Brennan woke up late in the afternoon, glancing around the room. Booth was not there. Instant panic started to rise from her belly. Then she heard his words in her head.
"Promise me that you know I am will be coming back? Promise me that you will not panic?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Trust in him."
She checked her wound and gave herself a sponge bath. After applying a fresh bandage and dressing she headed for Mrs. Tipton's. She hadn't talked to the lady since Booth had arrived and she missed their chats.
Mrs. Tipton was giddy to see her. She loved Tempe as if she was one of her own and when Booth had told her Tempe wanted to live out there, it made her even happier. She had told Booth of properties in the area. Most that were for sale needed a lot of work, they had set vacant so long that time and lack of love took the toll on the structures.
Brennan was starving and figured with Booth gone she could get some solid food. Little did she know that Mrs. Tipton was in cahoots with him and would only allow her to have clear broth. She looked annoyed at Mrs. Tipton. Mrs. Tipton just smiled at her, "Sorry, dear that doesn't work on me." Brennan sighed and crossed her arms.
After another hour Booth still wasn't back and she was starting to worry. She didn't think he would be gone that long, the area was not that big. When he didn't answer his cell, she called Liv and found he hadn't been there. She called Stan's and Stan confirmed that Booth was there and was enjoying himself playing pool. Brennan's eyes widen. "Did you say play…playing pool?"
"Yeah, he is knocking them dead. You want to talk to him."
"No, I am on my way, don't tell him I am coming. Mrs. Tipton, I will be back in a bit, I need to run down to Stan's. Did you happen to find my keys to my car by chance before you sealed up that room?"
After retrieving her keys from Mrs. Tipton, she headed for Stan's. She couldn't believe he had lapsed on that, he was done so well. He told her about his gambling problem and one part of that problem was hustling pool.
She parked at the end of the building got out and took a deep breath as she approached the door to the bar. Gripping the handle, she closed her eyes and slowly pulled it open. She only opened it enough to allow her frame to slip through. No one said anything as she stepped through the door, almost like they knew she did not want to be seen. He hadn't seen her slowly allowing the door to close against her hand.
She made her way towards the bar, keeping her eye on Booth, she didn't see any tell tale signs that he was gambling; just that he was playing pool. As she slid onto a stool he turned to take a drink of his beer and he saw her. His face showed surprise "Bones"
"Booth"
He glanced at his watch, "Wow, I lost track of time."
"Mhm"
"I am in trouble, huh?"
"Depends"
"Depends on what?" She looked at the pool table and then at him raising her eyebrows. "Bones, I am just playing pool." Her eyes stayed on his. "I mean not like that, just… Bones, I got that under control." She nodded a slow deliberate nod.
He walked over to her, leaning on the bar facing her. "Bones, I can play pool without betting on it. You believe that don't you?" She searched his eyes and saw no deception in them, along with no tell tale sign of bets that normally would be placed on the side of the table.
"I don't know Agent Booth, you know I only base my conclusions on facts. So why don't you give me some facts and we will go from there." Her eyes were sparkling with mischief. "Oh, and bribes might work also."
He moved closer to her. "So let me get this straight Dr. Brennan, you are asking a federal law enforcement official to bribe you?"
"Actually, Yes. Blackmailing you several years ago worked well, so this should have an equally good outcome."
"Oh, I see. So Dr. Brennan have you given any thought to what kind of bribe I could offer you that would be so appealing."
"Yes, I have thought of that." She smiled sweetly at him as she moved close enough he could feel her breath against his lips. You can bribe me with….food. I am starving, I want real food, and I want your French fries."
He pushed his fries further out of her reach. "My French fries, why don't you order your own?"
"Because, yours taste better."
"They are the same fries, how do mine taste better?"
"Because they aren't mine."
"Bones that makes no sense."
"It does to me."
All he could do was laugh, nothing that ever made sense to her would make sense to others, so he had to accept her logic or lack there of as some sort of proof that he had lost this battle. "So we need to call your doctor tomorrow and see if we start you on solid foods. Maybe I will have him start you on strained peas or something equally disgusting." He picked up on of his French fries and popped it in his mouth.
"Seeley Joseph Booth, you are just mean. I am leaving now and you can think of ways to make up to me." She threw Stan a smirk and left the bar. She was going to make Booth suffer, but only a little. Booth watched her go, knowing she wasn't really mad at him; she would look back and give him that eye roll. But, she didn't look back, was he really in trouble. No, Bones wasn't really mad at him, she couldn't be mad over that, could she?
Brennan got back to the motel and changed into a soft camisole and matching panties. It was a warm night and having the light material against her skin felt nice. Plus, it would drive Booth mad. She looked at herself in the mirror, smiled approvingly. She lifted the camisole just enough to expose where her gunshot was, the area immediately around the wound was still very sore and stiff and aside from getting tired easily she felt fine. Thoughts of how to make Agent Booth squirm danced through her head.