Author's Note:
It's been ages and ages since I wrote anything for Bones, but after a couple of stifling work weeks, I had to write SOMETHING and this seemed just the thing. If you enjoy it at all, you have tantemary to thank as she slips some chosen StoryPeople bits here and there as reminders (or maybe she likes to call them "suggestions") and even though this is not the one she most recently sent me, the thought is still there.
Set at post Season 9 premiere.
From storypeopledotcom:
The days go by with so many little things that don't seem to matter until they're no longer there & suddenly, they're all that ever mattered.
All That Matters
"You need to woo her."
Booth looked over at Angela and she could see the slight surprise in his eyes - probably that she had any words for him at all right now and that the ones she had weren't immediately vitriolic. "What?"
"Brennan. You need to woo her again."
Angela could almost feel the prickles rising up around Booth and spoke again to shut down whatever angry retort that threatened to leave his mouth.
"Look, I know she says she trusts you, and I get that. But you know I still have to be mad at you, right?" Booth did not respond other than leaning against a table, one hand in his pocket, presumably working over his poker chip or lighter, while staring at her, tight-lipped. She took a breath and tried to release her own frustration. Though she didn't want to admit it out loud, she knew Hodgins was right that there was something going on with Booth, but that didn't mean she couldn't still be mad at Booth for how it all affected her best friend.
"Remember the days back when you both pretended that you weren't madly in love with each other? When you'd freak out if anyone even looked at Brennan the wrong way – or even, you know, the right way?" His jaw relaxed a little. Maybe he'd listen after all.
She took a step closer to him. "Remember when you'd help her out of her lab coat, guide her out of the office with your arm around her? Or when you'd come to the lab during a case instead of calling, just so you could be near her?" Booth stood now, looking down at the ground, his jacket held back with both hands in his pockets. "Or when you'd mispronounce stuff, just to annoy her?" He gave a little chuckle.
"Or when you'd find whatever reason you could to just stand close to her?" Angela stepped right up next to him and he lifted his head up, meeting her eyes. He didn't flinch or back away, and she knew she had him.
"Do that again. She needs to feel that way again right now." And with that, she left him on his own in her office.
~oOo~
Booth stood, alone, staring at his feet and deliberating over Angela's suggestion. He let the memories of when things seemed easy -yet still exciting - wash over him. He smiled as he recalled the heated pleasure of having his face so close to hers, staring into her eyes, knowing that if he ever let them lower to her lips, he would cross the line. Those were the days that anticipation still overcame the heartache of restraint.
"Angela, did you finish creating the - Booth?" Brennan paused at the door. "I didn't know you were still here. Where's Angela?"
And suddenly, at the sound of her voice, he turned and involuntarily gave her a smile that brought it all back, except for the unquestionable fact that what he felt for her at that moment was all that and so much more.
Brennan tilted her head and gave him an uncertain, suspicious smile in return. She flushed, ever so slightly, which only heightened the renewed anticipation. "What is that smile?"
"Just happy to see you, Bones, because," he moved toward her with a confident stride, placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around, "we have to go talk to the motorcycle sales guy." He started to take off her lab coat.
"I thought you were going to take Sweets?" she asked, allowing her coat to be pulled away from her, but not without also stopping and pivoting around to Booth. "Why do you need me?"
Booth took the step in. "Sweets is not my partner." His face was now inches from hers. He forced his gaze to stay with her eyes, but he knew her now even better than ever. He both saw and felt her breathing hitch. "I need you to do your thing where you listen for that one piece of information that you know," he brought his hand up to gesture about her head, "clicks that genius brain of yours into overdrive and gets you to throw all that mumbo jumbo at the suspect."
"You mean accurate and precise vocabulary?"
"Yeah, yeah. Mumbo jumbo. Isn't that what I said?" He turned her around again and dropped a hand down along her back to lead her to her office. "Chop chop, Bones. We have no time to waste."
As they approached her office, Booth handed Brennan her lab coat to hang up and he picked up her purse, putting it on her shoulder and ushered her out. Even though he was the one moving her forward, she was ahead of him, as she always was, and he felt the chase. God, he loved her. He would always chase her. Always.
~oOo~
Angela looked up when she heard a commotion of voices. Hodgins was trying to give Brennan some information while Fischer asked about something else. Brennan called out directions over her shoulder as Booth, hand at her back, guided her away from them.
Brennan's eyes were clear, her face was flushed, and even though she wasn't looking at Booth, her whole body moved with his hand.
They couldn't really go back, but they were definitely moving forward again.
