(The Woman in the Tunnel)

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I don't own Bones.

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Booth was back at work, but he was still uncomfortable. His shoulder still hurt if he raised his arms higher than his chest, but it wasn't anything that he couldn't bear. At least his clavicle was healing and his bruises were a greenish purple instead of the reddish purple they had been. The last four weeks had been spent quietly at home. His days had been filled with TV and books, but his evenings had been spent with his girlfriend. He still couldn't get over Brennan being his girlfriend. Surprisingly, she had spent most of the nights at his apartment sleeping in his bed.

They had both been comfortable with the arrangement and they enjoyed the closeness. They hadn't consummated their relationship until the previous evening and Booth was still euphoric about it. Now he was struggling to keep their relationship a secret, but since he didn't have a choice he was going to do his damndest to keep it professional between them when they were working together.

Brennan had found a new apartment and had all of her things packed up by a moving company and moved to her new place. She had spent a few hours each day after work unpacking her things, but afterward she had made her way to Booth's apartment where she slept with him. She had thought their arrangement would seem awkward in the beginning, but listening to his quiet breathing during the night had given her a sense of comfort. Something she hadn't really felt since before her parents had abandoned her.

The night before, Booth had assured her that he was well enough to move their relationship forward and they had finally made love. Brennan had found it satisfying and she knew once he was completely healed they would be able to have a more active sexual relationship. She was in no hurry. Booth needed to get completely well and she was willing to wait.

"Sweetie, I haven't really seen a lot of you lately." Angela stood in the doorway and smiled at her friend. "I thought we might go out to a club tonight. You've been working too hard here and at your new place." She walked into the room and sat down on the chair in front of Brennan's desk. "You really should have let me come over and help you unpack."

Her expression schooled, Brennan shook her head. "I have a system and there really isn't any rush unpacking. My bedroom and kitchen are set up the way I wish. The other rooms will be set up as I find the time."

"Was it odd being back at work with Booth?" Angela thought about how Booth had rescued Brennan from Agent Kenton and it made her upset thinking just how close Brennan had come to dying. "Is he okay? I know he aggravated his injuries when he rescued you. Poor Booth."

"He's fine." Brennan knew she had to be careful about how she talked to Angela about Booth. "He was able to repel down the tunnel this morning to get to the crime scene. He said his shoulder was hurting a little, but most of the trip down and up and been done by hoists. Most of his bruises appear to be gone. At least the ones you can see on his face. I wouldn't know about the ones under his clothes."

Glad to hear that Booth was better, Angela leaned forward. "So you didn't say if you wanted to go with me to the club. Do you?"

"Angela, I don't feel like going to a club." Brennan leaned on her desk. "The last time I went to a club with you, I ended up in a fight with some of the patrons. I'm certain that wasn't supposed to happen."

Not to be put off, Angela laughed. "Yeah, but you got to work on your first modern mummy. Wasn't it worth it?"

Brennan opened and closed her mouth. Not sure what she should do, she finally decided that she would accept. "Alright. I'll go."

Excited, Angela stood up. "Good, this is good. I'll grab you at around six and we can go to your place and get you changed into something sexy and then we'll be go eat out and then off to the club. You'll love it Sweetie. Maybe this time you'll find a sexy stud and not some dried up murder victim."

Certain she wouldn't like it, Brennan sighed. "Alright." After her friend left the room she made a phone call to her boyfriend.

Booth.

"Angela wishes me to go with her on a girl's night out to a club." Brennan waited for a response and was met with silence. "Since we are supposed to be hiding our relationship, I felt it would be better if I said yes. I don't wish Angela to see that our relationship has changed in anyway."

Alright. That's probably the smart thing to do. She's like a dog with a bone if she thinks you're up to something. I'll see you tomorrow. We still have to do that interview with Phil Garfield, the victim's boyfriend in the morning.

Brennan thought Booth sounded reserved, but it was hard to judge that over the phone. "Alright."

Okay . . . I'll miss not seeing you tonight, Bones, but I hope you have fun. You deserve to have fun.

"Thank you." Brennan noticed Zach approaching her office, waving at her. "Zach needs me. I'll talk to you later."

The call ended, Booth placed his phone on top of his desk and placed his head on his hands. Bones dancing with some guy, some strange guy I don't know anything about. Fuck! Thanks Angela. Thanks a lot. His shoulder twinging, he was reminded once more that his shoulder was still healing and that was one more thing to be angry about.

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In a terrible mood, Booth left the Hoover and drove home, stopping by Mama's first to pick up some soup for dinner. Once he was home, he decided he wasn't hungry, placed the soup and bread sticks in the fridge, took a long soak in the tub and went to bed. Once he was settled, he stared at the ceiling and fumed at Angela's interference. I know she's Bones' friend, but she's screwing around with me when she does this shit. Going to clubs, pushing handsome guys onto Bones . . . Shit!

Furious, Booth rolled out of bed and walked out into the living room where he poured himself a glass of Scotch and drank it down. As he moved to refill his glass, he spotted Brennan's book on his book shelf, placed the glass down and retrieved the book. His temper suddenly calmer, he carried the book to bed, slid on to the mattress, pushed his pillow against the headboard so he was comfortable and opened the book. He'd read it before, but since Brennan wasn't there, he thought immersing himself in her Bones world would help his mood. It wasn't her fault he didn't want her dancing with other guys. It was his idea to hide their relationship and he'd have to man up about the situation. It's not like she's going to have sex with them.

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She really did have a terrible time. She had danced with three men that she didn't know and found them to be vapid at best. Once she felt her social obligations had been met with her friend, Brennan had told Angela she was tired and had left the club. Taking a cab, she went back to her apartment with the intention of retiring for the night. Once she had bathed and was in bed, she tossed and turned for ten minutes and realized that she wasn't going to stay.

Moving off of her bed, she changed into jeans and a t-shirt, grabbed her overnight bag and filled it with a few outfits for work and left her apartment. When she arrived at Booth's apartment, it was after midnight and she assumed her boyfriend was probably asleep. As quietly as possible, she crept into his apartment, down the hallway and dropped her bag on the couch. After she removed her shoes, she moved stealthily into the bedroom, removed her shirt and pants and slid onto the bed, pulling the blanket over her.

To her surprise, Booth rolled over and placed his arms around her. "I wasn't expecting you tonight."

Pleased he was awake, Brennan smiled in the dark. "I danced some obligatory dances with some males that were clearly beta at best, told Angela I was tired and went to my apartment. I was in bed when I realized that I hadn't said good night to you and since that has become our custom, I came over here to do so. You were asleep, so there was nothing I could do but lay down and wait for you to awake. Now that you have, I will say it now, good night."

Amused, Booth smiled and kissed her. "Good night, Bones."

As she returned his kiss, Brennan knew she was where she really wanted to be. "Go to sleep, Booth. We have to be up in six hours."

"I'm glad you came back." Booth settled down on his side, his arm draped across her chest, just below her breasts. "I was tempted to go find you and show you my alpha male tendencies."

Intrigued, Brennan opened her eyes. "That would have been unwise, Booth. Interesting, but unwise. Angela would have suspected your actions had more meaning than mere friendship."

"Fuck Angela." Booth pulled his arm tighter against her stomach and growled. "You are my girlfriend and I don't want you dancing with any guys but me."

"You're jealous?" Brennan felt her heart racing. She had never had any male in her life admit that he was jealous of something she was doing. It was so primal and yet she loved it, though she would never admit it.

"Damn right." Booth sighed. "You're beautiful, Bones. Guys hit on you all the time. It's all I can do not to rearrange their faces. I know you hate my alpha male crap, but that's the way it is."

Brennan rolled onto her side facing Booth and kissed him. "It's something I've grown used to since we've become partners." She kissed him once more. "I need to remind you that I can take care of myself."

"I know." Booth returned her kiss. "And I'm the way I am."

Finished talking, Brennan kissed him and struggled to remove his shirt. Momentarily forgetting that his clavicle was still healing, she heard him gasp when he tried to help remove the shirt. "Booth, I'm sorry."

Panting in pain, Booth move his arms down, pulling the hem of shirt back down with it. "Forget the shirt Bones. Just forget the shirt." With that he kissed her once more and they didn't worry about his shirt for the rest of the night.

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