Hey sweeties! Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews. Glad you liked the penguins in the desert ;) That was the first image that popped into my head when I thought about Brennan and Zach discussing emotional stuff...
Okay now, here we go, Chapter 10 is ready!!!
Chapter 10:
Booth could hardly believe how lucky he was. He was sitting in an italian restaurant, facing his Bones, who was studying the menu. He had opened his menu too, but he simply was too enthralled by the look of her in front of him.
If somebody had told him only a week earlier, that Temperance Brennan and he were going to be a couple and soon-to-be-parents he would have laughed. Not because he did not want it, but just because he would have never thought it possible. But here was now... and it felt good, almost too good to be true.
"You're staring..." Brennan interrupted his thoughts, giving him a questioning look.
He sighed, reached over the table and took her right hand in his. "I just thought, that this is so unbelievable. Like a dream... If it's a dream, then I don't want to wake up."
Brennan snorted. "If you would be the one doing all the gagging you would not have the illusion it could be a dream." Despite her words, he saw a glint in her eyes. A certain expression he now knew was reserved for him and their growing child. A wonderful secret.
Gently he squeezed her hand and said. "You know I would take that sickness thing for you, if I could... but I can't."
"I know Booth." She sighed. "It's okay, I guess. Countless women endured it before me. It's bearable... but still disgusting."
"That's why will drop the subject while picking our meals, okay?" He winked at her and she smiled. "Yeah, I am starving."
"Big surprise." He laughed. "I guess feeding you will get expensive."
"I have my own money, Booth." She remarked, frowning a little, a hint of accusation in her voice.
"I know, Bones. It was a joke." Booth explained gently, causing her eyes to widen in surprise and understanding. "Oh... sorry... I "
"I know, Bones. It's not your fault you're more touchy now. Just remember I love you." He winked at her, but she knew he meant it. She leant in towards him a little and whispered. "It's going to be easier to keep that in mind if you say it... regularly." She smiled and he grinned at her. "So you do like it when I tell you that you mean everything to me?" He quickly closed the distance between them and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"Sure, Booth, I am a woman." She stated, rolling her eyes.
" I noticed." Booth winked again then he nodded towards the menus. "Let's pick something ... can't let you starve, can I?"
She nodded, concentrating on the menu again... and he admired her for another moment, then forced his attention on the listed meals.
Special Agent Julian Andrews was curious by nature. Paired with his plan to make himself the only apparent choice for replacing Deputy Director Cullen in a few years his curiosity lead him to keep an eye on Special Agent Booth, one of his only real competitors for the job.
When Booth had left the building for lunch break, Andrews followed him. He wanted to know what was up with Booth... something had changed, he seemed to be in a good mood... so very contrary to his behaviour before talking to Cullen, Andrews had become suspicious.
He followed Booth to the Jeffersonian and saw him pick up Dr. Brennan, his partner, a squint. Andrews snorted. He had never understood why Cullen had agreed to a liaison between the Jeffersonian and the FBI that allowed a squint to accompany a FBI agent in official matters.
But when he followed them to a cosy Italian restaurant he was pretty sure things were not official. A self-satisfied grin spread over his face. So, maybe he had just found a way to get Booth out of the competition.
He watched them take their seats on the small terrace of the restaurant, watched them talk. The exchange of looks would have told him enough, but Booth even had the nerve to kiss the woman. Andrews chuckled.
Special Agent Seeley Booth was a fool. And he, Julian Andrews, would make sure everybody was going to know about it.
A few moments later he was on his way back to the J.Edgar-Hoover-building.
"Look, Mrs. Benton... I know Deputy Director Cullen is a busy man... it's just I have something pretty urgent to discuss with him... so if you can fit me in between his appointments..."
Rachel Benton sighed. "Okay, Andrews. He just came back from an appointment and will be leaving to have lunch in five minutes. Lunch is important to him. This better be serious, okay?"
She quickly announced him over her headset, trying to ignore the disapproving grumble of her boss. She motioned for Julian Andrews to enter the office and sighed again. She did not like him... and the smug expression on his face just could not mean anything good.
"Sir." Andrews greeted his boss. "Sorry, but something urgent came up."
Cullen frowned a little and gave him an odd look. "This better be good, Andrews... I want to leave in five minutes."
"Yes, sir. Sir, first I want to tell you, that I by no means had the intention to sneak up on one of my colleagues. But I just witnessed something and I am sure you will be interested in this. I see it as my duty as a responsible agent to report inappropriate behaviour of other agents."
Cullen's frown deepened, but he looked a bit concerned. "You have my full attention, Andrews."
"I... just – accidentally – witnessed that Special Agent Booth kissed his partner." Andrews said, in a low and confidential tone.
"Did you?" Cullen tried to hide his amusement and decided to give Andrews a lesson 'Accidentally, my ass' he thought. 'This guy is trying to improve his chances to get my job.'
"Well, this is a surprise... I would have never guessed... that Booth... Well, I think I will have to assign Agent Saunders to somebody else." Cullen mused, trying to keep his voice serious.
"Yes... what? Agent Saunders? No, no, Sir. I am talking about Dr. Brennan... the squint he's been working with the past few years." Andrews stammered, confused.
"Oh. So you came here to tell me Booth is kissing Dr. Brennan? Well, I think it's a perfectly normal behaviour for a couple... I don't see where the problem lies, Andrews." Cullen remarked.
Andrews' jaw dropped and he needed a moment before he was able to form a coherent thought. "You knew?" He finally choked out.
"I knew. Special Agent Booth informed me about the change in his relationship with Dr. Brennan. For the time being Agent Saunders was assigned to be his partner. Which is a good thing, since Saunders is a young and inexperienced agent who will surely benefit from working with a reliable senior agent like Booth." Cullen stated calmly.
"Oh." Andrews stammered, embarrassed. "I did not know...I just thought it was my duty..."
"Yeah, I understand, Andrews. But perhaps it would be better ... to channel your energy into solving crimes rather than into these accidental sightings of your colleagues. I am inclined to think your report on how you saw Special Agent Langley use his SUV for private purpose has something to do with your career planning. Let me get this straight, Andrews. You will not improve your chances for this office by finking on your colleagues. I don't tolerate something like that. Understood?" Cullen's voice was now icy, his gaze fixed on Special Agent Andrews.
Andrews' eyes widened. "I... This was never my intention, Sir. But, yes, understood."
"Good. I think this was all, then?" Cullen asked. Andrews only nodded, embarrassment reddening his cheeks.
"Goodbye, Special Agent Andrews." Cullen said calmly and Andrews returned a breathless. "Goodbye, Sir."
before fleeing Cullen's office.
Cullen grinned to himself. He wondered how his predecessor had ever endured these awful bootlickers.
"Rachel?" He called over his phone. "Andrews is gone?"
"Yes, Sir... he practically ran away." Rachel informed him, amusement and wonder in her voice.
"Good." Cullen chuckled and Rachel's eyebrows shot upwards in surprise. Her boss hardly ever smiled, let alone chuckle.
"You can leave for lunch now, Rachel... and maybe you might want to let some people know that Booth is going to be training Agent Saunders for the next few weeks and not be accompanied by his squint. But I assume he will still be seeing Dr. Brennan quite often... No official declarations of any sort, Rachel, that's something Booth will have to do for himself. But Andrews should not be the only one knowing about ... changes." Cullen told her.
"Deputy Director Cullen... are you officially instructing me to... gossip?" She asked incredulously.
"Damn right. And make sure Booth comes to my office in the afternoon." Cullen said, his voice almost cheerful.
"Ehem... yes, Sir. I will inform Special Agent Booth." Rachel confirmed and when she heard that Cullen had hung up she gave the phone an confused look.
Then she smiled.
Her boss had just told her to gossip... a woman could get used to that.
haha!!! evil andrews got his lesson, right? did you like it? what do you think about cullen's reaction? please let me know!!!!