I berated myself all the way over to the restaurant, and traffic was bad, I was just going to make the reservation, I do hate
I berated myself all the way over to the restaurant, and traffic was bad, I was just going to make the reservation, I do hate being late, even when it's for a date I don't want to be on, but I managed to find a space just down the street, so I checked my makeup one more time in the mirror. Fine, I look fine, all my inner turmoil seems to be well-masked, I can do this, be polite and kind and then after a few hours it will be over and I can begin my official Old Maid life.
There he was, waiting outside the restaurant, that's kind, he hadn't already gone in to sit, and oh, he is so not my type, no one is but Booth, just keep walking Temperance, you're almost there, see, yes, he's holding his hand out, just take it, and give him a kiss on the cheek hello...
"Temperance!" What? That sounds like Booth. I whipped my head around, and he was running up the street toward me. Oh, no, he never calls me by my first name unless there's something really wrong, did something happen to Angela? Or Parker? Or someone else? But why didn't he call me on my phone? And how did he find out where I was going? I only told Angela, he must have talked to her, oh, God, I hope we have a case.
"Carl," I said, dropping his hand and pulling away before I kissed him. "Excuse me, that's my work partner, I'll be just a moment." Booth finished running up then, perfect chest puffing just a little with his exertions, and looking serious about something, as he turned to Carl and said, "Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt, really, but would you mind if I just spoke with Temperance for a moment? It's important."
His hand came to my back and oh, God, doesn't he know that sends a jolt up my spine every time he touches me, and led me over about ten feet away, far enough that Carl wouldn't hear us. "Booth, what is it? What's wrong?" Good. Talking is good. Not melting under his hand is good. Way to be an adult.
He looked down at me, standing close enough for me to feel the oh, my God, incredible heat rolling off him, eyes still serious, as he put his other hand on my upper arm, oh God, I can't bear it when he touches me, I want him so much. "Temperance, I need to tell you something, and I want you to listen to me, okay?" Oh, God. He doesn't want to work with me, he knows, he saw, Angela made me too upset to hide it, but why, why couldn't he have left it for Monday, he had to come after me now, so I can spend the whole weekend all alone in the lab, drowning my misery in Limbo?
"I'm listening." Great. You can't even manage to answer with a full voice. Just whisper it again, better yet, just evaporate into nothing right here, or wish that spontaneous combustion was real.
"I was wrong. I was wrong about the line. I've been a fool, I don't want the line, I never have." What? What? What?
"What? But... you said... you don't..." What?
He sighed. Sighed? Oh, my God. "I know. I was wrong, okay? I... I'm an idiot. I... just... I didn't want to spoil our partnership, I didn't think you were interested, but... I can't stand it anymore, I had to tell you, and..." Oh, my God. He does? He is? He thought I? And he told me to go with Sully even though he wanted me? Because he thought I didn't? Oh, my God.
"You do?" Well, at least it technically counts as a sentence, even if you're still whispering.
He nodded, his eyes darting momentarily toward Carl. Oh, Carl. Oh. Well, I can't possibly have dinner with him now.
"Oh. Well... um... hold on a moment." He let go, reluctantly. Reluctantly? Reluctantly! Oh, my God!
My knees managed to carry me over to Carl, who was standing there with a puzzled look on his face. "Carl, um, I'm sorry, something's come up, and I'm going to have to cancel tonight's dinner. I... uh, have to go work on something with my partner, and I've got to leave now." His face fell a little, but he nodded, and replied. "Well, duty calls, I hope it's not a nasty dig, you'll soil your lovely dress. Shall I call you later, and we can reschedule?" Oh, dear. I don't have time for this, I'll explain later, Angela will find a way to help me beg off nicely. "Fine, thank you for understanding." I laid my hand on his arm, squeezed, smiled at him, and turned back to Booth, who was waiting off to the side.
I should deck him for making me wait. How could he not know? But... I don't care. All I care about is he's standing there right now. I walked back over to him and put my hand on his arm and looked up at him. I had to ask, I had to be sure, this was like one of those silly romantic dreams I have about him. "Really?"
"Really." He nodded, and repeated himself. "Really." I just stared at him, lost for words. "Look, Temperance, do you think we could... go somewhere and discuss this? I feel really bad about your date, over there, and all, but... maybe we could go someplace private?"
"Yes. My place or yours?" Yes, yesyesyesyesyes, please. Please, yours is closer, please, please, please, if I have to drive the extra ten minutes back to mine, my hearts going to explode from the waiting.
"Mine's closer." Oh, thank heaven. Thank you, Booth's God and Jesus and saints and angels that I don't believe in, but still, thankyouthankyouthankyou.
"Okay, I'll meet you there, I'm just parked down the block."
He nodded, then said, "I'm parked just a few cars behind you."
I let go of his arm, and turned to head back to the car, his hand on my back, oh God, please, soon, let there be more than just his hand on my back tonight, please, I don't think I can stand it any longer. He let go when I reached my car door, and opened it for me after I unlocked it with the remote, offering me his hand as I went to get in. Oh, my God, please let there be more than his hand in mine, soon, please.
"I'll see you in a few minutes." I nodded, and he shut the door. I watched him walk back to the truck and get in, turn the lights on, and I pulled out into traffic, he following. Okay, Temperance, you know the way there, you can do this without crashing the car, and pay attention to traffic, and not fantasize for him for five whole minutes, and just... concentrate.