Author's Note: For those who are reading 'Two Hearts, One Mind', I will try to get up Chap 10 soon, but my grandma is really ill, so that's taking up some time. Anyway, there aren't any major spoilers, and I was listening to Garth Brooks's 'The Dance' while I was writing. It's kind of based on that, since I couldn't get this idea out of my head. Reviews and constructive criticism are welcome!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones, Fox does. This is just for fun.
It was just a simple question, one that wasn't supposed to have any deeper meaning. It didn't, but still, her heart pounded as he led her out onto the dance floor. His hand held hers snugly in its grasp, and the music playing overhead was familiar, calming.
They reached the middle of the dance floor, and he spun her around and into his arms. One hand still held hers, while the other had fallen to the small of her back. He pulled her close to him, leading them expertly across the space that was quickly emptying.
He wore a tux, she wore a strapless, turquoise, knee-length gown. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
It was the last dance. One that was supposed to be reserved for him and another. But he had chosen her, so here she was, dancing with him again. Like they had, so many times before, at those galas they were both forced to attend.
She longed to lay her head on his shoulder, to let herself be swept away in what she was feeling, what she knew he was feeling as she looked up into his eyes. She couldn't give in to that, though, for it would be far too inappropriate.
But it would only be for a matter of a minute, maybe less. The song, the moments, they were slipping away too quickly for her liking.
The seconds were flying by, faster and faster, as their eyes locked. If only they had more time; she wouldn't object to staying like this for the rest of forever, if it meant that she could be his.
She'd never been that kind of woman before, one who would allow herself to even think about having someone else 'own' her. The whole institution of that school of thought was ridiculous, but he was different. She would give anything to be 'his' right now. Anything.
He was the one who taught her the difference between sex and making love, who persuaded her to forgive her family, and got her to believe, at least when she was with him, that love could, just possibly, be more than a reaction of chemicals in the brain.
It was too late for any of that now, though. The last notes were echoing in the large space, and his grip on her was already loosening. She looked down at her feet as the music faded into silence, and he let go.
The sudden loss of that physical connection was almost more than she could take, and tears began to fill her eyes as she forced herself to look up at him. He stood, motionless, in front of her, his expression nearly masking the emotions she could see swirling in his gaze.
Then, as though he had awoken from a trance, he moved, stepping up to where she stood, and where he had been just a moment before. He bent over, gently brushing his lips over her cheek. He paused, his face so close that she could have turned and met her lips with his.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, pulling away. He looked over her head at someone, and nodded. Turning his attention back to her, he smiled sadly.
"Goodbye, Bones." He said, walking past her, and out the door into the entrance of the hall.
Around her, the room darkened, but she barely noticed. She stood, motionless as he had been before, unable to move.
She loved him. He knew that, she knew that, but it had been too late. She'd waited too long to get up the courage to tell him the truth, and they had both paid dearly for it.