Thank you for the wonderful reviews. They keep me writing.

I don't own Bones. Not even a smidgen.

Ooooooooooooooo

The day bright and sunny, Booth arrived at the crime scene, parked his truck behind a patrol car and showed his ID to the police officer guarding the scene. "I'm a consultant for Metro PD. The Chief asked me to come out and look the scene over."

Rubbing the back of his neck, the police officer smiled. "I know who you are Agent Booth . . . I mean Mr. Booth. We've all been told about your contract and we've been told to allow you access to crime scenes when you show up. Welcome aboard, Sir."

Pleased at the welcome, Booth smiled at the officer. "Thanks Perrault."

Surprised, Ricardo Perrault frowned. "You know me?"

Glancing across the sidewalk and at the wall of trees behind it, Booth studied the dense woods. "You responded to a kidnapping last year. Saved that kid. You're hard to forget."

His cheeks bright red, Perrault glanced away momentarily. "Thanks . . . Um, go through the woods that way, Detective Baker is at the crime scene. The body is about 50 feet inside the woods."

Patting Perrault on the arm, Booth lifted the bright yellow crime scene tape and walked under it. Approaching the small forest Booth parted some of the brush, walked several feet within the dense foliage and then stopped. Listening, he finally called out, "Detective Baker?"

He'd been expecting Booth and was relieved the man had finally arrived. Moving from behind a large tree, Edward Baker called back to the consultant. "Yeah, that's me."

Carefully watching his steps, Booth stopped four feet from the Detective and held out his Metro ID card. "The Chief said you'd like me to come down and take a look."

Baker rubbed his forehead. "Okay, I planned to call out Dr. Brennan, but the Chief wanted you to take a look first. He said since you're the go-between for us and her, he'd like you take a look to make sure it's something she needs to be involved with and because the body is next to the Finnish Embassy we may have to fight the FBI or the Secret Service for this one."

Stepping closer Booth held his breath and frowned. Looking over the body from a foot away, Booth turned back and inhaled slowly. "I'd give it to Bones if I was you. As for the FBI, I take it no one has called them yet?"

Slowly shaking his head, Ed stared at what was left of the body. "Not that I know of but it won't be long before some little birdy tells them. It happens all the time."

Shrugging his shoulders, Booth glanced around and noticed a few officers looking for particulates. "You want me to call Bones? She can be here in less than thirty minutes with her squints."

Pleased to hear he was going to get the help he needed, Ed smiled. "Call her. Let's get this show on the road."

Ooooooooooooooooo

Arriving at the crime scene, Brennan and Hodgins exited their vehicle and walked over towards the crime scene tape. Police Officer Perrault, pointing out directions, lifted the crime scene tape so Brennan and Hodgins could enter the woods. As they moved through the undergrowth and around trees and bushes they kept an eye out out for fallen branches and roots that might try to trip them.

Unobserved, Booth who had been sitting in his truck, opened the door and slipped out. Following Brennan and Jack into the woods, he kept a few feet behind them and observed them as they stopped and looked at the body and then moved forward to get a better look. Holding back, Booth walked over to where Detective Baker stood and watched his squints finally squat down next to the body.

While his wife and Hodgins started to work, Booth placed his hands on his hips and waited with the detective.

Concerned about contamination, Brennan turned to look at the detective. "Has anyone touched the body?"

Shaking his head, Ed stepped closer a few paces. "Not really Dr. Brennan. One look should be warning enough to leave the guy alone . . . Oh, the boy who found the body threw up about ten feet north of the body."

Pleased to see her husband, Brennan smiled at him. "Hodgins says that this body is next to the Finnish Embassy."

Shrugging his shoulders, Booth glanced at the woods to the left and then back at his wife. "It's not in the building or on their property. This woods is private property and doesn't belong to the the embassy. The body was found by a boy looking for bugs for a collection he's working on. I think the case should be Metro's."

"Alright, you're reasoning is sound." Turning back to the body, Brennan examined it while Hodgins turned to a few Metro techs standing nearby. Giving them instructions, they started to methodically go over the area, collecting particulates, trash and anything that might help them discover who they had and why the victim's body was where it was.

His feet a little sore standing on the uneven ground, Booth walked over to partially rotten log, sat down and rested. Baker, joined him and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. Soon they heard a disturbance near the road and Booth could guess what was going to happen in the next few minutes. "It's your case as far as I'm concerned. Let's see if we get to keep it." Pointing towards the street, Baker was made aware that someone was walking through the woods towards them. Booth placed his hands on his knees and waited to see who their visitors were. Presently two well-groomed, suited agents stepped around a large oak tree and approached the crime scene.

The first people Agent April White saw were Booth and Baker and marched over to where they sat. Just to make a point, she flashed her badge and ID. "Secret Service."

Silent, Booth chose to wait for Baker to reply.

"Lieutenant Baker . . . Metro." Pointing at the victim, Ed explained the situation. "Body was found early this morning. Dr. Brennan is contracted to us along with the Jeffersonian when it looks like we need her and their help. She and Dr. Hodgins are handling the victim right now."

Walking over to where the body lay, April observed the state of the body and walked back over to where Baker and Booth stood. "Good luck with that." Turning to her companion, April shook her head. "We definitely don't want it."

Agent Cross recognized Booth and knew he didn't work for the FBI anymore. "How about the FBI?"

Shaking her head, Agent White frowned. "I'm not getting involved in a pissing contest." With a small wave of her hand, she turned and left with her fellow agent trailing behind her.

Surprised at that outcome, Ed patted Booth on the shoulder. "Well, that was refreshing. I guess you're going to come in handy after all."

oooooooooooooooooooo

Finally back in his office, Booth was looking over security for Limbo when he felt a presence in his doorway. Looking up, he found Cam staring at him. "You going to stand there with your nose out of joint or are you coming in."

Entering the room, Cam folded her arms across her chest. "Dr. Brennan was called out to a crime scene by Metro Police this morning and you went with her. The FBI says it's their case and you whisked the body away before they got there."

A little indignant, Booth contradicted her. "One, I didn't whisk anything away. Bones had Metro send the body to their coroner's office for the autopsy. She's over there right now observing and she'll be back with the results once Dr. Kramer is done. Two, I didn't go with Bones, I was called in first to see if Bones was really needed and whether or not it was an FBI case. As far as I'm concerned the case belongs to Metro. Three, the FBI doesn't own every case in this town and they need to accept that. Four, you weren't called out because you were doing an autopsy for the CIA this morning and you can't be in two places at once. Five, the Jeffersonian is contracted out to Metro, The CIA, The FBI and The Army. Bones is not contracted to the FBI but she is contracted with the other organizations. If there is a conflict, Bones will defer to the Jeffersonian, but in this case there isn't any conflict, the case doesn't fall under FBI jurisdiction. It belongs to Metro."

Staring intently at Booth, Cam asked him, "You've signed a contract with Metro Police as a part-time consultant? Why didn't you tell me about it?"

Booth chucked his pen onto his desk and leaned back against his chairl "I emailed you last week, Cam. If my emails aren't important enough to you to read anymore then don't blame me if you don't know what's going on. The Jeffersonian lawyers looked over the contract and they approved it. Nothing was done behind your back so you need to get off of mine."

Sitting down, Cam sighed. "Okay, let's just calm down a little bit. I've been pretty busy and I don't always read emails from other departments. The next time something changes around here that you think might affect me or my department then swing by my office and just tell me. I'm across the hall Booth, not across the building."

He knew that she was irritated with him. Scratching his chin, Booth smiled at her. "I can do that. We have a little adjusting to do, Cam. The contracts the Jeffersonian have with law enforcement and the separate ones that apply to Bones are going to cause some problems. We both know that. You know that her contract with the Jeffersonian allows her to turn down working with any agency she chooses not to work with. She's allowed to go on digs, she teaches, she consults with other universities and museums. She consults with the State Department from time to time and she consults with some foreign governments. Frankly I don't know how she does all that she does. I know she used to work sixteen hour days, but that stopped when we got married, Cam. She won't be doing that shit any more. She'll decide what cases warrant her attention and that's just the way it has to be. Metro asked me to come out and look at the body to see if Bones needed to be involved. The body's face was smashed in, in fact, it really didn't have a face. Also, a lot of the meaty parts are gone, so yeah, I think they need the help. If during their investigation, Metro finds out it really is an FBI case then they'll hand it over to them. They've never balked in the past about that kind of stuff and I don't see them starting now."

Cam nodded her head and accepted his explanation. "Alright, I'll call Agent Harris and tell him what you told me . . . Look, we'll figure out a protocol to handle all of this. I think that you and I plus Dr. Brennan and Dr. Edison need to sit down and have a serious meeting about how we're going to handle things from here on out."

Nodding his head, Booth agreed with her. "I think that's a great idea. I'd rather not butt heads with you, Cam. We need to work together."

Glad to see that Booth cooperating, Cam stood up. "You've certainly changed a few things around here Seeley, but we'll adjust . . . we always do."

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