Chapter 2

18 weeks earlier

"Hey, watch we're you're going!"

"Oh, uh… I'm sorry Agent Samuels."

The exchange snapped Booth out of his reverie. Looking up from the weights, he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of this young nervous kid wiping his spilt Gatorade off his chest, trying to make it appear that he wasn't annoyed with the older, slightly tougher agent.

Booth forced his eyes away and wiping the beads of sweat from his brow decided it was time to hit the showers and start his day.

Before he went to his office he felt he needed to check on Brennan. Ever since her admittance about her regrets, things between them had been strained, at least for him. He could see her walls building back up and he didn't want that to happen. He needed to talk to her, show her that they were still friends even if they could be nothing more than that.

Brennan had been on his mind so much since that night. Hannah knew something was bothering him, but didn't pressure him. And he was so very grateful for that. Hannah saw Brennan's outburst in his office, she knew that the case had gotten to the doctor. She also knew that Brennan and he were partners, partners that shared a bond. A bond that Hannah never questioned because she trusted Booth and because she understood that some things would always just stay between the partners.

Staring at his phone, Booth fought the urge to just show up and ambush her. He knew that he had to tread carefully to get Brennan to open and talk with him. He rubbed his face, shook off his own concerns as he dialed her number.

"Brennan" She answered distractedly. He could see her, reading over something, barely paying attention to the phone call and that image made him smile for a reason he couldn't name.

"Hey, Bones…" Booth started heading towards the parking garage.

"Hello Booth, why the early call? Do we have a case?" Brennan closed her laptop, and walked toward her kitchen.

"No Bones, nothing like that. Listen, I am going to stop by and drive you to work. I'll bring breakfast."

"I don't need to you drive me Booth. I have car and am quite capable…"

"Bones," Frustrated he cut her off, "please, just let me do this. This is our thing, it's what we do." He grinned, hoping that his charm smile would somehow translate over the phone.

"You're only doing this because of what happened the other night." Brennan squared her shoulders and checked her image in the mirror near the front door, "I am fine Booth. I'm adjusted. You don't need to keep doting on me. You did nothing wrong." She smiled and then felt selfish for actually liking the extra attention from him.

"That's not the entire reason Bones. Let me do this okay?" He tried to not beg but he was failing. He dropped his voice and asked again, "Just let me Bones. Our thing remember?"

Sighing, Brennan started brewing coffee. "Alright Booth, I can see that it's useless to argue this. If you're bringing me breakfast I'll have one of Capital Bakery's famous croissants. I'll have coffee ready."

"That's my girl." Booth laughed then winced at the implications of that slip, a slip that wasn't unnoticed by Brennan. "See you in about twenty minutes, Bones." Booth ended the call, hanging his head in frustration as he got in his SUV. He checked his reflection in the rearview mirror and asked himself, "Why do things have to get so complicated?"

Brennan prepared herself for work, thinking about what she and Booth would talk about. She wanted him happy and Hannah gave him that.

She didn't want to lose the friendship they'd established over all these years. Brennan would have to reassure herself and more importantly Booth that she was past this, that she was as capable as he was at 'adjusting'. That he and her could remain partners and friends and he could still have her and Hannah in his life. Brennan was certain he wanted to talk about what had happened and it was a moment in her life that Brennan had no interest in revisiting.

Brennan didn't want to worry, but her relationship to Booth was important. She couldn't let it fall apart because of her outburst. Gathering her thoughts, she knew what she would tell him.

As she placed the cups at the coffee table, she heard her doorbell ring. Smiling at his promptness she went to let Booth in.

As she opened the door, Booth playfully treated her pasty box like it was fragile. "Here Bones, be careful with it. The best in town is also the most delicate"

Smiling as she relaxed and grabbed the box, noting that Booth was wearing her favorite long jacket. "Booth, thank you. Let's eat and get to work"

Brennan felt very nervous, not sure she could have this talk.

"Bones, come sit. We need to eat and talk first." Booth could see Brennan needed some reassurance, "It's all good Bones."

He strode over to the couch, grabbed his coffee and looked over at her with a soft smile.

"Alright Booth, but I want to go first." Brennan sat and tried to get comfortable.

"A long time coming huh, Bones? As long as you're not going to tell me that you're flying back off to Macapoopoo again we're good." Booth tried to put her at ease.

"No Booth, I have no intention of leaving, but…" Looking down at her food, she brushed imaginary crumbs off her clothes "Look Booth, I never should have put you in that spot the other night. I would never have expected you to choose me over Hannah. You're happy and regardless of how I know I feel now, that makes me happy. I have too much respect for our partnership to ever jeopardize it again." Brennan hoped she sounded only professional to Booth.

Booth looked at her grimly for a moment, feeling a wash of sadness inside.

"Bones let me talk before you continue. I think of you as more than a partner. You're my best friend. You know more about me than anyone else. But we can't keep stepping on eggshells here." He set his coffee cup down and sighed loudly, "We need to admit that we," he looked up and smiled faintly at her, "we, both of us, have awful timing." He waited for her to nod in agreement. "I want us to continue working together, continue our friendship. It'll take time. But we can do it. We're the best, right?"

Brennan nodded encouragingly but remained silent.

He smoothed his tie and continued, "But I'll admit that I'm guilty of backing away lately. I just haven't known what to say but… But if each of us is aware of how the other is feeling we can get past this. " He paused and then looked up at her again, "What I'm trying to say is that I don't want this to come between us. I don't want my relationship with Hannah to come between us"

He looked in her eyes trying to prove to her his sincerity and hoping she would want the same. He smiled when he saw the answer on her face.

"Booth, I would very much like that. I trust you that in time we will overcome any uneasiness." Brennan drank her coffee feeling overjoyed that he said much of what she had planned to say and said it much better than she ever could have.

Standing, Booth grabbed her coat and opened it for her to put on. "Come on Bones, let's get you to work. I have to get at my office and finish a few reports. But I'll pick you up for lunch. Maybe we can dodge Sweets this time."

Laughing, she allowed Booth to help her into her coat. "We just ate Booth, does your thoughts always go to food."

Booth turned her around and acting on impulse hugged her tightly.

"No Bones, my mind isn't always on food. But," he let her go and looked intently in her eyes, "it's… it's a good distraction."

The drive to the Jeffersonian was mostly small talk. He dropped her off at the entrance with a promise to see her again at lunch.

As Booth made his way to the Hoover, he thought about how happy he was that at least one of the women in his life felt permanent and wanted to feel that way.

He knew he needed to work on Hannah next.

Things with them were good - enjoyable and easy, but Booth knew how restless Hannah was at her job. This wonderful woman was willing to change her career to be with him. She changed her entire life and that…That must mean something, love? Booth shook his head, no; it was love – that much he knew. Hannah loved him and she had never been afraid of that fact.

Now, he just needed to let her know how happy he was with her. That shouldn't be hard, he thought.