A/N A week between updates? When is the last time that happened? LOL

I hope you like it...and don't hate me.

Booth shifted to his other foot, his cell phone held to his ear as he listened to his brother talking. He made the appropriate noises in response, his mind still sat in the bar with his partner. Two weeks had passed since he'd found out he was going to be a father for the second time, and they were still finding their footing with one another. Though it could be said that they had been in a relationship for years (and some people did say that), the reality of actually being together was much different. It was taking some getting used to; knowing he could kiss her, touch her, hold her whenever he wanted. On more than occasion he'd found himself holding back until he remembered that he could act on his desires. It was both freeing and terrifying. They were both all in now; there could be no more hiding.

Thoughts of his partner caused him to move back to the window of the bar, a need to see her gripping him. The smile on his face at the thought of her faded when he glanced through the window. He watched as another man moved towards her, and his eyes narrowed as he watched her wrap her arms around a man that wasn't him. He could hear Jared babbling in his ear but all his focus was on the scene unfolding in front of him. He couldn't see her front, but the laughter on the other man's face told its own story. When the stranger leant toward her Booth had seen enough.

"Jared," he interrupted his brother, tone harsh as he kept his eyes on his partner, "we'll have to finish this conversation some other time," he listened to his brother say his goodbyes, already moving to the door. "Bye Jared," he ended the call and put his phone in his back pocket as he reached for the door, pulling it open with more force than was necessary.

He moved through the crowd, manoeuvring around the other patrons without taking his gaze from Brennan. It didn't take him long to be upon the pair, and as he approached he heard his partners next words.

"Do you remember me mentioning my partner?"

Booth reacted without thinking, a small voice in the back of his mind warning him that Brennan would be unimpressed but unable to stop himself from acting.

"Talking about me again Bones?" He asked with a smirk, wrapping one arm around her as he spoke. He felt her tense slightly at the sudden movement before she relaxed into him, turning her head to glance at him. There was a clear question in her gaze that he chose not to answer. He ignored the other man for a moment, instead shifting his head forward to brush his lips with hers. He kept it brief, but his meaning was clear.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend here Bones?" He asked when he pulled back, finally turning to face the third member of their little party.

Brennan narrowed her eyes at his tone but proceeded to do just that.

"Booth, meet Eli Knight. Eli, this is my partner Seeley Booth."

"Special Agent Seeley Booth," Booth corrected, keeping one arm around Brennan as he reached out to shake Eli's hand.

"So you're the partner? I've heard so much about you,' Eli said with a smirk, understanding the stance Booth was taking and finding himself amused. He couldn't really blame the man, but it didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the moment.

"Really?" Booth quirked one eyebrow in surprise. "Because I've heard nothing about you."

"Touché," Eli said with a slight nod in his direction, smirk firmly fixed on his face, "but from what I can gather you and Temperance weren't exactly on the best of terms at the time, so I can't say I'm surprised she chose to keep our….relationship from you." Eli watched as the barb hit home before he glanced at Brennan. He caught the quick flash of betrayal in her eyes and he felt guilt push at him.

"Eli," Brennan said, her tone no longer warm as she looked at him, "I think you were just leaving?" She didn't wait for him to respond, seeing the regret on his face but turning instead to the tense man beside her, "and I think it was time we went home," she said to Booth. He didn't take his eyes off Eli, one hand clenched into a fist as he nodded in agreement.

"Well it was good to see you again Temperance, as short as it was," Brennan glanced at Eli briefly, giving him a tight smile in response. He made to move toward her, whether to embrace her in goodbye she didn't know, but he stopped as a movement from Booth drew his attention. One look at Booths face had him rethinking his actions and he stepped back, lifting one hand in goodbye before turning and leaving the partners alone once more.

The slam as the door closed was the only sound to break the silence. Booth walked immediately into the kitchen, leaving a frustrated Brennan by the front door. The drive home had consisted of a heavy silence and the ride up in the elevator hadn't been much better, Booth responding to Brennan's tentative questions with monosyllabic answers until her own temper had spiked. Now, as she watched him retreat in to the kitchen, she was torn between following him to demand a response or putting off the inevitable unpleasant discussion for another day.

The latter held the most appeal for her so she bypassed the kitchen and went straight into their bedroom, stripping as she went. She dropped her discarded clothes into a pile on the floor, making a mental note to pick them up in the morning. She proceeded to crawl into bed, punching her pillow into shape once, twice, before falling back and waiting for him to join her.

She didn't have to wait long, and a few minutes later a sound from the door drew her attention. She glanced over and watched him through hooded eyes, following his movements as he began to undress in preparation for bed. She waited for him to say something…anything, but it became clear he was content to let the silence reign. Brennan, on the other hand, was not.

"Are we going to discuss the events of this evening at any point?" She asked as she shifted so she was sat up, clutching the covers to her chest.

"It can wait until tomorrow." He said shortly. "It's late and I'm tired."

Brennan wasn't going to give up that easy. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him prowl around the room.

"You're the one who always says we should never go to bed angry." She persisted.

Booth stopped moving and spun to face her, the stubborn look on her face making him temporarily losing his tenuous grip on his temper.

"Don't push me Bones." He warned lowly. "I have no desire to rehash the events of tonight now, because if I do I may say something we both regret."

"I don't understand why you're so angry." At his look of disbelief she clarified quickly. "Well, I can understand why you may be a little upset but…"

"A little upset?" Booth repeated incredulously. "I walk back in to find you cosy as can be with a man who's…" He waved one hand aimlessly in the air, his frustration clear, "whatever the hell he is to you and I'm not allowed to be angry? Especially when he makes it known that he knows all about me…and us. Just how much did you share with him Bones? Hmmmm?" He stood at the end of the bed and watched her reaction carefully.

Brennan shifted on the bed, fighting back her own anger at the way he was studying her. She knew that if they both lost their temper things would deteriorate fast, but if he continued to study her like a criminal in his interrogation room she wouldn't be held responsible for her actions.

"I can't talk to you like this," she bit out. She could see Booth open his mouth to question her so she cut him off. "When you're so irrational!"

"Irrational?" Booth burst out, "I'm irrational? You just…." He forced himself to stop and turned away, taking a deep, fortifying breath before turning back. "I'm not doing this with you now. We're not doing this," he said as he walked around the bed and climbed into his side. He made himself lie down before glancing up at her. "We're going to sleep and can talk about it tomorrow."

Brennan looked down at him, tempted to argue but recognising the look on his face. She wasn't happy, and the annoyed expression on her face made that clear to him, but instead of arguing she laid back down. Booth switched the light off and darkness fell. They both lay still, acutely conscious of the person lying next to them but neither willing to bridge the gap.

A/N For the first time in a long time I'm feeling quite inspired, so for once I know exactly where this is going! Hopefully it shouldn't be too long between updates again :)