Across the Line
It was Christmastime at the Jeffersonian and everyone in the lab could feel the joy in the air. Even former Scrooge, Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, was feeling particularly happy this season. She had even let Angela decorate her office. It was late Friday night and everyone else had gone home. However, Temperance was sitting at her desk going over some paperwork when she heard a knock at her door. She looked up to see the grinning face of her partner Special Agent Seeley Booth. She fought to hold back a laugh at the sight of him. He was decked out in a bright red T-shirt with a huge smiling Santa face on it and a green elf hat with a bell at the end.
"What's up, Booth," she asked her colorful partner with a small smile.
"Well, Bones, I tried calling your house and when you didn't pick up I just assumed you would be here."
"Was there something you needed," she asked seeing as how he hadn't answered her question.
"No, not really. I was just wondering if you'd like to go have dinner with me," Booth replied.
"Oh, I don't know Booth. I wanted to get some of this paperwork done and…"
"Aww come on, Bones," Booth interrupted, "you need to take a break sometime."
She sighed and he did the only thing he knew that would for sure get her to agree.
"Pleeease," he whined, flashing her his irresistible charm smile.
Temperance smiled and shook her head in defeat. "Alright, Booth. Let me get my coat."
Just as she walked around her desk to gather her coat and purse, another knock at the door sounded. This time, it was Caroline Julianne, the attorney who was prosecuting Temperance's father's case. She looked at the two of them and then raised a knowing eyebrow at Booth before focusing her attention on Temperance. "Dr. Brennan, I thought I'd find you here. I just thought I'd let you know that the date for your father's arraignment has been pushed back a week. His defense attorney has asked for more time."
"Okay," Temperance replied, "Thanks for letting me know, Caroline."
"You're welcome Dr. Brennan. Have a good holiday," Caroline replied. "You too, Agent Booth." Just before she left she turned and with a wicked smile, Caroline said, "In case either of you didn't notice, you're standing under mistletoe." Booth and Brennan looked up at the same time, then at each other, then at Caroline.
"Well, what are you waiting for, Booth? Kiss her," she said giving Booth a small shove.
Temperance was now staring hard at the floor. Like he had done so many times before, Booth used this thumb and slowly lifted her face to his. This time, however, the action was not being used to comfort her. Temperance finally met Booth's gaze and the intensity that she saw there almost made her knees buckle. Very slowly, their lips came closer together until they met in the sweetest, most meaningful kiss either of them had ever experienced. Nothing had ever felt more right to either of them. As Booth's arms encircled Temperance's waist and her hands found his neck and hair, Caroline quietly excused herself, satisfied with her work.
After what felt like an eternity the two partners broke apart and rested their foreheads against each other's. Taking a deep breath Booth whispered in her ear, "Temperance, I think we just crossed the line."
Terrified, thinking that he was about to tell her that it was a mistake, she simply nodded with her eyes still shut tight.
"Look at me, Temperance," Booth said.
The emotion in his voice made it nearly impossible to deny his request. She looked up at him and he said, "I don't want to go back."
Letting go of the breath she hadn't even realized she was holding, she said, "Then don't."
The two smiled at each other and left the lab hand-in-hand.
I'm really going to have to thank Angela for decorating my office, thought Temperance.