"My friendship with Agent Booth has nothing to do with my books or how well we do our jobs; that's between him and I, not you or your viewers," Brennan tried to quell her panic and she repeated Booth's statement, "As Booth said, we're professionals, and it's that professionalism that helps us to become the last voice of the victims. Without what we do, people wouldn't be able to get the answers they need to know what happened to their loved ones. Writing these books provides an outlet for me for the horrific things we see on a daily basis," Brennan made it clear that the questioning into what the nature of her relationship with Booth was over; the mood in the studio had shifted and Molly Ng smiled softly as she shifted gears as well and began to ask about forensic anthropology.
For about a millisecond, Seeley Booth considered kissing his partner for the words that had come out of her mouth that seemed to have turned the tide of the entire interview. Of course if he had kissed her that would have completely derailed any defense that either one of them had that their partnership was completely platonic and as he half listened to her answering questions about how her expertise as a forensic anthropologist gave her a unique insight into the genre of book she wrote, he began to question why his impulse was to kiss her. Why not give her a firm handshake or a high five, or maybe even a pat on the back or a shared smile? The fact that he'd thought about kissing her unsettled him and he forced himself to concentrate on what she was saying rather than on the way her lips were moving as she talked..
Brennan felt much more at ease now that she was discussing her true passion, "Even the smallest disruption in the structure of a bone can provide clues that help lead us to who is responsible." She glanced over at Booth, "Agent Booth's superior investigative skills combined with my expertise and the expertise of my team at the Jeffersonian has allowed us to solve crimes that might otherwise remain a mystery." She wasn't sure how she had been able to change the subject despite the fact that she was keenly aware of just how attractive her partner was and how thin that proverbial line between them seemed to be.
"Bones…uh, Dr. Brennan is right," Booth cleared his throat as he realized that this wasn't the first time during the interview that he'd referred to her by her nickname and he was surprised that she hadn't called him on it, "Her services to the FBI have been invaluable."
"I'm assuming that you calling Dr. Brennan 'Bones' has something to do with her profession," Molly wasn't quite ready to let go of any tangible romantic connection she might be able to highlight should the opportunity present itself.
Booth thought carefully about how he was going to answer this question, "Our jobs are dangerous; and when you work closely with someone in situations like that, a nickname is sometimes easier to use than their professional title," he could just imagine how many times she might have been shot by now if he'd had to say 'Dr. Temperance Brennan with a zillion advanced degrees, could you please duck so that the bullet whizzing by doesn't strike you in the Latin name for your head?'; he nearly snortled at the thought, but managed something between a serious expression and a smirk instead.
"I'm assuming that the real danger you encounter on the job is at least part of what inspires the plots for your best selling novels, Dr. Brennan," Molly directed her attention back to the book as Dan the producer gestured that it was almost time to cut away to a commercial.
"Yes, I suppose it does," Brennan agreed, "However, the crimes in my novels are purely fiction…I don't use crimes we've actually investigated." She didn't want anyone to think that she was profiting from the deaths of innocent people; especially in light of her own family situation.
"Well, thank you, Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth. We'll be back with your questions and questions from our studio audience after this commercial break," Molly smiled a bit too widely at the camera.
"And we're clear," Dan called out.
Booth leaned over and whispered to Bones, "Well that went a hell of a lot better than I thought it would." Of course Booth had expected something close to the Spanish Inquisition and he wasn't so sure he wouldn't have cracked and confessed to something that he wasn't willing to confess to himself quite yet.
"It's not over yet," Brennan whispered under her breath; hopefully no one in the audience would come up with embarrassing questions or worse yet that Natalie wouldn't take it upon herself to move the line of questioning right back to where they'd managed to turn it away from.
"Ok, so in this next segment we're going to take a few phone calls and we like to offer the same opportunity to our studio audience. And if it's ok with you, Dr. Brennan, we'd like to have you autograph copies of your book for those who get a question on the air." Molly knew that they had about 60 seconds left until they were back on the air and she wanted her guests to be prepped at least somewhat.
"Yes, sure, that would be fine," Brennan hoped that the questions would stay focused on her new book rather than revert back to questions about her and Booth. The truth was she used to be certain what she thought about her partner, but the longer they'd worked together the closer they'd gotten and had forged a relationship that was difficult to define. They were definitely more than just partners and part of her wondered if they weren't more than just friends too except for that very fine line that hadn't been crossed because she felt far more connected to Booth than any man that she'd ever dated. She glanced over at him and noticed him adjusting his tie, "You look fine."
"Tight, it feels a little tight," Booth looked uncomfortable and he was sure that the prospect of having more questions fired at him that might center on his partnership with Bones was the cause of it; he had glanced at the studio audience and with nearly eighty percent of made up of it women who probably Tivo'ed Desperate Housewives on a weekly basis he was sure that they would love nothing more than to play Fluster the FBI Agent.
Concern flickered across Brennan's face, "You know ties can constrict blood flow and cause elevated blood pressure; why such an archaic tradition persists when it's not necessarily healthy is beyond me." She reached over and loosened it slightly; smirking when she realized that there was plenty of room between Booth and his tie. The usually unflappable FBI agent seemed to be finding the pressure of a live television interview a little too much to take.
"Thanks, Bones, that's fine now," Booth certainly didn't feel any better, in fact now that the hordes of romance novel reading vultures in the audience had witnessed the little interaction he was sure that there was a target on his head, or maybe there was a flashing marquee that scrolled a message that said no matter what came out of his mouth, he had a thing for his partner so please, push me till I confess.
"Ok, and we're back in five, four, three, two..." Dan the producer mouthed the word one and then they were live once again.
"Welcome back to 'Good Afternoon Seattle', I'm Molly Ng and today we have with us Dr. Temperance Brennan, noted forensic anthropologist and best selling author along with her real life FBI partner Special Agent Seeley Booth. Her newest book is called 'Bone Blindness' and can be found in stores now." Molly smiled at the camera where she stood out in the studio audience holding up the book, while another camera zoomed in on Booth and Brennan, "I have Kate here who has a question for Dr. Brennan."
A rather blond and perky soccer mom looking woman smiled almost conspiratorially, "Dr. Brennan, what I'd like to know is why in the world do you have line you say you can't cross when your partner is as delicious looking as Agent Booth is?" The sound of clapping and a few hoots erupted in the studio as Kate sat down with a rather Cheshire grin on her face.
"Now ladies, we've already covered that topic," Molly Ng had a grin to match the hordes of women in the audience as she regarded Booth and Brennan.
Booth didn't dare glance over at Bones; he was sure that she probably had a deer in the headlights expression on her face, but he was also sure that between the constricting feeling around his neck and all of the hot lights in the studio beating down on him that if he looked over at her he'd pass out and then all of Seattle would know for sure what he'd been in denial about for almost three years.
