Hi there! This was an excellently written story. I really enjoyed the different points of views (not an easy thing to do as a writer), and you did a great job with the various character "voices". I really appreciated this story in the context of explaining where Booths head was at during and after Brennen's "necessary" flight. I always felt he would have been so hurt and felt so very betrayed that it would have caused some serious issues between the two of them. This story helped me see a different perspective and it made sense in the context of Booths character. Thank you for a well written, well thought out, fun story!

Thank you for writing a "Bones" story with a real plot and some character development that is well-written and grammatically correct and could really have happened within the program's story arc. I enjoyed reading it.

Just discovered this and have to say that it has been an interesting read. That their communicating and finally talking is so good. :)

I do think that the person to worry about adapting after three months would have been Brennan though, considering the last time they were apart, Booth fell for, lived together and proposed to another woman. Brennan is the one who appears to be steadfast, imo. Of course, I'm in the minority here but I think that Brennan has 'known' far longer than Booth. Jenlovesbones' fic Public Opinion does a far better job of articulating it and while I don't agree with all her points, I do with her premise. :)

Good and enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing. Shall check out your other stories too. :)

I don't want this story to end. Of course, you care little about my needs. ;)

J - this was a wonderfully rich read. How you've not got ten times the reviews you have is a mystery to me. Not only did you write a compelling case, which cast the shadow of Pelant over the team in a clever, clever way, but you also nailed characterisation, dialogue (which at times tugged at my heartstrings, while at other times made me grin or laugh out loud), pacing and good old fashioned storytelling. I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. I know how valuable it can be to have someone follow your story along as you post, and I let you down. Don't try and argue with me on this point. ;)

Really, you did a great job with this. I'm adding it to my favourites. No question.

I have no idea, either, but I'm going with it. Booth excels at any physical activity, as I'm sure Brennan will readily attest. ;)

The case has been interesting, well plotted and kept me guessing. Thank you for doing it justice, so many people tend to forget about it along the way. But, just so you know, putting Wendell in danger is plain mean.

Perfect. Just perfect.

What to say...honestly, I'm still soaking it all up. A couple of things vying for attention in my brain - the dilemma you've adeptly laid bare on the page. Brennan left. Booth would never do that. I can't see a resolution. Maybe they need to be okay with the reality that they will act differently in certain fraught situations. It doesn't mean that one of them loves the other any less...but oh, what a tangled mess of hurt and frustration it is, and you've done a fantastic job fleshing this out.

The part where Booth is soothed by hearing his daughter's giggles and the smell of food cooking in their kitchen was heartbreakingly good. With very few words, I could picture him standing there, soaking it up, breathing in and out, and finally starting to relax after his day.

Also, the alarm triggering animal noises in other electrical goods scattered around the house is a scary, scary thought. My heart hurts thinking about Booth alone there in that big empty house listening to that hateful racket. Pelant is an evil genius. You know, I think I might like him a little too much. *does best Caroline Julian impressions* Does that make me a bad person?

Yay! The garbage has left the building. Excellent job.

You write Brennan so well, and that's not an easy task. Also, your dialogue throughout this story has been spot on. Case in point:

"Thought I'd help you all out. Two agents are better than one, don't you think?"

"Of course not. Many agents are better than just one. Isn't that obvious when you look around your office? However, if you mean two agents acting as a liaison to the Jeffersonian are better than one, then I strongly disagree once more. Experience has well proven that a single agent is most effective."

Ha! Brennan has a way of reducing mere mortals to dust with a single dismissive comment. Bless her.

I particularly enjoyed how Booth knew that Brennan could more than handle herself where Flynn is concerned, though he did rear up when he thought she might have been touched by the repellant toad. So glad you didn't overplay that scene (not that I for one moment considered that you might).

So that's Chapter Eleven done...only three more to go...this is most depressing. :(

Oooh, now I'm cross. Shaw is a fantastic character (I dearly hope she's around more in season 8) and if what she's saying is true (and I have no reason to doubt her), then Flynn better watch out. Booth won't stand for that kind of sexist bullshit. Shaw got it right. Booth tells is straight and plays it straight. He will not suffer bullies and fuckwits.

J - I adore this whole exchange. Also, I'll admit, it makes me want to join the FBI and work for Booth.

"Booth looked at her in surprise. "No. It isn't. Is there something you want to tell me?"

She looked down at her hands uncomfortably. She predicted the question, but still wasn't sure about whether or not to answer fully. She could just say no and they would move on, but she also knew it would just be hanging there between them and she hated the idea of shifting their future interactions.

"Is there something you need to tell me?"

An example of a Booth and Sweets scene done right. *fistbump*

"Damn it. He used to be better at hiding his expressions from people, but once again, Booth had made him. Sweets was no slouch though. He came around quickly. "You? No. Our victim's ex-fiancee. What do you think?"

You know, I still can't decide about Agent Flynn. Is he wannabe friend or scheming foe? You've made either angle possible and also interesting.

This whole story has the feel of an actual episode. A good one...you know, like something way back in S1-3. ;)

The Hodgins/Booth interactions here are golden. I do feel that the two men now view one another as equals. Previously, they wouldn't have hidden away their insecurities and boasted about whatever traits leant them supposed superiority - Booth with his physical prowess and his badge, and Hodgins with his genius and higher social standing (the latter, however, was always was Booth's issue, not something Hodgins viewed as of consequence). The two men really do have more in common than they at first realised.

I like how Hodgins now 'knows' Booth - and the example you provide rang true, and was very touching.

"Hodgins had said as much to Booth, who dismissed him out of hand, but Hodgins knew Booth. He'd still look into the possibility in spite of not wanting to believe it, and he was right because when he brought it up to Booth again later, Booth shook his head and told him Flynn was clean. An asshole, maybe, but a straight up one."

Before I hurry on to read more, I just want to say again how much I'm enjoying the case. Research can often be more demanding than writing, especially seeing as most of us are not medically trained or genius computery wizards (you're not, right?). :)

Brennan, Brennan, Brennan...she's all over the page! Wonderful chapter. Really wonderful.

I'm loving the case, which continues to intrigue, but also, I'm so enjoying seeing how each character deals with the 'number' Pelant did on the team. Because he really did get to them and hit them where it hurts most - he bested them mentally and also forced one of their own to leave. Such a great villain.

Now, back to Brennan. I could clearly picture the look on Booth's face during this conversation. It's a look of panic, frustration, and confusion...so Boothy. Love it, Mrs!

"I don't understand how a story about someone taking advantage of you and then leaving makes for a better story," Brennan stated. "It sounds more humiliating than whatever else you're suggesting that would simply make him sad."

"Bones."

"What? If Hannah had accepted your proposal and then later gave you the 'I'm not the marrying kind' speech while running off with your ring, wouldn't you feel more foolish than mad or sad?"

"What? Bones, what are you doing?"

See? Classic B&B. Thank you for entertaining me. :)

Hmm, I'm going to go with the latter, with a sprinkling of desperation. Booth is the superior agent, no doubt.

I'm going to keep an eye on Flynn, because I don't trust the guy.

Your exploration of Sweets is also spot on. I like Baby Duck, I do, but I don't like it when he steals moments from Booth. The man is a not a cop. I especially like how you write Sweets as still agonising over Brennan's decision to run. He didn't figure that as an option for her, but it was the one she took. It must be driving him nuts.

I'm going on record to say that I think Celia's disappearance is 'dodgy'. The man in Florida story is fiction. There. Now you can laugh at me when I get this all completely wrong! :)

I liked 'unprofessional' Booth. Yum. But the poor man is still hurting, he's still on edge.

Onwards...

My favourite chapter so far. You are on to a winner by making it about Cam, who is so under-used as a character on the show that it makes me want to throw things, but also because you've followed the thinking of the show's writers. Cam did the right thing. She is the boss. She has to keep her head while others are losing theirs. Also, her actions mirror what Brennan would have done in the same situation. Both women trust in their expertise, in justice, and in their colleagues and peers. Difference is, Brennan was under attack, so she did what she needed to do in that situation. If the roles had been reversed in some way, Brennan wouldn't be falsifying or ignoring evidence because it made Cam look guilty. No. Brennan would work the case and trust that the truth would out.

I also love that you tease out the similarities between Cam and Booth - they are ARE law enforcement and they have to trust in the system because they ARE the system. It makes me think back to the "Proof in the Pudding" episode, where Cam quickly saw why Booth was disturbed by the thought that the skeleton they were asked to work on was JFK.

Great job, as always. :)

Mate, you have Angela nailed. Seriously. You write her as I see her. Resolutely loyal, caring, loving, but sometimes blinded by those traits and feelings. Why people see this as a failing, I don't know. Angela is not a cop or a scientist, but she's still capable of logical thinking; however, when push comes to shove, she'll react like a friend. She wanted Brennan to run because she believed it was the only way she could stay safe. Pelant was everywhere, and I think Angela maybe feels like she let Brennan down. Pelant, perhaps more than any other villain we've seen, was Angela's nemesis. He bested her, and in doing so, ripped apart the Jeffersonian team and the B&B family unit. This would have driven Angela insane and also scared her to death.

Oooh, before I forget - thanks for this entire exchange. It made me belly laugh. :)

"You guys. I'm… I'm sorry. I panicked."

"Of course you did, Ange. We're panicking, too."

"No," Brennan interrupted. "Not me."