A/N Wow...from the responses i'm thinking everyone liked the last chapter? LOL

Thank you very much for the lovliness that you sent my day. Without further ado i give you...

Chapter 21

Lillian strode determinedly over to a now very confused looking Hacker. He was still searching for Brennan in the crowd and barely glanced at her when she came to a stop in front of him. She tapped him lightly on the arm causing him to send her a distracted look.

"Andrew, right?" she asked deciding to play dumb would be her best bet.

"Yes." he answered, barely looking at her. "Can I help you?"

Lillian smiled to herself. She wasn't a vain woman, but she was not used to having a man pay so little attention to her. She had to hand it to Brennan. Lillian didn't know what it was exactly but something about her caused incredibly….intense reactions in the men in her life. She made a mental note to ask her about it later and couldn't help but giggle at the thought. That was one conversation she was looking forward to!

Lillian shook herself out of her internal musings to find Hacker staring at her, waiting for her to continue.

Hacker on the other hand was beginning to think his luck had changed. Temperance was nowhere in sight, but now that he had looked properly at the woman in front of him, he couldn't help but think she had…..potential.

Lillian took a small step back as the look in Hackers eye changed. It had gone from dismissive to…..predatory.

"I have a message from Temperance." She began.

Hacker grinned.

"Ah yes. Where has the delightful doctor disappeared to?"

Lillian didn't like the way that he was staring at her and vowed that when Booth and Brennan sorted things out they would be taking her out for a meal.

"Hopefully she'll come and join us?"

At the outright lustful look he gave her, Lillian amended her previous thought. A very expensive meal.

"Unfortunately she had to go home. Migraine….very nasty." She told him.

She viewed his crestfallen expression blankly. She knew where his mind had ventured and she was not amused.

"Maybe I should give her a call? Check she's ok?" he asked without much enthusiasm.

"Absolutely not. She's just going to bed so there'd be no point." And you're not the one she'd be going to bed with anyway, she thought with a little too much glee. She smirked to herself. She was reacquainting herself with her inner devil and decided she might as well enjoy this meeting. She had a feeling this could be a lot of fun.

"Brennan wanted to make sure you…..enjoyed yourself this evening." Lillian watched as his eyes lit up.

"Would you like to join us?" she asked, glancing up at him flirtatiously.

"Us?" he queried brightly, getting lost in thoughts of exactly the kind of associates this delightful woman would have.

"My fiends and I." she grinned at the far away look in his eyes.

"Yeah" he almost groaned the word. "Yeah I would".

"Excellent. Come." And she grabbed his hand, leading him across the floor.

He followed willingly staring at her backside as he went. Lillian glanced back at him to see his gaze fixed on her ass and gave it an extra wiggle, smirking as his eyes widened. It hadn't escaped her notice that he hadn't even asked her name, and if she hadn't been eagerly anticipating the evening to come, she would have been insulted.

"Name's Lillian by the way." She said jerking Hacker out of his daydreams.

"Lillian…beautiful name." he smiled at her charmingly. Well….Lillian assumed it was supposed to be charming, although it gave off more of a….creepy vibe.

She rolled her eyes as she turned back and continued to lead him across the floor to her….friends.

Three hours later, Lillian was thoroughly enjoying herself. She was sat with Sweets enjoying her fifth double vodka and lemonade while she watched Hacker. He was currently dancing awkwardly with a very enthusiastic Daisy and Fisher. She was feeling the effects of her drink and started to giggle uncontrollably at Hacker, leaning on Sweets for support.

"What's so funny?" he questioned with a soft smile on his face. He hadn't forgotten her threat, and he still wasn't completely certain of her, but he couldn't help but be charmed by her.

"He…..thought…but got….." And she pointed at the trio on the floor before dissolving into laughter again.

10 minutes and three fits of giggles later, Sweets finally got the whole story.

"He thought he was going to get a bunch of girlfriends and some kind of orgy….instead he got…" she burst out laughing as she glanced back at the dance floor, "Fisher!" she burst out as she saw Hacker backing slowly away from a wildly dancing squint.

Sweets dragged his eyes away from her captivating face and looked at a Hacker. One glance at Hacker's disgusted face and he joined her in her laughter.

They were still laughing 5 minutes later when Angela joined them. She had finally managed to tear herself away from Jack and had sent him for her drink.

"Lily" she exclaimed, pulling her up from her seat and throwing her arms around her. She hugged her tight until suddenly she let go and pushed her towards the floor. Lillian sent her a drunken smile.

"I think…" Angela paused. She was silent for so long that Lily and Sweets gave each other a confused look.

"You think?" Sweets asked. Angela sent him a blank look before suddenly nodding vehemently.

"I think that you young lady, should go and rescue Hackman…Hackjob…Hacker! Yes, that's it….Hackers."

Lillian frowned.

"I don't want to." She said with almost a whine in her voice, causing Sweets to smile.

"I don't like him either but still…no one should have to put up with that…well not for too long anyway!" Angela said, smirking again as she watched Hacker nervously avoid Daisy and her flying limbs. Lillian stared at her for a moment but noted the decided look on Angela's face.

"Fine" she said with a pout. "But I want it noted that I'm doing this against my will." She glanced at Sweets.

"Dually noted" he laughed lightly.

With a nod and a mock glare at Angela, she flounced off towards Hacker. As she approached him he looked up, and she couldn't help but feel flattered at the relieved and appreciated gaze he set upon her…she was only human after all.

Angela sat in the seat Lillian had just vacated and proceeded to finish her drink. When that was done she started to talk to Sweets….although at Sweets would be more appropriate. It was only when she was regaling him with the ups and downs of her complex relationship with Jack, and informing him of how happy they were now that he realised Sweets hadn't said a single word. She glanced at him to see him gazing out at floor. She followed his eyes and found them firmly fixed on Lillian, who was doing her best to avoid Hackers wandering hands.

"Sweets" she said but got no response. "Sweets" she called slightly louder but still received no response. "Me, Lily and Bren are gonna have a threesome" she shouted causing Sweets to turn his head swiftly to meet her laughing face.

"Ha…such a man!" Sweets glared at her.

"You called Angela?" he said.

He waited impatiently for her to stop laughing at him.

"Sorry sweetie, I couldn't resist. Anyway… I was going to say you better hope Daisykins doesn't see you gazing adoringly at another woman!"

Sweets continued to glare.

"I was not"

"Was too."

"Not"

"Was!" she giggled and rounded off their mature behaviour by sticking her tongue out at him. She then patted him consolingly on the arm.

"It's ok sweetie. Nothing wrong in a little crush."

Sweets drew himself up to his full height.

"I. Do. Not. Have. A. Crush"

Angela sent him a now pitying look.

"Yeah you do but no worries. Jack does too."

Sweets continued to glare but had to ask.

"And that doesn't bother you."

"Hell no. She is smokin' hot." Angela said with a grin.

"Sounds like you're the one with the crush." Sweets said with a grin.

"That I do. I'm not ashamed. It has caused a lot of…intriguing discussions between me and Jack….oh yeah…." Angela got a far away look in her face, and it didn't take a genius to guess what she was thinking.

Sweets let her have her daydream, and went back to staring at Lillian. He liked her…he really did but there was something….he just couldn't put his finger on it. She was stunning….was a good friend of Booths….a great friend even….hmmmmmmmm, maybe that was…

"Ange" he queried softly after another minute. "Do you think it's an issue?"

Angela jumped at the sound of his voice. She'd been lost in a very pleasant thought and was now eagerly awaiting Hodgins return so she could get him home.

"What's an issue?"

"Lillian" he said simply.

"Lillian? An issue? Ok sweetie…I need to be honest…I'm slightly drunk…" Sweets laughed causing her to send him a stern look.

"I'm slightly drunk" she repeated "and I have no idea what you're talking about. At all. What so ever. No comprende. Just….not a clue."

"Ok ok ok I get it." He said "OK…so with have Lillian. A beautiful woman…agreed?" Angela nodded her head enthusiastically "And we have Booth. A very attractive man." Angela nodded even more enthusiastically. "With a past…" Sweets said, giving her an expectant look and getting a blank one in return. "Two beautiful people with a very long history together…you don't think they might…?"

Angela gave him a blank stare for a moment before her mind finally caught on to what he was saying. Sweets saw the understanding dawn in her eyes, but was shocked when she burst out laughing.

"Lily…and Booth…..seriously?" she asked. "Nope…I don't see it…not going to happen" Angela said with a smile, feeling very confident in her assessment.

"Really? You're positive on that?" Sweets asked, hoping for some concrete evidence to put his mind at ease.

"Completely sweetie. She told me…" Angela said thinking back to her and Lily's previous conversation. "Well….pretty much anyway."

Sweets had started to smile at her first statement but frowned when she added the last sentence.

"Pretty much? That's what you've got? Pretty much?" Sweets started to get slightly agitated causing Angela to look at him with some drunken concern.

"Is everything ok Sweets? Why the worry?"

"Because." He said.

Angela stared at him waiting for him to continue. When he didn't she hit him on the shoulder. He sent her a hurt look but she said nothing, just indicated for him to continue.

"Because….Booth and Brennan. They are soooo close….I can feel it. And what if she messes it up…you know Dr Brennan. She's not the most rational when it comes to Booth." They shared a knowing smile. Angela could see he was truly concerned and tried to order her thoughts into some sort of order so she could reassure him.

"Look Sweets….I honestly don't get that vibe from them. You know that I'm pretty much an expert on this type of thing." She said causing Sweets to smile.

"You needn't worry….promise!" Angela said with a smile.

Sweets didn't look convinced but nodded anyway.

"OK Ange. I concede to your expertise. You say she's not an issue then I'll go with it."

At his agreement Angela had started to grin but it slowly faded as Sweets finished. He seemed so sure and Angela….well, she wasn't quite as convinced as she was pretending to be.

"Sweets…..you're don't really think she could cause a problem…do you? I mean….I though you liked her."

"I do…I really do, and like I said…you are the expert. Anyway…I really better be going. I'll just grab Daisy…if I can find her and I'll be off."

Angela went to reply but was sidetracked by Jack's reappearance. By the time they had shared a non-verbal hello Sweets had disappeared taking a very drunk Daisy with him. Sweets departure seemed to signal the end of the night, and one by one they gradually started to leave.

The last to call it a night were Lillian, Angela, Jack and Hacker. They were all incredibly drunk and slowly made their way towards two waiting taxis. Lillian said her goodbyes to Jack and Angela while Hacker waited off to the side for her. It turned out Lillian's hotel wasn't far from Hackers place so they were sharing a taxi, leaving the two love birds to share a taxi back to Jack's.

It was only when Angela was lying in bed that night, with a snoring Jack beside her that she realised something. She had been running her conversation with Sweets through her head over and over again when she noticed that, at the end of their conversation, Sweets never actually answered her last question.