Booth walked stealthily into Brennan's office with a paper bag with their lunch, and a Styrofoam container with a slice of pie for himself for dessert. He took his time on his lunch run, ensuring that Brennan would have enough time and space to rest, even if she decided she didn't want to sleep. He had made it through the lab without gaining anyone's attention. As soon as he stepped into her office, he heard a distinctive sniffle from across the room. "Bones, you okay?" He asked, moving toward the desk, he set their lunch down as he stepped quickly to the couch. He knelt beside her and his hand went right to her brow, his thumb running over her skin as he kissed the tear from her cheek. "Hey…" He whispered. "Bad dream?"
"No." She whispered, her voice cracking slightly as her hand moved up to cover her face. "I'm just tired. Can't calm down to sleep."
"You're probably hungry too." He said. "We can eat lunch, and then go home."
"No." She said sternly, trying to sit up, she felt his hand on her arm as he helped her to balance herself, and after a moment, she felt his warm body sitting beside her, pulling her into him. "I don't want to go home early. I just need to settle my mind."
"Then you can eat, and let yourself settle down, and we'll reassess." He said, feeling her nod against him. "Good." He said, starting to get up. He felt her hand in his for a moment, and he gave it a light squeeze. He sat with her for several minutes, gently running his hand along her arm as he kissed her temple. "I'm going to go turn the light on, and we can dig into our lunch." he said, feeling her nod softly.
She released his hand and he moved toward the light switch, flicking it on. He could see that though she had been upset, that she had some color back in her face, and looked to be much less exhausted than when he had left her to get lunch. "So I got you that salad you like with the dressing you like at that bistro…" He said, watching her brow furrow. "And I got myself a cheeseburger and fries at the diner and a piece of pie." He grinned, watching the wrinkle in her forehead disappear as she watched him walk toward her with the bag.
"Booth, are you… happy?" She asked, reaching for the bag as he sat down beside her. He took the containers from the bag and arranged the forks, still having not answered her question. He handed her the container with her salad, and she watched him until his eyes met hers. "Are you happy?" She repeated.
"I'm working my way in that direction, Bones." He said with a tender smile. "I still worry about your health, about your progress." He said, watching a spark of concern in her eyes. "You're doing great." He said, a tender smile on his face. "You're doing better every day, but I'm always going to worry." He said, leaving many words unspoken, he looked toward her, catching her gaze.
"What would make you happy?" She asked, her eyes burning into his as she kept her razor sharp attention on him. "What can I do for you to make you happy, Booth?" She asked, noting the way his pupils dilated just slightly, and the corner of his lip twitched, just before he turned his head toward the bag with his lunch.
"I don't know, Bones." He said, pulling the container from the diner out of the bag.
"Would you prefer to stay at your own place a couple of nights a week?" She asked, watching his head turn quickly, and his focus was once again on her. "Angela could stay with me. Would that make you happy? To have distance?" Her voice was small and uncertain, and though she was trying to remain brave, she was very afraid of his answer to her question.
His brow knit in confusion, and he swallowed hard. "You don't want me to stay with you?"
"Is that what I said?" She asked, the tone of her voice raising slightly, and it was almost teasing. She watched as a range of emotions passed across his face. "Would that make you happy? Would it make you happy if you didn't have to be at my side all day, and all night."
"No." He shook his head. "I like being by your side, Bones. That's what makes me happy. Seeing you every day, pushing yourself for your personal freedom through the pain. It makes me worry, but I am happiest when I'm with you." He said sincerely. "I'm happiest when I know that if you need something, you can ask me."
"I'm happiest when you're nearby also." She said slowly. "I sometimes feel that I rely on you too much, that I am testing your patience."
"That's no different than any other time, Bones." He teased, handing her a fork. "Now shush and eat. You're testing my patience." He said, watching her smile slightly at him, as she took the fork from his hand, and slowly opened the container to eat her lunch.
They ate their lunch peacefully, and Brennan handled her fork fairly well, a skill that she had perfected since the incident, especially when Booth was nearby, since their lunches and dinner typically consisted in a level of friendly banter that kept her from thinking too hard. At one point, she had dropped the fork four times, and when she lifted her eyes to Booth, she watched him give her a friendly smile as he shoved a fry into his mouth. "What's up, Bones?" He asked, watching her eyes focus on his for a moment as her thoughts aligned themselves in her mind.
"I do love that you have spent your morning here, but I am also thinking that you should go to your office after lunch." She said softly, watching as he tried not to look hurt at her words. "I would like to stay here for the rest of the day, working and resting. Not because I don't like it when you're here, but I would like to look forward to seeing you later." She said, squinting a little as she watched him closely. "Do you understand? Do I make sense?"
A slow grin rose onto his lips, and he watched her gaze very carefully. "You want an opportunity to miss me?"
"Is that an odd request?" She asked, sitting up straight. Her lower lip slipped slowly between her teeth as she attempted to read his expression. He was still smiling back at her, and for a moment, she expected him to tease her. "You can stay if you'd like."
"I can go, Bones." He said, shrugging. "You have Angela and Hodgins here to keep you busy. Willis is gone, so you don't have to worry about him showing up. It'll give you a chance to feel even more comfortable here in your element. They've got your back out there." He said, nodding toward the door.
"I am having a good day." She said slowly, half was because she was trying to find the words she wanted to use, the other was because she was almost nervous about putting that thought out into the room, for fear that by saying it aloud, that the day would be ruined.
"So far, so good." Booth nodded. "If it keeps going in this direction today, and you're up to it, would you like to have dinner with me this evening?" He asked, watching her eyes move down for a moment and then directly into his. If he didn't know better, he'd say that she was being bashful.
"We have dinner together every evening, Booth." She said, trying to control the slight twitch at the corner of her lip. She noticed his eyes narrow, and the twitch couldn't be hidden, as a half smile rose onto her lips. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"I already slept in your bed." He whispered, leaning toward her slightly. "I figured maybe it's time that I ask you to dinner." He smiled that charm smile that sent her lower lip back between her teeth as she avoided eye contact with him for a moment. "What do you say, Bones?"
"Oh, I don't know." She said, the tone of her voice was obviously teasing him, and she sighed while continuing to avoid eye contact with him.
"Bones." He said, shaking his head at her.
"Where would you take me to dinner?" She asked, lifting the fork up in her salad she started to twirl it slightly between her fingertips. It was a movement that he hadn't seen her make, and just watching her thumb and finger move over the end of the utensil made him smile.
"I have a couple of restaurants picked out that you might like." He shrugged, suddenly his demeanor was a little more bashful. "What do you say? If Angela can bring you home this afternoon, I'll grab a change of clothes at my place and come to your place to pick you up for dinner."
"I would love to go out on a date with you, Booth." She said, feeling a light heat in her cheeks as she focused on her lunch once more, and continued to eat.
"Good." He said, standing up with his now empty container, he moved toward the trash can and deposited it inside. He nodded his head toward the door as he gathered his laptop, packing it away with a few files. He grabbed the container of pie that he hadn't gotten to. "So, I'm going to take off now. I'll let Angela know what the plan is, and I'll see you at your place at six-thirty?" He asked.
"Seven." She said, looking up at him with just her eyes, she twirled her fork again in her salad, almost as if she were showing off.
"Seven." He nodded, smiling at her as he moved toward the door.
"What's in that container that you didn't open?" She asked, watching him pause for a moment and glance toward her.
"Slice of pie." He shrugged. "I'm just going to take it with me, eat it in my office."
"Perhaps this evening, we can have dessert together." She said, watching as this time, the blush rose in his cheeks slightly.
He grinned as he stepped toward her, dropping a soft kiss on her cheek. "I like the way that you think, Bones." He said. "I love you. Call me if you need me."
"Always." She said, watching as he walked toward the door. He opened the door, walked through, and started to close it behind him. "Booth?" She said, watching as he poked his head in the door. "You can leave the door open." She nodded, watching as he smiled back at her. "I love you too." She said, watching his grin become even brighter as he quickly turned and made his way through the lab. She wasn't quite sure, but she may actually have heard him whistling.