On Monday morning, Brennan walked straight into Angela's office.
"I don't think I
can do this anymore."
"What? What's the matter? We're so
close. And I've found the perfect girl!"
"You have? Who is she?"
"Well, she works here, in the mail room. She's blonde, she loves football, and she wants tons of kids…that's basically what Booth said he likes on the questionnaire…I couldn't believe I found her practically under our noses. Bren, this really is perfect. Pretty soon Booth will fall in love with her. We don't have to have an actual Brenda, we can just tell him that we've found someone else. He'll really like Mandi."
"Oh…"
"What's the matter, sweetie? Aren't you glad? Cause if not, you know, this is the place to stop…I mean we could just call the whole thing off."
"No, no, this is good. I mean, it's what I want…Booth really said that on the questionnaire?"
"Well"… Angela knew this was tricky…"he did say those words pretty much." Of course, those had been the things he didn't want…but,...Angela knew it was now or never.
"No, okay…if that's
really what he wants, well, then yeah, that's good…we should
introduce them…but, um…do you think you could do it? I mean, I
don't really think I should, you know."
"Relax…of course
I'll take care of that. I think I'll ask them to have dinner with
Hodgins and me…ooohh that will be fun. Two couples, having a good
time…yeah that will be great."
Angela noticed her best friend almost going green with discomfort.
"Don't worry, Bren, I'll take care of everything" and with that, she walked Brennan to her own office.
"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of."
Angela was pleased when Booth had suggested asking one of the FBI's 'date baits' to be "Mandi". It would work, she'd pretend to be interested in Booth, and no one would get hurt…at least, she hoped that's how it would work out. Both couples had agreed to meet at the diner for their first outing. Surprisingly, Booth had put a stop to that…it was where he and Brennan went…he was not taking a date there, even if it was fake…that was not happening. Also Wong Foos was out.
"Booth, is there anywhere that's not off limits?"
"Yeah, how about that new Mexican restaurant on 3rd Ave?"
"Sounds great…we'll
see you at 7."
Angela walked into Brennan's office while on
her cell phone.
"Buenos at 7 right? On 3rd Ave? Great…see you there….Hey Bren, how's it going?"
"Oh good"
"Hey, what are you writing on your hand?"
"Oh, nothing…just a
grocery list…I'm going to be doing some shopping tonight."
"Oh,
okay, well, I need to run, but I thought I'd just say good
night."
"What? Oh yeah, sure, see you…"
As Angela
walked out of the lab, her phone rang again.
"So, do you think she got the details?"
'Oh yeah, I'd be surprised if she didn't show up tonight."
"Okay…phase three."
'I'm not going to go there…I'm not going to go there…I'm not'
Brennan had been chanting this to herself since the moment Angela had walked out of her office. She checked the address on her palm. Buenos, 3rd Avenue…7pm…what is she doing? She is NOT going to spy on Booth's date! Well…why not? The whole thing was her idea, right? She's the one who wanted Booth to meet someone else…no someone…she had to stop saying someone else…it implied that, well…..anyways, it was up to her to make sure that this 'Mandi' person was good enough for Booth. Angela thought she was great, but Angela always wanted people to be in couples, so Brennan knew she needed to see for herself.
7:15pm…Dressed in all black, she entered the restaurant to pick up her takeout order. She scanned the room and spotted the two couples.
Booth was the first to
see her. He smiled at Mandi. "The goose has landed."
"Excellent"
She picked up her beer and they shared a little toast. Angela and
Hodgins both laughed. They were all careful to not look at Brennan.
Mandi was the only one who was allowed to look at her. Booth took
his napkin and brought it up to her mouth as if to wipe off a bit of
food. He let his hand linger for a couple of seconds. Mandi reached
up and touched his wrist, smiling into his eyes. Booth turned back to
the table and Mandi spared a glance toward Brennan.
Oh…this was bad. 'No…Brennan…this is good', she told herself. Booth seemed to be having a good time. And, Angela was right, she did look perfect for him. Blonde, really pretty, well structured for child bearing…and…she could probably make him really happy. She picked up her food and left.
"So…how did she look?"
"Hmmm…tormented?"
"Ouch…Angela…are
you sure this is working?"
"Booth, trust me…just a little
bit longer. Mandi…just tormented?"
"Well…actually no…there
was a moment where I really thought she was going to come over here,
but then it looked like…well…it looked like she was just resigned
to it. She wasn't happy or anything, but just…sort of…I don't
know…you know like that cheesy saying 'If you love something, let
it go'? Something like that. She's letting go of you, Booth."
"Booth, dude, that's actually kind of sweet."
"Yeah, well, it doesn't feel sweet. It feels like torture. Angela, I can't take more of this."
"Booth, don't worry…I have a feeling she'll come around. And if not soon, well, then I'll jump in and act…after all, what are best friends for, right?"
"Yeah…but soon, okay?"
Booth arrived home at about 11pm. He laughed when he saw Brennan asleep outside his door. Angela was right…it hadn't taken long.
"Hey…wake up…is everything okay?" He helped her off of the floor.
"Booth…whoa…um…what time is it?"
"Only about 11pm…you're getting old if you're falling asleep."
"Very funny…how was
your date?"
"Good…what are you doing here?" He opened his
door, and she followed him inside.
"Well, I wanted to tell you something."
"Yes?"
'Well…I wanted to tell you…now that you're with Mandi…well that I made Brenda up. There is no Brenda…there is no college friend who would be perfect for you."
"Ah…I see."
"Yeah,
I'm sorry…I didn't mean to lie to you, and now that you're
happy, well, I thought I'd come clean."
"Why did you do it?" He sat next to her on the couch. He didn't like that she'd come clean with him and he still had a lie out there.
"Well, I wanted you…to be happy, Booth. I want you to find someone else…I mean…someone…someone who can make you happy…someone amazing… like Mandi."
"Oh…did I seem unhappy to you before?"
"No…"
"Is
that all you want to say to me?"
"Um…yes…that's all. Except I want you to call me 'Bones' again."
'What?"
"You stopped, once you heard about 'Brenda', and I want you to call me that again."
Booth smiled. Her hair was ruffled from sleeping, and he reached up to smooth it over her forehead. "Bones".
She gasped. "Say it again."
He leaned in and brushed her lips with his own…"Bones"
She kissed him back, pushing his shoulders back with her hands. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her until she was lying directly on top of him. He smoothed his hands down to her hips and gave a squeeze. She gasped.
"Bones, you're amazing…you are so amazing…"
She froze.
"What? What is it?"
"Booth, this isn't right….what about Mandi?"
'Who? What, Bones, wait…"
She jumped up and ran for the door.
"Bones…stop…please…"
She opened his door, paused, but couldn't bear to look at his face
"I'm sorry Booth, I never meant for this to happen. I'm glad your date went well. I'm sure you'll be very happy." And she shut the door behind her.
Stunned, Booth sat back on his couch. He picked up his phone.
In her car, Brennan did the same.
"Hi…you've reached Angela's phone…leave a message."
"Angela, it's me" they both said, "Call me back right away…it's bad."