Hey all,

Hope you had a lovely holidays for those of you that celebrate at this time of year. I know I did. Thanks again for all of the lovely comments and for those of you that have put this story on their alerts. It gives me warm fuzzies knowing you all are reading. :)

Disclaimer: As always, I don't own BONES, despite my requests to Santa. :)

*****

Part 10

Booth tried to distract himself by going back to the bar and getting another drink. He wasn't driving tonight, so he figured he might as well take advantage of the free booze, especially when he had to contend with his irritating boss dancing with his irritating partner. Scratch that…she wasn't irritating, in fact far from that. It's this situation that's irritating. As if to add insult to injury, yet another source of irritation was approaching him in the form of Peyton Perotta.

He had to admit in the beginning there had been a small spark between them, and definitely some mild flirtation. At the time he had thought that it was nice to be noticed and appreciated as a man, but the attraction had quickly faded for him even before his coma. Since his coma and his ever-increasing feelings for Bones, her flirtation with him had become downright irritating. Unfortunately, it seemed she hadn't quite yet gotten the message that he wasn't interested.

Perotta sidled up next to Booth at the bar and gave him a sexy smile.

"Hey Booth., how's it going?"

Trying to be polite, he gave in to the conversation and responded, "Pretty good Peyton. You?"

"I've been keeping busy. Hacker's got me working with Demello these days, so I'm mostly out of D.C. How are your squints doing? I've kind of missed working with them – it's nice when the people you work with are a bit unpredictable and that bunch certainly is that!"

She grinned and took a large sip from her glass. There was something about this man that unsettled her. Who was she kidding…it's because he's a great guy and he's gorgeous…

Booth couldn't help but chuckle at her comment. "Unpredictable is definitely a good word to describe them. So are brilliant, irritating and slightly insane, but you can't deny their track record," he grinned proudly.

"Definitely," she smiled indulgently. Starring at his smile was like sunshine – you couldn't help but grin stupidly at how happy it made you feel.

She glanced around the foyer. "So where's the head squint herself, the good Dr. Brennan? I would have expected you and her to be cutting a rug in celebration by now."

Instantly, Booth's smile faltered at the mention of his partner's name. Trying to seem non-chalant, he replied, "Hacker ambushed us. She's out dancing with him."

Peyton had heard rumours that their new boss had a thing for Brennan. She supposed that the rumours were in fact real, given the uncomfortable look on Booth's face. This only bolstered her courage. Seeing an opportunity, she went for it.

"Well, since you appear to be free…"

She was interrupted by a boisterous holler from over her shoulder.

"Hey Peyton! Come do me a favour and dance with your partner! He's getting on my nerves!"

Two men walked up from behind. Booth recognized them as Chris Smith, another homicide agent and Vince Demello, Perotta's new partner. It was obvious that both had been taking advantage of the open bar.

Shaking her head at the two men she replied, "Well, I was just about to ask Booth here for one."

Booth smiled slightly. "No worries Perotta. Go dance with your partner. We'll catch up later."

She smiled at him regretfully before turning to the two others. "All right Demello, show me what you're made of. Do you even know how to lead a lady?"

Demello retorted back, "Who said anything about you being a lady!" as they walked back to the hall.

Their voices faded behind him as Booth turned back to the bar to pick up Brennan's glass. He decided to suck it up and go back to the table in hopes that she was finished dancing by now.

When he headed back he noted that Brennan wasn't back yet and Cam was sitting at the table by herself, nursing a glass of wine in her hands. She glanced up as he approached.

"I never pegged you for liking girly drinks, Seeley," Cam smirked as he sat down beside her.

"Don't call me Seeley, Camille. It's Brennan's," he sarcastically retorted as he put the glass down and glanced out onto the dance floor.

Knowing who he was looking for, she told him, "She's still dancing with Hacker."

Booth grunted as he looked down at the scotch on the rocks between his hands, starring moodily into the amber liquid.

Wanting to help her friend out, Cam put down her glass and stood up, offering her hand.

"Okay Big Man, I know what will cheer you up. Come dance with me. You can cut in on Hacker and offer me up as a sacrificial lamb."

He glanced up sheepishly at his friend and took her hand, thinking that she knew him too well and that her idea wasn't half bad.

Just as they got onto the dance floor the song changed and the crowd shifted to accommodate joiners and leavers. Unfortunately for Booth, it was at this point that Brennan and Hacker decided to follow the leavers, leaving him and Cam behind on the dance floor. Not wanting to be rude, Booth turned his attention back to his former girlfriend and smiled wistfully.

"Thanks Cam," he whispered gruffly, as he guided her masterfully through a waltz.

She smiled back encouragingly. "No worries. What are friends for? I forgot how great of a dancer you are!"

He grinned at the compliment. "You wanna have some fun?"

She laughed and replied, "Show me what you've got, G-Man!" and he sent her out for a turn.

Little did he know that Brennan was watching from the sidelines, staring wistfully at the laughing pair.

*****