This story takes place right after 4x20, "The Cinderella in the Cardboard." For the flow of the story let's pretend that Booth had, at some point in the past, also proposed to Tessa. There is a case in this story, but my experience in writing cases is limited, so it will only be used as the framework of this story and to move the plot forward.
Again a big, big thank you to my amazing Beta jazzyproz. I couldn't have done this story without her help, never. So if you like my story, praise her too.
But if there are errors, blame jazzyproz :) hehe..
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones, I am only using the characters. But this story is all mine.
Her phone rang, the caller ID showing 'Booth,' so she answered the phone with a cheerful voice.
"Brennan! Hi, Booth."
Without even saying hello, he got right to the point.
"Bones, what have you done this time?" His voice sounded desperate, frustrated.
"Booth, what are you talking about? What should I have done, and to whom?"
"Haven't you checked your email this morning?"
"Not in the last thirty minutes."
"Cullen wants to see us in his office at two o'clock today. The summons didn't specify why, so I am assuming you've done something crazy to make this 'mandatory' meeting necessary. Anything you wanna confess?"
"Booth, don't be ridiculous. I have no idea what you're talking about!" She rolled her eyes, her partner was always jumping to conclusions.
The agent sighed. "Whatever it is, it must be something really important for Cullen to wanna see both of us on such short notice and without the possibility of being excused... The last time he was this demanding about having both of us report was when you challenged FBI policy and ended up pissing off the Suits upstairs. You need a little reminder, there, Bones?" He sounded very unhappy.
"No, I have a perfectly good memory of my own, thank you very much!" Her retort came out more than a little snippy.
"Well, we're not gonna talk ourselves out of it, so you want me to pick you up at the Jeffersonian?"
"No, Booth, I can come over to the Hoover. I'll plan to be in your office shortly before two o'clock, so we can go in there together. But I am serious, Booth, I have no idea why he would need me to be there..."
"OK, Bones. I'll see you this afternoon." Still not convinced about her innocence, he ended the call with a frown. Fisting the baseball from his desk, he tossed it into the air, catching it with ease as it fell back down.
With a grumbling sigh, he sat back in his chair and glanced up at the ceiling. What the hell could Cullen want that warrants both of us to be present? It must be bad, 'cause the Director keeps a pretty tight schedule and seldom orders agents to report on such short notice…
§§§§
With a quick glance at the wall clock, Booth ushered Brennan into Director Cullen's office just as the hour and minute hands aligned to two o'clock. Opening the door for her, his hand found its usual place, low on her back, as he followed close behind. Cullen noticed the small gesture with a silent smile, schooling his features quickly.
Over the past few years, especially after the fatal illness to which he lost his daughter, Sam Cullen's opinion about Dr. Temperance Brennan had changed significantly. Now, he was proud of the professional relationship forged between the FBI and the Jeffersonian Institute Medico Legal Lab, and he was grateful for the successful work delivered every day by his best crime fighting duo. Cullen was also well aware of all the rumors circulating around the FBI about the 'just partners' sitting in front of him, and he wondered how their partnership might be affected by the challenging request he was about to assign to them.
After exchanging the typical pleasantries, he addressed the reason for the meeting, noting that Booth and Brennan appeared cautiously anxious.
"Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan, I'm sure you're wondering about the reason I called you here. I need to discuss some... incidents that have occurred on a cruise ship over the past couple of months."
Booth and Brennan exchanged quick, questioning glances, unclear of how crimes aboard a cruise ship would apply to FBI jurisdiction, but they instantly got their answer.
"A majority shareholder of a small cruise company lives here in Washington D.C. His company, Majestic Cruises, is a very small fleet of three boutique luxury liners. He has approached the FBI, requesting assistance surrounding some suspicious activities aboard one of his ships." He opened a folder and pulled out a photo of the luxury cruise ship in question, sliding it across the desk to the partners.
"Surely, you are aware that a cruise ship captain is a licensed mariner who, in addition to his or her standard responsibilities, is authorized to wed passengers onboard. Over the last six months, the captain of the Sapphire Majesty, the largest vessel of their fleet, which actually sails out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, has performed three weddings enroute to the Caribbean. Following each of the ceremonies, all three couples went missing on their wedding nights. At first, the cruise line suspected it was a single incident, reported it to the Coast Guard, and underwent an investigation which, unfortunately, resulted in an unsolved disappearance report. When it happened two more times, however, it started drawing closer scrutiny, though no hard evidence or resolutions have been produced. Naturally, there is a strong concern about the safety of their guests, but in addition, there is fear that the media is going to get hold of this story, and the cruise company's reputation will be tarnished." He folded his hands and took a breath. "So, given that the country of origin for Majestic Cruises is the US, the points of embarkation and debarkation are the US, and the suspected criminal activity is likely to have occurred within the boundaries of US, because on the ship it is US Territorial, the FBI has been engaged to step in to further investigate those incidents. The Coast Guard has already surrendered their research to us, including, among other things, a thorough review of the employee rosters and the passenger lists. With the exception of the captain and four other high ranking officers, nobody was on this particular ship on all three routes. So, to date, there haven't been any connections identified."
"I'm sorry, Director...have the remains of the newlyweds been found?" Brennan asked curiously, a little confused about the circumstances. Without waiting for an answer, she turned to her partner as an idea took over her thought processes. "See, Booth? This is just another argument against marriage… No wedding, less threat of being killed..."
Booth's head shot up from where he was studying the photograph Cullen had handed him. His glare silently pleading with her not to discuss that topic any further.
Cullen shook his head, noticing the wordless exchange between to two partners. "No, they haven't found anything at all, Dr. Brennan."
"Sir," Booth's head swiveled back towards his boss. "I know Bones is amazing an' all… And typically, she is able to solve a crime with nothing more than bone fragments, but... without anything?" Booth wrinkled his forehead, not believing what the Director was suggesting.
"It isn't about the remains," the director replied flatly.
"So, why are we here then?" Brennan countered, getting a bit frustrated.
"We need help from you both to set a trap for the murderer, assuming there is one. We still don't know what happened to these couples, but at the moment, homicide seems the most likely scenario."
"Exactly how do you plan to set this trap, and how can we help?" Booth wanted to know specifics; he wasn't a patient man on the best of days, but Cullen's drawn out explanations were putting him on edge.
"Well," Cullen drew another deep breath slowly, all the possible ways this plan could go to hell flitting through his head at once. "We want to send you on an undercover operation… Someone needs to get married on the next trip, and," he swallowed quickly, hoping in vain that they'd just go along with it without argument. "We can only hope that another wedding will attract the murderer again… Without knowing his or her motive, this would be the best way to catch the perp."
"Annnd," Brennan eyed the director with suspicion. "We will be required to observe the couple, act as witnesses... make sure that they stay safe?" The scientist still didn't understand how her skillset fit into this case; such an operation could be done by any FBI agent.
"Nope..." Cullen shook his head and met her pale eyes directly, swallowing the secretly harbored fear the woman sitting across from him had instilled after years of observing the way she kept Booth in his place. "You are the ones who will get married!"
"Whoa, what!" Booth burst out, pushing to his feet.
"You can't be serious!" Brennan replied simultaneously, scooting forward in her seat and turning her face to look up at her partner's. "Booth, he's making a joke, right?"
"No, I am quite serious," he put his hands out in a calming fashion, motioning for Booth to re-take his seat. "Now, if you will please sit back down, Agent Booth…" Once his best agent was seated again, he continued. "We've put a lot of thought in this already," Cullen replied. "We can't use a random couple who've booked passage in hopes of starting a life together… we simply cannot endanger civilians. We need to use trained agents for this."
"But why us?! This isn't our division… and Bones isn't even an agent! "
"There's logic to the plan, if you will listen." Cullen said, biting back a smile. "First, we need a trained agent, like you, Booth, or a seasoned liaison, like you, Dr. Brennan. Second," he rolled his lips between his teeth before launching into the more important point of the assignment. "The partners posing as our 'couple in love' have to be able to show affection for each other… And we know... I know… based on your undercover record, that you two are very…" he chose his wording carefully. "You're very adept at portraying a real couple."
Although, I suspect there's not much acting involved, he thought to himself, unable to hide his smile anymore.
"We are not a couple in love!" Brennan insisted vigorously. She turned to Booth for his endorsement of her denial, but he didn't even look at her, causing her trademark "v" to appear between her eyebrows.
Feeling a slight blush creeping over his face, Booth bit his lower lip. Oh Bones, you have no idea. He inhaled sharply, trying to argue the point. "We're just partners, Sir. Nothing more..."
"Yes, but you're partners who are very comfortable with each other." Cullen replied, knowing they couldn't deny that observation.
"Aren't there other agents who fit the same profile?" Booth sounded a little desperate, a light sheen of perspiration breaking out across his forehead.
"No. We need to move quick on this case. And, there aren't many female agents here in DC who are not already married, or in a serious relationship, or, let's say… within the usual age bracket for marrying." He instinctively flinched, awaiting a strong retort from Dr. Brennan which, surprisingly, didn't come.
"Why is that important?" Booth was the one to speak up, sitting on the front of his chair, as if he was ready to push to his feet again.
"It has to be believable, Booth…" Cullen deadpanned.
"Well, then use a couple who's already married, or another team accustomed to going undercover, and let them fake the wedding!" Booth was frantically looking for arguments against this whole fake-marriage-thing.
"No, we can't do that... It has to be real." He folded his hands atop the folder on his desk and measured his words carefully. "There are too many... obstacles preventing us from faking the documentation, not the least of which is that the captain is number one on the suspect list. He will not be informed about the investigation. Actually, there'll only be one civilian on the ship aware of the sting. We have to use your real identities, your actual legal documents, and," he paused for a few seconds. "You have to actually get married." There it was… The real issue was out in the open.
"Wait," Booth choked. "What… What the hell are you talking about?"
"That's definitely not going to happen, Sam!" Brennan added quickly, folding her arms across her chest, her jaw firmly set. "Marriage is an antiquated ritual… Any intellectually rigorous individual would never get married in this day and age!"
Oh God, Booth thought. Brennan's argument from the previous week's case was still frustratingly fresh in his mind.
Cullen sighed. This would be a difficult discussion, but at least he was somewhat prepared for it...
"Booth, Dr. Brennan, let me explain the whole plan and then you can make your decisions." He waited until he had their full attention.
"You two will take the cruise, you'll do your 'couple in love' acting routine, and you get married. Then, on your wedding night, you watch each other's backs so that neither of you dies…" His message was point blank as his eyes moved between them. "There'll be two additional agents onboard, as backup, to make sure nothing happens to you." Sitting back in his chair, he squared his shoulders. "With any luck, the murderer will show up right on time, walk right into our trap, you will arrest him or her, and the case'll be closed. Before you embark, we will provide you with documentation that clarifies the circumstances of the undercover assignment. You can present this to the public authorities when you get back, and your marriage will be annulled." His attention kept switching from Booth to Brennan and back, unsuccessfully trying to get a read on the pair. "That's it... Additional information will be provided only if you agree to be part of this operation." Cullen paused and looked expectantly at the partners sitting across the desk from him.
"Sir, can we," Booth swallowed thickly. "Could we have a moment alone to discuss this?" He asked with his best poker-faced expression. Booth expected more than a little resistance from his independent Bones and didn't want to get into a debate with her in front of his boss.
"Sure," Cullen replied. "I'm going to run down to the vending machines and grab a little afternoon snack. Fifteen minutes ok?"
"Yeah, I think that'll be fine, Sir." With a tight nod, he watched the FBI Director leave the office.
Slowly, Booth turned towards Brennen to talk to her, trying to evaluate her frame of mind. "So, Bones, whatcha think about that, huh? Sounds like this could be a prettybig challenge for us..." He struggled to not show his excitement and hoped to ignite the fire that was her natural competitive streak. Booth would love to go undercover and get married to Brennan...
Kinda like a dream come true, he mused internally. Play it cool, though, he reminded himself. Let it be her decision so she doesn't end up feeling trapped, like a caged animal.
"You know... I like going undercover with you, Booth. It's always been a pleasant and educational experience." Brennan stood up and started pacing the room. "But, I don't know if I can act like I'm enjoying the idea of getting married. This goes against of all my beliefs, Booth!" She huffed in frustration. "We are not a monogamous species. It's a ridiculous notion… The whole idea of committing oneself to a solitary, unique individual for the rest of one's life is illogical and irrational. I've said it before, Booth, it is a barbaric expectation imposed by a prudish society!"
Oh yeah, he sighed, knowing this lecture all too well, but even he had to admit, her harsh outburst was unexpected. She was so very unsettled by the idea of this undercover operation...
"Is it such a horrible idea to be married to me, even if it's nothing more than a lie? An act?" The hurt in his voice was obvious, and he didn't hide it; he wanted her to hear it. "You make it sound like it's the worst thing that could ever happen to you!"
"I'm sorry Booth, I didn't mean to upset you…" She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth, feeling contrite yet adamant in her beliefs. "But you already know my opinion about marriage, commitment and monogamous relationships... We've discussed this on more than one occasion." She returned to her seat again, her large eyes noting the sudden tick in her partner's jaw.
He inhaled deliberately through his nose, keeping his temper in check before responding. "Yeah, Bones, I've heard all your brainy arguments and excuses…" He pushed up from his seat, putting some distance between them as his sarcastic response fell from his lips before he could stop it. "But we would get an annulment after we close the case." He raised his hands in emphasis and brought them back to settle on his hips when he turned to pin her with a hard glare. "Don't worry, Bones," he snarled bitterly before resigning himself to accept that they would never see eye to eye on the topic. "You'll be free again in no time and can start to date some more losers... No harm done!" He wasn't so sure that there would be no harm done, but that would be his problem, not hers.
Her shocked expression told him that, like her outburst had surprised him, his had rendered a similar reaction. He softened his voice and sat back down, his shoulders slumping as he took her hand in his. "Remember the night when we killed off that bottle of scotch, talking about our feelings, and longings, and secrets? What about being jealous… and about your wish that you could lose yourself in another person… to believe that love is transcendent and eternal…?"
His warm brown eyes were pleading with her to understand. "Have you already forgotten about that? Here you've been offered the chance to try marriage without any consequences." He knew he had her attention when, in her blue eyes, a flicker of thinly veiled intrigue flashed at him, and a smile started to tug at her lips. Sensing that she was a hair's breadth away from caving, he pulled out all the stops. Letting his trademark charm-smile spread slowly across his face, he raised a single eyebrow as she formulated her response.
"You... are correct, Booth… It would seem that there is very little to risk!" She held his gaze and suddenly felt a spark of excitement. His handsome face looked so relieved, his eyes so animated as he skimmed her face wordlessly. She could never explain it, but he looked genuinely happy… Not in the same way that he looked in the past when they'd been charged with other undercover assignments, but there was an undeniable, different expression of pure-joy at her acquiescence.
Just at that moment, Director Cullen re-entered his office and witnessed this final interaction between the partners, when nothing was being said, but they were undoubtedly sharing thoughts with each other.
How is it that these two have always seemed to have their own special way to communicate, shutting the whole world out, he wondered as he bit back a grin.
"So," he made his presence known, startling them out of their wordless conversation. "Are you guys in?" He was eager to hear their answer, settling in his seat across from the pair.
"Yes, Sir!" Their answer was simultaneous and unsurprisingly enthusiastic.
So, what do you think of my story. You wanna read more. Please let me know.