Ch. 4

It had been a really long day of signing books, talking to people,

signing more books, smiling, and being in general, a best selling

author. It was surprisingly tiring. She'd met a lot of interesting

people. A lot of strange people also, some who were frankly scary, and

wayyyy to involved in fictional characters lives, she reflected with a

wry smile. Some people had entirely too much time on their hands. There

were of course people who gave their opinions on what she should or

shouldn't do with characters next also, but that was to be expected. She'd gotten that with her first novel.

Temperance Brennan was impressed at David though, he sat right by her

every minute, never once complained, and even brought her coffee to

drink and anything else she needed. It was really nice to have his

company all day long. His quiet confidence was reassuring, and he seemed to genuinely enjoy her company also she thought happily.

It was nice to have someone by her side again in a personal

relationship. She found she'd missed that more than she anticipated when she and her ex Pete had the messy break up a while back.

They were walking hand in hand through the mall the bookstore she did the signing was in, when she broached the subject of dinner that night with Booth, not him. She didn't know why she was nervous bringing it up, it was totally illogical. Booth was her partner, and he was male. Perhaps she was anticipating David being jealous, although he had no reason to be.

"David, I won't be able to go to dinner with you tonight, I have to meet Booth, he has something he wants to discuss with me, maybe we can go have coffee or something tomorrow though?" she asked, as they strode

past an electronics store.

"What? You are going to have dinner with another man, and you want me to just accept that?" he said, surprised and angry, stopping letting go of her hand, and facing her.

"Booth isn't just another man David, you know that, he is my partner, I

work with him" she pointed out, frowning at him, at his outburst. He's

never acted like this before, she thought to herself.

"Partner? He is FBI Agent Temperance, you are a Forensic Anthropologist. That doesn't compute. He can't be your partner, unless

you suddenly became a FBI Agent over night?" he said sarcastically, his

hands on his hips. People walking by were beginning to glance over in

their direction

"Well, okay, sort of partner, I am required to work with him to

investigate bodies that no one else can identify, and..wait, you know

all this, what's the problem all off of a sudden? Why are you acting all alpha male, and jealous David? What is this about?" she said

suspiciously, eyeing him, not caring whom all was watching them.

"I didn't say anything when you dedicated your book to him, or all the time you spend with him already, but I think you guys spend entirely too much together" he finished, his jaw clenched.

She didn't know what to say. She'd never been in this type of scenario before, or how to handle it. Before she could say anything else, David reached out and stroked her cheek, and said in a softer, quieter tone: "I just don't want to share you with anyone right now, I don't want to worry about him stealing you away from me"

Temperance laughed nervously, and took his hand, leading him back out into the walkway of the mall. "Don't be silly David, we are partners, nothing more, okay?" turning and looking forward as they picked up there pace a little, she was absorbed in her surroundings, previous conversation already dismissed.

David looked at her from the corner of his eye, and smiled to himself. 'I played the jealous guy bit perfectly. Genie was right on that one,' he thought. 'I really have to keep that Booth guy away from her though, at least until the transaction is complete and Genie and I are on our way to the Cayman Islands' he reminded himself.

The last person he needed getting suspicious is an over protective FBI Agent who clearly had the hots for his so called partner. He had planned on transferring the money from her account into the numbered account the day after tomorrow, on Monday's business. Then he was home free, if he could play this boyfriend bit just a little longer.

Looking over at her, he said in an even tone: "I'm sorry I got so upset. Forgive me?" he smiled, and leaned in for a kiss

Nodding her head, smiling back, and kissing him back, she replied "of course, its perfectly understandable for you to feel threatened by another male in my life, albeit a false threat" she replied.

"Right" was all he could think to say back to that statement. "So I will drop you off where then, your place?" he asked

"Yes, that's fine, then maybe we can go out for coffee tomorrow sometime then?" she persisted, still smiling at him, her eyes shining

"Oh you bet. I wouldn't miss it, but its your turn to buy this time!" he laughed good naturedly at her, swinging her hand up to his lips to kiss it.

'If you only knew baby, if you only knew' he thought to himself.

End ch. 4

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