I was inspired yesterday by Eric Carmen's "Hungry Eyes" and, well, this is the result. Didn't turn out exactly as I'd planned, but whatcha gonna do?

I do not own Bones. You will all hear about it when I do.

Booth involuntarily exhaled as the frigid night air rushed to greet him, dulling his senses and disorientating him momentarily. Shaking his head slightly and hunching his shoulders defensively against the bitter onslaught of the elements, he marched out onto the street, looking behind him to see how his partner was doing.

Her eyes widened as she realised just how low the temperatures outside were. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and puffed her cheeks out, as though this would buffer against the freezing night.

As she drew level with him, her hand shot out and punched his bicep.

"Last time I listen to you. A walk would do us good, you said. Wake us up, you said."

"Well, it will." He growled, rubbing his injured spot aggressively.

"There's a good chance it'll also kill us."

He snorted, dropping his hands to swing by his sides.

"Unlikely, Bones. Very unlikely. But, should it happen, at least we'll die healthy."

"I somehow doubt a brief excursion to the nearest coffee shop qualifies as healthy. Especially when we're just going back to my apartment to sit for another two hours, at least. Why we couldn't just have the coffee that's free and available in my nice, warm kitchen is beyond me."

He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her against his side.

"Ah, come on, Bones. It's all in the experience. You were falling asleep, anyway."

She squeaked indignantly and slapped the warm hand dangling in front of her chest.

"I was not! That was you!"

His lips twitched.

"Well, maybe, but that's only coz you were telling me really boring Ancient Egyptian facts. That had nothing whatsoever to do with the case, might I add."

She crossed her arms in front of her, swelling in indignation.

He laughed softly and dipped his head sideways, breathing in the intoxicating floral scent of her hair and toying briefly with the idea of moving his hand ever so slightly south to cup the full breast that was bouncing so distractingly beneath it.

I've been meaning to tell you

She stopped abruptly and he jumped, terrified she'd just realised he was engaging in not-exactly-partner-appropriate behaviour.

She tilted her head sideways to look at him, face and eyes shining brilliantly.

"Look at the stars, Booth."

He cleared his throat to try and calm the racing pulse of his heart. He was safe: she was none the wiser. He pulled away from her and tilted his head heavenward.

"Wow." He tilted his head around on its axis, drinking in the glowing sight from every angle.

Brennan let out a little gasp of delight and spun slowly in a circle, neck craned upward, a radiant smile lighting up her face.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

He kept his head angled towards the sky but he focused his gaze on his partner. Then swallowed thickly.

I've got this feeling that won't subside

She was so exquisite. So joyful. So wonderful. So… He ran a hand quickly over his mouth lest his internal monologue become a screaming declaration of her beauty.

"Yeah. Very…beautiful."

Something in his voice clued her in and she glanced curiously at him, lips pursing slightly. He bit his lip as he lost himself in the endless depths of her oceanic blues. He forced himself not to drop his gaze, as he'd done countless times already since they'd ventured outside. Her fitted coat clung to her every curve in the most delicious way.

I look at you and I fantasize

"Booth?" she queried, taking a step toward him.

He grunted and ran a hand across the back of his head, unwittingly causing hair at his crown to stand on end.

"Sorry, I was…eh…distracted."

She took a step closer, a smile quirking her lips into a mischievous expression. The breath caught in his throat. He couldn't move. Definitely couldn't speak.

You're mine tonight

She took another step. His senses were filled with her perfume, her shampoo…her own, unique, knee-trembling scent. His head swam.

Now I've got you in my sights

If she came any closer he wasn't sure he could be responsible for his actions. Her eyes were wide and shining, the lashes framing them smoky and seductive. Her lips parted slightly in concentration as she focused on him. He could see the very tips of the teeth lining her lower jaw and wondered what it would feel like to run his tongue, very gently, over them.

She reached a hand up and flattened his hair. His breath came out in a whoosh. She gave the crown of his head a few conclusive taps and flicked her gaze toward his.

With these hungry eyes

Whatever she saw there startled her. Her mouth widened further into an 'o' of puzzlement. Her eyes moved down briefly to his torso, then his legs. So she'd felt him begin to shake, then. With nerves. With need. With an overwhelming longing that tugged him to the core.

One look at you and I can't disguise

He focused on the dark curve of her eyelashes as she kept her gaze cast downward, inevitably thinking. Excruciatingly slowly, he watched the muscles work as she slowly brought her eyes up to meet his once more. He felt her warm, erratic breath against his cheek.

I've got hungry eyes

Tentatively, she lowered her hand back down to her side. Her fingers brushed against his thigh as she did so, igniting a trail of fire in every direction from that tingling focal point. He hissed slightly at the strength of his body's reaction.

I feel the magic between you and I

The rosy hue that had stained her cheeks from the relentless pounding of the freezing wind suddenly deepened. He had a feeling that, this time, the plummeting temperatures were not the underlying cause. Her lips pressed together and she pitched her gaze starward. She could be trying to prevent herself from laughing or crying. Either was a realistic possibility.

With one shaky exhalation, she stumbled backward. Moving a few feet away, she glanced back up at the skies once more, the innumerable stars reflecting brilliantly in her roaming irises.

"We're never going to get that coffee at this rate."

She laughed forcefully and tilted her head in the direction they should be heading. Digging his hands deep in to his pockets, Booth grunted gruffly and began plodding toward their destination. She fell into step with him after a moment or two. He heard her let out a shaky breath, the smoky wisps of it travelling sideways and dissolving onto his face.

I want to hold you so hear me out

He bit the inside of his lip as he moved along. She wanted to ignore it, fine. He didn't want to pressure her. But they were going to have to face up to it sooner or later. There would come a time in the not-too-distant future when all his sense of propriety would be kicked unceremoniously out the door and all restraint would be gone. Then, she would find his lips warm and eager and hungry against hers and, unless he had more self-control than he thought (unlikely), he would simply and thoroughly ravish her on the spot. He hoped she knew that.

I wanna show you what love's all about

He growled to himself. It wasn't as though he wanted to hurt her. She would never be a meaningless conquest to him. He wanted to love her, completely, utterly, world-alteringly until he could no longer draw breath. He chanced a quick glance at her out of the corner of his eye. Did she not know that he'd never, not under pain of death, leave her? He was committed to her. Body and soul. As a partner and, if she'd ever permit it, eventually as a lover.

Now I've got you in my sights

He jumped sideways as he felt her hand grip his arm. She smiled at him and slipped her fingers in behind the sleeve of his coat so her hand nestled securely in the crook of his elbow. He smiled thinly to himself and reached his free hand over to rest briefly on the soft material of her gloves. She smiled at him again, her eyes locking with his for a number of seconds longer than was necessary, then looked ahead once more.

With these hungry eyes

It wasn't difficult for him to recognise the underlying sadness shimmering beneath her gaze and he tightened his hand around hers. He felt the fingers tremble against the thick material of his coat. He braced himself for her flustered confusion that almost always came in the form of anger when things became too close, too real, between them. To his astonishment, her fingers grasped his coat tighter.

Now did I take you by surprise?

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Evidently she felt this barely contained…thing between them too. No matter how much she might try to deny it, if and when he chose to broach the subject, he knew now she felt the same way.

Brennan pointed to soft lighting shining hazily against the pavement ahead. A wooden cutout of a steaming cup of coffee hung over the sidewalk. He nodded at her unasked enquiry and the two of them moved toward the building, her hand slipping down to her side so they could move through the door in single file.

A number of tables with brightly coloured Formica tablecloths littered the shop's floor in seemingly sporadic locations. Brennan weaved in and out of the fluorescent obstacles and came to a stop before a large sign bearing the name and price of every coffee sold there. She paused briefly, flirting with spontaneity, before she inevitably ordered her regular from a middle-aged kindly faced woman behind the counter. Booth came up to stand beside her and asked to have the same.

Brennan's eyes met his briefly in surprise. He shrugged, his charm smile at full wattage.

"Just thought I'd try something different. See how you like things. I figured, if you're so smart, you've gotta be onto a winner, right?"

Brennan didn't know whether to smile at him or hit him.

"Anything sweet with the coffees, dearies?"

Brennan ducked her head slightly as she muttered, "No, I think he's sweet enough already."

Booth smirked. He knew she'd meant for that to come out frustrated but, to be honest, she'd sounded pleased. Proud, even. The woman's gaze flitted knowingly between the two as she silently passed the steaming take-away cups across the counter. Booth's hip inadvertently grazed the beginning swell of Brennan's posterior as he leaned forward. She gasped quietly and nearly dropped her cup. Booth muttered an inarticulate apology as he grabbed his own cup off the shining tile counter. The woman's smile widened.

"Come back soon, dearies."

Both met her eyes briefly and smiled quickly. They exited the shop silently, Brennan holding her cup in front of her face and blowing softly into the small opening in the lid.

They walked home saying little or nothing for the most part. Brennan didn't ask what Booth thought of her choice of coffee. She was apprehensive about the answer she'd receive. When they reached her apartment, Booth held the door open to let her through first. Her head brushed the underside of his arm as she moved into the room and he shivered involuntarily.

The rest of the night was focused primarily on the case. They argued, bickered and hypothesised until past midnight, never deviating from the details and facts spread on the table before them. Occasionally one would glance up and catch the other gazing thoughtfully at them, but a flimsy excuse was made for such behaviour and the subject wasn't pressed.

Eventually, Booth yawned widely and declared that it was time to call it a night. Brennan nodded her agreement sleepily. She slowly stretched and moved off the couch with all the agility and grace of a ballerina. He feigned interest in his shoes so as not to be captivated by her full breasts straining against her shirt as she coaxed her muscles into wakefulness.

She walked him toward the door. Hesitating slightly, she thanked him for coming over, for helping her. With more than a hint of laughter in his voice he reminded her that they were partners: that's what he was there for. She nodded absently.

He said his goodbyes and pulled the door open. He went to move through it then stopped himself. His body stilled and his brow furrowed. Slowly, he turned to face her once more.

I need you to see

Her eyes met his fearfully. Her stance was tense, shoulders pushed forward. She licked her lips quickly then glanced at the floor. Giving herself a quick shake she looked him in the eye again, licking her lips once more as she did so.

He smiled at her reaction, though it didn't meet his eyes. He sighed, though with tiredness or frustration he honestly couldn't say. He shifted his weight uncomfortably. Finally, he opened his mouth.

This love was meant to be

"Bones, I…we need to talk. Soon."

He saw her eyes widen. She shook her head slightly as she took a step back, away from him. She looked down at her feet, then over at the wall, then back down to her feet. She reached a hand up and began fidgeting with the pendant around her neck. He tried to focus on her mobile fingers and not drop his gaze any lower. Her lips pressed together and he feared the worst.

She raised her eyes to his once more and something there stopped the protestation, the nervous request for him to leave. The plea shining nakedly from his face, the honesty and hope radiating from every pore of his skin struck her dumb. The tension in her forehead left. Her shoulders lowered. Her eyes softened, unafraid in his presence. A slight smile even tugged at her lips.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Brennan nodded. Soon. Soon they would talk. And she wouldn't pretend that it came out of the blue or that she had no idea what he was talking about. She nodded again. Soon.

Encouraged, he smiled, a wide smile that lit up his face and accentuated the happiness flowing from his eyes. Inexplicably pleased, she smiled back. With a little wave, he turned and left. She stood for a few seconds before pushing the door shut. Nodding thoughtfully, the two moved away from the closed door, only a brief barrier to their developing relationship. Soon.

I've got hungry eyes,

One look at you and I can't disguise,

I've got hungry eyes,

I feel the magic between you and I.