"Thanks, Bones." He glanced at her in her regular place in the passenger seat of the SUV as they drove back to the Jeffersonian. The sun shone in through the windshield and glinted off her hair making it glow copper. The tip of her nose and apples of her cheeks were reddened by the cold wind blowing through the open window and once again Booth was struck with how unbelievably grateful he was that the Grave Digger hadn't succeeded with her most recent victims. His renewed confidence after gaining the confession brought him to a decision. When he pulled up in front of the lab, he put the car in park and turned to face his partner.
"Are you coming in? I thought you had to go back to the Hoover Building."
"No, I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes."
"About what?" Brennan turned in her seat to face him.
"About the other day."
"I told you, Booth. I'm fine. I have no side effects from the oxygen deprivation and I haven't had any more dreams. I'm over it." Booth sighed inwardly. There was no way someone could be buried alive for 12 hours and have no repercussions, even if that person didn't believe in psychology. He wished that Bones would stop being so stubborn and open up to him when she needed to. But that wasn't the conversation he was looking to have with her again right now.
"That's not what I was talking about, Bones. I meant yesterday in your office."
"Oh." It could have been his imagination but her cheeks reddened even further in a blush as she averted her eyes. "Don't worry about it. You were emotional after reading my note and overreacted. Let's just put it behind us and move on." Booth had expected that kind of reaction from her, but it still hurt his heart to hear her dismiss him so easily.
"What if I don't want to put it behind us?" He reached out and brushed his knuckle along her jawline, gently directing her gaze back to him. Her eyes were an icy blue that sparkled with a myriad of emotions that Booth couldn't decipher. He hoped the affection in his chocolate orbs was easier for her to read. "What if I kissed you because I have feelings for you and I think that you might have feelings for me, too?" The emotions swirling in her eyes landed on one, panic, and once again, she turned her head away from him.
"I need to get back to work." She fled the SUV, ignoring his calls after her.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Booth eyed Brennan's door with trepidation. He had let her go that afternoon, hadn't chased her into the Jeffersonian because it wasn't the time or the place. But now he was prepared. Or at least he thought he had been prepared but when faced with knocking on her door, his confidence dropped. Now or never, he told himself, took a deep breath and knocked.
Brennan opened the door to find Booth on the other side holding up a six pack of beer. He held it out as a peace offering. "Can I come in?" She considered him skeptically before stepping aside and letting him in. He walked into the kitchen, cracked open two beers and handed her one. They drank, the silence stretching between them before the FBI agent finally spoke. "Are you ever going to talk to me?"
"And say what, Booth? I really don't know what's going on here."
"What's going on is that I kissed you and told you that I have feelings for you and you blew me off. I just want to talk about this with you without you running away."
"I didn't run away," she protested weakly, avoiding eye contact.
"You literally ran away," he replied, laughing a little. "Listen, Bones, if I've completely misread you then just say so. Say you don't have feelings for me too and I'll just drop this. We'll be partners, friends, and that's it. Just look me in the eye and tell me you don't feel something for me."
"I can't," she said, her gravelly voice low. Booth wanted to grin, but he kept it inside. He knew he hadn't misjudged her feelings for him. Now to get her to put those feelings into actions.
"So," he purred, rolling the word around in his mouth, "if we both have feelings for each other, why not see where this goes?" He put his beer down on the counter and took a step towards her. She stepped back.
"Booth, you know that my work is the most important thing to me. You're my partner and therefore, a large part of that work. If we were to pursue a romantic relationship, it would jeopardize that work." He could see that wheels turning in her head, trying to rationalize her way out of her feelings. "It could interfere with our fieldwork or be used against us in court. And if it doesn't work out, what would happen to our partnership?" Her deep blue eyes met his dark orbs, her vulnerability clear to him despite the walls she tried to erect. "I can't lose you as a partner, Booth…or as a friend."
"Bones, I promise you," he took her hand tenderly in his, "I will always be here for you. Always." She held his gaze and his hand for a moment, eyes filling with tears before looking away.
"Don't promise me that. No one can promise that." Her voice cracked and Booth's brow furrowed. He hated that she was so broken on the inside. He wanted to hold her until she forgot her past, forgot how she had been abandoned and left with only her work. He wanted to make her believe in his promise of always because he truly meant it. But one step at a time.
"Fine, I won't promise that. But I will promise that I will do everything in my power to stay with you as long as I can as a partner and as a friend." He reached out and stroked his fingers over the soft skin of her neck, his voice dropping to a husky tone, "and as a lover if you'll let me."
Brennan found herself lost in his eyes, his warm hand against her skin, and his low voice moving over her like warm molasses. Her breath was caught in her throat as they stood frozen in that moment. She wanted to say yes to him so badly. She wasn't sure when her feelings for Booth had started to change, but she had thought about the two of them together and she thought it could be great. But she hadn't wanted to risk it. Logically, the costs could greatly outweigh the rewards.
Yet with Booth standing in front of her, his large frame invading her personal space, she found herself unable to say no.
"Temperance," he murmured, his use of her first name sending shivers down her spine. He moved closer still, taking her silence as encouragement, his breath hot against her ear, "please let me."
Her hands came from where they had been hanging limply at her side to rest on his well defined stomach and pushed him back slightly, if only so she could have some room to catch her breath. No other man had ever made her feel like this, out of control of her emotions and her body. She wasn't sure if she liked it and wasn't sure if she would be able to give it up now that she had tasted it. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her racing heart. "Can we just…go slowly?"
"Slowly? I can do slowly." With a grin, Booth took her face between his hands, his thumbs stroking tenderly over her cheekbones, and he bent his head so his mouth lingered right above hers. Each movement was so achingly slow, letting the tension build to a fever pitch. Finally, he moved the last millimeter, sealing their lips together in a kiss that was slow, sweet, sensuous, and perfect.
The end! I'm thinking of writing a quasi-sequel that's a combo of case action/fluff. Is there interest? Either way let's get my reviews over the 100 mark!
Happy New Years!