"Oh come on Sweetie! It will be fun. Do you have that word in your vocabulary? Fun." Angela was more than a little pissed off at her best friend who insisted that productivity always be placed before a good time. Even on New Year's Eve.
"Angela, I just can't. I'm sorry, but I really have to get these remains identified." Her excuse for everything even remotely fun was becoming more and more disgusting to Angela.
"Brennan, those remains are over fifty years old! They can wait one more day. Now damn it if I have to drag you out of here you are going to my New Years party and you are going to drink and unwind for one stinking night!" She was nearly screaming at this point and she could feel the anger rising in her with every second she spent playing tug of war with Brennan and her precious unidentified Bones.
Brennan just stared at her for a second and then looked back behind her in the direction of limbo. She sighed as she turned back to her best friend.
"Fine!" She allowed herself to be dragged in the direction of the sliding glass doors toward the exit. Angela let out a shrill shriek of pleasure for winning the war. They were out the door in no time and Angela insisted that she drive Brennan to the party at her place.
"You can drink as much as you want and if you have too much you can just crash at my place. I think were going to have a great time. Booth said that he would come." Suddenly Angela turned to Brennan and smiled widely. She knew that tonight would be the night that something happened between the two of them. Something hot and steamy.
"Well why didn't he come and get me then? He's usually jumping at the chance to make me have 'fun'." She asked annoyed, but not quite as annoyed as she was before she found out that Booth was going to the party too.
"I don't really know. He said he would be a few minutes late, but he didn't say why." Angela had big plans for tonight and she wasn't going to let anything come in the way of those plans. The first phase was already complete—drag the over worked anthropologist out of her sanctuary kicking and screaming—check! Angela thought with a gleeful smile toward Brennan. She would work on the second phase when they arrived at her place.
At Angela's house fifteen minutes before guest are due to arrive.
"Oh, would you just grow some balls and come out here so I can see you!" Angela yelled at the bathroom door.
"No. I look ridiculous. Why did you want me to wear this?" Angela smiled deviously to herself after hearing Brennan's muffled complaints through the bathroom door.
"If you don't come out in ten seconds I'm going to come in!" Angela threatened while she put aside her martini glass and prepared to barge in. She didn't have to however, and when Brennan opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom Angela gasped.
Brennan heard another loud, excited squeal come from Angela's mouth and she rolled her eyes in response. Since arriving at Angela's two bedroom apartment she had been pushed around, made over, and dressed up like a Barbie doll. Which was, by the way one of the toys that Brennan most hated when she was little. Angela had made her shower and then refused to let Brennan fix her own hair which was now in some 'up-do' as Angela had put it. Then she practically begged her to put her face in Angela's 'capable hands'. Brennan sighed heavily. Her hands may very well be capable and her make up did look very nice, but Brennan was not used to being treated like a test dummy for cover girl. And then to top it all off Angela had purposely spilt her drink all over the cloths that she was going to wear to the party. Oh, sure, Angela said that it was an accident but she then said that jeans and a t-shirt were not appropriate New Years party attire. Brennan could see straight through her little act, but she still couldn't understand why Angela had chosen tonight to torture her.
Brennan looked in the mirror one last time as she studied the thin, almost sheer, sparkling white dress Angela had stuck her in. It had one strap that hung elegantly over her left shoulder and a low cut neck that showed way too much cleavage for Brennan's taste. The fabric flowed like a waterfall down to the floor where she donned a pair of silver sparkling hills that matched the sparkles in the dress perfectly. It was a very pretty dress. Brennan had to admit it to herself, but she just didn't see the need for something so dressy.
"Don't you just love it!" Squealed Angela as she grabbed Brennan by the shoulders and pulled her in for a hug.
"Okay Angela, what is this all about? You know I don't like playing dress up and you usually respect that. So, what are you up to?" Brennan eyed Angela curiously.
Angela knew she wasn't as oblivious as everyone thought she was, but she knew that Brennan couldn't guess that at the stoke of midnight she planned to have Brennan and Booth side by side, ready for the big kiss. Angela wasn't even close to oblivious either and she could tell that Brennan was hoping for that kiss as well. Over the past few months Angela could tell that Brennan seemed more open and receptive to Booth. Since his brain tumor Brennan had changed dramatically. It wouldn't be noticeable to many people, but Angela knew Brennan almost as well as Booth knew her, and she also knew the female heart. She had seen Brennan accepting more of the illogical, irrational, and emotional aspects of Booth than she ever had. Her brain was stepping back a small amount and letting her heart have a few victories. That small amount of leave way was all Angela needed to get this party started. Before she even opened her mouth to answer her best friend the door bell rang.
"It's party time!" Angela nearly ran out of the bedroom and into her large living area. When she opened the door she saw Cam with a tall black man who looked as if he could be a weight-lifter.
"Um- Hi Angela this is John Cowen. My date." Cam gave Angela a wide smile and Angela whistled and invited them in.
"Would anyone like a drink?" Angela offered and then showed them to the bar. The night continued and in thirty minutes the place was nearly filled. Hodgens helped Angela with the drinks while Wendell cuddled up next to his date. Fisher's date was lifting her shirt high enough to show him her belly button ring, and Sweets and Daisy sat together on a small loveseat, smooching and feeding each other chocolates. It suddenly occurred to Brennan that Angela had invited only couples to this little get together. There were two men handsome men that Brennan didn't recognize, but judging by the way those men were huddled together in what seemed like a meaningful conversation; Brennan came to the conclusion that they were John Briggs and Timothy Gallagher from the Jeffersonian. They were a happily married gay couple that Brennan may have met once in passing due to the fact that they were not often near her department. Brennan sat her glass of blackberry merlot down on the table and walked over to the bar where Angela and Hodgens stood on the other side of it.
"Angela, I think I should go."
"What? No, no, no. You can't go, Booth isn't here yet." Brennan's suspicions were confirmed then.
"Why do I need to wait for Booth, Angela? I see him almost every day. Why is today any different?" Brennan asked coolly, keeping her calm in check until Angela decided to answer some of her questions.
"Because sweetie! It's New Years and magical things can happen when the ball drops!" Angela said with a dreamy smile while she placed her hands over her heart.
"Angela, I don't believe in magic and I don't believe you! I know what you are implying and it's not going to happen." Brennan clipped her words at the end and spoke in an irritated and stern tone.
"I have no idea what you are referring to." Angela raised her head and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Booth and I are partners, and friends, Angela. Nothing more. So please get the notion that he and I will ever be together in that sense out of your head."
Angela decided it was time for a little wake up call for her best friend. She walked around the bar and grabbed Brennan by her shoulders. Looking into her eyes intently Angela said the only thing she knew to say.
"Yes, you will. I know he loves you and I know you love him even if you won't admit it. So please, take that stick out of your ass and have a little fun for God's sake!" Angela smiled wearily at Brennan and braced herself for the worst.
Brennan's shocked expression remained on her face longer than Angela would have thought but when the shock left her face there was nothing but sheer terror there. Angela knew she had to rectify the situation before Brennan made a mad dash bolt for the door.
"Sweetie, I know you want evidence. Proof, hard core facts, and such. Right?"
"Facts, proof and evidence are my life, Angela. So of course I need those." Angela could almost see tears welling up in Brennan's eyes as she spoke.
"Okay, so do you want proof that he loves you or that you love him?" That was the one question Angela had to have the answer to. Even she didn't know which one Brennan would need proof of.
"Both." Angela should have known.
"Okay, for the proof that he loves you, all you have to do is look into his eyes. It's all there. The proof that you love him is waiting for you too. It's there resting in your brain." Angela knew better than to tell Brennan that love was in her heart.
"Angela, none of that makes any sense!" Brennan was becoming annoyed. She wanted to believe what Angela was saying but the words were not factual. The idea that if she looked into Booth's eyes she would see that he loved her was completely ridiculous. She had looked into his deep brown, almost black, eyes before and nothing was writing there. And if Brennan already knew that she loved Booth, why would she be asking for proof of it now? She wanted to believe it, but how could she without the facts?
"Bren, you already know that you love him. You just won't let yourself see it until you have all the perfect facts! Trust yourself and Booth enough to feel love without the hard core facts." Angela paused as she watched Brennan assessing her words and thought for a moment that maybe, just maybe she could get through her hard shell of logic.
"A new year is coming. In many cultures the new year is about opening yourself up to new experiences. Letting yourself try new things, venturing out into the world. That's why people set new year's resolutions. What will yours be this year?" As Angela spoke she watched a play of emotions on Brennan's face. Confusion, replaced by understanding, understanding replaced by acknowledgement, acknowledgement replaced by resolve. She had done it. Angela had finally done it. The wall of logic was cracked and she saw light shining through it.
"You know, Angela, I think you may be right. As an anthropologist I've learned that you have to test your hypothesis in order to come to a conclusion." Brennan said simply with a smile. "That's what I'll have to do." Her smile faded and Angela became worried that the wall was building itself up again.
"But, what if my hypothesis is wrong and I mess up what Booth and I have now? I don't think I can compartmentalize that." Her frown deepened and she looked up helplessly toward Angela for some words of wisdom, for this was an aspect of life which she knew nothing about.
"Sweetie, have you ever heard the quote, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"? Well it's true. Believe me." Until then both of the women had forgotten that Hodgens was standing right there.
"She's right. I loved Angela, and lost her. But I wouldn't give up what we had together for anything. Even if it meant I wouldn't have had the pain." Hodgens looked at Angela and smiled. Angela returned that smile and turned her attention back to Brennan.
"There you have it sweetie, straight out of the mouth of an empirical scientist." That comment made Brennan laugh out loud which was a rarity and the sight of it had Angela and Hodgens laughing as well. Just then they heard a knock on the door. They all knew who it had to be.
"Bren, sweetie, I need to take these drinks to their owners. Will you answer the door for me?" Angela smiled and walked away with three drinks balanced between her fingers.
He was tired. He'd had a long hard day and all he wanted was to go home, shower, and drink an ice cold beer. But he had promised Angela he would be here for the ball drop. He knocked again. When the door finally opened he knew he was dead.
"Hi." That was all this beautiful angel said and it was enough to make him go weak in the knees. He knew she was waiting for a response but he couldn't make his lips move. He tried to speak several times but it felt as if he were choking on his words.
"Booth, are you okay?" Her smooth pale face showed concern and her ever changing eyes looked over him. He needed to respond but his breath was lost. His eyes trailed down from her glorious face to her supple neck, and then further down, down, down. She moved toward him and her sent filled his nostrils as she touched his forehead with the back of her hand.
"Booth, you're not running a fever are you? What is wrong with you?" speak you crazy dumbfounded idiot!
"Bones! Wow. You look-you-wow." Oh, much better you idiot! "Hey Bones." There you go! How 'bout a round of applause for the stuttering fool!
She smiled at him and he thought he saw her blush slightly when he flashed his charm smile back at her. GOD! She's gorgeous! He already knew that she was a stunningly beautiful woman, but this was the first time his breath was actually stolen away just from looking at her. Something was different. It wasn't anything to do with the way her dress hugged her lovely curves or the way her ivory skin seemed to glisten in the soft light from the apartment. It was her eyes. He could tell how something had changed in her eyes. She seemed to have a new resolve in them. It was almost the same look she got when she found something she'd never come across before in her the bones she studied and was determined to figure out what was causing it. It was as if she were on a mission for the truth.
"Are you coming in Booth?" He realized that he was staring at her again like the buffoon he was.
"Sure." He walked into the apartment, eyes never leaving his partner. She led the way through the crowed room and to the bar. His eyes couldn't help but to wonder to her hips as he watched them sway. When he looked up he noticed Angela and Hodgens at the other side of the bar as if they were tending it. Angela had a huge smile on her face.
"Hey, Booth I'm glad you could come." Angela greeted him cheerfully.
"Hey, man. Nice view huh?" Hodgens said with a sly smirk on his face.
"What was that?" Booth asked almost stunned. Did he see me watching her ass?
"The view dude. That window looks out over the lake. It's awesome." Booth could tell that Hodgens was trying not to laugh. Oh, yeah. He saw me. That's okay; I'll deal with him later.
"Yeah, great view of the lake."
He sat by her side the entire night. Angela had to get Brennan away from him for just a few minutes to execute the revised third part of her plan.
"Bren, will you come here for just a sec? I have to talk to you about a female problem." The all important words that make men run for cover. Brennan followed Angela into her bedroom rather reluctantly, but when Angela had Brennan safely deposited on the edge of the California King bed she let out yet another quite shriek.
"Angela what are you so excited about that has to do with female problems? Oh, you're not pregnant are you?" Angela's smile turned into confusion.
"What? Oh, no sweetie. I just knew I wouldn't get you away from Booth unless I claimed I had a female problem."
"Sooo… you don't have a female problem?" Brennan was confused by the entire thing.
"No. Listen. You said you wanted to test out your hypothesis about yourself and Booth right? Well, how are you going to do that without an expert in the field of love? Since, as you have said, you know nothing about it." Brennan raised both eyebrows as she considered what Angela was saying.
"You are correct, Angela. I do need an expert in these matters to be able to fully evaluate the outcomes of my tests. Furthermore, I will also need someone to tell me what types of tests should be conducted. Angela, you have dealt with love many times before. And Hodgens would also be a helpful analyst considering the male point of view. Will you help me?" The question at the end was asked in an almost pleading way.
"Of course sweetie, that is why I'm here and I'll make Hodgens help us weather he wants to or not." Angela moved to sit beside Brennan and placed her slender arm over Brennan's shoulders. "Now, the first test we need to conduct will be difficult for you to pull off alone but don't worry, that's what I'm here for. We should call it the chase factor." Angela finished with a sly smile pulling at her lips.