Disclaimer: Take a wild guess
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who read and especially to everyone who reviewed. I've gotten a variety of responses. Some people want to know how far I'll let Meg/Booth go. Others would like to see Meg die in some sort of fiery accident (not to bring you guys down, but I don't think I'm going with this idea). I even had one reviewer saying something about furbies…I'm going to take that as a good thing. Anyway, thanks for the feedback, I look forward to getting more. Oh, and I know that I haven't lived up to my title yet. I promise there will be a body at the beach. But probably not for a little while yet—a few more chapters at least. Sorry this is turning into a long fic. If you hate it, let me know. Maybe we can work something out. And now, off we go…
"Tell me again how this is our problem?" Hodgins was exasperated as he stared at his girlfriend.
"She's our friend, and this is a mistake! We have to intervene before she wrecks what could be the best thing to ever happened to her!" Angela threw her hands about wildly as she spoke. She couldn't understand Hodgins sometimes. How could he not see the severity of this situation?
Hodgins just shook his head. "Babe, I understand that you want them to get together, okay? But we have to face the fact that these are their lives. They get final say over who they end up with. If that's each other, super, but we have to let them make that decision on their own."
"Why? If we already know that this would make them happy, why can't we meddle?"
Hodgins sighed heavily. "What are we going to do? I mean, really, what? Lock them in a room until they profess their undying love?"
"I wasn't proposing…hey, you know, that could work…"
"No. NO. C'mon, Ange, these are people's lives. Let them go. If it's meant to be, it will work out. Look at us. We got together on our own." Hodgins smiled as he mentally patted himself on the back. Not only was that reasonable, he also knew he had just scored some major points for sensitivity.
Angela threw her hands in the air. "What are you talking about with that 'look at us' crap? This is BOOTH and BRENNAN!"
His belief that he had just scored points quickly deflated. "Aw, I love it when you get romantic with me."
"You could just try to make him jealous."
Angela and Hodgins both turned to the new voice that had just entered the room. Zach dropped the file he was carrying onto Angela's desk for her to sign. He looked at them expectantly.
Angela responded first. "How would we make him jealous? And how would that even help?"
Hodgins stepped in at this point. "You know, that could work…"
"Of course it could," Zach replied. "If you break it down, it makes perfect logical sense."
Angela was truly lost as to where Zach and Hodgins were going with this. "How will making Booth jealous help? Tempe's the one who needs to get jealous."
"No, no, no, Boy Wonder over here has a point. We find some guy who will flirt with Dr. Brennan at dinner. Booth will go all protective, possessive, alpha male like he always does; Dr. Brennan will be oblivious to some guy hitting on her, just like she always is. Booth will focus on Dr. Brennan all night, which will piss off Meg and she'll therefore stop pursuing him. Bird one killed. Then, after dinner, Booth will confront Dr. Brennan and she will be forced to acknowledge that there is more there than friendship. Bird two down." Hodgins thought back over his reasoning for a moment. "Zach, you're a genius."
"I know."
"Hold on, how do we know that Booth will talk to Tempe after dinner? He's done the alpha male thing before and it never dawned on either one of them to make a move," Angela interjected.
Hodgins considered this for a moment. "Yeah, that's true." He paused. "Zach?"
Zach shrugged. "Alcohol?"
Hodgins nodded. "Yeah, if we got their inhibitions down it would be a lot easier."
"But if they have too much there's a chance they won't remember the details of what they tell each other in the morning. And worse, if something happens physically, there's a good chance they will end up regretting it later."
Zach and Hodgins thought about this for a moment. In the end, it was Hodgins who spoke. "Yeah, that's true. So, maybe alcohol isn't the answer. Maybe Meg is the key. I mean, she's staying with Dr. Brennan, right? She's going to notice if Booth ignores her. So, we find a guy to flirt with Dr. Brennan, let Booth go all crazy about it, and then just let Meg do what girls do later. She'll bring it up, then Dr. Brennan will be forced to think about it, and she and Booth will have to talk later." Hodgins smiled at his capacity for logical reasoning.
Angela shook her head. As much as she hated to admit it, the two made a compelling case. It might be a long shot, but this could work. It was at least more feasible than the locked room idea. She sighed. "Okay, I'll go hunt for a guy."
"We can do it," Hodgins interjected. "It was Zach's idea, and plus now I'm eager to be involved."
Angela shook her head. "Afraid I'm going to flirt with other guys?"
"Terrified."
Temperance was late. Very late. She had lost track of time at work, and now she was rushing home, hoping she had enough time to get ready before dinner. She ran through the door and went straight to the bathroom, where she quickly grabbed for a hairbrush. No time to waste, she continued to rush about, trying to get dressed, all the while talking to Meg who was completely ready to go and was sitting in the living room with a magazine.
Meg had dressed in a casual white tank top with wide straps, a flowing hippie-ish brown skirt and sandals. She had hammered silver earrings in her ears and an artsy necklace falling about her collarbone. She looked stunning. The white of her shirt showed off her warm California tan, and her hair was in soft waves about her shoulders and face. Her face looked young, too young to be a professor, but old enough to be a college senior. She looked relaxed in a sophisticated way. Nothing seemed to ruffle her laid back and amiable nature.
Temperance reflected on this as she got ready. She had known Meg for a long time, but through all the good times and bad they had had to endure in their friendship she couldn't ever remember fighting with Meg. They had always just gotten along. The truth was, Temperance realized, that Booth could do a lot worse than Meg. To know her was to love her—she was funny, smart, and fiercely loyal. Temperance remembered vividly how, at her graduation from grad school, Meg had come and sat in the audience where her, Temperance's, parents should have been. She never forced Temperance to talk about her past, though they sometimes ended up talking about it anyway. And, on top of everything else, Tempe loved Meg because Meg knew when to be silent. They could sit in a room together for hours and not say a word, and yet neither would be bothered by it. They simply knew how to be comfortable together in silence. It was a quality Tempe valued immensely.
Yes, Booth could do far worse than Meg. She knew that. That was why she didn't quite understand her sudden possessiveness over him. It wasn't like he was about to get involved with some terrible person. She sighed. It just felt weird. Shaking her head, she heard a knock at the door, and she knew Booth had arrived. She was almost ready, so she called for Meg to get the door while she finished. She heard the two talking in the living room and felt what was fast becoming the obligatory pang of—what? Jealousy?
Pushing this thought from her mind, she emerged from her bedroom, ready to go. She exchanged the usual pleasantries, and the group headed out the door. As they began to walk, Temperance felt a change come over her being. Acceptance? She wondered. She didn't have time to dwell, however, as she suddenly realized that she had left her cell phone on her kitchen counter. She ran back to grab it, telling the other two that she would meet them at the car. After retrieving her cell, she jogged back after them and caught up just after they had gotten in the car.
Temperance felt the new emotion of acceptance drain away.
Meg was sitting in the front passenger seat.
"This guy? Seriously? I send you guys to find someone who will make Booth jealous and you bring me this guy?" Angela was speaking in a hushed whisper to a cornered Hodgins.
"What's wrong with him?" Hodgins asked, truly perplexed. "Brian's a nice guy."
"Yes, Brian's a nice guy, but he's had a crush on Tempe for about two years now!"
Hodgins hesitated, still not seeing the problem. "Yeah…I know…that's how we knew he'd flirt with her."
Angela sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead as she closed her eyes. "Did it ever occur to you to find a guy who just thought Tempe was attractive?"
"Brian does think Dr. Brennan's attractive."
"Yes! I know that! But Brian's crush on Tempe isn't exactly a secret. Booth already knows that he likes Tempe, and he also knows that Tempe basically ignores him. And, on top of that, don't you think it's just a little cruel to give this guy false hope since we already know she isn't going to give him the time of day?" Angela took a deep breath. "We need a guy who would make Booth feel threatened—ideally someone who Tempe would encourage and flirt back with."
"I'd be jealous if Brian were flirting with you," Hodgins pointed out.
"That's because you think there's some conspiracy going on that lets him have extra vacation days!"
Hodgins hesitated. She had a point. He sighed. "Okay, okay, you're right. I have terrible taste in guys, you happy now?"
Angela sighed again. "We'll just get though tonight and plan another dinner for later in the week. Then, we'll make Booth jealous with the guy I find for us."
Hodgins just nodded. "I'm sorry," he said in tone that was almost boyish.
Angela shook her head. As stupid as he could be, and as irritating as he could get, one look was all it took to make her melt. "It's okay," she said, and as if for emphasis, she leaned in and gave him a slow and gentle kiss.
"Hey, since this guy isn't going to work out, we could just blow off dinner if you wanted…"
"Back to the table, Bug Boy," Angela said with a soft laugh.
Hodgins gave her an impish grin and a small wink as they turned and headed back to their chairs.
Brian smiled at Angela, which was answered by a menacing look from Hodgins, as the two settled back into their places. The restaurant was semi-casual and specialized in Greek food. Their table was on an outside deck, and the cool breeze blew away the last of what had been an oppressively hot June day. The four at the table smiled and talked for a few minutes, waiting for Meg, Booth, and Tempe to arrive. Zach glanced at this watch. They were supposed to be here ten minutes ago.
Brian Harrcourt shifted slightly uneasily in his seat as he sipped his drink. He was nervous. Dr. Temperance Brennan was perhaps the most brilliant woman he had ever met, and he couldn't help being infatuated with her. He absentmindedly smoothed his hands down the sides of khaki pants as he mentally ran over his list of possible conversation starters. He didn't do this for long, however, as about two minutes later the three musketeers arrived at the table.
And so the night began. They ate, they laughed, they talked, and generally things went very well. It was relaxed and pleasant. After they had finished their meals, Booth suggested that they go to a nearby bar for drinks. Everyone agreed. And then, as they were walking to their cars, Angela saw something that blew her mind.
Meg climbed into the front passenger seat, while Tempe, with tense shoulders, and a very happy looking Brian slipped into the back.
They arrived at the bar and settled in. Booth was sitting beside Meg, directly across from Tempe, who was seated beside Brian. Angela, Hodgins, and Zach had strategically placed themselves to see all possible interactions between the four.
And then, it started. After they had been talking and drinking for about a half hour, Brian made an amusing comment, and Tempe responded by laughing and placing her hand on his knee in a companionable way.
"Challenge extended…" Hodgins whispered in Angela's ear.
Booth's eyes flashed for a moment when he saw the contact. As if in response, he laughed as well and lazily draped his arm around the back of Meg's seat.
"Challenge accepted," Angela finished.
Meg looked momentarily surprised, as did Brian, but both were too happy to dwell. They had no idea that they were keeping a perfect couple apart. All they knew was that they were receiving attention from people they both found incredibly attractive.
They evening progressed in this fashion, with Tempe and Booth stealing glances at one another when the other wasn't looking, and both silently upping the ante until Booth had Meg pulled comfortably against him and Brian's arm was hugging Temperance.
When it was time to leave it was Brian who increased the stakes. "Hey, Dr. Bre…Tempe, how about if I call a cab and give you a ride home?"
Tempe looked surprised, but when she saw a sudden flicker in Booth's eye, she had the unexplainable urge to go with Brian. "Sure," she said. "That would be great."
Hodgins thought Angela was going to choke to death.
Brian and Tempe walked around for a while before going home. Much to her surprise, she found that she was enjoying his company. She had to admit, if only to herself, that the real reason she had agreed to go with him was some sort of retaliation against Booth's spending time with Meg, but now that she was alone with him, she was finding that he really was a nice guy.
Booth and Meg drove around for a while before he took her back to Temperance's. She was a nice girl, but he couldn't help but notice that his thoughts kept being drawn back to Bones and that tool, Brian. Noticing his distraction, Meg asked him if everything was alright. He smiled at her and said that it was.
She seemed to consider this for a moment before she spoke. "You know, if this is too weird for you and Tempe, I mean, since you guys work together and everything, I really understand."
Booth smiled at her. "Oh, no, no," he said. "I wasn't thinking anything like that." His answer was almost reflexive.
She smiled. "That's great, but seriously, Seeley. I know Tempe said this was fine, but if it feels weird to you I completely understand. The last thing I want to do is make things awkward for you guys at work."
Booth's head sudden started reeling. Bones had said it was fine? Bones had said she didn't care if he went out with Meg? He was stunned. He didn't know what to say. So, instead, he smiled and Meg and guarded his thoughts closely. He didn't allow her to see the effect her words had had over him.
Booth finally took Meg back to Temperance's. He thought about walking her to the door and hesitated. Meg was a beautiful girl; she was smart and funny, and she seemed to really like him. Bones obviously didn't care—hell, she was out with some other guy right now. And with that thought, he climbed out and locked the car behind him.
Halfway up the sidewalk, Booth paused. Meg turned around to see why he stopped, only to find him looking at her strangely.
"What?" she asked in confusion. And with that, Booth leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss.
"Oh," Meg said, softly. She looked up at his face. He was smiling. She found that she was, too.
They continued up to the building, went up to Temperance's floor, and were about to walk down the hallway to her door when Booth froze. Meg looked ahead and saw where his eyes were locked.
Standing in front of her doorway, they witnessed Brian Harrcourt give Temperance a soft kiss goodnight.
Feel free to review and yell at me for ending it that way.
