Title: Hang Overs and Love Letters

Author: Digital Dork

Disclaimer: Not mine.

So. A little secret about me? I listen to the same song over and over and over again while I'm writing each chapter. For some reason it's easier for me to write with music on that isn't distracting and the longer you listen to the same song, the less distracting for me it becomes. Anywho, this chapter it was "Night Bird" by Ryan Adams. It's greatness.

Well, here's the next part. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last two chapters. I hope this doesn't let you down!!

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The pair had ended up at a small Italian restaurant a few short blocks from the Jeffersonian Institute. They had driven by it on numerous occasions, but neither of them had ever eaten there. Normally they'd end up at Wong-Fu's or the diner with the rest of the squint squad, but tonight was different. They 'scooby gang' weren't tagging along and Booth wanted to make this dinner a little more special for Bones than she was used to.

An order of Beef Carpaccio, Chicken Scarpariello, two bowls of Zuppa Toscana and a bottle and a half of wine later, the duo were feeling pretty comfortable in the dimly–lit-hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

Before being seated, Booth had made the decision that neither of them would talk about anything work related, therefore they would be more open to discussion on topics they wouldn't normally talk about.

"—and in the anthropology field, it's an extremely controversial issue. I mean, I have an opinion on the situation, but given the circumstances, I don't know whether or not it's wise to state it to other anthropologists and even if I did, I would—" Her brow slightly wrinkled as she continued to debate with herself.

"Slow down, Bones." He said with a smile, his hand reaching across the table to find a place on top of hers. She hadn't realized how worked up she was becoming over their conversation.

Letting out a light laugh she apologized to him.

"I'm sorry, Booth. I'm ranting about 'store talk' and I didn't even take into consideration your opinion or even whether or not you even cared about the subject."

He squeezed her hand before letting them go and taking a drink of his wine. He decided to not correct her on the 'shop talk' slip, like he normally would have.

"I'm always interested in what you do. I just don't know if I understand a lot of your squint-jarb. Ya know, Bones, you could always make it up to me, and letting me have a dance with you." He smiled and nodded toward the tiny dance floor.

There were only two other couples on the floor, moving back and forth to the music being played by a middle aged pianist who appeared to be slightly uncomfortable within the confines of the piano and the wall.

Brennan stood from her seat and extended her hand out to him. "I'd be delighted to dance with you, Mister Booth." She said with a playful smile on her face.

She was genuinely having a good time tonight, even if this wasn't a date. Dinner, coffee, dinner, coffee. It didn't matter what it was called. They were friends, and they'd never be anything other than friends, so she had nothing to worry about, right? She was sure she'd had nothing to worry about.

Booth held her close to him, his chin resting on the side of Brennan's temple. They swayed to the music, moving too perfectly for the 'just friends' argument to hold any validity right now. Brennan leaned her forehead on Booth's shoulder, her eyes closing with a sense of comfort. Neither one of them spoke for a while, a few minutes maybe, enjoying each other's presence.

"You do know that it's not your responsibility to make me feel better, right, Booth?" She broke the silence, suddenly, her words no more than a whisper.

He pulled back from their embrace to search her eyes. Hazel hues stared right back at him, expecting an answer and anticipating the truth.

"Yes. It is." He stated simply. Before she could argue with him, he pulled her body closer to his and continued, "You're my partner, and my best friend, Temperance. I care about you, and how you're feeling matters to me. I'm going to do everything I can to make you feel better. That's how this relationship works, Bones."

His eyes never left hers. Brennan saw a newfound honestly in his hazel eyes. He'd never lied to her, well, about anything that mattered, but this was a new step he was taking. She thought about this for a moment, still holding the contact. He'd referred to them as being in a 'relationship', a 'partnership', and a 'friendship', and he told her he cared about her.

Those four terms were nothing new when it came to her and Booth, but tonight they seemed to take on a new meaning. They become something more personal. Something more real. Something more … romantic?

Brennan vaguely noted that Booth had begun to draw small designs with his hand in the small of her back. Her heart began to race with the thoughts of his simple statement, and of course, with their physical contact. She shifted their position on the dance floor and pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you, Booth." She whispered in his ear. In that moment, she didn't know what else to say that would have been appropriate. No one else had showed interest in her emotions and feelings like Booth had in a long time. She couldn't remember when.

"You're welcome, Temperance."

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The weekend had passed, and it was another Monday in the Jeffersonian Institute. As usual Temperance Brennan arrived to work early, a cup of coffee in one had and a stack of folders in the other.

"So. It was a date!?" She heard the familiar voice of her best friend call out from behind her.

"It was dinner, Ange." Brennan rolled her eyes as she tried to emphasize the idea of 'dinner' to her friend who created a double, sometimes triple, meaning to everything and anything that occurred with the opposite gender.

"Sooo it was a date. With Booth." At that moment Brennan didn't know whether she should laugh or be annoyed.

"God, Ange. For being so intelligent, you make me wonder sometimes."

"Sweetie, think about it!" Angela was beginning to become more excited than she should be over the topic at hand. "He stole you away from this horrid place," she waved her arms for emphasis, "… took you to a nice restaurant, paid for your dinner, made you dance with him and he declared his undying love for you!"

The last few words of Angela's over dramatized recreation of their night made her stop in her tracks. "He did not declare is love for me, Ange. That's ridiculous. It was dinner and nothing more. He reassured me of our friendship and that was all. And furthermore, he certainly would nev—"

"Oh my God!" Angela suddenly shrieked, interrupting her justification of the "non-date" dinner. Her hands covered her mouth as she ran into Brennan's office.

Brennan's eyes grew wide when she saw what Ange ran into her office for. On her desk sat a bouquet of daises in a beautiful green and yellow glass vase. Angela was beaming from ear to ear, as she grabbed for the card and held it just out of Brennan's reach.

"Wasn't a date, my ass!" Angela began to laugh as she finally handed the card over. The smile was still plastered on her face as she leaned against the desk. "I'd love for Jack to have a vase of flowers on my desk that say 'hello' on a Monday morning."

"Flowers can't say 'hello', Ange. That's stupid." She slipped her finger under the back flap, to open the envelope. She couldn't help but smile as she read the hand written note on the tiny card. It was only 9am. It was going to be a long day. It would also be good. But mostly, a long day.

"Hope this makes your Monday a little better. Coffee, sometime?"

-B.

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What'd ya guys think:D Review and make my night!! Let me know if I should keep going or if you have any ideas for what comes next. I have some ideas, but I'm sorta playing around with them for the time being. Dun dun dun.