Strangers

Written By: writingforthemoney (Tied)

Pairing: BB

Rating: T Plus; for the mention of and/or the suggestive nature of sexual themes.

Summary: The first time Booth and Brennan met, in my eyes. And then when they met at the Jeffersonian.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or anything related to Bones…the song STANGERS IN THE NIGHT is by Frank Sinatra… and the only thing other than the plot that I own (minus the bits that are actually factual with the show) is the character Jonathan … I think … if you don't recognize somebody else I probably own them. Jonathan's mine though...but i'd prefer to own Booth... but oh well... maybe in my dreams... sigh

Chapter 4: Strangers in the Office

…Three months later…

"Bones!" She stormed out of the lab and into her office. "Bones! Come back…" He followed after her. "Bones…I'm sor—ry, who's this?" He asked noticing a man sitting on her couch and Bones smiling beside him.

"Booth, come in I want you to meet my old friend Jonathan. Jon this is my partner and—friend" she seemed to struggle with the word, "Agent Seeley Booth." The two men shook hands, each immediately knowing that friend (for both men) was the lameness term. "He and I met on an archeological dig, during college."

Booth gave him a once over; he seemed to be a very well-cultured and, pompous man. He was dressed in a gray suit with a gray tie and black vest, his hair was slightly salt and peppered which made him look older than he was. "It's very nice to meet you Agent Booth." And his voice didn't add to the prim and proper assumption Booth had made.

"Charmed, I'm sure."

Brennan rolled her eyes at him, "You'll have to excuse my," she glared at him, "partner," then turning back to Jon she added, "He seems to have a problem with any man that walks through my doors."

Booth frowned at her, "Bones, we're in the middle of a case, don't you think you should put old boyfriends last… no offense, but she is really busy at the moment." He regarded the man standing beside him.

Jonathan just nodded, "He's right, you should get back to work, I'll pick you up at eight."

She was confused, "For what?"

Jon winked at her, "The date you owe me, remember? The last time you ran out on me."

"Don't you take a hint?" Booth mumbled.

Brennan smiled at Jon, "Eight it is."

Walking to the lab she was all smiles and he was frowning, "What switched your moods?"

"Jonathan's back." Was all she had to say to get Angela giggling.

The next day Booth sat at his desk looking at the invitation in his hands.

Special Agent Seeley Booth

You and a guest

Are cordially invited

To the 3rd annual

FBI Ball

He had planned on asking Brennan to be his date, but with Jonathan coming back into her life, she seemed to be occupied. So when he walked into the Jeffersonian that afternoon to pick up the squints for lunch he stopped by Angela's office. "Hey Ange."

"Hey Booth, looking for Brennan? She's in her office."

"Actually I'm here to see you." He winked at her.

She smiled, "Really?" Her mouth stretched to one side of her face, "What for?"

"Well, the FBI has had a ball for the past two years… and I was wondering if you'd consider accompanying me this year?"

"As much as I'd love to go to a ball with a very handsome FBI agent, I have to ask," she stood from her desk and walked to him, "Why aren't you asking Brennan?"

His smile disappeared, "I'm not asking Brennan, I'm asking you. The reason doesn't matter."

Angela smiled knowingly, "Jonathan really is just a friend."

"But the dates?"

She smiled, "He likes her, not the other way around. And you probably need to ask her why she ended up running out on that date." As she pushed him in the direction of the open door she added, "Oh and until you find out the true relationship between Bren and Jon, and you make up your mind about where you want your relationship between you and Bren to go, I'm going to have to say 'I'll think about it'." She grinned.

"What?"

Her grin grew into a full smile, "See you didn't want to ask me to the ball, you wanted to ask Bren."

As Angela was walking out of the office that afternoon when he stopped her, "So will you go with me?"

"What?"

Booth looked sad, "You squints were invited to the ball, as well. She's going with Jon."

Angela sighed, "I'm sorry. And yes I'll go with you."

When he had walked out of the building she went to Brennan's office. Her door was cracked just a bit, so Angela could hear a South American type of music playing. On closer examination Brennan could be seen with her head laid back against her chair, eyes closed with a beautiful smile on her face, as her hand played lovingly with the cross around her neck. Angela had tried again and again to get Brennan to share the significance of the cross and music with her, because every once in a while Angela would walk by her office and see the same scene that was being played out in front of her now. She knew that the music and the necklace, at first, had something to do with Argentina but after the arrival of their very own Special Agent the music was played more often, but not without the knowledge that Booth was no where to be seen.

The music had slowly drifted off and Brennan went back to work on what one could only presume to be her novel, so Angela burst through the door, "Why are you taking Jon to the ball and not going with a certain hunky FBI agent?"

"Because we got an invitation that said to bring a guest and besides…" she turned back to her computer screen barley uttering, "he didn't ask me."

Angela grinned, "He wanted to. He didn't because you and Jon led him to believe that you were involved. Did you tell Booth why you ran out on Jon three years ago? If not, you need to." Then she walked away from the room, leaving Brennan with her thoughts.

He was going to ask me? If Jon hadn't of shown up we'd be going to the ball together…? What did Angela know about three years ago… I never told her why I left him… But she could probably tell that someone else was on my mind…

…The 'Second' Date … (She hadn't been able to make the first because of the case)

Sitting at the candlelit table, across from a very handsome man, eating the most expensive meal she'd probably ever eaten; all she could think about was Booth. She thought about how he had planned on asking her, and how she had planned on him asking her; and then because of the man sitting across the table, he didn't ask. She rolled her eyes and then suddenly realized that Jon thought that, that was her reaction to whatever he had been talking about.

"Temperance, can I ask you a question?"

Brennan looked up, "Yes."

He looked on at her intently, "Have you changed your beliefs about pagan rituals?"

She looked surprised; because for one that wasn't any where near a question he'd ask and two; he was mocking her. He never called religion, pagan rituals, only she did. For some reason this bothered her, however when Booth did it, it never seemed to get to her. "Why do you ask?"

Jon pointed to her neck, "Your necklace."

Her hand instinctively touched the cross, "It was a gift from a friend." Then it occurred to her, "I was wearing this the last time we met." At the shake of his head, she countered him, "Yes I was; it was given to me four months before, and I've never taken if off since."

"That's ridiculous for someone who doesn't believe in God," he then added, "Besides I don't believe you, that's been at least two years. And even if you had, he was much more than a friend," he clarified quickly, "the person who gave it to you."

Brennan looked at him incredulously, "It's been three years!" she said grabbing her purse from the chair beside her, "And yes, he was… is," she corrected herself, "more than a friend. He's my best friend, my partner, my," she laughed, "'knight in FBI standard issue body armor'; he's Seeley Booth." Standing she threw her coat over her arm and started toward the door, but turned sharply, "And your invitation for the FBI ball is withdrawn." Then she thought for a second about what had started all of this and how she never answered his question, "You said that this," she exclaimed, tugging at the cross, "was ridiculous for someone who doesn't believe in God; I never said that I had or hadn't changed by views on pagan rituals." She turned, throwing over her shoulder, "It may not be as ridiculous as you think!"

Hope you liked it... Tell me what you think...