Disclaimer: Whoa horse. Remember in the last chapter when I told you it would be awhile for the next update? I meant it. :S I can't say that you weren't warned, but I can tell you that I hate doing that to a story. Also, this was going to be the last chapter but I just kept writing and writing and writing, so I'm making it two shorter chapters and posting them quickly. Without further Ado!
OOOOO
Booth woke up to find Brennan, standing in her bra and underwear, chewing her lip as she stared into her closet.
"What's wrong?" He asked from his position on the bed.
"I'm trying to figure out what to wear this morning." She said. "I'm having some difficulties."
"Why?" He stretched the word out as it mixed with his yawn. Brennan didn't answer, simply lifted her hair from her neck. Booth's stomach did a somersault as he realized the markings that he had branded her with after a weekend of nothing but sex, food and sleep. Of course, he had his own markings, but they were hidden from view. He wasn't sure if it was because they were finally having sex or if it was because they hadn't seen each other in over six months, but either way, there had been times over the weekend where they had been frantic for each other. "Sorry." He said.
"For the contusions or for the sex?" She asked, knowing that he would feel guilty for the marks and trying to lighten the mood. "Because I don't regret either." She said with a filthy smile as she crawled back to him in bed to kiss him good morning and help him forget his guilt. Damn, she was good at that.
"Well, good morning." He could definitely get used to waking up to that. She smiled back as she kissed him briefly once more and left the bed. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"I have an idea." She said seriously as she made her way into the bathroom. Booth listened as she rummaged around in the bathroom and decided a shower would be a good idea. He left the bed and followed her into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and watched as she skillfully covered the bruises on her collarbone with make-up. Booth had a flashback to watching his mother cover bruises with make-up and his throat constricted. He knew it wasn't the same thing, but he had to be more careful with her. Brennan felt his stare and glanced over at him. At seeing his concerned look, she paused.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing." He said.
"You don't look like it's nothing." She said, hoping that he wouldn't lie to her.
"I hate that I hurt you." He said honestly. She sighed as she set down her concealer and walked over to him.
"You didn't hurt me. I wanted this. I begged and pleaded for this." She reminded him, the glint returning to her eyes. "I'm not made of glass, Booth. You know that better than anyone."
"I know." He nodded.
"So why do you look like that?" She inquired, pointing to his face.
"My mother used to…" He pointed to his own neck, mimicking the make-up application. He didn't have to finish as realization dawned on Brennan's face.
"I'm sorry." She wrapped him tightly in a hug, holding him close.
"It just reminded me." Booth said as he let her go, not wanting her sympathy. "I should shower before you run out of hot water." He tried to lighten the stifling mood in the air as he reached for the shower door. She nodded as she returned to her work, knowing that he needed some time to think.
OOOOO
When Booth appeared again, Brennan was dressed and drinking her morning coffee in the kitchen. Not a hair was out of place and there wasn't a single sign of the wild and carefree Brennan who had stayed in bed all weekend long. Booth's brain drew in the buttoned up lab coat all on its own and he didn't know how to proceed. This wasn't the Brennan who had walked towards him with curly hair and Flyers gear; this was professional Brennan, who didn't know what that meant and never cracked a smile while working. This was his partner. It had been six months since he had truly seen this side of Brennan and the bit of reality was like a slap to his face.
Where the Hell did they go from here?
They had never actually had the conversation she had planned for on Saturday morning, too distracted by the newness of their relationship and the sight of her in that jersey, and now he was forced to instigate the conversation on his own.
"So what's our plan?" He asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"For what?" She asked.
"About work, and you know, us."
"You want to know how we are going to tell people that we are having sex?" He stared at her.
"I was hoping that it was more than that but yeah." He said dryly. She smiled, both of them knowing that of course it was more than that. She sat back, pondering his question. He had always taken the lead on interpersonal relations and she had followed, knowing that he would steer her in the right direction. "What do you propose?" She asked.
"I have no idea." He said as he rubbed his stubbled face. He really needed to shave. "Look, I think we should keep this to ourselves for right now, until we come up with a plan. I have to go home and get ready for work. Can we get lunch at the diner?" She nodded, finding that to be acceptable and he kissed her goodbye.
"Wait." She said, as she pulled him back in for a longer, more sensual kiss. Booth was smiling like a fool when she broke the kiss. "What are you smiling about?" She asked.
"I like knowing what's underneath all that professionalism." He said simply. "It's like a hot teacher or librarian, except I have my own hot anthropologist." Brennan just furrowed her eyebrows at his ridiculous explanation and he kissed her on the forehead one last time. "I'll see you at the lab."
"Bye." She said, watching him leave.
OOOOO
"I have a theoretical question." Booth said as he strolled up behind Caroline as she walked the hallways of the courthouse.
"Here we go. Can't you see that I'm busy doing my job prosecuting bad people?" She asked.
"This is important."
"Theoretically important?" She threw his words back at him. There was a reason she was the best lawyer in the district.
"Yes."
"Do I even want to know?"
"I don't know." Caroline sighed, she did have a soft spot for the agent, but she would never let him know that.
"Make it quick."
"Great." He said before looking around and lowering his voice to a stage whisper. "Theoretically," he emphasized "if I were to start dating someone at the Jeffersonian, could the FBI remove my status as their liaison?" Caroline stopped dead in her tracks.
"That depends. Are you stupid enough to start dating someone other than your theoretical anthropologist and partner?"
"Theoretically, no." Caroline didn't know whether to slap him upside the head or hug him for finally getting his act together. She let a small smirk grace her lips before putting her game face back on.
"Hypothetically speaking, as long as you continue to work well together and your cases aren't affected, they would have no legal grounds to change your status. However, if something should change, your handsome behind would be parked behind a desk so fast your head would spin." Booth nodded.
"So the consequences would fall on me and not Bones." He clarified.
"Theoretically." She reminded him of the conversation limitations.
"Right, theoretically." He smiled. "Thanks Caroline. You are the best." He said as he squeezed her shoulder with his hand as he walked away.
"You're damn straight." She said as she took off for the court room.
OOOOO
"Hey Bones, ready for lunch?" Booth asked as he walked into her empty office. He glanced around, wondering where she could be. Deciding to check in Limbo, he headed for the stairs.
"Seeley." He froze in his tracks as he heard the sounds of one very upset Dr. Camile Saroyan behind him. What had he done to deserve that tone? He had no idea. He turned around very slowly and put on his best charm smile.
"How can I help you Camille?" He asked.
"My office. Now." She looked fit to be tied and he knew that she was the only person in the world that charm would have no affect on if she was truly angry. "I just got a call from Cullen. He wanted to discuss the effects of your recent announcement." Booth frowned.
"He told you already?"
"You didn't?" She slapped him on the arm. "This is my lab we are talking about. I know that I walk a very delicate line with you between being your friend and colleague, but this is one situation where I should be the first person to know either way!"
"I figured Bones would tell you. Go slap her arm." He said as he rubbed the spot.
"I can't slap her arm! She's my prize employee." She whispered harshly. "When did this happen?"
"This weekend." He said.
"And it's serious?"
"Would I risk getting fired if it weren't?" He asked her. "I love her, Cam. If I had to choose, I'd pick her." She sighed, knowing it was true and knowing that she had been preparing for this situation for a long time now.
"You could never just do things the easy way, could you?"
"Now where's the fun in that?" He asked with a wink of his eye.
OOOOO
"So how was your first hockey game?" Hodgins asked less than subtly. Brennan stared at him for a second, surprised by his interest and shrugged.
"It was fine."
"Did you enjoy it?"
"Yes, it was quite entertaining. The Flyers won." She said non-committally as she examined the bones in front of her. Hodgins just smiled at her omissions.
"I'm happy for you two." He said simply hoping it would trigger a reaction to confirm or deny his suspicions. She looked up and furrowed her eyebrows as she realized that he knew.
"How did you…?" He grinned.
"Please." He rolled his eyes. "Five years of sexual tension and you walk out of your office looking like you did?" He shook his head. "There was no way it couldn't have happened. But don't worry, I won't say anything." He assured her.
"It's not a secret." Brennan replied.
"Really?" Hodgins said incredulously.
"I've always been completely honest about my life." Brennan reminded him.
"Yeah, but…" He looked around as an employee passed them. "What did the FBI say?" He whispered.
"I'm not sure."
"You haven't told them?" He said incredulously.
"Booth and I haven't even had the opportunity to talk about it."
"Oh man, there's nothing the Feds hate worse than being out of the loop." He said. "I mean, that's the reason the CIA was created to begin with." He started and Brennan had to put her hand up. There would be no stopping him if she didn't do it now.
"While we are in the lab, Dr. Hodgins, our personal lives will remain personal." She said. "Take this back upstairs and process it please." She dismissed him as she handed him a bag of evidence. He knew it was his time to shut up so he took the bag without another word and headed for the stairs. Hodgins found Booth heading down as he was coming back up.
"Hey Hodgins."
"Congrats man." He said with a pat on his back as he watched the agent continue down the steps. The comment was made before Booth could process it and when he turned around, Hodgins was gone. He walked the rest of the way down the steps and saw his partner, huddled over a skeleton with her ever present analytical stare.
"Lunch time Bones." He said as he tapped his watch. She didn't look up and acknowledge him, but she spoke anyway.
"Hodgins knows."
"I got that." He said. "So do Caroline, Cullen and Cam." That got her attention and she set down the femur carefully.
"What did they say?" She asked.
"Caroline gave me the courage to talk to Cullen, who said that as long as we remain professional and keep working with Sweets, he sees no harm in it. We don't get any mistakes though. One trip up and we're done." He said seriously. Brennan nodded.
"And Cam?"
"Cam hit me." He pouted as he pointed to his shoulder, looking for a little sympathy. He had come to the wrong place.
"Was it justified?" She asked as she cleaned up her work area and put the bones back in the box.
"She was just upset that she had to find out from Cullen instead of the two of us." Suddenly, Brennan froze. "What's wrong?" Booth asked, concerned.
"Cullen, Caroline, Cam, Hodgins…"
"No one told Angela." He said, realizing why she was panicked.
"Can we?" She asked reluctantly, knowing she had to cancel their lunch.
"Of course." He said. "Maybe dinner tonight? My place? I'll cook." She smiled.
"That would be nice." She kissed him on the cheek and she removed her gloves. "I'll see you then." She raced up the steps, hoping to catch Angela and Booth just shook his head as she left him alone with thousands of nameless skeletons. His life was never boring.