AN: The lovely Lenora sent me a whole list of prompts for these little text message conversations, including this idea. I can't wait to dive into more of her suggestions but until then, I hope she (and you!) likes this one. I'm not sure if it's entirely what she had in mind but it's what came out when my fingers hit the keyboard. Enjoy!

.

.

.

.

Sweets stood at one end of the conference room next to a portable white board easel, a bright blue marker in his hand, and smiled at his captive audience. Getting everyone to come had required a feat of Herculean effort and he still wasn't sure he would have succeeded without an extra push from the senior administration to Cam. Not that Booth still hadn't tried to ignore the summons but the only thing his reluctance had earned him was a late arrival that forced him to take the last seat available on the side of the table closest to the door. He was still grumbling at not being able to sit beside Brennan when Sweets began speaking.

"Thank you all for coming," he smiled out at all of them and ignored the fact that no one except Daisy smiled back. "I know you all have busy schedules so-"

"You promised us lunch," Hodgins interrupted, tilting his chair back on two legs.

Sweets nodded. "Yes, Jason's Deli is delivering-"

"I'm kinda hungry now," Fisher mused out loud. "Wish I had a donut."

"We were going to bring donuts," Daisy piped up, "but Lancelot and I got a little distracted this morning." She simpered and batted her eyes at the faintly blushing psychologist.

"I don't think they want to hear about that, Daisy," he began.

"Dear God, no," Clark Edison muttered with a shake of his head. "Dr. Brennan, do I really have to be here?"

She shrugged. "This was Dr. Saroyan's idea. I certainly believe our time would be better spent in the lab."

Cam glared at both of them. "Yes, people, you have to be here! Orders came from the Office of the Director so if you want to continue working cases with the FBI . . ."

"Look, guys," Sweets pleaded from the front of the room, his hands open wide. "This will only take a few hours and I think you'll be surprised at how helpful you might-"

"I'll go for donuts, if anyone else wants them," Fisher offered.

"I could eat," Wendell nodded.

"I'll never lose this baby weight if I eat donuts," Angela said. "But I'll take a raspberry-filled."

"No!" Sweets shook his head. "No one is leaving. If you'll just let me-"

Brennan's phone vibrated gently in her pocket.

. . . . . cant blev u didnt save me a seat

She frowned across the length of the table at Booth.

You work in this building. I thought you would be here first and would secure a seat for me.

He read the message, looked up at her and shook his head.

. . . . . like im gonna get here early

Obviously I was mistaken but you have only your own late arrival to blame for the lack of seating options.

. . . . . was trying 2 get out of coming period

Since you're here, I can assume those efforts were unsuccessful.

. . . . . ya think?

Booth watched Sweets scribble something on the white board and hunched down further in his chair.

. . . . . prob wrong 2 wish 4 a dead body huh?

Yes.

Sweets wiped the board and began a list of bullet points.

However, locating human remains that were buried long ago is perfectly acceptable. That person is already dead.

. . . . . Yea lets go w/that. keep ur fingers crossd

Sweets drew a large circle around the bullet points.

He's very excited about this, isn't he?

. . . . . do u no what hes talking about?

Of course not. I don't pay attention to Dr. Sweets.

. . . . . what if he gives us a test aftr? its sweets he might

I'll pass, of course. I always get full marks on tests.

. . . . . not if u dont pay attn

We'll see.

. . . . . kinda cocky there bones :-)

Perhaps I've been spending too much time with you.

. . . . . yea im a bad influence

You certainly have your moments.

. . . . . i had a moment last nite :-)

You certainly did.

. . . . . sure ur heads ok?

Yes. The swelling has almost receded completely.

. . . . . good. u no that was an accident

Of course I know you didn't drop me on purpose, Booth. Although I do have to point out that I did warn you of the potential danger.

. . . . . but it was fun right?

Until you dropped me.

. . . . . i tried to catch u! ! !

Well, yes. Unfortunately my head had already hit the floor when you grabbed my ankles.

. . . . . the crack it made was loud. scary

Once again I must point out that if we'd been lying down, that situation would not have arisen. Or more precisely, fallen. Or specifically, been dropped.

. . . . . hey when we got the bleeding stopped i apologizd. very well if i do say so myself

I am fond of the way you apologize.

Sweets stopped speaking mid-sentence when Booth snorted loudly. He frowned as he watched the FBI agent tap away at his phone and was drawing breath to speak when he heard the faint sound of Brennan's phone vibrate from where she sat at the other end of the table. Eyes narrowed, he stared in disbelief as she read from her phone, a faint smile playing over her lips, and typed a response. Immediately, Booth's phone lit up.

Hands on his hips, he glared at Booth as he smirked at the tiny screen while his thumbs played over the keyboard. His head swiveled back to Brennan in time to see her teeth nibble at her lower lip as she considered for a few seconds before her own fingertips flew over the keys.

By this time the rest of the group, who had mostly been lost in their own thoughts and only pretending to pay attention to his lecture, noticed the silence coming from Sweets. One by one they caught on to his focus on Booth and Brennan and the private conversation being held as first one and then the other tapped away on the phones in their hands. Oblivious to anything but the texts flying between back and forth and unaware of the attention being paid to them, the exchange continued as their audience watched avidly.

Booth's shoulders moved in a silent chuckle as he pecked out another message.

Brennan rolled her eyes at the screen and fired something back.

He pulled a face, shaking his head even as his fingers flew over the keys.

One eyebrow lifted high, she stared meaningfully at the screen for a moment before responding.

He paused, blinking, before a slow smile danced across his face and very slowly, he input a few words.

Cam and Angela met each other's gaze and looked away quickly, hands clasped tightly over their mouths, barely managing to hold back the laughter that threatened to burst out.

Brennan's eyes widened and a faint blush warmed her cheeks. Her chin tilted flirtatiously as, the pink tip of her tongue visible against her top lip, she replied.

Beside her, Dr. Edison stared at the ceiling determinedly.

Booth read the text and cleared his throat softly, shifting restlessly in his seat as he wrote back.

Beside him, Wendell stared at the legal pad in front of him and tried not to smile.

Confused, Daisy looked around the room and then at Sweets. "Why are we all being so quiet?" she asked.

Booth and Brennan started simultaneously at her words and that was all it took to release loud guffaws from Hodgins, Angela and Cam. Sweets shook his head, staring from one to the other in annoyance.

"You know," Angela teased, her smile broad, "when I got caught passing notes in class the teacher always read them out loud. What are you guys saying to each other?"

"Nothing," Booth said abruptly, sliding his phone into his inside jacket pocket. "None of your business."

Angela reached over the table. "Come on, Brennan, hand me the phone. Share with the class!"

"I don't think so," Brennan responded, pulling the phone closer to her even as Angela's fingers grabbed for it.

"Guys," Sweets tried to interrupt. "If we could just-"

The phone slipped out of Brennan's hand and went sliding across the slick surface of the conference room table. Angela lunged for it but Brennan's hand reached the small rectangle first, sending it scooting further away. Laughing, Angela crawled up on the table, chasing after it.

"Gotta share with the class, sweetie!" she called out in singsong, squealing loudly as her friend clutched at her legs, pulling her back even as Brennan herself climbed up on the table after the phone. All around the table, chairs were pushed back as the rest of the group laughed and cheered.

"Hodgins, go get your wife!" Booth ordered as the two women grappled in the middle of the table.

"No way, man," Hodgins laughed, stepping back further when Brennan hooked one leg over Angela's and twisted her away from the phone. "You put your hand in there!"

"Leave my phone alone, Angela . . ." Brennan panted, tugging on Angela's outstretched arm as the struggle continued, both of them beginning to giggle.

"This is not part of the class!" Sweets yelled. "I have handouts!"

Fisher pushed his chair against the wall and sat back down.

"This is so much better than donuts."

.

.

And now I want a donut.