AN: I don't own Bones. If only...
Holy crap! Can't believe it's been so long since I updated this. What more can I say except I am so sorry? Things have been weird in real life, and my muse for this disappeared for a while, and, if I'm being 100% honest - I just lost interest in this. But, I'm back, and will hopefully update more.
In other news - I'm on Instagram and Facebook if you want to keep up with me. I go by Onyx Colton on both, and my profile pic on both is my beloved Alan Rickman.
Alright. Let's get to it, yeah? Enjoy!
After standing outside her door for ten minutes switching between ringing the doorbell and knocking, Booth got worried. It wasn't like Bones not to answer her door within moments. Reaching into his pocket, Booth fished out the spare set of keys Bones had given him, and unlocked the door.
"Bones?" he called as he entered, turning to punch in the code to shut off the alarm before it went off. "Bones? You here?" he called again, smiling when the three furry Brennan's came running at him.
Squatting down, he greeted each one with a laugh as he pet them. "Hey, guys." he chuckled, watching as they each vied for his attention. "Where's mom, huh? Where's that mommy of yours?" he asked, still petting them. Bayla broke away, his claws clicking gently on the hardwood as he wandered over to the gated stairs. Turning back to Booth, he yipped before turning back to the stairs.
"Oh, upstairs, huh? Well, thank you, Bayla." Booth said, standing and joining Bayla. Giving the pup a pat on the head, he climbed over the gate, careful not to trip. In the two weeks it had been since she'd moved in, Brennan had really brought the place together. It was as cozy and...Brennan-esque, for lack of a better term...as her old apartment had been. But, his favorite room by far was the 'Booth Boys Basement', as he called it in his head.
Last weekend, he, Parker, and Brennan had spent the whole of Saturday together, putting the room in order. Now fitted with all the board games, video games, and movies either Booth would need, it was a veritable 'Boys Only' domain. Including the mini-bar...fully stocked, of course, with his favorite liquor,...and a mini-fridge filled with drinks and snacks for Parker and himself, it was the perfect room.
"Bones?" he called, shaking himself out of his thoughts as he got to the top of the stairs. Taking a deep breath, he knocked lightly on her bedroom door, frowning when he heard music being blasted from behind it. Taking a risk and opening it, he stuck his head in. Seeing no Brennan, he nudged the door open wider and entered her sacred domain. Turning his head to the right, he smiled when he heard the opening lines to a Lady Gaga song coming from behind the ensuite door.
Brennan had been in her private bathroom when she heard a tapping from the other side of the door. Frowning as she wondered who could be in her home, she turned the music down and crept over and opened it a bit, surprised at who was currently invading her private space.
"Booth!" she exclaimed, eyes wide as she opened it the rest of the way. "What are you doing here?"
"Uh, well...I waited outside for about ten minutes or so with no answer, and I got worried." he answered, shrugging as he desperately tried to ignore the way the red silk robe she was wearing was clinging to her body. "So, I used my key and...Bayla told me you were up here, and here I am." he finished, giving her his best charm smile in hopes of heading off her anger he sensed building.
Brennan smirked, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrow. She knew exactly why she was getting blasted with the patented Booth smile - he thought she was going to be angry about him using his key. Which she wasn't. This was precisely why she'd given him a copy.
"Relax, Booth. I'm not upset." Brennan said with a little chuckle.
"Wha...huh?" he stammered. "You're not upset?" Booth asked.
Brennan shook her head. "Not at all." she smiled, turning back to the mirror. "That's why I gave you the key, Booth. I trust you in my home. I mean, you're free to use the key instead of waiting for me to open the door, Booth."
Booth stood there for a moment before what she said truly hit him. Another smile broke out on his face when he realized that Bones was inviting him to make himself at home in her home.
"Thanks, Bones." he said gratefully, watching her in the mirror. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Are you almost ready, or what?" He was driving her to a photoshoot today, and also acting as her guard. Unofficially, of course.
"Yes. I just need to get dressed and grab my shoes." she nodded, pulling the clip out of her hair.
Booth held back a groan at the sight of her hair falling down around her shoulders. He'd had many a fantasy that started out that way. Biting back another groan when she used her fingers to fluff it out, he moved his gaze to the floor, smirking at the pretty pink toenails she was sporting.
"Alright. You have coffee yet?" he asked.
"No, not yet." Brennan said, moving past him. "I figure we can make a stop on the way." she said. "I mean, if that's alright?"
"Yeah...no, that's fine." Booth nodded. "I'll uh...I'll just wait downstairs, Bones."
"Okay." she said. "Oh, would you put the dogs in the kitchen, and put the gate up, please?" she asked.
"Sure thing, Bones." he said, stepping into the hallway and pulling the door shut behind him.
"Tempe, how are you?" the photographer, Lenny, greeted as soon as he caught sight of Bones. Booth had to tamper down his jealousy as the two embraced and exchanged double cheek kisses.
"I'm good, Lenny, thank you." Bones smiled. "Oh, this is my friend, Seeley Booth." she said, introducing the two as she saw Lenny eyeing Booth.
"It's a pleasure, Mr. Booth." Lenny practically purred, looking Booth up and down.
"Back at you." Booth said, feeling uncomfortable with his leering.
"Well, let's get started, Tempe." Lenny said excitedly, nearly bouncing off.
"Alright." she nodded. "Booth, if you'd like, you can go and I can call you when I'm done." she offered.
Booth shook his head, smiling. "Nah. I'm staying, Bones. I promised I would, and I am." he said.
"Well, okay." she said. "You can wait over there." she said, pointing to a director's chair up against one wall.
"You got it, Bones." he said, walking off.
Booth couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was a whole new experience for him. He'd never been to one of Bones' photoshoots before, and although he could do with a more comfortable chair, he was fascinated. He always foolishly thought her photoshoots were like when you went to have a family portrait taken - just one pose, maybe two, a ridiculous backdrop that the photographer would pull down like shades, and it would only take a few minutes.
Yeah. Right.
That had been nearly two hours ago, and Bones and Lenny were still at it. After the first round of photos, Bones had called Booth over to where Lenny was loading the photos to his computer, stating that she wanted his input. He had told her, somewhat timidly as he was new to all this, which ones he liked, and which ones he wasn't crazy about. Surprisingly, Bones agreed with him on most photos.
"Alright, Tempe, if you'll go change, we'll get the last set done, and we'll be finished for the day." Lenny said.
"Sure." Brennan said, smiling. She was grateful they were nearly finished. Photoshoots tended to drain her, and right now she was in the mood for a nap.
Lenny sighed as he scrolled through the approved photographs, catching Booth's attention. "She really is magnificent, isn't she?" he asked.
Booth nodded. "Yeah, she is." he said. As he glanced at the screen, he pointed to one photo in particular that caught his attention. It wouldn't be widely seen, though, since Brennan had insisted it be put in the 'no' section. "Hey, Lenny, do you think I could get a copy of that one right there?" he asked, pointing to it.
"This one?" Lenny asked, clicking on it.
As the bigger image popped up, Booth nodded, mesmerized. The photo was a close-up of Brennan's face, barely captured in the frame. She wasn't smiling, her deep blue eyes, emphasized by her smoky makeup, staring straight at the camera, enticing Booth to get lost in them. Her lips, usually covered in nothing more than lip balm, painted a nude color along with a light layer of gloss, inviting him to kiss them. Bones' dark brown hair framed her face, a fan briefly pointed at her giving her a windswept look, with just a few wisps hanging down in front of her face.
In short - she was a goddess.
"No problems, G-man." Lenny said, making a note on his notepad. "And, since I know Tempe's as fond of you as you appear to be of her, it's on the house." he added, giving Booth a side glance, almost daring him to contradict him.
Booth slapped the photographer on the shoulder - hard - and gave him a smile. "I appreciate it, Lenny." he said, inwardly smirking at the wince that came over the man's face as he gave his shoulder a squeeze.
As Booth drove them back to Bones' house, he noticed how she kept nodding off, only to wake herself up a moment later.
"Thanks for coming with me today, Booth." she said sleepily, gazing at him through tired eyes.
"It was no problem, Bones." Booth smiled. "I actually enjoyed myself." he said.
"Really?" she asked, disbelieving.
"Yeah." he chuckled. "But I'll deny it if asked." he added.
Bones let out a snort, shaking her head. "You would, too." she said.
"Nah, it was alright." Booth said. "I mean, I'd never been to one of your shoots before. I'd only ever seen the finished product, so getting to go behind-the-scenes was pretty cool." he said. "I swear, Bones, you're a regular pro at those. You could give lessons on patience, too. You never once snapped at Lenny, or his helpers, or me, for that matter. It was honestly amazing, Bones." he said.
"Well...it gets easier over time, Booth." Bones said, sounding on the very edge of sleep.
"I imagine it does, Bones." he nodded. "Especially if you're a professional model, which you could be, you know. You're...you're beautiful, Bones, and..." he said, only to be interrupted by a small snore. Looking over at his partner, he chuckled. In paying attention to the road, he had failed to notice she had leaned her seat back a bit, and was now sound asleep.
Booth chuckled silently to himself. 'Great. I'm trying to be romantic, and she's asleep!' he thought.
"I'll wake you when we get home, Bones." he whispered, turning his focus back to the road.
Review please.
Til next time!
XOXO - Onyx Obsidian