Hey guys! sorry i haven't updated in a while but this is fairly long so hopefully it makes up it. reviews always cherished (i'm not above begging) Enjoy!
Brennan and Booth arrived outside Sweets' office at exactly the same time. Both of them stopped for a split second and looked at each other longingly. They didn't say anything though as they walked into the building, but Booth opened the door for Brennan, as always. He almost put his hand on the small of her back, but refrained. Brennan noticed the absence of his touch and was slightly disappointed.
They walked to the elevator in silence. Booth reached for the elevator button just as Brennan did. Their hands brushed for an instant. Brennan withdrew her hand quickly. Booth sighed angrily and pushed the up button a little harder than necessary. Brennan, of course, noticed that as well, but instead of feeling disappointment, she felt a twinge of anger. What did he have to be mad about? Brennan thought as she stepped into the elevator with Booth.
Silence filled the elevator. Brennan glanced over at Booth, but then looked away. Booth, sensing her glance, looked over at Brennan just as she looked away from him. He studied her for a moment. Then sighed, but this time it wasn't in anger it was in resignation. He turned to her.
"Bones, look I.." Booth started to say. Brennan had turned to look at him, but just as she did the elevator doors opened and there stood Sweets. While Brennan's gaze cut to Sweets, Booth's stayed locked on Brennan.
"Am I interrupting something?" Sweets asked, knowing the answer. Booth finally turned to look at Sweets. Brennan let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding while under Booth's gaze.
"No Sweets. Let's just get this over with," Booth said, stepping out of the elevator. Brennan followed suit. Sweets frowned.
"Alright. Just go into my office. I'll be there in a minute," Sweets said. Booth nodded and began walking, followed by Brennan. Once again, Booth held the door open for Brennan, but did not touch her. She sighed angrily when she walked through the door. Booth heard the sigh.
"What's with the sigh?" Booth asked. Brennan looked at him innocently.
"I don't know what you mean," she answered, sitting on the couch. Booth rolled his eyes and followed her.
"Fine," Booth said haughtily, sitting down. It was Brennan's turn to roll her eyes.
"Fine." They sat in silence for a few minutes. Brennan glanced at Booth and turned her body towards him.
"Booth, I…" she began, but stopped as Sweets opened the door. Brennan shifted quickly back to the way she had been sitting to begin with. Sweets, once again noticed that he had interrupted something.
"Dr. Brennan, Agent Booth I'm sure you know why I asked you to come here tonight," Sweets said as he walked to sit down across from them. Brennan rolled her eyes. Booth shot Sweets a glare.
"More like threatened," Booth muttered. Brennan looked at Booth.
"You too?" she asked. He nodded curtly, which managed to anger Brennan even more, which Sweets noticed immediately.
"Alright I'll admit it," Sweets said, "I threatened you both to get you here, but you left me with no choice. And I'll have you know that I threatened you both with the same thing: termination of your partnership. So obviously you both value your partnership, and each other, enough to put your pride aside and come here." Brennan looked up in surprise, as did Booth. They both looked at each other, but still said nothing.
"Which is pretty good shrink work on my part," Sweets added.
"The fact that Booth and I care about our partnership has nothing to do with your faulty psychology," Brennan argued. Sweets frowned, but Booth smiled slightly. "Of course Booth and I would rather sit here with you then terminate our partnership. We've been partners for six years. That means something to us. Much more than our 'pride' and I do not appreciate being blackmailed because of it Dr. Sweets." As Brennan was talking Booth became less and less agitated. He nodded along with what she was saying and his eyes danced. When she finished he added a "Yeah."
Brennan's gaze shot to him. "That's all you've got to say?" Booth looked to Sweets, who shook his head, clearing stating that he was not getting involved with this one. Booth glared at Sweets for a moment.
"Well, I think you've said it all there Bones," Booth answered.
"You have nothing to add?" she asked, dangerously. Booth straightened his tie.
"No," he said cautiously, glancing at Sweets. His eyes bulged out, watching for Brennan's reaction.
"Of course you don't," Brennan's tone was perfectly calm, but her eyes were ablaze. Booth could see it and knew she was about to blow, but he didn't like the insinuation that this partnership meant more to Brennan than it did him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked. Brennan scoffed.
"Don't play stupid."
"It's don't play dumb," Booth corrected.
"Booth," she growled.
"What is the matter with you? You've been snapping at me for three days now!" Booth yelled. Brennan looked at him incredulously.
"I've been snapping?" she yelled back. "You are the one that has been pouting about who knows what!"
"What?" Booth exclaimed, inching closer to her. "I have not been pouting."
"Oh yes you have," she argued back, getting even closer.
"Bones," Booth growled at her. "Stop."
"If you would just admit it, I would."
"Only if you admit that you've been testy," Booth countered. Brennan's eyes narrowed. Sweets snorted. Their gazes shot to Sweets.
"Sorry," Sweets said, trying not to smile. "Teste." Brennan rolled her eyes.
"So not the time Sweets," Booth said. Booth exhaled angrily. Brennan crossed her arms. Sweets studied both of them.
"Alright guys. That's enough for tonight," Sweets said. Booth shot up. Brennan shot him a glare, which Booth noticed.
"What?" he asked. Brennan opened her mouth to speak, but Sweets interrupted.
"But, I want you guys to both attend my award ceremony tomorrow night. Got it?" Sweets said. Booth and Bones both looked at him then glanced at each other, and then as if they had discussed something back at him.
"Of course we are coming," Bones said, some of the anger gone from her eyes. "Why wouldn't we?"
"Oh well I just thought you wouldn't want to be in the same room, so I didn't know if you would both still come," Sweets said shyly.
"Booth and I wouldn't miss it for the world," Brennan said softly, smiling slightly. She looked up at Booth pointedly. "Right Booth?" Booth looked down at her and sighed. How could he say no when she looked at him like that?
"Right," Booth said. Then he looked at Sweets and added, "It's not like we're getting a divorce Sweets."
"Of course we aren't getting a divorce," Brennan said. "Because we're not married." Booth shot her a glare and she looked up at him innocently.
"Don't play stupid Bones," Booth replied, smiling at his own joke. Brennan, not finding it funny, but not having a retort, stuck her tongue out at him. Booth laughed, a genuine laugh, the first one she had heard in days and she couldn't help herself from smiling slightly.
"See Sweets? Everything is okay. It's your big night and we'll be there together." Sweets smiled widely and Booth couldn't help smiling at him.
"Wicked! Thank you guys so much!" Sweets exclaimed. He then looked suddenly nervous as he thought of something. Brennan got up and Booth helped her into her coat because even if they were fighting he was still a gentlemen. Booth held the door open for her and she was halfway out the door when Sweets spoke up.
"Agent Booth?"
"Yeah Sweets," Booth said, turning back. Brennan paused for a minute.
"I feel really bad asking this and I don't want to insult you or anything, but since you said this was my night and I kind of just wanted it to be just our close knit group," Sweets rambled. Booth held up a hand.
"Just spit it out Sweets."
"Could you not bring Hannah?" Sweets said quickly, then winced slightly. Booth and Brennan looked shocked.
"Why?" Booth asked.
"Well, I just wanted it to be our friends because we haven't all hung out for awhile. You know, just us," Sweets explained carefully. Booth studied Sweets.
"Fine, but only because this is your night," Booth finally answered.
"Thanks Agent Booth. That's very kind of you," Sweets said.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get all mushy on me," Booth replied, turning to leave. Brennan began to turn as well when she caught Sweets' eye. He gave her a thumbs up and smiled widely. She gave him a puzzled look, then recognition dawned on her. Sweets knew. And he was trying to help.