Independence Day

By

~The Benign Viewer~

Brennan's POV:

It was July 3rd. Temperance Brennan wasn't really the type for taking holidays. In fact, her idea of a 'get away' was running to an archaeological dig in the most remote, dangerous places on the planet. But this year she wanted something different. In truth for the last few years she had wanted more, but could never admit it to anyone... let alone herself. But now that she realised how much she wanted a chance at something different - at something more - she felt remorse, that she hadn't come to her senses sooner.

"Hey there Bones! How's the Limbo count looking?" The pleasant voice of her partner came wafting into her in the bone room.

He's onto me again she smiled at how well he understood her. One of her greatest ambitions was to see Limbo cleared out of unidentified bodies and all the families and victims given the honour and pride of a proper burial. Beyond that, she wanted to see all the lost souls from hundreds - and some even from thousands of years ago given an identity back. She could give them that much for them at least.

But she had a bigger plan for the holiday coming up. "I can accurately conclude that the number of unidentified bodies in storage has been halved due to my work..."

"Fantastic Bones! That calls for a break for this weekend!"

And how well I read him...she thought. He was always here trying to whisk her away from the trying work she did, day in day out. And she knew that he'd ask her to come with him to show her the Independence Day holiday. Wait... had he asked her yet? she giggled a most un-Brennan like giggle at her being able to predict him.

"Um Bones... are you ok?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" she was smiling freely now, her true self was out on show.

"Hmm, it's just that I could have sworn that Angela was giggling just then... you haven't switched bodies have you?"

"What? No that is impossible in every sense..." She automatically began puzzling his words out when she realized "Ha! your Joking Booth!"

"That's my Bones!" he said, his brilliant smile lighting up the room to her eyes.

"Oh so I'm your Bones now?" She smiled mischievously at him

"Well, you are most definitely not anyone else's Bones, so by logical process of elimination that makes you mine." She grinned at him.

"So does that make you my 'Booth'?" she winked at him.

"Now I am Booth to lots of people Bones..." he teased

She mock frowned at him. She loved it when they bickered like this. She laughed, had fun, and Booth made her feel like the most special person in the world. But now it was time for her idea...

"So how many other people have you taken bullets for?" She knew it was a low blow, but she figured he was man enough where it counted to take as many low blows as she could dish out.

His answer was surprisingly serious. "Only you Bones. I put my body armour in front of bullets fro my mates in the army... But I've only ever laid my life - who I am as person - down for you."

"So what was your plan for the weekend? It's independence day after all..."

"Wow Bones! you actually get out of the lab! I am impressed." He was mocking her kindly, and he left himself open for her retort. Ever the gentleman. The woman in her mind wondered what it would take to make him shut away the gentleman and release his inner beast.

"Please, Booth. You should know I get out of the Lab, you practically force me out of here everyday."

His eyes lit up at her response, they both knew that was exactly what she was going to say. "And I wouldn't have it any other way." He looked kind of dejected as he continued. "Well I don't have Parker for the holiday..." She already knew this, it wasn't hard to figure it out, from the forlorn look he had leading up to the holiday. "You probably already figured that out Bones, I don't give you enough credit for reading people, you seem to know me inside out."

"I don't but I'd like too..." A stunned silence spread between them. Did I just say that out loud? Brennan was shocked at herself. She was about to utter an apology when Booth resumed speaking.

He laughed good naturedly at her slip and replied earnestly "Maybe you will, we'll just have to see about that." He suddenly seemed a bit uncertain of himself. "I have to go to a meeting tomorrow morning in New York to meet with some investigators from Japan and Australia."

"Oh" Was all she could think to say.

"Well it's not as bad as that. The Bureau is paying for a flight tonight from Dulles tonight, in" he made a great deal out of checking his watch "three hours. But thanks to a friend in the Japanese department, they insisted I get first class tickets, and that they pay for a good hotel for the entire weekend."

"Wait... did you say tickets?" her mind was reeling. At first she thought he was ditching her for the weekend but now was he offering to take her with him?

"Well... um... yeah. I was kinda hoping you'd come with me Bones. Ken Nakamura put in a good word - he's assistant director now - and so I got some leeway on the matter. I want you to come with me. I only have to go to the one meeting tomorrow morning, we finish at 12, and we can spend some time with Ken."

He was almost pleading with her to accept. She had every intention of going, but she decided to tease him a little further. "Maybe Booth... what kind of accommodation did you get?"

He seemed to recognize her teasing and she could tell that he took it that she had agreed to accompany him. "Oh... The accommodation. Well, you know me, I was all for the usual dingy motel on the outskirts... But Ken insisted..."

She would have been perfectly satisfied to spend a weekend with Booth in a dingy little motel on the outskirts, but she knew he was just teasing her back. "So what accommodation did Ken insist on?"

"I had him book us a penthouse suite at the Ritz-Carlton"

At first she thought he was still joking. "Wait. Are you serious Booth..."

"Yeah... I was kinda blown away too."

She grinned mischievously again. She was thrilled at this turn of events but she wasn't going to be just blown away by some fancy hotel package. She was an independent woman after all, she didn't give in easily. "Only one suite? I thought you wanted me to come along Booth?" she couldn't keep the grin from showing however.

"A Penthouse suite Bones. It has plenty of beds... Wait you were teasing me that time?" His charm smile suddenly burst out. "Good one Bones! You actually had me. So I take it your coming then?"

"Booth, I'd love too!" She ran and hugged him. "I've never had a proper 4th of July" she whispered in his ear.

"Well I'll be sure to show you the fireworks" he whispered back.

Absorbed in each other neither of them noticed a grinning Angela just off the platform until she sprang out in front of them. "So sweetie, where is Booth taking you that you'd love to go and get to see his fireworks?"