Quarantine

'Booth was right. This is Star Trek.' Cam surveyed her team in the observation room. They'd backed away from the screen so Booth couldn't see them and turned the microphone off.

The doctor with the test results gave a smile but then became serious once more.

'Unfortunately, it is worse than that,' he said. 'Mr Booth's test results also show elevated hormones which can only mean that sooner or later he will get the virus.'

Angela smirked. 'Looks like they're gonna need those condoms after all.'

The doctor didn't even blink. 'Because of the nature of the virus, we screened them both for STIs when they were placed in quarantine. Dr Brennan also informed us that she had recently had the contraceptive injection. Should they, um, succumb to the virus it is unlikely there will be any physical repercussions.'

'What about psychological?' Cam asked.

The doctor looked grim and turned to Sweets, who looked distinctly uncomfortable.

'Despite Dr Brennan's ability to rationalise, she will undoubtedly struggle to move on if she has sex with Agent Booth under the influence of a virus. And Booth, despite his show of macho bravado, is not the type of person who has a one night stand. For him, sex must have an emotional connection. As for their current friendship, a sexual connection could make or break it completely.'

'I know you're talking about us up there,' Booth suddenly said. 'Stop discussing our sex lives!'

'Booth, we're trying to figure out your options up here,' Cam said into the mike, attempting to speak calmly. 'I think you should move rooms so that Brennan and you don't....'

'Swap more than spit?' Angela cut in, causing Hodgins and Sweets to splutter.

Cam glared at her, but before she could say anything, the doctor spoke up. 'We would if we could, but the other isolation rooms here are full. The other thing is, we've been studying the effect the virus has on a person, and actually the quickest way to cure it is to, well, follow your instincts.'

Angela's mouth dropped open, and her eyes gleamed, but before she could speak, Hodgins, in a subdued voice asked slowly, 'Are you telling me, that Dr Brennan and Booth have to have sex to cure them?' (Cam tried not to smile as she saw Booth put his head in his hands.)

The doctor hastily tried to reassure them. 'No, not necessarily. All I'm suggesting is that the chemicals released during intercourse are a much quicker cure than anything we can give them. It would probably cure them, ahem, overnight.'

Angela couldn't help it. She burst out laughing, and after a moment, the rest of the team joined her.

Booth looked decidedly annoyed. 'Why are you laughing?' he demanded. 'This isn't funny.' Unfortunately the expression on his face made them laugh harder.

'I'm sorry dude,' Hodgins said at last, wiping his eyes, 'But you do seem to get yourself in these messes.'

'Well I respect Bones too much to just have sex, even to cure an illness quicker, so I guess if I get it, I'll just have to rely on medicine,' Booth said determinedly.

Seeing that he was serious, the rest of the team turned the conversation to lighter topics and they had a pleasant chat until they had to disperse.

Booth sat down on the sofa with his food, feeling alone despite the presence of Bones on the bed behind him. He didn't even dare have the TV too loud in case it woke the sleeping woman. His food was delicious, but it tasted like cardboard in his mouth. He felt really bored.

Despite himself, he turned round and looked at Bones. From his vantage point, he couldn't see much but he could just catch a glimpse of her face. He thought that, even with her flushed face, heavy breathing and rapid muttering she was still one of the most beautiful women he had ever met.

Booth sighed and finished his meal in silence. Later he went to bed, where he lay awake for a long time before finally dropping off to sleep.

On waking, Booth realised that Bones was sitting up, looking at him, with a distinctly... hungry look on her face.

Almost without noticing, Booth began to back away from her, towards the other side of his bed (in spite of the fact it was only a single). Then he got up, grabbed his clothes and charged into the bathroom, securely locking the door behind him.

'It's gonna be a long day,' he muttered to himself.

By lunchtime, though, Booth was feeling more optimistic. At Bones' own feverish request, she was given more sedative in order to sleep off the side-effects of the virus. She was currently unconscious, still with a raging fever. Booth was lounging on the sofa, replete with puzzle book (cryptic crosswords, he was really bored), contemplating his options.

They were limited, in truth. He could either 'have sex with Bones,' an option he still had to think of in quotation marks, or hold out and pray he didn't fall victim as well. Hell, he didn't even want to think of the consequences if they both succumbed. Mind you, the thought Brennan in his arms, moaning at his touch, screaming his name....

Booth became conscious of the fact that he was suddenly feeling rather hot, and that his head was aching. He closed his eyes but couldn't lie still. He tried pacing around the room but it didn't help. After staring with glazed eyes at the TV for a while, he decided to try and have a shower to cool himself down.

He stayed in there for a long time, alternating between almost scalding water to freezing cold. His skin was tingling when he got out, and the skin-to-towel contact brought an almost pleasurable feeling to him. However, Booth was not quite coherent enough by now to recognise the symptoms of the virus and so carried on as normal.

When he re-entered the main room Bones was awake and a male nurse was just drawing some more blood. He smiled at Booth, who suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of rage against this man for daring to touch HIS Bones without permission.

Booth literally growled, and leapt forward as if to beat the nurse to the ground. Thankfully, he had not realised just how much his reflexes had slowed and the nurse was able to call up for help before tackling him.

It took two nurses to wrestle Booth to the ground, and another doctor to administer an extremely powerful sedative. It took effect almost immediately, and Booth slumped on the floor. He was carried to his bed, where blood was drawn and then left. The remaining nurse turned to Bones.

'Agent Booth has probably got the virus,' he said slowly, not sure how much she could comprehend.

Bones merely nodded and lay against her pillows. It was getting late by this time, and she felt hungry in more ways than one. Just as she had finished eating Team CASH arrived. They gaped at the sight they beheld.

'What happened?' asked Angela stupidly.

The doctor escorting them rolled his eyes. 'Agent Booth has the virus.'