A/N: I loved The Bone that Blew except for the blatant missed opportunity to slowly move Booth & Brennan's relationship forward.

Friend Thing

"I can't overlook the sanctity of the lab Booth," Brennan said as she and Booth leaned on the railing watching Max and Parker restructure the cap tension of a cola bottle.

"Yeah, well maybe you can overlook it for me," Booth stated as he turned to face his partner.

"Why"? she asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"As a favour, for a friend." Booth knew this request was beyond their partnership.

"You think of me as a friend?"

"Yes I do. Don't you think of me as a friend?" Booth asked as his attention altered between Brennan and Parker.

Temperance Brennan knew Seeley Booth was more than just her work partner but she had been comfortable – until now – keeping that thought alone in her head. She glanced at the tall, handsome and often confident man before her. In the few moments she watched him watch his son and her father, as he awaited her response, she saw a friend, asking for her help. Had anyone else made that same request she would have said it was manipulation. Seeley Booth had many traits, but manipulator wasn't one of them.

"Yes, I do," she replied as a smile spread across her face.