The song in this chapter is Lover, Come Back by Dallas Green. No copyright infringement intended.

Bound for trouble from the start,

I've been walking through this old world in the dark.

All along, right by my side

There you were shining, my ray of light.

Two days later Booth walked across the lab toward Brennan's office, full of conflicting emotions. They had a case, which meant someone had died in a horrible, unnatural way, and they needed to bring a murderer to justice. This was not a responsibility to be taken lightly. He was dedicated to performing his job to the best of his ability, and he'd use all of his experience, skill, and resources to bring this case to a satisfactory conclusion, with the parties responsible being brought to justice.

On the other hand, he could hardly keep from smiling inappropriately, considering that someone had died. He was going to be working with Bones as his partner again, and just the thought of renewing their partnership made his heart rate accelerate. Booth laughed to himself as he thought about her expression when he told her she'd been pressed into service for the FBI. He wasn't above being manipulative with FBI regulations if it got him what he wanted, especially where she was concerned. Maybe the way he'd pushed her into helping him wasn't within the letter of the law, but they had always achieved great results together. Cullen didn't care who Booth was partnered with, as long as they closed cases, and he was more than willing to sign off on Booth's idea that Brennan's application be fast tracked.

Now, if he could only fast track her heart...Booth was convinced that she felt something for him...something other than professional respect or even friendship. He nodded and grinned, rather proud of himself. While they were working together over the next few weeks he was going to try to make her fall in love with him. This was going to be a step towards achieving his New Year's resolution. He was going to make her see that they could have a wonderful life together as a loving couple. So what if he had to manipulate the work rules to make it happen...no one was going to get hurt, and a lot of people might actually be helped along the way. He'd have to be patient...she was going to have to be coaxed, especially after her failed relationship with Sully, but he was a determined man, and he was going to pull out all the stops to win her affections.

Lover, come back

Come back to me.

How could I have been so foolish as to let you leave…..

Booth mentally kicked himself again, wondering why he'd told Bones to go with Sully. He hadn't really thought she'd actually go...and when she left, he felt like his world was crashing down around him. And Cam was right...she had dried his tears and comforted him, but Jesus, what a mistake that had been. God...what was I thinking? He sighed as he relived his error in judgment. I should have known how things would've turned out with Cam...I was too angry at Bones and at myself and the whole damn situation to think straight…. Maybe it would've been easier if he had just followed Bones to the Caribbean and begged her to come home...but that wouldn't have worked either. She had to find out for herself that Sully wasn't the right one for her, and now that she had come to that realization, maybe he'd be able to show her how he really felt...make her see that he was the one she needed in her life.

Lover, come back.

Come back to me.

oooooooooo

He leaned against the door frame for a few seconds, watching Brennan work. Jesus...she's so beautiful when she's thinking… He willed himself to calm down...he had to explain that their present situation was strictly professional, or she'd build the walls around her heart even higher.

"Why are you here, Booth?" She spoke to him without turning away from her computer. "Do we have a case, or are you just here to annoy me?"

"We do have a case, Bones, and it looks like it may be messy. A body was found on the edge of a tidal pool out on federal land over in Delaware. Looks like you're gonna need your gum boots." He grinned at her. "Seems like old times, doesn't it? You and me and a messy crime scene? Anyway, the first responders need us out there pretty quick before the tide comes in again, so chop chop...we gotta get a move on."

Brennan glared at Booth as she shut down her computer. "Don't get used to this, Booth. I'm only going to work with you until Sully's replacement arrives." She glanced over and noticed once again how well his black FBI tee shirt fit...even when she was dating Sully she had often paused to appreciate Booth's finely sculpted musculature. She quickly returned her focus to the task at hand. Grabbing her kit and her boots Brennan joined Booth as they walked quickly to his car.

oooooooooo

I'll never be as good as I'd like to be.

Eternally restless, refusing to believe…

But I think we missed our connection.

I wanted to feel your affection

Until my dying days.

"What can you tell me about the remains?" Brennan stared out the window of the SUV as it sped along. She realized that for the first time in a long time she finally felt completely comfortable around Booth...she could relax now that they had something to talk about other than Sully or Cam.

"Mostly that's there's not much left. I guess the people who first saw the bones at the scene thought they belonged to a deer or something like that, but the shape of the skull clued them in otherwise." Booth glanced over at Brennan as she watched the scenery go by. "You know, I've missed this...us working together. No matter who my partner was while you were gone, it just wasn't the same…."

She turned toward him and rolled her eyes. "That's ridiculous, Booth. You evidently were able to successfully work with several different partners to solve cases for the FBI, which is apparently why Director Cullen is so anxious to have you remain in the field, even with a substitute partner like me."

"We did all right...I worked some cases solo until the rules started to change about everybody having a partner, and then I got assigned some cases with other guys here and there, but it just isn't the same as having a long term partner...you know, someone that you've built trust with...someone you know you can rely on. When you work with someone new, you have to establish boundaries about who does what, and you have to work really hard to learn how to communicate with them."

"I remember, Booth….it took me awhile to get used to working with a partner when I first started going out in the field with you." Brennan turned away from him to watch the scenery again. She hadn't realized how much she had missed that aspect of her partnership with Booth...the trust between them and the fact that she had always been able to rely on him.

"It takes everybody awhile...that's why it's good to find a partner and do everything you can to keep him or her." Booth sighed as he felt the meaning of those words….they were true in love as well as in work. "That's why I'm pleased that you're gonna work with me, at least for a few weeks."

Brennan studied Booth for a few seconds, and then turning away again, casually asked, "How did you get Sully to leave, Booth? If I didn't know better, I'd think you sent him away on purpose so I wouldn't be tempted to live on his boat with him again."

Damn! Booth thought. Am I really that obvious? "Of course I didn't send him away...why would I do that? Other than the fact that I'm crazy in love with you, Bones… "You know that the FBI sends out lists of job openings periodically, and anyone can apply for a transfer if they want. The opening in South Carolina came up, and I mentioned it to Sully. Rebecca's boyfriend is in the Coast Guard, and he said that Charleston has one of the best harbors on the East coast."

"Rebecca's boyfriend told you that in casual conversation? You don't even like him, Booth. Why would you be talking about harbors anyway?" Brennan tried to keep from smiling. It was becoming clear what had happened. "You called him, didn't you, so you could get information to use to convince Sully to leave."

"You think I was conspiring to get Sully to leave? He's not a bad guy, and we were on friendly terms for the most part." Until he stole you from me. "So I wanted him to be happy, and I decided to do the guy a favor. That's what friends do for each other. I don't know why you're so suspicious, Bones…."

"Possibly because you knew he'd be so happy to take the position that he'd leave right away before you could get a new partner assigned." Brennan chuckled as Booth's ears turned red. "I have to admit, Booth, it is rather flattering to think that you'd go to such great lengths to have me be your partner again…"

You have no idea, Bones…."Oh...here we are….yuck...this place is a swampy mess. Here, wait just a minute and I'll help you...Bones! Dammit...wait just a minute…" Brennan got out of the SUV just as rain started to fall and started trekking across the muddy salt marsh before Booth could assist her, warning the law enforcement officials not to disturb the remains any more than they already had. Booth watched as she began her survey of the remains and the surrounding environment, feeling both admiration and perhaps a bit of lust. Yep….seems like old times…

oooooooooo

I am warm enough yet I shiver.

I am fed but still I starve.

You know me...I am the great misgiver,

Always waiting for the clouds to part.

Come back lover, come back to me….

The pale light of the winter sun was beginning to fade as Booth and Brennan made their way back to the Jeffersonian. It had been a cold and wet recovery of the remains, which were stuck in layers of mud and silt, and both of them were exhausted emotionally as well as physically. It didn't help matters that they both had wet feet, and a steady rain had seeped through their clothing, chilling them to the bone. They rode in silence for an hour, trying to grasp the tragedy around what had happened to the victim.

"The remains were badly scavenged, Booth, but I think Angela will have enough to do a facial reconstruction. We'll at least have a general idea of what she looked like in life." Brennan pushed her damp hair off her face as she glanced over at Booth. His lips were pressed in a tight line and his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. "I'm sorry, Booth. I know these cases upset you…" Brennan reached out and gently stroked his arm.

"A kid….a little girl. God damn it, Bones...how could anyone do something so horrible to a little girl like that?" Booth turned to look out the side window so Bones wouldn't see the tears in his eyes. "I mean, she was probably about Parker's age, right? Son of a bitch…"

"We will find the person did this to her, Booth...I'll stay on this case even after you're new partner arrives. We won't give up until we figure it out…."

He turned back to look at her, brushing away a stray tear. "I know you won't give up, Bones...you never do. That's what makes you such a great partner." Inhaling deeply, he swallowed hard and tried to calm down. "Hey, I'm sorry I got so worked up, you know? I mean, I'm supposed to maintain my professional composure…"

"Don't be sorry, Booth….you don't have to pretend around me. You can always tell me exactly what you're feeling…" Brennan paused and, sighing deeply, looked out at the road ahead of them. "I'm also feeling very distressed about this case. I seem to have lost my capacity for professional detachment as well. However, I'm glad that I'm able to share what I'm feeling with you…"

Booth's heart did a little dance in his chest as he wondered what feelings she might share with him. "Maybe that's what made us such good partners, Bones...we could talk to each other….although I think maybe there are some things I still need to say to you…" Booth exhaled slowly, ready to pour out his heart to her, and his phone rang. He groaned slightly as he answered it.

"Booth. No….no, absolutely not. No. I mean it. Do not...yes, I do mean it. Absolutely not. No way. Enough. Goodbye." He put his phone away and sighed, staring straight ahead as he clenched his jaw.

"Cam?" Brennan looked out the side window again.

"Yeah…" Booth rubbed his neck as he tried to explain again. "That whole thing with her was such a big mistake...listen, Bones...you've gotta believe me, okay? I'm real embarrassed to say that the relationship Cam and I had was based on satisfying biological urges, and not much else. It was just sex...I feel bad about that, but that's all it was."

"Why be embarrassed about that, Booth? All mammals need the release of endorphins that accompany an orgasm." Brennan glanced at Booth. "It's a perfectly normal instinctual response."

"It may be normal if you're a horny sixteen year old boy, but that's not what I want in a relationship with the woman I love, Bones. It has to be more than sex." Booth turned the SUV into the Jeffersonian parking garage. "A relationship has to be built on affection, communication, and devotion to each other in order to last. Then after that part of the relationship is in place, the sex part of the relationship becomes extraordinary." As he parked the car, Booth turned and took Brennan's hand in his as he looked into her eyes. "That's the kind of relationship I want, and I want it with you." She sat stunned for a few seconds, trying to decide how to respond.

"Booth...I don't think this is a good idea…what about our partnership? The FBI won't let us work together…."

He held up his hand to interrupt her protests. "I don't give a damn about what the FBI says. Look, I know you may not feel the same way about me, and I'm not going to pressure you to become involved in a relationship like that if you don't want to, but you deserve to know the truth about how I feel. I love you so much….and I have for a long time." There…the truth is finally out….no turning back from it now…. He brushed the damp hair away from Brennan's face and gently kissed her on the lips. His cheeks flushed as he noticed her slightly shocked expression. "C'mon, I'll walk you inside. Do you want me to go get you some dinner?"

"No...I think I'm going to go home and have some soup. If you want, you can come by my place and have some, too. There's plenty…." She stopped and stared at him. He's just told me something momentous...that he loves me...and I don't know what to say….do I love him? I think maybe I do love him but he doesn't seem to be concerned about that right now….

He wanted to go to home with her, but he knew she needed some time to work through what she thought about what he had said. He shook his head as he held the door open for her. "Not tonight. I'm beat. I'll see you tomorrow. We'll have lunch together. Hey, don't work too late tonight, Bones, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay. I'm going to check my emails and then go home."

He gave her a small smile as he turned to walk away. "Okay. Will you text me and let me know you got home alright?"

"If you want…"

"Yes, I want. Good night, Bones…."

"Good night, Booth." She watched him walk a short distance away from her before she stopped him. "Booth?"

"Yeah…" He closed his eyes and sighed as he turned to face her. Here it comes….she's not even gonna let me down easy….I spilled my guts about being in love with her and she's gonna shoot me down...she's gonna tell me that most relationships fail….all that damn anthropology crap about monogamy being unnatural….

Brennan was startled at his response. Did I really say his name out loud? What was I going to say…. She stammered a bit as she realized he was waiting for her to say something. "Thank you for sharing what you've been feeling about me. I'm going to consider what you said about relationships…." She wore a serious expression as she chewed her lip and stared down at her clasped hands.

He grinned and nodded. "That's all I ask. Thanks, Bones. Good night." He turned and quickly walked to his car and drove away..

Brennan watched silently as he got in his car and pulled out of the parking garage. Booth's feelings were now completely out in the open...he had nothing left to hide from her. Now it was up to her to decide what she was willing to do about it.

Come back, lover….come back to me….

Sorry to end this chapter here but the original version was coming up on 4200 words, and ain't nobody got time to read all that. More soon...