A/N: Final chapter, hope you like. Thanks for reviewing—especially flyersfan and jerseybones and snoopgirl.

A Train Car Named…

Part 3

Brennan was gone when he woke in the morning, her bunk made up neatly. If she had snored, he'd slept right through it. Getting up carefully, he stood and stretched, trying to work the kinks out of his back. The bunks weren't really made for anyone over five-ten and he had spent a rather uncomfortable night. Pulling out fresh clothes, he dressed quickly, used the bathroom, then went looking for his partner. He found her in the dining car, sipping coffee and reading the paper. She looked up at him with a disgustingly cheerful demeanor.

"Good morning," she said, smiling up at him.

He sat down with a groan. "Morning," he mumbled. A waiter came by with coffee and Booth doctored it with cream and sugar before taking an appreciative sip. Brennan had gone back to her paper, apparently having no trouble putting last night out of her mind. He wished he could say the same for himself.

"Hey, Bones, can I have the sports section?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied, and handed it over. Booth spent the next ten minutes immersed in game recaps, scores and articles about player trades. By then his breakfast had arrived along with his second cup of coffee and he was beginning to feel human again. Brennan had long since finished her breakfast and the paper and sat watching the countryside whipping by as she sipped her coffee.

Booth swallowed a bite, his throat suddenly dry. The morning sun made her eyes a brilliant crystal blue and picked up the red highlights in her hair. She looked beautiful. Her eyes suddenly bounced to meet his and she blushed a little at finding him staring. Blinking twice, hard, he looked back down at his plate.

"Shall we talk about it now?" she asked quietly. His gaze came up to lock with hers.

"Yeah, I guess it's safe to. I mean, it's broad daylight, we're both fully clothed and we're surrounded by people. So, yeah, this is as good a time as any." He pushed his plate away and took another sip of coffee, giving her his complete attention.

"First, I wanted you to know, I don't always react that way to the dark," she said softly, her glance darting around to see if anyone was listening. The tables on either side of them were empty, so as long as they kept their voices down, nobody would overhear. "When I was fifteen, I was sent to this foster home—it was the first one, so I was pretty scared. I didn't know what to expect." Booth was watching her intently, afraid of where this might be going. She looked over his shoulder out the window. "My first night, I was lying in bed, feeling incredibly lonely and missing my brother, when my door opened quietly. He—the husband—came to my bed and put his hand over my mouth and whispered that I wasn't to make a sound." Her voice caught on a sob and she looked at Booth, blinking back tears. A muscle was jumping in his cheek as he clenched his jaw in anger. A wry smile broke across her lips. "Don't worry, nothing happened. I told him I was—uh, having my monthly and that grossed him out and he left. Next day I told the wife I needed a lock on my door. I think she suspected, because she didn't question my reasons. She made him do it. And I told him if he ever touched me again, I'd scream rape so loud, I'd wake the neighbors. He must have believed me, because he never did. After that, I checked out books about self defense and started teaching myself. I didn't ever want to be helpless again."

Booth reached over and covered her hand, squeezing it gently. "You're an amazing woman, Temperance Brennan. Have I ever told you that?"

She smiled in appreciation. "Anyway, every now and then, when I'm in complete darkness, it's like I'm back there, scared out of my wits, with his sweaty hand over my mouth." Pulling her hand away, she straightened in her chair and sipped her coffee. "I didn't tell you that to get your sympathy. I just wanted you to know—I'm not a coward."

"I already knew that," he said softly, smiling fondly. Time to deal with the main issue. "Bones, about last night. We crossed the line. What do you wanna do about it?"

"That depends on why you crossed it," she said with a faint smile.

Booth blew a breath out as he noticed she had said 'you' instead of 'we'. Good question. His gaze locked with hers. "We've been partners for more than two years now and lately I've caught myself thinking of you in a very--un-partnerlike way, more and more." There was a frown between her brows and he looked away. "You've never given me any reason to think you might—"

Brennan touched his hand and his gaze returned to her. "Why would I? After that day at the carousel, when you told me about that line partners should never cross? It was clear you were telling me in no uncertain terms that if I wanted to be your partner, we couldn't—"

"I know what I said," Booth said just a little too loudly. A lady two tables over gave him a frowning look. Booth dropped his voice again. "I was just so—shook up by everything Epps had put us through. The thought that some sicko might be able to use my feelings for you against me, that you might be hurt on account of me—"

Brennan watched him, sensing the struggle inside him. "I can take care of myself. You don't have to worry about me," she said, a bit upset that he thought so little of her abilities.

"Really?" he asked, an edge to his voice. "I wish to hell that were true. But it isn't. I worry about you a lot. I mean, what about when Kenton had you? I was terrified that I wasn't going to get there in time. And I almost didn't. So then I started thinking maybe I should go ahead and take a chance. After all, we're already very close. Someone could use you against me now and it would be just as bad. So why not?"

"Are you saying you want to—date?" she whispered. She couldn't believe they were having this conversation.

"Hasn't it ever crossed your mind?" he whispered back. She shook her head in reply, but her eyes couldn't quite meet his. "C'mon, Bones. After that kiss, do you really believe I'm gonna buy that?" Her lips thinned and she looked away. "Temperance," he said softly, in a voice so gentle and sweet, she had to look at him. "I'll never leave you," he said solemnly, meeting her gaze steadily.

Tears sprang to her eyes as his words found her most vulnerable spot. He reached for her hand, turning it over and stroking her palm with his thumb. A corner of her mouth quirked. "You better not, because if you ever do, I'll kick your a$$," she threatened with a crack in her voice.

Booth grinned. "That's my Bones. Not that you ever could, mind you."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Care to test that?" she asked, only half teasing.

Holding her gaze, he lifted her hand and kissed her palm tenderly. "Bring it on, anytime you're ready." She smiled and suddenly his eyes were serious. "I wanna kiss you," he said huskily, sending a shiver down her back.

Taking her hand back and putting it in her lap, she looked around self consciously. "Here?" she whispered. He cocked a smile at her and her heart started pounding. "No! Booth, wait!" she hissed as he came around the table and pulled her to her feet. Taking her by the hand, he dragged her along behind him as he headed for the sleeping car. Brennan saw people staring, some of them with knowing smiles. Her face was on fire by the time the door shut behind them.

Then she was in his arms, where she'd wanted to be for the longest time, and it felt so good. Her arms went up around his neck as his lips found hers at last and her heart slammed as his tongue swept the roof of her mouth. Moaning softly, she threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled his head down so she could get closer. Their tongues met and stroked over one another as their passion rose. Pushing her up against the wall, he kissed his way down her neck. Her breath hitched as he found the sweet spot where her shoulder met her neck. Her eyes closed in bliss as he gave it his full attention. Her hands moved over his shoulders, down his chest, over his abs and around to his back, feverish, as though she wanted to feel all of him, right now. Booth groaned as her chest came into full contact with his, sending his senses soaring. Finally, at a breaking point, unable to take any more of the torture, he pulled back, breathing heavily.

"Yes or no?" he asked hoarsely.

Brennan blinked up at him, trying to form a coherent thought. What was he asking? His eyes were watching her intensely and suddenly she understood and gave the only answer she could.

"Yes."

THE END

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