Booth is not an especially popular man when we see him again on the Bones season premiere. After breaking off his engagement to Brennan, Booth's colleagues accuse him of wanting one final fling before getting married. He seeks the advice of a friend regarding how to proceed with Brennan.

The team investigates the case of a man whose remains were found in a hotel air conditioning unit. Freddie Prinze, Jr. guest stars as CIA agent Danny Beck, an Army buddy of Booth's.