A/N: I've no idea why I didn't post this before. It's been written for ages! All credit goes to old boothaddict.
Chapter 7
Heat in the Afternoon
The Cabin at BC, 12:00 hours
The kitchen
'I don't know what you're talking about, Angela.'
Angela's jaw dropped and she gave a snort of disbelief. 'You and Booth were all over each other yesterday.'
'I still don't know what that means, Angela.'
'I saw you two by the fire, alright?'
Brennan flushed. 'I was cold, he was merely trying to provide me with some warmth.'
'No, he was trying to make you hot.'
'That's what I said.'
'Brennan, if a man wants to keep you warm, he offers you a blanket.'
'In the immediate instance, that's hardly as effective as body heat.'
'Oh, please. What about afterwards, hm?'
'What about it?' Brennan asked wearily.
'I saw you two after the movie, okay? And don't tell me you needed the body heat. You were plenty warm by then.'
Brennan coloured slightly, but kept her tone neutral and her voice stable when she spoke. Angela ofcourse had known her too long to buy it. 'I was… distressed after the film. Booth offered me some comfort. That's all.'
'Distressed?'
'…Yes. I shed a few tears towards the end when the angel goes back to heaven and Booth was forced to witness the overly sentimental display…given his own generally compassionate and sensitive nature, he acted in a manner that seemed appropriate at the time.'
'So he was comforting you because you were crying?'
'That's what I just said, Angela.'
'And like I just said, honey – if a man wants to keep you warm, he gives you a blanket. If he wants to dry your tears, he gives you a handkerchief. If he wants to get you in bed, he does what Booth was doing.'
'I still don't know what that means.'
'It means that you two were practically on top of each other the whole of yesterday!'
'It's a wonder then that we managed to get anything done at all', Brennan remarked somewhat stiffly, bristling at Angela's tone.
'Brennan, don't play coy with me', Angela snapped. 'It may work on Booth but I'm sorry to say that I'm not about to-'
'That's enough, Angela.' This from Cam, who had just walked in at the doorway. 'I know that this is probably none of my business, but I feel compelled to tell you that Seeley is a complete gentleman and you need not worry about your friend. He's the most decent man I know. And I couldn't hear him talked about like that and not say anything.' Her voice had been slightly sharp, but then she proceeded in a cheery tone, 'I just needed to get some salt for the barbeque. Don't mind me.' The two friends looked on in silence as she retrieved some salt from the spice rack and then exited. Angela turned to Brennan, arms crossed over her chest.
'She seemed a little upset when she came in', Brennan observed.
'No, honey. She was pissed. And she was right – I was out of line. I'm sorry.'
'It's alright.'
'They have a past.'
'Who?'
'Cam and Booth. Look how she touches his arm when he laughs', she pointed through the doorway where Booth appeared in their line of vision and exchanged a few words with Cam for a second before moving into the house. 'I bet she knows all about Booth's decency.'
Brennan frowned, a pang of something she couldn't identify suddenly assaulting her. 'You touch Hodgin's arm when he laughs.'
'No, no. He touches me. It's a big difference', Angela brushed off the observation.
'Once again, I fail to follow your line of reasoning.'
Angela crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow. 'Brennan, in all the years that I've known you – about the same number that I've known how to talk – I've never once seen you cry during a movie.'
'Yes, it's strange, isn't it? It seems that the tears are only induced in Booth's presence. Like my fear of snakes.'
'Pardon?'
'I find it interesting that I'm only afraid of snakes when Booth is around to be jumped upon.'
Angela laughed. 'Honey, if that's what it took, women everywhere would be begging to be surrounded by snakes for a chance to jump Booth.'
'I don't know what that-'
'Besides, you know what Freud said about snakes…' she grinned devilishly.
Brennan frowned. 'Freud associates everything with sexual impulses, on a whim – like all psychoanalysts. That is why psychology is a vague and inexact science based on idle conjecture-'
'What are you girls doing in here, and why are you discussing sexual impulses?' It was Booth this time, and he pushed off the doorway where he was leaning with his arms partially crossed, holding a few empty beer bottles. His eyes lingered on Brennan for a moment longer.
'We, uh…'
She'd thought Booth might be a bit prudish- only outside the bedroom, that was; inside he was buckets of sexual tension just waiting to be tapped, as Angela put it- but he seemed more than a little interested in the conversation even as he directed the question only at her.
'Brennan was just droning on about her dislike of psychology', Angela interrupted brightly. It seemed her distrust of Booth had vanished in the instant that he stepped into the room – his behaviour was excused by the way his blue cotton t-shirt stuck to his skin as he moved, his deeper blue shorts making a slight swooshing sound in the process. 'And while we're discussing this particular aspect of psychology, I'm just going to leave you two alone now.'
She pranced out of the room, waterbottle in hand, and Booth turned to Brennan with an expectant look, his eyebrows raised.
'I feel as if I should apologise, for Angela's behaviour, but I wouldn't know where to begin.'
Booth laughed, a beautiful, perfect laugh that showed off his white teeth, and moved closer, reaching around Brennan for the glass resting on the counter behind her.
'That's…mine', she felt compelled to point out, his sudden proximity unnerving her, and Booth paused for a moment to let her speak, the glass halfway to his lips.
When she was finished, he gave a deceptively casual shrug and remarked in a slightly huskier voice, 'I don't mind' before gulping the whole thing down at one go, and allowing the last few sips to dribble down his chin and onto his t shirt which he shook out to dispel the heat. What are you, a nervous teenager? Are you seriously this affected by drinking from the same glass as her? A glass that she had her lips on not moments ago…
'You have…perfect teeth', Brennan mused out loud. He grinned again, flashing them once more as he snapped out of his reverie.
'Uh, thanks, Bones.' Want to taste-? STOP.
He set the glass back down on the counter with more force than necessary, the result being that he was effectively entrapping her in his arms where she was leaning against it. A charged but not uncomfortable silence fell between them as they both became consciously aware of their positions, and neither of them moved. Brennan licked her lips. Booth stared at Brennan licking her lips. He was about to open his mouth to speak when a perky blonde rushed in, interrupting them.
'Seeley!'
Booth winced and turned slowly but didn't step away from Brennan, the annoyance clear in his face.
'Hannah.'
'Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt', she purred insincerely. 'They wanted you out there for a game of touch football, so I volunteered to come-'
'Tell them I'm not interested, please.' Booth replied, politely.
'-get you. What?' she appeared to be chewing gum too loudly to hear any voice but her own.
'Please tell them I'll be out in a bit. I'm busy.' His voice remained even, with some effort, but Brennan saw the way his muscles strained in his neck, hinting at the forced calmness in his demeanour.
'But Seeley', she pouted.
'I'm sorry.'
'You have to come. I told them you would. Please, for me?'
'I'm. Not. Interested.' Booth's impatience was too clear now even for her to avoid, so she simply widened her eyes at the sharp tone and bounced out of the kitchen.
'Sorry', Booth turned to Brennan with a wince. 'I know that was a bit rude. But she's…'
'It's alright', Brennan chuckled. 'We all have friends who are prone to act more…lively and enthusiastic than us. You've already met Angela.'
'She's, uh, not my friend'.
'Oh'.
Correctly interpreting Brennan's widened eyes and expression, Booth added quickly, 'She's not anything else, either. I mean, we're not, you know, we never…I just wouldn't call her a friend, that's all.'
'It's perfectly natural for you to find her alluring, Booth, even if you have tired of her vapid personality. The biological urges that dictate the forging of relationships-'
'What?'
'Compatible or generally desirable personality traits are not a prerequisite for sexual attraction-'
'Look, I'm not sleeping with her. I have no intention of sleeping with her.' But you I would really like to- he forced himself to focus on the conversation. 'I don't even really know who that girl is. Or why she's here, for that matter. She was sitting next to me on the bus.' The fact that it was on the same trip that she'd ignored him steadfastly when he'd much rather have been sitting with her and they could have had a great time was left unsaid.
'Oh.'
'Besides, atleast Angela means well', Booth shrugged and leaned slightly closer to Brennan. 'You smell good.' Oh God, did I just say that out loud?
'Thank you. You smell of sweat and mud.'
'Thanks, Bones'.
Brennan frowned at his sarcastic tone. 'What? I didn't say it was a bad smell. In fact despite the combination I find it oddly alluring.'
His brain effectively derailed at hearing the word alluring fall from her lips, twice in under a minute. Huh. 'Right.' He cleared a suddenly dry throat and licked his lips, forcing his gaze away from her own. 'Why have you been talking about sexual tension all day, anyway?' Way to change the subject. On the other hand, his brain really didn't seem to be functioning.
'Angela brought it up the first time. And I said sexual attraction.'
'Same thing.'
'Not quite.'
No?
He was leaning closer still and Brennan found herself momentarily speechless, the tiny shockwaves his proximity had sent through her making her shiver. She said the first thing that popped into her mind.
'Angela says you and Cam had a sexual relationship.'
'Did she?'
'Yes.'
Booth's jaw ticked. He was slightly annoyed with this disruption of the moment. 'You know, getting information out of live people is a lot different than getting information out of a pile of bones. You have to offer up something of yourself first.'
'Well, I was simply remarking that Angela seems to be under the impression that you used to sleep together.'
'Who says we're not together still?' He was determined to make her atleast as jealous as he was annoyed, and call her out for not believing him about this earlier- that still stung.
'Are you?'
'See? See what you did right there, Bones? You asked a personal question without offering anything personal in return and since I'm not a skeleton, you get zilch. Sorry.'
'I was merely trying to make conversation.'
'Fine. Let's make conversation. Are you sleeping with Sully?' Stop it, you fool. What are you doing?
'I asked first.'
'Are you?'
'That's none of your business.'
More annoyed still, Booth clenched his jaw. 'And maybe this isn't any of yours.'
Eventually, he broke the stalemate. 'Fine. We did have a thing, a long time ago, but I'm not sleeping with Cam.' Because he just had to know.
'And I'm not sleeping with Sully.' He couldn't describe the intense relief he felt upon hearing the words.
'Good.'
'Fine.'
'Fine.'
His gaze softened considerably and a weight seemed to lift from his chest, making it possible to breathe again, his heart no longer constricted as he just realised it had been. As the jealous haze cleared he noticed Brennan still staring up at him, chin lifted defiantly.
'What's the matter, Bones?', he asked softly.
Brennan nearly shivered. His proximity was evoking emotions she had never felt before.
'Don't call me that.'
'You didn't seem to mind last night.' Although the words hadn't been planned that way, both of them were immediately assaulted with memories of the previous night. Booth softened his tone to a dulcet silk and added, 'how are you feeling?'
'I find I am disproportionately annoyed with you right now.' Ofcourse, any other woman would have melted to a puddle of goo by now. The way he was looking at her, combined with the seductive voice, and his general closeness…
'So, back to normal, then?'
They both chuckled, and Booth leaned closer still.
'Your eyes are so beautiful.' He whispered, losing himself in them. Brennan recalled something Angela had said once about how an old boyfriend – whom she later referred to only as Pervy Pervson – always used 'you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen' as a pickup line every time he met a new woman. Brennan knew instinctively from the warmth and sincerity in Booth's own chocolate brown orbs that he wasn't the same brand of human being – in fact he seemed slightly surprised that he had said the words out loud. That's ridiculous, Brennan. You cannot tell a person's emotions by looking in their eyes. That's a fallacy. A common misconception. You know that. But the honesty was written all over his face all the same.
'You know, Angela would say you are showering me in compliments in order to get me to sleep with you.' Unfazed, Booth took this in stride.
'Yeah, well Angela thinks snakes are phallic squirmers.'
'Actually, there is a rare species found in the Amazon known as the penis snake which resembles the male phallic organ, but the lesser known fact is that it is a limbless amphibian, and not a snake at all.'
Booth laughed. 'Yeah, well. You still have gorgeous eyes.'
'Thank you. So do you.'
Booth chuckled. 'You know, you don't have to say that every time I give you a compliment.'
'It's true. I find them very…brown and reassuring.' Booth smiled beautifully then, and Brennan found herself distracted by how perfect he looked. Searching for something to say to diffuse the powerful onslaught of feelings produced by looking into those smiling eyes, Brennan remarked, 'Your physicality is remarkable, as well.'
'Uh, thanks, Bones.' As his voice became a little gruffer, Booth cleared his throat and attempted to change the topic, feeling suddenly unsettled – in a way that was dangerous but not at all unpleasant. What is this girl doing to me?
'Anyhow, how do you even know about the, uh…?'
'About the penis snake?'
He chuckled and shook his head. 'Can we talk about something else?' The words were said good-naturedly. 'You're kinda ruining our moment here.'
'We were having a moment?' Brennan's eyebrows shot up. 'I don't know what that means.'
'Yes, you do.' Booth murmured. He started leaning in closer when another figure burst through the doorway with a loud clamour.
'Hey guys!' Hodgins walked in, oblivious to the tension in the room and trying not to trip over the string of cans around his neck.
Booth cursed internally and turned towards their intruder as he and Brennan reluctantly sprung apart.
'Jack.'
'Heyy, G-man, how's it going? Brennan.' Clearly a little drunk, he opened the freezer and reached inside. 'I'm just…looking for some salami. Listen, I can explain the cans-'
'We didn't ask.'
'Right, I just meant that – '
'Really, Jack. We didn't ask.' Now get out so I can kiss her already.
'Right. Right. I'll just be…off now.'
'You, uh, have a can in between your legs', Brennan chipped in.
'Oh.' Hodgins turned around in a circle a couple of times looking for it, locating the stray can just as Booth was about to rip his head off.
Booth turned to Brennan with a raised eyebrow.
'What? Just because he poses a source of mild irritation doesn't mean he deserves to trip.'
Hodgins was paying no attention to their conversation as he finally managed to get a hold of the elusive can.
'And don't forget the salami.'
'Thanks, man. I mean woman. I mean-'
Booth gritted his teeth and Brennan looked mildly amused.
'Goodbye, Hodgins.'
'Right.' And clanking loudly, he exited the room, salami in hand.
'I would say he effectively ruined our, um, moment.' Brennan leaned back against the counter and regarded Booth, a trace of humour in her eyes. For his part, he found the interruption less than funny – and he supposed that was in part what was amusing her in the first place. He still wanted to kiss her as desperately. He couldn't resist smiling as her lips twitched upwards adorably, though.
'Yeah', Booth raked a hand through his hair irritably, though his frustration wasn't directed at her. It was due to her, though. 'Hey, listen, you wanna go some place quiet so we can, you know, talk?' Although they had just met and from what Angela had told her Brennan gathered that with most guys going off into the woods to talk probably implied they had other activities in mind, once again, (this had nothing to do ofcourse with the fact that she was, somewhere deep inside, more than willing to do a lot more than talk with him) Brennan didn't doubt Booth's innate sense of honesty and trustworthiness even for a moment. She frowned as she remembered what Angela had said about him and Cam, 'I bet she knows all about Booth's decency', and the way the artist had laid on the word decency with heavy innuendo. But Booth had admitted to the relationship, (almost entirely) of his own volition, and she couldn't hold it against him for having been a part of it. Ofcourse a man of his age would have had sexual encounters in the past. Cam even seemed to think well of him, which for some reason irked Brennan slightly instead of satisfying her. Not pausing to analyse the direction of her thoughts, she nodded at Booth and flashed him a smile in answer to his own brilliant one.
'Great.' He reached out a hand for hers and when she placed it in his, he felt momentarily overcome at the simple touch. God, that feels ridiculously good. He looked back at Brennan who was smiling beautifully, looking up at him guilelessly, so innocent and pure. If holding her hand was this good… he instantly stopped himself from going down that road, reminding himself that she was Russ' kid sister and he wasn't going to move too fast because he was a gentleman (or more importantly, he was convinced she would run). And even if both those things hadn't been true he was still feeling something for her that was unlike anything he'd even dreamed of experiencing before. As he stepped back slightly, pulling Brennan off the counter, he caught a whiff of himself and wrinkled his nose.
'Maybe I should grab a quick shower first. Would you mind?'
'No, not at all. I have to go talk to Angela, anyway. I just remembered I hadn't told her I found some of her stuff in my bag, including some pills she was looking for earlier today.'
'Great. I'll come get you and then we'll…go.'
Their hands were already intertwining sensually, as if of their own accord, and their breathing was immeasurably heavier.
'Alright.'
'Alright.'
They were practically speaking against each other's lips now.
Can I kiss you before I go? No, you may not kiss her, jackass. You've been interrupted too many times by people walking in in the last fifteen minutes. Keep it in your pants.
They both remained still, making no move to leave. Booth knew he must look like a douche just standing there staring at her and grinning inanely, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Not when she was standing right there in front of him, looking at him that way.
'Booth, you do know you'll have to move to get to the bathroom?' Brennan's blue eyes twinkled with amusement even as her tone remained perfectly serious.
'Right.' With one last goofy smile, Booth let go of her hand – their eyes never losing contact as they both felt the overpowering sense of loss at the withdrawal of the touch, the only phsycial contact between them – and headed for the shower.
A/N: There you have it- one of the first scenes to be completed for this story. I quite like it- which is good because I'm less than thrilled with the last chapter of Purak- and I hope you do too. Please review, I'd like to hear your thoughts on moving forward.
Besides, it seems like this fic is in imminent danger of being forgotten, so I need reminders in the form of reviews to keep it going :) Have a nice weekend!
