Author's Note: Many thanks to all who wrote reviews on the first chapter. I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
I can't believe that I agreed to this, Booth thought as he stepped on to the empty basketball court. Yesterday, when his adrenaline was sky high after nearly killing Sully, the idea of letting a basketball game determine his future with Brennan had seemed perfectly reasonable. He had been certain that he could win. Now that the game was due to start in a few minutes, however, all his earlier confidence had disappeared, replaced by a series of nagging doubts.
It had been a couple years since Booth had played a serious game of basketball, and Sully was playing regularly. Did Booth really have a chance? He had thought about asking for divine assistance, but figured that God had more important things to worry about. If by some miracle Booth did win, would Sully really give up his relationship with Bones? Booth had known Sully to be a man of his word, but would he keep his promise when there was a beautiful woman on the line?
If Sully won, would Booth be able to hold up his end of the deal? Could he sit by and do nothing while the woman he loved was with another man? He imagined himself looking on passively as Sully and Brennan held hands, kissed, laughed together, and made love. He tried to banish these thoughts from his mind, but they refused to be denied. Maybe Sully and Brennan would invite him to their wedding. Maybe they would ask him to be a godparent to their kids. He could babysit when they went out for a night on the town.
What would Brennan think if she found out about the game? She would be furious that Booth was interfering in her personal life. Brennan hadn't had much luck with dating. Her ex-professor lover, Michael Stires, had betrayed her, questioning her professional abilities in open court. She was shot at on her way to meet her internet date, David Simmons, and Booth had interrupted her date with Will Hastings to arrest him for the murder of his brother. Sully wasn't a pompous jerk or a psycho killer, and she seemed to be happy with him. Was it wrong for Booth to try to get in the way? Was he being selfish, placing his happiness above Brennan's?
The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted his thoughts. The door at the other end of the gym swung open, revealing Sully dressed in his basketball uniform. As Sully headed toward center court, Booth walked out to meet him as if they were two gunslingers in an Old Western movie. When they met in the middle they shook hands. "Ready to go?" Booth asked, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt.
"Not yet," Sully answered. "Let's wait a few minutes."
"Why?" Booth asked. "Are you nervous?" Maybe Sully was having doubts of his own.
Sully laughed. "You wish. No, I'm just waiting for someone."
"Who?" The question was barely out of Booth's mouth when the answer presented itself. Temperance Brennan had just walked through the door Sully had used moments earlier. She smiled at both men and sat down on the bleachers.
Booth felt his cheeks burning. "You invited her to watch?!"
"She doesn't know about our arrangement. I told her it was a friendly game." Sully answered.
Booth was thinking that things couldn't get any worse when the door opened again. Hodgins, Angela and Zack entered and walked over to Brennan, taking their seats beside her.
"I didn't invite them," Sully whispered to Booth.
"What are you guys doing here?" Booth asked them.
"I overheard Sully inviting Brennan and I thought it sounded like a great time," Angela said. "I told Hodgy and Zack about it and they decided to come too."
"Great. Just great." Booth mumbled. "Is anyone else coming?"
As if in answer to his question the door opened yet again. "Sorry I'm late," Cam said as she walked over to join the others. "Did I miss anything?"
"No, they haven't started," Angela answered.
"Well, we can't disappoint our fans," Sully said. "Let's get going."
Booth felt physically ill. This could very well be the worst day of his life, and the entire squint squad was there to witness it.
To be continued...