TITLE: Undoing
CHAPTER TWO: Establishing Attraction
"Okay, so what Dr. Brennan needs are these two pieces of bone... photograph them before you bag them... and the dirt collected from around the body," Booth commanded the lower-ranking agents, still making his own notes on his notepad. "We'll take the bagged evidence with us then, as Dr. Brennan would prefer to have her team analyze them."
The agents nodded and set about their assigned tasks while Booth's attention diverted to the brown-red hair re-entering his line of vision. He chuckled and she glared, already knowing what was on his mind.
"Okay, Bones, I am officially cutting you off from having any more bottled water."
"I've only had three, Booth."
"And apparently that's all your bladder can handle."
She rolled her eyes and turned when her cell phone began trilling against her hip. "Brennan," she answered after pulling it to her ear. She nodded to whatever was said on the other end of the line as she and Booth made their way back to the SUV. "Yes. Thank you for confirming, I'll see you then." She hung up and placed it back in its holder, clipped to her belt.
Booth raised his eyebrows quizzically. "Something about this case?"
Temperance shook her head. "No."
He nodded and began to drive. Then, after a moment of silence drifted by, he tried again for information. "Who was it? Who are you seeing 'then'?"
Temperance drew in a breath, let it out slowly, and kept her gaze focused on the scenery out the passenger-side window. "Uh, my editor. I set up an appointment to discuss my next book."
He grinned. "Am I in this one too? Do we get to do it in this one?"
She turned widened eyes on him. "Booth!"
He shrugged. "What? You established, in the last book, the attraction between your character and the handsome Special Agent Andy Lister, who... let's face it... is me."
"So?"
"So, let them have some sex in this book."
"Why? Just because we did?"
"No. But don't torture your readers. They're invested in that relationship."
She furrowed her brows and shook her head at him slowly. "No they are not. They're invested in the cases, the mystery, the--"
"Romance, Bones. People love romance. And you established a possible one between us in your last book."
"Is that what you think we have? A romance?"
Booth glimpsed quick at her before turning his eyes back to the road, and he gave a facial shrug. "Well, I don't know that I'd give it the frilly 'romance' label, but you and I both know, Bones, that there has been something between us from day one. A natural chemistry... and you think I'm hot."
"Says who?"
"Angela, for one... and then there's your book..."
"The book is only loosely based on me, and on my career."
He chuckled. "Then you must have really found me hot, because your character spent quite a bit of time analyzing my character's looks and how she feels about him."
"You were attracted to me, too," she shot back, her tone more accusatory and childish than she would've liked it to be.
"Yes, I was. Still am, very much so. And it's more than just finding you attractive, Temperance. I'm intrigued by you and constantly amazed by you... by your heart and your soul." A teasing leer was sent her way then as he added, "The body was a given."
She rolled her eyes. "You're such a male."
"What I'm saying is, what happened two weeks ago... there was a reason for it."
She swallowed hard at this, but he took no notice as his eyes were still on the road, "And I know we haven't really talked about it, but... I thought you should know that I enjoyed myself."
Temperance cast her gaze to her lap as she admitted softly, "I did too." She looked up when she noted the car slowing, and as she glanced out the windshield she also noted that Booth was pulling the car over, just blocks away from the Jeffersonian. She immediately panicked. "What are you doing?"
His smile eased any trepidation she might have felt, though it didn't calm the butterflies flying rampant in her stomach. "I'm pulling over so we can talk about this properly."
He pulled over to the shoulder and threw the car in park, then angled his body to face his partner.
The silence was awkward as they stared at each other, each hoping the other would speak first. Booth finally sighed. "Bones... Temperance, you've gotta know by now how much I care for you. How strong my feelings are for you."
She nodded slowly, keeping her eyes on her lap. "I have some idea, yes."
"And... I hope that what happened a couple weeks ago is an indication that you just might feel the same."
Her reply was nearly inaudible. "I do." She looked up when she sensed his smile.
"That's good. Because I've been dying to do this for two weeks." He leaned in then, and gently kissed her.
When she didn't pull away, he deepened the kiss, reaching for her to pull her closer. The console separating them prevented achievement of their desired proximity, but this did not deter their kiss.
They pulled away with one final peck, and Booth gave her a brilliant smile before winking and throwing the car into gear once again. Temperance smiled at him, though he didn't see... before she felt the turn in her stomach.
Booth pulled into his usual parking space at the Jeffersonian, but before he could open the car door for her as he often liked to do, Tempe had already jumped out and was making quick strides into the building. He frowned in confusion at her quick pace and hurried after her. "Bones, wait up! The kiss wasn't that bad, was it?"
She didn't answer, but shook her head from several feet in front of him to reassure him. He had almost caught up with her inside and was about to ask what was wrong, but she sprinted for the bathroom before he had a chance. He tsked and shook his head as Angela ambled up to him.
"What's up with Brenn?"
He smirked. "She downed three bottles of water in the span of an hour." He then nodded toward the evidence room. "Zack and Hodgins in there?"
Angela nodded and watched as Booth set off to find the other 'squints' before she turned her attention toward the bathrooms. Her brow furrowed in contemplation as she slowly walked toward the ladies' room, pressing gently on the door. Something was definitely up with her best friend... and she was bound and determined to find out what it was.
TBC
