A/N: First…a tremendous thanks to everyone for reading and for the reviews. After a protracted bout with the block-that-must-not-be named, and venturing into what feels like new territory for me with this story….your comments mean more to me than you could know. Now here we go…the next chapter…and time to find out how Booth is handling the situation. Hope you enjoy! AnaG
And…to Wills…your help was just leaps and bounds beyond a beta…this chapter definitely wouldn't have been the same without your insight. -A
She was on the run.
Once the thought entered his head, he couldn't get rid of it. And as he stared into the untouched glass of whiskey on the bar in front of him, he knew it was true. A part of him had known since he'd returned from Vermont to find that she'd left for Peru without saying goodbye.
After dropping Parker off with Rebecca, he'd spent the entire trip back thinking about what happened under that mistletoe. About what he thought he'd heard in her voice that night on the phone. And mile after mile, he remembered how he had felt standing there in the snow, watching her from the other side of a prison fence. He hadn't figured out a single thing, except that they needed to talk. He'd just assumed she would be there.
Not a crisis, Bones. Just mistletoe.
Even now, he couldn't believe what a piss-poor lie that had been. His reaction to that kiss had confirmed what he'd known for awhile now. But there were rules. Responsibilities. Boundaries.
It was nothing…totally sexless.
Hell, maybe he was making something out of nothing. Maybe it hadn't meant what he thought. She'd certainly had no trouble flying off to Peru, staying gone for weeks. He wouldn't be surprised if she'd slapped some anthropological label on the whole deal and just filed it away.
But that kiss. That night at the prison. She'd been the one…that wasn't…he hadn't misread her. Had he?
Sensing the cycle in his logic beginning to repeat yet again, he shook his head and picked up his glass. This. This was exactly why partners should stick to just being partners.
Damn it.
He knocked back the shot of whiskey and placed the empty on the bar, the sound of glass against wood a coda to his tangled reasoning, at least for that night.
Jaw clenched, Booth took a step closer to Zach. When he saw the squint's eyes widen in alarm, he felt a small tug of guilt. But that was quickly quashed somewhere between the unending aggravation and the pounding in his head.
"One more word, Zach, I swear and…"
Cam stepped between them, ending the threat before it began.
"Okay, boys. Cease fire. Zach, go find something else to work on."
"What should I…"
"I don't care. Burn some spam. Drown some sea chimps. Use your imagination."
"But, Dr. Saroyan, I don't …"
"Now, Zach. Or next time, you're on your own."
Without waiting to see if Zach complied, she turned to Booth.
"And you. In my office."
"C'mon, Cam…"
But she was already walking away, expecting him to follow. He ran his hand over his face, wondering just how lousy this day could get. Resigned, he turned to follow, missing the knowing look between Angela and Hodgins.
"What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in that room…hey, Hodgins, where are you going?"
"Didn't you hear? Cam just gave permission for experiments. Unlimited experiments."
By the time he entered the office, Cam was seated behind her desk, arms crossed as she waited. He felt his irritation returning as he sat across from her.
"You know, I could have done without being called to the principal's office in front of the whole lab."
"Well, I could do without you taking out your frustration on Zach every …"
"Come on, you know what he's like."
"Yes, I know. But he's trying. And I'm afraid you're stuck with him until Brennan gets back, so…"
"Fine. Got it. Be nice to Captain Roboto until Brennan is through digging up bones in El Brouhaha or wherever the hell it is. Are we done here?"
He stood up, thinking that put an end to the entire episode. He was more than ready to get out of the there and back to the normal world.
"No."
Her response stopped him cold.
"No? I already said that…"
"The issue with Zach is only part of the problem. Since you found out that Dr. Brennan extended her stay in Peru…"
Not liking where this was headed, he tried to cut her off.
"That has nothing to do with it."
"Really, Seeley?"
"Really…what, Camille?"
Suddenly weary, his words were soft, laced with both a warning and wariness. She heard both; he saw it in her face as she leaned back in her chair, staring at him. He willed her to leave it be, but he knew Cam well enough to know that wasn't going to happen. Still, he wasn't expecting what came out of her mouth next.
"You know, in all the time I've know you, I've never taken you to be a fool."
"Excuse me? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"We both know why you've been walking around with your shorts in a twist the last two weeks. Maybe it's time you admitted what's going on and then…"
"Nothing is going on. Nothing. The fact that Brennan decided to…"
"You're in love with her."
"That's it. I am not having this conversation with you."
Knocked off-balance by the direct confrontation, resenting her presumption, he started to leave and missed the fleeting smile that crossed Cam's face.
"What? I don't even get to hear that lame-ass 'we're just partners' line?
He stopped, hand on the door. He didn't know what made him turn back, why he responded when he knew he should just leave before it got any worse.
"For the record, it's not a line…"
"Oh, please. I know…"
He moved closer, determined to make her understand.
"Look, I don't care what you or Angela or every squint in the whole damn Jeffersonian think you know, but…"
She stood her ground, meeting his glare with an understanding that softened the edges of his resentment.
"I know you, Seeley. I was going to say that I know you. And I'm your friend. Or at least I'd like to think we are. Friends."
Suddenly weary, tired of the conversation, even more tired of carrying the thoughts running through his mind, he sat heavily in the chair he'd abandoned.
"Yeah, Cam. We are. But…"
"I know you don't want to talk about this…"
"Good call."
"….but it's written on your face anytime you're in the same room with her. It's in your eyes when you walk in and she's not there. A person would have to blind not to see it."
Not seeing any safe ground, he remained silent as she sat in the chair next to him.
"Brennan and I, we've had our differences…"
"You think?"
"Nice try, but don't try to change the subject. We've had our differences in the past, but she's good for you, Booth. There's something in you that she settles. When you're together, you seem a little less lost. Both of you."
"It's not that simple."
"Let me guess. Risky job. Those pesky boundaries and rules…"
Given their history, he was surprised by the lightness in her tone.
"You of all people should understand that."
"You're right. It happens. But, people get hurt all the time, whether it's Epps or something else, whether you're in a relationship or not…"
"But…"
She placed a hand on his arm, silencing him.
"But I also know that when it is important enough, when you love someone enough, you find a way to make it work."
"Cam, I didn't…I wasn't…ah, hell."
He looked away from her, from the implication of words. When he turned back, he was surprised to find the slight smile on her face.
"Seeley, it's okay. You and I, we were what we were. We both knew."
"I was trying to do the right thing."
"You did. For both of us. Now you have a choice. Waste enough time being afraid of what might happen, and you'll lose it anyway."
He opened his mouth to respond when a loud crash came from the direction of the lab, followed by a strangled yelp.
"What was that?"
Cam was already on her feet. "My guess? Zach's imagination just imploded. Listen, I've got to go rein in the circus. Are you…"
"Yeah…..hey, Cam?"
She paused at the door.
"Thanks."
She nodded, and started to speak, before another clatter from outside the office drew her attention. She opened the door, but then turned back.
"Just tell her, Seeley. Before it's too late."
He stood, watching as she walked towards the group of squints clustered at one corner of the platform.
Before it's too late.
She was on the run.
The two thoughts chased each other in his mind, and he walked from the empty room, another joined in.
What if he was already too late?