A/N: Great thanks to mendenbar who suggested adding Gordon-Gordon to the story. I hadn't thought of it, but I think it really adds to the story. Thanks for being patient while I worked the idea in.
Booth stood on Dr. Wyatt's porch. He shifted uncomfortably as he waited for him to answer the door. He was just a bit embarrassed that he needed to see a psychologist and he really didn't like waiting on the doorstep where anyone driving by could see him.
The door finally opened and Booth stepped gratefully inside.
"And how are you today, Agent Booth?" Dr. Wyatt greeted him.
After giving Booth his usual coffee and pouring himself a cup of tea, Dr. Wyatt settled down on a settee opposite Booth.
"It's been two weeks since your last visit, I believe. Why don't you tell me how things have been going, if you don't mind?" Dr. Wyatt asked politely.
Booth began slowly, starting with updates on the latest cases and his most recent visit with Parker.
When he was finished, Dr. Wyatt asked, "Is that all?"
Booth shrugged.
"You didn't mention Dr. Brennan, your partner, at all, even though we discussed your work," observed Dr. Wyatt.
Booth hesitated and then said, "Bones… well, Bones has been acting a bit odd lately. I'm not quite sure what's going on, but…" He left the thought unfinished.
After a moment, Dr. Wyatt responded, "Perhaps if you describe her behavior, we can make some deductions about the cause."
"Well, you know how we argue? Lately she hasn't argued with me about anything. Normally she talks to me when we're driving to and from a crime scene, but for the past week and a half or so, she's been unusually quiet."
Dr. Wyatt nodded, so Booth continued. "Normally she's jumping out of the car as soon as the engine dies and telling me off when I try to hold the door for her, but now she's waiting for me to open it for her. Don't get me wrong, Doc. It's nice that she's not always telling me off for being an alpha male, but it's just not typical for her.
"I didn't actually witness this myself, but apparently she went shopping with Angela voluntarily. Usually Angela has to beg and cajole and practically threaten Bones to get her out of the office. And it wasn't just once; they both left earlier than normal several days in a row to go shopping."
Booth smiled a bit. "The results of the shopping trip have been…" he paused momentarily to find an appropriate adjective, "nice, but something is up. When I asked about it, she refused to tell me. Angela was there and challenged me to guess. I explained my observations and concluded that she must have met a new guy. But when I said so, Angela laughed and all Bones would say was that I had the right evidence but the wrong conclusion."
Dr. Wyatt looked extremely thoughtful, and Booth waited quietly for his response.
A moment later Dr. Wyatt said carefully, "I assume you've thought about it since then. You are an excellent detective, Agent Booth. What other potential conclusions fit the evidence?"
Booth shifted in his chair. "I did think of one other one, but it's just not possible."
"Well?" Dr. Wyatt prompted.
Booth looked away and studied the painting on the wall. In a quiet voice he said, "The only other explanation I could think of is that she has feelings for me."
"And why do you think this is not possible?" asked Dr. Wyatt. "After all, Sherlock Holmes, an esteemed investigator not unlike yourself, said 'It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.'"
Taken aback, Booth opened his mouth to reply, but could think of nothing to say so he closed it again.
"Everything you've told me earlier this conclusion. If I were to guess, she had a revelation about two weeks ago. Now that she's aware of her feelings, she's just a bit uncomfortable around you so she doesn't know what to say. She's stopped arguing about the courtesies you extend to her because she knows you think it's important to be a gentleman. Although I wouldn't count on the change lasting," Dr Wyatt concluded thoughtfully.
Booth shook his head in denial, "I… I just can't believe this. She's my partner."
"With whom you spend a significant amount of time," said Dr. Wyatt. "She is a beautiful woman and you are an attractive man. Having met you both, frankly I was surprised that nothing had happened between the two of you yet."
Dr. Wyatt looked at the clock on the wall. "We've talked five minutes past our scheduled hour, Agent Booth. I'll see you in two weeks." He wore a smug smile as he ushered his patient out. He'd wondered how long they would dance around the issue.