Revised 12/8

Angela Montenegro snuck another appreciative look at Agent Williams' nicely shaped butt. 'Agent Cutie' had taken off his suit coat and was bent over Hodgins' lab bench, peering into the entomologist's microscope. Williams might be more of a pretty boy than she generally went for, but the possibilities for a little fun were intriguing. He'd definitely been flirting a few minutes ago…

Her reverie was interrupted by Booth, who called out sharply, "Chad! Ten minutes and we're going."

Williams waved a hand in acknowledgement without looking up. She looked over at Booth, who'd just left Brennan's office. The agent was wandering aimlessly around the lab, looking at various gadgets yet clearly distracted, a bit shell-shocked even. The others might not notice, but Angela easily picked up that Booth was troubled by something. She looked back at Brennan's office and this time noticed the blinds were drawn closed.

Uh-oh. Something's up, she thought.

---

Inside the office, Brennan rubbed at the bit of extra moisture in the corners of her eyes and moved back to her desk chair. Tears don't solve anything, the rational part of her mind said. He'd bared his soul to her and thought she had rejected him. She realized she needed to get him back in her office so she could make things right somehow, she worried that if she let him leave the lab and sleep on it, scarring over, she might never get through to him quite the same way again. If she couldn't reach out to him, overcoming her own armor… well she might as well be stuck in her shell forever, always apart from everyone. Do something now, Brennan! But just what to say to him?

A small voice whispered in her head, "See, this is why you shouldn't let people get too close! The hurt isn't worth it." Shut up she told the voice. She wanted a life.

Her mind began racing unproductively again, but then she remembered Angela's recent advice to her. She picked up the phone and dialed.

- -

Out in the lab the phone rang at Angela's workstation. She picked it up.

"Montenegro," she answered cheerily.

"Angela, it's me. I need you to do me a big favor."

"Sure, sweetie. What is it?"

"Whatever it takes, get Booth to come back in here. I really need to talk to him."

Angela glanced at the agent who had stopped his wandering tour of the lab and was pacing back and forth, clearly agitated. She put two and two together.

"Bren, what happened?"

"I can't go into it now. Please, just get him back in here. I… I can't come out myself, I'm a bit of a mess." The urgency in her quavering voice was unmistakable.

"Ohmigod, have you been crying? Did he upset you? Did he hurt you?" she demanded.

"No… I hurt him. Badly. I'm afraid if he gets out of here he's never coming back. "

"You just hang in there. I'm on it."

She hung up the phone, and steeled herself. Looking at Booth, it was apparent his hurt was turning into anger. Tempe is going to fill me in on the details if it kills us all. She left her workstation and approached the agent, his pacing having turned his back to her again.

"Booth." He spun on a heel and faced her, expression stormy.

"Yes?" he answered cautiously.

"Please go back into Brennan's office. She really, really wants to talk to you," she implored.

His eyes narrowed, "I don't know if there's anything more to say."

Angela moved closer and reached out to grasp his upper arm. "Booth, I don't know what happened in there between the two of you, but she needs you in there. She knows she screwed up and wants to make things right."

He said nothing, clearly skeptical.

She tried once more, " Please… C'mon, remember who we're talking about here, Dr. Temperance Brennan, queen of the social graces? Give her a chance?" She finally got through.

"Ha", he barked a bitter laugh and rubbed at his eyes. "You got that right," he nodded, "Ok."

- -

He'd worked up a good mad, but Booth supposed he owed her that much, to hear her out. He left Angela and walked over to the office door where he rapped on the glass twice.

"Come in", came muffled through the glass.

He opened the door and there she was, right before him. Her eyes were a little puffy, but, if she'd done any crying, she gave no sign.

"Please close it", she said softly.

He turned around to swing the door shut, preparing himself not to be swayed by whatever rationalizations she might come up with, whatever arguments or excuses, but she caught him off guard…

- -

Brennan remembered what Angela had said, that sometimes just a touch was the best thing. She took a deep breath and closed the gap between them. She hugged him tight, willing him to understand.

- -

Booth stood rigid, not returning her embrace at first, but her intensity disarmed him. "I'm so sorry", she whispered against his shoulder. "I never meant to push you away, to hurt you."

He gave in and put his arms around her.

After a few seconds she pulled back and made eye contact. "I want you to know you can share anything with me, and I will never turn away. I will always be here for you, just like you've been for me."

"So… what just happened?" He had to probe a little deeper.

She took his hand and led him the couch where they both sat, facing each other, before she responded.

"I was… scared. You know me. I went all analytical on you." She chuckled at herself, "Angela would say I was engaging in 'inappropriate rationality'. She gave him a shy smile.

He couldn't help himself and smiled back at her, "Rationality can be overrated."

"Well you are Catholic" she added, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She just had to get the last word in, and he was perfectly happy to let her have it this time.

He felt an immense weight gone from his shoulders, and he let out a great sigh. His Bones, the woman he'd thought she was, hoped she was, was back. He was a pushover.

They enjoyed a companionable silence for a few moments, both savoring the sense of relief.

He finally spoke first, looking down at her hand still lying in his. "Tessa thought me being an FBI agent was glamorous, exciting. And a former Army sniper? Dangerous, exotic. But she never wanted any of her illusions disrupted by the whole uncomfortable truth, the reality of it all."

He looked up into her eyes, "Thank you. I really mean that."

She nodded, "You're welcome."

She gave him something else.

"About that number… forty-three…"

Apparently she said it to show she was holding nothing back. Her acceptance warmed him. "Yes?" His eyes were locked on hers again.

"I hope it never goes up…"

He looked down, nodding his agreement.

"…Unless it needs to", she added.

He looked back up at her again, his eyes questioning hers.

She clarified, "You are not a soldier any more. I know you will only be pulling that trigger to save lives, and you will do your best to make the hard choices in terrible situations. Who better to be in that position of responsibility than someone who thinks about right and wrong, life and death?"

"I know that, otherwise I wouldn't have volunteered," he objected.

"Then let yourself believe it," she chided gently. He nodded again.

"Killer with a conscience, eh?" he joked wryly.

"No," she squeezed his hand, "Protector with a conscience."