A Boy From Philly Chapter 26, a bones fanfic

A Boy from Philly

Part XXVI

Booth hung up his cell phone and walked into the house. A romantic smile painted his lips.

As soon as the door closed behind him, he noticed Jared grinning at him.

"What?" Booth said, his smile disappearing.

He shook his head and wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulders. "I remember the day I knew I had no chance with your partner, Seeley."

Booth raised his brow at Jared. "When was that?"

"Oh, it was somewhere between the moment she should have split my lip and when she knocked me on my ass. Nothing spells love like, 'I care for your brother too much to bust your jaw.'"

"You know, you sound like you're joking, but you just described Bones to a T." Booth quickly wrapped his arm around Jared's neck, putting him into a head-lock. He gave him a quick 'noogie' (a la knuckle-to-head) before Jared twisted out of it and punched Booth in the arm.

The two men laughed at one another.

Anne rolled her eyes, "Don't be fooled, Tanya. They may look like men, but they'll always be boys. It's the short-coming that comes along with that Y chromosome of theirs."

Booth pointed at his mother seriously, "Watch it, old lady."

She pointed right back, used to her son's antics, "I brought you into this world and I will take you out, Seeley Booth."

He laughed and wrapped his arm around his mother's shoulders, then planted a kiss on her forehead. "I'm gonna go jump in the shower and we can head to the funeral home."

She smiled softly, "Alright."

Booth walked toward the bathroom door and about-faced at the door. "Love you, Mom." He disappeared behind the door, leaving Anne smiling softly to herself. She could never hear that phrase often enough.

"How about those pancakes, Tanya?"

"That would be nice, Anne. Thanks."

After a quick change at the apartment and a shower, Brennan found herself walking through the halls of the Jeffersonian toward the lab. She felt a little bit anxious and ill-prepared. She hadn't the slightest idea on how she would break this to Angela.

So, she did the most logical thing she could under the circumstances. She decided she would do nothing. And that made her even more anxious. Nothing was more frightening than going in without a plan. But somehow, it felt safer than going in with a poor plan.

She managed to slip past the forensic platform without notice and entered her office. She sat on her chair and simply breathed in and out slowly. It was nice to be home. No matter where she went in the world, Booth was right when he said that this was home. And it was nice to be back.

She smiled to herself with that little half-smile that had become so characteristic of herself and she started up her computer. Within seconds, she was face-to-face with the vaguely familiar 80s boy-band that Angela had called NKOTB--whatever that meant. She shook her head and checked her email.

She was answering the fifth email from a grad student who was begging for permission to be in her class when--

"Dr. Brennan."

She looked up to see Cam standing in the doorway in a dark skirt and low-cut green top. "Cam, how was your break?"

She smiled a smile that dimpled her right cheek and walked over to the desk. "Depends. On one hand, I was waited on the by the world's hottest Cabana boy in the Bahamas, on the other hand... Felicia." She shook her head and laughed. "How was your vacation?"

"Well, it definitely didn't go as planned, but it was... relaxing." The half-hidden smile Brennan gave with that last word made Cam's brows press together with curiosity.

"I didn't know Mayan mummies could be so relaxing."

"I... didn't go to Belize. As a matter of fact--" Brennan found herself on a roller coaster of truth-telling and she couldn't get off for the life of her. "I... I was in Philadelphia w--"

"Sweetie!" Angela ran across the room--actually, the optimum word here would be trot, considering the three-inch heels she wore. "Why didn't you tell me you were here?"

"I was about to. I thought it would be more prudent if I responded to student emails before--"

"Blah, blah, blah, Bren. I'm just glad we're all back!" She hugged her tight. "Call me nuts, sweetie, but I was beginning to miss all of the rigor mortis and formaldehyde."

"I second that," Cam said. "Although, had the break been any longer, either my sister or the newlyweds next door to my room would've satisfied my thirst for death."

"That was dark, sweetie," Angela said, wide-eyed. "You should probably have a chat with Sweets."

"Yeah... Let's just say, it's good to be back!" The women laughed light-heartedly before Cam asked Brennan, "Do you think Booth will bring us a case?"

Brennan looked up sharply. She had been tuning everything out, "Booth? Huh?"

Cam made the same face she made previously. Angela laughed, "She asked about Booth. If he's bringing by any stiffs."

"Um... I-I suppose so... After all, that's what we do... what he does. And me. We--Us. Well, I'm going to Limbo for the time being. If Booth asks where I am, tell him I'll be there." She spun around. "Not--Not that he'll be looking specifically for me. But just in case he wants to go out--for field work--because we're partners." Then she made her exit as swiftly as possible, knowing there would be strange reactions or possibly even questions due to the terrible delivery of those lines. She chastised herself all the way down to Limbo. At least this time she didn't yell while lying... she just stumbled. "...Terrible liar," she whispered to herself.

"Wow," Cam said, watching Brennan disappear.

"Yeah. Good thing we're back to crime-fighting, huh? Bren's brains were turning into mush. I'll be in my office." Angela walked out of the room, leaving Cam feeling a little stunned.

Cam stood in the silent office for several seconds before shaking her head and walking out.

Hours later, Booth walked through the doors of the Jeffersonian and went straight for Brennan's office.

He looked around. Nothing.

"She's in Limbo."

Booth spun around to come face-to-face with Cam. She stood, arms folded, cocky grin on her face.

"Uh, Bones?"

"Of course. Who else would I speaking of?"

The look on Cam's face spelled danger for Booth. And he didn't like it. "I'll... Uh. I'm going now."

Angela walked in at that moment, running straight into Booth's chest. "Where's the fire, Sparky?"

Angela stayed pressed up against Booth's chest for a second longer than was comfortable. Booth put his arms on her shoulders and pushed her away gently. "I'm going to find Bones. If you'll excuse me, ladies..." He side-stepped Angela and passed on Cam's left only to see Brennan standing behind all of them. "Bones."

Brennan's eyes darted between Cam and Angela. "Booth. Uh... h-how was your vacation?"

Angela snorted. All eyes went over to her. "What? Well, it's obvious how his vacation was. Left two days early, came back with a black eye. He's dating a contortionist... with a whip!"

Booth shook his head, "Ha ha, Angela. It was great, Bones. Really... really great."

Brennan tried to hide a smile. She tipped her head towards the ground and scratched her nose. "Well, that's good."

"How about you, Bones? How was Belize?"

Brennan looked between the two on-lookers before replying, "Good. My anthropological dig in Belize was quite informative and relaxing." She sounded like a robot, which earned her not only that same look from Cam, but now Angela gave her a look, too.

"Good," Booth replied.

"Good," Brennan agreed.

"Excuse me for cutting into this highly fascinating conversation, guys. So, Booth," Angela said. "A couple of questions for you. What happened to the eye and where's the belt buckle?"

Booth's lips tightened into thin line. "If you must know, a very attractive woman pushed me off a bed. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"It was--" Eyes went to Brennan. "I'm sure it was an accident."

"And as for the buckle, apparently I'm not so cocky any more. End of discussion. Bones, can I talk to you in your office?"

"Of course. I'm sure it has something to do with a case and nothing else."

Booth's brow scrunched. Hiding this thing was obviously not going to be as easy as he had thought, especially once Brennan was factored into the equation. He grabbed her arm and began to pull her toward the office. Cam and Angela followed on their heels.

Booth spun around at the door. "Just us," he said, then closed the door in their faces.

Simultaneously, the women rolled their eyes and said:

--"They're sleeping together."

Angela and Cam smiled widely at one another. Then, Angela put her hand in the air, "Great minds, babe."

Cam hi-fived her, then they walked in the opposite direction of the door. "Lunch?" Cam asked.

"I'm feeling Thai today. You?"

"Soup and salad."

--"Thai salad!"

Booth watched as the women walked out of sight. Then he turned to Brennan and grinned, backing her against the wall and kissing her deeply, hungrily. He slid his hands around her waist and grabbed her butt firmly with his strong hands.

"Booth," Brennan whispered sharply at him, slapping his chest, despite the fact that she had fully participated in that saliva-swap."What did you want to talk about?"

"Mostly I wanted to ask you over tonight. Eight? Plus I missed you."

She tipped her head. "It's been eight hours. That's not rational."

"Not rational, yes. But it's the truth, Bones." Then he drew in a deep breath. "And we've got a body in a sewer. Definitely a day to wear protection." His brow tipped in the air.

They began to walk toward the door. Brennan turned around with a glint in her eye, "Then you should make a run to the pharmacy."

Wow. Thank you for all of the great compliments! It's awesome to know that so many are enjoying this story!

There is more to look forward to.