Disclaimer: I do not own Bones
Thank you Nele!! For Beta-ing!!! Also thanks to all who took the time to review!!
Jared came back into the living room fully dressed and came to sit on the couch by Brennan. Brennan turned to look at him. "So, how is he? He seemed a little distant at first today."
Jared gave her a small smile and leaned towards her slightly. "Tempe, you know this is a lot to get used to. I mean he can't remember so many things. This morning he asked me if you too were actually secret lovers or something." He saw fear mixed with hope flash on her face and decided it was best to continue, "He said that you were so attentive to him that he could only conclude there was more between you."
She cleared her throat lightly. "And, what did you tell him Jared? When he asked I mean?"
He gave her a friendly smile and put his arm around her shoulders. "I told him the same thing the both of you always tell me, or at he least told me before, that you are Partners, good friends even. Close like brother and sister, that you care deeply for each other, but not romantically." He paused giving her shoulder a light squeeze and looking into her eyes questioningly. "I'm not wrong right? That's what you always told me."
Brennan shook her head, then removed herself from his grasp under the guise of getting another cup of coffee. "No, you are not wrong. We're partners, he's one of my best friends, and I do care deeply for him. I wouldn't exactly say I think of him as a brother though." She tried to muster up a smile but only succeeded in placing a sad smirk on her face.
"Okay Tempe, you just let me know if you want me to butt out of this, but I'm going to ask you something here, and if the answer is what I think it'll be, I'll back off. All you have to do is say the word." He said coming forward and placing a hand on each of her shoulders. "Are you interested in more than friendship with him?"
Brennan flushed instantly, denial setting in.How can I possibly say anything of the sort… the man has amnesia. Even if I could honestly answer that question without any doubt, it wouldn't matter, he doesn't remember me. Shaking her head slightly to break her reverie she looked down as she spoke softly. "Jared, don't be ridiculous, he's my partn…"
Before she could even finish what she was saying, Jared had leaned forward and was placing a passionate kiss on her lips. His tongue sliding into her awestruck mouth as she fought to pull away… Her eyes catching sight of an equally awestruck Booth in the hall.
Regretfully he let her go, his face flushed. "Temperance I'm so sorry, I just thought…" His voice trailed off as she broke away from him and went after Booth down the hallway towards his bedroom.
"Booth!" She called but to no avail, he wasn't interested in listening to her, he simply slammed the door to his room in her face as she got there trailing his heels.
Brennan knocked lightly on the door calling through it to him. "Booth, it's not what you think. I promise you it's not what you think!" Her voice desperate and sad. Why is it I am acting like I've been cheating on someone, why do I have this guilty pain?
Booth, hearing the desperation in her voice, went to open the door and let her in. He just stood staring at her as she looked deeply into his eyes and saw the pain residing there.
"Booth, I know I've hurt you, but I don't know why. I mean I know he's your brother, and trust me I did not intend to kiss him, for that matter." She rambled on quickly, "I didn't kiss him, he kissed me!"
She paused to take him in again, seeing the hurt in his eyes turning somewhat toward anger she stepped back, mistakenly believing the anger was towards her. "I'm sorry Booth… Maybe… Maybe I should just go."
He reached out a hand and grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him. Enveloping her in a tender embrace he allowed his anger to be replaced with contentment. Here, with his arms wrapped around this woman, he was content, happy even. He may have been told by his brother that there was nothing there, but as he held her, and she allowed him to hold her, he knew that his brother had to have been lying.
Images flashed through his mind.
He was on the ground, her hands bound and wrapped around his neck, she was crying into his chest as he gently rubbed her back and reassured her it was okay…
He was now standing, her facing away from him, crying, her voice cracking as she spoke 'I have a brother…my name is….' He lost the words which she spoke but pulled her into another reassuring hug.
Many more visions flew past, but one stopped him in his tracks and he pulled her closer as it flashed in his mind;
She was holding his lapels and pulling him closer, she began kissing him, tentatively at first, but from there it grew into an almost passionate kiss before she pulled away timidly.
After that vision had flooded his mind, all he could think of was kissing her, but decided to hold back. He needed more information, however he couldn't ask her. She was taking him to the Jeffersonian today, where all the 'squints' worked. Surely someone there would have the answers he desperately wanted, even craved.
So he reluctantly pulled back from the embrace and looked down at her, somewhat surprised to see her eyes glistening with unshed tears before she managed to blink them back. He gave her a charming smile and spoke softly. "So, how about we head over to the Jeffersonian like you said? I'd really like to spend the time with you, plus I'd like to see everyone else too."
She grinned back at him. "Sure Booth, let me know when you are ready." She then began to move away from him, when unexpectedly he captured her hand.
"You're not getting away that easily Bones, I'm ready now." He grinned as she led him out towards the apartment door, not even trying to pull her hand out of his grasp.
They arrived at the Jeffersonian a little while later, everyone greeted them eagerly. They sat in the upstairs lounge talking for a bit before Cam decided it was time to get back to work, and told everyone that they should do so as well.
Booth decided that maybe he should talk to Hodgins. The guy may have told him conspiracy after conspiracy but he seemed an alright guy. He also seemed a friend, someone he could talk to. "Hey Bones?" He asked as she began her way down the stairs after the other, "Would you mind hanging out here a bit longer? I was hoping to talk to Hodgins about something."
She gave him a tentative smile and nodded, "Sure Booth, I'll just go talk to Ange in her office, you let me know when you're done talking to Jack." She flashed him one last dazzling smile before disappearing down the stares and into Angela's office.
He descended the stair and went towards Hodgins office. Once he got there he wasn't exactly sure how to start the conversation, so he simply paused outside the door and hovered.
Hodgins fortunately noticed him and invited him in. "Hey man, whatcha doing out there? Come on in and have a seat." He motioned to a chair next to his at his workstation.
Booth came in and sat down, looking at Hodgins for a moment before speaking. "Hey, I was kinda wondering about some things. Wasn't really sure who to ask. Thought maybe you could help me out, I mean, it seems we're friends, I mean we are right?" He gave Hodgins a hopeful look.
Hodgins just beamed and grinned wildly at him, "Yeah man, we're friends. What's on your mind?"
Booth had a pleasant look on his face, but his eyes betrayed him, his voice even betrayed him when he finally spoke. "Well," He started and then brought his tone to a whispered hush. "It's about Bones."
Hodgins grinned knowingly. "You think you're more? You hope you're more? You want to be more? Which is it?"
Booth looked at him astounded. "Well you could answer any of them and probably help me to be less confused."
Hodgins looked intently at Booth now, not wanting to hurt him, and not wanting to give him false information. "Truthfully, the way you two always went around saying 'just partners' every chance you got has had everyone wondering for a long time if you were more. Dr. B is a complex person who doesn't often let her feelings show. What I do know is that she cares about you a lot."
He paused and watched as this sank in before continuing. "If you hope or want more from her, I don't know what to tell you. It's not like she goes around professing her undying love for anyone. Hell, she claims she doesn't believe in love." At this comment he saw Booths face sink. "Hey, dude, don't let that crush you. I'll tell you a secret, but you can never tell anyone. I mean anyone dude, I've never even told Angie." He was now looking at Booth expectantly, waiting for confirmation.
Booth simply nodded and Hodgins continued. "Well, I know you don't remember the instance, but you remember us telling you about the first gravedigger case?" Booth nodded. "Well, I tore a page from her book and wrote a note to Angie in case we didn't make it, telling her I loved her. I offered Brennan a page as well, so she could write something to someone she cared about too. Do you know who she chose to write to?" Hodgins paused again as Booth shook his head. "You. She chose to write to you. If we weren't found in time and we died you were the only person she trusted enough to write to. I don't know what she wrote, but I know it was to you. She told me that much. She also told me she had faith in you, that you would find us. Which, obviously you did or we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."
Booth was now blinking back tears as he nodded his thanks to Hodgins and got up to leave his office. Hodgins however was not ready to let him go quite yet. "Booth," He called looking the man directly in the eye, "You need to be careful here. Even if she does love you, you have to be careful. She's easily spooked, and we all care about her a lot. You would do well not to hurt her."
Booth clearly understood the warning. "The last thing I want to do is hurt her, don't worry, I won't do anything rash. I just wanted to make sure everything I'm feeling now wasn't some delusion."
That got Hodgins up out of his chair. "What exactly are you feeling now?"
Booth smiled dreamily as he spoke. "Every time she's near me, my heart beats so fast I think it's going to explode, I can't wait to see her, talk to her. She was the last thing I thought about last night before falling asleep and the first thing on my mind this morning. I just feel… so close to her. Like we should be more. Like she is the only thing I need in life. I know, it sounds cheesy, but you did ask after all." He gave Hodgins a grin.
Hodgins' own grin widened significantly as Booth left his office.
I can't wait to talk to Angela!!
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