Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or the song Lips of an Angel by Hinder

Chapter 3

He loves me?

The puzzled look sent chills up Cam's spine. She didn't want to loose Seeley, but she didn't want to share either.

"Cam, thank you for being so patient while I was on the phone with Bo...uh Parker. He's having nightmares again. But what doesn't sit well is being interrupted like that. I could have undone all of the positive progress I had made with him by yelling." He was pissed. Not just at Cam but himself. 'Who am I kidding, I shouldn't be here.'

"Seeley, I'm sorry. This was our night together. I was beginning to worry about you. I just wanted you to know I was here for you."

"And again, thank you Camille. When it comes to my Bon...boy, I don't need any help. I've done ok so far with her..him, on my own."

"Seeley, lets not fight. The bath is ready and so am I." She slowly makes her way towards him, taking off her robe. She's strutting a new teddy-deep red with lots of lace. 'I know this will change his mind, put me back in the #1 spot for tonight!'

"Cam, you look great," but his tone doesn't fool her. She's lost again.

Booth heads for the door, calling to her. "Cam, I'm sorry about tonight, but I'm drained. Parker may need me again. I don't want to ruin this, but he's my son. You understand, don't you?" His frown pleading with her.

"Sure Seeley. We can save this for tomorrow night." 'Damn, he's leaving and I look HOT! I can't believe he's just up and leaving me for his kid.'

'If she only knew why I was leaving-she'd hit the roof-and probably me!' A smile crept across his lips.

'I knew that would get his attention' she thought coyly. 'The kid can have him tonight, but tomorrow he's all mine!'

"Goodnight Cam" and out the door he goes. No kiss goodnight, nothing.

Cam stood with her back to the door. 'Bastard. I really wanted him tonight.' She'll get hers...'Wait, is he whistling?' She looks through the peep hole as Booth is skipping down the hall. 'What the hell is that all about? It's not like he got any.'

Booth exited the building and that was it. He'd had enough. 'I don't like to lie to Bones. She's my...what exactly is she?'

But girl you make it hard to be faithful. With the lips of an angel.

'Did he say he loves me?' Brennan is bewildered. 'He must have been talking to Parker, that's it, Parker. He loves Parker and why shouldn't he? Parker's his son, his flesh and blood. Why would he say that to ME? We're partners. Partners and friends. Why on earth did my stomach feel like I'd done somersaults for the past 20 minutes? That doesn't happen with Sully. Maybe I'm getting the flu. That would explain it. Influenza is a logical explanation. It makes sense.' She shakes her head and paces back and forth in the living room. 'No it doesn't. Come on Temperance, you are a Doctor. You know what the signs and symptoms are for the flu. You don't have any of them. So why are you even thinking of an excuse like that? Because I don't know what this feeling is.' Her thoughts trailed away the more she walked. 'Could it be, could it be he loves me? I mean, why not. I'm smart, kind of pretty, and a hell of a shot!' Her smile can't be contained. 'We could be more, why not?' Then the rational side of Dr. Temperance Brennan kicks in. Shaking her head in disbelief. 'He's with Cam. She's beautiful, fun, and doesn't have to be given cue cards during her conversations with Booth. They have the same likes. She's had the same life, or close to it, as he has. I analyze things, make decisions based on facts. He couldn't possibly 'love' me. Who could?' But it would be nice and she knows that.

A knock brings her back to reality. 'Sully looking for a goodbye something' she wonders as she swings open the door without even checking.

"Booth!" Her confused look makes his heart jump.

"That's my name, don't wear it out." He chuckles as he pushes past her through the door.

"You can't 'wear' a name out" as she uses both hands to make air quotes.

He laughs harder than he has in a very long time. "Oh Bones, you can be so literal. Lighten up. It was just a joke."

The laughter is contagious. 'Why does he always get the best of me? Am I that gullible?'

"You are sooooo gullible at times!" he teases as he flashes his charm smile. The one only Bones is honored to receive.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she mutters as she closes the door. "I told you I was fine and didn't need a babysitter."

"I know, but that doesn't mean I can't visit my favorite Forensics Anthropologist, does it?"

"No. You know that my door is always open to you." Her heart has skipped so many beats she's surprised she hasn't gone into cardiac arrest. "Can I get you something to drink, a beer?" She's on a dead run for the kitchen. 'Distance, get some distance between us. It seems like he's torturing me. Maybe I'm just delusional. Maybe I do have the flu!'

He's hot on her heals without her knowing. Sniper training comes in handy all the time. 'What is she thinking? She is acting very strange...she heard me. She heard me say that I loved her. She's trying to find a plausible explanation for the words I said to her. And my thoughts are starting to sound like a squint!'

"Bones."

She's startled and almost falls. Booth not missing his mark, grabs her by the waist and holds on for dear life. 'Here goes nothing, but I better keep a grip on her arms. I can't take a beating tonight, or can I?' He shakes his head as she stares at him.

'Oh my, this is not a 'guy hug' is it?' She turns three shades of red while being less than an inch from his well defined chest. 'Why hasn't he let me go yet?' "Thanks for saving my life, again." The words are slow and less than a whisper.

He moves in to understand what she's saying. 'She smells great' as he takes all of her scents in.

'What is he doing? Did I hurt him when he caught me?' "Booth, are you ok? Did I hurt you?" as she attempts to back away.

"Oh no, I'm fine. But you're not going anywhere." He tightens his grip and presses her to him. 'I could stay like this forever.'

'Does he have a fever? He's flushed and sweating. Maybe he's getting the flu?'

"Temperance, we need to talk..."

A look of shock takes over her face. She needs to get out, back away. She can't take any more bad news. "Booth, let me go."

"NO!"

"Please, let me go."

"NO!"

"Let me go or ELSE!"

"NOPE! Can't do. I told you we need to talk."

"Booth, you rat bastard! Let me GO!"

"No Temperance! Now I need to say this so DON'T interrupt. Please!" 'She said that she isn't a 5 year old, but she's acting like it now! No other woman could trip my switches like her. God, I do love her!'

A look of shock spreads across her face. 'We're done, this is it. This is the end of the partnership. The end of ... us.'

Booth slowly releases one arm from around her, but he isn't letting her go just yet. 'She could still break me in half.' "Bones" he whispers and he gently slides his hand under her chin. He raises her face to meet his. She wouldn't look at him. Her gaze was glued to the ground. 'Is she crying? I'm breaking her heart and she doesn't even know why.' "Temperance".

She can't take this. Tears well up and threaten to fall.

"Temperance, please look at me."

She can't. She's frozen with fear. 'I can't lose him. I can't go through the pain again. Everyone I love leaves. LOVE! Do I love him?' Her heart and head both sank.

"Temperance, please." His words are soothing. His breath is hot against her cheek.

'Might as well get this over with.' She lifts her head and stares at him with a look of defiance.

'I've made her mad. I've upset the woman I love. God, how could I hurt her so when all I want to do is love her? Can I really do this, admit to her my true feelings?' A look of defeat overcomes him. He begins to doubt himself. He isn't sure he is worthy enough for her. "Bones, I love you" he blurts and then drops his head and loosens his grip. "Hit me. I need physical pain. This emotional pain is worse than being shot."

Her expression goes from disbelief to sympathy. 'I've tortured the man who loves me. He said that HE LOVES ME! She touches his cheek with the back of her hand.

He flinches at her touch. 'She really is going to hit me!'

"Seeley." He snaps out of it when she says his name-his first name. She almost never uses his first name.

It's really good to hear your voice saying my name it sounds so sweet. Coming from the lips of an angel. Hearing those words it makes me weak.

His puppy dog expression melts her. "I.." 'What do I say? He's going to require a response. Be rational Temperance, but above all, be yourself.' Her reply was simple but affective. "Ditto!" The smile on her face says the rest.

'Ditto? Is she joking?' Then it hits him like a ton of bricks. 'Ditto. Saying she loved me, in her own way. This is good. This is beyond good. This will do for now. She will, in her own time, utter the magical three words. In her time.

Before she knew it, he bent and pressed his lips against hers. Everything stopped but his mind. 'I told Bones I loved her and she didn't break my arm! She loves me! Well, DITTO, but as long as I love her, she'll love me. We can work on the words later.

'He's got to be insane to love me. I'll tell him the words. I'll say them but for now, Ditto will have to do. I know he'll understand. He must, because I've NEVER had a kiss like this! I could get used to this.'

As they finally broke apart, physically trembling and emotionally energized, Booth replays the night in his mind. The love of his life in his arms, he remembers the song. The phone call that saved him. He smiles as the song plays through his head...Lips of an Angel. She doesn't believe in angels but she doesn't have to. She is his angel. That is all that matters.

Thanks for all of the reviews!!! I hope everyone likes this. I'm working on another and will be posting soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!