How 'bout them Flyers? Whoooo hoooo! Now let's celebrate with a new chapter!

Chapter Four

Brennan walked into the reception area of Booth's office, stopping in her tracks when she saw the door was shut. Music she recognized from his collection at home came softly through the closed door, although the music itself didn't seem soft at all. She looked questioningly at Janie, who smiled softly and invited Brennan to sit down to wait.

"I'd give him a few moments, Dr. Brennan. One of the agents has already been in sucking up for the SSA job and he had a heck of a time getting rid of her." Janie looked amused as she rose. "Would you like some tea while you wait? I just made myself a pot."

"Oh, no thank you Janie. We're supposed to be going to lunch…or, at least I thought we were. Does he remember I was picking him up?" Brennan looked at the door again, confused and unsure.

"He does, dear. I promise. I reminded him, but he knew. Let's just say this agent was insistent that she could do his old job…and was more than happy to do anything to get it."

"Oh. She offered sexual favors?" Brennan was amazed.

"You betcha." Many people thought Brennan was entirely too blunt, but Janie loved her total lack of guile. It was refreshing in the world of law enforcement, where she had spent her whole life and in the world in general, where people almost never said what they meant. "Don't worry, dear. Agent Booth is completely dedicated to you. It's very obvious."

Brennan wasn't worried, but she also knew that Booth wouldn't have necessarily been clear with this female agent…or at least as clear as Brennan herself would have been. Booth had proven time and time again that he was sometimes too nice, especially with women. "I am not worried, Booth has expressed often how much he loves me and only me, and he is a dedicated, honest and loyal man. I don't trust anyone the way I trust Booth."

"And he trusts you the same way, Dr. Brennan. You are a very lucky couple."

"Please, Janie. Call me Temperance. And I know, even though I don't believe in luck." Brennan smiled at Janie's delighted laughter, then tipped her head to the side and listened intently. "Oh my. Are you sure something else didn't happen today, Janie? That's Darkness on the Edge of Town by Bruce Springsteen. He usually only listens to that song when he's having an especially bad day."

"Not that I know of, Temperance. Until Agent Manning showed up he seemed to be in good spirits."

Brennan considered her options. She wanted very badly to find out what was bothering Booth, but she knew her limitations and she was afraid she wouldn't be able to help him in the way he needed. After going back and forth for a moment she decided to do what Booth would do in her position. She stood and walked towards the door.

"Good for you, dear." Janie nodded in approval and turned back to her work.

Brennan decided not to knock on the door before she opened it, turning the knob slowly and quietly pushing it. When she peeked in, she could see Booth sitting sideways at his desk, staring at a picture in his hand. Warmth spread through her chest as she realized it was a photo of her. The gentle smile on his face and the way his finger traced her image in the frame made her breath hitch and a lump form in her throat. Intellectually, she knew that Booth loved her. He showed it every day, in all kinds of small and large ways. She never wanted for anything when he was with her, and she wanted to give that content, satisfied, and complete feeling of being adored back to him at every opportunity. But standing there watching this strong, physically dominant alpha male gaze so longingly at her photo made her feel as if she could never return the kind of love he gave her, not in the same way or at the same level of intensity. Yes, Gunn had reassured her that the things she did for Booth she did out of love, but she was suddenly feeling like it wasn't enough. As her thoughts started to turn even more morose, Booth seemed to sense her presence and looked over to her, a delighted smile crossing his face.

"Bones!" He jumped up and rounded the desk, pulling her into his arms and kissing her senseless. She took in his face, so thrilled and just…happy, and all her misgivings flew out the window.

"I guess you're happy to see me." Brennan returned his smile, unable to resist the charm smile for even a moment.

Looking down, Booth smirked. "Well, that definitely isn't a banana in my pocket."

Rolling her eyes, Brennan pushed him back lightly. "Come on, pervert. Let's go get some lunch. Erik and Gunn are probably waiting already."

"Alright, alright." Booth grabbed his phone from his desk and followed her out the door. "Janie, we're going for lunch. Can we bring anything back for you?"

Pulling out a container, Janie shook her head. "No, thank you Agent Booth. I brought my homemade vegetable soup with me today. Although…if you're going to the Royal Diner, a piece of their apple pie would be lovely."

Giving his assistant a thumbs up and a smile, Booth led Brennan out of the office. "I knew I liked her, Bones."

"Richard, quit jiggling your leg. It will be fine." Erik slapped his knee under the table and threw him a glare.

"I know, I know. I…I talked with Temperance this morning. About Booth." He looked down and swiped at a non-existent crumb on the table.

"What did my favorite genius say?"

"Exactly the same thing you did. Only more squinty." Erik laughed and slapped him on the back.

"I told you. So just calm down. Besides, you have to. They're here." He pointed to the door, watching as Booth held it open for Brennan, and then walked a few steps behind her to the table.

"Hey guys." Booth let Brennan slide into her chair before settling next to her. "Did you order yet? I'm starving."

Brennan fought an eye roll in favor of a lecture. "Booth, you had a huge breakfast and I know Janie got you those muffins you like. So don't exaggerate."

"Muffins? Hey! I thought you said you didn't like muffins." Gunn recalled Booth's claim from earlier during the staff meeting.

"No, I never said I didn't like them. I said that they weren't good bribe material. Big difference." Booth picked up the menu and looked at it intently, as if he didn't already have it memorized.

"So what is good bribe material, Agent Booth? The same thing Agent Manning was offering you earlier?" Brennan couldn't resist prodding Booth about being propositioned earlier, and she also wanted to gauge how he was feeling about it.

"Bones!" The deep blush that crossed his face told her some of what she was wondering. "I can't believe Janie told you. How embarrassing."

"She hinted, I guessed. And why would you feel embarrassed? A beautiful woman offers you sex for a job and you're the one who's embarrassed? That's illogical, Booth."

"What? Manning offered you a little sumptin' sumptin' for the SSA job? That's awesome!" Gunn gave Booth his first genuine smile since he and Brennan had joined them.

"No, Dumbass. It's not awesome. She was…well, she was rude. And out of line. I had to put her on leave for a week because of it." Booth became fascinated with the cuff of his shirt sleeve, not looking Brennan in the eye.

"Booth, why would you put her on leave for that? You turned her down, she left…correct?"

"Bones, can we just let it go?"

"No, Booth. We can't. What did she say?"

Booth finally looked up and glared. "Temperance. Let it go."

"No, I will not. Something she said upset you, That's why you were listening to Springsteen earlier when I came to get you."

Gunn piped in. "Darkness?"

"Yes." Brennan confirmed.

"Seeley." He forced Booth to look at him. "Man, you're going to have to tell eventually. Might as well spill it."

Sighing, Booth turned and looked only at Brennan. "Look, Bones. I am telling you this under protest. It's not necessary."

"It's fine, Booth. Whatever she said about you-"

"It was about you, Bones."

Gunn winked at Erik, who smiled back tightly. They had both suspected the problem had something to do with Brennan. And with his short interaction with Agent Stephanie Manning, he knew she wasn't Dr. Temperance Brennan's biggest fan.

"What did she say, Booth? Do I have to beat her up?" She placed a hand on his leg under the table, rubbing up and down to calm him.

"No, I think she'll back off now. But…she was pretty nasty, Bones. I know women are supposed to be more vicious than men but wow….Manning was being a real bitch."

Brennan knew it was bad if Booth resorted to using that word, one he had never heard him use in reference to another woman outside of the occasional case-related comment. "It's fine, Booth. Obviously she wants you have sex with you, so she is probably jealous."

"She heard some things from Sully, Bones."

Brennan's hand stopped on his leg. "What?" Her whispered question was filled with shock. "What could he have possibly shared with her?"

Booth looked over at Gunn and Erik, both of whom looked like they wanted to beat someone. "We can talk about it at home, Bones. Please?"

The curiosity was killing her, but when Brennan looked into Booth's eyes, she saw that he was begging her to let this go in front of their friends. She was helpless when it came to that look he was giving her. And, she allowed, he was probably right. It was not a conversation to be having over lunch with friends. "Alright, Booth. We'll talk later."

He kissed her softly. "Thanks, Bones." He stared into her eyes for another moment or two, and then turned back to their lunch companions. "Okay then. What did you two want to talk to us about?"