Inside Joke

Angela offered to take the stack of paperwork and drop it off at Booth's apartment on her way out of town that Saturday. Can had Michelle with her in the lab, Brennan was in Virginia with her dad and brother and Hodgins was nowhere to be found. The fact was, she had only been to Booth's place a handful of times, and her curiosity got the better of her. She really wanted to see how the man who was in love with her best friend really lived.

Angela parked her car in the alley next to the liquor store under Booth's apartment, looking up at the windows and trying to figure out if Booth was even home. Then she saw the back of his SUV and knew he was there.

Walking up the narrow staircase, she could hear music playing. It was soft, but it had a distinctive beat that Angela knew she had heard countless times before. She snorted to herself, wondering how Booth felt about his neighbor's choice of music….until she reached his door and realized that the cheesy tune was coming from his apartment.

Squelching the urge to chuckle and tip off Special Agent Sniper Hearing, she placed her ear to the door and heard the one thing she never expected. A loud, extremely off key FBI agent singing at the top of his lungs.

"At the Copa….Copacabana….the hottest spot north of Havana…at the Copa, Copacabanaaaa, music and passion were always in fashion at the Coooopa….she lost her love…."

Angela couldn't hold it in anymore, she absolutely lost it, head still pressed against the solid wood. Suddenly, she found herself lying face down on the floor, staring at a pair of feet encased in striped socks.

"Angela."

"Booth."

"What can I do for you?"

"Um…I have this paperwork from Cam. She said you needed it tonight." She handed it up, eyes still on his socks.

"Thanks. Anything else?"

"Nope. Absolutely not. I don't need a thing."

"Great. Bye Ang."

"Bye, Booth. Have a nice weekend."

"You, too."

Once she was back out in the hallway, she couldn't hold it anymore. A big grin spread over her face, and she grabbed her phone from her pocket to make a call. Suddenly, the door opened again and a hand shot out and snatched the phone from her.

"Angela."

"Booth."

"I trust this will stay between us."

"Why, whatever do you mean, Booth?"

"Ang."

"It'll cost you."

A sigh. "What?"

"A confession, G-Man."

"Confession? I am not telling anyone that I was listening to Barry Manilow. I'd rather just shoot you."

"Oh no, nothing that simple."

Another sigh. "Then what, Angela?"

"Confess you love Brennan."

"You're crazy." Booth went to slam his door, still holding her phone.

"Wait!" Angela slid her foot into the door, keeping him from closing it completely. "Please, Booth. Just tell me that…that I am not hoping in vain. That's all."

"Ang." The pain in that single syllable was achingly obvious.

"Booth. Please. She's my best friend. I only want the best for her. That means you. But if you don't-"

"I do. Here's your phone. Goodnight, Angela." With that, the door closed with a quiet snick.

Suddenly feeling sad and not quite knowing why, Angela headed back down the stairs and into the night.