Disclaimer: Alright, this is getting really freakin old. (disgusted groan) Fine- I don't own Bones.

A/N: Seems like I start every author's note with an apology for the delay between updates, but hopefully this is the last time. I'm on Spring Break in Miami right now and our hotel doesn't have wireless, so I can't post anything til I find a freaking internet connection up in this bitch! I wish I could post right now- I love this story so much I'm writing it with a hangover from last night and a good buzz from this morning, haha. No I'm not an alcoholic; I'm a college girl on Spring Break. And because I'm stumbling around Miami with my friends and will be pretty washed up when I get back home, u all should REVIEW so I'll have an inbox filled with sheBones love! (the eternal optimist- notice I did not say 'sheBones hate')For the lazy buttheads who don't wanna read all that: My bad about the long wait, I've been drunk. Reviews cure hangovers!!! PS If you read this, u admitted you're a butthead- haha gotcha! ;)

Booth, left with nothing really to say for the moment, turned and walked dejectedly back to the lab platform. Brennan remained at her desk working, or at least looking busy. Of course, Zack, Angela and Hodgins had been hanging on every screamed word.

"Dr. Brennan didn't change her mind, did she?" Hodgins asked, his face the picture of sympathy for his crestfallen compadre.

Booth stopped in front of the Squint Squad and evenly distributed a death glare over them all.

"You all should know, seeing as you heard every word we said!"

"But I was just-"

Booth ran a tired hand through his hair, shaking his head.

"Hodgins, don't make me shoot you."

Hodgins' aqua eyes went wide and he put his hands up in surrender before bolting from the scene, dragging Zack with him to prevent any later shooting mishaps. Of course, Angela remained, crossing her arms and watching Booth carefully.

Booth couldn't shake the churning knot that had settled in his gut the second this whole Maxim business began. 'Oh God, I can't talk her out of it. Bones is….gonna be naked. For men. No, not naked, just….mostly naked.' Bile rose in his throat, making him as sick as he'd ever felt on the job or in the army. 'She's really gonna do it. I'm gonna throw up. Oh fuck…..I can't let her do it.' Explicit images of Brennan started popping up in Booth's mind; Brennan in a lacy black bra and g string, Brennan on all fours on an exam table, Brennan sitting naked on the edge of her desk covering herself with her hands.

"Man, you're really torn up over this, aren't you?" Angela asked, her voice seeping with restrained pity.

Booth's worried face snapped up to look at her.

"Angela, are you kidding me?" He burned an intense gaze at her, making Angela suddenly feel guilty for encouraging the whole thing.

"Come on, Booth. Unclench for God's sake. It's not gonna be that bad, it's just a photo shoot. There won't even be any nudity!" She offered him a conciliatory smile, which he immediately shot down with a pissed off glare.

"God, neither of you GET it! It doesn't matter than she won't be naked, she's….ugh!!"

"Yours?" Angela offered with her trademark knowing stare. "Alright, look. I'm sorry you're so upset about this, and we both know why, but she's made her decision." She shrugged, sending a physical 'get used to it'. But Booth looked absolutely helpless, which appealed to Angela's caring nature. She offered,

"If it makes you feel any better, if anyone could make Brennan change her mind it would be you."

In an instant the grief-stricken expression melted from Booth's face, and was replaced with an inspired glow that made Angela nervous.

"Oh no, I didn't give you any ideas did I? Oh I did, what are you gonna do?"

Booth just turned away, still smiling as he paced toward the parking garage.

'Oh, I'm gonna beat her at her own game. I'll out-logic her, I can do it.' As Booth thought back on all the conversations, okay arguments, they had had over the years, he could hardly recall an instance where he won. His confidence flickered. 'I'll think of something, I have to. Angela said so herself, I can change her mind. I know her.' And with that somewhat shaky confidence, he went home and prepared for the great debate.

A/N: Well, you don't have to review every chapter, and I'm posting several at once, so you can just review the latest one and tell me what you think if you prefer. Although reviewing each would be pretty sweet…. but DON'T FORGET TO WRITE! ;)