An2: Just so you know, this hotel is real, the place is real, the awards are real.
Just so you know
Enjoy
Reviews are snuggled and loved
March 5, 2010: I finally got around to revising this chapter, hope it suits you all. I plan on writing/revising a LOT this weekend. During the Bones weekend, the inspiration always seems to flow, and Season 4 can't let ya down :D
"Come on Bones, it isn't going to be that bad," Booth said, desperate to see his partner's beautiful eyes, which as of now where hidden under her hand.
Brennan sighed and looked up to him, silently granting his wish.
Booth smiled "There's those beautiful baby blues," he said softly.
Brennan felt an odd sensation in her chest, a flutter, or maybe a gentle skip, before her fingers pressed into her wrist and concluded that her pulse was normal. She shrugged it off, and finally spoke. "Ok so where are we going?" she asked "Angela wouldn't tell me."
Booth pulled out the piece of paper that Hodgins gave him and read off "The Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California."
"No wonder Angela sent us on this trip," Brennan huffed, resting her forehead against her closed fist.
"Ok Bones, what's the problem with the hotel? I think it looks nice," Booth admired, with a smile, looking at some of the pictures Hodgins gave him.
"Yes. I'm sure it does," Brennan argued "Because it was awarded the Excellence and Traveler's Choice Award for most romantic hotel."
"Oooooooooooooh," Booth dragged on, his smile falling. "Well it's ok. It's not like we…like we're a couple right?" he asked hesitantly.
"R-right," Brennan stuttered, looking him in the eyes, her own fear reflected in the dark chocolate orbs.
"Right." He finished.
"Ok," Brennan said, as they slipped into an uncomfortable silence, tension radiating off them in waves that would make a tsunami look like a splash made by a small child jumping in a pool.
As the night fell, and the cold set in, Booth finally broke the silence, looking over at her, and tilting his head at her chattering teeth.
"Are you cold?" Booth asked her quietly, his voice calming, and gentle.
Her knees pulled to her chin, her arms curled to her chest, she looked at him and nodded, trying to calm her shaking body "Yeah, a lit-tle."
Booth unbuckled his seat belt and stood, opening the overhead compartment, and shuffling some things around before pulling down a large, soft, black and gold fleece blanket, smiling at Brennan's questioning look.
"Hey, I always bring the Steelers Blanket," he said taking his seat again.
Brennan put her hands up in fake surrender "H-h-hey I-I'm n-n-not c-c-complaining," she stuttered.
Booth laughed and lifted the arm rest between them, resting a pillow against his side and holding the blanket up like a curtain, a reassuring smile on his lips as she stared at him with wide, scared eyes.
"Oh come on," he whispered, his voice like a lover's caress "It's obvious you haven't slept well for days."
Brennan huffed gently, and then obliged, turning and pressing her legs against the side of the plane as the pillow supported her lower back, and her head timidly fell to his chest. The blanket covered her body, and his arm draped over her side, his hand resting gently on her stomach, while the other rose, and ran over her hair, lulling her to sleep.
He lightly rocked her back and forth, whispering into her hair. "Sleep Temperance. We will be in California in no time, just a few more hours. Sleep tight, I will be here when you wake up."
Brennan smiled at his words, loving the 'I will be here when you wake up' part the most. She rested her hands on the strong arm that was rested over her stomach, slightly constricting her breathing, but she liked the pressure. She listened to the faint beat of his heart that she heard in his chest, sending her into a barely conscious state, the one action that sent her to sleep being the light kiss that was pressed to her forehead.
When the plane landed, it was still dark, and Brennan was still asleep. Booth smiled when he tried to wake her, but she only grabbed his shirt and whimpered something incoherent. Booth asked one of the flight attendants to grab the small things they brought onto the flight, while he pulled Brennan further into his arms and lifted her up.
It took a few minutes to find the rented car that was waiting for them, but once they did, Booth set a still asleep Brennan in the passenger's seat. He took his and her things from the flight attendant and thanked her, surprised as their other, larger bags, were brought to the car, and he tipped them both generously.
The hotel was easy to find, and the service off the bat was amazing. Bell-hops rushed out to the car and loaded the luggage in carriers, while Booth went into the hotel momentarily and checked them in, before returning to the car and pulling his sleeping partner from her seat. The valet parked the car and the bell-hops led him up to their room, opening the door for him, and pulling the luggage cart quietly into the room, nodding and ducking out of the room with a smile.
The room was beautiful, but it couldn't be appreciated properly in the dark, and he didn't want to risk Brennan waking up. He walked into the bed room and breathed heavily, the single bed taunting him, reminding him, that he wouldn't be sharing this that bed with his partner anytime soon.
He rested her gently on the bed, removing her of her jacket and her shoes, her body curled in only in a tank top and jeans, his hand resting on her hip, but moving as he refused to strip down his beautiful partner, no matter how uncomfortable sleeping in jeans was.
He pulled down the sheets and lifted her legs, bringing the cool, light blue fabric to her hip, and smiling as her face buried in a pillow, a small smile gracing her lips in her sleep, and his heart ached to leave her side, the want to watch her sleep, and stroke her hair, palpable as he pulled his hand away.
He leaned over and gently kissed her forehead, brief and barely there, but it brought a smile to his face. He whispered good night, and he gently touched her shoulder before he slipped from the bedroom and sat on the couch, sliding everything but his boxers off, and plopping on his back, bringing the Steelers' blanket over him and turning on his side, succumbing to sleep the second his eyes closed.
In the moment's Booth was asleep, his normal routine took hold, because no matter whether he was asleep, or awake, Temperance Brennan had a knack for slipping into his mind.
