CHAPTER 10

They didn't talk for nearly 2 days.

Brennan had been avoiding him and Booth had been giving her her space.

It was 6:30 in the evening on January 3rd when Brennan's office phone rang. Her focus was on the paperwork in front of her and the ringing was interrupting her thought process. She finally looked over to the phone on the 4th ring. She frowned as she read the caller ID: "Pay Phone 555-2529." After a slight hesitation, she picked up the receiver.

"Brennan," she said.

"How 'bout a cup of coffee?" the voice on the other end was cheery and enthusiastic.

"Booth? Why are you calling me from a pay phone?" she asked her partner, suddenly wishing she had ignored the annoying ringing.

"Thought you might be screening your calls since I haven't gotten through to you in the past day and a half," Booth replied, mocking accusation.

"I've been busy getting these IDs from Limbo and I also-"

"Sure, Bones, whatever. Meet me for coffee?" he asked again.

"Why do you want to get coffee?" Brennan inquired, seriously.

He had thought she might ask that and he was prepared.

"There are no murders, Bones," he replied.

"What do you mean there are-" she began, thoroughly confused.

"You said you'd have a cup of coffee with me if there were no murders," Booth replied, smoothly.

"There are still plenty of murders, Booth," Brennan replied, quite literally under the impression that Booth had lost all sense of reality.

"Not for us…not right now. No cases means no murders to solve…for us…you and me. So, I'll ask again: will you have coffee with me?" he was way past prepared and he found himself smiling at his partner's apparent speechlessness.

After a few moments, Brennan finally spoke, "That isn't rational, Booth," she said, trying not to give in as she broke a smile.

"It's perfectly rational…and you haven't answered the question," Booth replied, still smiling to himself.

Brennan sighed. "Fine. On one condition," Brennan replied.

Booth was not expecting this. What condition could she possibly have?

"What?" he asked.

"You promise not to kiss me again," Brennan demanded.

Booth rolled his eyes. "Are you serious? You're going to make me promise that?" Booth asked.

"Well, it seems to be your...thing now. Like your flashy ties and your rebellious socks," Brennan replied, half-smiling, but still serious.

"What? No it's not. It's just been…you know…tradition. It was New Year's-" he was cut off.

"And the second time?" Brennan inquired.

Booth paused as his face scrunched. "Like I said, I had to shut you up," he replied. "And I have a bump on my nose from your jacket zipper, so I don't think I'll be trying that again," Booth replied, successfully addressing the question without officially answering it. Hopefully, she would accept it.

"So, is that a promise then?" she asked, smirking.

Booth rolled his eyes yet again. "Yeah, Bones. Whatever you say. Meet at Montague's in 20 minutes?" he asked.

She didn't have to see him to know that he was wearing a full on charm smile.

"30. I have to talk to Angela on the way out," Brennan replied.

"See ya then," Booth replied and he hung up, suddenly worried that he had made a promise he wasn't sure he could keep.