Have Conversations with Nothing but Their Eyes

Exiting the crowded elevator onto the executive suites floor of the Hoover building, Brennan yanked her arm out of Booth's hand. He'd been manhandling her the entire way from his office to the elevator and then again for the entire ride up in the elevator and she was getting sick of it.

"Let me do all of the talking." Booth told her as he ushered her forcefully toward Director Cullen's office. Clearly he didn't know who he was talking to. They'd been partners for four years and he still didn't trust her.

"I can speak for myself, Booth. I will speak my mind." She bit back.

"No, you will close your mouth and let me fix this." He argued, giving her a very pointed glare.

"Well what if he speaks to me directly. Should I ignore him and defer to you like a well kept maiden?" She asked, feeling confident that her sarcasm was perfectly on point.

"Just… don't agitate the person who can fire me, okay?" He grumbled as they arrived outside Cullen's door. Booth took a deep breath before knocking on the glass. They waited until Cullen waved them in to open the door.

"Booth, Dr. Brennan." Cullen greeted them, gesturing toward the chairs in front of his desk.

"Sir." Booth responded. He was respectful but succinct.

She was filing that away for later when he glared at her and flickered his eyes toward Cullen. 'Say hello.' His glare practically screamed at her.

Brennan raised a challenging brow at him. 'So now I'm allowed to speak?'

"Hello Sam." Brennan said, smiling politely at Cullen.

'Seriously?' Booth's exasperated gaze met her eyes again.

'He's not my boss.'

"Look, I asked you both here because it has been brought to my attention that Dr. Brennan has, yet again, filed a request to carry a firearm." Cullen started, steepling his hands on his desk and looking back and forth between Booth and Brennan.

'I told you to stop filling those out.'

'It is my constitutional right to carry a gun.'

'What do you need a gun for?'

'To shoot people.'

'I am your gun!'

'I can be my own gun!'

"Is there something you two want to discuss with me before we proceed?" Cullen asked and Brennan felt her face flush as Booth cleared his throat, turning back toward Cullen.

"It is my right to bear arms." Brennan said firmly.

"It is my right to ground you to your lab, Dr. Brennan." Cullen said in a warning tone. "Now, let's just go ahead and put it on the record that under no circumstances will I ever authorize you to carry a gun while in the field as a consultant for the FBI."

"Yes, sir." Booth said with a solemn nod.

"That's not fair!" Brennan demanded.

"Stop inundating my office with unnecessary paperwork, Dr. Brennan. Or else." He warned, pointing a finger at them. "Go… play with your bones." He said, dismissing them.

"Yes, sir. Thank you for the clarification." Booth said, getting up from his seat and manhandling her out of hers.

"Or else what?" She asked as Booth dragged her out of Cullen's office.

'Do not challenge him.' Booth's glare shot sharply at her.

'It's a valid question.' She glared back with a shrug.