A/N: this chapter takes place the Monday after the last chapter. We have the combo of Booth, Brennan, Angela, and elevator, and a limo.

"Hey, Brennan...wait up!" Jogging toward the elevator, Angela stuck her hand between the doors and then entered the car. "Wow...Mondays, am I right? I guess we're both running late, aren't we? How was your weekend?"

"Fine." Shouldering her messenger bag, Brennan shrugged slightly. "Saturday was busy...Booth, Hodgins, and I got called out to retrieve some remains in rural Maryland, but I relaxed on Sunday, so I'm not that tired."

Having gotten the scoop from Hodgins about the team's limo ride from the truck stop to DC, Angela's relationship radar was already on high alert, but now that Brennan seemed so nonchalant, her interest was really piqued. "So...you just sat around on Sunday...by yourself...and did nothing? That doesn't sound like you. You normally have detailed plans for the weekend."

"Oh, I wasn't by myself yesterday...Booth came over.," Brennan said innocently. "We had car trouble on the way home Saturday night, so he had to leave his SUV at a truck stop in Maryland, and Hodgins arranged for his limo driver to come pick us up and take us home. Since Booth was without a vehicle for the rest of the weekend, he spent the day with me yesterday, and I took him to work this morning, which is why I was running late. He'll probably get another car from the motor pool later today…"

"Wait...that's kind of a non sequitur, isn't it? Well maybe not exactly, but it is a huge leap of logic..." Seeing Brennan's confusion, Angela smirked a bit. "What I mean is, why did Booth have to spend the day with you just because his car was in the shop? Why couldn't he stay at his own apartment?"

Brennan groaned in frustration as if the answer to that question should be obvious. "Well, you know how easily bored and restless he gets, Angela. He needs to have something to do to be happy, and since he couldn't go anywhere else, he took a cab to my apartment and we just...what was that term he used? Oh yes...we 'hung out'."

Oh, I'm fairly sure I know what Booth could do with Brennan to make himself really happy… Angela nodded slowly. "So what does your 'hanging out' with Booth involve, exactly?'

Not in the mood for Angela's prying, Brennan concentrated on the numbers above the elevator's doors. "Nothing special. He got there about noon so we made some grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch, and then he watched some sort of sporting event on the television while I did some research for my new book. He and I both needed to do some laundry, so we took care of that before going for a walk around the neighborhood, and then we picked up some Chinese food for dinner on the way home. After dinner and cleaning up the kitchen, we watched an old John Wayne movie, and then we went to bed…"

"So did you go to bed...together?," Angela squealed. "That does sound like a nice Sunday…"

Brennan rolled her eyes at her friend's childish behavior. "No, of course not! He slept in my guest room! And then this morning we went out for breakfast before I dropped him off at work."

Their conversation was interrupted as the elevator doors opened. Stepping into the landing, Brennan turned to face Angela. "We were just spending time together, like friends do, okay? There was nothing romantic about it…and no need to get so...crazed...over how I spent my weekend with Booth."

"Right." Angela laughed out loud at Brennan's naivete. "It's just that it sounds so...domestic, okay? You know, like your day wasn't overly romantic, but what you two did is stuff that couples do together when they're in a long term relationship...when they're so comfortable with each other that they even enjoy doing the mundane parts of life together…as romantic partners..."

"I was merely helping out a friend, Angela…"

Angela pursed her lips slightly as she studied Brennan, wondering if the anthropologist was really that clueless about her partner's feelings. "Whatever you say, Sweetie. So why didn't Booth just take a cab home last night and then one to work today?"

"Why would he need to spend money on a cab if he and I'm traveling in the same direction?" Brennan held up her hand to stop Angela's snide comments. "And it's out of the way for me to pick him up from his apartment before going to work. I'd have to backtrack. My plan was much more efficient, both in the amount of time used and in terms of gasoline usage…"

"You don't have to explain it to me, Brennan." Angela gave her a broad grin. "Believe me, if I thought I could get away with playing house with Booth over the weekend, I'd be doing just that…"

Waving off her friend's sarcastic tone, Brennan scoffed in annoyance. "We were not playing house! We were simply spending time together…"

Angela laughed merrily. "Oh, you were definitely playing house...and I bet Booth was really looking forward to doing what mommies and daddies do together after the kiddies are in bed, but you made him sleep in the guest room! That wasn't playing nice, was it?"

Having had enough of Angela's ribald teasing, Brennan was about to scold her friend soundly when she was interrupted by the arrival of the elevator.

Angela smiled, licking her lips as she admired the handsome man as he exited the car and walked towards them. "Oh...hey, Booth. How's it going, Studly?"

"Fine…" Sensing that the two women were possibly at odds over something, Booth hesitated slightly. "Um...hey, listen, I know it's still early in the day, but I just came by to see about how things are going with the investigation into the murder of Senator Garland's aide. I mean, it's not even ten AM, but Caroline is already getting heat from Capitol Hill…which means I get pressure put on me..."

"I feel sure that Cam and Mr. Bray are evaluating the remains as we speak.," Brennan explained as they walked toward the lab. "Once they're done with that cursory examination, whatever flesh is left will be removed and I should have access to the bones. I received an email this morning saying that the man's dental records have already arrived, so we'll look at those to confirm identity, although there's little doubt in my mind as to who the victim is. Hodgins will be checking the insect activity in more detail and running chemical analysis on the mud we found on the man's clothing to see if it's consistent with the soil found in the area. That way we'll have an idea as to whether or not the body was moved to that location after the man's death."

Angela nodded. "Cam sent me an email asking me to look through his cell phone records, social media accounts, and his bank accounts. That may give us a better picture of why he was so far away from home."

Pleased with the course of the investigation, Booth nodded. "Good...that's good. I knew I could count on all of you." Clearing his throat nervously, he continued. "So...uh...Bones...you gotta minute?"

"Of course." Ignoring Angela's raised eyebrow and silly grin as she walked away, Brennan smiled at her partner. "We can go to my office if you want…"

"Uh, no...this will just take a minute. I...um...that is, we...um...the motor pool got me a loaner to use until my SUV is fixed, so I won't need a ride home tonight…"

"Oh, I see." She was surprised to find that she was very disappointed at the news, even though it wasn't unexpected. "Well, I'm glad it all worked out. Maybe you'll be happier with the new vehicle."

"Yeah...me, too, I guess." Feeling awkward, he shrugged slightly. "But...um...anyway, I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed spending time with you yesterday. It was nice, you know? Just hanging out, doing everyday stuff like that...no need to rush. We could just relax after being so busy Saturday, right?"

"I enjoyed your visit very much, Booth. You're good company. Sometimes I forget how much I like spending time with you."

"Yeah? Really?" He couldn't help but grin. "So...maybe...um...we could spend some more time together on the weekends...occasionally...if you wanted, that is...if you're not too busy. I mean, you know, without having to wait for my car to break down again. I know you have a lot of other stuff to do, but...it might be fun..."

Trying to push Angela's silly insinuations out of her mind, Brennan sighed happily. "I think that's an excellent idea, Booth. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I appreciated the unstructured aspect of the day. I also found that to be quite relaxing…and having a companion seemed to enhance that."

"Me, too...I enjoyed it...just hanging out with you and all...even though we didn't really have a plan." He paused, hoping to think of something brilliantly romantic to say, but his brain refused to comply with his request. "So...um...if you're not sick of me already, maybe we can have lunch together today?"

"I'd like that...and maybe by then I'll have some information for you on the case."

"Maybe...or maybe we could just...I don't know…'hang out' some more?"

She giggled softly. "Maybe so. I'll see you at the diner at noon…but for right now, I should start working on the remains..."

"Oh...yeah, I suppose so. Okay, I'll see you at noon. Later."

He watched her walk away, making sure that she was out of sight before pumping his fist in triumph. "YES!"

Maybe it wasn't a real date with Bones, but it was a start...and who knew where they'd end up?

He grinned happily as he turned and walked toward the elevator. "I can't wait 'til lunch!"

Thanks for reading. If you have time to review, I'd appreciate it.