Disclaimer: I am making no money from this
Chapter one:
Temperance Brennan stood over a set of World War I bones. She was working on identifying some of the skeletons that lined the walls of the Jeffersonian. This was her second of the day. It was already 6 pm when she had climbed the ladder to get the box of bones down. The dark sky from the skylights indicated the length of time that had past. Brennan pulled her latex glove down a little to expose her watch, it confirmed that several hours had past, the time was now 9:30. She rolled her neck. She was about ready to take a break.
Booth slid his card at the edge of the platform. He tapped on Brennan's shoulder expecting her to jump.
"I heard you," Temperance said dryly.
"Of course you did," Booth smiled, "Have you eaten yet?"
"No but I was about to heat up some sesame noodles and tofu, there's plenty if you want some" she offered.
Seeley grimaced, "No thank you, that's not real food,"
"I don't see why you insult my food, it's much healthier than a hamburger,"
"But you can't capture the taste of a burger with soy or what ever it is that you're eating," Booth said, crossing his arms.
"Fine," Temperance said dismissively, jotting a final note onto the open pad. She looked up at him. "Why are you here? It's Friday night. Do we have a new case?"
Booth shook his head, "Come get something to eat with me at Wong Foo's," he suggested, trying to sound off hand.
"Sure, hang on, I need to get my bag," She shucked her gloves with two snaps of rubber and dropped them into the correct container. Booth followed her off the platform, he tossed his lucky chip into the air, caught it, and placed it back in to his pocket.
"You know, I think it's nice that you think of me and make sure I've eaten," Temperance said, closing and locking her door.
"Bones, I just thought that we could both use a drink and some food," Booth said, following her out towards the parking garage, "I'll drive".
Booth and Brennan sat at the counter. Sid stood in front of them taking a second to gauge what they would want. "I'll bring you both a pizza and a bottle of Jack," Brennan's eyes widened, and Booth nodded appreciatively.
"So, what exactly happened to the bar being your space?" Brennan asked, tilting her head to watch Booth shovel a handful of bar nuts into his mouth.
He shrugged, "You didn't let me keep it that way".
"So it's my fault that you poorly enforced your boundaries," Brennan laughed.
Sid placed a bottle of whiskey in front of the partners and slid two shot glasses out as well.
"Thanks," Booth said with a wave, grabbing the glasses and filling them.
"Isn't this how you get drunk Booth?"
"Wow, how did you pick up on that?" Booth said, tossing the drink back and wincing.
"Well, I remembered how you told— "
"Just take a shot Bones," Booth demanded, refilling his glass.
"Ahhh," Brennan gasped after downing her shot, "that burns" Booth nodded, and then threw back his shot, and refilled both glasses. They clinked in a mini toast, "to partners" Brennan proposed.
"To trust," Booth said tapping the glasses together again. They threw the shots back simultaneously. Brennan spun the bottle around carefully reading the label.
"I think that I should inform you that I haven't eaten in a while,"
"Great," Booth stretched the word out. He pulled the bottle from her grasp and poured out two more shots.
"You could ask," Brennan said, scowling.
"What? If you wanted the drink?" Booth shoved the tiny glass into Brennan's out stretched hand.
"No, of course I want the drink, you should have asked if I was done with the bottle," Brennan said before taking the shot. She banged the glass roughly onto the counter.
"Whoa there cowgirl," Booth laughed, wiping his mouth and replacing his empty glass onto the counter as well, " those are made of real glass,"
"I know," Brennan said, "if it were made of plastic, the angle at which I—"
"You know what Bones, not tonight, no crazy smart talk tonight," Booth said. He resisted the urge to poke fun at her intelligence. Brennan's lazy smile indicated that she was about to be rather drunk.
The two sat at the bar for the next few hours, drinking and eating pizza.
"I called you a cab," Sid said holding his hand out for Booth's keys.
"Closing so soon?" Brennan slurred looking around at the upside down chairs on the tables.
Booth looked at his watch. "Actually they closed 10 minutes ago,"
"Booth you shouldn't have gotten so drunk, now we won't have transportation in the morning," Temperance said, playfully shoving Booth off his stool.
Booth caught himself before hitting the ground, he pulled himself upright and held his hand out for Brennan. "Don't worry Sid's going to get my car home,"
"Thank you Sid you're a life saver," Temperance slurred, leaning heavily on Booth as he lead her to the door.
"You're shit faced Bones," Booth said, proud of getting her so drunk.
"Thanks," Brennan said, smiling.
The two stood on the sidewalk waiting for their cab. Embracing because of the temperature and because neither was sure of their balance.
"Booth, do you think we would have kissed if Zach hadn't interrupted at the diner this week?"
Booth looked at his shoes, and then down the street for the cab, ignoring Brennan's question.
Temperance wasn't going to be dismissed so easily. She reached over and pinched his nipple.
"Ow! Shit Bones that hurts," Seeley said rubbing himself, "not to mention, that was wildly inappropriate".
"You slapped my ass in Vegas," she reminded with a huff. "Just forget it," she said as an after thought.
Booth turned Brennan to face him. He looked into her eyes. "I think we would have," he whispered, cupping her chin and gently kissing her lips. Brennan responded positively and immediately deepened the kiss.
A honk, a couple of minutes later, alerted them to the arrival of the taxi. They separated momentarily to climb into the back of the cab. Booth gave the driver his address and the two resumed their previous activity.
