Chapter 2

Sorry this took so long to post, I usually try to a chapter up at least once a week. I had it ready last night, but it needed another edit and between Bones and Friday Night Lights, I was busy. Oh and how cute was the singing at the end of last nights ep? Sigh.

Thanks for the reviews. You all are great!

--

Booth groaned as the door closed behind her, standing motionless for several seconds before pulling himself out of the trance, unable to believe what had just happened. He wasn't even sure how they had gotten to that point. Kissing as he pressed her back against the wall. There were certainly times that he thought that was possible, but not after the way they had been fighting all day. What he'd said about her not leaving … well, he never thought he would actually say it out loud. And he probably wouldn't have if he hadn't been so angry, but maybe it was good that it was finally out there.

Booth rubbed his eyes wearily and prayed that he hadn't just screwed up. It was seeing her with Sully that had finally forced him to acknowledge his feelings about her, at least to himself. Every time he had seen them kissing it had felt like a knife to the gut. He wanted to shout, "She's mine. I should be kissing her. I should be the one asking her to run away!" But he didn't. He repressed his frustration and longing, expressing it in ways that Gordon Gordon didn't always find appropriate.

Thinking back over their relationship, he wasn't totally surprised that their first kiss was born out of a heated argument. He'd never known anyone like her before. People said that all the time, it was usually a throwaway line, but for Booth it held real truth. She challenged him, supported him, annoyed him, often angered him, and totally turned him on.

When he thought about her views on relationship, marriage, children, and religion, it seemed impossible that they could actually make a relationship work. But when they were together it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. He had already decided that he would be willing to sacrifice some things for a life with her. She was worth it. Finally, he stopped pacing and decided he had better shower. He had a feeling tonight was going to be important and he might as well make sure he looked good.

Freshly groomed, Booth stared at his watch in disbelief. How could only twenty minutes have passed since they kissed? Why had he said they should meet in an hour? A half hour would have been plenty of time. There was no way he was going to stay in this room for the remaining time, with only his thoughts and a crappy tv for company. Figuring he might as well leave for the bar early, he pulled on his coat and headed out the door.

Bob's was a small, dimly lit wooden building with the words bar and grill underneath an illuminated cowboy hat. Perfect, a county bar Booth thought rather disillusioned. He could listen to almost all popular music, but he couldn't stand country. Too much whining, too much twang. The place was half-empty, only a handful of the tables occupied along with several people sitting interspersed at the bar. Booth figured they didn't get much of a crowd on a Wednesday night. Glancing around at the dreary interior, he doubted they ever got much of a crowd anymore.

Pulling up a stool, Booth sat at the bar. Still thirty minutes to go. He'd picked a place with an unobstructed view of the front door, wanting to make sure he wouldn't miss her. A female bartender that Booth guessed to be in her early 50's approached him.

"What can I get ya?" she asked, giving him a big smile. He hesitated for a second before ordering a beer. He definitely didn't want to drink too much and say something stupid. On the other hand, perhaps a beer or two would relax him. The knot in his stomach was growing tighter as the minutes slowly ticked by. God, he hadn't felt this way since his first high school girlfriend.

"You look a little nervous sugar," the woman said as she placed the beer before him. Booth was about to ask her how she could tell when he realized he had been drumming his fingers on the bar incessantly.

"Um, yeah, I guess," Booth said.

"Anything I can do to help?" she asked.

"No, I'm just waiting for someone."

"Don't worry. I'm sure she's coming," the bartender said before she walked off to serve another customer.

Booth looked at his watch again. Twenty minutes. Damn! He didn't know what he was going to say to Bones. He had tried preparing a little speech in the shower, but it felt forced. He knew how he felt about her and he hoped that would be enough. As for how she felt about him, he wasn't sure. Bones kept so many of her feelings hidden deep below the surface. During the last year and a half, he had gotten better at discovering those feelings. Either that or she had gotten better at sharing them. He really hoped that trend continued.

Maybe he wouldn't have to say anything at all. Maybe she would walk in and kiss him. They would dance to a few slow, sad country songs then head back to the motel …. Booth allowed himself the brief fantasy, catching the grin before it flashed across his face. Right. He'd be lucky if she didn't walk in here and dump him on his ass.

"You want another one?" the bartender asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"No thank you, uh- "

"Rose."

"She's late?" Rose guessed.

"No. I was early," Booth corrected automatically.

She leaned up against the bar, lighting a cigarette as she glanced around conspiratorially. Apparently, anti-smoking legislation hadn't reached rural Pennsylvania. "They say I'm not supposed to smoke when I'm working. All my customers can smoke, but not me. Don't seem logical." Booth smiled at her use of the word 'logical.'

"So, is she worth it?" she asked in a voice made gravely by years of smoking.

Booth just smiled. He wasn't going to entertain this woman with his messy love life. Rose paid him no mind and said, "Cause it seems like she's driving you crazy."

"Yeah," Booth said with a chuckle, "she drives me crazy alright."

"In which way?" she asked.

"Every way," he answered before he thought better of it.

"Well, as long as that includes the good way," she said with a wink and a laugh.

"Look, she should be here soon, so thanks for the talk," Booth said, not wanting to encourage her any further. He was good at reading people and he could tell when others were too. Years spent studying people from behind a bar had probably given her the advantage in this situation, even over a profession such as himself.

"Good luck, sugar," Rose said before walking away.

Booth settled back in and resumed the wait. It wouldn't be long now. As the nerves began to creep back in, he tried to reassure himself that he had nothing to worry about. But as the minutes crept past the hour, he wasn't so sure.

--

Brennan knew what time it was. She knew that Booth was waiting for her right now, waiting to hear how she felt about the kiss. "Oh God," she muttered aloud. Booth kissed her and she had kissed him right back; it was almost too much for her to process. Brennan wanted to examine the situation rationally, but she just couldn't. It wasn't that she'd never considered it, she had. It was a place she rarely let herself go, but sometimes she couldn't help it. Couldn't help but feel there was something more than a deep friendship between them.

Two weeks ago, she had been happily dating Sully. Enjoying her first relationship with a normal guy in, well maybe forever. Sully was great. He was fun, good looking and good in bed. But she didn't fall in love with him. That bothered her; everyone else thought she should and she did too. So Brennan tried. Tried to make it something more, hoping the feelings would come. Not that she knew what that sort of love was like, but instinctually she knew it was deeper than what she felt for Sully.

When Sully had first asked her to sail away, she had known her answer almost immediately. No. She liked him all right, but not enough to give up her life. Her work alone was reason enough to stay. It was draining; Sully was right about that. Nevertheless, it was what she did, who she was. And despite what Sully thought, it was worth it. Perhaps he was right and she couldn't or shouldn't do it forever. For now though, she was at the beginning of this part of her career. There was still so much for her to learn.

However, Brennan started to question her decision when everyone she knew told her to go. Especially Booth. She wasn't sure what she expected from him. Most of her wanted him to give his usual good solid advice. A smaller and scarier part wanted him to ask her to stay, to tell her that he needed her. When he told her to go so quickly, it hurt.

"So it had nothing to do with me?"

Booth had voiced what she had been unable to face. She didn't want to leave any of her family right now. Her brother and father, wherever they were, would someday return. Then there was her other family, Angela and the people at the Jeffersonian. But the first thing that had come to mind when Sully asked, was that she wouldn't see Booth for an entire year. He had become such a presence in her life that so much time without him seemed … unimaginable. Until tonight, she had succeeded in convincing herself that work and family were reason enough to not drop everything and sail away with Sully.

Then Booth kissed her. A kiss that couldn't be easily forgotten. A kiss that had shaken her, in more ways than one. Now she had to accept that perhaps Booth had more to do with her staying than she wanted to admit.

Checking the time, Brennan realized she was going to be late if she didn't leave right now. She got up slowly, stiff from sitting in the same tense position for so long. They couldn't actually do this; they weren't supposed to. Studying herself in the mirror, she tried to convince herself that it didn't matter what she felt. He was her partner and friend, end of story. Her partner who was waiting for her right now. She could already feel her throat tightening at the prospect of discussing all of this with Booth.

--

The second hand slowly passed twelve again and Brennan was officially seven minutes late. Booth shifted uncomfortably on the stool and wondered if she was actually not coming. The door sounded once again and this time when he looked, it was Bones. She stopped hesitantly inside the front door, one hand clutching her purse as she surveyed the room. Booth stood up and walked to meet her. He was pleased to see the relief in her eyes when she spotted him.

"Hi," Booth said. He paused a moment before moving to Brennan's side, a hand on her lower back as he guided her to a out-of-the-way table. They sat facing each other. Her smile looked tentative and his felt forced as well. He'd hoped she would be … happier.

"Booth, you were right," Brennan said bluntly, catching him off guard.

"About what?" he asked. Before she could answer, a waitress appeared at their side.

"Hi, my name's Kelly, do you wanna hear the specials?" she recited robotically. Booth shot her a look of extreme annoyance, which passed her by unnoticed.

"Do you want to eat?" Booth asked. He wasn't sure he could eat just yet.

"I think I'll just have a beer, something light," Brennan said.

"Same for me, thanks," Booth agreed. The moment the waitress was out of earshot he prompted, "What was I right about?" Booth watched as she looked down at her hands and took several deep breaths. When she raised her eyes to meet his, her face was covered in shadow. He wished for better lighting. Her eyes gave away far more than she knew.

"You were part of the reason I didn't leave with Sully," Brennan admitted honestly. "There were other factors," she emphasized, "but the thought of you not being in my life, it mattered. A lot and I'm … I don't really know what to think about that." Her frank admission threw him and he sat dumbly as she rushed on. "Booth, you mean so much to me and I think that being with you could be amazing," Brennan paused and took a steadying breath, "I just don't think this is the right time. I'm sorry." Her voice was practically a whisper by the end.

"Sure, sure. Don't apologize," Booth said.

It wasn't the flat out no he had expected, but it wasn't a yes. What had he been thinking? She was right about the timing. After all these months, hoping for the perfect moment between them, he had chosen a grungy motel after a tense day to declare himself. Not to mention that she had just ended a relationship. He took hold of her hand and she watched him, waiting expectantly for him to continue. Instead, he released her hand and stood up. "I'm gonna head back. It's been a long day." Booth thought that she looked really beautiful tonight, her hair loose and free, and a casual look he didn't often see. There was no way he could sit across from her.

She watched him take several steps backwards before turning away from her. "Booth," she called. He stopped, but she couldn't say the words to bring him back. "I'll see you in the morning, Brennan." She lowered her head to the table, the sting of tears in her eyes. He never called her Brennan. It's for the bestshe reminded herself. They couldn't cross that line. But what she wanted more than anything right now was to run after him, throw herself into his arms, and kiss him until she forgot all about the damn reasons she wasn't supposed too. Instead, she picked up the bill and headed for the bar to pay.

--

"Not going so well, huh?" the bartender asked sympathetically when Brennan handed her the bill.

"No," she replied guardedly. A man called out loudly from the other end of the bar for his much-anticipated drink. "Go ahead," Brennan said, waving her off and collapsing onto the stool next to her. It's not like she had anything waiting for her besides a dark little motel room. The look on Booth's face when he'd left haunted her. She cared so much about him and maybe that was the issue. She didn't have any problem going after other men who interested her, but none of them were as important in her life as he was. With Booth, everything was different.

"Sorry," Rose said reappearing in front of Brennan. "Some of these guys…. " she trailed off, shaking her head.

"So what happened?" the bartender asked sympathetically.

Brennan studied her for a moment and decided that it couldn't hurt to confess a few things to this sympathetic stranger.

"I kissed someone I shouldn't have," she said slowly, struggling with the phrasing.

Rose nodded knowingly, "So he was married."

"No!" Brennan exclaimed in shock.

"So you're married?"

"No. No one is married or dating or anything," Brennan stated emphatically. "It's just complicated, never mind."

"Do you love him?" Rose asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't know how to tell," she admitted quietly.

"Well, it's pretty easy." Rose said confidently. "Could you picture yourself living without him?"

"No," Brennan said softly, but without hesitation.

"Well there's your answer," she concluded as if it were obvious. Handing Brennan the change she said, "I gotta go, but listen. Don't wait too long. Life is short. Something could happen. Someone else could come along. You can't let the right one get away." She patted Brennan's arm affectionately before leaving.

Brennan walked slowly out of the bar, to her dismay the rain had picked up again. Pulling her coat tightly around her, she ran, stopping only when she reached her door. She stood under the overhang searching for her room key as the storm intensified around her. Suddenly, she remembered leaving it on Booth's dresser. "Shit!" she cursed. Instead of heading to the front desk for a new key, or retrieving her original key from Booth's room, she leaned back against the door and closed her eyes.

Fate was telling her to go to him. Fate and nosy bartenders and her own rapidly beating heart. It wasn't rational and she knew that. She was also beginning to learn that there are things that defy reason; Booth had been proving that to her over and over. Maybe love was one of those things. Timing. If they waited six months or a year, would she be any less scared than now? Any less confused? It was an excuse and she knew it.

Brennan mustered up all her courage and rapped her knuckles against his door. She knew that no matter what happened, she needed Booth in her life. He answered the door in the same state of undress he had earlier.

"Hey," Brennan said softly.

"Hey," Booth replied, moving aside so she could enter the room. Her arm brushed across his stomach as she passed by, causing goose bumps to rise. She rubbed her arms self-consciously telling herself it was a reaction to the cold. Booth took several steps closer to her, but didn't say anything, he just watched her intently.

"My room key," she blurted out, "I left it here earlier."

"Oh, right," Booth said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

The key was right where she left it and she picked it up, fiddling with it as she worked up the nerve to say something to Booth. Again, she felt herself floundering when she desperately wanted to speak. Usually speaking her mind wasn't a problem.

Booth appeared to sense her discomfort. He put a hand out and brushed her face tenderly. "Temperance, I just want you to be happy. If you can't be happy with me, well, I can accept that."

Suddenly she didn't care about timing or rules anymore. She had no doubts that Booth would do anything he could to make this work. Slowly she moved forward, her eyes locked intently on his. Reaching out she traced his jaw line with a trembling hand, the stubble slightly rough under her fingers. For the first time, logic and reason had let her down. She was in uncharted territory, but there was no one she would rather discover it with than the man before her.

Booth didn't move. While he wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her until they forgot who they were, he was afraid if he even so much a breathed the spell would be broken. She continued to trace his features, her hands grazing across his chest before coming to rest at his waist. "Booth," she whispered as lifted her eyes back towards his, finally leaning in to kiss him.

Her kiss was timid and she broke it off dropping her hands back to her sides. This was the moment. If she stayed, the result was inevitable. Everything would change. "Bones, are you ok?" Booth asked.

"Yes," she said after a moment's consideration, surprised to realize that she actually was. There was nothing timid about her second kiss. She let the longing and the need engulf her. The storm, the murder, the man sailing alone in the Caribbean, all of it faded as Booth deftly removed her clothes. He laid her back against the bed, but hesitated before joining her as his eyes ran hungrily across her naked body. She didn't feel self conscious under his gaze and took the opportunity to enjoy his muscled physique. Booth waited a moment too long, so she said, "Come here," and pulled him down towards her. Flashes from the lightning occasionally lit up the room, but the pair didn't notice. Nothing existed beyond the two of them.

--

Well, I had originally planned this to be a short little hook-up fic, but I think I'll continue it. In most of my fics they get together at the end so I've never gotten to write much of them as a couple. So that's where this will go, awkward new couple stuff, working together, another case, some danger, some angst, some fluff. Now I'm all excited about it.

Anyway please let me know what you thought and if you'd be interested in reading more