AN: Here's the next chapter. From this point on, I'll be following and deviating from the canon established on the show. This chapter takes place just prior to Girl in the 'Gator. I'll let you know where in the storyline we are at each chapter from here on out. With that, please enjoy. If you need to see the episode still, go to fox(dot)com(slash)bones. There's a link to get it on demand.

"So Jack invited me for a weekend away. He wants to go to Montreal," Angela said as she took a sip of wine. Temperance leaned back and looked at her friend, her own glass of wine in hand.

"And you're having a hard time with that? Ange, I've never known you to be unsure of anything."

"Unless it comes to Jack. I don't know what to do. That's a big jump."

"It's just a weekend."

"It's stage four! I don't know if I'm ready for stage four." Angela looked desperately at her friend.

"Ange, you know I'm not very good at this."

"Please Bren." Brennan opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it. Where was Booth when she needed him? There was a knock at the door. Temperance stood to answer the door, and looked back at Angela as she began to answer.

"I guess I could understand your reticence if you were say occasionally sleeping together," she said as she pulled open the door. She stepped back in surprise when Booth leaned in toward her. When he spotted Angela, he immediately straightened up. The artist was staring down at her wine, swirling it gently in the glass.

"Angela, I didn't know you were here." Booth gave Temperance a look of apology before following her into the apartment. Angela looked up from the wine glass and smiled at Booth.

"What are you doing here, G-man?"

"I thought I'd come over and try to talk Bones into going to a movie this evening."

"Good luck with that. She won't even see one if she's dating someone. Booth, let me ask you; should I go away for the weekend with Hodgins?"

"Do you want to?"

"I don't know. I mean, it's a huge step…"

"Angela, he's not asking you to move in with him. Go away with him. Let him pamper you, you know?" The artist looked back at her wine again, swirling it as she thought.

"Maybe you're right Booth. It's not like I am moving in with him or anything. Thanks." She smiled brightly and moved across the room to the window as she pulled out her cell phone to call Hodgins. Temperance sat next to Booth on the couch and picked up her glass of wine. As she was bringing it to her lips, Booth turned to her, accidentally bumping her arm. Wine spilled from the glass and onto her shirt.

"Damn it," she muttered before pulling the shirt off. Booth's eyes grew large in surprise and he immediately moved a little farther away from her, motioning with his head to Angela. Brennan's eyes widened and she turned to look at her friend. The artist was at the window, tracing patterns on the ledge as she talked to Hodgins. Temperance stood hurriedly and bolted for her room, her shirt in hand. Angela finished her call and turned around, surprised to find her best friend was not there.

"Where's Bren?"

"Oh, she spilled some wine on her shirt." Booth glanced toward the bedroom door, letting out a sigh that Angela apparently had seen nothing. Brennan came out of the room, her brow wrinkling as she noticed two sets of eyes on her.

"What?"

"Nothing. Sweetie, I'm gonna go. Jack wants me to join him for dinner."

"You have everything worked out then?" Brennan asked, keeping a respectable distance from Booth.

"Yeah. I think I was worrying needlessly. I'll see you tomorrow at work?"

"Of course." Brennan smiled and showed Angela from the apartment. Once the door was shut behind the artist, Tempe looked at Booth. "We need to talk about this."

"I know. That's why I came over."

"What is it you want out of this, Booth?" Temperance sat on the couch, facing the agent as he also sat.

"I never expected to sleep with you. I mean, I don't know how all of this happened between the two of us."

"We both needed that release, and yes, it was good. I think we're getting a little too comfortable with each other."

"Gee, you think? I can't believe you did that, Bones. What if Angela had seen you?"

"She didn't. Do you want a full relationship? Do you want to try that route, or should we just look at this like a great couple of nights and be done with it?"

"I don't know."

"Booth, I suggest you go home and think about this. We can meet for breakfast at the diner and discuss it then, okay?"

"Uh, yeah, sure."

"All right. I'll see you tomorrow then." The two looked at each other for a long moment before Booth sighed and stood up to leave. He ran a hand through his hair and turned from his partner, leaving the apartment. Temperance looked at the door for a long time then put her hands in her hair. This relationship was starting to get a little too complicated.

The next day, Brennan sat across from Booth at the Royal Diner as she sipped at a cup of coffee. Booth worked on a plate of eggs and bacon, neither saying a word. Finally Tempe couldn't take the silence between them any longer.

"Did you think about it last night?" Booth looked up at her, a piece of egg dangling from his fork, midway to his mouth. Slowly he set the bite down and took a gulp of milk.

"Yes, I did. I think it's best if we return to our old relationship."

"Is this all part of your belief that people in your line of work can't have relationships?"

"Yes and no." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "What I mean is, we work together and that could, you know… complicate things."

"Okay."

"What I mean is…"

"Booth, it's okay, I understand."

"You do?"

"Yes."

"And you're not mad?"

"No. We weren't in any kind of a committed relationship, therefore there's nothing to be upset about," Brennan said before taking another sip of her coffee. Booth just looked at her, his breakfast forgotten. Is that how she thought of our time together? It was just something purely recreational? He took a deep breath, wanting nothing more than to leave and get some air.

"Are you done yet?" Brennan looked at him, noting his sharp tone.

"Yeah, sure we can go."

"Good." Booth threw some money on the table and stood to leave. Brennan followed, and as they reached the door to the diner, his phone rang. Grabbing the door with one hand, and the door with the other, he answered the call. "Booth."

"Agent Booth, we've got a case and need you to fly out today."

"Where?"

"Florida."