Disclaimer: I don't own Bones; never have, probably never will.
A/N: The beginnings of this fic have been sitting around on my hard drive for quite a while (i.e. well over a year). I'd been waiting to post the first chapter until I was happier with it (it's the weakest of the bunch, in my opinion), but eventually realized that that meant that the story would never get posted. Also, a reminder: I may update multi-chaptered fics very slowly, but I don't abandon them. This fic will be finished eventually. Having said that, this fic may or may not go past mid-Season Five. I have to admit that I stopped watching Bones on a regular basis around mid-Season Six due to utter frustration and depression with the way that the story (and characters) were developing. I've been reading episode reviews to keep up with general events (I do still care about the characters, after all) – and I watch the occasional episode – but my knowledge of Bones post-Season Six is a tad patchy. So... we'll see. A lot depends on how much "free" time Real Life grants me.
Booth: "Want to know what I wished for?"
Brennan: "No, it doesn't matter. Completely irrelevant."
Booth: "I wished... I wished that you could find happiness."
Brennan: "I don't know what that means."
Booth: "Happiness. Love, laughter, friendship, purpose... and a dance."
– Seeley Booth, 5x20: "The Witch in the Wardrobe"
I. Aurora Bar (1x04)
The first time they dance together is at a bar in Aurora. When they talk to Angela that night, she suggests (orders) that they blow off a little steam by having "fun and a drink." And, well, they could use a break. What could it hurt?
Noise, neon lights, and cigarette smoke engulf them as they enter the crowded bar. While Bones heads towards the bar proper, Booth heads to the restroom. By the time he makes his way over to get a drink, Bones is already on the dance floor with a blonde, muscular man. (And just who is that guy, anyway?)
Doing his best to ignore a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, Booth pulls off his suit jacket, rolls up his sleeves, and pops a few buttons on his shirt. This isn't really a suit-scene. Besides, it's hot in here.
He distantly notes the appreciative female glances thrown his way as he orders a cold beer and settles onto a stool. Even if he was looking for something (which he isn't, as he has a girlfriend, thank you very much), he wouldn't act on the looks he's getting. For one thing, they're all potential suspects in this investigation. For another, the pickings are pretty slim; the hottest woman in the place right now is undoubtedly Bones, followed by Dr. Denise Randall, the veterinarian who performed the autopsy (sorry, necropsy (though no matter what Bones says, they're the same thing)) on the bear. And boy is she aware of her newly demoted status. The way Dr. Randall is glaring at Bones, Booth is surprised that she doesn't have a hole in her head.
"So, who's the guy?" Booth asks Sheriff Scutter casually, gesturing in the direction of Bones.
"Oh, that's Charlie Harris, the overnight delivery guy," the sheriff says. "He also teaches mountain-climbing and skiing during the tourist seasons."
Booth nods.
The blonde Dr. Randall shoots him a flirtatious look from across the bar and Booth politely raises his mug in her direction before taking a sip. Turning back towards Sheriff Scutter, he asks, "He trustworthy?"
"He's a decent guy," the sheriff says with a shrug. "Why? You think he might have something to do with Adam's death?"
"Just considering all the possibilities," Booth says with a small shrug of his own.
Despite his best efforts, he can't seem to pull his eyes away from Bones and Charlie. He's still watching and trying not to glower when Dr. Andrew Rigby cuts in and steals Bones away.
Good. Maybe the doctor will dance at a more appropriate distance from her.
His hopes are dashed in pretty short order, though, as Rigby quickly gets up close and personal with her. Booth notes that Sheriff Scutter is getting kinda antsy, shifting back and forth on his feet. Then he nods once to himself as though having come to a decision, and begins to make his away closer to the dance floor.
Booth narrowly restrains himself from grimacing visibly. Seriously? Yeah, Bones is hot, but do they have to crowd her like… like a pack of dogs slavering over a piece of meat?
He pushes down the strange, roiling feeling in his stomach that he refuses to call jealousy. Bones is a free woman; she can dance with whoever she wants. Besides, he has a girlfriend and even if he didn't – well, Bones is his partner. And she's… she's arrogant and infuriating and – damn it, why exactly does he find those things so attractive on her?
Shit. And now the Sheriff is dancing with her. Why can't they leave her the hell alone? Bones may be a free agent, but that doesn't mean that she's able to look out for herself.
So when he cuts in on Bones' dance with the Sheriff, it's only to save her from the all-too-hungry male population of the small town. (Or at least that's what he tries to tell himself.)
Bones is innocently delighted when he informs her that the guys there aren't interested in her information – they're interested in her. And her delight somehow only serves to make her even more attractive.
There's something about the act of dancing that's deeply intimate. And as Booth dances with Bones, he realizes something: Before, he could see this thing (them) possibly going somewhere. Now, he knows that if they gave it a chance, it definitely would.
But he has Tessa and he's happy with her. So it's a moot point. Really.
-–- -–- -–- -–- -–-
II. Brennan's Apartment (1x15)
The second time they dance together is in her apartment. It's the most uninhibited he's ever seen her. For a short time, her walls are down, and Dr. Temperance Brennan is acting silly. Her face is glowing, her eyes are sparkling, and it turns out that she isn't a half bad singer. Not to mention that she has one hell of a high-kick.
It's kinda perfect.
At least it's perfect until he gets blown up. But really, he was already blown away, so he supposes he should have seen something like this coming. After all, Bones has always been literal to a fault.
-–- -–- -–- -–- -–-
III. Las Vegas (2x08)
The third time they dance together is in Las Vegas. It's not them dancing, of course, it's Roxanne and Tony, but it's close enough.
Actually, they're very close. Tony and Roxie, that is. His hands are on her hips and her arms are around his neck as they sway back and forth during a slower song. The friction of her body against his is… incredibly distracting. They aren't exactly whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears, however.
"See that man in the corner?"
"Mmhmm…"
"He's watching us. Better make this one good, Roxie."
He dips her and she throws him a glance that's so sultry, he's surprised that nothing's burst into flames.
It's perfect.
It's perfect except for the fact that they are Tony and Roxie, not Booth and Brennan. They have a job to do and they can't afford to get distracted.
-–- -–- -–- -–- -–-
IV. Christmas Party at the Jeffersonian (between 2x11 & 2x12)
The fourth time they dance together, it's at the Jeffersonian's annual Christmas party. They're only there due to Angela's wheedling, blackmailing, and downright bullying.
["Fine, Ange," Bones sighs. "I promise to come so that you do not photocopy your butt again."
"Thank you, sweetie," Angela says. "You won't regret it."
Bones looks doubtful, and Booth can barely restrain a snort of laughter.
"And you!" Angela whirls around, poking him in the chest with a finger. "You're coming, or so help me –"
"OK, OK, I'll be there!" Booth tells her defensively. He's already given up trying to get out of it; rational excuses (such as not being a Jeffersonian employee) mean nothing to this woman. "Just… cut it out already, would you?"]
When he cuts in to dance with her, it's because that creep from the Paleontology department is trying to feel her up again, and she has a scowl larger than Texas on her face.
"I don't need protecting, Booth," Bones hisses.
"I know," Booth says, grinning. "But it occurred to me that Handsy Hubert might. You looked like you were about to rip him a good one."
"I don't know what that means."
They're moving together to a particularly cheesy rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and out of the corner of his eye he can see Dr. Goodman scolding Hodgins (who (with Zack's assistance) has attempted to spike the eggnog yet again).
It's perfect.
It's perfect until Cam cuts in.
"Dr. Brennan," she says, smiling. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not," Bones says a tad stiffly.
-–- -–- -–- -–- -–-
V. Book Release (between 2x14 and 2x15)
The fifth time they dance together is at the release party for her latest book.
The atmosphere is kinda stuffy; lots of hoity-toits here tonight. It's not exactly a crowd he's comfortable moving in, but Bones asked him to come, so here he is. She could use a friend's support tonight, and he's honored that she's willing to accept his.
Booth shifts back and forth, fidgeting with his tie (which feels far too tight). Then he sees her and she looks… wow. He stumbles over his tongue in an attempt to compliment her, and she smiles.
"Hey, where's Sully?" he asks.
"He's talking with a friend that he ran into. Agent… Wilson, I think?" Her face is scrunched, trying to remember.
"Yeah," Booth says. "I know him, good guy."
"Dr. Brennan," a petite, beady-eyed woman in four-inch heels says, striding forcefully towards them, "Why aren't you dancing?"
"Oh no," Bones groans into his ear, warm breath tickling his skin. "It's my publicist's new assistant. She won't leave me alone."
"You trust me, right?" he whispers back.
"Of course," she states confusedly, "but –"
"Then follow my lead."
"This is your party," the woman continues, "People will start wondering if something's… wrong… if you don't seem to be enjoying yourself."
"There is no definitive correlation between dancing and enjoying oneself," Bones says, clearly trying (and failing) to mask her irritation. "Although dancing performs integral functions in numerous societies, some of which involve celebration –"
"– If you need help finding a partner –" the assistant says, talking loudly over her.
"– Bones is dancing the next one with me," Booth cuts in. "Special Agent Seeley Booth at your service, ma'am. I'm her partner."
"Oh," the woman says embarrassedly. "You might have mentioned that you had it covered, Dr. Brennan. I take it that this is 'Andy?'"
"Actually –" Bones begins, but he cuts her off.
"– it was nice chatting, but this lovely lady and I have an appointment on the dance floor."
He grabs her arm and propels her onto the floor. She glares fiercely at him.
"There was no need to manhandle me, Booth," she articulates in crisp irritation.
"Hey, no need to thank me or anything," Booth mutters sarcastically.
"That is correct," Bones says. "Why would I thank you for jerking me off on the dance floor?"
"Uh, I think you meant 'yanking you onto the dance floor'," Booth corrects her. "Which, for the record, I did not do."
"Jerking off, yanking onto, what's the difference?" she asks, exasperated. "You did it to me without asking my permission."
He looks around nervously as her voice rises in volume.
"Keep it down, would you?" he begs.
"I don't understand why you are so skittish," she continues. "Unless…" An enlightened expression breaks across her face. "Is 'jerking off' some form of sexual euphemism?"
He nods. Then, quickly changing the subject, "Besides, you agreed to follow my lead this one time."
"I thought you meant in dancing," she protests, smiling despite herself.
"Well, that too," he says, grinning.
And so they dance.
It's perfect.
It's perfect until Sully finishes his conversation with Wilson, and intercepts them on the dance floor.
"Hey, Tempe, long time no see," he says, grinning casually. "Mind if I cut in?"
Booth tries not to bristle too visibly.
"Nah," he says. "I was ready for a drink, anyways."
So he walks off, leaving a glowing Bones dancing with his (former) friend. He tries to convince himself that he doesn't care when she laughs at one of Sully's comments, that he isn't bothered by the fact that they're practically cheek-to-cheek.
He doesn't quite succeed.
Coming soon to a website near you... Chapter Two of "Searching for Happiness": In which Caroline Julian is Caroline Julian, Zack makes a comment that causes Booth to choke on his drink, and B&B share a dance at Hodgins and Angela's wedding-that-wasn't.