Disclaimer: I do not own Bones, but I am obsessed!

Author's Note: This chapter contains spoilers from The Hole in the Heart. The episode was so great, that I had to throw in a little tribute, but I already had another idea for this chapter. So lucky readers, I gave you both. Enjoy.

Chapter Six: Cafuné

Cafuné: Brazilian Portuguese – The act of tenderly running one's fingers through someone's hair.

She can still remember the first time that it happened.

The team had closed their case and gone out for celebratory drinks. The evening had ended early, as everyone else seemed to already have plans. As usual, Booth and Brennan ended up chatting together on the street corner outside the Founding Fathers. Eventually, they found themselves lacing their arms together and walking down the practically empty street. They talked about the case and the unseasonably warm weather. The partners turned a random corner and continued walking. It was a nice night, and while neither of them could come up with a good reason to stay together, they also didn't find an excuse to separate.

The blinking lights of an old movie theater gained their attention. Booth glanced at his watch and then asked Brennan if she was up for a movie. Brennan shrugged her assent. The night was still young by their standards. Booth stood in the short line for two tickets while Brennan glanced at the vintage posters that lined the building.

Booth snuck up behind his partner, "Are you sure that you don't believe in fate, Bones?"

"You know I don't. Why did you ask?"

Booth flashed a cocky grin. "You'll never guess what is playing."

"The Mummy's Hand with Chaney."

Booth pouted as Brennan pointed to the poster that had today's date and time printed underneath it. It had seemed like fate that had brought them to the theater where one of her favorite movies just happened to be playing, and maybe it was, but Brennan's practicality shrugged it off as mere coincidence.

Booth handed her a ticket stub and they headed into the theater. It was dimly lit with red carpets and walls. Gold lighting fixtures accented the ceilings. The partners both appreciated the atmosphere as Booth entered the line for popcorn and Snow Caps. Brennan argued that they didn't need any food, but Booth just shook his head and told her that it was movie tradition, everyone needed popcorn. He handed the bucket to his partner while he worked on opening up the plastic packaging that surrounded his chocolate treats.

They settled on seats toward the back of the theater in the middle of the row. The room was surprisingly crowded and Brennan commented that she was pleased that so many people appreciated the film. Booth nodded in agreement and settled into the chair as the lights dimmed and the credits rolled.

He didn't pay much attention to the movie at first. He watched his partner as she leaned forward in her seat. She mouthed along to all of the words, absently munching the buttery popcorn without ever offering him a piece. He didn't mind, because he found her so adorable. He tried to remember before his tumor, had he ever thought of her as "cute" before his coma dream? He had always been attracted to her, she was gorgeous after all. But had he ever had the chance to just appreciate those moments when she let her guard down and let her simple charm shine through? Of course, he had noticed it the night of the Egyptian gala, but he must have noticed it before his surgery. A loud noise on the screen pulled him from his musings and he began to focus on the film.

Booth stretched, the only disadvantage of an old fashioned movie theater was the not so gently used seats with their uneven padding and lack of lumbar support. He straightened his arms over his head and then pulled them apart, resting each arm on the seat back of the chair next to him. He chuckled a bit at the patented teenage date move, but as his partner was still leaning so far forward in her seat, picking out the last bits of popcorn from the remaining kernels, he wasn't exactly expecting any action.

He continued to watch the movie, so caught up in the drama that he didn't notice when Brennan finally gave up on the empty tub of popcorn and had leaned back into her seat. She did notice Booth's arm, but said nothing. She would never admit it, but his arm felt nice around her back, supporting her neck. Without another thought, she returned her focus to the movie which was now reaching its conclusion.

Brennan felt something tickle her. Without moving, she tensed a bit and analyzed the feeling. Booth's arm was still draped across her chair, but his hand had moved. He was now playing with the ends of her hair, letting the strands slide between his fingers. She relaxed her muscles and shifted her eyes to her partner. His eyes were glued to the silver screen in front of him, he seemed to be completely unaware that he was gently brushing her hair with his fingers. She contemplated whispering his name and asking him what he was doing, but instead just relaxed a bit more into the chair and enjoyed the warmth of Booth's arm and the tenderness of the unconscious gesture.

Just before the film came to an end, Booth seemed to realize what he was doing. He abruptly dropped the silky strand in his possession and as smoothly but as quickly as possible retrieved his arm and placed it in his lap. He glanced one look at his partner, but she remained focused on the last moments of the movie and her expression did not give anything away. Her face did not give away the sense of loss that she actually felt inside. It had felt nice, him tenderly running his fingers through her hair, even if it was something that an agent usually did not do with his partner.

Several patrons clapped as the final scene ended and the lights began to come back on. Booth shook off the feeling of unease from the realization of his loss of control over his hand and the anthropologist's inevitable reaction, but Brennan just commented that she enjoyed the film and asked his opinion of it. Booth smiled his charm smile and led his partner out of the crowd.

Brennan hailed a cab once they were outside the theater, she opened the back door and was halfway in before saying goodnight to Booth. "This was fun. We should do it again sometime."

"Sure, Bones. According to the posters, The Mummy's Ghost is playing tomorrow night. You in?"

"I have no other plans. I would enjoy watching the film."

"Sounds good. Maybe we can grab dinner before hand."

The cab driver honked his horn lightly and Brennan smiled as she got further into the taxi. "Yes, that would be acceptable. Good night, Booth." The door closed and the cab sped down the street.

They managed to see both sequels to the film that weekend, enjoying their time together. However, both were disappointed when Booth kept his fingers to himself and his own bucket of popcorn. It was just too dangerous to allow himself the freedom to keep on running his fingers through her hair. And it was ridiculous to think that she would ever ask for a repeat performance as the lights dimmed and the theater darkened.

She won't forget the second time that it happened.

She had come to him in the night, upset over the death of her intern and he had offered words of comfort. She found herself crying on his shoulder as he pulled her down onto the bed. She let out a few sobs as he held her close as he continued to soothe her. She placed her palm on his chest and her head rested over his heart. She attempted to let the steady beat calm her, but it only served to remind her that Broadsky's bullet could have easily pierced his aorta, that it could have been Booth's blood on her hands, again. It could have been Booth's heart that was no longer beating in his chest. As upset as she was over Vincent, she couldn't help but feel gratitude that she still had her partner.

Booth continued to rub her back as silent tears continued to fall. Another sob escaped from Brennan and he squeezed her a bit tighter, his hand migrating up. He gently caressed her scalp and like once long ago, Booth found his fingers stroking the soft strands. He didn't stop the motion even as she finally calmed and her even breathing hinted that she was finally sleeping. He started to slow down the rhythm that he had set as exhaustion started to claim him.

A soft voice kept him from falling into his restless slumber, "Booth?"

His voice was equally quiet as he responded, "Yes, Bones."

"Thank you."

He contemplated asking her what she meant, but deep down, he knew. She was thanking him for everything, his friendship, his sense of duty, his feelings of guilt and loss, his faith, his unspoken but ever present love. All he could think to say was, "You're welcome."

She tilted her head up to him and he tilted his down. He closed the gap between their lips and kissed her, gently. They held their lips together for a moment that seemed to stretch into a lifetime. Eventually, Brennan pulled back and once again rested her head on his chest, entangling her legs with his own. No more words were spoken, but they both knew that this would not be the last time that they would be found in this position. Booth's hand returned to Brennan's weary head and continued to lightly touch her hair as the night and the darkness slowly faded away.