10:30 pm
October 3, 2006
The Jeffersonian Institute

Dr. Temperance Brennan sat at her desk, staring blankly at the computer screen in front of her. She was working on her latest novel, but was encountering a bit of trouble. She folded her arms across her chest, and leaned back in her chair.

A short while later Agent Seeley Booth sauntered into the office, his hands in his pockets, whistling softly to himself. "I thought I just might find you here," he said, causing Brennan to jump.

"You scared me. I didn't see you come in," Brennan replied, sitting up in her chair and rubbing her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Well Bones, I couldn't find you anywhere else, so I figured you might need some help tearing yourself away from your work. Sometimes you've got to eat," he teased.

"I was trying to finish up another chapter," Brennan said as she stood up and stretched, "but it's just not going anywhere."

Booth nodded. "Seems to me like you need a break. Grab your stuff Bones, we'll stop by the diner for some take out, and then we'll go back to your place okay? I'm driving," he said as he threw her coat to her.

"But Booth, I need to finish this chapter by next week," Brennan protested.

Booth shook his head as he turned off the lights in her office. "Sorry Bones, tonight I'm the boss. Hey, maybe I'll even inspire you to work past that little writer's block of yours," he said with a chuckle.

Brennan rolled her eyes. "Fine. But not because you want me too, only because I'm hungry," she told him.

Booth nodded, ushering her out of the office, his hand instinctively moving to the small of her back. "Sure Bones, whatever you say," he agreed with a charming grin.

A half an hour later, the pair was sitting on the floor of Brennan's apartment, sharing dinner from various take out cartons. Soft music was playing in the background, and after a few moments of silence, Booth decided to strike up a conversation.

"So what's up with you Bones?" He asked.

"I don't know what that means Booth. What do you mean 'what's up'?" Brennan replied quizzically.

Booth sighed. "What is going on in your life? What's happening? What's up?" He simplified for her.

"Ah," Brennan nodded. "Well I'm supposed to be getting a new body in tomorrow. Apparently it was found on an Indian reserve in Montana," she explained.

Booth shook his head, interrupting her. "No Bones, I don't mean what's up at work, I mean in your life. Like personal stuff, you know?"

Brennan cocked her head to one side unconsciously. "Oh. Well, nothing I guess," she replied.

Booth guffawed. "Come on Bones, there's got to be something going on in your personal life. Even my life's not that sad," he told her.

Brennan shook her head. "No, I'm serious. And I take offense to your last statement. Just because I'm dedicated to my work and would rather spend time solving cases than going out on random and pointless dates doesn't mean that my life is sad," she pointed out.

Booth held his hands up in defense. "Sorry Bones, I only meant it as a joke."

"Well I don't see how that was funny," Brennan replied, her brow wrinkled with uncertainty.

Booth nodded. "Yeah, okay. Well, on that note, show me where I'm going to sleep tonight Bones," he said as he stood up.

"What do you mean?" Brennan asked, looking confused as she stood up and cleaned up their dinner trash.

"I'm bunking with you for the week, remember?" Booth said, helping her clean up. "The other day we were up on the platform talking about the case, and I mentioned that I need a place to stay this week because I'm having some repairs done in my apartment. Angela said she didn't have the extra room, meaning that Jack was going to be over so they didn't want any company, and she said I should stay with you. You said it was fine, remember?" Booth asked again.

Brennan shook her head. "You shouldn't ask me important questions like that when I'm examining a body. You know I don't hear what you're saying, so any and all of my responses are meaningless and I can't be held responsible for anything I say," she answered.

Booth sighed. "Oh, okay, sorry. I just thought…well never mind. I'll go get a motel room then," he said as he walked towards the door.

Brennan put her hand on his arm to stop him. "Wait, Booth. I mean you are here, and I'm guessing you've got your stuff in your car. I've got an extra room, so I guess you can stay here," she offered.

"Are you sure Bones, because I don't want to inconvenience you," Booth said doubtfully.

Brennan shook her head and smiled. "No, it's fine. Why don't you get your stuff and I'll make up the extra bed for you," she told him.

Booth nodded as he headed out the door. "Thanks, really Bones, thanks."

Brennan smiled to herself as she took some sheets out of her linen closet and began to make up the bed. Booth soon joined her in the room, and put his suits in the closet.

"You'll have to share my bathroom; it's just off of my bedroom, but don't hesitate to come in and use it," she told him.

"Okay, well, goodnight," Booth said.

Brennan nodded and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. "Goodnight," she said softly.

She walked into her own room and closed the door. She went to put on her pajamas, but realized that her usual camisole and underpants weren't going to cut it while Booth was staying with her. She sighed and pulled on a pair of flannel pants as well, hoping she wouldn't take them off in her sleep. She hated wearing pants to bed. She finished up in the bathroom and settled into bed, turning off all the lights except for her bedside lamp. After fluffing up her five pillows, she pulled a book out from under her nightstand. She began to read a mystery romance novel, that she was ashamed to say she found quite gripping. A few minutes later, she was startled by a knock on her door.

"Come in," she called softly, turning to face the door.

"Hey, can I wash up?" Booth asked uncomfortably.

Brennan smiled softly. "Of course, I'm done in there," she told him.

Booth nodded and went into her bathroom, closing the door behind him. He smiled when he saw the feminine bath products and lotions in there, and fought the urge to look under her sink and in her medicine cabinet.

He came out of the bathroom ten minutes later, and was going to say goodnight when he noticed Brennan was already asleep. He smiled to himself and took her book out of her hand, suppressing a laugh when he saw what kind of novel she was reading. He was careful to mark her page before turning out the light. He ran his hands through her hair softly and kissed her forehead before returning to his own room.

Brennan shifted in her sleep and smiled, the feeling of Booth's lips on her forehead lingering. In his bedroom, Booth was having a hard time falling asleep knowing that Brennan was just a room over. He closed his eyes and smiled at how beautiful and peaceful she looked when she was sleeping, but quickly shook those thoughts out of his head. Their relationship was strictly platonic; though by using that phrase, he realized just how much she had rubbed off on him. And it scared him that it didn't bother him in the least.