August 2008
The Jeffersonian
"Sweetie, I'm sorry, but it's weird," Angela insisted as she plopped into the chair across from Brennan's desk.
Brennan lifted a bemused eyebrow as she continued to stare at her computer screen, the current draft of her most recent novel glaring back at her. "I don't have any idea what you're talking about."
"Brennan, come on."
"Angela, you just invited yourself into my office, sat down, and announced that 'it's weird'. I don't know what that means."
Angela rolled her eyes, knowing her friend wouldn't even notice since she had yet to even look away from her work. "The fact that you haven't dated anyone in over a year, Brennan. The fact that Booth hasn't dated anyone either." There was a pause as she seemed to consider something. "Okay...well, at least as far as I know. Given that Booth wouldn't necessarily announce his dates to me. But you! I know you haven't dated!"
An amused smirk started to flit across Brennan's face as she studiously avoided her best friend's glare. "And?"
"And it's...well, it's just weird," Angela insisted again. "Maybe if it was just one of you, it could be passed off as just bad luck. A bad year. But both of you? I feel like I'm missing something."
When the doctor didn't reply, Angela's eyes narrowed in mock suspicion. "You two didn't do something crazy did you?" She was too amused by the thoughts running through her head to notice the flick of Brennan's gaze towards her at the accusation. "Like...when Jack and I ran out of the chapel last year, you two didn't get married in our place or something? Or elope to Vegas?"
There was a thrill of excitement in Angela's voice as she grinned at her friend again. "Sweetie, it would be so hot if you two were secretly married and had been keeping it quiet this whole time."
Her answer came in an undignified, definitely un-Brennan snort of laughter. "Please tell me you're joking," the doctor forced out between laughs.
There was another eye-roll, this time caught by Brennan, before Angela gave a resigned shrug. "Well...yeah. But I can dream, Sweetie. I can dream."
Brennan just shook her head at the free-spirited artist before she finally looked up and gave the conversation her attention. "Angela, despite what you might wish, any dateless stretches that Booth and I might share are completely coincidental. We don't exactly consult each other on our love lives or dating schedules."
Unnoticed by either of the women, they had been joined in the office by a visitor moments before. So the male voice speaking up had both of them jumping slightly and jerking around to face the door. "That's too bad, Bones. I just came to ask your permission to go out this weekend." Booth grinned at the two women from his spot leaning against the doorframe. "I guess I'll have to get permission from Cullen instead."
Brennan just shot him a half-grin before turning back to her book. Angela, on the other hand, was mid-chuckle when she noticed the flicker of something in the FBI agent's eyes as he watched his partner. But when she looked more closely, Booth was just watching her instead, a laughing smile the only clear thing she could read on his face. 'Give it up, Ange,' she mused to herself. 'You've been seeing things between them for years, and it's always turned out to be nothing.'