Grave Secrets
Grave Insights
Part two
Disclaimer: Disclaimed.
A/N: Once again, no beta, mistakes are mine.
It's not until you're half way through your second glass, compliments of Johnny Walker and his black label bottle, that you realize Seeley was right to keep you all in tonight. Sure you'd all fall right in line as you do every time you celebrate the closing of a case, but this was definitely the right move to make for everyone's sanity. Because from your comfy cocoon in the corner of the cautiously orange couch, you watch their faces and where there's no sadness or hollow eyed stares, you know they'll all sleep a little deeper after an evening of just family. The man knows his people, and his whiskey, better than he knows himself because as you watch him watch you all, his eyes dart toward the platform below every other minute and you know he's questioning himself. Even as he sits here, filling your glasses, making you laugh, you know his heart is downstairs tucked haphazardly into the back pocket of Dr. Brennan's jeans.
And to think, you'd warned him to be cautious of her feelings.
"Seeley Booth, I know you're not keepin' that bottle all to yourself."
Caroline holds her cup up to the level of her eyes and lets it swing between her thumb and four fingers. She keeps her features locked in her standard no nonsense glare until he's on the move, gliding across the polished floor in the chair he dug out of a nearby office. You suppress a chuckle and catch Seeley's eyes and find his are bright with laughter as well. It melts your insides just a little to see him in spirits of a higher nature than he's been the last few days because it takes a lot to bring him down.
Unless it involves a certain bone doctor with ice blue eyes.
No one asks after Brennan's whereabouts. After years together they've each learned in their own way, how that particular piece of the puzzle doesn't always slide in seamlessly.
On his glide back from filling her Grace's Glass, Seeley slows as he comes across your half empty cup. And like he asked Brennan earlier, he just extends the bottle towards you and lifts his dark brows in question. And what the hell, it's been a doozy of a day, and a week. Heather Taffit will never be able to wreak havoc in this lab again. And the couch in your office isn't all that uncomfortable if it should come to that.
He's careful as he pours and you watch the look of concentration as it crosses his face. It starts with the setting of his jaw and works its way up as his brows draw closer to his mahogany eyes and they go hard as stone. And then all of a sudden the concentration is gone and a sly smile begins in the corners of his mouth. He's caught you staring without even shifting his gaze. When his eyes do meet yours there's no cause for embarrassing blushes or self-conscious excuses because you've known this man since before he was one. And while you've shared many a night entwined in nothing but Egyptian cotton, neither of your thoughts have ventured back to that place and time.
At least you know his haven't.
And ok, so what if yours have.
It's hard to keep your mind from wondering when Johnny Walker has taken hold of the leash you like to keep it on. And who could withstand such a charming face and that lion heart anyway. You lean in a bit, bringing your faces just a few inches closer and hold your glass up in an invitation to his. His features go soft and for the first time tonight you know you have his full attention. So what if you're not his best girl. Right now you're the girl who's making him smile. A quarter of an inch before the rims meet he holds back.
"What should we toast to?" He asks you quietly.
There are so many things to be thankful for and at the moment you can't decide which one to voice.
"I know," he says while you ponder. He licks his lips and takes another glance down over the railing, and quickly returns his gaze to you. It's amazing and truly childish how that one small gesture manages to ruin this whole moment for you.
But he'll never know.
"To the mind behind the madness, and the calm before the storm."
It takes you a moment to realize he's talking about you. And even though there are a thousand things you could correct or pick apart in his inaccurate, yet touching choice of words, you don't. You smile and slide you cup home along the rim of his.
You don't sip this time but throw the two ounces that he just added to your cup back, and he does the same. As the amber liquid burns the back of your throat you both take a look around and realize the party is slowly dwindling down. The lovebirds are no longer giggling but snuggled close together in a way which suggests slumber. The young Dr. Sweets is fighting to keep his glassy eyes open while Caroline slowly sips her cup and stares out into the night above. She looks content and rather pensive. That combined with her silence is a most unusual sight.
You figure it's a good a time as any to set the room to rights. So much in the fashion Brennan pushed him aside earlier, you slide Booth back a few feet and stand. You have to give your mind a moment to remember how to steady yourself seeing as you've done all of your drinking sitting down.
They seem to take their cue from you, with the exception of Caroline, they all start to rise and straighten their little corners of the lounge. Angela yawns and leans bonelessly into the crook of Jack's arm while he slides their chair home with his foot. Sweets gains his feet in one swift movement and then spends a few extra seconds maintaining his vertical position. Jack hands his empty cup to the duckling and then throws his arm around his shoulder, carefully steering him toward the stairs. You hear the wheels of the office chair gliding along the glossy floor but it stops too quickly to be vacant. You turn from straightening the couch cushions and find him wedged between the couch and the table up against the rail. He's staring down into the darkened lab, the only light to be seen is a bold golden glow which seeps out from under Dr. Brenna's closed office door. You're about to speak but Caroline beats you to it and you're immensely great full she isn't speaking to you.
"Hand that boy over Dr. Hodgins." She's got her mouth set in what has become to you her standard issue disapproving line. But somewhere in the set of her eyes you find a look that can only be defined as motherly. "You take care of your woman; I'll take care of the boy wonder here."
She tosses you their cups as she guides Sweets over the edge of the carpet and passed the table. The motion sensor lights go on as they take the back stairs and cross the stretch below. Angela turns her eyes towards the closed door as they pass it, she's either too tired or too intoxicated to take the time to stop and inquire after her friend's emotional state.
Either that or she knows there's no need for worry, Booth's usually the one who takes charge in these icy situations.
You've set the room to rights so with Mr. Walker tucked under your arm you turn to Seeley as the lack of movement on the stairs throws the ledge back into almost darkness.
"Come on G-Man. Party's over. And I'm sure Dr. Brennan wants to get home." You throw that last comment out there for everyone's sake. It gives him the reason, and you the excuse, to find out why she's walled up inside her office on one of the greatest nights of your crime fighting career.
When he finally rises he leaves the chair right where it is. He throws his arm around your shoulder and pulls you in close so your cheek is pressed into his collarbone.
He's so constant. He smells the same, feels the same. And you're pretty sure he'd taste the same. But that's neither here nor there. The lights burst on again as you both start to descend. Their glare is blinding and it's a little bit of a buzz kill as you realize the glare has prematurely sobered you up.
As you round the corner and approach your office, his goes rigid beside you. And then you see it too, Dr. Brennan's door is open and there's no longer a bright light glowing. There's only a soft blue haze floating through the air and you both know it's just her laptop.
His grip loosens on your shoulder and you know you've lost him once again. So you slip out from under his arm and away from his lion heart. When he finally turns to you, his gaze coated in a film of concern, you simply give your head a toss in her direction, with your master of disguise smile plastered across your lips. And before he has a chance to react you turn toward your office to find your own comfy couch.
A/N: Also this isn't the originally second chapter for this. I decided to add this in, which is why it took a little longer than originally planned. Chapter three is what I had ready to post but at the last minute I felt it was a little too cut and dry and that it needed another POV. And seeing how I love Cam this seemed like a pretty good idea. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it