(The Truth in the Myth)

Thank you for reviewing my story. I hope you are being entertained.

I don't own Bones.

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Quietly, Booth moved down the hallway and into his office. Sipping his coffee, he found the brew not as bitter as it normally was and for that he was grateful. After he placed his mug down on his desk, he picked up some folders from his desk, moved over to the filing cabinets and placed them where they needed to be. Afterward he plopped down on his chair and picked up his phone from his desk. No new emails to deal with, he placed it back on the desk and stared at the stack of folders in his 'In' tray.

Curiosity driving him into a possible reckless meeting with Booth, Sweets tapped on the door frame and leaned into Booth's office. "Hey, I thought I'd come by and see if you want to do lunch."

His gaze moving towards his friend, Booth smiled. "No can do. I'm meeting Bones at the Diner." The look of disappointment on the young man's face causing him to rethink his answer, Booth offered, "I guess you could join us."

The offer very weak and insincere, Sweets decided he didn't care. "Sure, that's great. What time are you going to be there?"

Kicking himself for inviting the younger man, Booth sighed. "Um . . . one I guess."

"Okay, I'll see you then." Turning, Sweets walked briskly down the hallway and back to his office. Okay, maybe I can talk to both of them. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

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Their meals ordered, Sweets got quickly to the point. "Okay, a few weeks ago you begged me to help you move those very heavy stadium seats from across the street to your apartment, Booth. I said I'd help you move those very very heavy seats if we could talk about your partnership and you said yes."

Groaning, Booth leaned back against his chair and looked at the ceiling. "Come one, Sweets. What do you want to talk about that for? Me and Bones are fine. Better that fine." Turning his gaze towards Brennan, he tried to silently beg her to find a way to turn Sweets away from his intended conversation.

Annoyed that Sweets was prying into her personal life, Brennan didn't need Booth's begging eyes to persuade her that Sweets was crossing a line he shouldn't. "Booth may have agreed, but I didn't agree to that. I helped him move those ridiculously heavy seats because he is my friend not because I had an ulterior motive."

His cheeks stained a bright red, Sweets glanced at the table and tried to down play her hurtful words. "I'm your friend and I want to make sure that you two are alright. You both have been through a lot of crap for quite a while now and the stress you two have had to deal with . . . well frankly I don't understand why you two are still partners. Most friendships would have fractured under the stress you two have been under . . . I know you both love each other . . . wait as friends I get it . . . anyway I think it's that love that has saved your friendship and partnership. I get that . . . what I want to know is . . . okay Booth, I'm going to mention her name so please don't throw anything at me . . . I need to make sure you two have talked about Hannah and have come to terms with what happened. You really need to make sure the air is cleared about her and what happened."

Tempted to throw him out of the restaurant, Booth glared at his young friend and wondered why he liked the guy. It was times like this that made him wonder if there was something wrong with him that he would allow a kid to bug him about shit that wasn't his business.

The silence that had settled over the table rather thick and disturbing, Brennan decided that she would intervene. "Booth and I have talked about Hannah and we have placed that part of our past behind us."

Surprised, Sweets stared at the anthropologist. "Really? . . . I mean that's great. I'm glad. That's all I wanted to know. I just wanted to make sure that the past wasn't going to poison what you two have with each other and if you say you've talked and it's in the past then . . . then that's great."

A little shocked that Sweets wasn't pressing for more information, Booth crossed his arms against his chest and stared at the psychologist. "That's it? No questions? We're great?"

Amused at Booth's defensiveness, Sweets laughed. "Yes, that's it . . . I am your friend, Booth. I want what's good for you and Dr. Brennan. I don't pry into your personal business just because I'm nosy. I want you two to be happy. You look happy to me . . . Happier than I've seen in a while and that's wonderful. End of topic."

Their waitress now placing their food in front of them, Brennan leaned back against her chair and stared in disbelief at Booth. His expression wary, Brennan decided to take her cue from her boyfriend and remain on her guard. "Good, I'm glad that's settled." Squeezing her section of lemon into her tea, she stirred the drink with a spoon and then tasted it.

Hungry, Booth picked up his fork and cut into his meatloaf. "So, I've got some tickets to the game Saturday. Parker has to go visit his mother's father for some birthday thing, so I have an extra ticket going to waste."

"Oh, I can go with you, Booth." Eager to hang out with the agent, Sweets smiled at the him. "I love hockey and it would . . ."

Holding his hand up, Booth shook his head. "Wait . . . stop . . . calm down . . . I was asking Bones if she wanted to go with me."

Disappointed, Sweets picked up his knife and fork and attacked his country fried steak. "Oh . . . yes of course."

A feeling guilt warring inside him, Booth glanced at Brennan and shrugged his shoulders. Turning his attention back towards Sweets, Booth halfheartedly offered, "So maybe we can get you a ticket too."

His attention riveted towards Booth, Sweets smiled. "Really?"

Resigned to having Sweets tagging along on their date, Booth cut up his meatloaf and scooped up a piece of the meat on to his fork. "Sure, you did help me move the very heavy stadium seats to my apartment."

Amused, Brennan laughed. "They were very heavy Booth. The next time you wish to rescue something from the trash, I hope it will be something light and small."

Chuckling, Booth waved his piece of meatloaf at his girlfriend. "That's a promise Bones."

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Once the game had started, Booth had been surprised when Brennan had locked an arm around his arm. Glancing at her, he'd smiled and silently cursed the fact that Sweets was with them. Pleased that she sitting so close to him, Booth leaned over and spoke in her ear. "If Sweets wasn't here, I'd risk kissing you. I don't know why I invited the guy. He's a third wheel."

Booth's hand resting on her thigh, Brennan felt him squeeze her leg. Leaning closer, she spoke just loud enough for him to hear her. "You invited him because he's our friend, but he is definitely a third wheel . . . although fifth wheel would make more sense since most vehicles have four wheels unless they are used for hauling freight and then the amount of wheels on the vehicle increases."

Half listening to her, Booth's gaze moved to the arena below and watched the players attempt to score. His attention now captured by the Capitals, he was unaware when Brennan had stopped talking.

Amused that Booth was no longer paying attention to her, Brennan decided to do an experiment for her own amusement. Well aware that Sweets was sitting next to them and that they were surrounded by a lot of people she tried to be stealthy, but she was curious about her boyfriend and how he was going to react when her experiment was done.

Casually releasing his arm, Brennan glanced to her right to make sure Sweets' attention was on the ice below. Satisfied that she was not the center of his attention, she moved her left hand so that it was resting on Booth's thigh. Her boyfriend's attention still on the game, she moved her hand over and pressed against what she'd found.

Shocked, Booth's head whipped to the right and glared at her. Quickly removing her hand, he leaned closer. "What are you doing? You can't do that here. For God's sake, behave."

Her laughter her answer, Brennan shook her head and turned her gaze onto the arena below.

Not sure what she was up to, Booth glanced around her to make sure Sweets hadn't seen anything he shouldn't. Relieved to see the younger man enthusiastically calling out to one of the players below, he sighed in relief and turned his own attention back to the game.

A feeling of mischievousness overcoming her, Brennan moved her hand back onto his thigh only to have his hand capture hers.

Certain, Brennan was testing him, Booth held her hand tightly in his hand and leaned closer. "What happened to kisses and hand holding Bones?"

Staring at her hand engulfed in his large hand, Brennan knew she was not playing fair. "I'm sorry, Booth . . . I was just curious how you'd react that's all. We have been. . ." Lowering her voice, she spoke in his ear. "We've been dating for weeks now. I just wanted to know if you're still interested in having a physical relationship with me."

His tongue running around the back of his teeth, Booth stared at Brennan and thought about what was going on. "I can't believe I'm going to say this Bones, but . . . I'm not ready yet. Okay? I need some more time. Just give me a little more time . . . I . . . I really want this to work and if we push this thing too fast . . . if we . . ."

Brennan realized that she had pushed him further than she had meant to and she feared that her boyfriend was on the verge of stepping back. "I'm sorry, Booth. I didn't mean to upset you . . . I . . . I'm sorry."

He realized that she had only been playing with him and if there was one thing Booth knew, if she was that relaxed with their relationship then they were moving in the right direction and he wasn't going to derail it. "Don't worry about it, Bones. You were just playing that's all and that's okay. It's just . . . um, well, I'm human and I can't really take that kind of um . . . hands on approach and not react and well . . . um just give me a little more time, okay. Just a little more time." Leaning closer he kissed her on the cheek and lowered his voice further. "Hey, I love you okay and you didn't do anything wrong. It's me and . . . I promise it's okay. Just um . . ."

Relieved that Booth wasn't upset with her, Brennan placed her arm around his arm. "I'll behave Booth. I promise. You're not ready and that's fine. There is no rush."

Patting her hand, Booth smiled at her and turned his attention back to the game.

Sweets, a little shocked at what he had just witnessed, tried to keep his eyes on the arena below while he thought about what he'd seen. They're together. Oh my God, they're more than just partners, they have to be. I can't believe it . . . I can't say anything. I won't say anything. It's taken too long already and I'm not going to mess this up but . . . Oh my God this is great. God I want to hug them and congratulate them and . . . I won't say anything. I won't ruin this. I can't . . . Oh my God!

Barely able to contain his excitement, Sweets suddenly shouted. "Yes!"

Surprised, Booth leaned slightly forward and turned to stare at Sweets. "Really? The Ducks score and you're cheering? Really?"

Embarrassed, Sweets decided that he didn't care. "Hey, the Ducks are having a bad year this year. I want to encourage them that's all."

Slowly shaking his head, Booth snorted in disbelief. "Okay . . . you're weird you know that?"

Laughing with happiness for his friends, Sweets nodded his head. "Yeah, I know. Thanks."

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After the game, Booth and Brennnan were sitting in his truck across the street from her apartment, both of them determined to delay the end of their date. After they'd kissed for the fourth time, Booth pulled back and glanced at her apartment. "About earlier . . . I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I know you were teasing me and that's okay, really. I . . . I've been thinking about us and what we've been through and Hannah and . . . and when I think I'm ready for us, I think about how I messed things up and I worry that I'll do it again. It's me I'm worried about Bones. What if I hurt you again? I don't want to hurt you and make you hate me. I want our friendship to be solid. That's important."

Frustrated that Booth was taking so much of their past failures upon himself, Brennan held up her hand. "Booth, stop it. Please stop it. I understand your nervousness, believe me I do. I'm nervous too, but the past is the past and you need to let it go. We can't change the things we did. We made mistakes . . . both of us made mistakes, but we're moving away from those mistakes, aren't we? Are you afraid I'm going to walk away from our friendship if I change my mind about having a relationship with you?" Her hand on his face, Brennan smiled at him. "I'm not going to change my mind. Are you planning on walking away from me? Have you decided that you won't be my friend if our dating is a failure?"

His face turning pale, Booth turned and tried to pull her closer to him. "Bones, no . . . no that's not it at all. I love you. I do . . . I guess I just want to make sure our friendship is going to survive this . . . this dating thing. If we don't push too fast I think we're going to be okay, but I don't want to be too slow too . . . I'm kind of a mess, Bones, if you haven't figured that out yet. That's something you need to consider."

Sympathetic, Brennan moved closer, grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer to her. "I love you, Booth. We're fine. Earlier at the game, I just wanted to see how much you wanted me to be there with you. You were so mesmerized by the game and I teased you. I shouldn't have done that, but you must admit . . . you did react."

Chuckling, Booth glanced down and then back into her lovely blue eyes. "Um, yeah, I reacted. I'm a guy and you . . . you're you and I definitely reacted."

Pleased with herself, Brennan smirked. "Then my experiment was a success."

Not sure what to say, Booth leaned over and kissed her. "Is this what it's going to be like when we're in it for real? Are you going to be experimenting on me?"

Her laughter echoing around the inside of the truck, Brennan patted his thigh. "It's possible, Booth. That's something you need to consider."

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