I couldn't wait anymore and decided to post the next chapter :D

Don't forget to review though. I'm not afraid to hold back chapters at the lack of reviews LOL

I think you'll like this one ;) Or I really hope so. I like it alot ;D

10 Dates - chapter 3

Later in the evening Temperance was walking through her apartment with no purpose. She couldn't seem to settle herself. Something was wrong. So wrong. She went to her home office and sat in front of her computer. Maybe she could write a chapter or two for her new novel.

When she opened the document the first words on the page caught her eye. "Dedicated to my best friend and partner – Seeley Booth"

With her elbows resting on the table she hid her face in her hands, tears running silently down her cheeks. Oh how she missed him. She missed his teasing about her lack of pop culture knowledge. She missed his alpha male protectiveness. She missed when he put his hand at the small of her back, guiding her.

That's what Booth was to her. Not only her partner, her best friend, but her protector, her guidance.

She gave up on writing and went to lie down on her couch. She tried to read an article in the latest forensic science journal, but the words went by without registering in her mind. After half an hour of trying, she gave up and just lay on the couch, eyes closed.

Hours later she woke up thinking she heard a sound. She sat holding her breath until she heard it again. Someone was knocking on her door.

Booth had been driving around for hours trying to make up his mind whether to go see Temperance or not.

He missed her so much, he couldn't bear to be without her anymore, but he also didn't want to frighten her.

He drove to her apartment and spent another half an hour sitting in his car in front of her building. What would he say to her? How could he let her know how much she meant to him, without scaring her off?

He made up his mind to just go see her and take it from there. He excited the car and walked, almost ran up the stairs to her door. Now, that he was almost there, he couldn't wait to see her.

He paused at her door, taking a deep breath before knocking. He knocked and stood listening for sounds of movement inside. Nothing. He knocked again, harder this time. When he still heard no sign of her being home her turned around, disappointed and walked towards the stairs.

He was half way down the first set of stairs when he heard a sound behind him.

"Booth. What are you doing here?" Temperance asked.

He couldn't help smile from ear to ear at the sound of her voice. Then the reason for his visit brought him back to the present and his face turned sad.

He walked slowly towards her, without saying a word. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She looked so cute in her sweat pants and over sized t-shirt. She had obviously been sleeping and was rubbing her eyes and yawning.

Her hair was sticking out in all directions and she had on no make up. It didn't matter to him one bit though. She had never looked more beautiful in his eyes.

"Can I come on?" He said gently, giving her that sweet charm smile he knew she couldn't resist.

He knew he was right when he saw take a deep breath giving up on the battle inside her telling her to refuse him. She didn't say a word, just opened the door slightly more and stepped aside letting him enter the apartment.

She walked to her kitchen and put on some coffee, not even bothering to ask if he wanted any. She took out two coffee mugs from a cupboard, got milk and sugar ready and then paused looking around to find something else to keep her busy.

When she couldn't find anything to distract herself with she walked towards her living room. There she found some journals she could put away. When finished with that she decided her plants could use some water.

Booth stood in the kitchen doorway watching Temperance. He smiled at her desperate attempts to avoid being confronted by him. She was pretty relentless too. When he'd finally had enough of her sudden need for tidiness, he walked towards her slowly.

She had stopped in front of one of her windows and stood looking out on the city. The moonlight was framing her face and she looked like an angel. She once again took his breath away.

He couldn't stand it anymore. He had to be near her, had to touch her. Booth grabbed her hand and as she turned around their eyes met and a thousand words were spoken between them without any of them actually saying anything. He watched a lone tear fall down her cheek and in the only way he knew to comfort her, he pulled her to him, holding her tight. He wrapped one arm around her while the other one stroked her hair. He felt her sob silently against him, as she clung to him.

He pulled her even tighter, never wanting to let go. They stood like that together for what seemed like hours. He loved the feel of her against him. He felt good knowing she could let go with him, that she felt comfortable being vulnerable in front of him.

Temperance was thinking what she ever did to deserve a guy like Booth in her life. She yelled at him, fought him over and over and said terrible things to him, but he was still there. She knew it couldn't be right. She knew she didn't deserve him and therefore he would some day leave.

She leaned against him, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. He felt so good. She never wanted to move. The world was a scary place, but being in his arms made her feel safe.If only they could stay like this.

She tightened her arms around him, wanting to be even closer to him. When she felt him respond, pulling her tighter too, she smiled against his chest.

Booth sensed her insecurities and loved the fact that she was leaning on him both literally and not to feel safe. He kissed the top of her head, smelling her flowery shampoo.

He thought he heard her mumble something but didn't quite get it. A moment he heard her speak again and this time he heard her loud and clear.

"I didn't mean it"

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