Author's Note: Thank you for your reviews and follows! Hope you enjoy Booth and Brennan trying to take Sweets' and Angela's advice :)
INT. BOOTH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Booth straightens up his living room. There are a couple of
DVDs on the coffee table.
He himself is already tidied up: his face is freshly shaven
and his hair is carefully disheveled. Instead of his typical
dark t-shirt, he sports a white v-neck t-shirt so clean it
must be new and a pair of dark jeans. He's got the "hot date"
look down.
A knock at his door gets his attention. He takes a long, deep
breath, building up for... something.
He goes to the door and opens it. Brennan is there, looking
cute and casual-with-effort in jeans and a tank top under a
long, bulky cardigan sweater. She has her hair pulled back
which accentuates her dangly earrings.
She holds up a brown paper bag.
BRENNAN
Ice cream, as requested.
He smiles and takes the bag.
BOOTH
Perfect. Come on in.
She follows him in, looking around. As she tries to shrug out
of her sweater, he uses his spare hand to help. He takes her
sweater, laying it across the back of the couch.
She walks further in, looking around.
BRENNAN
Did you clean your apartment?
BOOTH
Uh... no, you know... nah.
He shrugs, taking the ice cream to the kitchen. She follows, looking
around more suspiciously.
BOOTH
I maybe straightened a little.
He puts the whole bag in the freezer and turns to the
oven, opening it to check on the contents. He closes it again.
BRENNAN
Are you cooking?
He turns back to her.
BOOTH
Just some pizza.
BRENNAN
You're cooking a frozen pizza?
BOOTH
Uh huh. Well, no. Not frozen.
BRENNAN
You're cooking a pizza that you
prepared from scratch?
He smiles and nods.
BRENNAN
Why didn't you just order a pizza?
BOOTH
Because you always complain the
vegetables aren't fresh enough.
BRENNAN
So you're making me a pizza?
BOOTH
I'm making us a pizza. I got a salad
in the fridge, too. And a bottle of
wine. And... you brought dessert.
BRENNAN
Why?
BOOTH
Probably because I asked you to.
BRENNAN
I thought the ice cream was for sex.
BOOTH
Yeah, and we can totally pivot and go
that route if you want.
BRENNAN
I guess I would need to know more
about the current route...
He fidgets a moment, hesitating.
BRENNAN
Booth...
BOOTH
'Kay, here's the deal, alright? We
have our work thing and that's going
along great as always, right?
She nods once, not sure where he is going.
BOOTH
Then we have this other thing, this
friends with benefits thing, and it's
been, I mean, well you know.
She does.
BRENNAN
It's been very satisfying.
BOOTH
Exactly.
He doesn't continue.
BRENNAN
I'm not sure I understand how this
relates to pizza.
BOOTH
I just feel like we've been so focused
on the benefits that we've maybe
neglected the friends slice of
the Booth/Bones pie.
BRENNAN
Slice? So the pizza's a metaphor?
BOOTH
No, the pizza's dinner. Then I got us
a couple of movies, okay? And you
brought the ice cream. Perfect Friday
night friends' date.
BRENNAN
Date?
BOOTH
Friends. Friends' date.
BRENNAN
So your proposition is-
BOOTH
You know I don't like that word.
BRENNAN
Rather than engaging in intercourse
this evening, we... spend time
together... as friends.
He nods with a smile that looks more like a grimace as he
awaits her response.
BRENNAN
I suppose it would be hard to continue
to call ourselves "friends with
benefits" if we didn't sometimes focus
on our friendship.
BOOTH
Right? My thoughts exactly.
He caps the pitch off with a convincing smile. She thinks
about it a moment.
BRENNAN
Okay. I accept.
His smile turns relieved.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BOOTH'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Booth and Brennan sit on opposite sides of the couch. Before
them are the remains of dinner: a few stray slices of his
homemade veggie pizza, a half empty bowl of salad, a wine
bottle, two wine glasses and two plates with only crumbs left.
The lights are low, with a lamp in the room providing
some light and the TV providing the rest.
From behind them, we see the credits for a movie scroll onto
the screen.
BRENNAN
That was an excellent documentary,
Booth. You chose well.
BOOTH
I found it on a top ten list online.
It was number two. Number one is only
available in Australia so...
BRENNAN
Maybe on our next friends' date.
He laughs, caught off guard by her humor and the suggestion
of a next date. And a trip to Australia. She turns to him,
pulling both her legs up onto the couch.
BRENNAN
This was all very sweet of you, Booth.
BOOTH
I'm a very sweet guy, Bones.
She smiles; she knows.
BOOTH
Thanks for humoring me with this.
Don't get me wrong, the benefits thing
is nice, but being with you without
being with you? That's nice, too.
(then)
Sometimes... it's even nicer.
BRENNAN
I agree. With all the sex we've been
having recently, I'd forgotten how
much I enjoy your actual company.
Socially, you are very nice to be
around. You always put me at ease.
BOOTH
Maybe we should split the difference
from now on? A little of that. A
little of this.
BRENNAN
Yes, I agree. In fact, a little more
of this tonight would be nice.
He smiles.
BRENNAN
Though I'm not opposed to a little of
that... later.
BOOTH
Wouldn't you have to leave for an hour
and comes back? Based on the
previously established rule, that is.
BRENNAN
Yes.
(a beat)
What do you think of that rule?
BOOTH
Oh, me? I think it's dumb. You want to
watch this other movie or what?
BRENNAN
Only if there will be dessert.
Booth gives her a sly smile.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BOOTH'S LIVING ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
The pizza and wine have been cleared out and replaced with
empty ice cream bowls and water glasses.
A comedy movie plays in the background.
On the couch, Brennan has moved from her end over next to
Booth who has his arm up on the back behind her.
Brennan laughs at something on screen. Booth smiles, glancing
at her. She notices.
BRENNAN
What?
BOOTH
Nothing. I like hearing you laugh.
He looks back at the TV.
BRENNAN
This movie is very amusing.
(through a yawn)
You chose well again.
Booth glances over at her, keeping his head forward.
BOOTH
You don't have to stay and watch this
just for me. If you're tired-
BRENNAN
I'm perfectly fine right here.
She leans into him a little, getting more comfortable,
resting the side of her head against chest, still angled to
view the TV. She drapes an arm across his stomach.
His eyes widen in slight surprise at the move, but he
recovers and smoothly slides his hand down from the couch to
wrap around her and pull her closer.
She sighs, content. He smiles, pleased to hold her.
They continue watching the movie.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BOOTH'S APARTMENT - EVEN LATER NIGHT
There is static on the TV. The ice cream bowls are still on
the coffee table.
On the couch, Booth and Brennan are asleep. They are laid out
with Booth's back against the couch, turned just sideways
enough so that Brennan has her head resting on his chest. His
arms, wrapped around her, hold her safely in place.
She rouses, pushing herself up just slightly to see if he is
awake. The movement wakes him.
BRENNAN
Hi. Sorry.
BOOTH
Hey. Don't be.
He runs a gentle hand through her hair, pushing it back over
her ear. She closes her eyes to enjoy his touch. She opens
her eyes again and smiles at him.
After a moment, Brennan moves in slowly, putting her lips
softly against his. He kisses her back, gently.
They sit up, their kiss deepening, never breaking.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BOOTH'S BEDROOM - LATER YET IN THE NIGHT
Booth and Brennan lie side by side together under the covers,
both out of breath.
BRENNAN
(slightly confused)
Wow...
Booth props himself up on his side.
BOOTH
Good wow?
He looks at her hopefully, gently brushing some hair back off
her face and forehead.
BRENNAN
That was... different.
BOOTH
Bad different?
BRENNAN
Good wow and good different.
BOOTH
Okay. Good.
BRENNAN
But still... different. Markedly so.
He smiles to himself.
BRENNAN
Why... have you not been doing that
all along? Not to say that what you've
been doing all along has not been
adequate-
BOOTH
Adequate?
He laughs, lying back against his pillow.
BRENNAN
I'm saying it's been more than
adequate. But this was...
BOOTH
Alright, alright; listen to me.
He moves back to his side.
BOOTH
We've been having sex.
BRENNAN
Yes...
BOOTH
Tonight... that... it wasn't sex.
She turns onto her side, facing him.
BRENNAN
I can assure you, it was.
BOOTH
Hm mm. Nope.
BRENNAN
Are you playing some sort of word game
that I don't understand?
He chuckles and caresses her cheek affectionately.
BOOTH
Okay, look, what was different to you?
BRENNAN
It was... slow... quiet.
BOOTH
Did you feel anything different?
She chuckles.
BRENNAN
Yes, I think I felt many things I've
never experienced before. Not with
you... and definitely not with anyone
else. That one thing at the end...
He smirks a moment, but then gets serious again.
BOOTH
I meant "feel" as in emotions. What
emotion did you feel?
BRENNAN
Oh. I felt... I still feel...
(she tries to place it)
I feel quite emotional.
BOOTH
Your emotion is... "emotional?"
BRENNAN
I'm sorry, but I don't know how to
more precisely characterize what I'm
feeling.
BOOTH
Could you try?
Her sigh is frustrated.
BRENNAN
Okay... I... I feel happy.
BOOTH
That's a start.
BRENNAN
But also like I could possibly cry.
BOOTH
Good cry?
BRENNAN
I think so.
BOOTH
Anything else?
BRENNAN
I feel a certain tenderness toward you
that I cannot place.
BOOTH
That sounds nice.
BRENNAN
I can't reconcile this combination of
emotions to something I've felt
before.
Booth smiles at her, running a hand from her shoulder down to
her hip and then back up as he speaks:
BOOTH
What we've been doing-all the sex-
it's driven by passion. Lust.
Attraction. Like that. You understand?
She swallows. He waits, tracing a finger from her shoulder to
her neck.
BRENNAN
(softly)
Mm hm.
BOOTH
That's all I let myself have in my
head when we're together. Thinking
about how hot you are...
He leans in, placing a kiss on her neck. Her eyes dip closed.
BOOTH
And focusing entirely on... your body.
She opens her eyes as he pulls back.
BRENNAN
Okay... but... tonight...
He smiles and shrugs the shoulder he's not lying on.
BOOTH
Tonight, I wasn't focused on any of
that. All I was thinking about was how
I was feeling toward you, and how I
could express that to you... and what
you were maybe trying to tell me.
BRENNAN
That's ridiculous. Communication that
complex cannot happen without words.
BOOTH
Really?
He moves in, kissing her. It's passionate, but soft. The kiss
lingers as she kisses him back. When they part:
BOOTH
Is that not clear to you?
She thinks about it as she recovers from the kiss.
BRENNAN
You're saying it wasn't sex; it was
making love. Is that it?
BOOTH
So you did get the message, then?
A beat.
BRENNAN
We broke a lot of rules tonight.
BOOTH
Yeah, I know.
He kisses her on her forehead.
BRENNAN
Booth?
BOOTH
I know. You gotta go.
Brennan hesitates before speaking:
BRENNAN
What would happen if I stayed?
Booth raises is eyebrows. Unexpected. He thinks then speaks:
BOOTH
Are you asking me to posit?
BRENNAN
I suppose.
BOOTH
I think a better move would be, you
know, you just stay, and we review the
evidence in the morning.
BRENNAN
Are you asking me to stay?
BOOTH
Just so we can base the answer to your
question on evidence instead of
conjecture. It's the most rational
approach.
She looks up at him. He raises his eyebrows. She nods and lays
her head on his chest. Pleasantly surprised, he wraps
his arms around her.
BOOTH
We did break a lot of rules here
tonight, didn't we?
BRENNAN
Let's wait until tomorrow to consider
the ramifications.
FADE OUT