"Agent Booth?"

*Trigger warning*

When Brennan said they were working together again just like old times Chelsea didn't mean the day she landed. She had just gotten back from a trip in the islands studying a few remains there for her own private research.

The Jeffersonian allowed her to take as many vacation days as she wanted; she rarely took few since she started the job but a prominent research opportunity came up and her and Bre drew straws to see who was going and she picked the shortest one.

She and Brennan had been bestfriends since freshman year of highschool, the two had lost touch once they reached college Chelsea's mom wanted her to pursue other things than anthropology hince why she had a degree in teaching as well. Things were different, their paths became different and after a very weird bumping into each other on campus due to one of Brennan's many lectures the two women got coffee and decided that they were fit to be together. That no one could take them apart, Chelsea saw it as an opportunity to leave her borung life.

Of course Angela, their other best friend calls it fate. She says the "Universe wanted them to cross paths again" but Angela also identifies as a holistic nomad who is just saving up for her trip to Paris by drawing caricatures in the park. Or at least that's what she was doing before Brennan hired her to work for her and Chelsea and now the three women were standing at a street corner which was filled with utter chaos.

Chelsea was tired having literally just landed, Angela caught her up on everything on the way over mostly about the hot Detective they were working with which honestly Chelsea didn't care too much about Angela thought everyone was hot.

" Bones! Bones! Over here." A brown haired man in suit waves at the trio as Chelsea looks back at Angela who nods. They walk over to the man.

" Where have you been? You said you would meet us on the corner."

"There is a lot going on here in case you haven't noticed." He mutters sarcastically haven't quite yet notices the third woman just yet. He turns to the security guard. "These girls, they're with me Dr. Temperance Brennan,Angela Montenegro and -"

"Dr. Chelsea Swan." Chelsea interrupts as Booth finally notices her, he stares at her for a brief moment taking in her features, her eyes were the prettiest shade of green and her hair was long down with loose waves.

He pushes himself out of his thoughts.

"from the Jeffersonian." he finishes.

" I need an ID." the security guard snarls as Chelsea rolls her eyes. She didn't have a single bag or pocket on her.

"Okay, check the RI5 list, homeland security.they are the forensic anthropologists and company." Booth points to the list that the guard has in his hands; he flips through it.

"They're clear."

"Thanks. C'mon." Booth lifts up the crime scene tape as the three women duck under.

" God, What's that smell?" Angela scrunches up her nose.

"Burnt flesh." Bre and Chelsea answer at the same time as Booth gives an incredulous look to Angela who just gives him a nod telling him it's common.

" Are there a lot of injuries?" Brennan asks as they round a fire truck she was putting her hair in a ponytail.

"Four known dead. Fifteen injured."

They stand there getting a view of the accident more clearly now. Angela is Looking ill at the bodies that are laid under tarps. Some emergency responders are helping the ones who are injured, others are covering bodies.

"Oh my God."

"Details, whatever you have." Chelsea speaks up finishing putting her hair in a bun.

" Not much. Witnesses said they saw a Middle Eastern man mid thirties pull up to the café and the car just blew. The vehicle is registered to a Hamid Masruk, head of the American-Arab friendship league."

Brennan and Chelsea begin stepping up to the burnt out Jeep.

" If you know who it is, why do you need us?" Brennan asks.

" Because we're hoping we're wrong. Masruk is a White House consultant for Arab relations. Had lunch with the President just last week."

"Remember Agent Gibson, Homeland Security." Booth asks as everyone but Chelsea nods. Pointing to Brennan. " Dr. Temperance Brennan." Pointing to Chelsea. "Dr. Cheslea Swan." Pointing to Angela. " Angela Montenegro."

" If Masruk was involved in a terrorist attack it means we have a huge national security problem." Booth continues as Brennan and Chelsea are inspecting the car.

"Not to mention a very humiliated president. The press is already running with this."

" If you think we are going to alter our findings...:" Chelsea gets snappy quickly as Brennan shoots her a look.

Gibson puts his hands up in defense. " Look, not at all but maybe it's not Masruk. We need to be sure. Booth says you're the best."

Chelsea looks at Brennan before looking at Booth, she sighs just as Zach is clambering out of the Jeffersonian van.

"We need surgical gloves and masks for the retrieval team. Sterile medical bags and vegetable oil."

"Vegetable oil?" Booth asks as Cheslea doesn't even bother to answer

"The oil will loosen the seared body parts stuck to the metal. It's no different than steak on a grill that sticks." Zach rushes over as handing Chelsea and Brennan some gloves as well as a squeeze bottle of vegetable oil.

" It's okay, I trust you." Booth says, smiling cheekily as Chelsea rolls her eyes and begins putting on the gloves.

"Should I photograph the scene?" Zach asks as Chelsea nods.

"Focus on a 30 meter radius from the blast." Chelsea simply says in her usual authoritative bark. Zach quickly rushes over to the van grabbing a camera before handing Brennan a red bag, the group approaches the car door where Chelsea is examining the leg that is charred to it.

"Okay to pick up?" Brennan asks as Zach takes a photo of the leg first.

"You know, it's okay to be upset."

"I wish this is the worst thing I'd seen." Chelsea replies as Brenana hands Angela the red retrieval bag.

" You know...uh... I don't think I can..." Angela hands the bag to Booth before turning to her friend with a frown, "Sorry."

"It's okay Angie." Chelsea cooes in a nurturing tone. Which shocked Booth a bit seeing as she had been harsh since she arrived, Angela simply nods and leaves.

Chelsea turns to Booth. "Well, if you can't either..."

Booth shakes his head. "No, I'm cool."

" Zach, I need two more evidence bags." Brennan calls from a few feet away. While Booth and Chelsea keep looking for body parts in their section together. Booth just watched Chelsea work, she was slightly different than Brennan, equally the two women were intelligent and had several degrees.

Differently they well, Brennan was blunt unaware of social cues, she was working on it, but very unaware, Chelsea was bubbly, overprotective, very aware of social cues. She was the one who would explain the social cues to Brennan when Angela wasn't around.

Chelsea was silly, always trying to get everyone to laugh, she was sarcastic and loving and envious of Brennan didn't feel how she could simply turn off her emotions at times. But she loves her friends very much, she didn't trust new people very well, but she loved her team more than anything in the world.

Seeley Booth wasn't getting to Chlesea's good side just yet, he had a while before he got there but for now, he was in for the ride of his life because well lets just say Chelsea Swan was a strong breeze that if you weren't careful could easily send you flying away.

🦋

"Facial epidermis and the fingertips are completely decimated."

" We're not going to be able to ID anything from the flesh. It's basically carbon." Chelsea says simply the group were now back at the lab looking over the remains. Hodgins was standing a few feet behind them putting on gloves.

"We are missing the lower left leg and the lumbar spine."

" Here's the C2 and the right ischium." Brennan holds it up as Zach nods.

"Smokey here had access to the President. Why would he attack a café?"

" Smokey?" Chelsea shoots Zach and an amused look

" It's how I deal with the stress."

"Targeting everyday places causes panic. People stay home. The economy is crippled. It's Terrorism 101, man" Hodgins says as Chelsea sends him a look.

"Take samples from the clothes. See whatever you can find. Traces of cologne, laundry detergent, anything that we can link to Masruk's home." Brennan orders.

"I will grab any particulates that I can identify the type of bomb."

"Isn't that the FBI's job?" Zach asks, giving Hodgins an Incredulous look.

Hodgins scoffs. " What? you trust the FBI? You realize those guys are going to suppress whatever they need to cover their asses."

"I found a portion of the clavicle." Zach points out as Chelsea moves it into the dish on the side for cleaning.

" Are you even listening?"

" No."

"They have a separate division. You know that way their hands are always clean. In 1970..."

"Jack!" Brennan and Chelsea say at the same time. He simply looks at his colleagues with a scowl.

"Don't scowl at me. We're trying to work." Chelsea simply says meanwhile Booth comes walking up the stairs to the center platform with Gibson behind Hodgins. Hodgins doesn't notice he is coming.

"Someone seems really defensive about the FBI lately. You realize Booth is just another Government stooge."

"This has nothing to do with Booth." Brennan replies as Cheslea scoffs this time.

She opens her mouth to speak only Booth interrupts her. "You know I don't enjoy having squints on my team anymore then you like me on yours but you know we're supposed to be working together. Okay?"

Hodgins Turning to face Booth. "Sure. So what do we do, group hugs?" he approaches Booth about him, hugs him and Booth simply shoves him off. As Chelsea cracks a smile and shakes her head at Jack.

"Agent Gibson here will be overseeing things for Homeland Security."

" I'll try not to be in the way." Gibson says becoming queasy at the sight of the charred remains.

"No, uhhh...we don't need to be overseen." Chelsea comments as Booth smirks at her; she just rolls her eyes going back to her work.

"That's really not your call, Cherry." He smirks at the look on her face. She simply wanted to vomit at the new nickname. "Okay how soon can we get the DNA match?" He turns to Gibson.

"That'll take days. I can get a match much sooner then that I have all we need." Brennan walks over to the Booth followed by Chelsea.

" You're going to be able to ID him from that?" Gibson points to the pile of charred remains

"Asking stuff like that "is in the way."" Zavh mutters as Chelsea just smirks at him, she and Brennan are now at the foot of the metal autopsy table.

"Remove any flesh and particulates you can and then macerate him." Chelsea orders before turning to Gibson. "If that's alright with you?" She replies with a slight smirk before the two women leaving Booth hurriedly following behind them.

"This is my lab. I'm a scientist. A doctor. Hell a freaking sorcerer. I could basically do your job if I wanted too." Chelsea sasses as Booth;es eyes go wide. Brennan takes this as her que to go to her office.

"Yeah, so I've heard."

"Look, would you be able to do your job if someone is looking over your shoulder all the time." Chelsea stops him by placing a hand out in front of herself.

"We do, okay I've developed a tolerance."

Chelsea groans. " I'm sorry but I don't understand the advantage of compromise."

"It's a terrorist attack. Cherry" she scoffs, " It's bigger than you and It's bigger than me."

"The job is the same." She sasses as she steps into her office, hand on the door.

"No, it's not! We're dealing with someone here who devalues an entire culture. Terrorizing people by using God to justify mass murder."

" You're making it personal. That definitely doesn't help."

" It is personal Cherry. All of us die a little bit on one like this.'' The two were now oddly close as Chelsea just sighs taking a step to the side to let Booth into her office.

"You're starting to like me." He grins stepping into the office.

"Don't boost your already enormous ego, Agent Booth." he just smirks unbuttoning his jacket as he takes a seat on her couch he watches as she walks over to her desk shrugging her shoes off quickly before changing into some comfortable shoes, he laughs a bit at the slippers on her feet.

It didn't seem like she was so quirky, she was stoic, authoritative, bossy. Not someone who would switch out their uncomfortable boots for slippers. Turhgully She had three different kinds of shoes. Shoes for when she was outside of work, shoes for her office, and shoes for the lab which were basic steel toed shoes in case something dropped on her foot. This was only just the beginning.

🍒

Zach, Gibson, and Hodgins are all gathered into Hodgins office when Brennan and Chelsea walk in followed by Booth.

"All the trace evidence has been stripped. Hodgins scavenged as much as he could."

"Okay, let's get started." Brennan says. While booth is looking around Hodgins's office.

"What the hell are those?" Booth asks, Referring to the jars of bugs Zach dumps on the body from inside a clear plastic box.

" Dermestes Maculatus."

"Flesh eating beetles. That's how we clean the flesh off of burn victims."

Gibson's phone rings and he fishes it out of his pocket immediately. " Yes sir. Yes sir." He cuffs the speaker turning to Brennan and Chelsea. "The President wants to know how long the ID is going to take."

Chelsea nods to the box where Zach is pouring the last jar of beetles in. "Why don't you ask them?"

Chelsea and Brennan decided on who would go with Booth each time he needed them at the FBI building. Brennan took the first trip trying to get Masurk's Medical records, info about where he grew up, records on his youth, things like that so they could make sure they had an accurate identification.

Chelsea sat in Angela's office with her as they waited. Angela was free painting, to clear her mind while Chelsea was pacing something she did when she was anxious, or annoyed. Or tense.

"I dont get why we started working with the FBI?"

"Because the director felt that we.." Angela shakes her head, "You needed to expand your knowledge to other people outside of the institute."

"Yeah but that's what our speeches were for." Chelsea stops in her tracks "In other words, The FBI wanted someone to do their work for them." Angela breathes out a laugh.

"Hey, Flash?" Angela quipps as Chelsea kisses her teeth Angela laughs more. "This isn't just about the Jeffersonian working with the Government. This is about Booth." Angela smirks and wiggles her brows.

Chelsea scoffs going back to her pacing. "Who does he even think he is? So what? He has a badge, I have Four PHD's, Six BA's, and Two Master Degrees and I don't walk around Bragging about it."

Angela laughs again. "Yes you do."

"Whatever the point I am making is Agent Jerkwad isn't going to just smooth over and be my partner cause he is assigned to me, he has to earn that title."

"Now we are talking in my language." Angela teases

"Eww, I would rather gouge my eyes out before I ever let that man touch me," Chelsea gags as Angela smirks

Her phone rings and she picks it up seeing Brennan calling. "Admit it you have a crush on Agent Booth." Angela is wearing the biggest grin while Chelsea scoffs answering her phone as she walks out.

🦋

Brennan had returned to the office after receiving the files she wanted to look over everything in her office; she had a few copies made for Cheslea who was looking them over in her office. That was how they worked, separately first, then together. Chelsea starts making her way across the lab to Breannan's office. She walks inside seeing Bre on the floor papers open around her and Angela standing a few feet away.

"I just saw his wife. She gave me his medical records...photographs."

" Apparently he was ill. They were testing for Lupus which would explain the face. It must have been painful." Chelsea makes her presence known.

" Look I ... I know that you needed help out there. At the crime scene and I wanted to but.." Angela takes a seat on the couch.

Chelsea takes a seat on the floor

"It's okay. You see it. I don't anymore. I don't know what's worse." Brennan climbs up onto the couch with Angela.

" You two holding up okay?"

"His wife doesn't believe it was him. we've got to give her an ID." Brennan looks at Chelsea who simply nods.

" Whatever I can do." Angela smiles.

" Yeah, I know."

" And about this weekend..."

Brennan and Chelsea both scoff. " Angela I don't know."

"Yeah I agree with Bre, I don't know. Ang."

"I know this great club, they play Trip Hop and Trance." Angela perks up

" I don't know what that means." Brennan replies as Chelsea nods in agreement.

"It doesn't matter. We'll grab Booth."

" No." Chelsea immediately speaks up.

"I think he likes you." she nods to God if I were you, I'd buy a ticket on that ride." Angela is practically

"I'm gonna pretend like you didn't just compare a man to an amusement park attraction." Chelsea says as Angela laughs.

Chelsea and Brennan both start talking about how busy they are with other remains after the case. While Angela wasn't taking no for an answer. Zach Addy nervously clears his throat making his presence known.

"The bones are clean."

"We've gotta run. You hang around. We may need you." Chelsea says as the two women walk out.

🦋

In the lab Brennan is talking into a voice recorder. " Comparing remains to details provided of Hamid Masruk, age 37, of Afghani origin. Texture of pubic synthesis indicates age of bone consistent with Masruk, as is height.

"Complexity of the cranial vault sutures matches the statistical probability of your age and descent." Brennan moves the recorder towards Chelsea who is talking.

"Good."

Angela enters the room. " Too bad we can't tell why he did it. Isn't that what we all really want to know?"

"Uneven growth patterns in the vertebrae indicate malnourishment as a child."

" Consistent with the diet where Masruk was from. Probably evidence on the calvarium?" Zach speaks up as the two women nod approvingly.

"Why don't you reconstruct the skull and check it out?" Brennan says to Zach.

Zach starts Smiling. "My first cranial reconstruction."

"Evidence of multiple fractures to the bottoms of the feet consistent with methods of torture used in Afghanistan and consistent with Masruk's history. I'm convinced we have a statistical match." Brennan says before looking at Chelsea.

"Me too." Chelsea replies as Brennan Turns off the recorder.

" So Masruk is the bomber." Gibson asks.

"Yes."

"What about the skull? You're having the kid reconstruct it..."

Chelsea was gathering the file. "This is an educational institute. He wants to learn. Is that okay with you? For forensic ID, we have all we need. Now I would like to get this data to Booth as soon as I can."

Gibson points to the file. "I'll take it."

" No, I don't think so. I work with Booth. That's my deal." Chelsea simply says

"Dr. Swan , I have jurisdiction..."

"Then why don't we destroy our notes and let you guarantee the identity of the remains." Brennan sasses as Chelsea just shoves past Gibson. Opening her phone. "Yeah I need the location of my FBI handler Agent Booth."

🦋

Chelsea arrives at Booth's house where he answers the door with shirt unbuttoned. She looks at his chest before looking away.

"Cherry?"

"Yeah it's me."

"Did we have an appointment?" he asks stepping to the side to let her in which she enters the apartment and he closes the door.

She shakes her head before handing him the file. "No, uh...it's him. Masruk is the Bomber."

"I guess the wife didn't know the husband very well."

A woman enters the room wearing one of Booth's shirts. " Hey.'' She leans up against the shelf a bit of her black lace bra is seen.

" Hi, sorry." Chelsea smiles awkwardly.

"Tessa, this is Chelsea. Tessa Jankow, Dr. Chelsea Swan."

" Oh, hi. Yeah I've heard a lot about you." She points to Chelsea with a smile.

"Really?" Chelsea replies knowing she hadn't heard much about ehr since this was her and Booth's first day meeting.

" Tessa's an attorney."

"Mmmm, corporate, keeping the fat cats fat."

"Well, if you don't, then someone has to, am I right?" Chelsea snorts a bit laughing as Tess just smiles and nods. There's an awkward pause.

"Well the Bureau...I was just heading to the Bureau. Santana called and said something about a bomb and I thought you were at the lab. Maybe, uh, you should come." Booth walks over to a chair and grabs his coat.

"Sure." Chelsea shrugs.

Booth walks over to Tessa, kissing her goodbye. "See you later."

🍒

The two find themselves back at the FBI headquarters, Chelsea is laughing as the two step out of the elevator.

" Okay, what is so funny?"

Chelsea shakes her head. " I just never figured you'd be in a relationship."

"Why, do you think something's wrong with me?"

"Debatable," Chelsea laughs more at the look on his face. "Not wrong. You just have alpha male attributes usually associated with a solitary existence."

" What! Me? You're solitary."

Chelsea chuckles. " No, no I'm private. It's different and we weren't talking about me."

"Well I was." Booth sasses as Chelsea rolls her eyes.

" Well I wasn't. Look, I'm happy for you. Relationships have anthropological meaning. No society can survive if sexual bonds aren't formed betw..."

"What the hell are you talking about?" he asks as the two were having a silent stare down.

"Booth," an agent calls from the other side of the room

" Yeah?"

"You got that ID?" The agent approaches the two.

"Yeah it was Masruk"

"Oh, that's too bad."

Chelsea quirks a brow at the information. "He killed four people and injured another fifteen."

The agent Hands a file to Booth. "The report came back from ballistics. Now the explosives were placed under the car with the trigger connected to the odometer. Masruk was murdered."

Chelsea leans forward looking at the file as well. "So Masruk wasn't a terrorist."

" Somebody tried to make him look like one. Any leads on who did it?"

" That's why we're paying you Booth." The agent sasses walking off.

It was the next day and Cheslea was trying to enjoy a lunch out with Angela, at their favorite mandarin Restaurant. She had excused herself to go to the bathroom and when she came out she saw Booth and Brennan, Angela had moved her seat over to the bar table and Chelsea just trudged over.

"Hey Bre, bre." Chelsea smiles before turning to Booth. "Hello Egotistical Asshat." She sasses as Brennan smirks and nods in agreement and Angela laughs.

" We're having a private conversation." Booth barks as Chelsea scoffs, taking a seat next to Angela.

" So you think you know a woman just because you live with some sexy lawyer? Unbelievable." Brennan says as Booth scoffs at Chelsea.

"You live with a sexy lawyer?" Angela asked, stunned.

"She has her own place okay."

Brennan leans past Booth to look at her two friends. ""He thinks just because Masruk's wife started working out and had a little makeover, that she was having an affair."

" Hmm, and how long were they married?" Angela asks

"Eleven years."

Angela: Nods " I'm with him."

"There is no concrete proof!"

" Boobs perkier?" Angela asks as Booth nods.

"MmmmHmm."

"Okay you're a perv." Chelsea mutters as Booth sends her an annoyed look and she just smirks, liking the fact that she was annoying him.

" I don't believe this if you're so sure then why didn't you confront her."

Chelsea sighs, " Because if she or her boyfriend were involved, she would warn him."

Booth gives her an amused look with a smile. " Very good."

"She's a constant surprise" Angela smirks from behind her as Chelsea groans, shoving her with her elbow.

Brennan stands up as Cheslea gathers her bag and coat. "Alright. Great. We will be in the lab getting us some real data." and with that the two friends and anthropologist leave.

🍒

"How's it coming?" Chelsea and Brennan were walking up to the platform.

"The Ethmoid and Sphenoid fragments won't piece together." Zach sighs as the two women are pulling on gloves.

"Zach, I would like to return the remains to the widow before her demise." Brennan explains.

"I'm doing my best, Dr. Brennan. The integrity of the bone seems to be compromised. I don't know if it's the metal fragments from the blast... " Zach was interrupted by Hodgins.

"I examined the chemicals used in the explosives. The perchlorates I found can have a degenerative effect. "

"Not this quickly. Excuse me." Brennan walks past them Looking through the microscope. She looks into the scope before motion for Chelsea to look "Unusually soft bone tissue. You know, this has nothing to do with the blast. I owe you an apology Zach. Do you have his medicals?"

"Stiff joints, facial disfigurement. There's a disorganized Trabecula pattern here that his doctors wouldn't have been able to see. Could have been a degenerative disease." Chelsea begins.

" I don't get it. How does his medical condition figure into the murder?"

" Now it's a murder. Before it was terrorism because we didn't have all the facts. You don't overlook anything when you're looking for the truth.Check for Lupus and Pagets. Do you have enough tissue?" Brennan says.

"Yeah, I can manage it."

"If those come back negative, he might have been exposed to a toxin which would mean his brother was too. He's exhibiting similar symptoms."

Chelsea pulls off her gloves. " I'll get the brother's medicals." She runs off quickly.

Chelsea finds herself in the brother Farid Masruk's apartment. There was a cross hanging on the wall above the fireplace.

"Yes, I am a Christian" Farid says, walking back into the living room carrying a tray full of drinks.

"And Hamid is Muslim and Sahar?"

"I converted. Hamid could never accept it. Religious differences caused too many problems." Farid sits the tray down on the table in front of Brennan and takes a seat.

" Seems to be a consistent fact throughout history." Chelsea shrugs simply.

"Please." Gestures for Booth to sit. "I tried to make peace with my brother but it was difficult. There was more than religion between us."

"Sahar mentioned that there was some...uh... family problems?" Booth looks to Chelsea before turning back to Farid.

"Yes"

"I can understand how, uh, delicate it can be." Booth reaches over and hands a glass to Chelsea before picking one up himself.

"Did she tell you anymore then that?" Farid asks. Taking a glass as well.

"No, but I mean, if you have any other information that could help us in the investigation?"

"It's not my place."

" We're just trying to find out who killed your brother."

Faid frowns before sighing and looking in between the two. "Sahar was seeing another man but I can't believe she'd hurt my brother."

" Do you know who this other man is or is it just a feeling you have?" Chelsea asks, trying not to look at the smirk on Booth's face.

Farid nods before gulping. "I've met him. Ali Ladjavardi. He worked with Hamid at the friendship league. I wanted Hamid to confront Ladjavardi."

" Did both you and Hamid have contact with Ladjavardi?"

"Yes, once. Hamid, my brother brought me to meet him. Sharing a meal is a gesture of peace. I was trying to save their marriage but Sahar and Ladjavardi were not going to stop their affair so I told Hamid to repudiate her."

"Sorry?" Booth asks as Chelsea rolls her eyes.

"In Muslim law it's a method of divorce. It's called Talak."

Farid nods. " I still respected his traditions."

"You and your brother seem to share a medical condition."

Farid looks taken aback. "Yes. Why is that important?"

"We don't mean to embarrass you, but Dr. Swan is just trying to figure out the condition. That's routine. Part of the investigation."

"Have you seen a doctor?"

"Yes. He believes it's a genetic disorder we shared. He was going to call Hamid's physician to discuss it."

"Would you mind if we saw your medical records?" Booth asks as Farid nods.

"Of course not. If I could be helped, I'll welcome it."

Back at the FBI building, Chelsea is standing behind a two way mirror watching Booth interrogate Ali.

"I'm not proud of the affair. I admired Hamid but Sahar and I were in love and I can't change that."

"You worked with Hamid. You had access to his car." Booth is pacing in front of the table, has his suit jacket off to reveal his shoulder holster, his hair is perfectly sculpted.

"That's ridiculous." Ali scoffs.

"You also had contact with his brother Farid who said you were less than friendly with Hamid."

Ali sits forward in his seat. "Have you ever been in the middle of a messy relationship Agent Booth, or are you a perfect man?"

"You know I prefer to ask the questions Mr. Ladjavardi"

"And I have the right for an attorney. Have you called the number I gave you?"

"Of course. You know I would never deny anyone his rights." Booth simply says.

Santana enters the room "Mr. Ladjavardi, I'm Special Agent in Charge, Santana. We're sorry for the inconvenience, you're free to go."

"Thank you." Ali gets up and leaves.

"You're finished."

" What the hell was that all about? He was a prime suspect." Booth paces the floor again as Santana pinches the bridge of his nose.

" He's a mole for Homeland Security. They planted him in the Arab-American Friendship League."

"He admitted the affair."

"Maybe but Homeland Security says he's clean. They do not want his cover blown. "

"But sir.." Booth tries as Santana loses his cool

"Do I look like I'm discussing this?" Santana leaves and Booth punches the wall.

Chelsea and Booth in his SUV. Booth begins honking his horn clearly angry from the discussion with his superior earlier

"You want me to drive?" Chelsea speaks up.

" No. Why?"

"You're angry." Chelsea gulps.

Booth lets out a sadistic chuckle "I'm not angry."

" Yeah, you're furious. You're going to kill somebody."

" I'm not angry. Believe me, you do not want to see me angry. That's the last thing you want to see."

"Okay." Chelsea replies irritated that he couldn't admit his feelings.

"This is me accepting reality."

"Okay, my mistake." Chelsea simply says.

" My superiors, they make the decisions, Cherry. Alright. They don't think about them though that's really not my problem."

" If I were you, I'd be mad. Homeland Security is preventing you from doing a proper investigation of a murder case."

" I'm a grownup. I'll deal. You know that thing where you ask for the strength to change the things that you can and the wisdom to know the difference?"

"Yes." Chelsea nods.

" Well it's a good thing."

"Who do you ask?" Chelsea turns to look at him.

" For what?"

" For strength and wisdom?"

" God."

"Hmm." Chelsea nods. As Booth glances at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Booth fiddles around in his seat. " Can we talk about something else?"

"Sure. Tessa?"

" Tessa!? No. Why do you want to talk about Tessa?"

" What? Why? Why not? I'm sorry. We won't talk about Tessa."

" I prefer if we would just stay on point and talk about things that you like to talk about like dead people. Dead bodies?"

Chelsea nods. "Sure, sure. You've killed a lot of people, right? When you were a sniper?"

" Maybe we shouldn't talk at all."

Chelsea nods again "Right cause you're angry."

"Not angry. I'm not."

"We'll find out who killed him, Booth. We've got Hamid's body. You can always count on the dead."

Chelsea steps up onto the platform joining Brennan, Hodgins, and Zach,

"Farid said his doctor suspected a genetic condition. Maybe we are overlooking something." Chelsea speaks up. She walks over to Breannan and Hodgins who are looking at some sort of device on the table.

"What is that?"

" We used the trace elements we recovered to try and build the bomb. It might give you another link."

" Isn't the FBI working on that?" Brennan asks.

"Yes, this is just for fun."

" To see who's better?" Chelsea quirks a brow at Hodgins/

" Maybe, a little. Yeah." Hodgins smirks.

" Good luck."

Zach walks over and presents Brennan and Chelsea with the skull. " Ta-da."

"Nice job. No wonder you had such trouble with reconstruction, look at the spread of the Trabecular pattern in the bone." Brennan points to it as she and Chelsea look.

"Microscopic fissures, like cracks." Zach explains for Hodgins.

"I knew that."

"I don't think so."

"Can we focus? The spread is too rapid for any organic bones disease or genetic condition. It's definitely a toxin. Is there any surviving marrow to test?" Chelsea asks..

"Uh, I'll try and find some."

" Let's do it."

It had been a few hours Hodgins was currently looking under a microscope. The rest of the gang looked tired and worn.

" The marrow's degraded. I can give you the basics but that's it."

"According to these tests the liver function was impaired."

" His body was trying to get rid of whatever was poisoning him." Brennan says as Chelsea yawns.

"There is trouble in paradise." Angela appears on the platform.

" I beg your pardon?"

" Tessa does not feel secure in that relationship. I think she's threatened by you." Angela smirks at Chelsea.

"You talked to her."

"She didn't say much but even though she has a phenomenal figure she was chowing down on a fat-free muffin and she was reading a book about unsolved FBI cases. Ughhh, she's obviously feeling insecure."

Hodgins turns to Chelsea. "She's spying for you?"

Chelsea clears her throat feeling embarrassed. " No! No!"

Zach leans closely to Chelsea. " Even if you have nothing in common it's difficult to sublimate intense sexual attraction and we hear it's been awhile."

"Okay, Stop!" Chelsea orders.

"He is there for the taking, honey."

" Okay, I couldn't get his medical records." Booth joins the group and looks up seeing everyone staring at him. " What?"

Chelsea who is Embarrassed beyond belief. "Oh nothing."

"Trying to track down the doctor?"

Brennan explains "Don't need him. It's definitely a toxin but we can't determine what kind."

Zach sighs. "Too bad the liver is cooked, that could tell us everything."

" You know, I need subtitles walking in here." Booth mutters as Chelsea rolls her eyes.

"The liver is like a filter. It would contain evidence of any toxins in the system, but we don't have the liver or any of the flesh left." Chelsea explains.

" But we do have the beatles." Hodgins says as everyone looks at each other with shit eating grins.

"They ate Hamid's flesh and whatever organs remained and we all know you are what we eat." Hodgins explains as everyone meets him in his lab.

" So you can ID the poison from the beatles."

" You can't kill them. They have names."

Chelsea Taking a handful from the jar. " We have to, Zach. Some."

" In Thailand, they are sautéed in peanut oil. Mmm." Hodgins smiles, shaking the jar.

" Oh." Booth pats Zach on the shoulder.

//

Chelsea and Brennan enter the platform with the skull.

"We're going to have to run a simulation. I need you to input this skull and give me a face." Brennan hands the skull over to Angela.

" You've got it."

" And no more talk about Booth. You shouldn't have gotten involved." Chelsea warns.

" That's what friends are for." she smiles as Chelsea sighs.

"Please, Angela."

Booth is Walking up behind Zach and noticing the bomb." Hey, Wha...Where'd you get this?"

" I'm building it. Theoretical construct of the bomb based on the particulates we gathered."

"This isn't your job. The Bureau's doing this." Booth orders as Zach and everyone seem unphased.

"Got it! They were poisoned by dioxin, a very pure form. It would stay in the system for years cause cancer, diabetes, heart attack, and the facial system bone degeneration we saw." Hodgins walks over with a paper as the two women look at it over.

"Give me the saturation levels. Angela can use it in simulation to give us an approximate date of ingestion." Brennan orders as Hodgins nods.

"How much would it take to poison them?" Booth asks.

" Just a little slipped into their food. Like at that lunch they had with Sahar's lover." Chelsea simply says walking off.

The two anthropologists are gathered in Angela's office along with Booth.

"Dioxin levels were 5600 parts per trillion. Speed of bone degeneration is an 88% increase over base line osteoporosis. Date of death was..."

"I remember that one, thanks." Angela nods towards brennan.

"Run the scenario." Chelsea shakes her head smirking at her friend.

" I'll never get used to this. "

"Yeah? Chicks with toys?" Angela smirks. The lights turn off and the simulation begins when a giant photo of Hamid appears in front of them floating.

"Poor bastard."

" Match it to his INS photograph. See how accurate you are." Chelsea says as Angela pulls up the INS photo. "Good work, Angela."

" Probable date of exposure, about four months ago, I'd say first week in June.

" Let's go pay a visit to Mr. Ladjevardi" Booth looks to Chelsea.

Booth and Chelsea are leaving the SUV and approaching Ladjavardi as he walks down the sidewalk.

"I thought you were told to stay away from him?" Chelsea asks as Booth is undoing his tie, he takes it off.

"Yeah and as an FBI agent I cannot disobey my superior but you're not an FBI agent." He fluffs out his collar.

"Hey! Hi! How ya doing?" Chelsea claps to Get Ali's attention.

"What the hell are you doing here? You had orders."

"No. Not me. I just have a couple of quick questions for you." Chelsea simply says.

" Look, I'm not involved in this. Sahar won't even talk to me anymore."

"Yeah, I wonder why?" Chelsea shrugs.

Ladjavardi begins Pulling out a cell phone. " I'm calling Santana."

"Yeah, I don't think so." Chelsea takes the phone from his hands.

Ladjavardi looks to Chelsea. " I'm warning you."

" I wouldn't threaten her if I were you." Booth speaks up from behind them as Chelsea shoots him a look, of course he read up on her.

"Look, I just want to know where you were in June, first week, to see if you poisoned Hamid and Farid."

"Subtle." Booth murmurs as Chelsea rolls her eyes.

"I'm leaving, that's it." Ladjavardi moves to push her out of the way, but Chelsea. swings her arm around and grabs his. Pulling his arm around, she flips over on the sidewalk where he lands flat on his back. She walks over and puts her foot on his throat.

Booth walks over hovering over Ladjavardi "Told ya. She doesn't like to be touched."

"I didn't poison anybody."

Chelsea presses her foot further into his throat. "Then tell me where you were in June."

" In Utah for training with Homeland Security. I didn't get to DC until August 12th. Check with the department. "

"Alright, thanks." Chelsea removes her foot from his throat.

🦋

Chelsea and Booth are in his SUV.

"How about this? Sahar wants out of the marriage. Hamid refuses so Sahar poisons him so that she can run off with uh Ladjavardi."

" Doesn't make sense." Chelsea shakes her head.

"When someone dies the first suspect is the spouse."

" Well what about Hamid's brother? Did she poison him too?" Chelsea asks.

"Why not? You know he's pushing his nose into their marriage. I mean suddenly Sahar is facing, you know, a devote Muslim and a fundamentalist Christian and you know and nobody allows divorce and she's pushed to murder."

" That's eschewed logic."

"Ah, C'mon Cherry. Just work with me here. Alright. It's what we in the law enforcement call positing a scenario. Don't use the word eschewed"

Chelsea shakes her head. "What if you and Tessa were going to break up and you didn't want to?"

" Interesting Cherry."

"Well I'm positing a scenario. Tessa wants to break up and you don't want to so she poisons you."

" No, no, no." Booth shakes his head,

"And then just to make sure she blows you up with a bomb."

He furrows his brows "Why would Tessa do that?"

"Exactly. Thank you."

"See cause Tessa and I, that's a bad example"

Chelsea furrows her brows now. "Well you're a couple in love, right?"

"Why do you keep bringing up Tessa? I mean why? What's the big deal? Is it so odd for you that I have someone in my life?"

Chelsea scoffs. "We were talking about couples. It's a natural segue. "

"Alright, you know, you have to quit using the word segue and eschew. They sound French."

"Keep changing the subject. I get it. You're sensitive about you and Tessa."

'Why aren't we talking about you and your boyfriend?"

Chelsea straightens herself "I don't have a boyfriend." she smirks,

" You just said that as though it's a good thing and you know what? It's a very, very sad comment on your personal life."

Chelsea just laughs. "I have a very happy personal life, and it doesn't involve men." her phone rings and she fishes it out of her pocket. " Look, you're angry again."

"Chelsea."

" The bomb insulation was made from Pyrobar which was used by an architect named William Allard. He was known for developing the Woodley Park neighborhood around 1910."

" Hang on a second Zach." Chelsea turns to Booth. "The bomb was made in Woodley Park."

" That's were Farid lives. Hold on" Booth behind Making a quick U-turn in the road. " No wonder we couldn't get his medicals. He already knew what was poisoning him. Alright, just stay in contact with your boys and tell them we're going to need them." Chelsea lifts the phone back up to her ear. "Alright, Listen Chelsea, we're heading into a very unknown situation. I think it's best if you just stay in the car." She glares at him. "Okay, then. You know, if you have to come in with me you just stay behind me." Same glare." Fine, just be careful, Alright."

Booth kicks open Farid's door, "Okay, Anybody asks that door was open. Stay right here!" He motions for her to stay at the door, "FBI Farid. Show yourself." he turns a corner before motioning for her to come inside. "Okay, Clear! "

Chelsea, still on the phone. "Okay, give me Hodgins."

"Yeah?"

"Farid was making something here. Okay I got uh, melted plastic, bottles of chlorine.."

"Dioxin. That's how you would make it."

"Cherry!"

"Yes."

Booth nods Referring to a hole in the wall of a closet. "Insulation. Farid definitely made the bomb. He killed his brother."

"Alright, Stay with me Hodgins."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"Hamid must have been killed because he found his brother making dioxin, alright, and that's probably how they got contaminated. C'mon, A mechanics guide for Hamid's SUV. Page on the odometer, dog-eared."

" He wasn't a Christian." She looks in a book. " Deceit in the service of Allah is holy."

" The Koran?" Booth asks.

"No, Imam's twisted interpretation of the Koran so that mass murder don't have to feel guilt."

Booth Finding more bomb supplies. " He's made another bomb. It's out there, Right now."

"Hodgins. What's the dispersal rate for a bomb packed with say... two liters of dioxin?"

"Ahhh, homemade device similar to the car bomb that could be ..three to five hundred meters if the victim weren't koll they'd develop cancer, blindness, lesions, diabetes.."

Booth Looking through a date book. " Ah, no. Today's day is marked. Call Homeland Security and they'll secure the apartment."

There was still no lead on Farid and Chelsea and Booth find themselves on the phone in Booth's car. Booth is on the phone with an agent and Chelsea is on the phone with Angela. She finds a peace conference at Hamilton Cultural center. They conclude that Farid would be going there to set off the bomb, and begin caustiuously searching the building.

"There are too many ways in. Where are the reinforcements? Aren't there always reinforcements?" Chelsea asks as they ride the escalator.

"Sure, they're downstairs tying up the horses."

" Sarcasm doesn't help." She rolls her eyes as Booth.

" Okay, they are mobilizing swat teams and additional agents but it takes time and if Farid has the bomb and spots them, it could be bad. "

"If you see him will you shoot?" Chelsea asks as they make it to a landing and begin peering over as they walk.

"Well, he might not have the bomb."

" You don't believe that?" Chelsea continues.

"I'm not taking out a target Cherry unless I'm sure."

"Is that how you make it easier? Calling him a target?" Chelsea quipps as Booth doesn't take his eyes off people below.

"You know you really picked an odd time to have this conversation."

Chelsea spots Farid in the crowd. "Booth!"

"Farid."

"There! That's Farid."

" I'm not sure." Booth shakes his head.

"Look his walk is labored from the dioxin poisoning and the parietal bones in his skull match his picture." she explains.

"His back is to us. What if you're wrong? "

Chelsea scoffs. "This is what I do Booth. Do you really want to wait? He's carrying something heavy in his camera bag, see the extra weight is causing his shoulder to..."

"No, I can't!" Booth has he gun trained on the Farid.

" He has all the markers, Booth."

" I need a face. I need a face."

" Farid!" Chelsea shouts which causes Farid to turn around and look up at them.

"On the ground!" Farid reaches into his bag and grabs a switch placing his thumb on top of it.

"He's going for the bomb." Booth takes aim and shoots Farid in the head. Gibson move in to check and ends up taking the switch out of Farid's hand, opening the bag to reveal the bomb Gibson takes off his sunglasses to look up at Booth, nodding his head that he got the right guy.

//

Brennan and Booth are Wong Foo's Brennan texted Chelsea to come by and she enters taking a seat next to Booth on the other side.

"You know I told them to tell the press it was an undercover operation."

"But it would be a rose garden ceremony. That's an honor, Right?" Brennan asks as Booth nods.

" I thought you FBI guys loved your medals?"

" There's no pleasure in taking someone's life. Nothing to celebrate."

Chelsea Smiling and touching his arm. "You saved so many people, Booth. Don't forget that."

"You want to get another drink?"

"Shouldn't you be getting home? Tessa will be worried about you." Chelsea asks.

"Yeah. I guess I should. Thanks for your help Bones." he turns to Chelsea. "Cherry."

" Sure."

"Mhm Yep." Chelsea responds

Brennan working in her office and Booth having dinner with Tessa. Booth looks slightly uncomfortable at the table while Tessa is talking a mile a minute. Chelsea is in the lab after hours and manages to identify another WWI veterans

Word count: 8100

Bones 1x02:The Man in the S.U.V