It didn't take long for Booth to get his things and check out of the hotel, and Brennan kept herself occupied in the car by looking up the website for the dig on her phone, curious about what information Booth had learned from the news updates. She read quickly through several articles, and smiled slightly as she noticed a photo or two where she was prominent. She looked tired and a little annoyed, and didn't remember her photograph being taken, but there she was. She scrolled a bit, and closed the browser when she heard the back of her SUV open. She looked back to see Booth setting two large duffel bags into the back area of her car.
"Told you it wouldn't take long." He smiled, catching her eyes across the car, she smiled back. He closed the hatch and came around, climbing into the driver's seat once again. They made their way toward her apartment, and the air seemed full of electricity. They weren't talking, but each could feel an energy that couldn't really be explained.
"I didn't realize that the organizers had a website about the dig in Maluku." She said, watching Booth's eyebrows lift.
"Really? They seemed to indicate that you were contributing information." He said. "There were a few pictures too. It was nice that I could see what you were working on, and where you were, even if I couldn't talk to you." He said.
"Yes, so that you could follow my movements." She said, her tone full of playfulness.
"I can't protect you, but I can at least make sure you're safe." He said, teasing right back. "I worry about you when you're not by my side."
"I worry about you when you're unreachable and in a war zone." She said, her tone suddenly serious. "That's one of the reasons that I insisted on you staying with me." She said, reaching for his hand, he took hers in his and watched as he listened intently to her. "I like knowing where you are." She said, smiling sadly.
"I'm not going to complain about your hospitality, or your attention, Bones." He said. "You know that Christmas is my favorite time of year." He said, bringing her hand to his lips as he drove, he kissed it tenderly. "It wouldn't have meant half as much if you weren't here."
They rode in silence, hand in hand, and when they arrived at Brennan's place, he hauled his bags into the building, walking with her to her apartment. They stepped inside, and he excused himself to the guest room to drop off his bags. When he returned to the living room, Temperance had already taken out a small step ladder, and was attempting to place a large metal star at the top of the tree.
"Hey! Hey, hey…wait!" He said, rushing to her side, he grabbed for her playfully. She tumbled into his arms off the ladder with a squeak that he had never heard from his partner before and she landed in his arms.
"Booth, what are you doing?" She asked, a refreshing smile on her lips, the star still settled in her hands.
"You can't just put the star at the top of the tree without having it decorated first." He said, swinging her around in a circle. "Who taught you how to decorate a tree?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, I am clearly not versed in Christmas tree decorating etiquette." She said, feeling him spin her around again. She let out a joyful laugh. "You're going to make me dizzy!" She laughed.
"I just want to hear your laugh." He said, carefully setting her to the ground, she kept her hand on his arm to keep her balance, pulling herself close to him, she looked up into his dark eyes.
"Are you going to show me?" She asked, her voice suddenly husky, and a little breathy, she could see him swallow hard, and his his eyebrows lifted suggestively. "Show me how to decorate the tree." She said, giving him a light swat on his arm. "Dad decorated it last year. I was working, so I didn't watch."
"Do you remember decorating the tree when you were younger?" He asked.
"Mm… not particularly." She said, turning in his arms, she felt him wrap them around her waist as she stared at the tree.
"The star goes last." He whispered into her ear, he could feel her shiver at the way it skittered across her cheek.
She instantly felt goosebumps rise on her skin, the whisper and his closeness were affecting her. "Mm…" She groaned, pushing herself back into him slightly, she looked up at him and could see that her closeness was affecting him as well, though he was trying his best to remain in control.
"Ornaments first." He said, nodding toward the box. She reluctantly moved from his arms, though refused to break the connection, grabbing hold of his hand as she walked toward the container. She pulled several boxes of ornaments out, and handed them to Booth. They were mostly nondescript balls of various colors, but he moved toward the tree with them, placing them on the floor as he lifted one box.
"I know that they're not anything special." She said, watching him open the first box, his eyes met hers. "But I have the ornament from you, and the one from Parker. They are unique." She said.
"And maybe next year, I'll get you another new ornament." He said, watching her smile become brighter.
"I would like that very much." She said, and moved toward him. She picked up a box of ornaments, and they both began decorating the tree together.
Once the ornaments were on the tree, they both stepped back to take a look. Pleased with the beauty of their tree, she looked up at him, watching his eyes move over it. "Is it time for the star now?" She asked, her tone holding a child-like impatience. Booth glanced to Temperance and shook his head, watching her smile.
"Yes, it's time to put the star up." He said, tugging the ladder toward himself. She reached for the star, which was sitting on a nearby table, and held it for a moment. "Do you want to do it?" He asked.
"I don't see why it matters." She replied, her tone showing her confusion.
"Because it's the final touch." He said, moving toward her again. "It's the crowning glory, the..."
"Decoration at the top of the tree so it doesn't look bare." She smiled, and a little brighter when he scowled at her. "I know that the star, top of the Christmas tree is representative of the star of Bethlehem in the often told anecdote of Jesus' supposed birth, which..."
"Wasn't in December... Yes, yes. You tell me that every year." Booth said, watching her fingers roll over the metal star in her hands, her eyes at the top of the tree. "It's still important." He said. "Do you want me to put the star up?"
"No." She said, glancing back at him with glittering eyes, a smile on her lips. She stepped to the ladder, and stepped up to the top, lifting the star carefully in her hands. She noticed after a moment that he was standing just below her, holding firmly to the ladder. She reached up and gently placed the star on the top of the tree, moving it slightly to ensure that it was straight. "Is it straight?"
"It's perfect." He said, watching her look down at him, he was looking at her, and not the tree. She rolled her eyes and reached for the star again. "I said it was perfect, Bones!" He laughed.
"You are looking at me, and not looking at the tree." She said, shifting the star a little more.
"Someone thinks pretty highly of themselves." He teased. "It's good... right there!" He exclaimed, letting out a laugh when she moved the star again. "Stop touching it!" He said, watching her pull her hands away and admire it. "Perfect!" He exclaimed, moving forward, he grabbed her, sending her laughing over his shoulder as he grabbed the ladder and walked away from the tree as she laughed, smacking his back and kicking her legs slightly.
"Booth!" She laughed, listening to his chuckle as he pulled her off his shoulder, and she landed in front of him, looking into his eyes with a smile. She became lost in his gaze for a moment, a smile on her own face, when she turned around sharply to face the tree, pushing her back into him. "It's crooked." She said, looking up at him.
"You're crooked." He responded, watching her jaw drop. "I'm kidding." He said, dropping a kiss on her cheek as he passed her. "Are you ready to light it up?" he asked. He turned and smiled toward her, watching her bounce a little on the balls of her feet in anticipation. He moved behind the tree carefully to get the cord.
"Wait!" She exclaimed, he looked up and could see her running toward the switch to turn the other lights in the room off. She switched them and then made her way quickly to back to the tree, sliding on her socks as she stopped. "Okay." She grinned. "Ready."
He let out a bit of a laugh. "Close your eyes." He said, watching her scowl appear. "Come on, Bones. Humor me here."
She grinned and closed her eyes, covering her face with her hands as she waited. She listened to him moving a bit, and then the sound of some ornaments making a tinkling sound on the tree. "Did you knock the tree over?" She asked, her eyes still closed tightly.
Suddenly, he was right behind her, leaning down. "No, I did not knock the tree over." He whispered into her ear as his arm went around her. He heard a slight laugh come from between her lips and shook his head. "Okay, open your eyes." He said, holding her arms for a moment, he watched her eyes open wide, as a smile lifted on her lips. He could see the Christmas lights glittering in her eyes. He leaned down slightly, resting his head on her shoulder. He could feel her head lean onto his. "Merry Christmas, Bones."
"Merry Christmas, Booth." She whispered back, turning herself slightly, his hands caught her around the waist and pulled her close. She looked up into his eyes as a moment of peace washed over the two of them. They stood in the gentle glow of the Christmas tree, their eyes reflecting a tender love. She leaned up, stretching herself against his body, her hands moving up to the base of his neck, her thumbs gently rubbing his hairline, holding him steady for several moments. She studied his face, his eyes, his lips, and the way the worry lines faded with each passing second. "I believe that I owe you an apology." She whispered.
His head tilted just slightly, and he watched the colors from the tree bounce across her irises like an unruly wind. "You already apologized."
"I underestimated my feelings for you. I hurt you." She whispered.
"I pushed you." He replied. "I know better than that. I have been thinking about it for months. I never should have done that. I should know by now that sometimes you need time, and space." He said, running a finger across her cheek, he allowed her to read him at her own pace. "I love you. I want you to know how much I love you. I want to show you." He leaned in, preparing himself for a kiss, he felt her hand on his chest. It wasn't too firm, but it did stop him.
"We... we shouldn't." She whispered.
"We shouldn't?" He asked. It was now his turn to read her.
"It wouldn't be wise. We still have to go back." She said, swallowing hard. Her voice was pushing him away, but her eyes were focused on his lips, her tongue darting out. He heard a whimper when she swallowed. "We still have to go back, Booth." She whispered.
"Go back?" He asked.
"I need to go back to Maluku, and... and you to Afghanistan." She said softly.
"Why does that matter?" He asked. Her head tipped impatiently, as if she thought he would understand. "I loved you before, I love you now, and I will love you when we come back home for good."
"Can we sit down?" She asked, swallowing thickly.
"Sure." He said, dropping his hands while still keeping eye contact, he started to turn toward the couch and felt her hand keeping him there. He turned his head, and she nodded toward the floor in front of the tree. A slight smile rose on his lips, and he followed her lead, sitting on the carpet before the tree. She scooted closer to him, and his arm went around her shoulders, his thumb rhythmically pushing into her shoulder slightly. They watched the lights for a number of minutes, simply sitting together in gentle silence."If it makes you feel any better, it won't be for long." He said, feeling her body stiffen slightly.
"What?" She asked, looking up at him. "What won't be long?"
"Our separation." He said. "It will only be until May. That's only four months."
She nodded thoughtfully. "One of my earliest memories is of Christmas." She said softly.
"Tell me about it." He said, kissing her hair.
"I remember that I was about five or six years old. I fell asleep under the lights of the tree. I remembered waking up, and my dad had put a blanket over me, and a pillow beneath my head. I just remember how safe I felt, warm, and loved." She whispered, staring up at the twinkling lights. "Our tree had those larger bulbs, they kind of... hummed. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that it was probably a fire hazard." She said, letting a giggle bubble from within.
"Most likely." he chuckled.
"I just remember how pretty and colorful they were. Not that these aren't beautiful, they were just... just different." She shrugged.
"How about now?" He whispered. "Do you feel safe?" He asked, staring up at the tree, he could sense her watching him, his hand settled in hers, his other arm still around her shoulder.
"Yes." She whispered, turning her attention back to the tree.
"Do you feel warm?" He asked, still watching the lights, he moved his thumb rhythmically over her knuckles.
"Yes." She said, swallowing tightly for her memory, and for the heat that was coursing through her body with each and every swipe of his thumb.
"Do you feel loved?" He asked, turning his head slowly, she did the same, a gentle smile on her lips as their eyes met.
"Yes." She whispered, knowing that her heart couldn't take much more, it was slamming against her ribs like a frightened bird in a bird cage. Before she could change her mind. Before she could question it, she found herself twisting her body.
He said nothing as her body moved, her knees landing on each side of him, her hands laying flat against his chest, his body willingly falling back with hers atop him. She was now straddling his prone body, pressing herself against him, her face inches from his. There was no surprise in his eyes, not for even a moment, only desire. He was careful not to say something to her, to tease or play, because he knew her well enough to know that any words or tone could be construed as rejection. She wanted to see his emotions bared, not a teasing smile or joke. She needed him to be the protector of her heart, her body, her mind, and her soul, and he was fully up for the task.
His hands were at his side, and she held hers firmly against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her fingertips. Then she felt his hands, his long fingers gripping her thighs, his thumbs pressing into her as they moved up toward her hips, settling there for a moment. His eyes were still on hers, focused directly into her rapidly dilating pupils. He was doing just as he said he would. He was giving her time. Time to adjust, time to refocus, time to work through every single nuance of every single moment that had happened in the last twenty four hours. He could almost see her thoughts moving like a movie through her mind.
His hands traveled to her waist, feathering their way up her body, his thumbs running across every single curve that they managed to find. He felt her legs tighten on his body her eyes closing slowly, and then fluttering back open to find that just a bit of his lower lip had slipped between his teeth. He heard a low growl, almost a purr as his thumbs reached her breasts, his hands traveled back down, and her weight was once again on his hips, where she could feel exactly how she was affecting him.
"What do you want for Christmas, Temperance?" He managed to whisper, his breath rolling across her skin, sending a tickle to her ear. "Tell me."
"You."