A/N: I've been getting chewed out for not updating, and I realized it has been a long time!! Oopsies! Well, I think we're actually starting to wind down with this fic. I'm planning on 2 more chaps for sure, possibly 3 and then we might be done. It depends on how long much I can get through with each. I am, however, tentatively planning on writing 2 more shortish fics about other things the benefactors make them do, but I'm not sure when I'll start those. Anyways, enjoy!!

Chapter 5: practice makes perfect

They pulled apart when they reached the bedroom door, gasping for air, and realizing exactly what it was they were doing.

"Are we still…practicing? Cause if we are, I don't think it's gonna be going this far," Booth said, his lips brushing against Brennan's as he spoke.



"No, we're not practicing."

"So this is you and me?"

"Yes."

Booth cleared his throat. "I think we've gone far enough for a night, don't you think?"

Brennan stepped back from him, running a hand through her hair. "Yes, definitely." She paused, then said with a small smile, "I liked it though."

"Me too."

"But you're right, enough for a night. It's late." She led the way back to her living room, and Booth opened the door to leave.

He found himself face to face with Sully, his fist raised to knock on the door.

"Sully?"

"Booth?"

"I was just leaving," Booth said at the same time Sully said, "I was just coming to see Tempe."

Brennan stepped into the doorway. "Sully? What are you doing here? It's late, and I thought we discussed the status of our relationship."

"I know, but I couldn't just let this go until morning."

Brennan put her hand on Booth's shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Yea, Bones, I'll see ya." He left, and Brennan motioned for Sully to come in.



She shut the door behind him and then faced him, arms folded across her chest. She was actually a bit relieved that she and Booth had cut it off when they did, otherwise this entire situation would have been even more awkward. Although, she couldn't help thinking about what would have happened if they hadn't cut it off.

"Tempe, I couldn't just let you go without at least trying once to get you back. I really think we can work this out. I want to work it out." He reached out to grab her hand, but she pulled away.

"No, Sully. I said we were over and I meant that. I still would like to be friends, I really would, but if this is how it's going to be, with you always trying to get me back, then that's not going to work out either. It's your choice on that aspect, but regarding our relationship, I made the choice."

Sully nodded, defeated. "Is it because of him?"

Brennan looked down momentarily, knowing exactly who Sully was talking about.

"No, this has nothing to do with Booth," she said adamantly.



Sully nodded again. "I want to give the friendship thing a shot. I won't try anything else again, I promise you that."

"Thank you." She ushered him gently to the door, and opened it for him. "I'll see you tomorrow at rehearsals."

Sully grinned at her, wished her a good-night, and headed out of her building. Brennan shut the door and crashed on her couch, suddenly feeling exhausted.

The next day, Brennan tried very hard to avoid Angela. It was, of course, a losing battle, but at least she couldn't say that she hadn't tried.

"So?!" Angela exclaimed as she cornered Brennan in her office that afternoon.

"So what?" Brennan knew perfectly well what she was talking about, but wanted to postpone the inevitable for as long as possible.

"How did it go with Booth last night?!"

"We rehearsed the party scene. It went very well, and I think we're both more comfortable with the idea of kissing one another for this play."

Angela's shoulders slumped. "That's it? No hot Romeo and Juliet action? That can't be it!"

Brennan shrugged, averting her eyes. "That's it, Ange."

"You're not looking at me. That means there's something you're not telling me. Did Booth spend the night last night?" she asked hopefully.

"Of course not! He left late, but he left."

"Oh." Thwarted again, Angela tried a different tactic.

"How was the kiss?" She leaned forward, anticipating Brennan's answer.

"It was…a kiss."

"Oh, no; you are not getting away with that. You kissed Booth! I need more than 'it was a kiss'!"

Brennan flushed a bit as she spoke. "It was nice, it was good."

Angela gestured for her to continue. "Go on…was it something you'd want to do again, outside of the play?"

"I think so."

"You think so?"

"Ok, I know so."

Angela smiled. "That's better."

They were interrupted by the sound of a bell ringing throughout the lab. Brennan glanced out and saw that Booth and Sully had arrived and Goodman was ringing a handheld bell.

Hodgins stomped down the hall toward the front of the lab. "Who the hell gave him a bell?"

"I thought it would further inspire the cast to get into character," Zach said sheepishly from the corner.

"You?!" Hodgins glared daggers at Zach as the bell continued to ring. He was about to throttle Zach but then took a deep breath and eased up on him.

"It's cool. I can get through this." He turned from Zach and called out to Goodman.

"I'm sorry Dr. Goodman, I gotta run. My grandma just died." He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye.

Goodman stopped ringing the bell and glanced up at Hodgins.

"Oh, really Dr. Hodgins? Would this be the same grandmother whose lovely obituary I read in the paper 3 months ago, or the grandmother who died when we hosted that benefit last year?"

"Uh, no, this is a different grandmother."

"How many grandmothers do you have Dr. Hodgins?"

Hodgins cleared his throat. "I have…three."

"Get in place Dr. Hodgins. We'll start with your death scene."

Hodgins grumbled, but got into place, keeping his eye on the bell that sat on the table next to Goodman.

"Mr. Addy, Agents Booth and Sullivan, if you please. We'll start with your line Agent Booth, since I believe the fight scene between Tybalt and Mercutio is now nothing short of perfection."

"Which line?" Booth flipped through his script.

"Hold, Tybalt."

"Ok…Hold, Tybalt. good Mercutio."

"Again, Agent Booth. With feeling this time."

"Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio!"

"Much improved. Agent Sullivan?"

Sully leaned forward and made the motion of stabbing Hodgins, who went down very theatrically.

" I am hurt. A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing?"

"Excellent Dr. Hodgins."

"Yea, yea, I know I'm good," Hodgins muttered under his breath.



"What, art thou hurt?" Zach said his line.

"Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough. Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon. And then that guy from the mailroom comes and goes, right?" Hodgins glanced at Goodman.

"Correct. Agent Booth?"

"Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much."

"Good, Agent Booth." Goodman looked surprised. Booth hadn't even glanced down at his script.

The scene continued, and Hodgins gave his final death speech.

"Help me into some house, Benvolio, or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me: I have it, and soundly too. Your houses!"

Goodman clapped his hands. "Wonderful, Dr. Hodgins." He glanced at his watch. "I think we'll stop for the day. Tomorrow, we'll continue with the Romeo/Tybalt fight scene."

They all rose to leave, but Goodman called them back. "Where is my bell?"

Everyone looked at Hodgins.

"Why's everyone looking at me?"

"Relinquish the bell Dr. Hodgins." Goodman held out his hand.

Hodgins rolled his eyes, but handed the bell back to Goodman.

"Thank you. Have a good evening everyone."

They all headed out the door, but Goodman caught Booth and Brennan.

"A word with you both." They followed him to the platform.



"There are two very important scenes involving the two of you; the balcony scene and the death scene at the end. I wish to go through them with only you and I present. So, tomorrow after regular rehearsal, we will do so."

"I can do that," Brennan said and looked over at Booth, who nodded his assent.

"Excellent." He bade them good-bye and jogged off to another floor to work with the archeology department on their lines.

"So, I guess I'll see ya tomorrow Bones. I'm gonna go and look over these lines again. Maybe something'll click the millionth time I read them over."

"You'll be fine Booth. Don't worry about it." She stepped closer to him and caressed his cheek, pulling her hand back and putting it behind her back to avoid any more contact. Things hadn't been awkward between them at all, and she didn't want to make it so.

Their eyes locked and they took small steps closer to each other. This time his hand came up and caressed her cheek, her hand moving from behind her back and going wrapping itself gently around the back of his neck. She closed her eyes and felt him come even closer. Their lips had 

nearly met, when Brennan suddenly cleared her throat, breaking the spell that had seemed to settle over them.

"Good night Booth." She headed for the door, wondering if perhaps she should have just let the kiss happen.

She left him standing there, and had the door open when she heard his voice, calling her back.

"Hey, Bones?"

"Yes?" She turned around.

"You hungry? I thought maybe we could grab dinner before I bury myself in this." He held up his script.

"Of course. I'd like that." He joined her at the doors and they headed out together, his hand resting gently on her back, like always.



A/N: Hope y'all liked it! Please review if you feel like it, and thank you for reading!!