A.N. Thanks for all the reviews! You see how it paid off? A brand new chapter, freshly written in one day! Keep pushing me, dear readers! Hope you like this one, too. :) It's a little shorter than the others, but it's because the next one will be way packed, so I had to stop here to give you something.

Chapter 3
The Happiness Effect

"So, Peter's friend, huh? What does he do? Ok, I'm almost done with the cranial structure… I'll just… Here. Does this friend have a friend? What's he like? Is he anything like Pete? Because I didn't like him very much."

Angela was great at multitasking. While inputting facial reconstruction data into her computer, she could sustain multiple conversations and still sound like she cared.

"It was only one date, Ange. Don't get all… excited."

"But aren't you excited? First dates are supposed to…"

A screechy sound pierced their ears. "Eeeeh! You and Booth finally had that date?!" Daisy hopped into the room, clapping her tiny hands.

"What? Why would Booth and I go on a date?" Brennan exclaimed, really puzzled.

Angela was trying in vain to discreetly get Daisy's attention, but the young woman continued in the same tone.

"Oh! You don't have to pretend. I know all about it, Angela told m…" She finally saw Angela's wide eyed warning and understood just in time. She finished her sentence by shaking her head no. "Nah. Just kidding!"

Angela jumped in before the doctor could ask more questions that could get her in big trouble. "Daisy's confused. I told her you had a date and she thought… you know."

"Why would you think Booth and I would go on a date?" she asked Daisy.

Still shaking her head, smiling, Daisy read on Angela's face. Don't you answer that.

"No reason. I jumped to conclusion."

"You know how I feel about that," Brennan replied, with her scary teacher's voice.

Daisy wanted to crawl underneath the floor. "So! Who was the lucky datee?"

Frowning at yet another fake word, Brennan let Angela answer.

"A man named Cal she met years ago. If you're looking for Sweets, he's…"

"Oooh! First dates are awesome!" she yelped.

Printing Angela's work, Brennan replied, "I don't like first dates. They're usually a waste of time."

"Of course, you'd say that," Angela mocked her.

"You said usually?" Daisy chimed in.

Angela turned to Brennan. She typically meant everything she said. Could that Cal guy stick around? She wasn't too sure how she felt about that but she knew how Booth would.

"It was pleasant," Brennan simply said.

"Pleasant is good!" Daisy exclaimed.

Way to state the obvious. You're not making points, honey.

"Well," she continued. "I'm off to meet Lance. He's cooking tonight. Isn't he adorable?"

They watched her leave.

"Don't you feel drained every time she leaves a room?" Angela laughed. "She's so perky!"

"How can she be so happy all the time?"

"I doubt she's happy all the time," Angela clarified.

"You're like that, too."

"What?!" Angela almost yelled, offended. "You're kidding, right?"

Brennan put the copies she just printed out in a folder.

"You look joyful all the time. Even when you're sad, you smile. How do you do it?"

Angela thought about it. "I guess I fake it."

"You lie?"

"No. You know the expression 'Fake it 'til you make it'. If you put yourself in a happy predisposition, people will think you're happy and feed off your happiness, get happy themselves, and you'll eventually feel happy for real."

"That's ridiculous!"

"Don't knock it until you try it!" Angela said. "You got everything you need?"

Realizing she meant everything work-related, she nodded.

"Well, I'm off. G'night!"

Brennan stayed behind after everyone had gone home. She sat at her desk and pondered. She wasn't too good at faking. But maybe she should still try it, see how it felt. She turned off the computer, the lights and shut the door behind her.

I'm happy. She smiled, alone in the hall. Nah. She took a deep breath. Hi, I'm happy, see? She smiled again until her cheeks hurt. This is useless.

***

She already was at the scene where the skeleton was found when she saw Booth get out of his SUV. She walked up to him. Time to put Angela's theory to the test.

"Booth! Hi!" She remembered to smile. But that smile felt genuine. "How are you?"

There was something different about her. She was… He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Hi," he said back, taking off his sunglasses.

Brennan almost stopped herself because he looked damn good, but she got over it and tangled her arm with his. This feels way too weird. She wished he'd stop using that pheromone inducing aftershave.

Booth looked down at her. He had seen her that happy once or twice. The first time was…

"Tell me they didn't find another meth mummy ?"

"What? No!" she laughed. "Turned out it was just an anthropoid."

"Huh? Like a… robot?"

She burst out in laughter. A real, non-fake laugh. It turned out pretending to be happy around Booth was easier that she'd ever thought it'd be.

"An ape."

"As in monkey?"

"Yes. But substantially bigger."

"What would a monkey do…" he chuckled. "Why would there be a big monkey in the middle of a downtown sewer system?"

"I don't know and I don't care," she replied lightly. "My job's done."

"Then why did you call me down here?"

Right. Maybe he had something more important to do than to unknowingly serve as a guinea-pig today.

"I thought we'd go out for lunch, but if you have plans, I…"

Quick!

"No! I'd be happy to," he said a little too fast for his own taste.

"Great! You drive," she said, opening the passenger door.

You drive? Maybe she was dying.

"You ok? You look… weird."

I knew this would never work.

"I'm not weird. I'm happy. See?"

She was so adorable he couldn't help but smile, too.

Brennan couldn't believe it. The experiment was turning out to be a success. She couldn't wait to tell Angela.

***

The waitress arrived with two glasses of water and took their order. A few minutes later, before Booth realized what was going on, she was stealing his fork and taking a bite from his apple pie. And she didn't even grimace.

He loudly put back his coffee on the table, folded his forearms in front of him, leaned over and asked, "Ok. That's enough. Tell me what's going on. Did you win the lottery or something?"

"I'm already rich. Why would I apply to win the lottery?"

"You don't apply to win the lottery, Bones."

"Exactly."

"Never mind that. I wanna know what's up with you!"

Brennan was a little taken aback. Angela never said anything about people getting curious as to why she was joyful.

"What do you mean?" she asked to buy some time.

"I mean, you tasted the pie, for crying out loud!"

He looked mad. That was not supposed to happen. She was on the verge of getting pissed, too.

"What? The one time in four years you don't offer me any, and you're actually mad that I took a small bite?"

"That's not the…"

"You want me to pay you back?"

"No, I don't want you to pay m…"

"I'm sorry, ok? Won't happen again."

He resisted the urge of slamming his fist onto the tabletop.

"Forget about the pie!" he cried out. "I wanna know what's going on. You're letting me drive without fussing, you t…"

"I don't fuss."

"You do. All the time! Now you smile for no reason, you…"

"Oh! Excuse me! Is my happiness getting in the way of your grunting?"

"What the h…" He realized everyone was staring, so he lowered his voice. "I just wanna know why you're so happy! You used to talk to me. I feel like you're…"

He shut up, unable to say it. He felt like he was losing her. She was changing and he didn't know where he stood anymore. Not that he ever really knew.

Brennan had lost control over the situation. She had no clue what was going on. Playing this game, Brennan hadn't realized she needed to find an excuse to be happy. Angela hadn't told her the complete set of rules. She thought by faking giddiness, everyone around her would imprint on her, not that she'd be facing the Great Inquisition!

"Is it… Do you…" He cleared his throat and tried to sound calm. "Does it have anything to do with your new boyfriend?"

A boyfriend? Cal and she only had one date and didn't even kiss! There was no way he was her boyfriend. But she had to find a reason. And the way he had said 'boyfriend', with contempt mixed with a smirk... As if it'd be completely impossible for her to date. Before she could think, she reacted and said,

"He's supposed to call me later."

She saw it. The moment Booth's face changed. She just didn't know what it meant. And he didn't want her to know, because he said,

"Great!"

Boy, did that man need a lesson or two in faking happiness!

Brennan let her eyes drift off onto the napkin dispenser. Booth's reaction was interesting, to say the least. Even though she was too ashamed to admit it, she kind of liked the attention he was giving her.

"So! What does Mr. Motel do exactly?"

"He already owns six hotels," she corrected him in passing, "and right now, he's supervising the construction of his seventh, here in Georgetown."

"Impressive," he said, not really impressed. "What's his name?" He hadn't had time to read it on his business card because she had taken it away from him too fast.

She hesitated. "Cal…" she finally said.

"What's his full name?"

"I'm not telling you."

"Because you don't know?" he wanted to laugh.

"Because I know you."

"What's that mean?"

"It means if I tell you his full name or the name of his hotel branch, for that matter, you will run a background check on him."

Booth stole one of her fries. Was he that predictable?

"Fine. Don't tell me. Be secretive."

She took her plate of fries and put it on her lap to keep him from eating them all. None of them found anything to say to break the awkward silence until her phone rang.

"Brennan," she answered.

"Is that him?" Booth whispered not so quietly.

On impulse, she shushed him with her fingers on his lips. They both froze. As if her hand were on fire, she drew it back and hid it under the table, and she almost dropped her phone.

"No, I'm here. Hold on…" She intended on putting her plate back onto the table, but Booth reached so he could take a handful, so she took it with her and walked to the counter.

Booth pressed his lips together. He checked his phone for no reason; he just wanted something to do. He heard her giggle. Eyes shut, he sighed. Eyes open, he scratched his head. He looked at her… still on the phone. Now she was playing with her hair. Come on! He saw her hang up and automatically put his cell up to his ear.

"Yup. Got it," he said, loud and clear, so she would overhear. "Alright. Bye."

"Who were you talking to?" she asked him, sitting back down.

"Who were you talking to?" he parroted.

He thought he saw her blush, but the great Dr. Brennan never blushed. Right ? She didn't answer so he did.

"That was Charlie from the Bureau. He needs my help with something. So, I gotta go. Do you need me to drive you back to the Jeffersonian?"

"Nope."

He waited for an explanation that never came.

"Ok… But I'm leaving." Maybe she hadn't heard.

"And I'm staying," she declared.

Oh.

"Is he meeting you here?" he couldn't help but ask.

Brennan tried really hard not to smile. If she had known how to recognize the signs of jealousy, she would've known why he was acting strangely. But she was amused, nothing more, because she didn't know any better. So Booth was safe, for now.

"Fine, don't tell me," he said.

Before he walked out, she called him back.

"Booth!"

He turned back to her.

"Promise me you won't use your badge to check him out."

He didn't want to lie to her. She titled her head in the sweetest way possible.

"I promise."

Damn. And he was out.

***

"Charlie, I need a favor," Booth said, entering his colleague's office space.

"Name it."

He never promised her he wouldn't use someone else's badge. Right?

"I need you to find anything you can on a man whose name or nickname is Cal. He owns seven hotels and has a construction permit for one of them in Georgetown."

Charlie was waiting for some more info.

"What are you waiting for? I need this now," Booth ordered. "Please," he added.

"That's it?" the poor guy said. "That's all the intel you got?"

"That's why I need you to help me. Is that a problem?"

"Well… it could take me forever, but sure."

"And you're supposed to be a federal agent…" Booth muttered to himself.

He walked to his office and heard Charlie shout, "Hey, Booth!"

He spun back around.

"Would this be someone your gorgeous doctor's seeing?" he guessed.

Booth stood tall, almost intimidating. But his voice was a little off.

"Yes. I'm just worried. He looks like he could be into something."

"Oh, he's into something alright…" Charlie let out.

Booth was quickly looking over his shoulder. "You found something already?"

Charlie laughed. "I'm just saying. He's probably into the same thing you are, man."

"Shut up."

Booth went to his office and shut the door. Or maybe he slammed it, judging by the startled jump some of his coworkers made.

***

"… That only proves my point. My celibacy is such a turn on for guys! I've never had more indecent proposals," Angela concluded.

"I'm glad you called when you did," Brennan confessed.

"Why?"

"I was having another bickering match with Booth."

Angela, really not surprised, tried to hide a grin.

"I thought you said being cheerful stimulated similar responses around you."

"I don't think I've ever said it quite as cleverly, but why not? What happened?"

"I have no idea." She really didn't.

"Well, I'm not expert, but… Maybe you should just give it some time."

Angela knew too well how her best friend could be too eager sometimes.

"What are you gonna do about Cal?" she asked.

Brennan sighed.

"Do you think I should date him?"

Angela chuckled. "Am I officially your romantic advisor? Maybe I should start charging you."

"I'm sorry," Brennan quickly apologized. "I know I'm always…"

"I was joking, Bren. I love that you come to me with this stuff. I just can't tell you what to do." Believe me I would if I thought you were ready. Last time I tried, you almost bit my head off. "I say… Stop thinking and just go with the flow."

Blank face.

"Just do what you feel is right."

"I'm not too good with the feeling stuff."

"Yes you are. You're a woman. Just trust yourself."

At that exact moment, her cell rang. She answered.

***

"What kind of people name their kid Callister Lauser?" Booth laughed, holding the blank criminal record. Well, that's disappointing. But it was good, right? At least Bones was safe this time. In theory.

"Probably the same kind of people who name their kid Seeley Booth…" Charlie said before getting slapped behind the head.

***

"How would you feel about another date?" Angela faintly heard Cal's voice ask through the phone on Brennan's ear.

How would she feel? Good question. He was fun. He was handsome. He was available and interested… And Booth would go crazy.

"How about tonight?"

She smiled broadly at her friend, who was looking at her.

Angela wanted the best for Brennan. She really did, with all her heart. She wanted her to be happy. And if she needed to try to be happy with some other man to realize what would really make her happy, she would have to hush up that annoying little voice in her heart that had been yelling non-stop for the past four years: "HE'S RIGHT THERE, SWEETIE! WAKE UP!"

She smiled back at Brennan, but whimpered inside.

-----------------

TBC…

Had more to write than I thought I would… so POKER is next, I swear. Along with REAL BB sexual tension. Follow me!!