A/N: Forced to write this AGAIN because for some reason it didn't work the first time. I just had to do a Christmas story this year with Bones. A little warning, this idea might seem to you like OOC especially for Booth, bare with us (Booth and I) I swear he only has good intentions. Now I'll stop here since, if I keep talking, I'll just spoil the whole chapter. Enjoy:-)
A/N2: OT -- For those who feel like it, I made a Bones video on the song "Something About Christmas Time" which is uploaded on YouTube. So if you're bored, check it out.
Disclaimer: You know the drill... I own absolutely nothing.
"Come on, Brenn. You didn't go last year. The least you could do is come this year."
Temperance spun around to face her best friend, her annoyance showing clearly on her face.
"Ange, we've through already." She replied as scanned herself onto the platform. "I'm not going."
Turning around, she climbed two by two the steps to the platform. A skeleton was patiently waiting for her on a table. Grabbing a pair of latex gloves, she put them on before taking her clipboard and her pen. She began to examine the remains, all the while her friend's gaze on her. She ignored her.
Angela sighed loudly hoping her friend would read into it and see how truly annoyed she was. She had been pestering her for the past week, every time getting a very 'final' no as an answer. But despite her lack of success, Angela wasn't about to give up. She'd drag her best friend to the party if it was the only way to get her there but Temperance was going this year. She just couldn't understand, couldn't understand how her friend could live all crooked up alone in her corner all the time. Personally, she couldn't stand it.
"Booth is going to be there." She said, hopeful that this would at least give her some kind of reaction. "And Cam. Actually, I think they're going together."
Temperance's head snapped up. A smile tugged at Angela's lips. Had she finally convinced her friend?
"Well I hope they have a lot of fun." Temperance finally replied after a few seconds of silence.
Angela rolled her eyes.
"What is it with you and Christmas parties? It's nothing complicated. You just go, drink, eat, socialize. If Russ was throwing a party, would you refuse to go too?"
"Russ isn't throwing a party." Temperance replied as she bent down to take a closer look at the victim's skull.
She stared for a few seconds before straightening up and scribbling something on the form.
"I know that, it was hypothetical." Angela replied, forcing herself not to roll her eyes.
Temperance nodded, barely listening to her best friend.
Angela stood still, staring at her best friend staring at a skeleton. She really wished Tempe would open up a bit more to people. She barely even knew the people she worked with outside the team. And she had been so depressed lately, or so it had seem to Angela anyway, that seeing other people would do her some good. But unfortunately, she knew her best friend wasn't like that. She sighed.
"I'm going to my office." Angela said as she began walking away.
"Have fun."
Angela sighed as she jogged down the stairs.
"Angela, have you seen Bones?"
The voice of her colleague startled her. Jumping slightly, she looked up from her computer and turned towards the sound of the voice.
She found Booth standing at her door, staring at her expectantly, his hands toying with a pen.
"I think she's in her office." Angela replied, dismissively.
Actually, she had no clue where her friend could have been at the moment. Nearly two hours had gone by since their conversation and Brennan hadn't came to see her since. Too tired of arguing about a Christmas party, Angela had preferred staying in her office.
Her tone made Booth frowned.
"You two got into a fight or something?"
Angela sighed.
"She just won't go to the Christmas party. I tried everything but she still refuses to go."
Booth raised an eyebrow.
"That's it? That's what you two fought about? What's wrong with not wanting to go do small talk with people you barely know or like? Who would want to do something like that anyway?"
"Me." Angela replied, pointing at herself. "I swear, this girl has no holiday spirit whatsoever."
Booth's jaw tightened.
"Well can you blame her?"
There had been an edge to Booth's voice and Angela immediately picked it up. No, she couldn't blame her best friend. After all, Christmas only reminded her of how she felt when she woke up Christmas morning to find that her parents had disappeared.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to sound mean. It's just that she's missing out on so much. She could meet really nice people if she just went out once in a while."
Booth ran a hand through his hair.
"Well you know, Bones is just not that kind of person. She actually enjoys spending time alone, thinking about bones."
Angela shuddered. Who, other than Brennan, actually enjoyed thinking about bones? She felt a sinking feeling at the bottom of her stomach. She would never get Temperance to open to people. Maybe she just ought to stop trying.
One quick glance at Booth changed her mind. Her feeling of defeat immediately vanished and her face lit up.
"She'll listen to you."
Booth frowned.
"What?"
A grin spread across Angela's face.
"Of course, why didn't I think of that before? Especially after the reaction she had when I told her you and Cam were going to the party together."
"You did what?" Booth asked, stepping forward.
"If you ask her to go to the party, she will." Angela went on, ignoring Booth's question.
"What makes you think that?"
Angela got to her feet, suddenly energized.
"It's simple. You're her partner, she trusts you and she actually likes spending time with you. I'm a hundred percent sure that, if you ask her to go with you to the party, she'll go."
But Booth didn't seem to share her point of view.
"I don't know if that's a good idea, Angela."
Angela walked towards him. Grabbing his hands in hers, she brought them up and put on her best begging mask on.
"Come on, do it for me. Pleeeeease."
Booth rolled his eyes and tried his best to suppress a chuckle.
"Does this beggining really work on Hodgins?"
Booth rolled his eyes.
Angela nodded proudly and Booth chuckled. The woman let go of his hands and took a step back.
"Thanks, Booth. I really appreciate it. This girl really needs to get into the holiday spirits." Angela added as she sat back down at her computer.
Booth nodded and was about to step out of the office when a part of him got an idea. Unsure if he should voice it, he stopped under the threshold to consider. Seconds later, he was turning back towards the artist.
"What if I told you that I could get her into the spirit of the holidays?"
"I'd told you to keep dreaming." Angela replied, her eyes not leaving her screen.
"What if I bet you that I could?"
Angela spun around in her chair, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Feeling a little confident, are we?"
Booth shrugged.
"You have until Christmas." Angela said, setting the rule down.
"Seven days?"
Angela nodded. Her nod told Booth that he wasn't going to have a choice.
"Seven days."
Booth paused to consider the proposition. Seven days surely wasn't a long time but he was pretty sure he could still do it. He had his way with Bones, he had his way to make her realize things she wouldn't have realized without him. Of course, she had the same effect on him and it was one of the things he liked about their relationship.
Making up his mind, he extended his hand forward.
"Deal."
Angela beamed.
"Deal." She replied as they shook hands. "Wait? What are we betting?"
Booth shrugged.
"Okay, let's think about this." Angela went on. "If you lose, you have to take me out for dinner and a movie."
Booth's eyes widened.
"But aren't you dating Hodgins?"
"Yeah and that's the thing. If you lose, not only will you have take mout for dinner and a movie but you will also risk having both Hodgins and Brennan pissed at you. Now, you wouldn't want to upset her, would you?"
Booth shook his head. She had a point.
"And if I win?" He inquired.
Angela paused to consider for a moment.
"If you win, you get a new found respect from me."
Booth grimaced.
"That's not really fair."
"That's the deal." Angela replied.
Booth shook his head slightly. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this and, worst of all, that he had gotten this idea in the first place.
"You're on."
So, think it will work?
