A/N: All right, we're in the home stretch! 3 more chaps after this, I think, unless I go crazy like I did last chapter. I have a rough plot line planned out, but details are sketchy, so I'm playing it by ear for the most part from here on out. Hopefully, it'll all come together.

Chapter 7: let's get ready to rumble

When Brennan and Booth finally arrived in the front, thanks to the bell, Angela let out a loud whistle.

"Lookin' sexy Booth!" she called to him.

He turned that nice shade of crimson she was becoming fond of and mumbled a 'thank you'. Angela grinned. She loved making him uncomfortable.



"All right, people, let's get started. After the scene with myself and Romeo, we'll hear your soliloquy Dr. Hodgins," Goodman ordered. They proceeded with the scene between Goodman and Booth, and to Brennan's surprise, it went off without a hitch. After completing the scene, she pulled him over to her.

"You learned your lines!"

"You sound surprised Bones."

"Well, you were having trouble with them…I'm glad you have them memorized." She leaned forward, intending to kiss his cheek, but was reminded of the others in the room when Hodgins cleared his throat before launching into his soliloquy. She pulled away before anyone could tell what she had been about to do.

"O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you," he began. And it went on and on and on. Angela started to yawn but clamped her hand over her mouth to cover it up.

"This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, that presses them and learns them first to bear, making them women of good carriage. This is she!" he finished triumphantly.



"Finally!" Angela whispered to Brennan. "I mean it was good, but I thought it'd never end! That speech must have been hell to learn."

"Beautiful as always Dr. Hodgins! I have no idea why you continue to make up excuses to get out of rehearsal. The role of Mercutio was made for you!" Goodman praised.

"I keep trying to skip because this play is stupid! It's overdone and clichéd! We should have done Hamlet or something."

"I suggested Titus Andronicus," Brennan piped up.

Hodgins gestured to her. "Exactly. Now there's a tragedy. Nice war story. None of this star crossed lovers crap."

"Thank you for that input Dr. Hodgins. I'll certainly keep that in mind next time we put on a play."

"Next time!? Oh, there won't be a next time."

"We'll see," Goodman said evenly. "Now, Mr. Addy, let's do your scene with Agent Booth in Act 1, scene 1. Take it from 'good morrow cousin' Mr. Addy."

Zach began. "Good morrow cousin."

Without skipping a beat, Booth replied, "Is the day so young?"

"But new struck nine."

"Ay me! Sad hours seem long. Was that my father that went hence so fast?"

"It was.--What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?" Zach looked a little surprised as well by Booth's knowledge of his lines, but got over it quickly and back into character.

"Not having that which, having, makes them short," Booth answered.



"In love?" Zach said his line with a look on his face that made Booth decide that if he ever gave him that look outside of the play, he'd be in for a world of hurt.

"Out,--"

"Of love?" The kid still had that look on his face.

"Out of her favor where I am in love."

After Booth said that line, Brennan ceased to concentrate on the scene itself, and just focused on him. Angela nudged her and whispered, "When did Booth get good?"

"I have no idea. I know he spent a long time going over his lines the other day. It must have paid off."

"Well, something clicked." Angela was impressed.



At the end of the scene, Goodman consulted his watch, and proclaimed two more scenes before calling it a night. The fight scenes between Zach and Sully, and Hodgins, Sully and Booth. Both agents and an entomologist looked on in pure envy as Goodman presented Zach with a fencing sword.

"Hey, how come he gets a sword?" Hodgins asked.

"Because, the rest haven't come in yet, and Mr. Addy is first alphabetically."

"When are the rest coming?" Booth asked eagerly.

"You will receive your weapons on the day of the final rehearsal."

"Which is when?" Sully asked, walking to a storage closet and coming up with a broom to use for a sword. He also picked up a mop and handed it to Booth.

"The day after tomorrow; the day of the play. The entire cast will meet at 11 am to go through the play in its entirety. The performance is at 7 pm, followed by a cast party."



"Will there be liquor?" Hodgins asked hopefully.

"There will be spirits, yes," Goodman replied.

"Good, I can get plastered, forget about this stupid play, and hopefully kill off some brain cells containing my lines." He paused as Zach opened his mouth. "You correct me Zach, and I'll shove that bell down your throat, I swear it." Zach closed his mouth.

"Let's get back on track. Agent Sullivan, Mr. Addy, if you would please start with Tybalt's line 'what thou art…'"

"What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee Benvolio, look upon thy death," Sully said, holding up the broom handle.

"He still sounds a little wooden," Brennan whispered to Angela, who giggled.

"And red is so not his color," Angela replied.



"I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me." Zach said.

"What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: have at thee, coward!" As soon as Sully finished his line, Zach drew the fencing sword and the two of them began their sword fight.

Goodman let it go on for awhile before calling for an end. "Cut! Thank you both, that's plenty. The fight will then escalate from there with the addition of some your fellow cast members. Let's move on to the Mercutio, Tybalt, and Romeo fight scene."

Hodgins stared enviously at Zach's sword. "Hey, I don't have anything to use as a sword!"

Without a word, Goodman held out the bell.

"Oh, no way! It's not even long enough."

Goodman ignored him and jangled the bell. Hodgins snatched it out of his hand, giving Goodman a death glare.



"Mr. Addy, why don't you join them and start with your line, 'An I were…' We shall have the exchange between Mercutio and Benvolio first."

Zach nodded and started the scene. "An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter."

"The fee-simple! O simple!" Hodgins cried.

"By my head, here come the Capulets," Zach said, looking in Sully's direction.

"By my heel, I care not," Hodgins replied.

"Follow me close, for I will speak to them. Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you," Sully spoke his first line in the scene, a picture of confidence.

"And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow." Hodgins stepped closer to Sully, a hand on the bell handle.



"You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion." Sully stepped closer to Hodgins as well.

Brennan leaned over to Angela as the scene progressed. "Look at that. Typical male posturing. They're most likely not even fully aware that they're doing it."

Booth made his entrance and the scene continued with more male posturing and Hodgins drawing the bell. Finally, the fight was looming.

"I am for you," Sully said, drawing his broom.

"Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up," Booth pleaded with Hodgins.

"Come, sir, your passado," Hodgins said, lunging at Sully with the bell. It began to ring wildly with his every thrust and parry. They fought for a time and at last Hodgins had had enough.

"That incessant ringing is driving insane. Can you just kill me already? We can draw it out when I have a real fake sword. Booth, get over here and try to break us up."

Sully and Booth shrugged and did as ordered. Booth stepped between them and gave his line, Sully stabbed Hodgins with the broom handle and took off. Hodgins delivered his death scene, 

and he and Zach went off to the side. Hodgins sat on the platform step with Angela and Brennan. Booth delivered his next line and Zach came back to the center to continue the scene.

The conversation between Zach and Booth progressed and Sully returned.

"Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, that late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company: either thou, or I, or both, must go with him," Booth locked eyes with Sully.

Angela nudged Brennan. "That was a really good delivery. I totally believe he's challenging him. I mean, that look in his eyes…so intense."

"Perhaps he really is, in a way," Brennan mused.

"What do you mean?"

"They're clearly fighting for dominance, in reality and in the play. I mean, look at how they both wanted to be Romeo. Booth didn't even want to participate until he found out Sully wanted to be Romeo." She paused in thought. "And it's also a possibility that, in an incredibly archaic display, they're fighting for me as well."



"Whoa, back up! What? Are you trying to tell me in some roundabout way that you and Booth are together? That it was more than just kissing for play practice?"

"I believe so, yes. And I'm sure Sully suspects that. This should be interesting." She returned her attention to the play.

"Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, shalt with him hence." Sully drew the broom handle.

"This shall determine that." Booth drew the mop handle and they began to fight. And fight. And fight.

"Umm, this is going a little long, don't you think Bren?" Angela asked.

Brennan ignored her, her concentration on the fight, which was beginning to pick up in intensity. They had ceased to remain in the designated 'stage' area, and were moving back and forth all over the lab, even jumping the steps to the platform and fighting there for a time. Hodgins had the sense of mind to scan his card just before they made it up, so the alarm wouldn't go off.



The two kept their eyes locked on each other, ignoring Goodman's cry of 'cut'. They were oblivious to anything but the other. Finally the two handles met in a clash that created a sharp crack, leaving Sully with a broken broom handle. The noise seemed to have broken the spell, and they faced each other, breathing heavily for a moment, before Hodgins' voice reached them.

"Uh, Booth, you can kill Sully at anytime…but not literally."

Booth suddenly seemed to recall that they were acting, and stabbed Sully with the mop handle. Sully went down dramatically; a little too dramatically in Brennan's opinion, but Goodman didn't say anything, so she guessed he was all right with it.

Zach recovered from viewing the fight and gave his line. "Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death, if thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!"

"O, I am fortune's fool!" Booth cried, looking slightly shocked himself.

"Why dost thou stay?" Zach asked, and Booth made his exit.



"That will plenty for tonight," Goodman said. "Dr. Brennan, Agent Booth, it's late so we'll do your practice tomorrow morning at 10 am."

The two nodded, and everyone dispersed, Goodman taking off after Hodgins, who hadn't bothered to put the bell back.

"What was all that back there?" Brennan caught up with Booth.

"I'm honestly not sure Bones. It just escalated. It was weird."

"Were you attempting to assert your dominance?"

"Huh?"

Brennan repeated herself. "Trying to be the better man?"

"I suppose you could say that. Sorry. It kind of got out of hand."



"Apology accepted, and mission accomplished on your part."

"What?"

"You succeeded in proving your worth over Sully. In an incredibly archaic sense, but it was done."

"I went all caveman on you, huh?"

She grinned. "Yes, but it was very nice to watch. You were quite appealing, actually."

"I was?"

"Yes." She looked around, noting the absence of people, and pulled his head down so she could kiss him.

When they parted he asked, "Any particular reason for that? Not that I'm complaining."



"Like I said, I thought your fight with Sully was very appealing. I found the whole display very attractive on some level, and that was what prompted the kiss."

He nodded, and gave her that cocky grin. "I turned you on, is that it?"

She swatted his arm. "Perhaps."

"Works for me. Wanna go grab some pie?"

She made a face as they headed for the doors. "Not pie. I don't like pie. You know that."

A/N: The original plan was for their practice with Goodman to be in this chapter, but once, again, things got long, and it went in a different direction. Ah well, such is life. Hope you liked it. Let me know, and thanks in advance!!