Cross Roads (complete)

Nadya turned to her granddaughter and rattled off a quick sentence. Marisqe turned to Booth, "my grandmother would like to read her future, but asks you to leave."



Booth looked at her, and turned to Brennan. "you okay with that?" he didn't want to leave.



Brennan looked at the old woman, and nodded her head at Booth, "It'll be fine." she watched Booth as he stood up, and glanced at her,



"It will be for just a few minutes", Marisqe assured him. With a last look at Brennen, he ducked out of the tent, closing the flap behind him.



Nadya squinted her eyes, and reached across the table reaching for Brennan's hand. Marisqe began, "I have seen things in your future, things yet to be determined, things that bring joy, and others that do not." she gave a deep sigh. "you are a learned woman, a woman of means, and great convictions, yet, "she paused again catching her breath, "and yet, you lack faith."



"I am a scientist, I don't believe in faith." Brennan answered back.



Nadya gave a sharp retort back, Marisqe gave her the words "you have faith in a man." she pointed her finger towards the tent flap.



"Trust is not the same thing as faith."



"your paths have crossed many times, and yet, your journey is still alone. Your time of chooseing draws near. Know the choice you make determines his path as well." She tilted her head, "your choice will bring many forks in your road, yet only one choice will determine your happiness," she paused, and bent her head towards Brennan's, "it will also determine his." she leaned back, "Trust in him, he is your faith."



"I don't know what that means."



Nadya answered her in a heavy accent, "You do." and she waved her hand, and said something to her granddaughter.



"She would like a few minutes with your friend, now."



Brennan stood up, and strode out, "Bones?"



"She wants to see you now." trying her best to sound normal.

Booth stepped back into the tent, letting the flap fall behind him. His eyes adjusted to the dim interier, as he made his way back to his chair.



Nadya was sitting, waiting for him, he'd barely sat down, when she started talking. "Grandmother says that you are a believer." she paused listening , "a man of faith who has lost something." she tilted her head, listening as Nadya continued, "a belief that surrounds you also causes you much sadness." Nadya nodded her head, "you must help your friend decide," she reached across the table for Booth's hand, she smiled, her eyes crinkling deep at the corners. "your friend, she has suffered greatly....and protects herself....from you."



Nadya leaned back in her chair, Booth's hand held firmly in hers. "Her heart is speaking, but falls on deaf ears, as she chooses not to listen. You must make her listen, her time draws near, her time to choose is coming."



"I don't understand." he said.



"I have seen your fates. I've seen hers, I've seen yours. And.......I've seen yours and hers together."



"Together?" he asked, sounding hopeful.



"Yes," she answered him, "together, I've seen much happiness for you, a family." she turned her head to her granddaughter, "I've also seen the other paths. The path to success for both of you, yet alone, filled with regret, and longing." her voice dropped an octave, "I've also seen danger for her, a mortal danger."



"She's not going to die?" Booth asked, Marisqe relaying his question.



Nadya answered, Marisqe spoke, "She can't see that, but there is something there, a great danger of some kind." Nadya cried out, "she says you must stop her."



Marisqe laid a hand on her Grandmother's shoulder, comforting her. She whispered gentle words to her, soothing her, as Booth watched them.



"She doesn't believe in this kind of thing." referring to Brennan, who was outside.



"We noticed." Marisqe translated for her grandmother, who graced him with a giant gap tooth grin. "But she believes in you. You are the one who can change it for her."



"Change what?' Booth asked.



"What will be, what won't be, it's up to you." Marisqe slid his belt buckle, and the little blue smurf across the table. He reached out, and picked their items up, holding them tight in his hand.



"Thank you." he said, standing up, reaching for his wallet.



"NO!" Nadya shook her head at him, pointing to his wallet.



"Grandmother said no." Marisque repeated to him, with a smile.



Booth looked from one to the other, "your sure?"



Nadya nodded her head, and gave him a little wave, as she got to her feet, and hobbled towards the back of the tent, her granddaughter by her side. Booth turned and walked out the front of the tent.



"You ready Bones?" he asked her.

I love this story!

"Well?" she asked him, as he ducked out of the tent.



"You ready?" he looked at her, he gave her his arm, she took it.



"I am." she answered him, "what did she tell you?"



"nothing really, you?"



"Not much." she nodded at him, "its not like its real anyway, nobody can see into the future." she gave him a half smile.



"Let's find your brother." he changed the subject all together.



They wondered around aimlessly while searching for Russ, taking in more of the sites, he won her another stuffed animal, he bought her a giant pretzel, and she made him ride the tilt a whirl, one more time.



"I love that ride Booth." she said smoothing her hair down, as they exited.



"Yea its alot of fun." he loved having her so close, tucked into his side.



"Tempe?" they both heard her name. "I thought that was you, what are you doing here?" Russ walked up behind them, throwing his arm around her, giving her a bear hug. "Booth." he extended his hand.



"We were driving thru, and decided to stop and say, Hi."



"great to see you guys." he smiled at them. "I'm just on my way to work, but I'll be here for a few days, you guys want to get together for dinner or something?"



"I'll call Dad, and we'll have dinner, tomorrow?" she asked



"Sounds good, Booth you come, too." Russ added, making note of how close they were standing, "I'll call Amy, and the girls, we'll make it a family affair."



"Yes, Booth, you come too." Brennan looked at him.



"I see you've been enjoying the carnival atmosphere?" Russ said. "Tempe always had a thing for Smurfette." referring to the stuffed smurf clutched in her hand.



"Booth won it for me." she smiled at Russ. "And he made me try funnell cake, and we rode the Tilt a Whirl, multiple times." she gave her brother a big smile, "had no idea carnivals were so fun."



"Don't forget about the fortune teller Bones." Booth added.



"Oh yea, we did that too."



"A fortune teller?" Russ asked.



"You know the old lady gypsy, and her granddaughter?" Booth added.



"Hate to tell you guys this, but we don't have a fortune teller." he said.



"Yes you do, Russ, we were just there." she pointed in the direction from which they had come. "big colorful tent, windchimes."



Russ just shook his head at her, "Follow me." she grabbed her brother by the arm, and dragged him in the direction of the tent. They passed the Tilt a Whirl, went past all the gaming booths, went past the food stands,finally reaching the area of the Fortune Teller's tent. "Right here............" her voice trailed off.



They looked around, a patch of dry dusty dirt was the only thing there. No signs of any kind to show them that anything had been there, at all. A breeze blew threw, empty wrappers and trash rolled through, a soda can rolled with the wind behind it. Even the post where the windchimes had hung, was gone.



"It was right here." Booth said, standing in the center of where the tent had been.



"I don't understand." Brennan looked completely confused.



"Let's get out of here, Bones." Although he wouldn't ever admit it to her, he was completely creeped out.



"I've got to go to work, but I'll see you guys tomorrow night." Russ bent and kissed her cheek, "Booth." and he was gone.



"Come on Bones." he pulled her by the hand, "Let's get back to D.C."

Booth picked up her up at the Jeffersonian. "You ready for dinner, Bones?" As he opened the door for her, and let her slide in.



"I'm ready, I called Dad, and he's meeting us there." she looked out the window, "did you get your paperwork caught up?"



"Completely, you?" she nodded her head at him. He manuevered into traffic, switching lanes smoothly, "why so quiet, Bones?" breaking the silence, after a few minutes. "Something on your mind?" he asked, glancing over at her.



She turned and looked at him, "I got a call today." she paused, "from Michael."



"Stires?" he looked at her as she nodded. "What the hell did he want?" his very name annoyed him.



She looked down at her hands, "He is putting together some people for a dig." she paused, "in South America."



Booth gritted his teeth, and jerked his blinker on, switching lanes again. He glanced over at her, "and........" he prompted her on.



"Apparantly they've found ancient remains of a race of people, that was previously unknown to exist. An extraordinary find, Booth." she looked at him.



"He wants you to go?" he looked over at her. She nodded. "Stires of all people."



"It's not personal Booth." she hadn't forgotten what he had done to her either. "strictly professional. I told Michael that."



"Yea, I'm sure he got the message." he gave her a look.



"Your useing sarcasm, aren't you?"



"We're here, let's just go enjoy dinner with your family, Bones." as he put the SUV in park. He got out, slamming the door a little harder, then he meant to, and walked around to her side.



"Booth?" she looked at him, as she slid out.



"Let's just eat, I'm hungry." and he gave her his arm, and led her in.

"Honey." Max stood up, hugging his daughter. "Booth."



"Max." Booth, acknowleging him, as he pulled a chair out for Brennan. "Russ."



"Where's Amy and the girls." Brennan asked.



"She couldn't make it, she's throwing a baby shower for a friend. She said to tell everyone "hi." he said, as he sat back down in his chair.



"Girls are doing okay?" she asked.



"Thanks to you, Tempe, their all doing much better." he gave his sister a smile, forever grateful.



"I'm glad to hear that, Russ." giving her brother hand a squeeze.



"So, I guess you enjoyed the carnival last night?" Russ leaned back, and looked at them both.



"It was fun." Brennan answered him.



"Your mother always loved those things." Max sad, with a sad smile. "She loved loved taking you two."



"I remember Dad." Russ looked over at his dad.



Brennan looked at her dad, his eyes suspiciously shiney, "She loved the Ferris Wheel."



"Yes, she did honey." Max looked away and coughed. "So anything new?" he looked at Booth.



"I have some news." Brennan spoke up.



"Oh?" Max's brow raised in question, looking from one to the other.



"I've been offered a spot on a dig."



"Oh." Max's voice dropped in disappointment.



"It's in South America." she said, Max glanced at Booth, who hadn't said a word.



"When did this happen, honey?" he asked.



"I got a call this morning." she sighed, "it's a chance of a lifetime. Nothing like this has ever been found before. The best anthropologist in the world are all going to be there."



"That's wonderrful honey, but what about the Jeffersonian, and the FBI?"



"It'll only be for a few months, I can take a sabatical. I've already talked to Cam."



"When?" Booth asked her, reaching for his glass of water.



"Day after tomorrow." she answered.



Max was watching Booth, saw his jaw tighten. "Wow, honey, day after tomorrow?"



"Discoveries like this don't happen everyday, Dad. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."



"Of course it is, honey. I'm just concerned for your safety, South America can be a dangerous place."




"I can take care of myself dad."



"I know you can."



"I"ll be in a large group, we'll be fine."



"I've got to use the ladies room before we order." Booth stood up, and pulled her chair out. After she'd gone, he sat back down.



Max looked at Booth, "What the hell is wrong with you Booth?" giving his the old stink eye.



"What?" he looked at Max.



"Your just going to let her go? Just like that?" he accused him.



"She's a big girl Max."



"So!"



"What the hell am I supposed to do? She wants to go, didn't you hear her?" Booth looked at him.



"What is wrong with you, Booth, are you sure your not gay?" causing Russ to smirk.



"I'm not gay Max." Booth gave him an annoyed stare, and gave Russ a glare.



"Bones doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do. Do you really think that I can make her stay?"



"Have you tried?" he looked down the table, "Have you asked her?"



"He's right Dad. Tempe doesn't like being told what to do." he sighed, "Trust me, I know."



Max ignored his son, "What, is she not good enough for you, being the daughter of a criminal?"



"You know better Max." Booth's voice was angry, causing Max to smirk. "We're just partners, that's it, nothing more."



"You both keep saying that." Max looked at him. "She's alot like her mother, strong smart, beautiful." he gave a little sigh, "stubborn."



Booth was silent. "The only thing worse than losing the woman you love, is to have never known her at all."



"I've known her for six years, Max." Booth corrected him.



"That's not what I meant, and you know it Booth." an uncomfortable moment of silence stretched between them.



"Tempe." Russ said a little too loud. "your back."



Brennan looked at Booth, and then Max, "I'm back, is something wrong?" she definately was picking up on something between them.



"Everything is fine, Honey, you ready to order." Max gave her a smile.

"Booth?" she looked over at him, laying her fork down.



"Hmmmmmm?" he answered her, looking up from his plate.



"You haven't said much", a pause, "about the dig?"



"Look Bones, this is your last night in town, let's just enjoy it, okay?" he looked at his watch, "the other's will be here soon."



To celebrate her last night in town, she and Booth were having dinner at the Founding Father's and meeting up with the other's for drinks.



"You don't look like your enjoying anything." watching him stab his steak.



"Do you want me to say I'm happy for you?" he looked up at her. When she didn't answer him, "I'm happy for you Bones."



"You don't sound happy for me." she was looking at him.



He laid his fork down, and looked up into her eyes, "Bones, I'm happy for you, I really am." he paused, "I'm just going to miss you, that's all." he reached across the table, and picked up her hand. "I'm going to miss all of this." he voice was soft, his gaze tender as he looked into her eyes. She forgot what ever she was going to say, caught up in a moment. A minute turned into two, and then three. His thumb stroked across her hand, the world around them disappearing.



"How we doing over here, would you care from dessert?" asked a vivacious waitress, with a big smile.



He dropped her hand, and cleared his throat, "Bones you want dessert?" his voice sounded very deep.



"No, no thank you."



"Just bring us the check, please." and the waitress disappeared.



"When does your plane leave?" he asked her.



"6 am."



"I'll be at your place at 4.30 to pick you up."



"You don't have to, Booth. I can take a cab."



"I know I don't have to. And your not taking a cab." he said quietly.



She nodded her head, "Thank you."



"Of course, Bones, I always want to be there for you." he looked into her eyes, again, hers looking a little teary. "you want to go sit at the bar? The other's should be here soon."



He stood up, and walked to her side of the table, giving her his arm. She grasped his arm, but instead slid her hand down to his, and held his hand. She stood up, and both of them looked down at their joined hands. His hand tightened around hers, "Angela and Hodgins just walked in."



She gave him a sad smile, "Let's go say hi." but didn't let go of his hand.

They'd spent the rest of evening with their friends. Angela volenteered Hodgins to pay, to which he gladly accepted with a grin. Max and Russ were even there. Round after round of drinks, they each gave a toast in honor of the occasion.



Angela held up her drink, "To Bren, making history." she threw back her drink, and smiled sadly at Brennan, "I'm going to miss you." she sniffled throwing her arms around Brennan. "Three months is a long time."



"I'm going to miss you, too." Brennan hugged her back. "I'll have my laptop, and a satelite feed, we'll talk, everyday if we want."



"You sure you don't want us to take you?" Angela asked. She had volenteered to drive Brennan to the airport.



"Booth is taking me."



"Aaahh, of course he is." she smiled, "Booth looks kinda sad." Angela commented, "don't you think?" They both looked over at Booth. He was leaning against the bar, nursing a beer.



"He's going to miss you, you know."



"I'm going to miss him." she answered back.



"Did you tell him that?" they watched Booth order another beer.



"He knows." Booth looked her direction, their eyes making contact, "He knows." she broke eye contact and turned back to Angela.



"You two..." Angela shook her head sadly.



"What?"



"Nothing, how about another drink?"

He came to a stop. He reached up, and put his vehicle into park, turned the ignition and pulled his keys.



When he made no move to get out, she looked over at him. It had been an unusually quiet ride over. "Booth?"




"Listen Bones, I want you to be careful."



"I will." she looked over at him, "I promise."




He looked at his watch, "Guess we should go in, wouldn't want you to be late for your flight." he looked up, seeing a plane take off, and disappear into the horizon.



"I'm sorry I didn't discuss this decision with you, Booth."



"You don't owe me any explainations Bones. I would never want to stand in the way of something you love so much."



"I love working with the FBI, and having you as my partner, too." she looked at him, "you know this isn't about us, right?"



He nodded his head, "Your going to go and make history, Bones. Your going to get your name in some famous anthropological journal, and become even more famous." he smiled a sad smile at her, "I'm proud of what you do, Bones."



He released his seat belt, and reached across the seat picking up her hand, "I'm going to miss you."



"I'm going to miss you." she looked him, her eyes were big and watery, "I promise I'll call every chance I get."



"Good." he said looking at her, a fat tear rolled down her cheek and splashed on their joined hands.



"Come here, Bones," he pulled her into a tight embrace, "It'll be okay, three months isn't so long." he whispered into her ear.



"I know." she whispered, still clinging to him. It felt so good to hold him in her arms.



He could feel her shaking, "You okay Bones?" he felt her nod her head.



He let his arms fall, letting her pull away from him. He watched her wipe away her tears with the back of her hand. He gave her the best smile he could muster, "You ready."



She didn't say anything, but nodded her head.



He opened his door and walked around to her side, and opened her door. "It's time." he looked up into her eyes, she slid out of the seat and into his arms. He was looking deep into her eyes, resisting the impulse to lean into her. She looked up into his deep dark eyes, and lost what ever thought she had. Her breething grew slightly erratic, as she leaned toward him. He leaned down to her, ever so slightly, moving slow, as he felt his heart beating out of his chest. "Bones." he whispered, and he bent his head.



His lips brushed across hers, softly, once, twice, and again. She parted her lips slightly, as she closed her eyes. She felt him slip his tongue into her, tentatively tasteing her. She moved her lips slightly, kissing him back. He deepened the kiss, slanting his mouth across hers, again and again, only stopping, when they were out of breath. He pulled away from her, resting his forehead on hers, breething heavy, holding on to her tightly, not wanting to let her go.



The slamming of a car door, and the clearing of a throat brought them back.



"I guess its time." he said, she nodded, loving the feel of his arms around her. He gave her his hand, and walked with her into the airport.

He watched them. He saw how his hands lingered on her. He saw how she leaned into him. He noticed their shoulders brushed, how his hand held hers. He saw how she gazed up at him. Was that regret he saw? He wasn't sure. But he was going to find out.



"Tempe." he called out. "So glad you could make it."



"Michael." he noticed she didn't move away from Booth, in fact, she moved in a little closer. He smiled at her, "Glad you can let bygones be bygones." He grinned at her.



She felt Booth's hand tighten around hers. "You remember Booth?"



"Of course, how could I forget."he looked over and aknowledged him.



"Stires." Booth looked at him void of any expression. Brennan squeezed his hand.



"I knew you wouldn't let me down." he winked at her.



"I'm not here for you Michael." she looked at him.



Michael smiled at her, "Tempe, you forget how well I know you." he looked at Booth, "I knew she couldn't resist this one, its what any anthropologist dreams about." he paused, "its what we, as anthropologists live for, right Tempe?" he looked to her. "It's what first drew me to her." he winked at Booth, "she was an excellent student, with an amazing learning curve."



"I know how amazing she is." Booth said looking down at Brennan..



"Booth, I know things have been kind of weird between us, but I want you to know, I'll take good care of her." he smiled his little boy smile, "she'll be in good hands."



"I can take care of myself, Michael." Brennan corrected him. "I am more than capable."



"I'm just trying to assure Booth." he glanced at Booth, saw his jaw tighten, "after all what are friends for."



"We are not friends Stires." Booth looked at him without blinking. "not even close."



"Don't tell me your holding a grudge, Booth." he looked at him, "I apologised to Tempe, she accepted it, its water under the bridge."



"I don't forget that easily, Stires." his voice was dead calm.



They all looked up, when they heard their flight being called.



"Well, that's us," Michael said, "where's your ticket?" he looked at Brennan.



"It's here." she waved it, and he pulled it from her hand, and glanced at it.




"Look at that, Tempe, our seats are right next to each other." Michael looked at Booth, with a smirk.



"Imagine that, Stires." Booth looked at him.



"You ready Tempe?" he looked at her expectantly.



"Go ahead, I'll meet you on board."



"Sure." he looked at Booth, "Don't be long, you don't want to miss the flight." he paused, "Booth." he walked on, with a last glance back, directed at Booth.



"Bones, I really really dislike that guy."



"I know." she smiled at him, "I guess this is it." she looked up at him, sadly.



"Three months isn't so long." he said. He was holding both of her hands, "I know you'll call, and we have email." his voice dropped a couple of octives, "you'll be safe?" he looked up at her, "don't take any unneccesary chances."



"I will." she sniffled, and lifted her head, as they called her flight again. "I guess I should go." he nodded his head. "I guess." he had a huge lump in his throat.



"Booth, I....I am going to miss you." and she threw her arms around him, holding him tight, she gave him one last squeeze, and let him go. "Ill see you soon." and took a step away. He backed up a couple of steps, watching her walk away. She reached the doors leading to her flight, and turned back one last time, and gave him a little wave, and stepped thru the doorway and she was gone.

She was gone. Again. How many times could he watch her leave?



He stared at he door way, feeling completely alone and emotionally spent. With one last look at the empty door way, he turned back to the direction from which he came. He looked up, and caught a flash. A brilliant blue scarf so bright it caught his attention in the midst of a crowd. The scarf stopped walking and turned back to look.



Booth gasped in shock, the face seemed to stare straight at him. Her iron gray hair covered by her scarf, her wrinkles, her gap toothy grin, her bow backed stance. It was Nadya. She pointed a finger at him. He blinked, and she was gone.



I must be seeing things, he thought. Then he heard them. Chimes. He turned his head, listening. He let his ears lead him. A vendor was stationed in an area off to the side, selling souveneirs. Among his wares, wind chimes. Booth watched as a child reached up, and played with them, making them dance and sing. Booth watched for a minute and turned away. It was just a kid, frustrated he stuck his hand into the pocket of his leather jacket. His hand came into contact with an object, "What the hell." he pulled it out, and looked at it. Brainy Smurf, how did that get there.



Booth stared at the little blue figure, thinking.



He spun on his heel, and made his way back from the direction he'd just come, striding up to the ticket counter. "Excuse me." he interrupted the woman helping a customer.



"Just a minute sir." He heard them anounce the final boarding call.



"Excuse me." more insistant this time.



"Just a moment sir, unless you have an emergency, I'll be right with you."



"It is an emergency." He pulled his badge out, and flashed her with it. "I need to get on that plane."



"I'm sorry sir, but its already been boarded, their preparing to lift off."



"My FBI partner is on the flight, and it is imperitive that I speak with her, now."



"Just a moment." and she picked up a phone. He listened to her conversation, as she relayed the situation. "he says its an emergency." she nodded, and said a few words he couldn't hear.

"There you are." he looked at his watch. "Cutting it kind of close."


She stood in the aisle, waiting for him to move. "You going to scoot over?" she asked.


"If you don't mind, I'll take the outside." he gave her a grin. He stood up, forcing her to squeeze by him, his hand accidentally brushing across her breast.


"Michael." clearly annoyed.


"Sorry, Tempe," he held up his hands, "close quarters. Purely by accident, I assure you."


She settled down, and turned to look out the window.


"Tempe?" he asked, "Your not going to ignore me?"


"I can try."


"It's a long plane ride there." he turned to her, touching her arm, "you can't still be mad at me?" he batted his eyelashes at her, "we've been friends for a long time."


"Actually Michael, we used to be friends. You severed that friendship." she turned back to the window.


"Is it that FBI agent?"


"Booth and I are just friends." she looked at him, "very loyal good friends, which is something you don't know anything about."


"You have a thing for him?"


She ignored him.


"You do."


"It's none of your business, Michael."


"I know a couple of ways to make you forget about him, Tempe." he leaned towards her. "Besides, you always said I was too cute to resist." giving her a smug smile.


"let me assure you Michael, you posess nothing that would ever make me forget about Booth."


He smirked, "I beg to differ, Tempe." he dragged a finger across the back of her hand. "I can make you forget him."


She stiffened and turned toward Michael, "Let me repeat myself, Michael, there is nothing you could ever do, to make me foget about Booth." and she picked up his hand, and slung it away from her. "don't touch me." and she turned back to the window.


"Temper temper, Tempe." he said in a teasing tone, his elbow brushing against her breast.

He looked at his watch. "Wonder what the delay is? We should already be in the air." he looked over at her, "guess that means more time for us to catch up."



"Michael, I have a headache, would you mind if we didn't talk?" she turned back to the window. That's when she heard it. Chimes.



"Did you hear that?" she turned to Michael



"What?" he asked.



"Chimes." she looked around.



Michael squeezed her shoulder, and pointed, "You mean like that?"



She looked to where he pointed, a little boy, about Parker's age sat a few rows up from them. He dangled a small set of wind chimes about his head. She watched as he shook the chimes gently, watching his smile widen as they made their melody.



"Yea, like that." she sounded disappointed.



"Excuse me, Miss," Michael flagged down a stewardess, "What's the delay?"



"Not sure, some kind of emergency at the gate." Michael turned back to Brennan. He noticed she was still watching the little boy. "I'll tell him to put it away." he stood up.



"No Michael, leave him alone. I like it."



Michael glanced at her, as he sat back down. He bent his head towards her, "You know, this is my project." he took a breath, "I could have asked anyone to come, Tempe, but I chose you."



"You know I'm the best, Michael."



"that's not why I chose you, Tempe." he bent closer to her, "I think you know that." he was so close, she felt his breath on he cheek.



She pushed him away, "I told you this was strictly professional Michael."



"Yes, but what you say, and do are two different things." he hand curled around her wrist.



"Not this time Michael, let go?" she lifted her arm, and looked at his hand wrapped around her wrist, "Now."



"This is new, Tempe, playing hard to get." he let go of her wrist. "I'm game."



She gave a tired sigh, "I think I've made a big mistake." she stood up.



"What are you talking about." Michael looked up at her.



"I thought I could do this." she picked up her bag, "I've changed my mind." she looked down at him, "excuse me."



"What are you talking about?" he sounded angry. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, you want to just throw it away?" He stood up, staring at her, but didn't move. "I won't let you make this mistake."



"Get out of my way, Michael." she said a little more forcefully.



"I don't think so, Tempe, you'll thank me later, when when your face is on the cover of National Geographic."



"Michael you dont' really want to do this here," she gestered around her, "just move, please." she would ask him nicely one more time.



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He watched them from the doorway. He saw Michael lean into her, causing him to doubt himself, and why he was there. Then he saw her push him away. He saw the myriad of expressions cross her face, anger, annoyance, and something else. He saw her jaw clench, when he grabbed her wrist. He watched as she looked at Michael. He saw she lifted her arm, and tilted her head towards her wrist, telling him to let go, no misinterperting that. He made his way forward. He could hear their voices now. He heard what Stires said, he could have chosen anyone, but picked her. He stopped his forward movement, to listen. She said she'd made a mistake, and she wanted off. He also saw Stires standing in her way, refusing to move, effectively blocking her escape, without making a big scene.

"Michael, I've changed my mind, I'm getting off." she tilted her head to look up at him, "now move out of my way."



He stood his ground firm, "I never thought I'd see the day, Tempe." he took a step towards her.



"What are you talking about?"



"You, throwing an opportunity away like this, " he paused, "and for what?" he snarked at her, "or should I say for whom?"



"You make no sense Michael." she tried to step by him, and he moved again, blocking her way.



"I knew when we were together last time, you had a thing for him." she looked at him.



Brennan looked around, several of the passengers where watching, "Michael your causing a scene, let me by."



Michael braced his legs apart, and crossed his hands over his chest, standing in the aisle blocking her way. "Give me one good reason, Tempe."



"I'll give you several." a deep voice said behind him.

"Booth." Brennan craned her neck around Michael.



Booth didn't acknowledge her, "Get out of her way."



"Bones," he paused staring at Michael, "let's go."



She went to step around him, and he grabbed her shoulder, "Your making a big mistake, Tempe."



She tried to shrug off his hand, "I'll make it so you'll never work in the field again." he looked at her, "Is this how you thank me?"



She ignored him, and pushed him to the side, "I discovered you, Tempe, I made you what you are."



She made it past him, but she turned back, "You didn't make me Michael, I earned it all on my own."



"I'll destroy your reputation." he looked at her, "If you do this, everything you've ever worked for will be gone." he paused, "for him? Is he really worth it?" his brows lifted as in disbelief, "for a cop?"



She was facing Michael, her back to Booth, "Yes." she felt Booth hand slip into hers. "He's worth it." he squeezed her hand.



"That's just great, what am I supposed to tell them?"clearly he was annoyed. "Oh, by the way, the great Dr. Temperance Brennan given the opportunity of a lifetime, was waylaid by a roll in the hay by a cop.........." she struck him with a resounding crack, across the cheek.



He looked up at her in shock, hand to his cheek, where a bright red hand print was quickly appearing.



"Don't." was all she said. Booth had stepped up beside her, ready to move, if Michael decided to return fire.



Michael looked at Booth, "You can have her." his hand still at his cheek.



"She was never yours to give, Stires." he looked at her, "Let's go Bones." and she led him down the aisle, by the hand without looking back.