What I Wish I Could've Said

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing... Obviously. Just playing in someone else's sandbox for a bit.

Summary: Hindsight is always 20/20. Everyone has a single moment that they wish they could have said something better than what they actually did. A completely random series of what-if vignettes.

Ch 17: That Time Booth Told Brennan to Buy Him Dinner

Although she knew he'd hate it if she admitted it, Brennan knew that the reason Booth made such a big deal about always driving was because he got nervous when he wasn't in control. In most situations, allowing him to drive without making a big deal about it was a small thing. It assuaged his need to assert his alpha male tendencies of dominance. For the most part, Brennan could indulge him with a roll of her eyes and a pointed comment or two allowing her to at least intimate why his insecurities always meant that Booth had to drive. However, as they rode towards the crime scene, Brennan noticed that Booth's bravado was continuing to become more and more pronounced. When he finally all but challenged the validity and necessity of her skills and self worth, in such a blatant way, she found that she couldn't let such insinuations go unanswered.

"I imagine," Brennan began, "I am treated differently than you because I have an indispensable skill."

In reality, what Booth heard was I'm better than you, people know it, and so I get treated better. Moreover, it's true. So, deal with it, Booth. His jaw clenching a bit, Booth found it a bitter pill to swallow. I'm one of the best damn field agents that the FBI has, Booth reassured himself. I'm good, people know it, and you're the one who's lucky to be working with me, Bones—

Instead, all he could manage to mutter with a small shake of his head was, "Indispensable ..." He marveled at Brennan's confidence. Then, quite randomly, a very telling comment popped out of his mouth before Booth realized what he had said. "I do not need you."

Narrowing her eyes, Brennan looked over at her partner in suspicion. She contemplated his words for several sections. Now, why would you say something like *that*, Booth? she wondered. In order to buy herself a few more precious seconds of time for analysis of his comment, Brennan fell back on a standard taunt which she knew Booth—hopefully—wouldn't be able to resist.

"Oh, so you can determine the origin of the kerf marks as well as the sex and age of the victim?"

Within two seconds, just as Brennan had anticipated, Booth started to chuckle. His eyes still on the road guiding the rental SUV down the Pacific highway, he finally managed to glance over at her, looking at Brennan over the edge of his dark black sunglasses. "Heh.. You know you're a smart ass, you know that?"

Point to Brennan, she thought gleefully, quite pleased with herself that she had been able to anticipate Booth's responses so well as she struggled to make sense of his earlier statement. 'I don't need you.' Now… why would you say something like that, Booth—unless…

And, then, as if she had just had some magical moment when her epiphany came, the true meaning of Booth's words suddenly clicked into place. Oh, Brennan thought, slightly surprised with the end result of her analysis. Then, feeling a flush of warmth at the thought, she bit back a smile and could only manage to think, Oh….

Feeling quite empowered with her new knowledge, Brennan determined that a bit more fun was in order. Wanting to see just how much she could push her partner, she decided to see how quickly and how much he'd rise to her very specifically targeted verbal bait.

"Objectively, I'd say I'm very smart," she said with a smirk, in a self-righteous tone that she knew drove Booth insane. She then slyly added with a self-satisfied smirk on her face, "Although it has nothing to do with my ass."

Shooting her another look as his head snapped over from where it had been watching the road, the pair made eye contact for several seconds. In those few seconds, Booth tried to figure out why Brennan had just made such a statement. She doesn't know what she's saying half the time, Booth thought as the image of her curvy ass blinked in front of him for a minute. He felt his throat grow even more dry as he flushed in appreciation of the image evoked by her words. Naaw, she doesn't know what she was saying… even if she does have a cute ass.

However, for some strange reason, Booth wasn't quite willing to dismiss the entire double entendre aspect of their latest round of banter. Feeling that her own cocky words demanded some type of like answer, Booth grinned over at her as he said, "You know what? I'll tell you what... you can take me out to dinner. Put me on your tab."

His words made Brennan's heart skip a beat. Is that your way of asking me out, Booth? Here and now? Finally? Are you actually going to pull the metaphorical trigger and do what we both know what you've wanted to do for more than a year?

Deciding to test him—and play with him a bit more—Brennan remained stone-faced as she said, "That doesn't seem ethical."

Looking over again, this time letting his sunglasses fall down the edge of his nose just a bit so that Brennan could see his eyes, Booth asked her with a clever look on his eyes and a charming smile on his lips, "You still want that gun now, don't you? Hmmmm?"

Crossing her arms slowly, and luxuriously stretching out her legs in the front seat, Brennan arched her back a bit and then looked over at her partner. Booth's eyes were still on her, and for a few seconds, Brennan wondered how in the hell he was managing to navigate the vehicle without hitting anyone or anything since his eyes seemed to have been glued to her for quite a while now. At last, Brennan lazily grinned and asked, "That depends, Booth."

"On what?" came the immediate retort.

Arching an eyebrow at him, Brennan replied, "On which gun we're talking about here… or, to be more specific, which one you're offering me exactly."

Booth, now knowing there was no way in hell that there could be any mistake about the sexual innuendo in Brennan's voice, felt an uncomfortable tightness somewhere in the vicinity of his groin as he thought about how best to respond. Finally, after a few seconds of silence had lingered between the pair, Booth licked his lips and then said, "I only work with the best, Bones."

"I'm aware of that," Brennan replied silkily. "Or, at least, that you make the best efforts to ensure that you only work with the best." She paused and then said, "But, that still doesn't answer my question now, does it, Booth?"

Suddenly unable to help himself anymore, Booth glanced in the rear view mirror. Seeing there was no traffic behind them, he flipped on the blinkers and began to decelerate as he pulled off on the side of the road. Brennan's heart began to beat faster as the car slowed down, and by the time Booth put it into park, Brennan was aflutter with anticipation and excitement. Hastily unbuckling his seat belt, Booth finally turned around in his seat so that he was fully facing Brennan. Taking off his sunglasses, he tossed them on the SUV's dashboard, and tilted his head at hers, his eyes full of want and the promise of something more if she was smart enough to take him up on his offer.

"Standard issue, Bones," he finally growled, his voice low and rough with desire. "Standard government issue is the best I have to offer." She opened her mouth to say something, but Booth raised a finger to her lips, and the pair felt a crackle of the energy between them as he touched her for the first time. His voice still quiet, he gave a small shake of his head as he added, "But, don't let the regulations fool you. It's quite exceptional in its own way—exceptional and very, very good at what it does. Accurate, deadly accurate in its effectiveness."

Leaning forward a bit, Brennan acted reflexively as her lips curled to kiss the finger that was still lightly placed against her mouth. The simple act was enough to break what little will power that Booth had left—although, it was only a token protest to that point since both of them knew what was going to happen as soon as he had pulled the car over. Reaching for her over the SUV's center console, Booth roughly pulled Brennan to him. As their tongues began to duel in a very sweet but very dangerous dance, there was no more question as to if Brennan would be taking Booth out to dinner that night.

No, the last rational part of Brennan's brain echoed as Booth deepened their kiss and his hands began to snake up and under the hem of her shirt causing her to shiver with delicious expectation. We're definitely not going out tonight. But—I will spring for room service. Whatever he wants—it's on me.

-TBC-