A/N: Hey all! I thought it was time for an update! Do you agree? I hope so, cause you don't really get a choice! :P Thank you for all the wonderful reviews!! Here it is, and enjoy!

Chapter 3: rehearsals

A few days later, the first rehearsal was to take place. Goodman had opted to do separate rehearsals for the main characters and the minor ones, until right before the performance when it would all come together.

Angela caught Sully alone, and talked to him about his role as Romeo.

"I just think you'd make a much better Tybalt, Sully. I mean, from the moment I knew you were going to audition I thought 'I hope he's going to audition for Tybalt, cause he'd be so great!' Maybe you should switch with Booth."

"I'm sorry Angela, I'm not giving up this part. I've always wanted it, ever since high school, and I'm not going to let it go. Goodman chose me. Besides, I'm even more excited about it now that Tempe's Juliet. Not that you wouldn't have been a great Juliet, but Tempe is my girlfriend, after 

all." He left to do some last minute studying and Angela growled in her throat. How could she have failed? She never failed. She'd have to think of something more drastic.

As it happened, she didn't have to. Goodman came out to the rehearsal area, the front area of the lab, and announced that it was time to begin.

Hodgins piped up. "Dr. Goodman? I just got a call to perform a goodwill mission to Indonesia, and, damn it all, it's on the very night of the play. You might as well find someone to replace me right now."

"Nice try, Dr. Hodgins," Goodman said dryly. "First up, I want to rehearse the balcony scene. I know we don't have costume or anything yet, but you two get in place and go through the lines." He gestured at Brennan and Sully. Angela glanced at Booth. He looked pained. Angela's heart went out to him. The poor guy. She was beginning to dislike Sully more and more by the minute.

Brennan and Sully stood in front of each other, holding their scripts. Brennan cleared her throat for Sully to begin.



"What light, through yonder window breaks? It is the east; and Juliet is the sun," Sully began.

He was staring at her, and it was making her uncomfortable for some reason. She cut him off.

"Uh, stop, stop…cut!"

"Dr. Brennan, you are not the director. Only the director can call 'cut'," Goodman said sternly.

"I'm sorry, but this isn't going to work."

"What isn't?" Goodman's interest was piqued. So was Angela's.

Brennan approached Goodman, and Angela leaned in closer so she could hear.

"I just don't think the proper chemistry exists between Sully and I. It has to be there for this play to be believable."

Goodman considered this. "You disagree with my casting decision?"

"Well, yes. I don't think Sully would make a good Romeo. His delivery is also incredibly wooden, don't you think?"

"You may be onto something, Temperance. And, if I may say so, you looked extremely uncomfortable while he was reading. Am I correct about that observation?"

Brennan nodded her head.

"Very well." Angela did a giddy little dance at Goodman's words.

"People, I have made a slight change in the casting!"

Angela beamed. Goodman would announce the Romeo switch. Booth would be Romeo, and not a drop of blood had to be spilled.

"Congratulations, Dr. Hodgins, you are now Romeo. Agent Sullivan will be Mercutio."



Hodgins, Booth, Sully, Brennan, and Angela felt their mouths drop at this statement. Zach remained oblivious, going over his lines until he was called for rehearsal.

"Dr. Goodman; are you trying to get me to quit this job, because if you are, you're doing one hell of a good job!"

"My choice was based on the fact that since you and Dr. Brennan have worked together for a long period of time, you would be more comfortable with each other."

"No, no! I wanna be Mercutio! Mercutio or nothing!" Hodgins was adamant.

The two locked eyes, neither willing to back down. Angela looked from one to the other, not sure how this was going to end.

Finally, Goodman blinked, and heaved a sigh. "Very well, Dr. Hodgins. You win this round. Agent Booth, will you take over the role of Romeo?"



"Sure," Booth said simply, not bothering to hide the huge grin that lit up his face. Seeing it made a similar smile grace Angela's face. All was right with the world. She looked over at Brennan, and was pleased to see a smile on her face too.

"All right, people, let's get back to business. Change of plans. I want to rehearse Mercutio's death scene. Dr. Hodgins, if you would please."

The rest of the rehearsal progressed without incident. Everyone was impressed, but not surprised, when it was discovered that Zach already had most of his lines memorized. They took a break before going back to the balcony scene, and when they congregated once again in the rehearsal area, Brennan was surprised to find Booth without his script.

"Booth, where's your script? Goodman will be angry if he finds out you lost it."

"I didn't lose it Bones. I don't need it. I have this whole scene memorized already."

Brennan was impressed. "Really?"

"Oh yea. Zach's not the only one around here with a great memory."

"Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan; are you ready? Let us begin," Goodman called out.

They began the scene, and after a few moments, Goodman called 'cut'.

"What's wrong?" Booth asked. He thought they'd done rather well for a first read through.

"Agent Booth, you're going to have to look at Temperance, not at your hand. And stop squinting as well. It doesn't look right."

"Umm, ok…I wasn't aware I was looking at my hand," he said, a little nervously. Brennan thought for a moment. She hadn't thought of it until Goodman had mentioned it but Booth had been glancing at his hand a lot during the scene, instead of looking at her.

She reached out without warning, and grabbed his hand, turning it to look at his palm. All of his lines for the scene were written, in miniscule print and abbreviated extensively so as to make them fit, on his palm, down to his wrist.

He cleared his throat as the rest gathered around to see.

"Nice!" Hodgins commented.

Angela gave him a sympathetic smile. She knew why he'd done it; to impress Brennan. Too bad she'd found him out. Still, it was a very cute gesture. He was so into her.

Brennan chuckled. "Looks like you still need that script after all, Booth."

A thoroughly embarrassed Booth retrieved his script and they finished the scene to satisfy Goodman, who called an end to rehearsals. Everyone left for the evening, Zach trailing after Hodgins and Angela. Sully said good-bye and tried to kiss Brennan on the mouth, but she was saved from this by Booth, who called her name right before his lips made contact.

She turned her head towards him so Sully kissed only air, and walked over to him. Sully yelled after her that he'd call her later, and headed for his car.

"Sorry about that back there, Bones. I just…well I don't know."



"It's ok Booth. It was actually a clever idea. And how you managed to fit all your lines from the scene on your hand is pretty amazing." She looked down as she said this; feeling rather than seeing, the smile on his face.

"Thanks Bones."

Still not looking at him, she continued talking. "I don't know if Cliff took notes on this for you when you read the play before, but there's a point in the play where Romeo and Juliet kiss."

"I know Bones."

"All right.Well, I think we might need to practice that scene. In private, I mean, so we can be comfortable with it enough before we have to do it in public. Do you agree?" Her eyes finally glanced up at him.

"Sure Bones. That makes sense."

"Good. Be at my place tomorrow at 8. We can practice then." She turned and headed to her car.



"And Booth?"

"Yea, Bones?"

"Be sure to bring your script with you; and some food."

He held up his ink-covered hand in acknowledgement. "Not a problem."

A/N: Ok, it's super late and I'm turning in, so please R&R!! I hope you liked it, and thanks to all for supporting this fic!