My list of thanks yous to each of you who reviewed: mphs95, 554Laura (was very Brennan-like), kareneb (agree, he was trying to convince himself and everyone but we all know who he truly loves), GalaxieGurl (agree, tv time usually is too hurried, unlike fan fic where we're free to express and explore), ZinaR, mendenbar(thanks), Gailuvspurple (447 is my favourite time on the clock ;p), FaithinBones (thanks!), regbride12(we all love Booth together with Brennan too!), aadams00, jsboneslover (thanks for your kind words) and guests who reviewed.
Brennan's wait for Booth to regain his confidence and to shed his anger and fear dragged into a month which saw them busy with two dead bodies and two murderers to catch. The bad guys caught and put away, Booth finally worked up the courage to invite Brennan to join him and Parker for milkshakes at the Royal Diner one Saturday.
"Over here Bones!" Parker stood, waving excitedly at Brennan as she entered the diner.
"Hi Parker! It's good to see you."
"Dad's no longer with Hannah, so we can have more weekends together now." Parker beamed as Brennan slid into the seat opposite him and next to Booth.
"She knows that buddy." Booth said.
"Maybe next time we could go to the park, or maybe go swimming at your pool again."
"Parker…" Booth admonished his son gently. "It's not polite to invite yourself over."
"No it's fine Parker. Swimming it is, next Saturday."
"Awesome! Can we get our milkshakes now Dad?"
"Sure thing buddy." Booth glanced over to Brennan who was smiling back warmly at him.
"You look happy." He remarked softly.
"Of course she's happy. She's with us!" Parker interrupted.
"Parker's right." Brennan affirmed.
The partners locked eyes, sharing an unspoken moment where the world stood still and only the two existed.
"Now can we please get our milkshakes?" Parker asked impatiently, unknowingly interrupting their moment.
Booth blinked, laughing. "Chocolate right little man?"
…
The week that followed passed slowly. There wasn't a case to solve and the partners met for dinner twice at the Founding Fathers before their agreed upon swim on Saturday morning.
"There she is!" Parker pointed as he spotted Brennan swimming laps in her pool. The place was empty save for the three of them. Parker took off running, ignoring his father's warning to be mindful of the slippery tiles.
With Parker safely at the edge of the pool, Booth took his eyes off his son and focused his attention on his partner's form gliding through the water. He admired her body, her long legs… he began to wonder what he was waiting for? He wanted nothing more than to be with her, but every time he wanted to say something to her, the guilt at how he had treated her the night of her confession stopped him from moving forward.
Brennan stopped swimming and noticed Parker and Booth at the edge of the pool. "I started without you two," she said as she swam up to them.
"That's okay Bones." Booth replied as he lowered himself into the pool.
"Cannonball!" Parker yelled as he launched himself off the edge of the pool, curling himself up into a ball and splashing into the water.
"Parker! Now I'm all wet." Booth complained.
"That's the whole idea of swimming Booth." Brennan teased, enjoying the visual of Booth clad only in his speedos.
"Oh so now you have a sense of humor," Booth rolled his eyes sarcastically.
Brennan grinned. "Think you can keep up?"
She turned, kicking with more force than necessary, splashing Booth some more before taking off, again gliding through the water with a sleek grace and speed.
Booth felt his mouth go dry. Was she flirting with him? He crooked a grin. He was loving this side of her. He kicked off from the wall, swimming after her.
Their morning swim completed, Brennan invited the two Booths to her apartment for lunch. Pizza was ordered and eaten over an Indiana Jones movie of which Brennan took great delight in pointing out it's archaeological inaccuracies.
As the movie ended, Parker, tired out by the morning's swim dozed off on one end of the couch. The partners were snuggled happily next to each other on the other end of the couch.
"I should wake him. You probably have something else to do on a Saturday afternoon."
"Let him sleep. I have no plans."
"Thanks for having us over."
"I had an enjoyable time. You're both great company."
"Thanks Bones. You're great company too."
He cast a glance at his sleeping son, then back at the woman who held his heart. He realized that of all the women he had dated, none of them enjoyed Parker's company as much as Brennan. It was an even greater bonus that Parker liked her just as much. It was as if Brennan knew that having him in her life meant having Parker in it too.
Brennan rested her hand on Booth's knee, allowing him to enjoy the feel of her touch.
"So um… I was wondering… " Booth started, knowing he had to say something. His heart pounded loudly in his chest. He wanted to ask her out, he wanted to tell her he was ready to start a relationship with her. And then his brain decided to remind of his past failed relationships with Rebecca and Hannah. The memory of how he had rejected her that night in his truck and her cries echoed in his mind. He felt guilty again. What they had now was comfortable and he was afraid to rock the boat.
Brennan looked into his eyes questioningly. She knew what he was about to ask. She had given him the time he asked for, perhaps he was ready now.
Beside them Parker stirred. He opened his eyes yawning. "I fell asleep."
Booth cleared he throat, somewhat grateful that his son decided to wake at that very moment. "We noticed."
"Can we go home now Dad? I wanna work on that model plane you got me."
"Right. Yeah. We should go." Booth stood, just as Parker got to his feet.
"We should go to the park next Saturday." Parker said to Brennan.
"Sorry Parker, I think your Mom wants you next weekend."
"Oh."
"We'll go to the park another time." Brennan added as Booth helped Parker into his jacket.
"I'll see you Monday Bones"
"See you Monday Booth."
Booth and Parker left with as much noise and flourish as they arrived at her pool that morning. Brennan sighed as she was once again left alone in her apartment. Maybe Booth wasn't ready afterall. She knew she had to wait, but she wasn't sure for how long. She wondered briefly if he was losing interest in her, or perhaps was still upset over his breakup with Hannah. It was possible he wanted nothing more than a friendship with her. She reminded herself of what he had promised her. She returned to her couch, opening her laptop, her mind was soon occupied with work on her latest novel.
…
A new case came in on Tuesday and the partners had just concluded an interview with a witness, a chemistry professor, at his office.
"Thank you for your time Dr Ramsey. You've been very helpful." Booth said, handing the witness his name card. "If you think of anything else, call me."
"Actually, I was hoping to get Dr Brennan's card." The witness nodded at Brennan.
"That's not what we usually do." Booth explained.
"Oh no," Ramsey quickly clarified. "I would call you Agent Booth, if I think of anything else…" He turned to Brennan. "If I could have a word Dr Brennan?"
Brennan glanced at Booth, who shrugged.
"Of course." Brennan followed Ramsey to a corner of the office. It was a small room which did not afford much privacy so Booth could hear the conversation between his partner and the witness.
"I was hoping, maybe after the case is solved, you'd like to have dinner with me?"
"I see." Brennan turned to quickly look at Booth who had suddenly taken an interest in the abstract painting on the office wall.
Booth was kicking himself on the inside. His Bones was beautiful and it was no wonder guys were asking her out. He was also boiling inside, the gall of the witness to ask in the middle of a murder investigation.
"I understand that given the circumstances, it wouldn't be appropriate but I was hoping, after the case is solved, we can get to know each other better."
"Thank you for your offer Dr Ramsey, but I'll have to decline."
"You're with someone? Figures. Brains and beauty, you're a rare find."
"I'm currently not in any relationship but I've also promised someone I'd wait for him. I'm not in the habit of breaking my promises."
Booth let out a breath in relief, feeling smug that she had turned the professor down.
"It's just dinner, nothing more. We're both highly intelligent people, it might be interesting to have an intellectual conversation, just between colleagues."
"Bones." Booth called out to her. "We really have to go." The chemistry professor was being annoyingly persistent. He fought the urge to reach for his gun and threaten the man to lay off his partner.
Brennan paused, reaching into her messenger bag for her name card. "I'm available tomorrow night."
What?! Booth inhaled sharply. She was going out with a witness? He fought the anger and jealousy bubbling inside him. He knew he had no claim over her, they weren't technically together yet.
"Great I'll call."
"Bones, we really have to go." Booth called out with more agitation this time.
Brennan smiled at the chemistry professor then headed out the office. Booth held the door open for her allowing her to walk out, his hand protectively coming to rest on the small of her back. He turned to glare at Dr Ramsey who didn't seem to notice his steely stare. Booth knew he had to get his act together, or he might risk losing her to someone else.