" Stepping in to the room, Booth sat down across from his wife. "Didn't that guy ask you to be part of his dig? The one you turned down?"

Nodding her head, Brennan took a bite of her food. "Yes."

His nerves now on edge, Booth cleared his throat. "He doesn't want you to say no does he?"

Shaking her head, Brennan swallowed her bite of food. "No, he doesn't."

Licking his lips, Booth leaned back in his chair. "Are you rethinking it? I mean, I can understand if you want to . . . it is your thing."

The tension in Booth very apparent even for her, Brennan shook her head. "No, I was quite firm with Lynn. I have no intention of going to Indonesia at this time. We just got married Booth, I can't just go on a dig for a whole year and leave you behind. That would be ridiculous."

Relieved to hear that, Booth leaned forward and place his folded arms on the table before him. "I wouldn't mind, Bones. I mean, you're the world's greatest anthropologist. It figures that people would beg you to work with them."

Placing her fork down, Brennan stared at Booth. "Yes, I am the best and any project they have running would benefit from my experience, but I am not interested in leaving you for a year, Booth. They will just have to do the best they can without my expertise. I have an important job here and I cannot over look how my expertise is needed very badly by the FBI."

Her words were all he needed to hear. Leaning over further, Booth kissed Brennan. "You are needed here. The Lab couldn't function without you." Kissing her again, Booth smiled. "And neither could I."

"Aww." Returning his kiss, Brennan's eyes glittered. "You're so romantic, Booth."

Separating from her and pointing at her plate, Booth encouraged her. "Eat up, Bones. Maybe I can show you just how romantic I can be after you eat."

Ooooooooooooooooooo

Snuggled in Booth's arms, Brennan placed her hand on his chest and asked him, "Do you wish to have another marriage ceremony in three months? If you wish a church wedding then I would be more than happy to get married again to satisfy your need for ritual. You didn't really say if you wanted one or not. I don't want you to get into trouble with Susan or your church."

Clasping her hand, Booth smiled. "Nah. I'm fine. We're married and having another wedding won't make us more married than we already are. Susan might be pissed at me for awhile but that's okay. She needs to remember that she doesn't get everything in life she wants. I shouldn't have even mentioned it. This is our life not hers and Morris is a big boy, he can take care of himself when it comes to Susan. As for the church, we are married Bones. I don't need a ceremony in the church. It's okay."

She wanted Booth to be happy and she wanted him to be alright with his church. "Perhaps we should have another one for family and friends."

Puzzled, Booth stared at Brennan's profile. "Bones, if you want a wedding for family then say so. If this is just for me then don't worry about it. We're married, I don't need another ceremony. Don't let Susan worry you. She's a control freak, but if I say no then she'll leave it alone. Believe me, what we did is enough for me if it's enough for you."

Clasping his hand tightly, Brennan sighed. "I just want you to be happy Booth."

"Bones, if I was anymore happier I . . ." Hearing his voice rise, Booth paused. "I'm happy, Bones. I'm very very happy. I don't need anything more. If you're happy then I'm happy. I love you, we're married, we're living together. I have everything I want. I hope you do too."

Brennan pressed tighter against her husband's body. "I am very happy, Booth."

He enjoyed the feel of her body pressed against his. Relaxed he closed his eyes. "Good, it's settled. We're happy."

ooooooooooooooooooo

Reviews would be great. Thank you.