I was standing with B. while she silently talked to her Mom when I heard two car doors slam shut over at the roadside. Looking up, I saw it was Angie and Booth-- they'd each arrived separately. I'd kind of wondered for a bit there if they'd get together, but it hadn't happened. It had been a weird four months-- very, very good ones, amazingly relaxed, lots of cases closed, and more "team time" spent together, the five of us plus the Intern O' the Week, than ever before. But still-- weird.
B. looked over and smiled but said nothing when our friends joined us, their own flowers in hand, then turned back for a few minutes more to talk to her Mom. I was pleased she'd invited me-- I'd just mentioned I knew it was coming and asked how she was doing, but she'd asked if I wanted to go. Somehow it ended up being an all night talkathon between her stuff with her Mom and my stuff with my folks. Of course, I knew mine were dead for certain and why-- but finishing out your teen years on your own's not easy even when you've got money, and she understood that. It was nice, all over again, to have someone not just be sympathetic, but actually get where you're coming from-- and then to wake up with them still knowing it the next morning.
Finally, B. seemed to be done, and shoved her hand through my arm. "Come on, guys," she said, smiling. "Let's go get some breakfast."
It didn't feel weird, though, when Angie took B's other arm and the G-Man dope-slapped me in the back of the head before I gave him a noogie. Although it did hurt when B. slapped us both.
The next morning, she sat up halfway in bed to press a solemn kiss on my lips. I brushed away that lock of hair that never stays put.
"You should just cut that one off," I said, smiling.
"I've tried," she sighed ruefully. "It just grows back even worse."
"We all try, B."
"We do," she answered, smiling gently. "But sometimes, a theory is disproven, not just rendered a proof."
"You're a nerd," I said, snorting despite myself.
She smiled again, that mysterious smile I'd started to get behind, to learn about, to learn how to evoke. And how it evoked my own answering smile. It was nice to have someone who got you-- it ran both ways, now.
"It's true what you said when you first kissed me, Jack. Sometimes all the facts just aren't there-- but... well, just think of it this way-- it doesn't make the ones you actually collect not worth anything."
I felt the truth of it catch in my throat as I looked at her. Gorgeous logic to match the gorgeous person and gorgeous body. I got out of bed and held out my hand, watching appreciatively as she placed her hand in mine, then unfolded that skin, those legs, those eyes from the bed.
"It's been a pleasure, B.," I said, holding her hand in mine.
"It still will be, Jack," she said, her own eyes glimmering. "Just a new kind of pleasure."
Our lips met for one last kiss, her soft honeyed mouth on mine. When we broke it off, I let go of her hand. But I couldn't let her go, not quite yet, and took hold of her wrist again.
"B. Can I have a personal day?"
She threw her head back and laughed, her eyes merry again under the sadness. "Considering you're the one who dumped me, you'll be lucky if I don't decide to fire you."
"Fine," I said, sticking my tongue out at her. "But just keep this in mind. I'm still the biggest lab donor, and I know what you look like naked."
Her smile twinkled at me. "I would think you'd be more afraid of my telling your Board all the things you shout out in bed, and all about how you actually do read the balance sheets and financial reports. I mean, Jack, if they actually knew you were a responsible business owner ... much less what Cam and Booth would say if I ruined your utter squint image..."
"Not that!" I cried, placing my hand over my heart as if she'd shot me. "Okay, no personal day."
She smiled, got dressed as I watched and didn't bother to hide my appreciation, then stood in the door and gave me a wave. "See you at work, Jack. In an hour. Don't be late. I know when you got up. Dynamic systems, all that squint babble. Like I said, it's a new day and a new car, Jack."
God, she was a hardass, no wonder I loved her—just not that way, either of us. But yeah—we'd both been static before we tried this new thing, and now we were ready to move forward again. Just in different directions. "See you at work, babe. New day."
She just rolled her eyes. I still was amazed she let me get away with the babe. Maybe it was for old time's sake, and now that we were just friends again, she'd karate chop me. But boy, would it be fun to have those hands on me again-- I was never going to look at those skeletons she handled quite the same way again. Lucky, lucky bones.
And she was right. The facts we'd gathered along the way in pursuit of an "us" were worth a lot, and not just to the two of us. We'd both learned a lot, about ourselves and each other. And … I was looking forward to putting what I'd learned into action. New day… new car… new roads to drive down. And a good friend with a hot bod waving at me in the rearview mirror, peeling off in her own direction.
