Same Friday Night 11:30PM…

On the ride back to the lab to Bones' car, Booth had plenty of time for reflection. She had been yawning, and he didn't disturb her as she fell asleep. She looked like she needed it, her fair skin clearly showing the beginnings of dark circles under her eyes. If she was true to form she'd been overworking herself between the lab, writing, and whatever else she was driven to do. Yet asleep her face looked so peaceful…

He eyed his leather jacket with which he'd covered her. Nothing made him happier than when he could take care of her, but she was ordinarily so strong and independent that he didn't often get the chance. Usually it required some dire circumstance. Or, he noted with a rueful grin, a state of unconsciousness.

He had a wonderful time tonight, and he thought she had too. She had some natural talent and was an eager student, interested in what he could add to her existing skill at shooting. He had to admit it was good for his male ego to get a chance to be the unquestioned expert in her eyes for a change. And after his initial annoyance wore off, the fact that the other men continued to check her out when they thought he wasn't looking tickled him. She was by far the best looking woman in the place – a couple others had shown up later – and she was with him. He'd never seen her as a trophy, but he wasn't that far removed from a Neanderthal, he grinned to himself.

These last few months he'd treasured their increasing closeness as her barriers continued to lower for him. Much of that had taken place over the telephone, a growing emotional closeness. In a strange way he selfishly hoped she didn't change too much – he admitted to himself that knowing she was not that open with people in general made his own deepening connection with her feel that much more special, privileged. But now that he was back, with her, he was unprepared for how captivated he was by physical closeness to her – her soothing touches, the warmth of her embrace, even just being in her personal space working on her stance and aim shooting tonight. Although that worked both ways – he rubbed the bruise on his ribs she gave him when she realized just how badly he'd suckered her the first time she saw him shoot. He felt his growing feelings for her crystallizing into something more than friendship.

She was like no other woman he had been with. So practical, tonight she gladly helped load the pistol magazines with cartridges even though the strong springs and sharp edges of the stamped sheet metal tended to tear up your fingers. By contrast Tessa would have balked right off the bat, bitching about ruining an $80 manicure. Sometimes Bones could be practical to a fault, apparently lacking sentiment, but he now knew that it was not true, that underneath the surface a woman of real warmth was hiding. Loss had made her frugal with her feelings, but she did have them, even if she sometimes tried to deny them even to herself.

He finally admitted to himself, unequivocally, that he was flat out falling for her, and falling hard. Yes, he wanted to be something more than just partners, friends. But what on Earth to do about it? Hell, he still had to pretend that tonight was not a real 'date', just an outing between friends. Shee-it. There was the whole co-worker thing complicating her existing baggage. Complicated didn't begin to describe the situation. Did she have feelings for him in return? The answer to that one was arguably yes, he wouldn't have come to this pass if it weren't for the feedback loop between them, but was she aware of them? Would she let herself be aware of them? Finally, would she let herself follow those feelings where they led?

It was risky, like crossing a friggin' minefield risky, but this was one gamble he decided he was going to take. She was the best thing that had ever come his way. He sighed. He was just going to have to take it slowly, glacially slowly, testing his way at each step, trying to read her. If at all possible he didn't want to endanger their partnership. He'd fold if he had to, but he couldn't just stand pat. He resolved himself to inching his way forward in order to avoid triggering her defense mechanisms. But forward to what? He'd settle for their current deep friendship if he had to, but he wanted a real relationship. He'd die if he fell into the trap of an 'on occasion I sleep with them' guy she could just put back on the shelf if he got too close. Ultimately he was an all or nothing guy.

His next step? He just knew he didn't want the night to end, that he didn't want to wait until some time in the coming week to see her again. Or, selfishly, to have to share her with the squints when he did. What to do? An idea began to form…

A couple miles from the lab he pulled into a drive-thru. He woke her while awaiting his turn to order. He took her warm hand where it had slipped out from under his jacket and began squeezing and gently shaking it.

"Wake up, sleepy head."

She stirred groggily, then started more or less fully alert. She was clearly disoriented for a moment before settling down and trying to delicately hide a yawn behind her other hand.

"I fell asleep? I'm sorry." She reproved him, "You should have made me stay awake to keep you company while you drove." She rubbed at her eyes.

"Nah, you looked like you needed your beauty rest." As soon as the words left his mouth he realized how that sounded. Inwardly he cringed. Smooth move, dumbass! Fortunately she didn't take it the wrong way. But he couldn't resist teasing her after all.

"Anyway, do you know you're cute when you drool?" He was looking ahead through the windshield as the car in front of them moved and it was their turn to advance.

She sat up straighter, indignant, "I do not drool!"

"I know, I know, just kidding." He patted her hand and gave her his best smile then looked forward again. He really was just pulling her leg, but it amused him to no end to see out of the corner of his eye that she had dabbed at the corners of her mouth when she thought he wasn't looking.

He continued more seriously this time, "We stopped for some coffee for the ride home. No point firing three hundred rounds without incident only to end up in a car accident."

She smiled in gratitude at his thoughtfulness. She said, "Thanks" when they reached the window and he passed her her cup, but then she insisted on paying for both. She'd pleasantly surprised him earlier in the evening by not arguing over paying for her own dinner or at the range, so now he broke one of his own rules and let her pay. If it made her comfortable to maintain their charade that this was not a 'date' then so be it; it suited his larger purpose. But sooner or later – ok, probably later, much later, he grudgingly admitted to himself – he vowed he was going to take her out on an old-fashioned let-out-all-the-stops honest to God wine-her-and-dine-her date.

Back in the lot at the lab he pulled in next to her car and shut off the engine of the SUV. He turned to her, "I had a great time tonight and I hope you did too. It's good to be home. Thanks."

She looked right into his eyes, "I most definitely did. It was a real treat. Thank you." She paused briefly, "I'm glad you're back, Seeley."

If he was a dog he'd be wagging his tail. It was such a treat when they used each other's real first name. Time to push it a little, he returned the favor, "The pleasure was all mine, Temperance."

She smiled more fully he was pleased to see. Not calling her Bones apparently had the desired effect. She unlocked and opened her door, and he got out at the same time as she did. He met her next to her car.

"You didn't need to get out. I'm not in danger of getting mugged in less than twenty feet", she mocked.

"I know you're a big girl and can take care of yourself. I just wanted to." When she clicked her remote he beat her to the door and opened it for her. She just shook her head at his quaint chivalry, but didn't say anything.

For a date that wasn't supposed to be one , that awkward moment still came when it wasn't quite clear just how to finish the evening, just as he'd hoped. 'Hoped', because it proved she was feeling something too. He nipped it in the bud by simply being decisive and whispering "Good night" as he gave her another hug. She returned it with, "You too. Welcome back."

As they started to break the embrace and his eyes caught hers again the perfect opening for a kiss happened. All the signs were there, but he didn't think she was truly ready and stuck to his plan. Be cool he told himself, and hard as it was, he resisted the urge and smoothly finished pulling away from her. He wasn't going to risk ruining things by acting like some stupid horny teenager by trying to cram his tongue down her throat – he didn't want to spook her, to make her regret anything done in the heat of the moment.

He held on to the end of her door as she sat, buckled herself in, and put the key in the ignition.

Now to see if she would take the bait…

Author's Note

Sorry for the delay. I'm trying to get a lot set up in this middle stretch of the story and this grew, causing the followup to move to the next chapter. Additionally, I'm about to start teaching summer semester (I'm a university instructor in a technical field), so that coupled with the coming chapters getting a bit trickier may cause the update pace to slow a little.

FWIW, right now I'm thinking the story has another seven chapters, maybe a couple more. I've got all the remaining sections and scenes, and much of the dialogue mapped out, but they continue to shift under my feet as the characters take on a life of their own. Or as I've sometimes seen so far, inspiration for some of the choicest bits just really seems to come from out of the blue, percolating up from my subconscious as I keep chewing it all over. So instead of focusing on getting the current chapter out I keep finding myself pulled into bits and pieces much further out. It's very non-linear, chaotic at times.

Please keep the reviews coming. As always I try to give you something that is not quite what you expect yet that you will still really enjoy. Let me know how I'm doing.