Conversation in the Car
"I'm just saying that it was a stupid thing for me to say to Zach considering what you've just been through," Booth tried to apologize for the third time. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, staring straight ahead, frustrated that she wouldn't acknowledge his blunder, or her reaction to it.
Next to Booth, Brennan leaned her head on her hand and stared out the passenger side window, stubbornly silent.
"I mean, you could just admit that it bothered you a little, couldn't you?" he persisted, glancing at her profile briefly before continuing. "Cut yourself a little slack, Bones. You've been through more in the last few days than most people go through…"
"Ever," Brennan finished his sentence for him, finally turning to look at him. "I don't know why you bother, Booth. You come running after me like it's going to do any good. I'm obviously too damaged to be fit company even at my own former grad student's celebratory luncheon."
Booth took his eyes off the road long enough to meet her eyes. They were welling with tears once again, and she looked miserable.
"I bother, Bones," he began, hesitating, "I bother because…" Booth faltered, unable to finish his statement. He knew it was the same question he had asked himself countless times before. Why did he bother? What was it about her that at once fascinated, yet frightened him? He had become increasingly attracted to her physically, but that was completely understandable given her fine bone structure and feminine curves. What man wouldn't be attracted to her? On the other hand, her logical way of looking at things could make her seem so damned… masculine, at times. However, right now was not one of those times, and Booth found himself wanting to infiltrate the soft, emotional depths she was trying so hard to conceal.
"I bother because I care," he was able to finish, reaching out a hand to her, but still looking ahead at the road. His open palm hung empty in the space between them for several seconds before he finally felt her small hand slip into his hesitatingly.
"Thanks," she admitted softly, giving in.
Booth felt an incredible surge of tenderness for her, and decided to press further. "Hey, let me take you to dinner. I don't think either of us should be alone tonight."
There was amusement in Brennan's voice when she answered, "We just had lunch. And since when do you have to worry about being alone?"
He knew she was referring to Doctor Saroyan, and that was another question that had begun to gnaw at him lately. Booth decided to be evasive on that one. "I meant later—dinner later. We haven't been to Wong Foo's in awhile…" he drifted off, thinking she would turn him down. Instead, she surprised him.
"Wong Foo's sounds nice. I have some work to finish at the lab, but I could be ready to leave relatively early tonight," Brennan answered, looking out the window again.
Booth noticed that their hands were still joined. He looked at her and she turned her head to meet his eyes. For the briefest of moments, something passed between them. He saw the color rise to her cheeks, and at the same moment a flush of warmth seemed to pass through her fingertips into his own. The next thing he knew she had pulled her hand out of his, and he was conscious that not only did he miss the contact, but that his heart was thumping with unusual intensity.
They finished their ride to the Jeffersonian in silence.