Title: Amongst the Gravestones

Disclaimer: Language, violence; angst possible.

Chapter Eleven: One Thing

He pulled into the first free parking spot he found outside the Jeffersonian. The sun was disappearing behind the gathering clouds of promised rain. More damn rain. He heard the rumble of thunder in the distance. Judging by the way the wind was picking up they were in for a hell of a storm. Most of the nasty storms hit the Plains' states during the early months of spring but it wasn't unheard of for one of those storms to tear through Washington DC. He walked slowly toward the entrance of the lab, wasting even more time. As he walked over the threshold into the Jeffersonian he heard Zack talking in a hushed and hurried tone as Hodgins stood by. They seemed to be arguing about something. Booth decided he didn't want to be a part of whatever it was so he made no attempt to say hi. He slipped passed them into the main room. Angela was in the corner having a chat with Dr Goodman, who was smiling and laughing about something. They all seemed to be in high spirits. And none of them, oddly enough, seemed to be working. Didn't they have a body to be working on?

He stood at the bottom of the stairs knowing full well that he couldn't pass through the alarm system without setting it off. He kept asking for Dr Goodman to give him a clearance card of his own but so far he hadn't gotten anywhere. He put his hands in his pockets as he waited. The idea of calling for some help popped into his head. He chased it away. If he had been lucky enough to sneak into the lab, chances were, he could sneak back out. He'd wait just five more minutes. If no one showed, he was gone. They could get mad at him all they wanted. At least he showed up.

"How long have you been standing there?" Bones asked, coming down the steps to let him through. "You could have called for one of us, you know."

"I could have," Booth agreed. "However, I figured you would all be working. At least, that's what I thought on my drive over here. But when I saw that both Hodgins and Zack were by the front door and Angela was talking to Dr Goodman I figured what the hell, why should I bother them?"

Booth," Bones said a bit testily. "We've all been here since early this morning. I've been here since about four. All the evidence has been gone over. Tests are being run. We have done all that we can with the body at the moment. Angela even gave us a face to work with."

She handed him a piece of paper. He looked it over. The nearly decomposing body now had the face of a lovely young red-head with emerald green eyes. The bridge of her nose and her cheeks were absent of the freckles he expected to find there. She looked to be about nineteen in the computer-compiled picture. He handed it back to Bones.

"Alright, have you searched the Missing Persons database?" he asked knowing full well that they would have thought of that.

"Yes, and there weren't any hits," she confirmed. "I think she was either living on her own so no one was worried about her, or she was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Or no one missed her," Booth stated somewhat coolly. He crossed his arms over his chest.

Brennan put the paper on the desk and looked at him with a scowl. "What is wrong with you? I tried calling you in earlier but you ignored my calls. Now you're treating me like I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. Did I do something to piss you off, Booth?"

"No," he told her. He had to be honest with himself; she hadn't done anything. It wasn't her fault that he couldn't get up the courage to ask her out. It also wasn't her fault that the universe kept throwing pegs in the cogs and redirecting their course.

"Well, when you feel like actually talking to me and working this case with me, you know where to find me," she replied turning to leave him standing there alone. He watched her stalk away, her pride having taken a blow. She disappeared into her office, closing the door behind her.

He sighed, his shoulders slumping a bit. He had just gone and made things worse. Running a hand through his hair he tried to decide what would be the best course of action; going back to his office to work on the case or going after Brennan. Zack came charging up the stairs look about as pissed as Brennan had. Hodgins was close behind him. Upon spotting Booth Zack headed in his direction.

"You haven't seen my necklace have you?" he asked.

Booth looked at him and then at Hodgins, who offered up an explanation. "Brennan gave it to him and he lost it. He's running around like a mad man."

Zack whirled on Hodgins. "Well you promised to take me by the bridal store to see if it was there and you didn't." He turned back to Booth. "Can you give me a lift? It'll be a quick drive, I promise."

"Sorry, no can do, Zacky," Booth apologized. "I have to talk with Brennan. Maybe afterwards."

He didn't waste anytime in turning to head toward Brennan's office. Let someone else deal with the problems of Zack. It was just a necklace. Sure, Booth had been the one to convince Bones that she needed to buy it but that was before. Before what, he asked. Before he made such an ass out of himself over nothing. He knocked on the closed door. She didn't answer. He opened the door, entered the office and closed it behind him. She looked away from her monitor to see who it was. Then it was back to typing her novel. This was the first time he could remember getting the cold shoulder from her.

"Bones, I'm sorry," he started off, thinking that an apology would make for a good start. "I know that I was being jerk, and it's not your fault. It's mine. See, I've got this idea in my head and I've been beating myself up over it and I took it out on you. The wrong person."

She stopped typing and turned to him. "What's on your mind?"

He plopped down in one of the many chairs in her office. "Well, you see, if I could tell you that I wouldn't be having such a problem. On a whim I made this really ridiculous New Year's resolution. Every year I make them knowing that I won't keep them, but I make them anywhere. It's kind of like my own tradition. This year, though, this year I pledged to keep my resolution. The only problem is, I haven't gotten up the courage to ask you out and I don't think I ever will."

"Ask me out where?" Bones asked him, stopping his ramble.

"For a drink. After work," he stated, feeling a bit like he was in high school again and asking out the head cheerleader. "You know, like on a date."

She just looked at him for a few moments. Then said, "When?"

He shrugged. "Like tonight, or something. Maybe tomorrow. Whenever you're free."

"Booth, we have a case to work," she said. She glanced at her computer screen for a moment. "And I have this deadline…"

"Hey," he said, getting up from the chair, "don't worry about it. Take the offer off the table. Pretend it never happened."

Brennan watched him turn to leave. He seemed to have deflated like balloon with a hole. She felt bad. Would it really be so bad to go on a date with Booth? Angela was always on her case about the FBI agent. And Brennan had to admit, she was kind of jealous that Angela and Hodgins were so happy. She wanted what they had. But could she have it with Booth? Or would it be nothing but heartache? She chewed her bottom lip.

"Wait, Booth," she spoke suddenly. He turned to look at her, his hand on the doorknob. "Tonight sounds like it would be fine. Pick me up at seven? At my place?"

He offered her a sincere smile. "It's a date."