Upon request of my readers/reviewers, here is the next chapter! (Hopefully that was quick enough) I LOVE your replies. They make my day. Y'all just ROCK! Hope you enjoy. -Mel

Chapter 12

After Booth left, Brennan should have been spent, but just the opposite; she was restless.

"Restless energy equals a clean house," she said aloud.

From top to bottom, she cleaned, but still wasn't settled. Racing up the stairs, she grabbed the one thing she knew would extract every ounce of her energy…running.

She grabbed her running shoes and strapped on her I Pod. 'This will take the edge off,' she thought to herself as she laced up her tennis shoes. She new it was late, too late to go for a run, but she needed it. She needed the release.

An hour or so later she was back home mentally and physically exhausted. Her plans called for water and a shower, but she didn't make it past the couch.

The Sunday sun poured through the living room wooden blinds. Brennan tossed an arm across her face in an attempt to prevent the introduction of light to her eyes. Failing miserably, she flopped onto her stomach and groaned. 'It can't be morning, not yet,' she thought. But her cell phone told her differently as it begged for attention. She chose to ignore it. Then the knocking, the endless knocking. Rolling off the couch with a thud, she stumbled to the door.

'Geeze Bone," he stated as the door cracked opened. "What happened to you?"

Squinting at the person before her, she rubbed her hand across her forehead and waved him in with the other. Booth proceed into the living room as Brennan followed.

"Did you get drunk last night?" he asked.

"NooOOO!" her subdued answer turned into a scream and then a howl.

Plopping to the floor, she grabbed the calf muscle that was severely cramping.

Booth jumped at the sound bellowing from her, but was over come with worry when she dropped to the floor. Springing into action, he knelt down beside her and began messaging the muscle.

"What's going on with you?" he asked as his hands worked magic on her tired leg.

"I just slept in. Can't a person just sleep in every once in a while?" she requested.

"Sure, but usually when a person sleeps in til one o'clock they don't look so...," he paused looking for the correct word, "exhausted."

"What!" she exclaimed. "It's one o'clock?"

Hurling herself off the floor and away from Booth's magic fingers, she sprinted up the stairs with a slight limp.

"Be carefully," he hollered, "you'll get another cramp."

Booth settled back onto the floor from his knelt position. He wasn't sure what to do. Stay? Go? What he really wanted to do was go chase her up those stairs, but that thought would have to wait awhile, definitely too pushy.

Fifteen minutes later a shower fresh Brennan trotted down the stairs, but for Booth it went in slow motion as he took in her beauty. The wet locks of her hair bounced against her shoulders leaving a dampened path. Her light blue tee just met the top of her kaki shorts.

'God, she's beautiful,' he thought.

"Booth, Booth!" she spoke; her voice growing louder.

Puzzled, he answered, "Umm..what?"

"Booth, I've got to go," she stated as she bustled about the living room in search of various items.

"O….Kay," he said pulling himself up from the floor, "Can I call you later?"

"You can or you can come with me. Your choice," she stated standing by the door.

Booth didn't have to think. He didn't care where she was going. He'd follow her to the end of the earth.

Booth felt odd in the passenger's seat of her car. He knew it was silly after all it had been two years since they'd been a vehicle together, but some habits are hard to break. He was use to his FBI issued SUV and his Bones right beside him. He liked it that way, but this was definitely better than the past two empty years.

"So where to?" Booth's voice pierced the silence.

"To see a friend," she stated.

"Ange?" he ventured a guess.

"No," she replied.

"Hodgins?" he asked.

She released a sigh, "If we were going to Angela, then we'd also see Hodgins. If we were going to see Hodgins, then we'd also see Ange. So….no wrong again."

"Zach," he was having way too much fun with this.

"Nooooo," she sang.

"Then who?" he begged.

"A friend, Booth," she replied, "I've already told you that."

Wheeling into the hospital parking lot, she turned to Booth, "Care to volunteer anymore guesses?"

A wide smile spread across his face, "You're going to let me meet him?"

"Didn't I say I would?"

"Thanks, Bones. I really appreciate it," sincerity pouring into his voice.

Arriving at Ben's door, Brennan proceeded in giving the door a light tap. Ben's eyes grew with excitement as Cole followed his gaze.

"Dr. Brennan," Cole called, "we were just talking about you."

Booth didn't go unnoticed by Cole, who suddenly felt a little defensive. Wanting to prove a point to the "new guy", Cole made his way toward Brennan.

Leaning over to her left side so Booth could also hear the comment, he whispered, "You look beautiful."

Brennan blushed ever so slightly and moved away to Ben.

Two years ago Booth's decision on how to handle the little situation would have be easy, but not now, too risky. Instead he balled his fists and shoved them into his pockets. This display caught Cole's attention as a smirk of victory traced his features.

Booth moved to Brennan's side, placing his hand on her shoulder. 'Two can play at this game,' he thought to himself.

Agitated by Booth, Cole cleared his voice, "Ben, I'll be back to check on you later."

Brennan caught the tone of Cole's voice, but didn't see it necessary to request details. She had introductions to make.

"Ben," she gestured, "this is Booth. Booth, this is Ben."

Booth extended his hand which engulfed Ben's miniature version.

"How's it going, Ben," Booth talked as if he's always known the little guy.

"Couldn't be better," he said with a smile.

Booth suddenly realized the attraction; you couldn't help but fall in love with him. Booth and Ben hit it off instantly. The conservation topics were endless from baseball to yo-yo's neither of them would shut up.

Brennan saw this as a good opportunity to check in with Cole. Excusing herself, she slipped out of the room and down to the nurses' station. As luck would have it Cole was sitting behind the desk while he finished up his charts.

"Cole," she waited for his attention.

"Temperance," he addressed her with that signature smile, "what can I do for you." 'That's a loaded question,' he thought to himself.

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