CHAPTER 3: "NO FAIR"
Tuesday, 8:20pm
Booth was driving Brennan back to her apartment when he decided to detour. "So you want to get some dinner?"
"Trying to feed me again, Booth?"
"Would you eat otherwise?" Booth smirked as Brennan just turned to stare out the window. "Aw, c'mon, Bones, you know you want some Thai food and you want my company. I'm charming, remember?"
"No, that is unfair. I was forced to go to these sessions as a favor to you so are not allowed to use my answers against me. And I didn't mean that I find you charming. It is a good descriptor because other people are drawn to you and they find you easy to talk to. It's probably another reason why you're so successful with interrogations. So you can just put your ego away."
"Whatever you say, Bones."
"Well, if you want to play that game, you said I was passionate."
"Yeah, but… I didn't mean it that way Bones. I mean you are… you know… about your work. That's what I meant."
Brennan was still chuckling when five minutes later, they pulled into the Wong Foos' parking lot. "I didn't agree to dinner, Booth."
"You didn't have to. If you really didn't want to eat with me you would've argued when I first mentioned it. Now come on, I'm hungry." Booth hopped out of the SUV and started towards the restaurant.
Brennan grumbled under her breath, but followed Booth, who waited with the door already open for her. They walked up to the counter and took their usual seats. Sid took one look at them, raised his eyebrows and headed back to the kitchen to place their order.
Booth kept shooting glances between Brennan and the bar. He was trying to decide whether he should ask Bones the question that had been in his head since they left Dr. Jacobs' office. When Sid came back, Booth looked up with a determined expression. "Hey Sid, can we have our food to go?" Booth turned to a confused Brennan, and flashed her a smile. He made up his mind, but he wanted privacy. "I just don't feel like being around a lot of people. How 'bout we take this back to your apartment?"
"Are you ok?" Brennan looked at him suspiciously, but Booth just continued smiling.
Soon Sid returned with their takeout and they headed out. They drove to her apartment in silence, parked and made their way up. While Booth laid out the boxes of food, Brennan grabbed a couple of beers.
"Booth, you've been silent for the last fifteen minutes, talk to me. Something's wrong and I'm not good enough at this to be able to guess."
Booth's chopsticks were half way to his mouth, when Brennan surprised him with her question. He set his food back down and turned to face her. "Bones, I'm fine. The psych test was kind of exhausting that's all."
"Oh, ok." Brennan picked up a container and started eating.
Booth tried to do the same but now just picked at his food, his appetite forgotten. "Bones? Can I ask you a question about our evaluation?" Booth had been looking at Brennan intently, but when she raised her head, he quickly averted his gaze. "I meant what I said about family and us. But… well… I was wondering if… do you really think of me as a brother?"
Brennan's eyes flared at his hesitating manner, not used to seeing him nervous. "Well, we certainly bicker like siblings stereotypically do," Brennan smiled at Booth, who still would not make eye contact. "And you look out for me the way Russ always did, so in that way the comparison is accurate. Although, your "guy" hugs are different from Russ's. But…" At her pause, Booth finally looked up. "…despite the similarities, I do not think of you the same way I think of Russ. I don't think of you as a brother; I do think of you as a good friend and partner."
Booth just continued to stare as a dizzying rush of relief swept through him. He could not even form words in his own mind.
Brennan felt uncomfortable with his silence and questioned, "Was that the wrong answer? Did you want me to say yes? Do you think of me as your sister?"
He chuckled, "Ummm, no Bones, definitely not a sister." He thought of another question, but did not want to push his luck any further tonight. Flashing his charm smile at her, he leaned in close to her. "Bones?"
"What are you up to?" She eyed him suspiciously, but when she felt his warm breath against her face, her focus faltered.
"The Mee Krob is mine," he crowed as he snatched the half-eaten container from her hand.
Brennan's eyes flew open. She hadn't even realized they had started to close as he leaned in. "Hey! No fair!"
"All's fair with Thai food and a hungry man, Bones."
"Well, I'm hungry too, so this is not fair. Next time order two." Brennan pouted and reached for another container before flopping back against her couch. She picked at her food and turned further away from Booth.
"Aw, c'mon, Bones, don't pout. All right, we'll share the rest. Here." Booth offered her back the container, feeling guilty he upset her that much. He never saw her act that way before.
Brennan took the Mee Krob back and took two more mouthfuls before she said anything. "Wow, Booth, I can't believe you fell for that. Angela always tells me I don't use my wiles enough."
Booth's mouth fell open at her confession. "What? You were faking? Give me that." He snatched the favorite dish back. "No fair, you finished it. All right, you know what? You're getting your own container from now on."
"You seem surprised that a woman could fake it?" Brennan chuckled, a deep throaty laugh that raised the hairs on the back of Booth's neck and drained all thoughts, save one, from his head.
They finished up dinner in silence and relaxed for several minutes. Finally, Booth looked at his watch. It was a little after 10pm and he needed to meet with Cullen at eight the next morning. Reluctantly, he stood up. Brennan stood up as well and gathered the now empty containers. Booth helped her clean up and then they both walked to the door.
"Thanks for dinner, Booth."
"No problem, Bones. I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams."
"Night." Brennan gently closed the door and locked it, knowing that Booth would wait outside until he heard her do it. She looked through the peephole and watched him smile at the sound, before walking down the hall.
She went back to sit on the couch feeling confused. She was neither blind nor stupid and knew there was more to Booth's question. The only probable conclusion was that he wanted something more intimate. Now she had to determine what she wanted. Sleep was elusive that night.
