Authors Note:
Just a little warning that the last scene in this chapter is probably getting close to an M rating - if you're not old enough you should probably not read that part (it'll be obvious which bit I mean). Otherwise, on with the story!
Chapter 9: Undercover
"Marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. It isn't something you get. It's something you do. It's the way you love your partner every day." Barbara De Angelis
Back at the Jeffersonian Wendell Bray had completed his detailed examination of the second set of newly separated skeletons, and apart from a very small indentation on the anterior surface of the right fourth thoracic rib of the male he'd found nothing noteworthy. There was a similar marking on the female but on the posterior left third thoracic. Wendell had tried to match the markings to a weapon but hadn't come up with anything so far.
"How's it going?" Angela asked from the doorway of the lab.
"Not great," Wendell admitted. "I mean, I know I don't have anywhere near the experience of Doctor Brennan but I've never seen skeletal remains as clean as these – not that we didn't clean ourselves. They've each got the usual life history – broken bones as a child, basic wear and tear, but there's just nothing here to point to cause of death."
"What do you have?" Angela stepped forward, her eyes drawn to the collection of skeletons side by side on separate tables. It had saddened her to see each of the two sets of bones contorted into those twisted images of one body but she was equally saddened now they'd been separated – which was fanciful and not helpful to their current situation.
"Here," Wendell zoomed in on the male, highlighting the indentation he'd found. "It's not much, but the UV light source showed faint traces of bone bruising suggesting this dates to close to time of death." Switching images, Wendell showed Angela the female version. "Similar marking, same bone bruising. I'm pretty sure whatever this is, it's part of what killed them, but there's not enough here to say more than that."
Angela's eyes narrowed as she considered the evidence and the possibilities that emerged. "Come with me," she turned and headed for her own office with Wendell trailing behind. "Okay, let's add those images to my scans," she pressed a few buttons on her data pad, "and then see where that puts us."
In the square space of her holographic display particles of light circled and then slowly formed into two skeletons, side by side.
"This is how the bones were arranged when they were brought in," Angela pressed more buttons and the images shifted into the familiar entwined skeletal remains. "Your marks are here," she pointed out two circled spots that didn't line up, "but if we extrapolate for what we know of their height and general physique to add the flesh and then match the two marks together," she added that data and ran another simulation.
The image morphed again, this time settling into two fully formed human shapes. The man was on the bottom, the woman lying chest to chest on top of him. In that configuration the marks Wendell had found lined up precisely.
"He killed them with one strike," Wendell realised, "at the same time?"
"Looks like it," Angela agreed. She zoomed in on that spot, isolating just those parts of the underlying x-rayed images until she could produce a close up of the combined marks. "Your weapon is probably a blade, very narrow and thin. Does that help?"
"That's great Angela – thank you," Wendell said gratefully.
"You're welcome," Angela smiled. "Tell Brennan I said hi when you talk to her."
Wendell nodded before rushing off - probably to consult with Jack on possible weapons. Angela smiled again and then turned her attention back to the image still displayed holographically.
"At least you were together," she said quietly. "I wonder, was that a blessing or a curse?" Shaking off the morbid mood, she glanced at her watch and decided it was past time to drag her husband away for a break. Murder weapons could wait.
"Parker and Ross, checking in," Booth announced with a charming smile directed down at Brennan. They were at the front desk in the busy foyer of the Bellagio and he had his arm around Brennan is a manner that suggested he couldn't bear to be separated from her for even a second.
"We're very much in love," Temperance announced loudly, giving Booth a wide smile meant to outwardly convey how infatuated she was with him. She leaned into him, admitting if only to herself how much she enjoyed his warmth and his strength, even more because it was backed up by a good heart. It surprised even her how easy she found it to take on a role so different from her day to day self. It was exciting and even somewhat inspiring to act the part of a woman capable of the shared feeling their current pretence suggested. They hadn't discussed how they'd create the required impression but Brennan trusted Booth implicitly and was fully prepared to follow his lead in this case, where his 'qualifications' so clearly outweighed hers.
"He knows - it's kind of implied Honey," Booth pulled her into his side sharply, giving her a meaningful look that said 'tone it down'. Brennan frowned, not understanding – wasn't their purpose to make it clear to anyone who might be observing them that they were in fact lovers, thereby gaining entrance into the same events the victims had attended?
"I was just -," she began to explain her understanding of their mission but was forced to stop speaking when Booth kissed her. He'd probably meant to go for a quick peck to convince their audience of their respective roles but as soon as his lips touched hers the spark that had always existed between them fused their lips together in an outward display of real emotion. Following so soon on the heels of that weird scene they'd shared in her apartment it was clearly fuelled by more than the need to be a convincing couple. She'd never had a problem with the dormant sexual attraction that existed between them but they'd never had to use it in a case before ... and if there was anything her partner would gripe about later it would be that.
Booth was the one to snap back to reality first. He had already pulled away and turned back to the desk clerk by the time Brennan realised what had happened and she could only be grateful he hadn't noticed the way kissing him affected her.
"So, about that check-in," Brennan watched incredulously as Booth shared a purely male to male look with the young clerk. Was he trying to create the impression that they couldn't wait to get to their room so that they could engage in intercourse?
"Oh, the Valentine Special!" The clerk smiled at them enthusiastically after tapping Booth's fake names into the hotel reservations system. "There's a reception already in progress in the main dining room to welcome our weekend soon to be newlyweds - you're welcome to join in as soon as you've settled in. Will you be going for a private ceremony or signing up for the combined event?"
"Ah ... we hadn't decided," Booth smiled charmingly, looking down at Brennan. "What do you think Baby?"
"I think that endearment is demeaning and de-individualising," Brennan thought, smiling back at him. "I'd want to meet the others who'll be in the combined ceremony before making a decision," she said earnestly. "These people are going to be in our wedding photos darling – don't we want to make sure we're going to enjoy looking at them for the next thirty or forty years?" Secretly she wondered why anyone would want to subject themselves to being one in a large line up of couples all getting married together. She imagined it would be not unlike a congo line doing the limbo or a conveyer belt churning out identically manufactured items for mass consumption. But then, she didn't really get why people needed to get married at all – perhaps she would better understand the allure of a group ceremony if she did.
"Understandable," the clerk nodded approvingly. "If you attend the information session tomorrow morning you'll be able to meet all the other couples. You can make your decision after that."
"Thank you," Brennan smiled again, deciding that if she looked happy all the time then surely anyone would believe that she was just like all the other women - there to capture 'love' presumably before it could escape.
"Here are your room keys," the clerk handed them two magnetic strip cards. "I'll have one of the bellboys bring your bags and escort you up. Welcome to the Bellagio – we hope your stay here is everything you dreamt it would be."
"I'm sure it will be," Booth took both keys, gave the man an exaggerated wink and then moved to lead Brennan away.
Both of them were quiet as they followed the bellboy into the lifts and then back out again on the seventh floor. Booth kept his arm around her the whole time and Brennan reciprocated by placing her corresponding arm around his waist. As they walked down the corridor like that Brennan wondered that their posture didn't feel awkward at all. Anyone observing them was sure to believe they'd been walking with those complementary body positions for a long time.
"Your room, Sir, Ma'am," the bellboy announced, placing their bags in the centre of the lounge area.
"Thanks," Booth slipped the man a folded bill, pulling Brennan into his arms and kissing her again before the hotel employee had gotten halfway to the door. As soon as he heard the door click closed he stepped back hurriedly. "I'm sorry Bones – our killer could be watching from anywhere inside the hotel. I had to create an impression, you know?"
"You wanted to make us potential candidates for the assailant?" Brennan frowned in confusion.
"No! God no!" Booth denied emphatically. "I was just thinking that if we create the right first impressions with everyone the rest will be easy. They'll treat us like the infatuated couple they think we are. We just need the occasional hug or hand hold from now on to make that stick."
"I don't mind Booth," Brennan said easily, even though she wasn't sure that was entirely true. Yes, being undercover was exciting and intriguing but she realised as she stood in the centre of their room that it could also be confronting too. Most of the time she didn't actively think about the feelings she had for Booth but in sharing their current pretence she knew that would be difficult and found that already a part of her wished it could be reality. If she wasn't who she was and if Seeley wasn't the sensitive, deeply caring man she knew him to be.
"We'll keep it to a minimum," Booth promised. She watched as he walked the room, checking out the facilities before moving to stand in front of the window.
"Are you worried someone might recognise us?" Brennan asked, sensing that something was troubling him.
"What, as Tony and Roxie?" Booth queried. When she nodded he laughed. "Nah, they moved in completely different circles than Joe and Lillian will. They're not here for the casinos – they're here for the romance. Besides, they look nothing alike."
"They're both us," Brennan pointed out logically.
"To you. To everyone else they're two different couples. Someone who met Roxie might think you look vaguely familiar but that's it. It was years ago anyway and what was memorable to us isn't gonna be for anyone we might run into now."
"Oh," Temperance could see his point. "Cognitively speaking events do need to have specific and significant relevance to be retained in long term memory." She could have said more on the subject but had learned over the years to stop her explanations before she herself would have been satisfied with the level of information delivered. "Well if it's not that, what's worrying you?"
"What, besides the fact that I'm parading you in front of a psychotic killer smart enough to have hidden his victims for years and keep a whole team of squints guessing?" Booth questioned impatiently. Brennan said nothing, just watched as he reined it all in with a sigh. "I'm sorry," he apologised immediately. "I guess this case is still bothering me a little – and if you tell Sweets I said that I'll deny it to the end."
"I would never dream of telling Doctor Sweets anything you said in confidence," Brennan said indignantly.
"I was just joking Bones," Booth smiled in that way of his, trying to charm her annoyance away. "Look, let's head downstairs again, check out this reception thing. We can grab a late dinner and start talking to people – see if we can find out anything about couples who check in and then don't check out."
"Isn't it going to be difficult to question the staff, given our current charade?"
"We'll have to get creative," Booth dismissed her concerns. "Let's go."
"Shouldn't we delay until sufficient time has passed for us to have engaged in intercourse?" Brennan asked curiously.
"I'm sorry, what?" Booth looked taken aback ... and embarrassed if the slight increase in colour on his face was any indicator.
"Wasn't that the impression you wished to create with the gentleman at the front desk?"
"Ah, yeah, I suppose so," Booth admitted, rubbing the back of his neck and looking anywhere but directly at her.
"Then I suggest we delay our return until such time as we could have reasonably engaged in -,"
"I get it Bones," Booth interrupted.
"We should both change our attire as well," Brennan looked at him thoughtfully. "You could take a shower – that would serve to advertise our implied activities should anyone be paying undue attention."
Booth muttered something under his breath but then put on a smile that seemed forced to Brennan. "Sure, good idea. I'll just ...," he waved vaguely in the direction of the bathroom, grabbed his bag and then hurried away.
Temperance moved to her own suitcase, quickly changing her trousers and shirt for a simple skirt and wrap around floral blouse more suited to dining in the luxurious hotel. She'd just finished renewing her makeup when Booth's cell phone rang. Glancing at the still closed bathroom door, Brennan decided he'd rather she answer it than interrupt him.
"Special Agent Seeley Booth's phone, Doctor Temperance Brennan speaking."
"Doctor Brennan – this is Agent Burns, ah Charlie Burns. Is Agent Booth around?"
"He's taking a shower," Brennan would have been amused had she been able to see the expression on Charlie's face as she shared Booth's location without a hint of embarrassment. "Perhaps I could be of assistance?"
"Ah ... I just wanted to let him know that I've checked into the student lists at American University around the time that Jane Woods was a student there," Charlie began. "I'm sending him the details on all the students with Chris or Christopher in first, middle or last names. It's a big list and it can't include nicknames obviously so it's probably not that useful. According to their records none of the Bellagio's current employees attended American University so in all likelihood it's another dead end."
"Thank you Agent Burns, I'll be sure to let Booth know." Temperance hung up the phone and returned it to Booth's jacket pocket.
Booth emerged from the bathroom moments later, dressed in his usual casual attire of cargo pants and t-shirt with an open short sleeved shirt over the top, his hair damp.
"Agent Burns rang," Brennan launched into speech – something about the intimacy of the situation striking her suddenly. "Their records show that none of the hotel's current employees attended American University."
"Damn it, I knew it wouldn't be that simple!" Booth grimaced. "Did he find out anything useful?"
"No," Brennan replied. "He is sending you a list of students who might turn out to be Jane Woods' admirer but indicated it was long and probably not useful for our current purpose."
"Which means we keep doing what we're doing. So ... you ready?" Booth ran a quick eye over her, and nodded. "Let's go," he said, motioning for her to lead the way, his hand resting on the small of her back.
"Smile Honey," Booth said close to Brennan's ear, once again with his arm around his partner's shoulders. They were making the rounds of the Bellagio's function room where an impromptu post welcome reception gathering of the Valentine's Day wedding crowd had evolved. There were more than fifty couples present and some of them were so into the whole 'romance' thing that even Booth was starting to question their sanity.
"I am," Brennan insisted stubbornly. Booth wouldn't be surprised to find out she'd been too busy considering the anthropological ramifications of what she was witnessing to remember to smile all the time. Turning, her eyes met his and he realised all at once just how close they were standing.
Booth lost his train of thought for a moment, caught up in the blue of her eyes and the faint pupil dilation he could see occurring even as he stared at her. The fact that he was allowed to touch her ... to kiss her ... had opened a door he couldn't help but think about stepping through ... and he'd been thinking about it pretty much every minute since they'd first checked in. He let his eyes drift to her lips and then leaned forward slightly.
"Here's a couple who don't need any help creating a romantic picture," the voice of a stranger was a rude awakening but a welcome one. Booth looked at Bones, this time with a question in his eyes she answered with a faint nod, her permission for him to complete that lean until his lips touched hers. He kept it light and brief and then turned to smile at the person who'd interrupted them.
"Joseph Parker," he introduced himself, "and this is my beautiful, and obviously irresistible, fiancée Lillian Ross." He hugged Bones close to his side, smiling down at her proudly before turning his attention back to their audience.
"Nigel Haversham," the man reciprocated with a faint British accent to go along with the name, "Hotel special events coordinator. Even if we weren't amidst our present company I wouldn't need to ask you why you're at the hotel this weekend."
"You must be used to seeing many couples engaged in intimate discourse," Brennan commented.
"I wouldn't have described it like that," Nigel said with a chuckle, "but otherwise yes, that's a pretty accurate assessment. Between you and me though, you get your posers, the ones more in love with the idea of running off to Vegas to get married than they are with their chosen partner. And then you get the couples like yourselves – the ones who are here because they need to be together in every sense of the word. Marriage is just the final step – an important one of course, but they'd be just as together without it."
"Interesting," Booth smiled. "What's the ratio like for that?"
"Oh, on a normal weekend it would be fifty, fifty," Nigel shared. "Too much alcohol, a lucky streak at the casinos – you always get the spur of the moment people who wake up the next morning wondering what the hell they were thinking."
"What about this weekend in particular?" Booth persisted. Not wanting to get the guys radar up he pressed his cheek to Brennan's, shifting enough to kiss her temple before straightening again. "We think what we have is pretty unique, you know?"
"And I'm sure it is," Nigel agreed diplomatically. "Valentine's Day brings the 'in love with love' crowd out of the woodwork. I've been organising this event for a few years and can tell you with some confidence that you're in the minority this weekend, I'm afraid."
"How many people change their minds?" Brennan asked in that direct way of hers.
"Honey, please tell me you're not having second thoughts," Booth joked, not missing the way Nigel's gaze sharpened a little.
"Of course not," Bones smiled but it wasn't awkward or nervous – no, she hit him with a sultry, 'meaningful' smile that hinted at knowledge of the power she had over her man, and the clear intention to use it at the first opportunity. He felt the flush rising to his face and it wasn't all embarrassment – Temperance Brennan had a seductiveness that was hot – really hot – and he'd never been able to avoid reacting in some way when she displayed that side of herself. Being required to react was a unique torture he hadn't anticipated when he'd first realised they've have to go undercover.
Realising he'd been staring at her for too long, enough that Nigel Haversham was back to wearing that indulgently amused smile, Booth swallowed and quickly regrouped. "Then what -,"
"Joe and I are thinking about being a part of the combined ceremony," Bones explained directly to Nigel. "Initially we were thinking it would make the event that much more romantic and memorable if we were surrounded by other couples as equally in love as we are."
"Nice save there Bones," Booth thought, giving her an approving squeeze.
"But my assessment of the motivations of most of the people here has you doubting that course of action," Nigel concluded. "Then I apologise if my words have upset you Ms Ross. We do get drop outs – people who go as far as booking themselves in for the ceremony and paying all the fees who simply don't show up on the day. Usually there are at least a handful of couples every Valentine's Day weekend who fall into that category." He chuckled. "I often imagine them slinking guiltily out of the hotel in the early hours of the morning reluctant to face the music. If you're particularly worried about it I'd suggest you stick with the private ceremony. I can have our wedding advisors meet with you first thing tomorrow morning – they can discuss your options, help you fill in all the paperwork, and arrange all your bookings."
"That's very kind of you," Booth held out a hand and Nigel shook it vigorously.
"I'll arrange it then," Nigel smiled. "Ms Ross. Mr Parker. I don't think I even need to wish you well – I'm sure this weekend will turn out to be the most memorable one of your lives so far."
Booth and Brennan smiled back and then watched as the man took his leave, zeroing in on another couple to meet and greet.
"He probably says the same thing to everyone," Booth commented casually, uncomfortable with their success at fooling a man who'd been in the business long enough to presumably be a pretty good judge of relationship 'character'.
"Really?" Brennan queried. "I thought him to be quite sincere."
"It's all part of the business Bones," Booth urged her to walk with him, his eyes continually observing everything going on around them. "It's interesting what he said about the dropout rate though. If that's true then one specific couple disappearing each year wouldn't even raise the alarms, not with the hotel anyway. I'll get Charlie to find out about the dropouts the past six years – maybe someone at the hotel remembers at least one of our couples."
"So you don't think Mr Haversham is personally involved?"
"He'd have the access," Booth agreed, turning his attention back to where Haversham was currently talking with another couple of eager to be newlyweds. "But no, I don't think he's our guy. Too old and a little too openly cynical about his clientele. I'll have Charlie run him anyway but we keep looking."
"Perhaps the person we're seeking isn't directly connected to the wedding side of the hotel," Brennan suggested, smiling and nodding as they passed a couple intent on devouring each other in a heated kiss.
"Maybe, but I'm thinking not," Booth kept his eyes on Bones rather than on the kissing couple. "He needs to observe his candidates first, make sure they're worthy. For that he needs to be in the thick of it, to filter out the pretenders from the real deal."
"Then we should follow through on meeting the hotel's wedding advisors tomorrow," Brennan concluded. "They'd be in a unique position to observe and assess many of the couples attending this weekend."
"True," Booth nodded. "We'll play along until something pops."
They were perfect ... so obviously in love although outwardly they held themselves in check much more than most of the couples present. He could see it – the way the man would do anything for the woman, would die for her if called upon to do so. The man was easy to read ... real emotion there every time he looked into her eyes.
She was harder to read but no less real ... he sensed that she'd understand his mission better than any others he'd chosen because the fear of separation was real to her, enough that it held her back from truly throwing herself into the thick of love. But he knew, were it necessary, she too would give her life to save her partner's.
They were perfect ... the pinnacle of eight years of effort. Since there was a chance that they would be his last, the fact that they were who they were only made it more satisfying. He would do for the man what the man could not do for himself - guarantee that his love would never leave him.
In them, Chris would truly create forever.
As the evening wore on and they mingled with both staff and patrons Booth found his attention split between the job at hand and the inevitable need to retire for the night. They hadn't discussed specifically what they'd do to create the right impression – past experience had shown Seeley that Bones was adaptive and very enthusiastic in playing a role outside her usual area of expertise. Too enthusiastic sometimes – something he realised suddenly that he'd never contemplated the reason for. But, no matter the source of her bravado, Booth was sure he'd be the one embarrassed and uncomfortable with their charade long before he succeeded in embarrassing Bones.
Eventually the crowd began to disband. Being the last couple there would draw too much attention to them so Booth gathered Bones into his side, leaning close to her ear to speak privately.
"I'm not getting any nibbles here," he whispered, his breath stirring the hair near her temple. "You?"
"If you are referring to new leads in the case then I too have been unable to determine anything of relevance to the investigation," Brennan spoke in a low tone without looking at him directly. "We have met with many staff members actively involved with the weekend's frivolities but none seem outwardly suspicious. I believe we should retire to compare our impressions. You have my permission to do what you think necessary to ensure our leave taking is consistent with the personna of Joe and Lillian."
"Ah ... right," Booth smiled a little nervously at her usual forthright manner.
So ... he had permission to what? Drink in the scent at her neck that lured him in every time he got too close? Shifting his head slightly he took a deep breath ... yeah, Bones's usual perfume combined with the unique elements that were only her - sharp, non nonsence, purposeful, like grass after it had been cut or a garden bed after a good rain - impossible to describe it any other way. He felt her shiver slightly and his formerly nervous smile was replaced with something a little more ... wolfish. They might be pretending but she'd definitely liked that.
Scents, no matter how captivating, wouldn't create the desired image. No, for that he needed contact ... skin to skin, 'I've already touched every inch of you', contact. Booth turned his head until his lips just touched the column of her neck. And then he skimmed, tiny, barely there kisses from just under her jaw down until the edge of her blouse ended his easy access. She responded by leaning her head until it rested against his, her body shifting and turning enough to compliment his posture. She shivered again and he knew if he could see her face that she'd be smiling too. That was probably the point at which he forgot that he was trying to create an impression and just went for creating reality. Starting with an open mouthed kiss that sucked at the heat of her neck he followed quickly by shifting her until she stood fully inside his embrace. Their eyes met and there was no hesitation, no pause to give potential interruptions a chance to intrude. His lips were on hers and she was kissing him back and neither of them was pretending this was anything other than a full out expression of mutual sexual attraction.
Breaking away literally felt like he was tearing his lips from hers ... not because he wanted to stop because he so didn't. If he could continue kissing Temperance Brennan for the foreseeable future he'd die a happy man. No, the small part of him that was still thinking logically had put a big tick in the box on that message they'd wanted to send out. They were a couple hot for each other as much as they were hot to tie the knot. Mission accomplished - time to depart before he embarrassed himself.
Without a word to anyone around them, Booth grabbed Bones's hand and literally manpowered her out of the large function room. He kept it at that hurried pace the whole way across the lobby and into the lifts. Once inside he couldn't let the pretense drop - the cat was well and truly out of the bag and seemed intent on taking them both for a ride before being forced back inside. Pressing Bones up against the back wall of the lift Seeley leaned down enough to take her lips in a heated kiss.
"What floor Sir?"
Booth froze ... right, the elevator attendant. Should have remembered that.
"Seven," Bones sounded breathless and sexy as hell, and Booth couldn't resist going back to find out what that tasted like. Hot ... she was so hot ... he was in so much trouble here. The lift ride passed in a blur and he didn't even care that the attendant was holding in a smirk as he respectfully informed them that they'd arrived.
Bones laughed, grabbing his hand and dragging him from the lift. She was the one who opened their door, who urged him inside. And she was the one who threw herself at him the instance the door was closed, her lips on his, the smile still on both their faces. They kissed their way across the room until the backs of her legs hit the bed and she fell backwards, taking him with her. She shifted under him, wriggling to align their bodies is a manner no one would have misunderstood.
He knew, somewhere in the recesses of his overheated mind, that he should stop. He hadn't lost himself in his desire for her yet, hadn't kissed her with the serious intent to devour her that had plagued him for years. It was still light, still more fun than an expression of real emotion. They were still at the point where he could write it off as the both of them getting a little too carried away with playing their parts. But if he let it go further, if he actually let himself take what she was so clearly offering him - if he took it up a few notches - then there'd be no going back.
So yeah, he had to stop ... in a bit. He just needed to kiss her a few more times first, needed a few more moments to feel how incredibly well her soft curves matched the hard planes of his body. He shifted in a very obvious parody of the more intimate movements certain parts of his body craved and she moaned ... it was loud, needy and passionate and unfortunately like a bucket of cold water in his face.
"Wait," he broke away, breathing hard.
"What's wrong?" Bones's eyes glittered up at him, her expression hard to read beyond confusion and the desire to get back to what they'd been so actively doing moments before.
"I think we're getting a little too caught up in our roles here Bones," he said, rolling off her until he was lying beside her, his eyes on the ceiling above the bed. He hated to say it but he couldn't assume it was anything more ... not given past conversations about their relationship and the topic of sex itself. She knew he didn't do the whole satisfying of bodily urges thing - it had to have more meaning for him even if it wasn't a forever after deal. The only thing he could conclude was that the Natasha/Roxie 'a little out of control' side of her had taken over - that she'd regret this as much as he would if he let it go any further.
"You're saying that was all just Joe and Lillian?" Bones asked, her face carefully blank. "That there was nothing of Booth and Brennan driving you? Because I ... I can't ... I don't want to lie and tell you it wasn't me, Temperance Brennan, too. I can't say that Booth even though I don't know what it really means in the broader context of our partnership."
Seeley turned on his side so that he could look at her, feeling like reality had been suspended for a moment in time where Bones might actually be trying to tell him something important. "Are you saying you've changed your mind about love and marriage and happily ever after?"
"There is evidence to suggest that those concepts have real applications for some individuals," Bones replied uncertainly.
"No, not for 'some individals' Bones," Booth sat up abruptly, swivelling to look down at her. "You. Do. You. Believe. In those things?" Her eyes swam with sudden tears and the expression of torment on her face was the only answer he got. "I didn't think so," Booth said sadly. Levering himself off the bed he stood for a moment, needing to get his bearings. "Right," he muttered, thoughts swirling as he kept his back to her. He wanted to blame her for the surge of unwarranted but still very real and crushing disappointment he felt but couldn't - he'd instigated that scene, he'd taken it too far. All Bones had done was respond honestly, doing whatever was necessary not to blow their cover.
"Booth," her pleading tone had him looking at her despite his desire to just cut and run. "I want to believe ... I do ... I just ...," she trailed off, wiping the tears from her cheeks, clearly counting on him to fill in the blanks for her.
"That's something I guess," he sighed, moving to sit back on the edge of the bed. "Don't worry about it Bones ... I get it okay. We're not here for this and it's wrong for us to even be talking about it now. Let's just keep it to the case, okay." He clasped her hand, squeezing reassuringly before getting up again and heading for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Downstairs," Booth answered. "It really is fine Bones ... I just, I need a few minutes okay. Listen, you take the bed, get some rest. I'll be back later."
Not waiting for a response he quickly exited the room and took the stairs down to the first floor where the bar was located. He'd have a drink, shove the genii back in the bottle, and hopefully not get back to their room until after Bones was asleep. They still had a job to do and he couldn't let personal feelings, no matter how screwed up they were getting, intrude on that.
Authors Note:
Another quick thank you to all those reviewers I can't reply directly to ... your comments had me smiling this morning and feeling all good about this story. On the getting way too into the undercover deal I was thinking about those two episodes - the circus one and the Vegas one - Bones in particular really did seem to get very into her role, enough hopefully to make the last scene in this chapter plausible. They are totally messing with each other's heads now - someone has to sort them out! Oh, right, that would be my job! *grins* I'm on it ...
I probably won't get to post a chapter over the weekend so thanks in advance for your patience - hope this super long chapter makes up for that!
