Twenty-one Weeks at Quantico
By: Lesera128
Rated: T
Disclaimer: I own nothing... Obviously. Just playing in someone else's sandbox for a bit.
Summary: When the FBI establishes a pilot program for consultants to receive training at the FBI academy, Brennan and Booth clash over whether she should enroll. AU.
9. T-plus Twenty-One Weeks Until Graduation
Seated in the first row of the classroom's amphitheater, Brennan watched Harding as she walked up and down the aisles and passed out papers.
"As you know, each Friday, you will receive an exam that covers the material we have gone over during the past week. Some of our units, particularly in the legal, behavior sciences, and forensics topics will last for two or three weeks, in which case the material tested each week will be divided accordingly. Given that this week's study time was abbreviated due to Monday's orientation, this week's exam will not contain any written essay questions. It's a fairly simple evaluation to see how much you all have been studying about the Constitution, Bills of Rights, and Supreme Court cases that have shaped the development of law enforcement rights and responsibilities over the last forty years or so…. And how much of that reading that you can actually remember. So, you have forty-five minutes to complete the exam. When you finish, simply raise your hand, and I'll come by to pick up your answer booklet. Any questions?" Harding finished.
Several people shook their heads, and as no one raised their hands to ask a question, Harding nodded and looked up at the clock. Waiting for the second hand to come around, when it did, she said, "You may begin…. Now."
Forty-five minutes later, Brennan, who had actually finished in thirty minutes, but had spent the time going back over the questions and re-reading her answers (although she didn't actually change any of them), handed her booklet to Harding.
Watching her with the same assessing look that she had been giving her all week, Harding said nothing to Brennan, but did raise her voice to the other trainees who remained. "I know we said this earlier, but I think it should be repeated… you all are not expected to report back to the Academy until 0830 on Monday morning. The weekend is yours to do with what you will… however, I strongly suggest that you spend it studying the course materials that have been provided to you, as we proceed further into the chapters on evidentiary rules and responsibilities that you will be responsible for knowing in the simulations we will be conducting about how to act, if you were actually on duty in the field. It's not just memorization, ladies and gentleman. You need to know how to apply what the cases and court rules are telling you so that if and when you finally do get into the field, a federal prosecutor doesn't end up wanting to kill you herself because your irresponsibility has tainted her chain of evidence or ability to prosecute a suspect successfully."
She nodded with a firm look. "After this weekend, be sure to check the schedule to know which upcoming weekends we'll be convening here at the Academy for our physical fitness and personal training exercises. Otherwise, you are all dismissed. Have a good evening," Harding finished.
The group, which was compromised of all the participants, as no one had left earlier, began to gather their things and head in the direction of the exit. Brennan was about to turn and leave when Harding came up and said, "Dr. Brennan, a moment, please?"
"Agent Harding?" Brennan said.
Narrowing her lips into a firm line, Harding said, "I felt it appropriate that I tell you that… you did well today… Dr. Raredan's understanding of how to gather the poison from the suspect that was mentioned in the hypothetical was flawed."
"Yes, it was," Brennan agreed.
"He… like most of you… he's still thinking of things from the perspective of a scientist…." Harding began.
"A squint, you mean," Brennan corrected.
Harding shrugged, "Yeah, a squint." She paused and then continued, "He's so used to doing whatever it is he needs to do in pursuit of the facts… getting at the truth of the matter, his answer indicated he chose to disregard the method we are trying to teach you all is the proper method one should follow when speaking with a suspect before simply walking into their home and suddenly grabbing things."
Brennan nodded. "I understand that fact, which is the reason why I corrected Dr. Raredan. His logic was flawed given the point of view he was supposed to embrace to answer the question."
"Yes," Harding chuckled. "But, even *I* don't think I could have spent the same ten minutes you did so ... effectively... vehemently shutting him down… and then preceding to explain not only why he was wrong… but getting him to concede your point by the time you had finished speaking."
Arching an eyebrow, Brennan said, "Is that a compliment, Agent Harding?"
She nodded. "Yes, it is. You were right… and you could only be right if you had understood and interpreted the information that you were supposed to learn this week. It indicates you are putting more effort into this than I thought that you might."
Brennan shook her head. "If you assume I didn't know this information prior to this week, you are quite wrong, Agent Harding. My knowledge in this area does not come from any of the readings you assigned or discussions we've had in class… even though I *have* read everything that is assigned for each class meeting and *did* pay attention during the periods when you've been droning on and on about the particulars of the US criminal justice system. Instead, I became aware of that information because I've spent the last seven years having Agent Booth, and multiple federal prosecutors, inform me of similar errors I made, or almost made, when I first began to work in the field. I didn't explain things as I did to Dr. Raredan because I personally agree with them, but I do accept the applicability of the procedure from the FBI's point-of-view. The goal of the FBI is to solve cases, to apprehend suspects, and to procure a successful prosecution of the case in a court of law. He should have answered the question with that perspective in mind."
Harding couldn't help but feel as if she had just somehow been insulted and chastised by Brennan's diatribe in someway… but, she couldn't figure out quite how. Brennan took her silence as acquiescence, and nodded at her.
"So, Agent Harding, if that's all?"
With a sigh, Harding nodded in return. "Yes, Dr. Brennan, that's all."
Shaking her head with a frown still evident on her lips, Harding watched Brennan leave the room with a sour taste in her mouth. That was the last time, Harding vowed... she was damn sure this was the last time she'd ever try to compliment the woman. After all, who needed the grief?
Booth sat in his office chair, his Zippo lighter in his hand. He was flicking the lighter opened and closed when Caroline Julian came stomping into door.
She looked at Booth, stopped, and then said, "Booth, if I have told you once, I've told you plenty… stop trying to set the FBI building on fire."
Looking up at her, Booth took a moment to process her words and said, "Oh, yeah, funny, Caroline."
"Yes, I made a funny… and a damn amusing one, too, if you would stop ignoring me and please pay attention on one of the rare occasions of when I'm being humorous," Caroline said.
Booth arched an eyebrow as he said, "What can I do for you, Caroline?"
"Here," she said, thrusting a file at him.
Booth sat up straight in the chair and took it. "The DaFonte case?" Booth asked.
"Yes," Caroline said. "We have a court date in two weeks to try Derek DaFonte for murdering his mini-me brother."
Booth shrugged. "Okay, you've got my deposition… so I just assume it will be a normal day's testimony?"
"For you, yes," Caroline said. "For your girlfriend, no."
"Why not?" Booth asked, adding automatically, "And she's not my girlfriend, Caroline."
"Sure, Booth… and because the defense is challenging Dr. Brennan's theory of how the mini-me died based on her interpretation of the shoulder dislocation resulting in the bullet shot being fatal. She's going to have to come in and prep for extra defense questioning. Recall and such," Caroline said. "And I would have told her this, but I cannot find the woman… and she will not answer any of my telephone calls or emails… at her own peril, I might add."
Booth frowned, "She probably hasn't had her phone on or had access to her email because she's been at Quantico all week, Caroline."
"And what in the hell has she been doing there?" Caroline asked. "She's not trying to take over the FBI lab out there again so she can shut it down finally, is she?"
Booth chuckled. "She didn't actually physically go to the lab at Quantico the one time she suggested that it should be shut down, you know," Booth said. "She just made the formal suggestion."
"Yeah, in writing and cc'd to the Director and four Deputy Directors of the FBI, as well as several Senators and members of the State Department," Caroline said.
"Ehhh, that was years ago, Caroline… she hasn't done anything like that in a long time," Booth defended Brennan with a wave of his hand.
"Maybe," Caroline conceded. "She has been a bit less... high strung than her normal self, I will grant you that… at least, in recent months." She paused, but then looked up and said, "You still didn't answer my question, cher… what's she doing at Quantico?"
Booth closed the folder and handed it back to Caroline. "She's learning how to be an FBI agent."
"A what?" Caroline said.
Booth nodded. "You didn't hear?"
"Hear what… and no I did not, so make it quick, Booth—"
"Some pilot program… turns consultants into FBI agents if they complete the training program at Quantico," Booth said.
"Ohhh," Caroline said. "I do not like the sound of this."
"Makes two of us," Booth said. He nodded but then said, "I'll tell Bones about the DeFante trial date, but I don't know how you're going to schedule her for testimony…."
"I guess I can file a motion to continue, but I don't really want to," Caroline mused. "How long is she going to be there?"
"Five months," Booth sighed.
"Oh, no, you did not just tell me I have to ask the judge to delay Derek DeFante's trial because Dr. Brennan is busy playing good cops and bad cops at Hogan's Alley?" Caroline said.
Booth shrugged. "That's what I'm telling you, Caroline."
"Booth," Looking at him at her in the eye, she said, "Sign her permission slip and get her excused for a half-day."
Booth shook his head. "Don't look at me, Caroline. I've got nothing to do with it. I suggest you talk to Hacker since he's the one who hooked her into the program."
"Hmmmph," Caroline protested. "Fine. I'll see him next week."
Booth nodded.
Caroline turned to go, but stopped and said, "Booth?"
"Stop it with the long face… you are far too cute to be moping around here on a Friday evening all alone like that," Caroline said.
"What?" Booth said, looking up. "I-I'm not moping."
"Uh-huh," Caroline said, "Just like you aren't waiting until your girlfriend calls you to meet her after school's out?"
His eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know….?"
"Good night, cherie. And don't forget to give your girlfriend my message."
She then turned and walked out the door, leaving Booth speechless.
"Well, good evening, Agent Brennan," a chuckle came from in front of her.
Looking up, Brennan saw Sully and Perotta standing near the classroom's exit, arms linked as they leaned against the wall.
"Sully! Payton! What are you guys doing here?" Brennan asked.
Perotta nodded at her and said, "We've come to escort you to Bagmans."
"Bagmans?" Brennan asked curiously.
"Uh huh," Sully said. "It is a right of passage when you've completed your first week of the Academy."
"Well, this isn't really the normal FBI Academy training program, per se," Brennan protested.
"Don't tell us you can't come," Perotta said. "Aside from the fact that it's been forever since we've seen you, it's tradition, Tempe."
"Yeah," Sully nodded. "And it's Friday night."
"I really shouldn't...," Brennan began, thinking of Max and Chrissy staying at home waiting for her.
"Do you have plans?" Perotta asked.
"No, not really," Brennan said. "I… but, I do need to get home… there's a lot of reading that I need to get started on for Monday—"
"-That will still be there when you wake up tomorrow, as long as you aren't too hung over," Perotta said.
"Even if I come, and I'm not saying that I am... but if I did, the potential for me to be hung over tomorrow is almost non-existent as I couldn't possibly have more than a single drink tonight... I'd only be making a token gesture by imbibing a single drink as a symbolic action to merely participate in the process of social drinking," Brennan said.
"Agent Brennan, you have two senior FBI agents who outrank you," Sully began, grinning. "Do we need to make this an official order?"
"Yeah, Tempe, he's got a point… we do outrank you," Perotta said with a wicked grin.
"So... we need less squint speak from you and more flexibility... both *are* signs of an agent who has the greatest amount of potential, Agent Brennan," Sully continued to tease her.
Perotta continued to eye her. "Come on, Tempe-"
Brennan's frown disappeared, but then she nodded with a smile, "Okay… fine... since it seems like I don't have much choice in the matter, being outranked and all... but just *one* drink… and then I've really got to get home."
"I'm not sure about this," Brennan said, looking at her watch. "I did say I was just going to have the one drink and then go home-"
"That was two hours ago, Tempe! And you've already had more than one drink... so, what's the harm? Stay... live a little. Besides, Shot-a-Cop is a tradition here!" Perotta yelled to her over the loud voices and music of the bar.
Brennan finished drinking her beer, gestured for another one, and smiled. She felt warm and happy... and almost... carefree. And, it was for the first time in a long time that she'd felt this way... and she *liked* it... she liked feeling so positive... so she nodded with a smile of agreement.
"Okay... I'll play... as long as you *carefully* explain the rules to me, and we agree that you won't try to change them half-way through the game... because Booth does that all the time, and I hate that," Brennan remarked.
"Sure," Perotta agreed, as she called to the bartender. "Hey, we got a call for a Shot-a-Cop virgin here! Agent Brennan is on deck!"
A little later, Sully watched gleefully as his girlfriend and Brennan sat at the famous bar with a line of shot glasses in front of them.
Brennan sat looking at the line of shot glasses with an intense curiosity. "Okay... so what goes in them?"
Perotta grinned. "Whatever we want... ummm... how about tequila? That's always good for shots... and you like tequila, right?"
"Yes," Brennan said... she stopped, then made a face and frowned... "But, Booth's not here... and I only drink tequila with Booth... so... no, not tonight."
"Hey!" Perotta said. "Yeah, where is Booth?"
Brennan shrugged. "Around... somewhere."
"We need to call him," Perotta said. "He needs to come down here."
"Hmmm..." Brennan said, as she contemplated the idea.
Sully, however, heard, and not being as far gone as the two women, contemplated the idea, and realized it made a lot of sense. He hadn't seen very much of his friend outside of work in recent months, and realized that he had missed him. Given the fact that they had *finally* managed to convince Brennan to come out... even if just for a little bit, Sully hoped that the fact that *she* was here might tempt Booth to join them as well.
Meanwhile, Perotta had continued. "Okay, so... assuming Booth isn't going to be here... what do you like tonight?"
Sully looked at the line behind the bar when the bartender had pointed. "Okay, Tempe... look's like your choices are... rum... vodka... or whiskey."
"Whiskey!" she shouted.
"Excellent," Perotta nodded. "We did whiskey shots the first night I came to Bagmans, and I kicked ass."
"Okay—" Brennan said, waving her hand at Perotta. "Okay—I think I understand the point of this activity now… every time I can't answer the question—"
"Or, if I can't," Perotta chimed in, interrupting Brennan.
"Or, if you can't… loser takes the shot?" Brennan said.
"Yup," Perotta said. "And the last person upright wins... unless one of us concedes before that happens. It's sort of a combination of knowledge and stamina."
"I have excellent stamina," Brennan said. She paused and then looked up. "And who asks the questions?" Brennan asked.
"That would be Sully if he would get his cute little ass over here and ask the damn questions," Perotta said with a leer.
"Just one sec, hun," Sully shouted over the din of the bar. He had stepped back, realizing the scene that was about to unfold before him was too good not to be shared.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. On the third ring, the caller picked up.
"Yeah… hey, it's me, Sully. Yeah… I'm with Payton and Tempe… yeah, she's with us… at Bagmans. I, ah, just thought… you might want to come down and join us? Yeah… yeah, I *did* say Bagmans... because, you know, man – it's a tradition! She finished... her first week. Well... no... but we thought you'd be taking her anyway. No... okay, okay… yeah… when can you get here? Hmm… okay, but I wouldn't take much longer than that… yeah, no… no, she's not… but… Payton… did just explain the rules of the Name an Agent/Name a Suspect shot game. Well, I'm asking the questions… I… no, I don't think I can stop them… besides… it's fun. Yeah… yeah, I can try to slow them down until you get here… Twenty minutes? I'll try. But hurry. You know you don't want to miss this… that's why I called…. Yeah, okay. Bye."
"SULLY!" Perotta's shout came again.
"Coming…." he responded with a sigh, as he put the phone back into his pocket.
"Okay... so ask the question," Perotta said. "Cuz I'm not leaving here until I kick Tempe's ass."
"You will NOT!" Brennan yelled jovially. "We both know that I am a surp-superior..."
"Oh, stuff it, Tempe," Payton said, leaning over as she placed her arm around her. "We all know you're so smart and wonderful... but not at this... cuz I happen to know I *do* know more about answering trivia questions about famous FBI agents and perps... so you're going *down*!"
"I refuse to concede!" Brennan said. "We won't leave here until I have declared myself Queen of the Bar!"
"Yeah, or are passed out..." Sully said, suddenly wondering how much of a good idea this was. "In either case, it should be fun," he decided.
Twenty minutes later, almost twenty minutes exactly, Booth came strolling into the bar and immediately spotted their group… from the loud exclamations of Brennan's voice more than anything else.
"Both!" Brennan shouted in surprise as he came up to the trio. "Err… Booth… not 'Both'… 'Both'… I don't know where that came frown… from… *from* I don't know where that came *from*!"
She smiled at him.
"Hey, Bones," Booth said with a weary chuckle. "How was school?"
"Quite excellent," she said, with a nod. "I believe I did very, very satisfactorily on the first exam that was given on legal procedures."
Booth looked at her… she was still wearing her skirt suit from this morning, but her jacket was missing and her cream colored button down had the first two buttons freed, her sleeves were unbuttoned and rolled up, and her hair had been pulled back into a pony tale like she usually wore when working at the lab. She… Booth took one look and saw something he hadn't seen in some time… *fun*… Brennan looked energetic… and young… and like she was having *fun*.
"That's good to know, Bones," Booth said.
"Tempe!" Perotta called. "Time for the next question." She then stopped and smiled. "Hey Booth!"
"Payton," Booth said with a smile. He then leaned in towards Sully and said, "How far gone are they?"
Sully winced. "We all had two beers when we got here… that would a couple of hours ago… I… I think they both had one more beer before Payton got the bright idea to start the shots."
Booth looked at Brennan. "Hey, Bones!"
"Yes, Both?" Brennan called happily.
Booth laughed at her slur. "What are you drinking?"
Brennan leaned forward and licked her lips as she said, "Whiskey!" She then lowered her voice as she said, "Couldn't do the tequila or scotch shots… that's only when it's just you and me."
"Very thoughtful," Booth chuckled.
Brennan grinned. "I thought so, too!" She then turned to Sully and said, "Okay… next question, Sully… and this time, Booth has to play."
Sully looked at him, and he shook his head. "I dunno, Tempe… he's kind of late in arriving, don't you think?"
"No!" Brennan said. "He's just on time… his timing is almost always perfect," Brennan said slyly.
Booth eyed her, but said nothing. He shook his head as he said, "I don't know, Bones… Sully's right. I am kinda late."
"No!" Perotta said, joining Brennan in a show of female solidarity. "We're starting a new round, so there was nothing to be late for—"
"YEAH!" Brennan said. She reached over, and pulled him closer to the line of shots. "So, come on, Booth… time to put down or shut down."
"I think you meant put up or shut up, Tempe," Perotta chimed in.
Brennan shrugged. "Whatever! He knows what I mean."
"Uh huh," Booth said.
Sully eyed him. "You in, Booth?"
Booth looked at Brennan… seeing a light he had not seen in her eyes shine since… well, he couldn't remember the last time he had seen it… and he decided he wasn't quite ready to see it go away quite yet. Besides… he seriously doubted that Sully could come up with a famous cop or suspect question he couldn't answer….
"What the hell?" he nodded. "I'm in…"
Brennan clapped excitedly. "Excellent." She then looked at the line of shots and said, "Hmmm… there is still the small issue that we only have two lines of shots lined up… so I guess that means you're going to have to share mine, Booth."
"Okay," he nodded, not intending to take a drink anyway.
He arched an eyebrow in warning at Sully, just to be on the safe side.
About a half an hour later, Perotta and Brennan were yelling at him.
"Come on, Booth! You didn't give the right answer!" Perotta said.
"I did too!" Booth defended himself. "I got the right guy… it was Pistone."
"But you called him John… not Joe," Sully said. "She's right, Booth. Technically, you were wrong."
"No, no, I wasn't—" Booth began to protest.
"Yes, yes you were, Booth. So cut it out with your superiority/infallibility complex and shut up and drink!" Brennan suddenly exclaimed.
She lifted a shot glass, and Booth looked at her. "Besides… it's not like you don't need a drink anyway… you haven't had a single drop of alcohol since you got here, you teetotaler... so TAKE IT!" Brennan shouted.
He looked to Sully with a sigh. "You know, being called a teetotaler by a woman named Temperance would almost be funny if she weren't smashed herself."
Sully laughed and then shrugged.
"Booth! Come on!" Brennan yelled.
Turning back to her, Booth narrowed his eyes. "Is that an order, Bones, because you do know I outrank you, trainee?"
She leaned in, pulled him close, much to the amusement of Perotta and Sully, but she whispered to him so that only he could hear her as she said, "If that crap doesn't work in bed, do you think it would work here?"
"You didn't answer my question, Bones. Is that an order?" Booth said, still amused but a bit wary that their game was about to get out of control.
Suddenly, Brennan shook her head and said, "Not an order... but a dare, yeah! I dare you, Booth!"
He then grabbed the shot glass and said, "Oh, fine!"
He swiftly downed the shot as Perotta and Sully cheered.
Sully leaned in to ask Booth a question. Perotta grabbed Brennan and said, "We're going to the restroom."
"Why? I don't need to go-" Brennan said.
"But, I do... and I'm not sure I can make it there and back again without falling over," Perotta said truthfully. "So you gotta help me."
"Okay," Brennan said with a nod. She got off her stool and told the boys they would be back in a moment.
Once they were in the restroom, had finished using the facilities and were at the sinks and mirror, Perotta nodded over and said, "This has been so much fun, Tempe. It... it's been a long time since we've gone out."
"Yeah, it has," Brennan conceded.
"And," Perotta said, snapping her compact shut, "Not that I'm not completely satisfied with Sully... but Booth-"
Brennan frowned. "What about Booth?"
Perotta smiled. "Just saying, Tempe... he look's good."
Brennan felt a flush as she said, "He is always aesthetically pleasing."
"Yeah-" Perotta agreed.
Feeling a bit of jealously creep into her voice, Brennan said, "Payton?"
"Yes, Tempe?"
"I'm not going to have to do something to you for making a move on Booth, now, am I? Because over the past two years, I have found that I greatly enjoy our friendship, but-" Brennan said.
Immediately, Perotta laughed. "Tempe... he wouldn't even look my way a second time four years ago... and he's even worse off now than he was then... aside from the fact that I am *more* than content with Sully... although, now that I think about it... I am starting to get in the mood... he looks so cute doing that trivia q&a thing, doesn't he? But... we're not leaving no matter how much I want to hit him over the head, yell 'Sully-mine' and drag him off to bed until you admit that I beat you."
Perotta's tirade went by a bit too fast for Brennan to comprehend anything except her last words. "That is so not happening."
Laughing, Perotta nodded to the door and said, "Come on then. Who am I to deny you the chance to lose even more badly than you already are..."
Shortly thereafter, the ladies returned to where they had left Sully and Booth. In their absence, Booth had apparently ordered a whiskey and water that he was now sipping. He put down the glass when he saw Brennan approach, as his eyes were on her alone.
Brennan, however, watching him lick a small drop of the whiskey from the corner of his mouth, walked up, leaned in to him, and said very softly so that only he could hear her, "You are so hot when you do that."
His eyes widened a bit in surprise, but he smiled and said, "Thanks, Bones."
She nodded, taking another long stare at him. He *was* hot… as he had predicted several days earlier, they hadn't seen much of each other during the past week. And, tonight… now.. he was in her second favorite outfit… the suit… that was her all time favorite… but dressed as he was now… jeans, black leather jacket… and not one of his t-shirts… she didn't particularly care for those outside of bed… but one of his casual dark colored button-down shirts… this one was blue… yeah… he definitely looked good.
He could feel her eyes on him as he said with a smile, "Yes, Bones?"
She narrowed her eyes as she glanced and saw that Perotta had pulled Sully away and was now in the process of making out with her boyfriend. Taking a step towards him, just to be on the safe side so they wouldn't be overheard, Brennan said, "Just looking."
He laughed. "See anything you like?"
She nodded. "Always."
He quirked an eyebrow at her as he said, "Can you still handle your liquor well, Bones?"
Brennan looked at the whiskey shots that remained on the bar and said, "Well, it's whiskey, not Bhang, so I still think I'm doing pretty good."
"How good?"
"Good," she said. "You, however, are far behind."
"I have the SUV, Bones," Booth said.
She shrugged. "And my car is here, too. That's what cabs are for, Booth. You, of all people, should know that."
"Mmmm, no... no can do, Bones" Booth said. "Can't risk it."
"Why not?"
He nodded at Perotta and Sully. "Don't want to say anything we don't want said before we're ready, Bones."
"That's it?"
Booth nodded.
"And… what about… anyone who might be waiting for us… err, you? Anyone young... who likes pink?"
Booth smiled, taking her meaning. "I was at the apartment with Max when Sully called. We were watching the game."
"And?"
"And… when I explained to him what Sully said, he smiled and said he'd keep her for tonight," Booth said. "Thought it might make you feel better if you had a chance for a solid night's sleep."
"At times, he is very thoughtful," Brennan conceded. "But… I have a better idea about what would make me feel better."
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Brennan said slyly. She then spun on her heels and said, "Hey, Payton—"
Perotta pulled away from where she was hanging on her boyfriend and said, "Yeah, Tempe?"
"I think I'm going to have to concede defeat," Brennan said.
Perotta thought for a moment and said, "But, you said earlier you wouldn't give up until you had won and were declared 'Queen of the Bar'."
"I stand corrected," Brennan said. "I find that it would be in my best interests to admit my defeat... immediately."
"So I won?" Perotta asked.
Brennan nodded.
"Oh, well… in that case," she smiled and nodded at Sully. "Hey, Sul… I won!"
Sully laughed. "I heard."
"So… we don't have to stay here..." Perotta said, a realization suddenly occurring to her. She then nodded. "Yeah… I—ah, I think I'm ready to leave, Sul."
"You sure?" Sully asked.
"Yeah, Tempe said I won… so I'm good. Let's go!" Perotta said.
Turning to Booth and Brennan with a smile, "You two okay to get home?"
Booth nodded. "We're good."
"Okay," Sully laughed. "Then, we're out."
A few minutes later, Booth sat in Sully's former chair while he looked at Brennan and said, "How'd you know she wanted to go?"
"Easy," Brennan said, taking a bottle of whiskey that she had gotten from the bartender. "She was playing with the button on Sully's collar… she kept looking at it like she wanted to destroy it."
"Oh?"
"It's a tell indicating sexual aggression and frustration," Brennan said.
Booth lowered his head in closer to hers, "And do you have one of those?"
Brennan nodded with a sly smile. "But, I'm not telling you what it is."
"I bet I could guess," Booth offered.
"Maybe," Brennan said with a nod. "But… I will tell you this… I know what your tell is."
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Brennan said, as she reached for a shot glass and pushed it to him. "To tells?"
Booth reached out and took the glass as he saw her pick up one herself. He then nodded as they lifted the shots in the air. "To tells!" they repeated together before downing the drink.
"So what is it?" Booth said, licking the corner of his mouth.
Brennan laughed. She nodded and said, "There, right there."
"What?"
"Your mouth… you lick the corner of your mouth," Brennan said.
"Do not," Booth countered.
Brennan shrugged. "You can believe me or not—"
"Not," Booth said.
She pushed another shot towards him. "To… hotness?"
"Hotness?" Booth laughed.
Brennan nodded.
"Sure, Bones," Booth said, still chuckling. "To hotness."
They both took another shot, and then Brennan got off her seat and leaned in next to him. "Hey, Booth?"
"Yeah, Bones?"
"Why haven't you touched me? All night… you haven't touched me at all."
"Can't, Bones," Booth said. He leaned in and said softly, "And it's not from lack of wanting on my part, just FYI... there's just too many… too many agents… former agents… people who know people who know agents might be here and see."
"But, it's not like we technically are working together while I'm at the Academy," Brennan whined. "What's the big deal?"
"Bones—" Booth reminded her with his tone as he leaned back into his seat.
She sighed. "Fine."
Smiling at her, he leaned in again and said, "Hey, Bones—"
"Yes, Booth?"
"You know… if we don't work together anymore… even if it's temporary… and if we weren't here… we could have sex," Booth said with a wicked grin on his face.
"Wait... we have sex now and we work together... Oh..." Brennan narrowed her eyes. "I've heard that one before."
He nodded.
After a few seconds, her eyes widened in recall. She reached for her cell phone and said, laughing, "I'm calling the cab this time, and if you don't get in it with me, I'm going to have to do very bad things to you."
A short time and a cab ride later, Booth was laughing as he and Brennan stumbled into their apartment. They had managed to keep their hands to themselves, for the most part, during the ride home. Now that they were in the apartment, Brennan barreled past the doorway, leaving Booth staring at her in confusion.
"What?"
"You aren't… we aren't doing *this* in the doorway. Not tonight," Brennan said with a smile and a small shake of her head.
"I'm not getting in the tub," Booth countered.
Brennan laughed as she reached down, unclasped her skirt, and pulled the zipper free. She let it fall to the floor, stepping out of it with a deliberate motion, and then staring at Booth as she countered, "How about the bed?"
"That sounds like a good compromise," Booth said, his eyes not leaving her partially clothed form.
Brennan grinned. "You can blink, Booth."
At this, he stopped staring and took a step forward.
However, Brennan shook her head. "Wait!"
"What?"
"Give me two minutes, *Agent* Booth," she emphasized the title.
He eyed her suspiciously. "Why?"
"Now, now, *Agent* Booth," Brennan retorted. "Where are your manners? If you don't mind, I prefer that you use my title. It's Agent Temperance Brennan to you."
"Oh, God!" Booth laughed. "I knew this was coming-"
"Come on, Agent Booth... you *can* say it..." Brennan teased.
He narrowed his eyes, and decided to play along. "Okay... *Agent* Brennan... what do you need the two-minute countdown for?"
"Give me a two-minute head start… and then you can come in…." Brennan said, rewarding him with a naughty grin. "It'll be worth it... I promise."
Booth eyed her warily, but nodded. "Okay."
She laughed again as she spun on her heels, and sped towards their bedroom, shedding her pumps and button-down in the process.
Booth countered to 120… twice, just to be sure he wasn't going too fast. When he finished the second run-through, he called out, "Bones- err, Agent Brennan, ready or not, here I come!"
When he got to their bedroom and opened the door, he couldn't honestly explain what he was expecting to find… but what sight greeted his eyes was really the last one he expected… it was clear that Brennan had finished getting undressed and changed into a different set of panties and a bra that she had not been wearing earlier. She lay on the bed clad in a set that he knew were of the pattern and design that she wore more for his pleasure than her preference… dark green... a very impractical jewel tone color... a lot of lace... a lot of satin... not her normal choice at all. So, yes, she had changed for him, and he very, very much wanted to show his appreciation for her indulging him in her choice of lingerie. The only problem was that it appeared Booth had waited *too* long… because Brennan was laying on their bed… in the matching bra and panty set she had changed into especially for Booth… and she was sound asleep.
Moving forward, Booth sighed a heavy side as he came to the side of the bed and realized that the whiskey, exhaustion, and the week at training had finally caught up to her. "Damn," he whispered to no one in particular. Sitting down, he gently brushed a lock of hair out of her face. She smiled in her sleep at the movement, but didn't awaken. Booth nodded in frustration.
He stood up, and moved towards the bathroom, realizing her efforts to tease him had been profoundly effective… but that he would receive no release from her tonight and so had to consider… *other* options before he too could comfortably retire to the bed to sleep.
"Damn," he muttered again. "Damn, damn, damn."
-TBC-
