A/N: Guys, what the hell? You totally guessed what I was going to do next!
Bones walked into the apartment and immediately began stripping off his blue scrubs. It had been a tiresome shift; three cadets and one professor had come in to be treated for traumatic injuries. One of the cadets had taken off in a shuttle during a lesson when a reactor in the impulse engine had depolarised and sent the shuttle in a spin down to the ground.
Bones treated the two cadets who were less seriously injured; severe concussions, a broken leg and rib. Things that were reparable. The professor and other cadet were in the intensive care ward; they were both pretty banged up. Bones hoped they would make it.
He proceeded to the bathroom to take a shower.
Later on, Bones walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair dripping with water.
He padded into the bedroom, leaving footprints on the wooden floor. Jim was sprawled out on the bed reading a textbook. Bones had not expected him back so early.
"Uh..." Bones started.
"Don't worry buddy." Jim said hopping off the bed. "I'll let you get ready for tonight."
"How did...?"
Jim closed the door behind him with a smirk on his face.
Bones stepped out of the bedroom looking very dapper. He wore a clean, light blue shirt, the top button undone. His pants and shoes were a simple black.
Jim looked over from where he was standing at the replicator. He whistled in an approving way.
"Lisa's gonna love you." Jim said, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"It's Laura. And yes, I hope so."
Jim walked over to Bones, extended a hand and placed it on his shoulder. He lowered his head slightly and spoke quietly.
"Do you need me out of the apartment? For ... you know? Because I'll do that."
Bones huffed and smacked the side of Jim's head. Jim grinned.
"Damn it Jim. It's only our third date! I intend to be the perfect southern gentleman!"
He collected up his jacket and wallet and made his way out the door. As he walked down the corridor of their floor, Jim stuck his head out of the door and yelled to Bones.
"If you change your mind, comm. me in advance! And don't forget to use protection!"
Bones did not justify Jim's comment by turning around. He simply kept on walking and called back light-heartedly.
"Fuck off, Jim!"
Bones heard not only the laughter of Jim as he continued on his way, but what sounded like his two young neighbours crying with absolute hysterics.
"Oh, it's so true. I tried to stick the hypo in his neck but he struggled and I ended up sticking it near his jaw bone. Isn't gonna do any good there is it?"
Bones chuckled at Laura's story as he took a sip of his wine. Laura smiled and pushed her brown hair off her shoulders. She leant forward slightly pulling herself into the table a bit more.
"I completely understand. My roommate, Jim, has an absolute phobia of them. Got any advice for hypospray- phobia? You being a psychiatrist and all."
"I work in a civilian clinic, Leonard. I'm not particularly well-versed in how to force a soldier-in-training to toughen up and get his shots."
Bones grinned in amusement. He observed Laura's grace and charm. Her eyes were an interesting shade of green and light freckles smattered her face. The short, red dress she wore accentuated her body nicely. He reminisced on the day he had met her. She had been a fill-in psychiatric consultant at the academy hospital for the day and they made an instant connection. He was attracted to her sharp mind... the unorthodox methods she had suggested were actually brilliant in practice.
There was a pause in the conversation. But it was a comfortable pause. They both used the lack of speaking as an opportunity to eat the food in front of them. As Bones shoveled a final piece of lamb into his mouth, Laura opened up a new line of conversation.
"Let's go outside. It's getting a bit stuffy in here." Laura suggested.
Bones nodded as he chewed his food and made a signal to the waiter. He received the bill and paid the hefty amount; in retrospect he should have gone a bit lighter on the wine.
They made their way out into the cool night air. Laura took in a large breath and exhaled loudly as she took in the night view. Bones tentatively took her hand in his. She did not pull back and he tried to suppress the spreading smile on his face.
They walked over a small bridge nearby and stopped.
"It's beautiful." Laura remarked. "The water... look how the moonlight reflects on it with the waves. It's exquisite."
"Just like the woman I'm looking at." Bones said softly, feeling like a sap.
Laura turned to face Bones slowly, the wind tossing her hair. Bones outstretched his hand to push it off her face. He let his hand linger and before he knew what he was doing, he was leaning towards Laura's face. He kissed her gently.
Laura wrapped a hand around Bones' neck and kissed him back eagerly.
Shit, this is actually happening.
About 30 seconds after Bones walked back into the apartment after his date, Jim got off the couch and offered a fist bump which Bones gladly gave.
"You haven't looked this pleased with yourself for a while Bones! And you didn't even get laid." Jim teased. "She must be an excellent kisser."
"How-"
"You have a gorgeous red tinge to your lips. Unless that's just from the wine." Jim said, winking.
Bones visibly blushed like an embarrassed school boy. He was inwardly very happy with how the date had gone, but Jim's perceptive abilities never ceased to annoy him.
"I'm going out." Jim said pulling on a jacket.
"Jim, it's 11pm. And you have an exam tomorrow!"
"Night's still young!" Jim replied. "And plus, I'll ace that exam. Just wait."
"Idiot." Bones muttered as Jim flounced out the door.
Bones took to cleaning his teeth. He took all his clothes off and pulled on his sleeping pants. He lay down in bed with the image of a beautiful woman on a moonlit bridge and fell into the blissful oblivion of sleep.