Spoilers/Timeline: None/Set mid to late S4

Disclaimer: Bones is still not mine. Sadly. Title from Counting Crows' Mrs. Potter's Lullaby.

A/N: Many thanks to my awesome beta Jess (CupcakeBean). :)


They were standing toe to toe in the middle of the lab arguing. Again. No, arguing didn't begin to cover it. Jack couldn't think of an appropriate synonym, but the words 'World War Three' did float through his head.

Booth took a step closer to her, fists clenching at his sides as he obviously warred with whether he should say whatever he was thinking. If this were anyone else - hell, if he was the one arguing with Brennan - they'd have been cowering in the nearest corner ten minutes ago. But not Booth. He didn't back down, but he wasn't so close-minded that he didn't listen to her side of the argument either.

He had apparently decided on speaking what was on his mind and whatever it was had sent Dr. B into a tirade. Her arms flailed as she made her point; her eyes bright, cheeks tinged pink. If she wasn't so staunch about respecting the dead and protecting evidence, he thought she might actually throw the fibula on the nearby table at Booth's head.

Jack pulled the particulates report out of the printer and glanced over his shoulder. They were still fighting, but their voices had softened a bit. He couldn't believe this had all started because Booth had offered to help her put her coat on. Dr. Brennan had commented about how this was clearly another display of his alpha male tendencies and that she was "quite capable of putting it on herself, thank you." To be honest, it confused Hodgins. He'd seen Booth help her into her lab coat before, why should this be any different? Then again, there were subtleties concerning women that not he or any other man could understand.

"Just because this case-" Her voice was rising again. "involved a brother who abandoned his sister doesn't mean I'm going to fall to pieces, Booth." She crossed her arms, glaring. "I can take care of myself."

"I know you can." Booth's tone matched Dr. B's almost to a tee. There was something oddly intimate about it. "I just know how hard it can be when a case hits this close to home." He didn't say it, but even across the lab Hodgins could pick up the implication: I know you can handle this, but I care about you.

He felt someone brush his shoulder and turned to see Ange standing next to him, an eyebrow cocked in amusement. She had always said that one of these arguments would be what pushed them over the edge, but he didn't think so. Though highly combustible, he had a feeling that they'd come together in a more organic, natural way. More the oxidation of iron or the combination of sodium and chloride than a thermite reaction. He was jolted from his thoughts as, suddenly, a look passed between the partners and the heat dissipated.

"Come on, Bones, let's go get some pie."

"Booth," Was she whining? "you know I don't like pie."

"Alright, I'll have the pie. You can have some of that chocolate mousse you love so much." He draped his arm across her shoulders and Jack smiled as they headed for the door, Brennan actually leaning into Booth's embrace. He was right, he realized, but they had come together a long time ago.