So based on the majority of reviews, I decided to continue this story for a bit and see where it went. It took me places I never imagined it would when I first started it. Looks like it'll be a four chapter deal. I hope you like it
Mid afternoon, Angela looks up fromher sketchpadsees the now familiar figure of Agent Seely Booth walking towards her, one hand characteristically in the pocket of his pants, the other reaching up to scratch his head as he reaches her.
"Booth, his." Angela greets him warmly. "We haven't seen you since last week."
"Yeah, I've been busy." He says. Angela picks up on a note of distraction in his voice.
"Everything okay?" she asks.
"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. Bones around?" he looks for his partner but she isn't out in the main lab.
"She's in her office." Angela tells him.
"Thanks Ange." Booth turns and heads for Brennan's office leaving Angela watching him curiously.
A minute later he's standing at the door to Brennan's office. She's at her desk buried in work. He stays quiet at the door but Brennan senses his presence and turns her head.
"Hey Booth." She smiles.
"Hi." He steps inside. "You got a minute?" he asks.
"Sure." Brennan closes the file on her desk and sits back in her chair.
"I need a favour." Booth looks at her seriously.
"Go on." She encourages.
"I decided to fight for Parker." Booth states.
"You did?" Brennan asks. "I thought…"
"I know, I just thought about what you said and I think that what's best for Parker is to spend more time with me."
"Good for you Booth." Brennan replies encouragingly. "So what's the favour?" she asks.
"Right." Booth paces her room, almost nervously. "Bones, I'd like you to be a character witness for me."
"Me?" she asks.
"Yes, you." Booth confirms, his eyes focused on hers.
"Why me?" she asks, a little surprised by the request.
"Because we're…well we're friends Bones. You know me and I'd like you to vouch for me in court." He waits for Brennan to answer, expecting her to take some time to think about it.
"Of course." She replies quickly.
"You will?" he asks, surprised at the quick response.
"Why are you surprised?" she asks. Booth flops down in the chair opposite her.
"I don't know, it's a big thing to ask."
"Not from a friend." She smiles.
The court case over Parker begins a couple of weeks later. Brennan and Booth spend a lot of time together in those few weeks preparing for the case. Now that he's opening confiding in her Brennan knows exactly how much this means to Booth and what he's going to feel if things don't go well. Her nerves build in the days before the case as she realises the enormity of her part. Without good character witnesses Booth may not stand stand a chance.
On the day of the case Brennan sits nervously in an aisle a few rows from the front of the court room. She listens as Rebecca's lawyer berates Booth's parenting skills, his lack of presence due to his job and why he shouldn't be granted more time with his son. The nerves soon disappear as anger takes over. Booth is a good man. He works hard for what's right. He doesn't deserves this. Finally she knows its her turn when Booth's lawyer stands up to call his character witnesses.
"I'd like to call Dr Temperance Brennan to the stand as a character witness." He announces to the court. Brennan takes a deep breath, stands up and smoothes her skirt as she walks down the aisle to the front of the court room. As she walks to the witness stand she catches Booth's eye and tries to give him a reassuring smile. He looks nervous, scared almost. After promising to tell the truth Brennan readies herself for the questions Booth's lawyer prepared her for.
"Dr Brennan, in what capacity do you know my client?" he asks.
"We work together." She states.
"For how long?"
"Over a year now."
"And in that time you and my client came to know each other well?"
"Yes." She states.
"Do you consider him a positive role model?" the lawyer asks.
"Absolutely." She nods.
"Can you tell me why?"
"He's honest, he fights for what's right and he cares about the people he woks with and for." Brennan replies. She relaxes a little as her answers flow out, each one praising Booth as a person and a father. Finally the lawyer rests and Rebecca's lawyer stands up. Brennan knows she could be asked anything and she takes a deep breath.
"Dr Brennan, you state you and Agent Booth work together. Is that the extent of your relationship?"
"We're friends also." Brennan replies honestly.
"Good friends."
"Yes." Brennan replies confidently.
"Are you in love with him?" the lawyer asks, taking Brennan completely off guard. Her mouth hangs open in shock as Booth's lawyer jumps to his feet. Brennan looks at Booth who seems just as stunned as she.
"Objection your Honour, relevance?" Booths lawyer asks. Before the judge can say anything Rebecca's lawyer explains.
"Your Honour, if Dr Brennan has feelings for Mr Booth, her opinion may be biased." The judge thinks it over for a moment.
"Dr Brennan, I'd like you to answer." The judge decides. Brennan is horrified. I'm under oath. I can't lie. But if I don't Booth might lose Parker. She makes her decision in a moment.
"I object to the question but for the record, no I am not 'in love' with Agent Booth." She states.
"Is that right?" the lawyer asks, not really believing her.
"Yes." Brennan replies. She looks the lawyer directly in the eyes, proving her point. The lawyer concedes and continues to fire questions at Brennan. She does her best to answer them and fifteen minutes later she is relieved from the stand, much to her relief. As she walks back to her seat she catches Booth's eye and he gives her a little smile of thanks.
After the case, Brennan and Booth share dinner at Wong Foo's. His lawyer isn't sure how long the judge will take to make a decision but it's normally a couple of days.
"Thanks for today Bones." He says quietly. "I know it was difficult up there." He refers to the 'love' question.
"It wasn't so bad." She shrugs. "I just hope I helped."
"Even if things don't go my way, I appreciate you standing up for me." He gives her look filled with gratitude.
"You're welcome." She replies. As they eat in silence her mid races over her answer to Rebecca's lawyer. Did I do the right thing? she wonders. When their plates and glasses are empty Brennan rises to her feet.
"It's later, I'd better get going." She announces. Booth remains where he is, not quite ready to go yet. Somehow his apartment seems like the loneliest place to be.
"Sure, I'll uh I'll see you tomorrow." He smiles. Brennan nods as she drops a few bills on the table. Booth laughs. She always has to pay her way. As Brennan walks away from the table her stomach keeps flipping. Should I tell him the truth? she wonders. I can't. What if he doesn't feel the same way? These thoughts trouble her all the way home and as she tries to sleep.
Late in the night, a guilt ridden Brennan drives over to Booth's apartment. She paces the hall in front of his door for nearly fifteen minutes, not sure if she can go through with what she's about to do. As she walks away from the door again she spins around in surprise as Booth's door opens.
"Bones?" Booth asks. He stands in his doorway wearing light blue jeans and a black wife beater, an open beer in his hands.
"Booth, hi." She replies nervously. I can't believe I'm going to tell him this. She thinks as she walks over to the door.
"What are you doing here?" he asks. "It's late." The clock reads one am.
"I lied in court." She blurts out. Booth stares at her for a moment then gathers his senses enough to ask her inside. She steps in, her arms wrapped around her chest protectively.
"Beer?" Booth asks. Brennan nods and waits as Booth brings a fresh bottle over to her. "Now what do you mean you lied in court?" he asks. With his eyes focused intently on her Brennan feels herself losing her courage.
"I…she hangs her head then lifts it again, locking eyes with Booth. "I lied. When Rebecca's lawyer asked me if I was in love with you, I lied." She states. There, I said it. He knows. She almost feels relieved.
"Bones." Booth almost whispers her name. "Are you saying?" he asks. Brennan suddenly fears that he is about to reject her and she backs away from him. But Booth reaches out for her. "Hey, hey." He says as he catches her arm. "Bones, come over her." He leads her to the couch. She follows like a lost child, unsure what to say or do.
"You're in love with me?" he asks, that cheeky little boy grin spreads onto his face. Brennan relaxes a little when she sees it. At least he's not freaking out. She nods slowly, confirming her statement, her eyes staring down at her fidgeting hands.
"Why did you lie about it?" he then asks. It doesn't occur to Brennan that he hasn't said he loves her too.
"I was afraid if I said yes that my testimony wouldn't be counted and that you'd lose Parker." She almost whispers.
"You lied for me?" he asks. Brennan nods.
"I guess I was also afraid to tell you how I felt." She adds. "I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"Bones, you're not ruining anything." Booth takes her hand in his, giving her a reassuring squeeze. She lifts her head to look at him.
"Booth, I need to know…" She starts but Booth finishes her sentence.
"Bones, I've felt the same way for a long time." He whispers softly and leans in to kiss her. As he is about to brush her lips with his the phone rings loudly, startling both of them. "The machine will get it." He says with a grin. He again leans in to kiss her as his voice asks for a message to be left. But again their kiss is interrupted before it begins when the two hear Rebecca's frantic voice on the machine.
"Seely, pick up." She says. "Pick up, it's Parker. He's had an accident." Booth and Brennan stare at each other for just a second then Booth twists away and grabs the phone.
"Rebecca, what happened?"