A / N – Sorry I have taken longer than usual to update. And I am afraid that real life is gonna continue to get in the way for the next couple of weeks. Although... I might get all my other stuff done quicker if you send me reviews. They're better than a caffeine fix.

In celebration of 'Mamma Mia' I have used an Abba song. While I was spoilt for choice as they all have really expressive lyrics, 'Lay all your Love on me' said everything I wanted it to.

Thanks to my Beta – Moonlight Gardenias. And everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I always like to know what bits you enjoyed most. Hint, hint.

Disclaimer – I do not own Bones. Except my own. And they are not nearly as fun to play with.

Enjoy.

Don't go wasting your emotion

Lay all your love on me

"Booth, Before you left DC. What you said? I..."

"Roxy," Booth hissed through gritted teeth. "We need to talk about something else. Now!"

It was only a small bistro table that separated them. Her fingers followed the curve of the wine glass and this held her focus for now. Confident as she was, Temperance Brennan did not have the strength to meet his gaze while she asked the question. That question, the one that had been driving her crazy since he left her in the Jeffersonian grounds.

--

As arranged, he had picked her up dead on at seven from her newly acquired apartment. Booth couldn't help but notice the Bureau provided accommodation here was considerably nicer than his. It reminded him of an early conversation they had about unlimited expenses. She'd changed into a pair of dark blue hipster jeans and a cream bardot sweater that hung off her shoulders. Booth noticed her bare feet and the cerise pink varnish that adorned the tips of them. She beckoned him in as she finished getting ready, twisting her hair up and clamping it into place with some sort of ornate butterfly, a few strands working loose and suggestively trailing their way down her neck. He watched as she fiddled with the clasp off her necklace before stepping forward to assist.

"Got it." she murmured.

Damn, too late. He'd just missed a perfect opportunity to breathe in the scent of her.

Flipping a pair of bronze ballet pumps on she flashed him a smile. "Lets go!"

On arriving at the cinema they found nothing appealing that began before eight thirty. And that was how they ended up sitting here, in a neighboring bar.

--

Jason York had spotted 'Tony' despite the crowd and was making his way across the room. Booth thanked God that he was sat facing his oncoming friend, a prominent member of the gang he had infiltrated.

"Hey, Jase."

"Tony. My main man. How ya doin'?"

"Great." Booth replied, willing him to leave.

"Pretty lady! Introduce us, Tony. Where's your manners, man?"

"This is Roxy." Booth winced as Jase grabbed an empty chair from a neighboring table and sat himself between them, never taking his eyes of Bones. Booth looked on in annoyance.

"So Roxy," he began. "How long you been dating this loser?"

"Actually, it's our first date tonight."

Wrong answer, Bones, Booth cringed. Jason was hitting on his girl and he couldn't do a damned thing about it.

Brennan continued. "How do you know each other?"

"Oh you know. Around."

"So Jase," Booth interrupted. "You meeting someone here?"

"Actually yeah. New, ahem, business contact. But I can fill you in another time."

Booth observed that Jason had continued to gaze at Bones through the whole conversation. "Well, don't let us interrupt your plans," he began. "I know your a busy guy an' all"

Jason flashed a final smile at her before moving off. "Close, but no cigar." she smirked, thinking about Booth's trademark expression that, quite often, left her feeling week at the knees.

"What?" questioned a bemused Booth. "Since when do you use expressions like that?"

"The undercover training was very thorough."

I wasn't jealous before we met
Now every man i see is a potential threat

"You should not have flirted with him just then. The guy's a complete sociopath. May I remind you of Pam Nunan." Booth shook his head, exasperated. He needed to make sure Bones was firmly off limits to anybody else. For her own safety, of course.

She had been safe with Sully. It had still ripped him apart inside.

And I'm possessive, it isn't nice
You've heard me saying that smoking was my only vice

"And what was the cigar comment in relation to exactly?" Booth looked quizzical.

Brennan thought for a moment. 'Do I confirm that his smile has so much influence over the way I feel? Would he take advantage of that fact if he knew it to be true, even more so than his already obvious suspicions?' She decided that yes, he would. And she wasn't ready yet to leave herself vulnerable. "I have a very refined sense of smell. And it's telling me that you have been smoking." She raised her eyebrows and waited.

Booth just looked sheepishly at the table.

"You know how bad it is for you. And you already suffer an addictive personality. It will be exceptionally hard for you to quit."

"I know."

She leaned back and looked him up and down. "So you also know that I am not going to let this go."

But now it isn't true
Now everything is new

Booth leaned back, mirroring her actions. "Yes." he flashed his charm smile.

"That won't work this time."

And all I've learned has overturned
I beg of you...

And as they both sat, thoughtful, stealing occasional glances, the enormity of the situation began to dawn on them both. They were not sat here in this bar as Booth and Bones, or even Seeley and Temperance, but Roxy and Tony.

They needed to erase everything they knew about one another.

Don't go wasting your emotion

Lay all your love on me

Whatever that may entail...

But not yet. She needed to understand a few things first.

It was like shooting a sitting duck
A little smalltalk, a smile and baby i was stuck

Brennan smiled.

"Whatcha' thinkin'?" Booth asked suspiciously. He had been watching her for few minutes. Her expression was unmistakable. He had seen it too many times before. She was processing. All the information available. All the evidence presented to her.

You can take the scientist out of the lab but...

I still don't know what you've done with me
A grown-up woman should never fall so easily

"That you never answered my question." It was almost whispered. She was looking straight at him now. Staring behind his eyes, deep into his soul. Waiting expectantly.

Booth looked down at his hands, a nervous half laugh escaping from his throat. "Wow, umm, I thought I would have a little more time to work out what I wanted to say to you about that day. I mean, I was devastated to be put in that position. I knew you would take it badly but you wouldn't even speak. And there was Parker. To know I wouldn't see him for the whole holidays, longer - " he added. "I didn't mean..." Booth closed his eyes and breathed deep.

I feel a kind of fear
When i don't have you near

Temperance Brennan felt her heart physically stop. He was going to take it back. And it made her feel sick. She needed air. Right now.

Unsatisfied, i skip my pride
I beg you dear...

Was it about the line, she thought. Screw the god damned line.

Don't go wasting your emotion
Lay all your love on me

"I didn't mean to tell you like that. I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted it to be special." He reached across and took her soft hands in his. "And to say," he paused, grinning from ear to ear, "I. LOVE. YOU." accentuating each word, "there, when I was leaving you. Well, it sort of tainted it."

She was smiling now. And while she had never held much credence for the concept of love, other than a multitude of chemical reactions, to hear him say them so heartfelt, to her, it felt like electricity was surging though her body.

Don't go sharing your devotion
Lay all your love on me

"So," Booth continued. "I'm gonna say it here again 'cause I think we are going to have a great-," he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingers, not once breaking his adoring gaze into her eyes. "-Date. I – Love - You."

I've had a few little love affairs
They didn't last very long and they've been pretty scarce

He was not the first man to say these words. But she was absolutely certain she had never felt this way before.

"Okaaay, so I have stunned you into silence."

I used to think that was sensible
It makes the truth even more incomprehensible

"What?" she asked.

"Too much?" he looked worried now.

"NO! No, what you said was...beautiful."

"It's just a lot to take in?"

"Yes." she whispered apologetically.

'cause everything is new
And everything is you

"So lets talk about something else." He brought his smile back out and she responded with one of her own.

"I know we aren't supposed to talk about this, especially here, but I have to ask-"

Booth glanced around. "Go on."

"I didn't know if you had been able to send Parker a gift -" Brennan continued.

He winced and bit his lip. "No." Regret resounded through the hollow word.

"So I called up Rebecca to find out what he really wanted, and it turns out that there is this manic craze for Ben 10, whatever that is, and he wanted the alien laboratory, and she hadn't been able to get ahold of one. They are trading on Ebay for six or seven times their retail valuation. And then I noticed that the products are licensed to the same consortium that my publishers belong to. So it was relatively easy to get everything in the product range, plus some other limited edition stuff. She said for me to tell you that 'Love takes up where knowledge leaves off,' but I don't know what that means."

He grinned across the table. "It's a quote. Saint Thomas Aquinas." He leaned in towards her. "You know what? You're amazing."

And all i've learned has overturned
What can i do...

"My dad was extremely difficult to buy for however. I ended up purchasing - "

Out of the corner of his eye Booth noticed Jason making his way back across the room towards them. And he was not alone. He almost choked on his drink as he clocked the man walking beside him.

"Are you O.K.? Tony? It would appear that your beverage has inadvertently entered your trachea." She stroked his hand. "Try not to panic. The sensation will pass."

"Max!" Booth spluttered.

"I really don't think he's expecting a gift from you."

"No, he's here. With Jason!"

She looked up and, seeing him approach, look back at her wine glass. "What do I do?" The panic was evident in her voice.

"Calm down, be polite, leave the talking to me." Booth instructed, taking a deep breath himself.

"Tony!" Max exclaimed.

"We meet again." Booth directed his comment to Jase.

Jase nodded his acknowledgment and looked over him to Bones. She shifted nervously under his gaze.

Max noticed her discomfort. "Tony, you'll be glad to know you can have your place back. Jase here has a couple of properties vacant, and there's no time like the present. So I guess we can head off now. Jase?" The sooner they were away, the safer he could keep his baby.

Because that was how he still saw her. She might be in her thirties, but he remembered the day she was born like yesterday. And it was his job to protect her - whatever the cost. When the FBI had held him in custody and given him the option of prison or here, there was no question. He could stay undercover indefinately. That was easy. When he knew Temperance would be joining them his perspective changed. And his goal right now was to move this situation forward as quickly as possible. His daughter believed she had assumed a false identity for six months. He was going to make sure she was home, safe, in six weeks.

"I'll call you, Tony. Before New Years." Jase winked at Bones and turned to head towards the exit.

Brennen let out her breath and smiled at Booth. He met her smile and placed his hands over hers. She opened her mouth to speak when a woman leaned over from a nearby table.

"Oh wow. You're her, aren't you? Temperance Brennan - the crime writer. I love your books!" The woman shrieked.

Booths heart stopped as he saw Jase stop abruptly. Max, obviously having heard the commotion was walking even faster. He stopped when he reached the door, realizing he was now alone. Jase was making his way back to the table.

A rush of scenarios fought for attention inside his head. 'Please don't correct her by saying it's Doctor Temperance Brennan, don't look flattered, don't even acknowledge you know the name...'

"What? No! You have me mistaken for someone else."

"But I met you once at a signing. You're her!"

Booth looked at Bones, willing her to know Jase was now almost right behind her. He needed to diffuse the situation. Quickly.

"I think I know who I am, thanks." Brennan stated bluntly, glaring at the other woman. She turned back to face Booth. He was quick. She didn't register what was happening until it was too late.

Don't go wasting your emotion
Lay all your love on me

His lips were on hers, and oh my god it felt good. The sensation enveloped her and she closed her eyes, lost in the moment. They moved in perfect rhythm together for far too many steamboats. She felt his teeth, nipping at her bottom lip, allowing her room to breathe before he latched back onto her mouth, this time pushing his tongue gently against her flesh, requesting permission to take this further. She obliged, opening her mouth wider, slipping her own tongue into him, tasting him. The world dissolved away as their passion fought for submission, neither relenting, both savoring the intensity. It was as if he was kissing her to save her life.

He was.

Max, now firmly back in play, placed his hand on Jason's shoulder. "I don't think they really want us here. Let's go." He glanced at the other woman expectantly.

"Guess I was mistaken." she apologized.

"So Jase, I would like to get moved in before midnight..."

"Sure Max." Jase shook his head. "You know, I think the paranoia might be getting to me"

Booth just about heard them laugh as they moved away. He was too engrossed in kissing his 'Bones' and wow, she tasted amazing. His hand had moved up to support her neck. He could feel the heat radiating from her. They simultaneously broke away, as though the other knew instinctively.

For a while both sat, sated and speechless. Finally, Brennan spoke.

"I didn't think it would be so hard," she confessed. "I am gonna have to put all my energy into keeping in character twenty-four-seven."

"You can go home anytime, you know. Me and Max, we have to see this through. But I need to know I can keep you safe."

Don't go sharing your devotion
Lay all your love on me

"I'm not going anywhere. I need to be here. With you. I feel...I feel like part of me is missing when you're not there."

"Then I will do everything I possibly can to make this easy for you. Whatever it takes."

Authors note – I have a problem. And it's not just my total obsession with Bones.

You may recall back in chapter 4 Brennan thinking about the totally amazing gift that she bought for Booth. Well, I honestly do not know what it is. Do you? Did anyone happen to see her out shopping with Angela that day? Please tell me what she bought. Because it's driving me insane.

Oh wait. I already am. Still...