Chapter 2

A/N: I think that this is going to be a long story. Something to keep me busy while Bones is on Hiatus until April

Dr. Brennan sat in her chair remembering that night as Booth calmly described it to Sweets. It was funny to her how foggy the memories were now. That something that had made such an impact on her life could be pushed back so far into the recesses of her brain. However, the parts she remembered most clearly were the emotions, like they had been burned into the gray matter that filled her skull.

It was ironic that the emotional memory was so strong to her. Well, not ironic to her, but to everyone else. People always assumed that she was a cold, unemotional being. She supposed it was because she had perfected an indifferent exterior, a façade to hide the emotions within her. Apparently it was a little too effective. Well, whatever it was now, it had been necessary at the time, and had served her well.

Her late childhood, growing up in different foster homes had been a horrifying experience. She had quickly learned that none of those people really cared for her. They cared for the states money that she brought in. She learned that her emotions could easily be used against her, to belittle her and make her feel inferior. So, as a result she learned to build walls around her heart, and chose to ignore any tugging or twinges from that region. Instead she concentrated all her energy on her intelligence. She could use her intelligence to prove her worth, to show people that she did matter.

All that had worked so well for such a long time. She had become too comfortable in that kind of lifestyle. A lifestyle that never allowed her to get too close to another human being, because after all they would all leave at some point, no matter how much they professed to love you. And then she had met Seeley Booth.

At first, she thought he was such a strange creature. His actions were always guided by his "gut" as he said. She just couldn't understand how someone could go through life like that. Making decisions without any empirical evidence just seemed fool hearty and dangerous to her.

Their first case had been a disaster. Well, not the case, their working relationship. They had caught the killer, but it had been very difficult to get through. They were totally incompatible, like oil and water as Booth would say. He got in her way, and she got in his, and both ended up very frustrated. Their philosophies were so different in how they solved mysteries.

She immediately observed that Booth had a gift for reading people. It truly amazed her. He could tell if someone was lying by observing their body movements and the tone of their voice. He relied on this gift heavily during his investigations. It had never let him down he had told her. She had envied how easily he worked with others. He always seemed to know just the right thing to say to people, no matter what the situation. She still envied that skill.

But the thing that had been her down fall at that time, and her weak spot now, was his smile. When he aimed that lopsided grin at her, things inside her just melted. That is what had happened that night all those years ago. She had been enjoying herself with the group, more than she really cared to admit. She saw that this side of Booth was much more relaxed and playful than his business FBI side. He playfully flirted with the women and chatted with the men, setting everyone at ease. There was something about him that stirred things up inside her.

She tried desperately to squelch the emotions rising inside her. But it was so hard to do around Booth. Even, though it was apparent that they hadn't worked well together, she had been drawn to him, to his self assured nature, to his ability to freely experience emotions, and invoke those same responses in others. He amazed her.

She was attracted to him, both then and now, she could admit that. But back then it had been different, more lustful, which was apparent after her actions on the night in question. After the others had left, she and Booth had sat at the bar, sipping their drinks in a companionable silence. The music was softly playing in the background when suddenly he turned to her and asked her to dance. She hadn't seen any harm in it, as they likely wouldn't work together again, and she enjoyed dancing with the right man. Given his height and proportions, she had calculated that they would likely be well suited for dancing. So she had said yes.

They made their way to the dance floor, and he took her in his arms. Almost immediately she sensed that this probably hadn't been a good idea. His touch had done something to her. She felt something very unfamiliar when his arm wrapped around her. The warmth of his hand on her back spread through her like wildfire. Never before had she experienced a reaction like this to the opposite sex. She had been attracted to him before, who wouldn't be, he was incredibly handsome, but after he touched her, it was like the dial had been ratcheted up tenfold. She knew that this man could have the power to break down her well guarded defenses. Then she looked up into his eyes and knew she was lost.

His eyes were a warm brown. Tonight they held a twinkle that she couldn't quite describe some merriment that only he was privy too. But what struck her was that when she looked in his eyes she felt like she had known him all her life. She felt that she could tell him anything and he would understand. But as always she refrained from sharing anything emotional as they glided around the floor.

He was an average dancer, but what he lacked in skill, he made up for in personality and demeanor. Their conversation during the dance was light. However she found herself sharing things and enjoying this social interaction. And there it was again, that little tug in the middle of her chest when he smiled, or happened to glance into her eyes.

While this was all a wonderful new experience for her, she wasn't under any delusion that a man like this could ever possibly be interested in her on a romantic level. Sure, there was a definitely physical attraction between them, but that was an innate human need, and certainly did not necessarily signify any emotional connection.

The music came to an end, but they hadn't noticed. They had been so engrossed in their conversation that they had kept right on dancing. When they realized, both laughed and smiled, but Booth held her just a little longer than necessary

As he relinquished her person, he suggested that they share a cab. She agreed. The ride to her apartment was silent, but the air was heavy with anticipation, from her, from him. They reached her building and Booth exited the cab to open her door. She took his hand to assist her out, and she felt it again. That jolt of awareness. Although this time, she was sure he felt it too, holding her hand a moment longer than was necessary.

Ever the gentleman, he walked her to her door and said, "I just wanted to thank you and your team again for all your help. We wouldn't have caught that creep without you guys. I owe you one."

"It was really no problem Agent Booth. We are in the business of solving mysteries, albeit ones that have occurred hundreds of years ago, but it was enjoyable working in the present." She replied

"Please, call me Booth." He said, flashing that lopsided grin.

"Booth." She said licking her lips, liking the taste of his name.

She hadn't realized they were standing so close together. She had to look up in order to look at him as she spoke.

"Why do you go by Booth, and not your given name?" she queried quietly.

His head bent closer to hers as she took a half a step closer. "I've never liked my name," he all but whispered. And then it was inevitable. The gravitational force that had been pulling them together since that dance had finally won.

They came together all at once, as if they couldn't get close enough to one another. Their lips slanted hungrily over each other, nipping and tasting. Somehow, she wasn't quite sure how, they had made it inside her apartment. She found herself propped up against the door as he rained a trail of hot kisses down the side of her neck. The feeling was unbelievable. She felt as though she were ready to burst into flames. She couldn't stay still. The need to have him was overwhelming.

She pushed against the door to bring them to a standing position. Without breaking the contact of their lips she began pushing him down the hallway towards her bedroom. They quickly rid each other of their coats and were working on shirts. She turned them around as they entered the bedroom, and pulled him towards the bed. She stopped when she felt the mattress against the back of her legs. They both tumbled into bed, a jumble of hands and legs, caressing one another.

The passion was boiling over; they couldn't touch or taste enough of each other to satisfy their hunger. And just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. The cold air against the bare skin of her abdomen was like a bucket of cold water.

"Booth?" she asked still foggy with passion.

"God, I'm sorry." He said, sitting up on the side of the bed, his elbows on his knees, rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes.

"Sorry for what?"

"For that," he said jutting out an arm to indicate the location on the bed they had just vacated. "I don't know what got into me."

"It's, it's ok. I suppose it wasn't surprising given the amount of alcohol consumed and the dancing. It was only natural to be amorous after that." She replied.

He smiled slightly, giving his head a shake.

"Yeah, I guess so. Look, I should go. Thanks for all your help."

He spared her a small smile over his shoulder and then was gone. She sat stunned on the bed not really sure what had just happened. One moment she was having an incredible sexual experience, and the next she was alone, again. That was when the tears began to fall. Great body wracking sobs escaped her mouth. She tried desperately to control her emotions but found she couldn't.

How could he have done that to her, just left like that? Hadn't he felt any portion of what she had felt between them? And in that question she found her answer. Apparently he had not. How foolish she had been. She had known this man for all of a week, and they didn't even get along that well. Once again her emotions had betrayed her, led her down a path that held nothing but pain. She couldn't understand why she had become so attached so quickly to him. It had been and error in her decision making, which was why she swore that this was the last time she would let that happen.