A/N: Hullo. It is me! So... What happens next? Enjoy.


Chapter Four – Sweet Dreams?

Brennan and Booth stood staring at the room's double bed trying to work out what to do next. Both were adamant that the other should take the bed and each had their own reasons for not taking the bed.

Booth was the first to speak. "You take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch." He slung his jacket onto the couch and Brennan immediately objected.

"No. It'll be bad for your back. I'll sleep on the couch, you can have the bed." She moved his jacket and put her own coat on the couch instead.

"But it is bad manners to force a woman to sleep on the couch." He moved her coat, as she had his jacket and took off his shirt, before putting it in place of the coat. Brennan was momentarily flustered as she looked at her partner standing before her in just a vest and his trousers.

"Oh is that the way it's going to be?" She crossed her arms.

"Yeah, this is the way it's going to be. You gonna back down now?" Booth asked, although it was probably the wrong thing to say.

"No. I'm not. Besides, you're not 'forcing' me. It was my idea." She pulled his shirt off the couch and slid her own jacket off. She stood before Booth in her figure hugging dress and dropped her jacket onto the object of their arguments.

Booth swallowed heavily. He could see where this was going and he wasn't sure he was particularly comfortable with it. He knew Brennan's unscrupulous approach to argument solving. I.e. If she was right then nothing would stop her proving so. Knowing this, Booth was unsure just how far into this argument, she was willing to get. He was contemplating giving in. That was until he thought of a better idea.

"Alright." He said, picking up his clothes and hanging them over the chair by the bed. "The couch is yours. Goodnight." The argument ended so abruptly that Brennan was unsure what to make of it. She was sure that he'd be his typical alpha male self and refuse to let her take the couch. In fact, she was distinctly unsure whether she should trust him or not. As they each got changed into their pyjamas, Brennan kept casting Booth questioning glances that he appeared not to see. Booth was fully aware of her and had to hide his smirk many a time. Soon enough, Brennan was tucked up on the couch and Booth, keeping his word was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"Booth?" Dr Brennan's voice called from the couch which, although situated in the same room as the bed, faced away from it.

"Yeah?"Booth leant up on his elbows.

"Goodnight." She decided against bringing the argument up again, lest they ended up fighting again. She wasn't sure why Booth had given up, but she was glad that he's finally forgone his alpha male tendencies and taken the bed. It would be a lot better for his back and she'd gladly sleep on the couch to save him the pain she knew it caused him.

"Goodnight Dr Brennan." Booth replied with a grin and settled down to wait. As it turned out, he needn't wait for too long. Soon he heard her breathing level out and he carefully peeled back the covers and slid out of bed. Tiptoeing to the couch he looked down at the sleeping doctor. She looked peaceful. Carefully, so as not to wake her, he slid his arms beneath her and carried her gently over to the bed. He paused as she murmured in her sleep and chuckled as he found himself being accosted for 'misplacing the manubrium'. He lowered her onto the bed and tensed as he felt her hands tighten their grip on his T-shirt.

"No." She mumbled quietly and Booth sat silently on the edge of the bed until her grip loosened and he could pry his shirt out of her fingers. Tucking the covers round her, he walked back over to the couch and, finally happy now that she was comfortably asleep in the bed, he lay down and fell asleep himself.


A/N: Well, I think it's fair to say, I'm not sure Brennan will think much of this arrangement. I don't think I've ever used the word 'couch' quite so much. It took all I had to stop me from writing 'sofa'. Guess I'm just that bit too English. :)