Hello again my dear readers. Thank you so much for your reviews, you're awesome.
As I mentioned before, I'm quite busy these days.. that's why it took me longer to write these chapter… I hope you do understand. Thanks!
Under cover(s) – 25
Angela stared at her best friend, who was seated behind her desk, frowning at a piece of paper. "Gimme." The artist said.
Brennan raised an eyebrow. "Give you what?"
"Details of course." Angela rolled her eyes. "I know you. You glow. You had sex." Angela grinned broadly. "And I know with whom."
Brennan's eyes darted to the door of her office and was relieved to find it closed. "You have to promise not to tell anybody about it, Angela."
Her best friend's face fell. "Why?" There was concern in her voice.
"Booth wants to keep it quiet until the case is closed. He thought Cullen might not react positively and it would be better if we were not working undercover when we tell him." Brennan informed her.
Angela nodded thoughtfully, then a sly smile covered her face. "Tell him what?"
Brennan gave her a confused look. "That our relationship has changed, of course."
"You can do better than that." Angela rolled her eyes. "Relationship has changed." She shook her head and gave the forensic anthropologist a chiding look.
"I don't know what you're hinting at, Ange." Brennan narrowed her eyes.
"Details, Sweetie. I want details." Angela gave her a long look. "And I want more than just 'our relationship has changed' That's lame."
"I… love Booth." Brennan admitted hesitantly. "He said he loves me too. We had incredible sex. Satisfied?"
Angela's eyes shone with delight. "Not completely, but it will do for now. Are you?" The artist grinned suggestively.
"Oh yes. For now." Brennan smiled, then sighed. "Though the morning didn't quite start as planned. We fell asleep and woke pretty late. Cullen called Booth and so … nothing happened this morning."
"Ah, but there will be other mornings, right?" Angela asked hopefully, not so subtly questioning Brennan's intentions on having a real relationship with Booth… and hopefully not chickening out now.
"I sincerely hope so." Brennan said and Angela smiled with relief. "Good."
Silence settled over them for a moment, then Angela asked. "He liked the dress, huh?"
"Uh-uh." Brennan nodded as she recalled his reaction to her outfit… and especially how he had removed it later.
"Okay… so, you had incredible sex and told each other that you're in love. Mission accomplished." Angela grinned. "How about the case? Anything new from the Sinners?"
"The guy who collects the coats, the one who followed us…. Its Maureen's brother, Leo." Brennan said.
"Ah. Family business." Angela nodded understandingly.
"Booth is checking him out. He hasn't been in the US for long… and the fact that he followed us is of course suspicious… but it could be that the O'Reillys simply have him follow every new couple that joins the group."
Brennan mused.
"That would mean that they have secrets to keep, huh? I mean, following you guys home? That's creepy." Angela said thoughtfully.
"I know. Booth's trying to get information on Leo Buchanan through our contacts with Scotland Yard." Brennan said and if on cue, the phone on her desk started ringing. "Brennan." She answered.
"Hey Bones. You good?" Booth's deep voice asked and an unfamiliar warmth filled her upon hearing it.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She answered after a moment. When she looked at her best friend, Angela batted her eyelashes and blew a kiss at her and Brennan shot her an annoyed glare.
"I got information on Leo Buchanan. He was into electronics and had quite a lifestyle back in London. Now he's playing butler for his sister." Booth informed her.
"Maybe he wanted a change." She said.
"Maybe." Booth agreed, but his voice indicated that he was not convinced.
"You don't believe it, though." Brennan analysed.
"No, I don't believe it. I just…. Doesn't spring. I don't know. Call it a gut feeling. I think it's suspicious he left behind a life like that to act as a living-in aid for his sister and his brother in law now. If the information on him is accurate, he lives at Sinner's Palace with them. If he wasn't her brother I'd think there was something else going on" He said. Brennan considered the rooms at the Sinner's Palace and the fact that Maureen and Terry led a very open marriage and was inclined to agree.
"You'll think it disgusting – as do I – but it wouldn't be the first time that brother and sister have a sexual relationship." Brennan felt obliged to inform her partner.
"Ugh. Thanks for that visual." He complained. "I hope it's not the case here. I let you know when I found out more, okay?"
She nodded. "Okay. See you later."
"Yeah. I'll pick you up after work, okay? At six?" He sounded almost insecure.
"I'd appreciate it. You dropped me off here and I don't have my car at the Jeffersonian." Brennan said and silence followed for a moment. "Right." He murmured.
"But even if my car was here, I'd hoped you came to pick me up." She admitted after a pause.
A relieved sigh from the other side of the line confirmed her suspicion that he was just as insecure about the situation as she. Sure, they had declared their love for each other, but after years of being partners and friends settling into a new, altered form of relationship was …. unfamiliar and a little awkward. Not unpleasant., though. "Great. Until later, Bones." He said and after a moment he added in a low voice. "I love you."
Her breath caught and just as she was about to recover from the shock of him actually saying it on the phone, just as she was about to say it back, she heard him hang up. She blinked, stunned. This new thing, this new changed relationship was going to be strange for a while. But in a nice way, she thought.
Brennan looked up and met Angela's amused smile. "You're so sweet. You totally blushed. He didn't do dirty talk, did he?"
Brennan snorted. "Ange, you're impossible. No, he gave me information on the case, okay?" She sighed and gave her friend a long look. "Please keep quiet about Booth and me. For now."
Angela nodded. "Won't be easy, but I'll manage."
"Good." Brennan nodded, then she gestured towards her desk. "I have a lot of paperwork and Booth's picking me up at six. So I better make sure I'm done until then."
Angela winked at her. "You can't leave him hanging all evening, huh?"
The innuendo was not lost on Brennan and she just shook her head at her best friend. "Please at least TRY not to make remarks like that in public, Angela."
"Alright." The artist shrugged. "Just one last thing, Sweetie." Angela waited for Brennan to meet her eyes.
"I'm happy for you, Bren."
An almost shy smile appeared on Temperance Brennan's face. "Thank you, Ange."
Soooooooo, how did you like this chapter? I just wanted a girl-talk between Bones and Ange, and a little awkwardness between her and Booth…. after all they have to deal with daily stuff now and things just are a little different when you're out of the bedroom…. But I think they'll manage, what do you think?
Readers who pay attention to every detail may have noticed that it is Sunday in this story and everybody seems to be at work….. I will explain this later in the story!
Reviews would be totally AWESOME.
Next chapter might lead to new insights on the case!!!