Sweetheart: Chapter 2

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Hannah was nervous. Her fingers trembled as she reached up towards her rearview mirror, tilting it downwards to check her make up. Part of her, the insecure part that was responsible for choosing her plunging lace blouse and dark smokey makeup, that part worried that she would knock on his door and he would never answer. Or worse, someone else would answer- a woman- tall, busty, and blonde. It was Valentine's Day, after all.

Her heels clicked on the marble steps leading up to Seeley's floor. The sound echoed around her, mocking her. Did she really think he wanted to see her? Settle down, lady, she thought to herself. You can do this.

She knocked on his door, her heart beating up in her throat.

Seeley didn't smile when he saw her. She didn't think that he would.

He cleared his throat. "What are you doing here, Hannah?" His voice was tight. There were bags under his eyes, evidence that she had not been the only one having trouble sleeping. With a sweet pang of relief, she noticed that he was wearing flannel pants and a sweatshirt. She wasn't the only one alone on Valentine's Day.

"Seeley," she began softly. "Please talk to me. I miss you so much."

"Now is not a good time." He wouldn't even look her in the eye. "I'm sorry." Booth began to push the door closed, but Hannah pressed her hand against it, keeping it open.

"Wait, please," she begged. "I've missed you. I want to talk about what happened."

She saw his eyes flick down at her outfit, and she felt suddenly embarrassed. Feeling her face warm, she gathered her courage and stepped closer to him like the journalist she was. "Just give me five minutes." Seeley took a step back to preserve his personal space, just as Hannah had hoped.

"I'm busy tonight."

She took another step, slipping over the threshold. "Seeley, you've been avoiding my calls." He took another unconscious step backward. "I've had a lot going on." He must have realized that she was inside his apartment because he suddenly raised his hands in front of his chest in an effort to halt her progress.

Hannah's eyes went right to Seeley's left hand, which had previously been obscured by the door. He held two wine glasses, crossed at the stems. Her stomach flipped. She quickly searched the apartment for more evidence. Shoes by the door. A neat pile of clothes and a woman's coat on a chair. A strange cell phone on the counter next to a new bottle of wine. With a gasp, she whispered, "Oh my god." She folded her arms around herself, defending herself from what might come next. "Oh my god," she said again, searching his face to see if her fears were true.

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Booth saw her eyes dart down to the wine glasses in his hand. He braced himself.

"Seeley, do you have a woman in here?" she whispered harshly. Despite the hurt in her eyes, Booth felt the indignation rise up inside him like the mercury in a thermometer. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that she told him, in not so many words, that she didn't want what he had to offer? That she didn't want him?

Apparently his silence was enough of an answer for her. She moved her hands to her hips, revulsion written in every line of her delicate face. She began again, louder this time. "Oh my god, it's true? It hasn't even been two weeks!"

Booth tried to keep his voice down, conscious of Bones sitting on his couch just around the corner. He raised a pointed finger. "Okay, it's actually none of your business who-"

"Excuse me?" she interrupted, her voice raising. "None of my business? You proposed to me less than two weeks ago and now you-"

"Hello, Hannah. It's a pleasure to see you again." The soft, overly cheerful voice came from behind his shoulder. He turned his body and stepped back to allow Bones into the circle. She was smiling, but her eyes were too bright. He tried to tell her without words that he didn't want Hannah there, but she wouldn't look at him.

As confusing as this situation was, as muddled as his feelings were for Hannah and Bones, Booth was sure about one thing- He wanted to spend his Valentine's Day with Bones, drinking wine and watching White Heat and rebuilding something sacred that had broken. Hannah's presence was as unwelcome as running out of hot water in the shower on a winter morning.

Hannah's posture relaxed. "Temperance!" she sighed, with obvious relief in her voice. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you. God, I thought Seeley had an actual woman in here!"

If Booth hadn't spent the last five years falling in love with the enigma that was Temperance Brennan, he might have missed the hurt and confusion that flitted across her face at Hannah's flippant comment. But he saw it. Something raw and fierce and protective reared up inside his chest. He shifted his weight slightly, positioning himself between Hannah and Bones, almost as if he expected the tiny blonde to physically attack his partner.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he growled.

Ignoring the tension in the air, Hannah piped up, "You look very nice, Temperance." Bones recovered quickly. She was smiling that artificial smile again. "Thank you," she responded. "You do, as well." Booth let out a mirthless snort. The juxtaposition of Hannah's provocative getup and Bones' oversized sweatshirt/leggings combo was nearly comical. He was no scientist, but he recognized mating plumage when he saw it. Hannah was there to win him back by any means necessary. He knew Bones saw it, too.

There was an awkward pause. Bones broke the silence abruptly. "I should be going." She reached for her shoes and slipped them onto her feet. Booth reached for her. "No, no, Bones, please-"

"I really don't mean to interrupt your evening," Hannah offered in a tone that seemed almost coy. "I just wanted to speak with Seeley for a few minutes."

Booth glared at Hannah. "Bones. You really don't ha-"

"Thank you, Temperance, for understanding," Hannah interjected with a saccharine smile.

Bones was pulling her keys out of her coat pocket. Booth grabbed her elbow gently. "Please stay." As she turned, still smiling, she said, "No, you and Hannah have much to discuss. We can watch the movie another time. Perhaps next weekend." They both knew it was a hollow promise. "It was nice to see you again, Hannah." She slipped out the door and turned to close it behind her. As the gap between the door and the frame grew smaller, Bones finally met his eye. What he saw in her gaze stopped his heart.

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