Big shock, I don't own Bones or anything pertaining to; many congratulations on all the clever people who do!
Ok folks, first Bones fanfic. Infact, first fanfic period. So be nice to me please! This went absolutely nowhere close to where I intended it to go and it seems like it wants to be a little stand-alone story, but if you want me to try and direct it back on course I will consider, although I was a bit shocked to realise just how rusty my creative juices are!
Thanks a bunch,
Enigmaticat
Dr. Temperance Brennan placed the last of the bones in a box, a look of quiet satisfaction on her face. Another days work and another faceless victim identified. These small triumphs were what made the grizzly work of identifying human remains worthwhile.
It had started out as a response to the disappearance of her parents. It wasn't a frantic search for their bodies, but it came from a need to do something. Temperance was not the sort of person who could sit idly by when the facts didn't add up. Sometimes it was about giving the victim's family a sense of closure and allowing them to properly grieve. Sometimes it was about unlocking the secrets of ancient civilisations, reassembling bones to recreate history. More recently, it was about reconstructing a homicide to identify and bring justice to a perpetrator. But most of all, it was about finding answers, putting all the pieces together until everything fit into place beyond a shadow of a doubt. They may not be the answers to the questions that she most wanted to ask, but they were answers and that was a start.
Replacing the lid on the box, she filled out the identification card and placed it in the slot at the front. It was late; she would have to send it down for shipping tomorrow. Rubbing absently at her temple, she spun about in her chair and was surprised to see a man standing at the door to her office.
"Bones, you know, sleep isn't an indication of weakness, and even if it were you have already proven you can go without it…"
Rolling her eyes, she allowed a wry smile to escape her lips as she gestured at the box of bones still sitting on her desk. "Booth, I am well aware that sleep is a biological imperative, just as I am aware of the fact that the ideal sleep requirement varies for each person according to age, activity level, quality of sleep and genetics. I myself function quite adequately on six solid hours a night, and am quite capable of putting myself to bed without your interference. Besides, I was just finishing up."
Booth threw his hands up and took an exaggerated step back. "Whoa there Bones, save some for the thesis! No need to jump down my throat…" Booth watched as the woman's eyes glazed over, the look she got when she was struggling to connect a concept which alluded her.
"I may have been somewhat brusque in my response, but you engaged it with a rather foolish question and I have absolutely no intention of kissing you…"
It was now Booth's turn to be confused. His mouth hung open for a moment, his mind working frantically to come up with the words he wanted. "Umm… ok, well… that's very good Bones, I wasn't planning on kissing you either and… what?"
"You insinuated that I wanted to kiss you, and I don't! I understand that on occasion two people who are already in an intimate relationship might experience a sudden shift from argument to passion, but we are not in an intimate relationship and so it goes without saying that I don't have to, nor do I want to, jump down your throat!"
Booth stood looking slightly stunned for a few moments, before a grin began to work it's way across his face. Soon, he was struggling to contain his laughter. All the while, Temperance was staring at him like he had gone quite mad, and he was beginning to see why.
"What's so funny?"
Taking a deep breath, Booth finally managed to pull himself together. "Not jump me and stick your tongue down my throat, jump down my throat. It means… it means you were telling me off, and you didn't need to."
On that note, Booth burst into peals of laughter, unable to hold back any longer. Temperance on the other hand didn't appear to share in his amusement, glaring at him as the heat rose to her face.
"Ok, I'm good, I'm ok…" Booth shut his eyes, sucked a few lungful of air and then opened them to see his partner still glaring at him in distain. "I'm sorry Bones, it was just so funny and… I'm sorry. Look, it's late, how about we just call it a night?"
Bones shrugged. "You know, in children, sudden uncontrollable hysterics are often a sign of overtiredness…"
"I thought you didn't know anything about children?" Booth smiled good-humouredly. "If I didn't know better, I would think that you were just reacting because you were embarrassed at being found out with kissing on the brain…"
Temperance shot out of her seat and stalked towards him with her hands on her hips. "Perhaps that would make more sense if I hadn't been quite explicit about the fact that I did not want to kiss you!" She was right up in his face now, chin tilted up so she could glare at him in the eyes, daring him to disagree with her. Instead, he gave her another maddening smile, letting her know that he was not to be intimidated. "Don't try and charm your way out of this one Booth, you know that won't work with me, and I…"
Her words tapered off as he gently placed a finger to her lips. Leaning forward, he inclined his head and whispered in her ear. "Goodnight, Bones." Then, turning quickly, he retreated through her door and disappeared down the corridor.
Temperance gave a long sigh and realised she had been holding her breath.