A/N: All right, you wonderful people, here we go with another chap! It's been so nice updating as often as I have, but good things can never last. I'll try to keep them timely, though. Also, I edited the R&J scenes as much as possible so as not to include too much of the lines, but the balcony scene is just rife with great lines, and there were very few that I could find the heart to take out. One more quick note, to all who didn't know, the phrase Sic Semper Tyrannis that is used later in this chap means thus ever (or always) to tyrants in Latin. Enjoy!!

Chapter 8: Private Practice

The next morning, Brennan was waiting for Booth in her office. She saw Goodman already down by the platform, waiting. She typed absent mindedly on her computer while she waited, thinking about the previous night.

They'd been about to enter the diner when all of a sudden it hit Booth that they were still in full costume. She had been aware of it all along, but had been curious to see how long it would take for him to catch on. He'd lasted much longer than she'd initially thought, but the look on his face 

as the realization hit was priceless. It was rather amusing watching their waitress as he ordered his pie wearing the hose he detested so much. For her part, aside from the bodice and corset, she didn't mind her own costume much, and had sat sipping coffee and watching him wolf down his pie while staring at her breasts.

At five minutes to 10, he strode through the door, and gave her a wave. She waved back and left her office so they could begin.

"I thought we might rehearse elsewhere to eliminate any distractions," Goodman said, looking at Hodgins, who was working on the platform.

"Why do you always look at me?"

"Give me a reason not to suspect a disruption from you, Dr. Hodgins, and I will cease to look at you. Dr. Brennan, Agent Booth, this way." He led them down to Limbo, which was deserted.

After they left, it suddenly occurred to Hodgins that Goodman was out of his office.

"Zach!"

The young man poked his head around the corner. "Yes?"

"You busy?"

"That's a matter of perspective."

"From your perspective, are you busy?"

"No."

"Then come with me." He stood up and headed down the hall, Zach following behind.

"What are we going to do?"

"I'm putting Operation Steal Bell into action. Goodman's off practicing with Brennan and Booth."

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Goodman seated himself in a chair, while Brennan and Booth stood before him. He gave them a small smile.

"All right, let's begin with the balcony scene, and from there, we'll proceed with the death scene, if there's time. I don't want to keep either of you long, so one run-through, and if there are any spots that need more practice, we'll just go through those again. Juliet, you're offstage; Romeo, if you would please begin Act two, scene two."

Booth cleared his throat, suddenly nervous under Goodman's gaze. Brennan nudged him before standing away, bringing him back to the here and now.

"He jests at scars that never felt a wound."

At his words, she stepped forward.



"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid art far more fair than she: be not her maid, since she is envious; her vestal livery is but sick and green and none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were!"

Goodman broke in. "Allow me to stop you for a moment. Dr. Brennan, you don't know he's there yet."

Brennan looked up at him, a little dazed. "What?"

"You're staring at Agent Booth. You don't know he's there yet. He can look at you, but you cannot look at him."

Brennan felt her face get hot. "Oh. Right. I'm sorry."

"It's not a major problem. Just focus forward and don't meet his eyes. During the performance you'll be up on the catwalk above the stage. That should make it easier, except that you'll really have to project."

"Not a problem."

"Good. Please continue." He gestured at Booth, who started right where he'd left off. Brennan tried hard not to watch him. It was difficult, more so than she'd thought. She looked off in space and thought about scientific things while he talked, thinking about anything but him.

"She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!"

"Ay me!" Brennan gave her line.

"She speaks: o, speak again, bright angel! for thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head as is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white-upturned wondering eyes of mortals that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds and sails upon the bosom of the air."



Brennan then said the famous lines. "O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"

"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; so Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes
without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee
take all myself."

She found it even more difficult not to look at him as she said this, particularly when he was looking at her so intently.

"I take thee at thy word: call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; henceforth I never will be Romeo."



Once he'd said this line, she could finally meet his eyes. It felt like an eternity. She wasn't sure what was causing the yearning she felt. Perhaps it was the lines themselves, or they way he said them; she couldn't be sure.

The scene progressed and Brennan found herself getting more and more into the scene the longer it went on. Suddenly all she wanted to do was kiss Booth.

"Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops." He stepped closer to her.

"O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, lest that thy love prove likewise variable."

"What shall I swear by?"

"Do not swear at all; or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the god of my idolatry, and I'll believe thee." She stepped closer as well, only to be interrupted by Goodman.

"Dr. Brennan? You've just stepped off the balcony. You can't step forward."

"Oh." She stepped back and Goodman nodded and looked at Booth. "Agent Booth?"

"If my heart's dear love," he continued.

"Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight: it is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; too like the lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night, as sweet repose and rest come to thy heart as that within my breast!"

At the word 'breast' she felt his eyes move involuntarily down to hers. She took another step back, a smirk on her face.

"O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?"

"What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?" she asked.

"The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine."

"I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: and yet I would it were to give again."

"Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?"

"But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the thing I have: my bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite."



A thought seemed to come to Goodman just then. He stood up. "I'm going to go fetch Miss Montenegro to finish the scene. I'll be right back." He left them standing next to each other, and the second his footsteps disappeared, she found herself in his arms.

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Zach picked the lock on Goodman's office door much too quickly for Hodgins' comfort.

"Have you…done this before?" he asked, images of Zach breaking into his teacher's offices to change his grades floating through his head.

"No, but it's simple mechanics. You just…"

Hodgins cut him off. "Just finish it."

He did, and they entered the office, shutting the door behind them. "Now where would he hide that stupid thing?" Hodgins wondered aloud.



"Perhaps in his desk?" Zach ventured.

Hodgins checked all the drawers. Nothing. Then his eyes fell on a locked file cabinet.

"Z-man, get over here and pick this one! He'd definitely keep it in something locked."

Zach picked the second lock as well, and Hodgins began burrowing through the deep file drawer.

"I know it's in here! It's gotta be! It's just buried." He was so busy digging that he didn't hear the door open again. Zach heard, however, and turned around, the color draining from his face as he saw Goodman in the doorway, watching them.

"Uh, Hodgins?"

"Not now, Zach, I think I've got it!" He triumphantly pulled the bell out and held it in the air. "Eureka!"

Goodman chose that moment to loudly clear his throat. Hodgins turned around, held the bell aloft, and yelled "Sic Semper Tyrannis!" before racing for the door. He got around Goodman, who took off after him, leaving Zach standing alone in the office.



After catching Hodgins with the help of security and recovering his bell, Goodman approached Angela and asked her to head to Limbo to complete the scene.

"I'll follow as soon as I replace this bell in my office."

Angela nodded and headed to Limbo, only to find Brennan and Booth in each others' arms and in the middle of a kiss. She felt a big smile come across her face as she watched. They were suddenly aware of her presence, and immediately broke apart.

"Oh, please don't stop on my account! I could watch you guys make out all day, believe me!" she gushed, and raced over, enveloping Brennan in a hug. "Good for you, sweetie!!"

Goodman reappeared then, and everyone got into Romeo & Juliet mode.

"Miss Montenegro; you start by calling Juliet from within."

"Juliet!"



"I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu! Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again." Brennan stepped away for a moment, while Booth said his next line.

"O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard. Being in night, all this is but a dream, too flattering-sweet to be substantial."

"Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, by one that I'll procure to come to thee, where and what time thou wilt perform the rite; and all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay and follow thee my lord throughout the world."

"Madam!" Angela called.

"I come, anon.--But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee…"

"Madam!"

"By and by, I come:--to cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: tomorrow will I send." Brennan could understand Juliet's frustration. She wouldn't want to leave either, if she were actually Juliet.

"So thrive my soul…"

"A thousand times good night!" Brennan moved offstage.

"That will do. We will stop there, and reconvene in several hours to rehearse the death scene. Let's say two this afternoon?"

Brennan and Booth nodded, and waited until Goodman exited. Angela winked at them and followed him. Once they were gone, Booth turned back to Brennan.

"So where were we?"



A/N: I'm again cutting it short of where I wanted it to be, so you all get another extra chapter! Thanks for reading!!