Mia stood in the doorway for a moment, pinching herself in the back to try and get back in control. She…she was the president of the debate team. She…she didn't swoon over anything, ever, and here she was hardly able to stand in the same room as a man. This was crazy. "So, Dr. Sweets."

"Call me Sweets, Miss Valentine."

"Okay, Sweets…and, you should call me Mia." She reached out her hand to shake his again.

He smiled and shook her hand. "Okay, Mia."

She smiled, "Are you nervous for your presentation?"

"Um…a little, I guess. I mean. It's my alma mater, so… I don't know, I want to impress my old professors, I guess. I want them to be proud of me."

She remembered his profile. "Bachelor's, Master's, then Doctorate degrees, all in six years? That's pretty impressive."

"Thank you." He answered.

She smiled again and pulled her hand back once she realized she was still holding his. He caught it and turned it over to look at what she had written on it. COD 4

"Call of Duty?" He asked.

She tilted her head. "Yes. Have you played it?"

His eyebrows rose. "Uh, yeah. Played it. Destroyed it."

She smiled. "That's wicked awesome."

"Yeah. And you know who else I think would totally love Call of Duty? Dr. Brennan. She's really great. I mean. She's really smart and totally confident."

Mia clasped her hands behind her back and turned toward the table.

"Oh, yeah. I bet she would like that." She answered with a forced smile.

Turning when she heard the door open, she saw Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth enter the room.

Booth was still in shock. How could Sweets not see what was right in front of him? Even Bones could see that…this girl seemed great. She was cute, smart, an anthropologist and…she obviously thought he was kind of cute. I mean…she was right there, in front of Sweets, and he couldn't see it. He shook his head.

"Uh, Booth?" He saw Bones wave her hand in his face.

"Bones?" He shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"Uh, yeah, Booth…it's me, right in front of your face…hello!"

"What do you want, Bones?" he swatted her hand away.

"It's time for the presentation to start. Let's go, Booth."

"Oh, okay."

Mia stood backstage of the auditorium and watched Sweets give his presentation on focused outcomes. Dr Brennan and Agent Booth sat behind him and every once in awhile she would see one of them look at the other subtly.

Sweets' presentation was interesting, but not as interesting as the undercurrent between the two partners.

Booth had to force himself to sit still and not comment to Bones on Sweets' presentation while it was going on. Although he had to admit, the boy was doing a pretty good job. Booth understood about 80% of what Sweets was talking about, so he just sat there, looking interested and smiling every once in awhile.

Sweets saw that he was close to the end of his notes and was pretty pleased with the way things were going. He had expected to be nervous, but…having Booth and Brennan sitting behind him while talking about them, among other things, had been a bit overwhelming at first.

Brennan was feeling confused. She understood all of what Sweets was saying. That wasn't the confusing part. What she was confused about was Booth's comment from the before. He'd said they didn't have much to worry about because it was only their professional lives that would be on display, not their personal lives…but what Sweets was describing…that seemed kind of personal to her.

Once the presentation was over, they all four made their way back to the side room.

"Well done, Sweets." Brennan told him.

"Thanks Brennan" He blushed a bit.

Immediately Booth's eyes moved to Mia and she caught it and blushed. Damn it, was she that obvious? She looked toward Sweets. He wasn't even looking anywhere near her direction.

She wasn't sure whether to be bummed about that or not.

Booth pulled Sweets to the side as they were all getting ready to exit the building. "Hey Sweets. I forgot to tell you the other day…Bones…she…she says she hates it when men smoke, but…she really thinks it's sexy."

Sweets raised his eyebrows. "Really? Because, that would surprise me."

"I know, I know" Booth raised his hands, "but, it's true. She'll never admit it of course, and she'd probably go on and on about how 'unhealthy' it is and how it's such a 'detriment' to the physical body. But…believe me…oh yeah…"

Sweets considered this for a moment. Hmmm…okay…

Booth pulled back a bit and considered his plan.

Part one. Convince Mia that she was right about Sweets.

Part Two: Convince Sweets that Bones was wrong for him by setting him up to fail. Booth felt a twinge of remorse over this part, but…it was all for the greater good, right? Yes, yes…

Part Three: Convince Sweets that Mia was good for him.

Part Four: Convince Bones that…..well, he wasn't sure what he wanted to convince her of…

The four of them stopped at the SUV in the parking lot. Mia turned toward them. "Well…I guess I'll meet you guys at your hotel?" She asked.

"Our hotel?" Sweets asked her.

"Yes…"

"Sweets, Mia is going to be with us for the rest of the trip." Brennan turned to Booth. "She told me. In the bathroom."

Booth hid a grin. "Ah, that's great, Mia. That will be fun. An actual normal person to ride with me. I can't wait."

"Booth…she's also an anthropology major." Brennan informed him.

Booth looked at her. "Mia, Mia, Mia….a squint?" He sighed and shook his head. "Really?"

Mia bit her lip. That sucked. Booth seemed like the one who actually might like to be around her.

She felt rather than saw Sweets lean in behind her and whisper in her ear. "Booth actually loves squints."

Mia suppressed a shiver at the rush of air from his lips over her earlobe and blinked. Oh, this was getting bad. Maybe she needed to ask for some advice.