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 23: That Time Brennan Refused to Move

The lab was unusually quiet but for the sounds of the Punky Pong game machine that reverberated through the halls of the Jeffersonian's Medico-Legal unit with distinctly pronounced echo. It was late, and but for the occasional wandering security guard, everyone had already left for the day—everyone but for Booth and Brennan.

With a stack of quarters lined up on the game console, a competitive vibe clearly flowed between the two partners as Booth explained to Brennan a few of the finer nuances of the game. They had just finished their umpteenth discussion about love, talking about other people when they were really talking about themselves, and living vicariously when and where they could since a direct discussion of the topic was still taboo.

Ready to begin her game, Brennan frowned when she hit the controls of the Puinky Pong machine and got no response. She had watched Sweets and several of the interns play the game for several hours over the tenure of the case, seemingly conducting various osteological analyses, when, in fact, she had been multi-tasking. It was very important to her that she could compete on the same level as Booth, and if not outright defeat him, at least hold her own against him. Now, thoroughly prepared, she was certain she could make a good showing when she had suggested they return to the lab for an impromptu Punky Pong battle royale. Booth had given her a strange look before he agreed, a condition of his acceptance of her challenge that they stop at a convenience store en route to the lab for some strange reason if she really wanted to play. Now, now that she was quite certain she was able to demonstrate her newly honed hand-eye coordination skills by playing the game, Brennan felt a very strong pang of frustration when it wouldn't even start.

She'd been somewhat further annoyed when Booth had taken one of the quarters from his stack—apparently he'd insisted that they stop at the convenience store to get change—and tossed it to her with a smart flip of his wrist. Brennan raised her eyebrows at him, but caught the coin with one swift and fluid movement. Taking the quarter, she plunked it into the game, which immediately sprang to life as the lights and sounds indicated it was ready to be played. The game seemed to mock her as Booth watched in amusement. Her eyes shot over to her partner, who seemed to be having more fun watching Brennan try to play the game than watching the game actually be played itself.

"Knock 'em dead," Booth told her confidently.

"I will," Brennan confirmed, staring at him with a determined glint in her eyes. The slight air of smugness that seemed to pervade his smile at her merely infuriated her even more. Wanting to prove him wrong in his disbelief of her ability to adapt and learn how to successfully play a simple video game, Brennan nodded at him. "I will knock you dead. I will prove you wrong."

Booth chuckled at her, his eyes wide with mischief as he countered her taunt with one of his own. "Big words!"

Taking her position at the game controls, Brennan smirked at him, "Level one, baby."

She began to squint at the screen, and she felt the competitive excitement begin to bubble over as she waited for the game to start. The music began to play, and for a few seconds, she felt the excitement grow. But, as soon as the excitement had blossomed, it withered within her like a grape left too long on the vine in the sun, when she saw the screen go blank and then return to the first introductory scene. Shock quickly replaced her exuberant excitement. Looking at Booth, the question shining clear in her eyes even as she spoke it, she asked, "What happened?"

Booth only shrugged by way of an answer, and then smirked at her as he slightly gestured for her to move away from the game console. "My turn."

Shaking her head, Brennan refused to move. "No, it's not your turn. What do you mean? It just stopped, so…"

Laughing at her outright this time, Booth said, "That's right." He gestured with his thumb for Brennan to move again. "No, sit right there."

"No," Brennan said with a shake of her head. "I didn't lose."

"Well, you put the quarter in, the game's over—" Booth said with another shrug of his shoulders.

Insistent, Brennan glared at him. "No, it's not."

Apologetically, Booth placed his hands on his hips as he said, "Maybe it's your energy."

"It's the machine," Brennan countered. "It broke."

Biting back another laugh, Booth said, "Maybe it's your math."

Shooting him another look, one that made it clear how displeased she was that he had dared to question her math skills, Brennan said, "It's not my math."

Booth again gestured for her to move. "My turn…"

"No," Brennan said, firmly planting her feet in front of the Punky Pong machine. "It's not. That's not fair. I didn't lose. I didn't even get a chance to play."

"Not my problem, Bones," Booth chuckled. "Now, scram. It's my turn."

"No," she repeated, shaking her head. "No, it's not your turn. It's still my turn."

"Yes," Booth said, suddenly some of the casual levity leaving his voice. "Seriously, Bones. Scram. Move. It's time for you to see how it's done by the master."

"I'm not moving," Brennan told him, her jaw tightening.

"Yes, yes, you are," Booth insisted. When he saw her dig in her feet and strengthen her stance, he rolled his eyes. "God, why do you have to always make things so difficult?"

"I'm not being difficult," Brennan retorted with a slight snort. "You're the one who insulted my math skills."

"Bones, come on," Booth pleaded one last time. "Please, move? Please?"

"No," Brennan said, the bravado in her voice clearly challenging him. "I'm not moving, Booth. Not until I can play my game."

"Bones—" Booth growled. "Not everything has to be a competition."

"I'm not the one who thinks this is some type of game between us, Booth," Brennan threw back at him. "You're the one who's always thought he was better than me—"

Booth guffawed at this, and Brennan shot him a look.

"I'm just responding to you," Brennan finished.

"Okay, then how about you respond to me by moving your cute little tush about two feet that a'way, huh? I want to play my game now." Booth said, with a small grin, hoping that perhaps charm might succeed where logic and pleading hadn't done the job.

"Nope," Brennan said with a shake of her head. "Nope, not happening, Booth—definitely not happening." Suddenly, the delayed reaction of Booth's words registered in Brennan's head: Cute little tush? Really, Booth? Since when do you think I have a 'cute little tush'... let alone say it, huh? What's does *that* mean? Hmmm…

"Bones, I'm serious," Booth told her, his body tensing as he glanced at her and tried to figure out the least painful way it would be possible to remove her from the console so that he could have his turn. "Now, I'm done playing around. Seriously. I want to play, so get out of the way."

"Make me," Brennan said, looking at him with her eyes blazing in defiance of his orders.

"Fine," Booth said, having had enough of her stubbornness over something as a game. He moved quickly, taking a step towards her as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

As soon as they touched, it was as if they'd both instantly been burned. Slowly, Booth lifted his eyes to meet hers. Brennan's blue eyes had suddenly darkened as her heart rate increased and her breathing grew very shallow.

"Booth?" she breathed.

Licking his lips, Booth swallowed and then responded, his voice very hoarse, even to his ears. "Yeah, Bones?"

"Are we still playing?" she asked quietly.

As he leaned in, unable to help himself as he leaned in to her, drawn to her very soft lips. "Yeah, Bones," Booth repeated. "I think we are, but—it's just suddenly turned into a whole new game. You… you okay with that?"

"Yes,," Brennan said, smiling. "I'm okay with that as long as we don't stop now, " she finished before she then leaned in to meet Booth the rest of the way, and they finally shared a searing kiss.

-TBC-