A/N: If you were wondering what happened to Pretences, there's an explanation on my profile page and I apologise to those who were reading it.
A/N 2: This isn't a sequel to Target (but please go read that too!)
Rated T - some sexual references and later violence.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones.
Chapter 1 - Phone Call
I know I can get it, Temperance Brennan thought as she pressed herself against the shelves. I'm almost there. I can feel it, I just need-
"Need a hand, Bones?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, she spun round to face her partner, who was standing in her doorway with a grin on his face. She planted her hands on her hips with a scowl. "I am perfectly capable of getting a book down from a bookshelf on my own, Booth."
He raised his eyebrows and said, sarcastically, "Yeah, because you were doing so well so far." He walked over and started to easily reach for the book that had been eluding her.
Brennan slapped his hand away in annoyance, not wanting to admit defeat. "I told you, I can reach it on my own," she said, petulantly, pushing him away and turning her attention back to the shelves.
Booth raised his hands in surrender and stepped back slowly. "Just trying to help..." he said with a smile as he watched his partner stretch back up for the dusty black book.
His eyes couldn't help but move down as her shirt rode up, exposing the flawless skin on her lower back. His gaze travelled down again and dozens of inappropriate thoughts suddenly rushed through his head when she let out a small moan of frustration as her fingertips brushed the book. He took a deep breath, unsure of how much more he could listen to.
Brennan let out a gasp as she felt Booth's hand rest on her hip. She tried to turn round to protest, but realised that his body was pressed firmly against hers, pinning her between him and the bookshelf. Feeling his stomach muscles tighten as he stretched upwards, she immediately tried to banish any unprofessional thoughts and instead looked up, concentrating on the hand that was reaching for the book, not the one now nestled comfortably on her waist.
Booth slid the book off the shelf with ease and moved back slightly, letting out the breath he'd been unconsciously holding. Brennan turned round and he noticed that her cheeks were flushed, although he wasn't sure whether it was from embarrassment or her earlier exertions.
"I told you I could reach it," she said, softly.
"You're welcome," he replied, equally gently.
They stared at each other for a moment, both aware of their close proximity, but neither particularly wanting to move away.
Brennan was the first to break their gaze as she looked down to the book that Booth was still holding. "Um, I should really be getting on with my work now," she said without conviction as she reached for the book.
"Um, yeah, I just came by to, uh..." Booth's attention was suddenly distracted as he noticed the title of the book he was holding. He quickly stepped back out of his partner's reach, reading aloud with a mischievous smile on his face, "'Sexual Customs and Rituals of South American Tribes.' Bones, you never told me there was an adult section in your little anthropology library here."
She glared at him and tried to snatch the book back. "It's not pornography, Booth, it's a detailed anthropological study."
"Of sex," he added with a grin, waving the book at her.
She grabbed at it again and Booth backed away, laughing. "You are so immature," she said in what was supposed to be a serious tone, but she couldn't hide the small smile playing around the corners of her mouth.
"Immature?" he said, with mock hurt, "I'm just trying to catch up on my anthropological reading here." He flicked the book open, teasingly, "Now, let's see..."
Not wishing to endure the taunting that would follow if he read that book, Temperance Brennan did something she rarely did. She acted on impulse. Lunging at Booth, she knocked him off balance onto the couch, pulling the book out of his hands as he fell.
However, she misjudged the effects of her own momentum. Unable to stop in time, she threw the book out of Booth's reach before she too tumbled on the couch, much to the surprise of the agent beneath her. He groaned as she landed hard on his chest, and her eyes widened in concern, "Booth, are you..."
She trailed off when they both heard someone clear their throat loudly in the doorway. Temperance sat up hurriedly as best she could, not realising that her legs were still astride her partner. Booth propped himself up on his elbows and looked over the back of the couch at the stunned artist standing by the door.
Angela Montenegro raised her eyebrows at the couple sprawled before her. She picked up the book that was lying at her feet and read the title, smirking. Looking back to the pair on the couch, she smiled wickedly, unable to resist, "Well, whatever works for you."
She watched in amusement as their mouths fell open when they realised just how compromising their position was. "Ange, we weren't-" Brennan began, at the same time that Booth protested, "It's not what-" Neither wanting to interrupt the other, they both fell silent.
Angela flashed them a large smile before teasing them further. "Well, I'll just let you get back to your, uh, research," she said, giving them a conspiratorial wink before dashing back out of the office.
Brennan looked down at Booth, unsure of what to say. "Uh, she's just, she didn't mean..." she ventured.
"Right," Booth said, nodding uncomfortably.
"Because we weren't..."
"Right."
"Research isn't... I mean, it wasn't..."
"Right."
"Good."
"Okay."
There was another awkward silence.
Booth shifted slightly. "Maybe we should, uh, you know, go do some, uh, work or something," he stammered, suddenly aware that he was still pinned to the couch.
Evidently Brennan realised at the same time and quickly dismounted, feeling the colour rush to her cheeks. "So, why did you come over?" she asked, unconsciously retreating behind her desk.
He got to his feet, unable to think of anything except Temperance Brennan on top of him on that couch. "I, um, I..." he mumbled, trying desperately to remember the reason. Suddenly it struck him. "I just wanted to see if you'd finished up your paperwork from the Silverman case."
She nodded and swiftly passed him a stack of papers. "That should be all of it."
Booth smiled, thankful for a reason to leave. "That's great," he said, backing towards the door. "I'll just sort this out back at the Bureau and I'll give you a call if I need anything else."
She gave him a small smile as he turned to leave but breathed a sigh of relief when he was gone. Picking up the book that had caused all the problems, she turned to her computer screen to write the next chapter of her novel, trying to forget that she'd had Seeley Booth on the couch between her legs just a few minutes earlier.
Temperance had finally managed to concentrate on her book, when the phone rang loudly on her desk. Checking her clock, she saw to her surprise that it had been two hours since Booth left. Half hoping it would be him, she answered on the second ring, "Brennan."
"Dr Brennan, it's Deputy Director Cullen here. Agent Booth asked me to contact you."
She frowned in confusion, asking, "Is he alright?"
"He's fine, Dr Brennan. He asked me to inform you that he has been transferred to another department, and will no longer be working as liaison to the Jeffersonian," he said in a business-like manner.
Brennan nearly dropped the phone. "But he was here a few hours ago," she said, shocked by the news. "Why has he been transferred?"
"Agents are transferred at the discretion of the FBI," Cullen answered briefly.
"But, but why didn't he tell me this himself?" she asked, unable to believe that Booth would do this to her.
Cullen sighed impatiently. "He is no longer your partner, Dr Brennan, and as such he has no reason to contact you," he said coolly. "I will have another agent assigned to the Jeffersonian institute first thing tomorrow."
Before she could argue further, the phone went dead, leaving Brennan in stunned silence.
To be continued...
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