THIS IMAGE RIGHT HERE? THIS IS HOW I SEE BOOTH LOOKING IN THIS STORY: distilleryimage1. instagram ee02a1b8df4c11e18ac522000a1c 9e07_7. jpg AND ALSO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT PICTURE :P I'M SURE NONE OF YOU ARE COMPLAINING

A/N: OK, I promised myself I wouldn't shower until I put this one up, so as a result I haven't showered in a REALLY LONG TIME. (And so I'm not reading this through before posting). See what I do for you guys, dear readers?

To those of you who very kindly answered my Don't Call It Bones questions, I'm going to copy-paste what I'd said in my PM to one such awesome person:

I suppose one of the reasons I prefer Don't Call It Bones is because I have a vision for that story that I haven't shared with you guys yet, which features a typically intense Booth-Brennan dynamic, but one that's tempered with the added maturity and insecurity that comes with age, and also enhanced by those same elements. Booth doesn't have exercise the same level of caution in his handling of Brennan-not physically,atleast,though he always knows to be careful with 's not a teenage girl or his young charge,here. And, well, there's the boundless opportunities the set of a TV show affords(how ED and DB have managed not to take those with...*that* between them, is beyond me)with the added twist that in _this_ particular show, Booth and Brennan-or atleast their characters-get to do the things we always wanted them to do. (And we get to *SEE* it, too. Don't you like me better than HH? :P) You can only pretend for so long you know. So with the way their relationship progresses, you could equate one month to a year in Bones-canon-verse (and we'll skip the sixth one for good measure). So with all the holding hands, and posing for cameras, and the kissing, and the love scenes (yes,my version of the show will most definitely have those)...well, it's good stuff. :) I only hope I can manage to translate that in print somewhere in this life time.

God, the next few chapters are going to be SO good, I just can't wait to get to them. :D There's going to be two huge twists-or, well, more-that I can bet none of you saw coming. OK, I really need a bath now, so let's get straight down to it.

(And yes, I changed the name of the last chapter. You'll see why in short order.)

Chapter 10

The Problem in the Solution

'To us'

(Either of them)

[There are so many snatches of dialogue from canon verse in this one (including two of my favourite all-time exchanges) that I couldn't decide which one to pick. So I decided to go with simple and beautiful. Fitting, right? This was in close contention with Angela's 'sometimes he's just...whew'. I'm sure you girls know why. Bones points -hehe, Bones points- to those who can point out the less obvious, isolated lines I've borrowed from the show for this chappie.]

The next few weeks passed by in an endless blur. Booth was cranky when Bones was around, and even crankier when she wasn't.

Brennan, for her part, immersed herself in lectures and homework, and she had very little time to spare for anything else. (Briefly, she wondered how she had ever managed to spend so much time with Booth engaged in various activities that they both enjoyed-limited for the most part to eating and talking, although they seemed to do a lot of those things.) However, they were three days into Christmas break now, and nothing could distract her from how much she missed Booth. Over the past week, she had attempted to keep herself occupied by making two social engagements with Jason (although he'd only managed to keep one as he had left to spend Christmas with his family in Vermont) and spending the rest of the time with Angela. As a result, the night when they were supposed to go clubbing, Brennan insisted on stopping by the house to invite Booth, while Angela remained in the car and refused to even come in with her, declaring that she didn't want to have to deal with someone who was 'surly and unbearable' all the time. Angela seemed to have forgotten, ofcourse, that it was her idea to take Booth out in the first place that had prompted Brennan to agree to this evening. When she had confided in her friend that Booth seemed a little unlike himself-without divulging any of the details, Angela had simply prescribed the simplest and most straightforward remedy she could think of.

'Hey, you have to take that man for a drink...and have a little fun yourself.'

Except Booth was already having too much to drink and too little fun. Deciding anything was worth a shot, Brennan had responded,'fun and a drink, where do we find that?'

Angela had just quirked an eyebrow at her. Huffing in frustration, Brennan thought back to the rest of the conversation she'd had with the artist.

'But when I look at him, I...I don't know what else I can do.

'I do'. Angela had replied with more than a usual dose of suggestiveness.

'Ange...'

'As a friend, Brennan.'

'Yeah, that whole friends with benefits thing- that's... that's not happening.'

'I'm not talking about that. I'm-I'm talking about being there for him, knowing when a-a simple touch is enough.'

'Maybe I could write him a note. I can be very articulate on paper.'

This time it had been Angela's turn to roll her eyes, and she had given Brennan a dirty look that suggested she knew that her friend had understood what she'd said and was being deliberately obtuse.

Since then, however, the artist had actually met Booth herself, and decided that she was feeling less than charitable towards him. What Brennan didn't know was that the last of the regular updates on her love life that Angela supplied Booth with had been met with not only the usual dose of quiet anger, but a litany of harsh words-some of which were even directed at the artist herself, and her uncontained glee now that she finally had some juicy details with which to furnish her reports. When she had broached the subject of Booth again, though-however reluctantly-sensing a need for her friend to discuss it, she had been surprisingly insightful once more.

'How's Booth doing?'

'He's angry. I think I said some things.'

'Sweetie...'

'He wasn't being objective. I just had to get him to focus.'

'You have to think before you speak.'

'Why? I can say anything to you without thinking about it first.'

'Yeah, men aren't like us. They're much more fragile and needy. The fact that they think we're the needy ones is a testament to our superiority.

'Yeah, I guess I forgot.'

Brennan sighed as she brought herself back to the present and wiped her boots on the doormat, not knowing what to expect when she entered the house. Booth had been drinking. A lot. He never once lost his temper with her, ofcourse, but he was distant and forbidding, and she didn't know how to get through to him. She knew he had been having nightmares, because his screams had woken her that night a couple of weeks ago-but when she had rushed into his room to check on him, he had simply assured her he was fine before ushering her out the door and locking it shut. It had remained locked every night since. She still remembered the horrified look in his eyes as he sat up in bed, panting and lost, his face white as the sheets he was fisting and bathed in sweat. She knew Booth had had nightmares before, when he returned from the army, and she had even heard Russ and him talking about it once, a long time ago-but he hadn't had any this time around, and she just assumed that they had stopped. It was silly, ofcourse, to imagine that these manifestations of what was obviously a deep-rooted psychological trauma would just disappear like that, but she was just so happy to have the old Booth-her Booth-back that she had chosen to believe the best anyway-or hope for it, atleast. Finally, turning her key in the door, Brennan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stepped into the house.

'Booth'. And there he sat, true enough, glass full of an amber liquid on his left, a few papers strewn out on the table in front of him.

He looked up at her as she entered. Progress, Brennan noted. Eye contact. 'Hey, Bones'. He looked back down at his papers almost instantly.

'Hello'. She took a tentative step forward. 'What are you doing?'

'I, uh-the parts I'd ordered for the Fury got here this morning so I've been looking over the designs'.

'Oh'.

'Why, what's up?' He looked up briefly as she came nearer, then quickly back down again.

'Angela and I are going out-'

'Oh, OK. Have fun'. He waved his pen at her.

'And I was wondering if-' suddenly at her wit's end, Brennan realised she couldn't take this anymore. 'Booth! Will you please look at me!'

Booth looked up, a flicker of surprise registering in his brown eyes. When she didn't say anything for a moment, he went back to his designs.

'I'm looking at you.'

'You say that, but you won't look at me'. Her anger drained, Brennan gave it one more shot. 'You're the one who taught me the value of making eye contact. So, please...?'

She trailed off, too exhausted to continue. Something in her voice must have alerted him to her distress, however, because Booth looked up instantly.

'Sorry. I just...'

Booth froze suddenly as a distant memory flashed before his eyes. 'Joseph, look at me. Please.' His mother, her voice and eyes choking with a mix of grief and frustration that went beyond tears. A dark figure, the top of his head silhouetted by the glare of the TV in front of him, barely visible to the child who was hidden behind the kitchen doorway, invisible to both his parents. 'Please. You won't look at me. Please.'

'Booth?' Brennan was kneeling in front of him now, a hand resting on his cheek. She had sensed that something was very wrong the moment he trailed off and his eyes glazed over, and when he didn't answer her the first few times, she had known that he wasn't ignoring her intentionally. As soon as she placed a hand on his cheek, Booth started and looked into her eyes, as if he had only just been returned to the present.

'Bren?' The door burst open as Angela walked in, but Booth remained unmoving, and Brennan didn't look away either as he stared into her eyes as if the blue depths were his only anchor to reality. 'Uh…Booth, no offense, but you look like hell. Fall asleep on the couch or something?'

'Bones?'

The soft, choked sound escaped his lips, for her ears alone.

'I'm right here. It's alright, Booth. I'm here.'

Neither of them paid much attention to the woman standing in the doorway, but Brennan realised vaguely that she should get her out of the room as soon as possible. She didn't know how or why, but she knew Booth wouldn't want anyone else around him right then. 'Uh...Ange, could you please get Booth a glass of water? It might help wake him up a bit.'

'Uh, sure'. Ange replied automatically. Almost from the moment she had opened her mouth, the artist could tell that something was going on between them-something wrong. She figured it had to do with whatever the hell had possessed Booth over the past few weeks, and she wished she hadn't come in to check on Bren or said anything in the first place. Wouldn't want to provoke the sleeping black beast. At Brennan's request, she quickly made herself scarce, heading to the kitchen to fetch him some water.

'Thanks, for that.' Booth's voice was small and weak, unlike the man himself. One large hand had come up to cover the one she had resting on her cheek, and he gave hers a grateful squeeze.

'Breathe, Booth'.

'I'm…trying.'

'Sh. That's right. OK'. Brennan breathed exaggeratedly for his benefit, encouraging him to mimic her actions.

Once his breathing had slowed to somewhere near the normal rate, he opened his eyes and looked right at her. Because she was kneeling in front of him and he was crouched forward on the edge of the couch, they were nearly at eye-level. The searing intensity in his eyes caused her to inhale sharply. She was about to withdraw her hand from where it still rested on the coolness of his cheek, but he reached up and wrapped his own hand around it, leaning into her touch and enveloping her hand in the warmth of his larger palm. That was Booth all over-warm and cool, scorching heat and invariably impenetrable cold.

'I'm sorry', he said simply.

'F-for what?' Then she realised that he must be referring to the episode from moments earlier, and her brow furrowed. 'Booth, you don't have to be-'

'No, not for this. For…for the past few weeks. I'm sorry.'

Booth looked at her-really looked at her-for the first time since she had entered the room, and his heart skipped a beat. God, she's so beautiful. She was dressed in a form-fitting red sequined top and jeans, and she smelled…mm, divine. Her smoky make-up was subtle and understated and sexy, and he couldn't remember ever seeing anything that made him happier to look at-just Bones, maybe. No make-up, no anything.

'We don't have to talk about that now.'

'No, I-'

'Here you go, Booth'. Booth sighed and ran a hand through his hair as Angela's voice interrupted him, giving Bones a look that suggested they would continue the discussion later.

'Thanks, Angela'. He flashed her a feeble but attempting-to-be-genuine smile and took the proffered glass, downing it in one gulp. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise and Brennan smiled, having long ago acquainted herself with Booth's tendency to ingest anything in larger quantities than a 'normal' person. 'So…are you coming with us?' Angela asked, tempering her impatience.

'Coming where?'

Taking the glass from Booth, Brennan set it aside. Their linked hands still rested on his knee, Booth's thumb absently caressing the back of her fingers and the top of her knuckles, and their joined awareness was suddenly drawn to the point of contact. Instead of letting go as she had expected him to-with good reason, if his behaviour over the past week was anything to go by-Booth tightened his fingers on hers for a moment before she moved to stand, effectively dislodging his grip. Angela left to answer a phone call, but neither of them noticed.

'Angela and I are going clubbing-'

'Bones, I don't think…'

'Please, Booth. We can stay home if you like. But…Booth, these past few weeks…I-I've missed you. I know that things have been…difficult, and I don't know why, but…please. It's been a rough couple of days. I want to be with you right now.'

'I'm sorry this thing with Mark didn't work out.' A little voice in the back of his head piped up immediately. Are you? He tried a more honest approach. 'I'm sorry you got hurt'.

Mark's not the one hurting me. Brennan just shrugged. 'The sting of rejection, however fleeting, is still uncomfortable. However, I must admit I never did care much for him in the first place'. Booth smiled wryly as they both thought back to the conversation they'd had on the first day of break.

'So, Bones, you wanna watch a movie?'

'No, I'm going to catch a documentary on a fascinating tribe from Machu Pichu.'

'Oh. Right. With Mark, huh?' The bitterness in his tone was so pronounced he could taste it.

'Actually, I'm going to the film with a botany student.'

'Oh, I get it. You dumped Mark. It's too bad, I kind of liked the guy.' Like I kind of like taking bullets to the chest. Which is not a lot. At all.

'No, I didn't dump Mark; I'm seeing both of them.'

He couldn't hide his incredulity, and he didn't bother. 'At the same time?'

'Mark and I have a physical connection.' His blood was boiling now. He really couldn't take this any longer. Why had he even asked in the first place? 'The botanist, while brilliant and fascinating, just…just doesn't appeal to me in that way.' Dump him. Dump them both.

This pissed him off more than he could explain. 'Okay, so all that stuff you said about monogamy being unnatural, you're just making excuses.' Dump them, dump them both.

'I do not make excuses. Only people who are ashamed make excuses.'

'Bones, two guys at the same time, that's not right! I mean, that's why they invented duelling.'

'I know what I'm doing, Booth.'

'My gut says you're going with your gut on this one, and we all know how that ends up. Not good.'

And he'd been right, ofcourse. Atleast about the not good part. He didn't know if he felt happy or sad about it. He definitely felt something.

'OK'. He couldn't have denied her anything in that moment, and he knew it.

'I-what?'

'OK. If…if you want me to come with you, I'll come.'

'Really? We don't have to go out, if you don't want to…'

'No. No, it's fine. Just let me get changed, yeah? I've got car grease on this shirt'.

'OK.'

'And Bones?'

'Yes?'

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he couldn't quite find the words. Finally, he said, 'I'll do better. I promise.'

His eyes, looking intently into hers, said a lot more than his words could hope to. And as always, she believed him.

A few minutes later, Booth emerged, buttoning a blue shirt with some droplets of water still hanging to his spiked hair after he had washed the exhaustion out of his eyes.

'Ready to go?'

'Yes'. She walked towards him and scanned her eyes across his body once, her gaze inspecting and observant as always. And damn if it didn't turn him on. He was desperately searching for something-anything-to say, to distract him from the direction his thoughts were headed, when-

'You look good'. Oh, God.

He couldn't help it. He really couldn't. 'So do you.' His eyes raked over her hotly.

'Angela's waiting in the car.' Smiling softly, she extended her hand. Oh God oh god…He knew he'd hurt her feelings if he didn't take it, but…there was no way around it. He took it anyway. He had avoided touching her for weeks for a reason. They both felt the usual but always irresistible, overpowering electricity at the moment of contact. Fuck. When they reached the door, Booth deliberately reached for the keys with his right hand before Brennan could get to them, unobtrusively letting go of her hand in the process. He saw the hurt flash in her eyes, but she covered it with a smile and it was gone so quickly he was almost sure he had imagined it. If he was anyone else, and she was anyone else, he might just have considered the possibility that he had. As he turned the key in the door, she took off down the steps and headed out to the car without him, and Booth sighed. This was going to be a long evening. And he already couldn't wait until he could touch her again.

Two hours later, Booth was sure he was going to lose his mind. Surely, and steadily, and oh-so-painfully. That is, if he wasn't convicted for homicide first. Great. Just great. The looney bin or a prison cell. Suddenly, the future wasn't looking so bright anymore. Brennan was on the dance floor with one of Jason's friends-somehow, it didn't bother him as much when she was with the man himself for one obvious, glaring reason that they'd have to talk about later-and he wanted to rip every guy within a two feet radius of her limb from limb.

'Booth'.

He didn't take his eyes off Bones and ground his teeth together in response.

'Booth'.

He continued grinding his teeth.

'Booth!'

This time he ground out a 'what?'

Angela's eyebrows shot up.

'Did you just growl at me?'

'No'.

'Yes, you did.'

'No'. This growl was even more obvious than the last.

'God, that is so hot.'

Angela fanned herself with a napkin and took another sip of her drink. Booth didn't take his eyes off Brennan.

'Did you have something to say to me, Angela?'

'Oh, yeah! That.'

When she still didn't continue, Booth shut his eyes-only for a second so he didn't lose sight of Bones and the losers trying to grind up against her(although he suspected that somewhere at the back of his mind he entertained the vain hope that if he opened them again, they would disappear) and prayed for patience. He would have gladly let the matter slide, but he had a feeling it had something to do with Bones, so he persisted. Angela took a big sip of her colourful drink before speaking again.

'You know, Bren is a young, beautiful woman.'

I'm well aware of that. Too young, and too beautiful, and-

'Do you have a point, Angela?'

'I mean, you'd have to be blind not to find her attractive.'

I'm well aware of that, too.

'Still waiting for a point, Ange.' Booth sighed and took a sip of his scotch.

Angela chose her next words carefully. 'You know, somewhere along the way, some guy is going to ask her to...dance.' She paused to let the implied meaning of the words sink in, and Booth stiffened slightly. 'And one day, she might even say yes.' He sat up straighter this time. 'And sometimes, a girl just wants to dance.' Booth attempted to reign his spiraling emotions in check and blinked a few times, shifting slightly in his seat and taking another swig of his drink.

'So, what's your point?' His tone was gruff and forbidding, and just about anyone else would have backed off, but Angela knew him well enough to understand his anger wasn't directed at her.

'My point is, Booth, that she's not going to wait around forever waiting for the right dance partner to make a move.'

Just then, one of the guys-it was either Charlie, or Sherman, the Indian guy-got way too close for comfort and Booth was out of his chair and across the dance floor before the his hand had a chance to land on any spot further south of where it was headed. Angela didn't seem to mind, however, as Hodgins materialised out of thin air with another fuzzy-coloured pink-umbrella toting drink.

'Mind if I cut in?' Without waiting for a response or sparing him a glance, Booth angled his body between Brennan and the tall meaty guy, and jerked her fully against him. 'Thought you might need a break.' He looked down at her, eyes glittering dangerously.

'What happened to your shirt?' she asked, gesturing to the slightly exposed V of his chest where he'd left the top buttons undone.

Still somewhat miffed by what he'd had to witness earlier, he pulled her closer and replied succinctly, 'well, we're in a bar, it's a look.'

God, but it was so hard to be angry when she fit against him so perfectly and they moved so incredibly well together.

'Everybody is pumping me.'

'Sorry?' Booth had to work extraordinarily hard to keep his voice contained, and he instantly looked down at her and then sharply at the guys who were watching them from the bar.

'For information on my major. Most of Jason's friends are science students but none of them have taken up anthropology so-'

He rolled his eyes. 'Bones, they're only pretending to be interested in your major'. He couldn't believe how clueless she was sometimes. And this was one of the times when it wasn't so much endearing as downright terrifying.

'Why?' She looked at him, genuine puzzlement in her blue eyes.

Booth ground out his answer. 'They're hitting on you.'

Brennan gave a tinkering laugh. 'Are you sure?' Sigh. Alright, maybe it was endearing. She had no idea how adorable she was. Suddenly his angerhad completely evaporated, and he chuckled with affectionate resignation.

'Yes, I'm sure. You're the hottest thing these boys have seen in a long time. Check out the competition.' He dipped Brennan so she could get a looks at Denise, the petite blonde who'd come in with Sherman and was now sitting alone at the bar, sulking and casting dirty looks in their direction every few seconds. A lot of the women were looking at her that way, Brennan noted with a frown. 'Now that, is somebody who wants to eat your heart.' And the pack of boys sitting around the bar looked like they wanted to eat other parts of her. Well, tough luck. Not gonna happen.

'Booth? I think that a lot of these women are also looking at me this way because I'm dancing with you.'

Booth smiled wryly and didn't spare a glance in the direction she was looking, instead spinning them around slightly. This move earned him a beautiful laugh, and he knew had to hear it again. 'Yeah, well. Good thing they think we're both taken then, huh?'

A few weeks ago she'd have asked the logical follow-up question that popped into the forefront of her mind-Are we both taken? But ever since that conversation they'd had on the day of the party-after which this whole downward spiral had begun-she knew that there was no use in asking it.

Just then, her hand came into contact with the smooth skin of his chest above the fabric of his shirt, and Booth sucked in a hissing breath. Brennan frowned.

'Why aren't you wearing your dog tags?'

Booth looked down himself. 'Wow. I took them off in the shower and I guess I just forgot to put them on. I've-I've never forgotten to do that before.' He took the hand that was resting on his chest-before it burnt him-and spun her out.

When she was facing him again, hands resting on his chest, she whispered softly. 'Booth, does this have to do with the nightmares?'

He willed himself not to look away and found that he couldn't anyway. Setting his jaw, he shook his head slightly.

So instead she just looked up into his eyes, choosing to enjoy the moment as he guided her across the dancefloor, their bodies moving in a synchronised rhythm to the pleasing country tune which neither of them could hear over the blood pounding in their ears or the joint beating of their hearts.

Booth was revelling of the feel of her in his arms-he just couldn't get over how good it felt to hold her-when he looked down and met her eyes, and his breath caught. For that one instant that could have been an eternity, they both felt something that neither could deny. Mamhilapinatapai. A look shared by two people, each wishing that the other would offer something that they both desire, but are unwilling to offer or suggest themselves. He knew she must see his heart in his eyes, all the feelings that he shouldn't be feeling, but felt anyway-and he couldn't bring himself to look away.

'Bones'. The name spilled from his lips as he reached out, his hand surprisingly steady, to tuck a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. Just then, someone bumped lightly into his shoulder while navigating across the floor, and Booth was returned to his senses only for a moment, but it was enough. Realising the song was coming to an end and the next one was starting up, he tugged slightly on Brennan's hand and was about to suggest they return to their seats for a quick respite when he looked down and their eyes locked-and held-once more. Spellbound, he watched as her lips parted slightly and she reached a hand out shakily to rest on the exposed V of his chest. Booth's eyes widened and she licked her lips as her hand landed on smooth, bare skin. One or both of them drew in a shaky breath. What are you doing? Part of him wanted to ask, but his lips wouldn't work except to breathe her in, and he couldn't get the words out. If she made the first move…what then? That was a possibility he hadn't brought himself to consider. He leaned forward, into her touch, silent and unmoving. I want this. I want…more. I want more with her. I want her. Images flashed before him-a younger Temperance, her face lit with a childlike exuberance as he tackled her to the ground during a game of touch football in the backyard, her squeals of delight filling his heart…there was always a glint of maturity in those laughing blue eyes, even then. But…have I always felt like this? The scared, raw vulnerability he had seen when she and Russ had first moved in-the overwhelming surge of protectiveness and feeling of privilege he had felt knowing he was one of the only people who was allowed to glimpse her true self, what lay beneath that strong façade of stony detachment. Does it have to be so wrong? In a little while, five years will seem like nothing. Another voice chipped in, this one tentative yet firm, attempting to reason with the first one. But she's just a child, she's always been just a child…But if you wait, something else could come up in the meantime. If you wait…suddenly he realised he wanted to wait. She was worth waiting for. He'd do for her what he knew instinctively he'd never do for anyone else. A wave of tenderness washed over him, and he gently but firmly took the hand resting on his chest and dislodged it from his body. She gazed up at him like a deer caught in the headlights, eyes wide, as if not sure what was happening or why. He stroked the back of her hand once reassuringly and gave her a small smile.

'Let's go get you another drink, hm?' Just then, Brennan noticed Jason making their way towards them, and nodded. Still holding her hand-and with no intention of letting go, this time, Booth started to make their way back to the table. Booth stiffened and tightened his hold on Brennan's hand as Jason caught up with them halfway. 'Another dance, Tempe?' He smiled gamely at them. Booth simply tightened his lips and nodded, willing himself to stay silent. Even if his suspicions about the guy were correct-and he was pretty sure they were-it was best to be careful.

'Actually, Jason, I'm quite tired. I think I'll sit this one out'. Booth allowed his lips to quirk slightly and led her to the table, helping her slide in to the bench.

'Oh, alright then. I'll sit with you'.

'No, you go ahead-'

Booth decided it was time to interrupt. 'You know what, I'm sure Ange wouldn't mind a dance. Ange?'

Angela, who was sipping the last of her umbrella-ed drink, and waiting on Hodgins-who had gone to get her another one-released the straw with a sucking noise and blinked at them.

'Well, how about it, Angela?'

She turned to Jason as he addressed her.

'Uh, sure'.

'Great'. Booth flashed her a smile and slid into the booth beside Brennan, draping an arm over the back. And Angela took Jason's hand and stepped out from behind the table.

'Tell Hodgins I'm on the floor.' As she passed Booth, she lent over and dropped her voice, 'you owe me big time'.

'I know'. He whispered back, shooting her another quick smile. Happily, he turned to Brennan, who was regarding him with her head cocked to the side and a frown on her face. 'You OK, there, Bones?'

'Y-yes. I'm fine.' Her eyes flitted to the table, avoiding his gaze. Booth curled a finger under her chin and titled her head up until she looked at him. She looked visibly upset now, and he instantly felt a pang of worry.

'Hey, what's wrong?' He asked softly.

'Booth-' she took a deep breath.

'Yeah?' He gently encouraged.

'Doyouhavefeelings for Angela?'

'What?' Booth nearly spewed out the water he was drinking.

'Do you-that is-'

'No, I heard you, but…what? Why would you even ask me that?!'

'Well, it's just that you-what did she just say to you?'

Booth flushed. '…Nothing. But-'

'Oh.' Brennan's frown deepened.

'Bones, what-'

'It's alright, I understand if you don't want to talk about. You are generally very secretive about your sex li-'

'Bones'. Booth rubbed his eyes tiredly. 'Bones, Bones, Bones. Just stop, alright? Nothing's going on between…Angela and me, OK? That is…never gonna happen.' He sighed and then looked at her intently to make sure he had drilled the message across.

'Oh'. He watched as the tension drained from her shoulders and she relaxed considerably.

Booth chuckled and took another sip of his water. 'Why would you even ask me that, anyway?' Genuinely curious, he turned to Brennan but she was staring intently at the glass he was now cradling in his hands. 'Bones?' He prompted. She huffed, and wondered if she could deflect the topic by asking him why he was drinking water and not something stronger. 'Well, there was just now, and then when that man approached her at the bar you were quite possessive, and I know I'm not very good at reading body language, but it seemed like you two were flirting, earlier tonight, and…' She trailed off with a shrug and averted her gaze to a corner of the room, obviously not happy with the direction the conversation was headed.

Booth set his glass down and turned fully towards her. 'Bones? You know that's completely harmless, right, sweetheart? It doesn't-it doesn't mean anything.' When she didn't reply, he repeated the question. She simply nodded. Great. Not only did he feel like a lovestruck, overprotective boyfriend, he had to go act like it too. Then it struck him. 'Is this about what happened with that guy at the bar?'

'No.' She finally looked back at him, and Booth inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.

'Did you think that was out of line? 'cause, you know, he was being totally inappropriate-'

'No! No, I-while I'm sure Angela was able to...handle the situation herself, you were fully justified in acting the way that you did. I guess I was just…sometimes it seems that there might be an attraction between you.'

'Bones, when we joke and fool around that's just for fun'. God, I would never even consider it. So…don't worry about that, OK? Ever.'

Brennan nodded, hearing the sincerity in his words, and then flushed when she realised her foolishness and how obvious her distress must have been if Booth had felt the need to reassure her. Hastily, she attempted to undo some of the damage. 'Even if you were interested in Angela, I'd…understand, I suppose. Relationships have anthropological meaning. No society can survive if sexual bonds aren't forged between...'

'What the hell are you talking about?' He wanted to ask her why it bothered her so much, the idea of him sleeping with her best friend. He wanted to kiss her, and tell her that no other woman would ever do it for him the way she did. He wanted to shut that beautiful mouth of hers once and for all, in several interesting ways he could think of. He wanted to do so many things, but he couldn't.

Instead, he just sighed, and settled for bickering with her and making sure she ate until Hodgins-and later Jason and Angela-joined them.

When those two returned to the table-grinning and flushed from their exertions, Angela grinned saucily at Booth and crooked a finger. (The artist had been feeling a lot more charitably towards Booth ever since he had cuffed that guy at the bar who'd been hitting on her and making crass and lewd propositions all night long. 'If you're gonna hit on Angela, you should do it with a little respect'. She had no choice to admit it, it was insanely hot. Like she'd said to Brennan right after the incident, sometimes he is just…whew.)'I believe you owe me a dance, Studly.'

'Uh'. Booth glanced over at Brennan, somewhat panicked-but she just gave him a smile and a reassuring nod. Content that he wouldn't be upsetting her in any way, or leaving her alone at the table with Jason now that Hodgins and Zack-Booth and Hodgins had both refused to buy him a beer-were there, he let Angela pull him out of his seat. Before they headed out to the dancefloor, though, he couldn't resist kissing her cheek in a way that he probably shouldn't have-especially with her date around-and lingering for a moment too long before whispering 'thanks' and following the artist on to the dancefloor. He didn't see her blush or the way she hastily took another sip of her drink to avoid looking at anyone else at the table who might have noticed.

After Jason excused himself to get another drink and Brennan politely refused his offer to get her a refill, she contented herself with watching her best friend dance with Booth, a small smile on her lips. They both moved with fluidity and grace, obviously possessed with an affinity for dance and a natural understanding of rhythm Brennan herself wasn't sure she had. Even to a stranger, it was obvious that there was no romantic sentiment between the two. And she knew that, but she had felt the need to ask him anyway-at some level it was as if she just couldn't be sure how Booth felt about anything anymore. He was moody, and quiet, and she could tell he was hurting, but…she just didn't know what was going on with him. He had shut her out almost completely.

'They look like they're having a good time, don't they?'

Hodgins interrupted her thoughts, his mischievous blue eyes glinting in the dim light as he gazed dreamily at Angela across the room.

'Yes. Yes they do'. Brennan smiled softly and turned back to the pair on the dance floor, watching as Angela threw her head back and laughed as Booth twirled her. Looking around the table, she noticed something was different. 'Where's Zack?'

'Oh, he's gone to talk to that girl Naomi by the bar.'

'Oh'. She had been so occupied watching her friends dance that she hadn't even realised he was gone. Distractedly, she turned to look at them once more.

'So you and Booth, how long have you been together?'

Brennan swivelled sharply to look at Hodgins, who had just raised his beer to his lips again. 'Excuse me?'

Hodgins swallowed a mouthful of beer and swiped his mouth with the back of his hand. 'How long have you two, you know-' he gestured with his hand- 'been going out.'

'Jack, Booth and I-we're not a couple.'

Hodgins looked shocked, and almost choked on his next sip. 'Whoa. Oh. I'm-I'm sorry.'

'Why does everyone always assume that we're involved in a romantic relationship?'

'I just thought that, you know, with the way you two are…' he gestured vaguely and trailed off.

'I don't understand. What…way are we?'

Hodgins frowned as something struck him. Angela had said...'Wait a minute, you guys live together, and you're still not, you know, nothing's happened?'

'No. We have a strictly platonic relationship'. Hodgins balked. Sure doesn't look like it. But her next sentence was just as unbelievable. 'I'm here with Jason.'

Hodgins eyes nearly bugged out of his head this time. 'Jason?'

'Yes', Brenann frowned. 'Why is that so hard to believe? We have a strong connection and-'

Before Hodgins could say anything, the man in question returned, carrying water and a tall glass with something darker in it.

'Here we go'. He set the water in front of Brennan. 'I know you said you didn't want another drink, Tempe, but we can never have enough water when there's so much alcohol to go around.'

Brennan smiled. 'Yes, it's very important to stay hydrated.'

Hodgins slumped into his seat and took another swig of his beer, stifling the urge to groan. Strong connection indeed.

Meanwhile, Angela and Booth stood on the floor, chatting and moving in time to the upbeat country tune.

'I gotta say, Studly, I've heard this song enough to be sick of it, but you're not a bad dancer at all'.

'You're not too bad yourself'. Booth laughed, twirling her out. 'And there's no way anyone gets sick of this song no matter how many times they hear it, it's a classic!'

Angela raised both eyebrows. 'Trust me, Booth, when you have a father like mine, there are a lot of things you hear too often', she replied cryptically. Booth just shook his head and spun her out once more, temporarily distracted as he watched Brennan turn to say something to Hodgins.

'So Hodgins seems like an OK guy.' He was honestly surprised by how much he'd enjoyed spending time with the squint. If you could get past all the bug and slime talk and the conspiracy theories, the guy was almost normal.

Angela turned almost scarlett. 'Yeah, uh, he's really…he's nice'.

Booth chuckled and peered down at her more closely. 'Not your usual type, though.'

Angela slid her hands across his broad shoulders and waggled her eyebrows. 'What? Tall, dark, and in love with my best friend? She batted her lashes at him exaggeratedly.

'Ha ha. Very funny, Angela'. He spun her out. 'You know…I think we should maybe tone down the flirting a bit.'

Angela laughed. 'Aw, look at you all blushing. Sometimes I could just eat you with a spoon.'

Booth sighed. 'No, I'm serious, Ange. You know, Bones, she asked me about it today.'

Angela's brow quirked in surprise. 'She did?'

'Yeah. She actually asked if there was something going on between us, if you'd believe it.'

'That doesn't sound like Bren'. Angela narrowed her eyes in consideration. 'Do you think she really-'

'No. No. I don't know why she asked me. I think it had less to do with you-you know, you and me-and more to do with-'

'You'.

Booth blinked. 'I was going to say something else.'

'What?'

'Uh, that's it. Somethin' else.'

Angela sighed. Men.

'Face it, G-man, you haven't been yourself for weeks. Bren's so worried you're shutting her out she's asking you if you're dating her best friend, for God's sake.'

'That's ridiculous', Booth muttered, looking away.

'No, it's not. And don't-' he spun her out and she glared at him as they came face to face again- 'spin me out every time you don't want to talk about something.'

Booth sighed. 'Yeah, OK, I'll talk to her.'

They glanced back at the table for a moment. 'Hey, you know Jason's gay, right?'

'Ohh, yeah.'

The next half hour passed much the same way, with dancing, and laughing, and drinks all around-except for Booth and Hodgins, who it seemed would be the designated drivers. Booth had even had a particularly revealing conversation with Jason-even more revealing than the last one-when Bones was in the bathroom and Angela and Hodgins were on the floor, after which he decided it was time to leave. (Zack had left a while before when his parents came to pick him up). When Brennan returned to join them, though, he couldn't resist whisking her away for one last dance. He knew he probably wouldn't have a chance to hold her like that for a while, and he wasn't going to pass up the opportunity while he still had it. Brennan turned to Jason to inform him that they were heading out for another dance, but Booth simply tugged on her hand with an, 'Ohh, he doesn't mind'.

Once they were on the floor and she was in his arms, however, neither of them spared any thought for anything else. The song was a much slower than the ones either of them had danced to earlier, and Booth realised he couldn't be happier about that.

'Hi'. He smiled down at her, drowning in those blue eyes.

Can I please kiss you right now?

'Hi'. She smiled back up at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, clearly the slightest bit tipsy as she allowed him to sway her from side to side.

'You're drunk'.

'I am not!'

As if to prove his point, he dipped her slightly and she squealed. Booth chuckled. When he pulled her back up and she steadied herself against his chest, he had to resist the temptation to shut her up with his mouth. She stuck her tongue out at him playfully. Oh, God.

She rested her head on his shoulder, pulling still closer to him, and he had no choice but to wrap his arms all the way around her waist.

'Thanks for coming tonight, Booth'. She mumbled into his shoulder.

'No problem, Bones. I had a good time.' He was resisting very hard the urge to bury his face in her hair. He risked turning his head and inhaling deeply. Mm.

'Mm. That's nice. Me too.'

What? Oh yeah, they'd been talking about something.

He was about to pull away slightly so he could see her, when he felt her stiffen in his arms.

'Baby, what-' He made to pull away, but she held on to him tighter.

'Oh no. This is so embarrassing.'

'What?'

Booth finally pried her grip from around his neck and pulled her just a little away from him,. 'What?' He repeated, looking down at her.

She pointed at a spot beyond his shoulder. 'Mark and his girlfriend just walked in.'

'Oh'.

When Mark found out that Tempe had also agreed to go out on a date with Jason, he had decided to give things with his ex-girlfriend another shot.

'God, I hope they don't see us.' Brennan covered her face with her hands. Mistakenly thinking she was upset about the whole thing, and not pausing to consider how that made him feel, he tilted her face upwards so she was looking at him. 'Listen, Mark's an idiot for blowing his shot with you, OK?' Chocolate brown orbs met blue as he looked at her intently, and she couldn't look away. 'And so what if they do see us?' He spun her lightly in his arms. 'Let me let you in on a little secret here, Bones. Teenage boys, they all want what they can't have.'

Brennan gazed up at him, transfixed. She didn't care what they wanted. Instead, she asked the question that did seem to matter, for some reason, though she wasn't sure why.'And what do the older ones want?' Subconsciously, she licked suddenly dry lips. She didn't realise it, but Booth did.

With a sigh, his forehead dropped heavily against hers. 'God, we want the exact same thing.'

When they got home, Booth found he wasn't quite ready to give up her company yet, despite the conversation they'd had in the car when she'd all but suggested he would knowingly put her life in jeopardy. It had started with their usual argument about driving.

'I'm an excellent driver'.

'Okay, Rainman.'

'I don't know what that means.'

'I'm always going to drive. You know that, right? Me behind the wheel, and you over there on the grandma side.'

'I'm not above telling Russ you put our lives in danger by driving while intoxicated.'

'Ha ha. Funny, Bones.'

'I'm serious. You appear to be mildly inebri-'

'Whoa. Seriously? You think that's what I'm doing here? Driving under the influence? With you in the car?'

'Well, that certainly seems to be the case here.'

'Bones. I'm not drunk.'

'OK. If you say so.'

'I only had two drinks. One of them before leaving the house. And I've been drinking water for the past two hours!'

'I know. I noticed. There's no reason to get so upset, Booth.'

He just huffed and remained silent, but couldn't stop thinking about it. Then he'd hit the breaks at the next traffic signal and turned to her fully. 'You really think I'd ever do anything that could hurt you?'*

He'd spent the rest of the ride tactfully evading her questions about whether he'd have driven back after drinking if she hadn't been in the car.

Brennan sighed as she stepped into the apartment and Booth helped her out of her coat. She remembered how hurt and shocked he had looked when she'd suggested he wasn't in full control of his senses-you really think I'd ever do anything that could hurt you?-And how he had brooded in silence the whole ride back. Booth was so emotional sometimes she didn't know how to keep pace with him. She really hadn't meant to offend him in the way that she had.

'Booth, I didn't mean to-'

'I know, baby'. He took her coat off fully and draped it with his on the rack by the door. 'But there's something I need to talk to you about, Bones. How bout a nightcap?'

Brennan frowned. Booth suggesting that she drink more than she already had? That didn't sound right. She was slightly buzzed from the alcohol that was still in her system, though, so she just nodded. 'Sure'.

She walked over to the couch and pulled off her heels, sitting down while Booth poured them each a glass of some brownish liquid.

As he handed her a glass and took a seat on the coffee table opposite her, Brennan took a small sip of the contents and smacked her lips.

'Mm…what is this?'

'Kalhua'.

'It's very tasty.'

So are you. Booth smiled, still cradling his glass in his hands. Best to take it easy there, buddy. 'Yeah, I thought you might like it'.

'Did you know that coffee liqueur first-'

'Bones'.

'Yes. Sorry, you had…something to tell me.'

She cocked her head to the side and observed him silently. Booth sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. There was no easy way to say this, but…

'It's about Jason…'

'What about him?'

'Bones, the guy is gay'.

Brennan huffed and rolled her eyes. 'Booth, if this has anything to do with our conversation earlier , you have absolutely no concrete proof to substantiate that claim.'

They both thought back to the exchange a few hours ago when they had met Jason at the bar.

'Spiffy suit, man'.

Thanks. Picked it up in Italy.'

'Little tight, huh?'

'It's the style.'

'So Bones tells me you've never been in a relationship before.'

'Booth!'

Jason had simply not responded and excused himself to get a couple of drinks. Before leaving, he turned to Temperance.

'Listen, I have Coldplay tickets for tomorrow night. Thought maybe we'd grab a bite first. Any interest?'

'Absolutely. I might have to leave from college.

'No problem. I'll meet you at you after class at 6:00?'

'I'll be there.'

The moment he was out of sight, Booth-who had situated himself comfortably next to Temperance on the sofa with an arm wrapped around the back, snorted. 'No wonder you two are platonic.'

'What? How do you even know that?' Booth glanced furtively at the door as if expecting Angela to appear and give away the terms of their little pact to Bones, but thankfully the artist hadn't arrived yet, and Brennan ploughed on. 'And what is that supposed to mean?'

Don't tell her. It would be so tempting to just not tell her...Booth sighed. 'Well, look, I'm fine with it, Bones, really. I have zero problems with it, but... that guy is gay.'

'He is not gay.'

'Please. Double cheek kiss, tight Italian suit...'

'Coldplay'. Zack**-who had arrived with them since Hodgins was picking up Angela in his two-seater 'toy car' (she refused to be designated driver and left her mini back at his place)-chose this moment to chime in.

'Never been in a relationship...'

'Coldplay.'

'Jason is as heterosexual as either of you.'

'Then how is it that he hasn't even made a move on you yet?'

'What? Uh, we share an intellectual bond. I don't have physical feelings for him. He understands that.'

'Not if he's straight. Right? Am I right?'

Zack, thrilled at having the rare privilege of being addressed by Booth, immediately cast around for something to say that would prove acceptable to the slightly intimidating, more experienced male. 'You are hot.' From Booth's expression, that had been the wrong choice. 'I…not right? Yeah, I knew that the moment I said it.'

Booth had simply glared at Zack and went back to pretending he didn't exist. The conversation came to a halt as Ange and Jack joined them, but Booth didn't let it go, muttering under his breath Jason's order from the day he had spent with Angela and Brennan in the mall.

'Mint tea, fruit tart...?!'

Angela shot Booth a warning look as he divulged what she had told him, and Brennan turned to her and Hodgins.'OK, speak you guys, please. What were you talking about?'

Angela rolled her eyes. 'Hodgins was just telling me about this senator his Dad knows whose wife had him followed around by a private investigator before she sent a prostitute to seduce him so she could have proof that he cheated and pick up a huge alimony.'

Zack interjected again. 'According to my therapist, most cheaters are essentially cowards, seeking alternate sexual experiences because they're too afraid to confront the problems in their own lives.'

'Just because someone seeks an alternative sexual outlet doesn't mean that they're a coward'.

Hodgins opened his mouth to respond but Booth waved him off. 'She has issues.'

'I do not have issues.'

'Case in point: Football player and a botanist.

Hodgins laughed. 'What, did they go into a bar?'

'Huh? No. Brennan's two boyfriends.'

'They're not-'

Just then, Jason materialised in the distance, carrying some drinks. Booth pointed, and Hodgins grinned. 'Oh. Right. Let me guess, that one's the botanist.'

You got that right, Bug Man. Booth raised his beer at him. 'Yeah'. Before Jason was within hearing distance, Brennan turned to Booth. 'If he's gay, how come he's dating me?'

Booth sighed. 'Bones, trust me. That guy is gay. Even if he doesn't know it yet.'

Back in the present, Brennan was squinting at him strangely, and Booth recalled his other conversation with Jason, when he had had the opportunity to speak with him alone.

Booth took a long swig of his beer and regarded the young man sitting in front of him. 'So…you and Temperance, huh?'

'Yeah, I guess so.' Jason gave a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his head. 'Is this the part where you tell me you'll kill me if I break her heart?'

'I would, but you know…' Booth grinned and pushed off from where his arm was resting on the back of the couch. 'I don't think you're going to do that.'

He left it at that and waited Jason out, leaning forward onto the table and never breaking eye contact.

'Alright, man.' Ah. There we go. Booth watched in satisfaction as he cracked after sweating and squirming in his seat. 'I…'Jason gave a frustrated sigh and raked a hand through his hair.

Booth looked at him intently. 'You know, there's more than one circumstance under which I could imagine hurting one of Bones' boyfriends'. He spat the word out and then shrugged casually. 'If someone hurt her-in any way at all-' he took a sip of his beer and then leaned forward menacingly. 'Like, say, if someone were to use her for something, to play with her feelings, or as a cover for something…I'd be pissed'.

Jason was silent for a moment, and then he nodded, clearly a little frightened now.

'OK, look, I swear I didn't mean-I didn't mean for it to happen this way. I just went down to Vermont for a vacation and-look, I didn't know earlier, alright, and I'd never hurt Tempe, but…' he trailed off, obviously distressed.

'Do you have something to tell me, Jason?'

'I'm gay'. He blurted out the words, and Booth reclined in his seat, letting out the breath he'd been holding in a whoosh.

'I know.'

'I had no idea when we first start going out, and I really do like Temperance, and-I mean, I'd suspected, but I didn't know, and I-wait, what? You-you knew?'

Booth grinned slightly, his threatening demeanour all but vanished now. He repeated Jason's words.'I suspected, but I didn't know'.

'So…you're not surprised at all?'

'Nope. Just relieved'. He smiled and took another sip of his beer.

'H-how?'

Booth shrugged. 'Just a hunch'. He tipped his beer at Jason. 'So the question is, what are you going to do about it, kid?'

'I-do about what?' His brow furrowed.'I guess I just stop trying to be interested in women and-'

Booth's voice hardened again. 'I meant about Brennan'.

'Oh. I, uh…I don't know. I really-I really value her friendship, I do, and I don't want to hurt her, but…'

'You're going to tell her.'

'I know I should tell her, before this goes any further, but I just…' He trailed off and looked down into his glass, stirring the contents dejectedly. Then he suddenly looked up, a hopeful glint in his eye. 'Do you think maybe you could do it for me?'

Booth looked at him incredulously. 'What, me?'

'Yeah, I mean, I don't know much about you beyond the fact that you live with Temperance, and I know you two are close, and…please? It would mean a lot-I'd…I'd really like to stay friends with her, if that's at all possible, and I think she would like it better coming from you anyway…'

Booth sighed. 'Alright, alright, simmer down. I'll do it.' He rested his arms on the table and glanced around, shaking his head slightly. 'Hell, I'm so glad to hear you're not straight that I'd do just about anything for you right now'.

Jason looked up at him from across the table once more, a strange glint in his eye. 'Why are you glad? Are you-'

It took Booth a moment to register what he was implying, and then he almost spat out his mouthful of beer. 'No!' He automatically pushed back into his seat as far as he could. 'No, no, no, no. I'm not. 100% straight, OK? I'm just-nuh uh.I'm not.'

'Yeah, didn't think so.' Jason laughed. 'Too bad, though.'

Booth gave him look that managed to be panicked and threatening at the same time. You're already treading on thin ice with me, kid. Hit on me and I'll break both your legs. Booth decided he'd frightened him enough already, though, and the guy already had enough on his plate right then, so he willed himself to remain silent. Jason got the message anyway and hurriedly dropped the topic. ''So that means you and Temperance…'

Booth's 'no' this time was just as vehement as the last one.

Jason raised his hands in surrender. 'O-K, man. Just checking. I mean, it seemed like-'

'No'.

'Booth?'

Brennan's soft, husky voice jerked him back to the present.

'Yeah. Uh, sorry. Look, Jason is gay, Bones. I mean, he told me'.

'What? When?'

'When you were in the bathroom. He-he asked me to tell you. He said he wishes you guys could still stay friends. I'm really sorry, Bones'. He reached for her hand, her expression as stony as the wall she was staring at. 'Bones?'

'As I said before, the sting of rejection, however fleeting, is still uncomfortable.'

Oh, baby.

Why had he been so nice to Jason again? The guy should be pummelled. Every guy who'd ever hurt her deserved a pummelling.

'Okay, look, I'm sorry. You know what? If Mark and Jason don't know how lucky they are, they don't deserve you in the first place.'

Brennan nodded consideringly and pursed her lips.

'All relationships are temporary.'

'No, that's not true, Bones. You're wrong.' He looked at her intently, making sure she got the message, and that she understood what he was saying-and more importantly, what he wasn't saying. 'Okay, there is someone for everyone, someone you're meant to spend the rest of your life with. All right? You just have to be open enough to see it. That's all.'

Booth felt vaguely as if he'd just made her a promise that he had to keep, but then he stopped thinking as he lost himself in those pools of liquid blue. Although there were no more words said, their eyes continued to hold a silent conversation.

'I should've listened to you.'

'Maybe next time you will.'

After a while Booth remembered the earlier discussion-and himself, and cleared his throat.

'Come on, how bout this? Tomorrow, since it's a Saturday night and neither of us have dates, I'll buy you dinner.' He smiled at her and waggled his eyebrows. 'Hey, I can be fun in a strictly conversational setting.' His eyes darkened for a moment. And a lot of other settings…stop it. stop it. stop.

'How about Chinese?' he downed his liqueur.

'I feel more like Thai.'

'Thai? I got coupons to Hop Li.'

She snorted and raised an eyebrow. 'What, you're gonna take me out for a discount meal?'

'What? There's two for one, and then they throw in some...OK, Thai it is.'

'I'd rather drink.' She downed the remainder of her drink and then got up and moved to the liquor cabinet. 'You want one?'

'Yeah, we could do that.' As he saw her approach with a bottle and a glass, he made a mental note to restock the cabinet now that Bones was drinking, too. 'My…good bottle of scotch'. She handed him a glass and took a long swig and landing on the couch with a huff. 'Uh, bottoms up, Bones.' He clinked his glass against her bottle, while she remained in a reflective silence.

'You know, intellectually I know that jealousy is absurd. But I see that it's real for people. I even experience it myself.'

Wait…what?

'So...' he began, dreading the answer to the question he was going to ask. Did this have to do with Mark, and that other girl… 'Who are you jealous of?'

'Angela.' His eyebrows shot up. He thought they'd established that he wasn't interested in the artist at all, and if it wasn't that, then-'Hodgins. You.'

OK, this was just getting weird. 'Why?'

'Because you all want to…lose…yourself in another person'. She looked right at him. 'You believe that love is transcendent and eternal. I want to believe that, too.'

He looked right back at her. 'Hey, you will.' Moving to sit beside her on the couch, he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. 'I promise. Someday you will. You will someday, okay?' He clinked his glass against hers and settled back against the couch.'You will.'

For the second time that night, he felt as if he'd made her a powerful promise. And he knew that he would keep it.

'To us'. He raised his glass to hers and they shared a small smile.

They sat in silence for a while-Booth had discretely slid the bottle away from Bones and capped it when she wasn't looking-and then he leaned forward and glanced at her again. Remembering another promise he'd made-to himself, this time, he knew he shouldn't give in to the temptation to look at her for too long, when the opportunity presented itself. Looking for something to say, he asked, 'So…do you think you're going to remain friends with Jason?'

'I suppose so.' Brennan furrowed her brow in consideration. 'I do enjoy his company, and I never was particularly attracted to him, so I see no reason not to.'

Booth nodded consideringly. 'That's fair, I suppose.'

She yawned sleepily and stood up, stretching. 'I think I'm going to bed…are you coming?'

She waited in silent anticipation for his reply, willing him to say yes. He looked at her for a moment too long, and shook his head.

'Oh. OK. Well, goodnight.' Brennan tried to push away the pang of hurt she felt at his refusal, but he didn't miss the disappointment flashing in her eyes as moved away from him and headed towards her bedroom. Forcing himself to stay silent and not follow her, Booth simply sighed and tossed back the rest of his drink. Then he headed to his own-separate-bedroom.

After a few hours of tossing and turning, Booth had finally managed to fall into a fitful sleep. He was dreaming-unsurprisingly-but this nightmare was different from the others. First he was running through the sand, the weight of another body on his back, made heavier burden of another life he had taken on his shoulders. 'Hold on, Teddy. Hold on. Don't you give up on me, soldier.' And then he was overtaken by a vision, of just him and Bones…He felt as if his heart was being ripped out of his chest, and he didn't know why…he couldn't breathe, and he couldn't remember the reason he should anymore…

Bones stood in front of him, her beautiful face marred by tear tracks, fresh tears flowing as she looked at him, her agony raw and heartcrushingly real. 'You promised. You promised, Booth. You promised you wouldn't go back. You promised you wouldn't leave me. You promised you would never betray me. You promised. You promised no more fighting.'

He wanted to go to her, to tell her that he never wanted to leave her and never would, but all he could do was remain rooted to the spot as the words came out of his mouth.

'I'm not going to be fighting. I'm just going to be training soldiers to investigate, pursue and detain.'

'You promised. You promised…' And then this vision was replaced by another one…once again, she swirled into focus. 'So, Bones, here we are. What's all the mystery about?'

This Bones was calm, and composed, but the hurt still flowed between them, and he still didn't know why…

'I've been offered the chance to participate in an exchange programme involving a dig Maluku. The dread filled him, overwhelming, overflowing…Oh no, oh no, oh no.

'I'd like to accept.'***

'Hmm. I thought you already had. We've been living together for five years, Booth. I wouldn't make a decision like this without talking to you.'

'Bones, look, you don't need my permission. Okay, it's-it's cool'. Like plunging a fork into my heart and then eating it is cool. No, but this was worse, so much worse…

'You say that, but you won't look at me. You're the one who taught me the value of making eye contact. So, please...?' de ja vu, more pain, more confusion, reflected in Brennan's eyes…more pain, more confusion…

'Sorry. I just...I don't do really good with change, I guess.'

'You're better than I am.'

'Pyramids are better at change than you are... it's a joke. Okay? I was being affectionate.' No, you're not, fool. You're hurting her. Why are you hurting her? Stop it. Can't you see she's hurting, and you're hurting her more?

'Will you go back to the Army?' Don't look at me like that, baby, please…

'It's what's best for me right now.' What? What are you doing? No. Stop. Tell her you'll stay. Tell her you'll stay with her forever. Tell her you'll wait thirty, forty, fifty years. Tell her ALWAYS. Tell her you'll stayforever.

'I'll only be gone for a year.' A year? Please, stop it. Oh God, please, make it stop…Say something. Say anything. I want to be with you. I need you. I love you. I can't go one heartbeat without you. Say…

'Me, too.' WHAT? No, no, no. 'So, hey, what's a year?' It's what's going to kill you, fool. It'll ruin you. You know it.

'It's the time it takes the Earth to make a full revolution around the sun.' Oh, Bones. Always so literal.

'In the scheme of things. You know, the grand scheme.' It's what's going to ruin you. It's what's going to bring you closer to death than you've ever been before. 'Just saying, a year is just, you know...it's not too bad.

'Right.' No, no, no. I don't mean it. Please don't say that. I'm being a damn fool. Don't agree with me.Please?

'Right?'

'We can come back, pick up where we left off…Nothing has to change.' Finally, someone's talking some sense here. Bones always was the smarter one. How bout they forget about that whole running to the opposite ends of the world thing, and just find their way back to each other. Because he was still with her-he was still hers, all the way.

'No. Things have to change. Know what? Hey, I taught you about eye contact. You taught me about evolution. So... here's to change.' You fucking fool, who are you? What are you doing? Who is this person who's inside my body, making me say and do these things?

She looked at him with that same beautiful intensity and a sadness he would give anything to take away. No, no, no. Please. NO. 'To change.'

'No!'

His eyes flew open and he bolted upright, panting, sweating, twisting the sheets in his hands, choking on air. Oh, thank God. Oh thank God. He had to see her. He pushed the tangled sheets off his sweat-soaked, freezing body, and then ran to the bathroom. He doubled over the toilet bowl, heaving wretchedly and emptying the contents of his stomach. Finally he straightened, still shivering, and went over to the sink, where he splashed cool water on his face. Just a dream. Just a dream. He still had to see her. Quickly brushing his teeth and rinsing his mouth, he pulled a t shirt from his cupboard and automatically made his way to her room. When he reached the door, he pushed it open and stood still for a moment, drinking in the sight of her-real, and live, and still there-under the covers, before entering on tiptoe.

A few hours later, Brennan groggily opened her eyes and groaned a bit, turning to her side, when she spotted a figure slumped in the armchair by the bed. She blinked for a moment, surprised, before she found her voice again.

'Booth?'

He leant forward, sensing she was awake even before she spoke. 'Yeah'. He took the hand that she had extended.

'Is everything alright?'

'Yeah, baby. Go back to sleep.'

'What…' She blinked sleepily. 'Then why…'

'I couldn't sleep.' He replied simply.

She was silent for a moment, and then she asked softly. 'Is it the nightmares?'

He nodded. 'From the fighting?'

He shook his head imperceptibly and set his jaw. After a while, he opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again. Tilting his head to the side, he looked at her, his gaze penetrating in the moonlight. 'Promise me. No matter what happens, we'll always find a way to work things out. We'll never leave.'

Brennan didn't ask any questions, and she didn't hesitate with her answer. 'I promise.'

He squeezed her hand, then brought it to his lips.

'Booth?'

'Mm?'

'Come to bed.'

'Bones, I…I just need some time.'

'Do you need time and space?'

She moved over and lifted the covers, silently beckoning him. Booth smiled and climbed in beside her. 'Just some time'.

God, every time I look at these transcripts, I'm wowed by how good the show is. Or how good it used to be (?)

*Uh, I have two words for you, (pseudo-) Booth. Season 5. Oh, and also, all of season 6.

**Sorry, I know that was supposed to be Sweets' dialogue, but I couldn't write him in to this, I couldn't. Besides, Zack and his robots are a much better at being a part of their land of misfit toys, right? When he walks in on Booth and Brennan during a moment ('listen, Bones, hey, there's more than one kind of family') you know it's not with some malicious intent and that he doesn't derive some perverse pleasure from it. Like I said *scroll down for more* he just does a better job of being the rosy-cheeked cherub-faced supporting character, who's clueless,and cute,and 12.

***Yeah, that's right, Sweets. Be a bastard and take out your hurt feelings because your pathetic girlfriend doesn't care enough to stay by hurting a dynamic you've already tried to ruin. ('You're the one with the partner, whatever that's supposed to mean). Jackass. Brennan didn't even make a decision without talking to Booth, and Sweets-as usual-had to butt in and make it for them. I could rant about Sweets for a good long while, but...I need to sleep, and eat, and bathe ,and stuff, so I'm going to share a PM I had sent the fabulous Dharmamonkey the other day, telling her about how I just unearthed an old review I'd left the also fabulous Sleeplessinatlanta months ago, back when she first started writing Inquiring Minds. I realised-sadly-that it's relevant to this conversation, even now. Check it out:
You're really digging the Booth-Sweets dynamic?I'd dig it a little more if Booth finally stops listening to his bullshit advice-the man finally seems to have seen the light-and makes good on one of his threats to beat him up - he even has a gun now, Booth wouldn't have to feel as bad about it.I realised the other day that Sweets (while I love JFD) has single-handedly almost ruined the BB relationship-and by extension,the show-on numerous occasions. Thankfully something that incredible can't ever be ruined completely. I think that was the real turning point right there-when they stopped putting up a united front with Sweets despite all their divided views and let him split them apart and attack them separately-they're different together,and noone could possibly understand just how. Except them,ofcourse.

Start with the time he didn't tell Brennan about Booth's death-just carelessly experimenting on them like they were lab rats and not people 'cause he couldn't possibly understand how they feel about each other.

Then he tells Booth he doesn't love Brennan-SERIOUSLY?-when he's finally ready to admit he does, and goes so far as to suggest it's all in his head,when Booth's all about following his heart-or he should be,left to his own devices,anyway.

THEN he tells Booth he *is* in love with Brennan and it has to be him who makes the move when neither of them are ready, and Booth knows it...and after all those years, all that dancing around, this little twerp-this tiny little mop-haired weasel who can barely wrap his mind around what they do for a living and who they are individually, let alone together- sends them to opposite sides of the world-telling Booth Daisy was leaving and Brennan would too,when she hadn't even broached the subject herself,like a petulant little child-'you're just the one with the partner,whatever that means.'

THEN he confuses Booth by suggesting a number of things-that he should take the new girlfriend to meet his son,that he still loves Brennan and knows it subconsciously(only sensible thing he's said,even though he'd screwed things up enough by that point that it didn't make a difference, specially when he follows it up by saying he should tell blondie the truth,which Booth didn't,or simply couldn't,as we know),that he ought to propose marriage to the wrong woman for the wrong reasons-he even went with him to buy a ring,for God's sake,hungover and caught up in his own emotional turmoil as usual.

Now Gordon Gordon (who knows what the 'problem' is 'right off the bat' but counsels hope and patience instead of telling his patients what they aren't prepared to hear,who helps guide them when they are finally ready to confront the truth in their hearts instead of suggesting love may be the result of coma induced brain activity,who repeats his name twice and drinks tea at tea time)-he knew how to give out real advice. He understands that Sweets needs Booth and Brennan, and that their mere presence in his life helps the baby duck find his way, that he gets from them more than he could ever give. But then Sweets has to go and actively screw things up. Sigh. It's like he's just begging to be hated. The writers thought the audience wanted drama,and they gave it to us in the form of a rosy-cheeked cherub-faced supporting character, who's clueless,and cute,and 12. I liked how Zack handled being those things so much better.(and there you have it again,another failing of Sweets-he knows Zack didn't kill OR eat anyone,and he knows that just a word of this and he could be free of the shackles and chains-literally-but he doesn't say anything. Perfect time for his morals to kick in.)I just hope him having a gun doesn't become the focal point of this season-he's trying to do Booth's job all the time anyway,and he doesn't come across as nearly as attractive doing it, not that anyone could-and Daisy's gotten from annoying to...*annoying*.

And yet...we've had a whole episode revolving around Sweets and his gun since then-though, you know, rangemaster Booth wasn't too hard on the eyes, even if he assaulted the other senses. :P In any event,you know you've been taken for a ride when Booth starts asking a twelve year old for parenting advice and won't admit it. That's really taking it too far. (Ironically, there's nothing wrong in that department either-Parker's a great kid, and Booth's concerns proved to be unfounded). He should have just pulled over and left him stranded on the side of the road.

RIGHT, NOW I KNOW THAT WAS A LITTLE PATCHY, BUT WASN'T IT LONG? DON'T YOU THINK I DESERVE A REVIEW-BY THE TIME I STEP OUT OF THE SHOWER, CLEAN AND SCRUBBED (AFTER AGES)-OR TEN :P? HUH, LURKERS? YOU KNOW, I REALISED THE OTHER DAY THAT I HAVE NEARLY 200 FOLLOWERS AND JUST OVER 200 REVIEWS. THAT'S HARDLY OVER 1 REVIEW PER PERSON. YOU DO THE MATH. NOW IS THAT FAIR? :( PLEASE ENTER A FEW WORDS IN THAT LITTLE BOX DOWN THERE, AND PRESS THE PURPLE BUTTON. THEY EVEN FLASH A MESSAGE SAYING THE AUTHOR THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IF I COULD CUSTOMISE THAT, I'D ADD THAT I LOVE YOU GUYS-YES, EVEN THOUGH I'M A LITTLE TIPSY RIGHT NOW (ALCOHOL AND SLEEP INTOXICATION, RIVETING COMBINATION)-AND I COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT WEEK!

-YOURS TRULY