A/N: This story has no particular connection to any episode. I'm not sure how many chapters, yet, but have several written so we'll see where this story goes...it seems to have a mind of its own right now.

"All right, what do you have for me?" Booth rushed through the door into Brennan's office to find her sitting at her desk. She had an unconcerned look on her face as she made several notations on the paperwork in front of her. Holding up a finger, she finished her notations before looking up.

"I don't have anything for you," she said. "I just need to ask you something."

His steps faltered as he advanced further into the room. Why did he always assume he knew what was going on in that head of hers? Rearranging his face into a look of curiosity, he settled himself on the corner of her desk.

Reaching forward, he pushed at the papers in front of her. "Like a favor? You want me to do a favor for you, Bones?" He knew he was deliberately trying to push her buttons, but arguing with her was often the best part of his day.

Brennan narrowed her eyes as she looked up at him. She finally smiled at the expression on his face. He actually seemed to want to do a favor for her, before he even knew what it was. Brave man. "I suppose you could call it a favor." Reaching up, she turned her computer monitor toward him.

His look morphed to confusion. "It's a dog." Booth wondered if this was some sort of trick. When would she learn to give him a little warning before springing things like this on him? He mentally sorted through the cases they'd been working on. "Did our last victim get eaten by a dog?"

"No, Booth. This has nothing to do with our last victim." Her voice was slightly amused at his question. "This has to do with me. I want a dog. This dog. What do you think?" The eagerness in her voice caught Booth's attention. This was a woman who'd always been secure in her independence. Now she wanted to share it? With a dog?

"It's a cute dog," he offered slowly. She really wanted a dog?

"Canis lupus familiaris," Brennan said proudly, turning the screen back toward her. "He's on the local rescue website. He needs a home."

Booth moved behind her and stared over her shoulder at the screen. It was a nice looking dog, he was forced to admit to himself. A german shepherd mix according to the description under the picture. A breed known for its ability to protect, if necessary. Booth's mind leapt to several conclusions about her sudden desire for a dog, none of them good. "Why do you need a dog, Bones?"

"I don't need him," she said. The answer came a bit too quickly, and Booth wondered who she was trying to convince. "He needs me. He needs a home. I have a home. One I could share with him. It's a logical arrangement."

"Then get a fish," Booth said. He moved back to the front of the desk so he could see her face. This dog thing was just too random for his logical partner.

He leveled his brown eyes on hers. "Why are you looking at dogs, Bones?"

"I want one." Her voice clearly indicated the subject was closed. Looking down to escape his stare, she straightened the papers on her desk. "Do you think I can't take care of a dog?"

Her voice had lost some of its confidence and Booth let the question of why slide for the moment. His partner could probably take care of a hundred dogs at once without breaking a sweat. "Of course you can take care of a dog. It will give you someone to talk to at night."

She tilted her head to the side as she looked back at him. "The dog won't talk to me, Booth."

"You can talk to the dog," he explained. "So did you want my opinion on whether you could handle a dog? 'Cause you are more than capable of feeding and walking a pet, Bones."

"No," she said. Shoving the straightened papers into a folder, she stood and grabbed her coat. "I wan't you to come see the dog with me."

He blinked. He wanted her to help pick out a dog? It just seemed so…domestic. Still, the chance to spend time with her, outside of work, wasn't something he turned down lightly.

And, Booth knew something else was going on. He might not be as smart as his partner, but he could read people better. It was clear she was hiding something. If the dog was for more than just companionship, assessing the dog's ability to do more than sleep wasn't something he was going to pass up.

He nodded and injected a jovial tone in his voice. "Sounds like fun, Bones. Let's go get you a friend."