Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: Sequel to People and Things. The date. :) Enjoy, cause I had fun writing this, and you're much more of a responsive group of readers that most...

Places

"Bones?"

"Yes?"

"This is weird."

They'd decided not to go to a restaurant, because Booth still had some pretty spectacular bruises and neither wanted to deal with people staring. Because she'd been the one to ask him out, she'd insisted on cooking for him, and they were seated across her kitchen table from each other.

"I know." She poked at her food for a few more seconds, then looked up at him. "Are you sure it's ok that we're in here? I mean, if I'd been recently blown up somewhere, I wouldn't want to then eat there, and..."

"BONES." He waved his fork at her. "That's not it."

"Oh." She relaxed again.

"It's weird because this is just an awkward situation. In fact, with our lives, I'm surprised that nobody's tried to kill us so far." As jokes went, it sucked.

"I know. What with that MOB HIT OUT ON ME AND EVERYTHING." She glared at him. He winced.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I know other people in the FBI, Booth. People who see fit to warn me when my life is in constant danger."

He attacked his steak with his knife. "Some people talk too much."

"Booth, I would like to have heard it from you. I keep proving that I can take care of myself, but you never seem to trust me with anything important."

"That's because you're a scientist. It's not your job to worry about what guys in the mob do, it's mine."

She rolled her eyes. "This sounds like the same male chauvinistic crap that my boyfriend in college spouted when I scored higher than him on an IQ test."

He snorted. "Are you serious?"

"What?" She was distracted by his smile. Damn, he had a nice smile.

"He got all weird because you were smarter than he was?" He raised an eyebrow. "Didn't he know that BEFORE you started dating?"

"Apparently not," she replied, stung.

"Bones... I didn't mean..." He sighed. "Look, for the record, you're WAY smarter than I am. So I won't freak out if you have some piece of paper to prove it."

"Gee, thanks." She grinned at him, then frowned. "Wait, weren't we discussing..."

"I promise to inform you the next time someone puts a price on your head."

"Alright, then." She went back to her meal.

"Hey, Bones?"

"Yes?"

"Do I get to kiss you at the end of this date?"

She smiled. "Hmmm… I don't know. You neglected to inform me when someone wanted to kill me…"

"But I'm cute." He flashed that killer smile. "And I make a great boyfriend."

She raised an eyebrow. "Boyfriend? I suppose I can live with that."

"Good." They finished eating in silence.

"Umm…"

"Yes, Booth?"

"Do I get to kiss you now?"

"Good grief, you're like a little kid." She leaned forward and presented her cheek to him. He reached up and turned her chin so that she was facing him, pressing his lips softly against hers. It felt like it took ages.

"Wow."

Her eyes were half closed and her voice was lazy. "You can say that again."

"Better yet, how about we DO that again?"

"Mmm… fine by me."

A/N: Tada!