Disclaimer:
This story has nothing to do with Houston!
This story has nothing to do with the movie Apollo 13.
This story has everything to do with THE problem!
I really just like the phrase!
I only wish I owned Bones!
...Thanks for letting me have some fun with our "boy and girl."
Story ingredients:
1 x sexy FBI agent
1 x sexy scientist
1 x weak murder plot
(apologies in advance.... I did say I would NEVER write about murder again!)
1 x serve of chemistry
Mix, stir and enjoy!
'Houston we have a problem.......'
Booth had a problem.
A potentially embarrassing problem!
The sort of problem that's a 'tad too difficult to discuss with anybody else' type of a problem!
Especially not his partner!
She was the origin of THE problem!
He just needed to get control of THE problem... oh boy did he ever!
But it was becoming a bigger problem by the minute...no he had better rephrase that....perhaps he could say it was becoming more of a pressing problem as time went by.
If Booth had to pinpoint a time when THE problem actually had become a problem, he would probably say somewhere from a month to six weeks ago. It all started in a casual friendly manner...so much so that he couldn't actually remember the first instance. He just knew it was happening more frequently now.
Case in point this particular moment! He didn't even think she was aware of the impact of what she was doing to him. But he was aware – hence THE problem!
"Booth, are you listening to me?"
"Yeah, sure Bones. Just a tense moment in the game, just give me a sec," He said staring at the TV. He was working on a new strategy to try and combat THE problem........reciting the rules of ice hockey in his head!
23.1 Game Misconduct Penalty - involves the suspension of a player or goalkeeper for the balance of the game but a substitute is permitted to replace immediately the player or goalkeeper so removed.
He was still staring at the TV screen and he could only hope that she didn't bloody ask what the score was in the game...he had no idea! A couple more deep breaths and he hoped...well he hoped......that things had.....damn this was embarrassing! The last time he could recall having this problem he must have been all of seventeen!
" ...Sorry Bones, you were saying?"
To be honest, he had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. In fact he hadn't been paying attention now for a good ten minutes, actually from the minute she had placed her hand on his thigh she had lost him. He wasn't listening; he was worrying about THE problem! He couldn't deal with THE problem and look into her gorgeous grey eyes at the same time.....Hells bells he only had so much restraint! If she didn't hurry up and move her hand....well let's just say the problem was escalating!
And there was the origin of THE problem.
It would appear that Bones was breaking down her "personal space" barriers.
And he didn't think she even realised it! He couldn't see any recognition on her face – any sign of her doing it on purpose....damn! That would just simply be too good to be true. He had noticed that the touching had started with a simple hand on the arm on a frequent basis and now it had progressed to a touch on the thigh! In a conversation she would just reach out and casually place a hand on him. Of late it was more so the thigh than the arm...and the thigh led to THE problem! Sometimes she left her hand there for an extended time..... Sometimes she placed that bloody hand a little too high for comfort! And Hells bells..... Hence THE problem!
He had been in love with Bones for what seemed like forever. But he didn't think that love wasn't returned, respect yes....but love no. Hence he would never act in any way to lose one of the most valuable relationships in his life. Of course that hadn't stopped him from taking every opportunity to spend time with her and to get his hands on her over the years! He had even invented the "guy hug" for that specific purpose! Hell as if he went around hugging guys! F.Y.I. former Rangers and FBI agents are NOT guy huggers! He was getting very adept at getting his hands on her though.....he would frequently drape an arm around her shoulders or around her waist.... he didn't think she was even aware that he was invading her personal space day in day out.
And now, she had turned the tables on him and started invading his personal space...day in and day out, hence THE problem.
It was Friday night....and their end of week wind downs had become a sort of ritual now. After work he would pick her up from the Jeffersonian and they would head to the Founding Father for a drink or two. Just casual conversation discussing the past week, a little bickering about everything and nothing, before they flipped a coin to see whether it was Thai (her choice) or Chinese (his choice) Take Out to watch in front of the Friday night game on TV. Tonight it was Thai at her place. Depending on their mood they often watched a movie after the game ....... but not tonight. THE problem didn't seem to be subsiding.....he had to get out of there and fast! God he could feel a blush creeping up his neck.
"Well Bones, I had better head off. I've got an early start tomorrow morning, taking Parker to his T ball game." He rambled on. "I'll talk to you over the weekend?"
She nodded dejectedly. But he didn't seem to notice. He was busy trying to escape and was already half way out the door. With a quick 'Bye' he was gone.
She sighed. Life was so much easier prior to her own moment of self discovery. The day she had seen him so vulnerable; the day they wheeled him into surgery for the removal of a brain tumour; the day she thought she might lose him; the day she had realised she was in love with her partner..... Yes, life was so much easier prior to that day!
And to make matters worse, she had absolutely no idea on how to logically proceed with this revelation. There was no text book, no formula and no proven experiment she could follow.
She plopped back down on her sofa, picked up her cell phone, and dialled her confidant and fellow conspirator.
OooOoOoOoOo
"Hi Ange."
"How did it go Sweetie?"
"Nothing! No response! I swear the man is immune to me Ange. I think you're mistaken and I really don't think he is attracted to me at all......Anthropologically speaking Ange, he should be exhibiting signs of...."
"Sweetie...." Ange cut in. Now was not the time for an Anthropology 101 description on sexual attraction.... She was on a mission....She didn't have time for longwinded explanations!
"Are you sure you're reading the signals right?"
"Ange, he was more interested in an ice hockey game! I swear I followed your instructions to the letter....and I'm telling you there wasn't even a flicker of interest!"
Ange found this a little difficult to believe. Booth and Brennan had been dancing around this issue for years. These two generated a lot of sexual chemistry! And it was hot.....very hot! Everyone around them saw it each and every day....the only two who oblivious were the two participants!
"Maybe we need to try an experiment, Sweetie. Perhaps what we need is an independent observer. What do you think about us all going for dinner, you can try out your move and I will evaluate his reaction?"
"Ange I would really value your objectivity. A good hypothesise needs to withstand scrutiny...."
"Okay Sweetie," she cut her off yet again. "Well, how about you and Booth, me and Hodgins and dinner tomorrow night?
"Okay, Ange.....and Ange....thanks for your help," she said before hanging up.
Ange sighed.....long and loud! When Hodgins found her, she was gently banging her head repeatedly against the nearest wall!
Hodgins chuckled. Ange was obviously still on her mission to get Booth and Dr B. together. He wondered whether she had enough patience for the job!
oOoOoOoOoOo
