I berated every single car taking its damned time in front of me all the way over to the restaurant, and traffic was bad, her reservation was just at seven thirty, and I wanted to catch her before she went in, because I didn't want to do this in a whole restaurant full of people, but I managed to find a space just down the street, and oh, my God, she's still walking down the street, there's her car, get out, Seeley, run, go after her, knees don't fail me now.
There was her date, oh God, he actually didn't look like a total loser, waiting outside the restaurant, she's walking toward him, she's almost there, shit, he's holding his hand out, oh God, Bones, don't take it, no, don't lean in to give him a kiss on the cheek hello...
"Temperance!" Run faster, idiot, faster.
Her head whipped around, a look of alarm on her face as I finished running up to her, my chest heaving. She turned to her date, and dropped her hand, pulled away oh thank God she didn't kiss him, even if it's just his cheek, saying, "Carl, excuse me, that's my work partner, I'll be just a moment." I reached her then, and added my own interruption, "Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt, really, but would you mind if I just spoke with Temperance for a moment? It's important."
She looked up at me, alarmed, and confused, oh God, confused, maybe Angela's right, and expectant, and I put my hand on her back, the usual jolt passing through me, and led her over about ten feet away, far enough that Carl wouldn't hear us.
"Booth, what is it? What's wrong?"
She looked up at me, and oh, God, the warmth of her body and her scent were driving me insane, oh God, I need to hold on to her arm, to, so my knees don't give out, oh Lord, I want her so much. "Temperance, I need to tell you something, and I want you to listen to me, okay?"
A look of confusion and oh, God, a flicker of pain? pain? flashed through her eyes before she answered me, in a whisper. "I'm listening." Oh, God, she does feel that way, and now she thinks I'm mad at her or something, oh lord, say something, you fool.
"I was wrong. I was wrong about the line. I've been a fool, I don't want the line, I never have." She looked shocked, stunned.
"What? But... you said... you don't..." She really had no clue, I'm an idiot, I can't believe I waited this long, tell her, again, make her believe you, you moron. I sighed.
"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..." She still looked stunned.
"You do?" I nodded, my eyes darting momentarily toward her date, poor bastard, lord, this was awkward.
"Oh. Well... um... hold on a moment." Okay, she's got to talk to him. I let go, reluctantly.
She walked over to her date, he actually didn't look like a loser at all, and he was was standing there with a puzzled look on his face. She said something to him, and his face fell a little, but he nodded, and replied, then she laid her hand on his arm, squeezed it, smiled at him, and turned back to me, a look of amazement and hope? Yes! Hope! on her face. She walked back over to me and put her hand on my arm and looked up at me, a look of hope and disbelief in her eye. "Really?"
"Really." I nodded, and repeated myself. "Really." She just stared at me, lost for words, the look of disbelief fading. Wow. This was actually happening. "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, mine is closer, please, please, please, if I have to drive the extra ten minutes back to yours, my heart's going to explode from the waiting.
"Mine's closer." Oh, thank heaven. Thank you, God and Jesus and saints and angels, thankyouthankyouthankyou.
"Okay, I'll meet you there, I'm just parked down the block."
I nodded, then said, "I'm parked just a few cars behind you."
She let go of my arm, and turned to head back to the car, my hand on her back, oh God, please, soon, let there be more than just my hand on her back tonight, please, I don't think I can stand it any longer. I let go when she reached her car door, and opened it for her after she unlocked it with the remote, then offered her my hand as she went to get in. Oh, my God, please let there be more than my hand in hers, soon, please.
"I'll see you in a few minutes." She nodded, and shut the door. I walked back to my truck and got in, turned the lights on, and pulled out into traffic after she did. Okay, Seeley boy, it's your own damned house, you know the way there, you can do this without crashing the car, and pay attention to traffic, and not fantasize for her for five whole minutes, and just... concentrate.