A/N: Thanks to everyone for their wonderful comments. Thanks again to redrider6612 for editing the story for me. I've started a third chapter for Booth Studies Bones and I'm partway through another multi-chapter fic, so keep an eye out for those.

When Booth let go of Brennan's hand to close her car door, he was surprised to discover he much missed the contact. 'Wow. I never realized how intoxicating just holding her hand would be.' It was a heady feeling, and without it he felt deflated.

The drive back to Brennan's apartment was silent, but they each sneaked glances when they thought the other person wasn't looking. A few times their eyes met and then it was hard to look away. After almost running a red light, Booth tried to keep his eyes on the road. He was intensely aware of her and it was distracting.

When Brennan realized that his attention was on his driving, she stopped glancing at him and studied him outright. He looked so sexy in his casual clothes and she couldn't keep her eyes off him. She was reminded of how he looked without his shirt.

An awkward tension started between them. When he pulled into a parking spot at her building, the tension grew. It continued to build as he escorted Brennan to her door. They were work partners, friends, and something more, but neither knew exactly what.

Just as Booth was wondering if he was allowed to kiss her goodnight, she interrupted his deliberations.

"Would you like to come in and have a beer?" she asked.

He nodded in relief, and she unlocked her door and invited him inside. She gestured toward the couch and headed toward the kitchen.

'Here goes nothing,' she thought as she retrieved their drinks.

After she handed him his beer, she sat on the opposite end of the couch from him.

She took a deep breath and began, "You remember what I said the other day? You know… about having the evidence, but coming to the wrong conclusion?" He nodded, so she continued, "Have you thought about it anymore? Maybe come to another conclusion?"

Surprised, Booth was momentarily speechless. 'Geez, Bones, did you have to just jump right into this conversation? This could be the most important one we'll ever have, and you didn't give me any warning or anything!' He scrambled to order his thoughts.

He said cautiously, "I had thought of another possible interpretation..." She nodded for him to continue. "But until recently I didn't really think it would ever be possible," he finished.

"That has to be the vaguest answer I've ever heard you give." He looked apprehensive, but he relaxed when he saw her grin.

He started to smile back, but suddenly her face was only an inch from his. Her blue eyes locked with his chocolate ones and their gaze held for a moment. Involuntarily, his eyes dropped to her red oh-so-inviting lips. Nervously she ran her tongue over her them, unconsciously seductive. His pulse started racing.

After a long moment, she closed the distance between them and kissed him softly, hesitantly. Booth's breathing hitched as desire screamed along his nerve endings. He looked at her, dazed. When he didn't respond immediately, her eyes dropped and she began to stiffen and pull away.

He reached out and gently grabbed her wrist. "Wait. You kind of took me by surprise." He drew in a ragged breath and then leaned in to see if their second kiss would be as sweet and incredible as the first.

Brennan angled her head to deepen the kiss, but he pulled back. "Don't you think we should talk about this? It changes everything," he said, trying desperately to slow down.

"Believe me, I've already given this a lot of thought. Angela says it's the only way I'll be able to concentrate on my work."

"What?" he asked, thoroughly confused.

"She did say that it would take a while…" Brennan trailed off for a moment, and then continued in a small voice, "She says it's because I'm in love with you."

"You lost me," Booth said. "Maybe if you tell me about your conversation with Angela…?"

"Well, lately I've been having a hard time concentrating on work. I keep thinking about you instead. A couple of weeks ago, I asked Angela about it. She said it was because I'm in love with you, and this is the best way to fix it." Brennan kissed him again.

"So this is what is what's been going on the past few weeks?" he queried, after she broke the kiss.

She nodded, unsure of what to say. Booth smiled his most charming charm smile and Brennan's knees went weak. 'It's a good think I'm sitting,' she thought

"It's been really nice the past few weeks that you've let me be a gentleman. I like holding doors and carrying things for you. I really don't see it as a male-dominance thing, but as more of a way to show you how much I respect you," he explained. "But I'm really not interested in a fling, or just satisfying biological urges. If that's all you want, then you'll have to find another way to deal with your concentration problem," he said firmly, determined to make his feelings clear from the start.

"Angela told me you'd probably say something like that," Brennan responded. "I'm not sure that I know exactly how I feel or what I want, but I do know there's something different about us. Somehow you've managed to get past my walls. You know me better than anyone ever has. I— I trust you, and that doesn't come easily for me. You know what I think about marriage and family, but…" Brennan stopped, once again unsure of herself.

"Are you willing to try and solve any problems we might have, instead of running away if things get tough?" Booth asked.

Brennan carefully considered her answer. "Yes," she solemnly promised. "I can do that. Besides, I doubt I could ever hide from you." She laughed a nervous little laugh.

"I didn't just mean physically," he warned.

"I know," she said quietly, looking him straight in the eye.

Suddenly, she was in his arms and he was kissing her passionately. They both wanted the kiss to last forever, but eventually they had to stop to breathe.

She drew a breath. "I caught you, Seeley," she exulted with a triumphant smile.

"Oh, no… I caught you, Temperance," he replied. "I fell in love with you before your refrigerator blew me up, and I've been patiently showing you in small ways since then, waiting for you to come to me."

Brennan opened her mouth to argue, but he silenced her with another kiss.

When they broke apart, Booth said, "Angela will be so smug tomorrow." A thought hit him. "So what exactly was this plan of hers?"

"She said I needed a plan if I wanted to catch you. So she figured one out and then badgered me until I agreed. And it worked."

When she finished, Booth laughed, but said, "I caught you, Bones."

"I am not a fish, Booth," she argued.

They smiled at each other. Their banter was back. Now that things were settled between them for the moment, neither was in a hurry. They wanted to take time to savor this new dimension of their partnership.