AN: Here's a fluffy little two chapter story for you. I hope you'll find it a nice change from the angst I've been posting lately. I am still intending to add more chapters to Through A Glass Darkly, just as soon as I have some more good ideas. As usual, thanks to redrider6612 for her editing. Enjoy.
Angela Montenegro, forensic artist for the Jeffersonian's Medico-Legal Laboratory, practically danced into the office of her best friend, the world-renowned forensic anthropologist and best-selling author Dr. Temperance Brennan.
"I have a new theory," Angela announced with a smile that practically stretched off her face.
"Uh huh," her friend replied, not really listening.
"Sweetie, please stop what you're doing."
"Give me a sec to finish this up, Ange."
The artist sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. Sometimes Brennan was too focused on her work. 'Maybe this time she'll finally get the message,' she thought hopefully as she waited impatiently.
Two minutes later, Brennan finally looked up. "Okay. What was it you wanted?"
"I have a new theory."
"About how our latest victim died?" the anthropologist asked.
"No, about you and Booth."
At that moment, Special Agent Seeley Booth of the FBI sauntered into the anthropologist's office.
"Chop, chop, Bones. We have a case," he said, ignoring Angela.
"Just a second, Booth, I really want to hear what Angela has to say. Your timing is great. She was just telling me she has a theory about us."
Intrigued, Booth dropped onto the couch and looked at Angela expectantly. 'I couldn't have planned this better if I tried! Both of them at the same time and place.'
"What are the three things necessary before someone can be arrested for a crime?" the artist asked.
"Means, motive, and opportunity," the partners recited in unison.
"Uh huh. And you've had all three of those plenty of times, so you two must have done the dirty deed!"
'I should have known it would be something like this,' Booth thought, suppressing a sigh. 'She's like a dog with her favorite bone.'
"I don't know what that means," Brennan said.
Angela looked at Booth for help. He smirked. "You started this. This one is all yours."
"The horizontal mambo?" Angela ventured.
At her friend's blank stare, she continued, "It means that you two jumped each other."
"Do those phrases imply that Booth and I have had sexual intercourse?"
"Yes!"
Brennan and Booth shared a glance and then burst into laughter. A while back they had decided that the only way to deal with Angela's less than subtle matchmaking was to laugh it off.
Their friend glanced between them and frowned, unable to figure out what was so funny.
"We're nothing more than partners and friends, Ange," Brennan replied as she got her laughter under control.
At Angela's doubtful expression, Booth explained, "Look. If someone didn't have means, motive and opportunity, they couldn't have done it. But having the three doesn't necessarily mean that they did."
"Yeah. I didn't kill Kirby, but I had all three," Brennan added. "That makes someone a good suspect, but more evidence is needed to obtain a conviction."
"You need more evidence?" Angela demanded. "You two spend more time together than any couple I know and have enough sexual chemistry to power a nuclear warhead. How about him dropping everything to fly to New Orleans when you call? Or you getting over your anger with your Dad long enough to rescue him from Gallagher? Or the fact that neither of you can stop thinking about your mistletoe kiss?"
The partners stared at their friend in stunned surprise. She smirked at them. "Caroline walked past me on her way out. I just had to ask about the odd expression on her face."
"I'll grant you the evidence, but you've jumped to the wrong conclusion," Booth replied.
Her moment of elation at being right was quickly followed by confusion. The wrong conclusion? She tried her best to get him to elaborate, but none of her techniques worked.
Finally, in complete frustration, she said, "Everybody can tell you haven't, you know. If you had, the tension would be gone and you'd both be very, very satisfied. Just get it over with already and put us all out of our misery. Half the time after you leave, I need a good make-out session with Jack to…"
"Too much information, Angela," the agent said.
"If you knew we hadn't, then why did you come in here accusing us of doing exactly that?" Brennan asked.
Angela rolled her eyes. "Somebody has to get you two thinking in the right direction!"
Then she made a grand exit, loudly pulling the door closed behind her.
Booth turned to see an expectant expression on his partner's face.
"What exactly is it evidence of, Booth?" she asked.
Knowing he would never get a better opportunity than this, he took a deep breath, screwed up his courage, and answered, "It's proof that we love each other."
She looked at him for a moment. "Of course we love each other. You're like family to me."
"Yes, but we're more than that."
"I know. We have been for a while, but I'm not really sure that I'm ready…"
She had changed a lot since she'd met him, but years of fear couldn't be conquered in a single moment. She'd never had a relationship like this before and she didn't want to mess it up. Things were slowly changing between them and it seemed best just to let them continue to progress.
"I know. I wouldn't have brought it up if you hadn't asked or Angela hadn't been meddling."
He really wished the woman would leave well enough alone. He was perfectly capable of managing a relationship, and his relationship with Bones was proceeding nicely, albeit slowly, in the right direction. He was willing and able to delay his own physical needs to achieve the emotional intimacy with her that had become as natural and necessary to him as breathing.
Suddenly she felt unsure. "I… you'll…"
"I'm not going anywhere, Bones."
The certainty in his tone warmed her. He was one of the few people she could count on, and she treasured that above everything.
"She's right, you know, I can't stop thinking about our kiss," Brennan said tentatively.
He smiled. He wasn't sure if he should strangle Caroline for interfering or hug her because he'd finally had an acceptable reason to kiss his partner, one that hadn't landed him flat on his back.
Then she frowned. "How is it that she's always right about these things?"
He laughed. "She's your best friend and she's perceptive."
Her approach had been very creative and it had gotten his attention. He had means, motive and opportunity at this moment. Maybe he should use those to inch another step forward.
He pulled out of his thoughts to find her watching him. His eyes caught hers and held. When she looked at him like that, he felt like she was the only person in the world and he never wanted the feeling to go away.
"Come here, Bones," he invited a little breathlessly, patting the spot next to him.
Puzzled, she tilted her head, trying to figure out exactly what was going on. He gestured to the file he'd dropped on her table.
Her expression cleared and she immediately joined him on the couch. He opened the file and placed it on his lap, then, scooted closer and placed his arm on the cushion behind her, allowing his hand to rest lightly on her shoulder. When she leaned into him to get a better look at the file, his eyes fluttered closed and he enjoyed the simple pleasure of inhaling her scent. He couldn't prevent the shiver that shook him as she moved and created a bit of friction between them.
She looked up and realized that their faces where extremely close together. Even as her brain sent messages to her body to move away, her breath quickened. He smiled softly at her, dropped a kiss on her forehead and stood, diffusing the tension. She wasn't ready and he respected and loved her too much to screw things up.
Offering her a hand up, he said, "Let's get this show on the road. We've got remains that need to be examined."
Off and on throughout the rest of the day, he caught her giving him measured glances and he wondered what she was thinking. For her part, she had always found him attractive, but lately there was something irresistible about him and her eyes were drawn to him like a moth to a flame.