Okay, here you go! The next chapter. It's kind of short, just a filler chapter, but I promise the next one will be longer! And there will be fluff!
Thanks so much for all the reviews, I just love them!
Brennan never noticed the lack of alcohol. She breezed along, talking of inconsequential things, and he just watched her, nodding every so often. She didn't seem to expect a response. She talked of everything from Zach's new position to Angela and Hodgins' relationship, studiously avoiding their last case, and her father and brother.
Finally, she stopped, and he reached over and took her hand. "Hey, Bones. Time to go."
She looked down at her glass expectantly, but her face fell when she saw that it was empty. "Oh." She looked back up at him. "Can I drive?" Her voice was light and hopeful.
Booth sighed. "No, Bones, you can't drive. Not this time."
"Why not?!" There it was, that pout again.
He knew he couldn't let her drive, but, oh how he wanted to. He wanted so much to give her anything she asked for, anything to see her smile, that smile that made her face light up. That smile that actually reached her eyes.
He reached out and touched her cheek. "I promise, Temperance, you can drive the very next time, but for right now, you just have to trust me." He stared into her eyes, he couldn't seem to look away.
After a moment, she pulled back and dropped her eyes. "Okay, but remember, you promised." She looked back up at him, and he shuddered at the emotions he saw in her eyes. "And you always keep your promises, right?"
The longing and hopefulness he heard in her voice tore at his heart. "Always" he whispered.
As quickly as the sadness had come, it was gone again, replaced by a smile. "Okay! I'm ready!"
He couldn't help but smile at the sudden change in her mood. He knew it was the alcohol, that she would never have allowed him to see the pain she always tried to hide if not for the drinks she had had. He hoped that she wouldn't remember this tomorrow, she was always so strong, she wouldn't want to know he'd seen her at her most vulnerable. She had been upset enough that she had had to lean on him when she thought Russ was dead. She would hate this.
She stood up, and he quickly left his seat and grabbed her when she swayed. "Easy there, Bones."
She grabbed onto him to keep from falling, and he felt the heat of her touch. She laughed up at him, and he couldn't help but smile back. He steadied her, then took her arm and led her out of the restaurant. Sid gave him a knowing smile as he left, and Booth just shook his head.
They reached the SUV without incident. She allowed him to open the passenger side door and help her in, further proof that her defenses were down. He closed her door, then walked around to the driver's side, and got in.
He glanced over at her, and she was staring down at the seatbelt in her hands. "Um, Bones?" She looked up at him questioningly. "Do you need help with that?"
She giggled, and he was again taken by surprise. Bones NEVER giggled. Laughed, yes, chuckled, occasionally, but he had never heard her giggle. She must have had more to drink than he had thought.
He reached over and fastened her seatbelt, then buckled his own and started the SUV. He drove for a few minutes, glancing at her every now and then. She head was leaning against the window, staring out into the night, and the next time he checked, her eyes were closed and her breathing was even.
Booth pulled up in front of her building, switching off the SUV and turning to her. She looked so peaceful, he almost didn't have the heart to wake her. Glancing at the seat beside her, he suddenly realized that she didn't have her purse. He knew she hadn't left it at Sid's, which meant she must have left it in Hodgins' car.
No purse meant no keys, and there was no way he was going to drive all the way to Hodgins' place, waking them up in the process. He sighed and turned the keys in the ignition. His place it was.
Okay, now get clicking!
