A/N: I would like to Thank each and every one of you who took the time to send me condolences. Some made me smile others made cry, but all touched my heart.

My heart still hurts, but I'm learning to live with the pain…A special thanks to Shawna- chucky89us who sent me a "Booth hug" on a day when I really really needed it!

For all of you who have patiently waited for this chapter of "Patient Woman" Thank you!! ……I hope it's worth the wait… Please know I'm working on the next chapter and it will have a rating change…

All rights belong to Hart Hanson and Fox productions.(I'm not hurting them, I 'm just playing )

Chapter 4

Where did you learn that?

She slammed her kitchen cabinet door shut after removing the dinnerware and slamming it down on the counter. "I hear you loud and clear…Bones" she mimicked his words with a smirk "he's going to hear me" said Temperance, out loud as she continued her uncharacteristic rant, in her empty kitchen.

She heard him outside the door, she knew she should go and open the door because; by the sounds he was struggling with the key. She knew the lock was sticking, it was a pain in the ass to unlock, and most likely his hands were full. But hell, he was the one who insisted the damn thing needed to be locked so, she decided to let him deal with it.

Her lingering anger seemed to help with the normally challenging task of inserting the wine key, into the cork of the Cabernet. Knowing intuitively that she had to calm down, if she didn't Booth, would have the upper hand and she was determined not to allow that to happen. She closed her eyes and swallowed the fruity wine, normally not needing to drink her courage, but tonight she needed all the help she could get.

After the second attempt at unlocking the door while holding both the pizza, the pasta salad, and the bag from the convenience store. Booth finally conceded to the unyielding lock and sat the box and beer down, so he could use both hands and open the door.

After successfully opening the door, Booth, examined first the lock, and then the strike plate trying to identify the offending piece of hardware. He opened and closed the door several times to determine what the obstruction was.

She put the dinnerware and condiments on the coffee table before walking to the door to investigate what was taking him so long "What are you doing?" She barked in a tone that implied irritation as opposed to her normal curiosity.

"I'm trying to figure out why this door is not closing properly." replied Booth not looking up, and unaffected by her attitude. Deciding the strike plate needed be adjusted he made a metal note, to take care of it next time he came over.

"The building has maintenance man Booth," replied Bones reaching past him to grab the box, and the small bag from the pizzeria.

"So I've heard" he replied as he picked up the beer before closing and locking the door. He'd fixed other things in her apartment over the years, so they both knew she wouldn't be contacting the maintenance man.

She sat everything down on her coffee table, and started opening the containers so they could eat.

As he slipped off his suit jacket and loosened his tie, he immediately noticed she was wearing his Snoopy Red Barron T-shirt; again. As cute as she was in it, he wanted it back and opened his mouth to remind her, but decided he'd better pick his battles wisely tonight, and this one could wait. Considering the mood she was in she'd probably just rip it off right there in the living room.

"We haven't had pizza in a long time." said Booth trying to sound normal as he walked past her into the kitchen, so he could put the beer in the fridge. Before heading back to their make shift dining table he started to ask "Did you get the salt and pepp…" but was interrupted before he could finish.

"Yes I've got the shakers, Booth I haven't forgotten that you require copious amounts of sodium chloride, on everything you consume."

"Oh yeah, this is going to be fun." muttered Booth wondering what the hell had caused her to flip her Bitch switch tonight.

"What did you say?!" she asked harshly not being able to make out his words, but knowing they were derogatory she wanted to call him on them.

He realized she was actually trying to pick a fight, and God, help him he was not far from being able to comply with her wish tonight. "It's salt, Bones, just plain old salt." said Booth irritated and wondering what the hell at happened on her date, that not only made her want to end it early, but put her in such a foul mood that she reverted back to her scientific definitions. "Why can't you just call it salt?

Booth saw her clenching her jaw just ever so slightly, it was a silent warning she was pissed. So what! So was he, and he was going to get his shirt back.

She picked up the salt shaker, and turned to hand it to him. "Here is your salt." she emphasized the last word. "However, I'm afraid it's not plain old salt," She smiled and tilted her head just to make her point "its sea salt from the waters of the Cayman Islands."

"Oh! Lucky me." said Booth sarcastically trying keeping up the façade that everything was normal as he pulled the salt shaker from her clutched hand and couldn't help to momentarily wonder what it would feel like to have her hot little hand wrapped around his cock.

For several minutes they ate in a less than comfortable silence both casting glances toward, the other thinking about the conversation they needed to have.

Booth watched her take a second piece of pizza, he knew they were pretending to be calm, collected, rational, but he was far from it, and couldn't stop himself from breaking there self imposed silence "You seem very hungry, for someone who just went out for dinner?" Noticing she was eating like she was starved he asked causally as he stood and walked toward the kitchen. "Where did you go?"

She let her eyes travel over his body, and continued chewing, what may have been the best pizza she'd ever had. "Some place on I street." replied Bones as cavalier as possible, hoping the simple answer would be enough.

Tossing the bottle into the blue recycle bin, before opening the fridge to grab another beer Booth, tried to think of a restaurant on I street that would be appropriate for a first date. He twisted the cap off the bottle, and grabbed the open bottle of Cabernet, off the counter, and headed back to living room. Reclaiming his seat Booth started to laugh as he now understood her message to Angela.

"What's so amusing?" She asked as she stabbed her fork into the pasta salad, instinctively knowing she was not going to like his answer.

"He took you to BLT's, didn't he?" asked Booth with a cocky grin that covered his whole face as he poured more wine into her glass. She'd never wanted to smack it right of his handsome face more than she did right then.

The shocked look on her face told him he was right, and he could not help, but feel smug. "What? Don't look at me like that, I'm not called special agent for nothing. " replied Booth smiling with a hint of twinkle in his eyes, still laughing "It's was a logical deduction Bones." he loved when he could use logic to make is point when talking to her. "Why else would you be in such a hurry to get out of there? Not to mention your starving."

"The Bistro Laurent Tourondel, is a very upscale place Booth." replied Bones sitting up straight. "Rick has a lot of connections, and was able to get last minute reservations it was a very romantic setting."

His eyes shot up to hers, and she knew she pissed him off, and she could not have been happier. "It's a steakhouse, Bones, it's not the special." laughed Booth with just a touch of bitterness tossing the crust, from his third piece of pizza down onto his plate. "Who takes a vegetarian to a steakhouse?" He loved BLT's; it was great place not that he went there much anymore, because now he went to vegetarian friendly restaurants. He was trying to imagine the look on her face, when the waiter gave her their famous menu, that actually had a detailed description of where each cut of meat was located on the cow. "How did you like the menu Bones?"

Her refusal to answer, confirmed what he already knew she'd hated it. "He is an idiot Bones, I don't know why; you even went out with him in the first place." Whispered Booth.

She'd known him for almost six years and his level of arrogance still surprised and infuriated her. "Because!" replied the anthropologist simply, offering no further explanation as she helped herself to more pasta.

"Because?" questioned Booth with his brows knitted together in dismay, his temper just as short as hers. "You speak five languages, and spew out words like a walking-talking thesaurus and your answer is because. You've got to be kidding me."

"What are you now, the jealous partner? I don't owe you and explanation Booth!" Showing more emotion than she wanted too, she quickly stood up took take their plates into the kitchen, needing to put some distance between them.

"Fuck!"

That's just great!" complained Booth, through gritted teeth as watched her walk away from their heated discussion. It was no surprise, because one of them always did when things got just a little to close to revealing what lay buried just beneath the surface. He leaned against the back of the couch, and let the events of the last couple hours filtered through his tired brain. Her idiot date, his anger, her anger, the strange message on Angela's voice mail, his sitting outside waiting for her, Her inviting him up,him walking into her bathroom. He knew they were both ticking time bombs, and he knew they were not going to be able to continue like this for much longer.

He picked up his beer and the boxes with their left over food, and headed to the kitchen, not really knowing what to say.

She stood at the sink watching the basin fill with hot water "I don't want to do this any more." she said trying desperately not to loose control. " I just don't!"

"Talking to your self again Bones?" questioned Booth, as he walked from the living room holding the pizza and pasta boxes. Wishing he's heard what she said.

Sitting the takeout containers down onto the counter, he watched as she scrubbed the dish, so hard he wondered if she was trying to wash away the bold pattern. "What did that dish ever do to you?" He asked jokingly hoping to break the tension. She didn't reply or even acknowledge him the slightest way.

He knew she was mad, but hell, she'd been mad since she seen him outside, waiting for her to come home. It was no reason not to talk to him, and since when did Bones clam up when she was mad? Um never!

He stepped directly behind her, and placed one hand on her shoulder, as he reached over her head into the cabinet. He couldn't quite grab the small Tupperware bowl, so without even thinking he leaned in and pressed up against her as he grabbed for the bowl a second time. He could smell the traces of her peach bubble bath and just as predicted, the smell transported his mind back to the beautiful image of his sexy partner soaking in a sea of bubbles "I'm sorry." He whispered into her ear as he, stepped back holding the container for the pasta salad.

It wasn't rational, it wasn't logical, but when she heard his apology it was if something inside her splintered into, so many fragments that it would be impossible to put back together. "What are you sorry for?" demanded Bones turning around quickly she flung water on him, she was so close to him he could not help but step back.

"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings." replied Booth not really sure what she wanted him to apologize for, yet somehow knowing that his answer was wrong.

"Really?" She questioned tilting her chin in a defiant manor.

He wondered if she knew that look made him hard, as often as it aggravated him. "Yes really! What the hell is that supposed to mean?" demanded Booth incredulously "What? You think I wanted to hurt your feeling on purpose?"

"I thought maybe you were apologizing for insulting my date." Asked Bones with a clenched jaw walking toward him again "I was lucky he even wanted to go out with me."

"Lucky?" questioned Booth sarcastically shaking his head "yeah, I don't think it was you, who was lucky Bones."

"After your little stunt…yes… I'd say I was very lucky."

"After my little stunt? Asked Booth innocently "What did I do?"

"You are going to stand there and deny that you tried to intimidate him, into not asking me out in the first place?"

He could deny it, he should deny it, but they both knew it was true. Raking his hands over his face, then through is short dark hair he took a deep breath which did nothing to calm him down. "Look Bones, I'm sorr …

"Don't you dare say you're sorry, you're not sorry, you knew exactly what you were doing?" Accused Bones interrupting him, she was not angry she was furious!" I want to know why you did it."

There was a challenge in her eyes, and he just couldn't back down. Not this time. "You want to know why? Repeated Booth feeling the pounding of his heart and his own frustration rising. He searched her eyes for any sign, that he should avoid this question like he'd had so, many times before.

"Well, I would not have asked if I didn't." replied Bones sharply tilting her head with a tight smile that was contradictory to her tone.

Booth leaned against the counter starred at her for the longest time, before looking away and admitting honestly "I didn't want him near you Bones." He swallowed, the last of his beer, threw the bottle, in the recycle. Then turned around, and looked her right in the eye, but stayed silent.

His intense gaze sent shrives through out her body, and she knew he'd seen her tremble, but she refused to look away. She knew that was the answer before she'd ever even asked, it was the one she'd hoped for, but hearing him admitting it was like oxygen feeding to her flame of anger. "Why?!" She demanded almost desperate "I want to know why."

"Because." he could not help but throw her response right back at her.

"Don't be childish Booth." Complained Bones expecting more of an explanation. She looked down and realized she was still holding the sponge; she sighed and tossed it in the sink.

"Hey what's good, for the goose is good, for the gander." Said Booth confidently as he reached into her fridge against his better judgment, for another beer, knowing he should leave before this went any further.

"What does poultry have to do with you trying to run my social life?" She asked twisting her face in confusion and annoyance.

He couldn't help, but smile, and take advantage, of her genuine bewilderment. "Why did you go out with him Bones?" Asked Booth ignoring her question all together as he headed back into the living room. "We both know you didn't want to go out with him in the first place."

His arrogance just stoked her anger "What the hell makes you, so sure I didn't want to go out with him?" she asked her arms crossed tightly over chest, contempt for his assumption clearly in her tone.

He stopped, and turned back toward his partner and opened his mouth to give her, his standard answer. The truth that he knew her, but if she didn't know by now she never would, so he closed his mouth and turned away.

For a moment she thought he was going to leave, but he walked over to the sliding doors of the baloney and stood there looking out into the DC night. She hated when he stood there, she always worried that his emotional and sentimental side transported him back to that horrible night with Epps.

"Booth?"

He could see her watching him, in the reflection in the door. He knew she was just as tired and frustrated he was, but was she really ready. He just didn't know. "Why did you go out with him Bones? He asked again sounding so calm, still watching her in the reflection.

"Because."

"Hum…We're back to that are we?" nodded Booth sadly as he slowly turned around to face her.

"Because he asked, because it's nice to feel wanted Booth. That's why. He is a nice man and he finds me attractive." replied Bones feeling like it was impossible to distinguish between her anger and frustration, because she was tired of waiting for her partner to act on his feeling for her.

The sad look on her face surprised him as much as her admission, well everyone finds you attractive Bones." replied Booth with a sweet smile knowing for a fact, although she spouted off about knowing she was attractive. She still questioned if she really was.

She stood there and watched his eyes rake over her. She could feel the tenderness in his words. But it didn't produce the warm and fuzzy feelings that they always had in the past. It pissed her off "I'm tired of your bullshit Booth, you know that? I really am!" her anger quickly re-energized.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He demanded completely surprised, not giving her a clue of his hurt feelings, but taking a step toward her.

"Why were you stalking me?" Questioned Bones, aggravated and in no mood to explain herself.

"Stalking you?" he asked harshly with what could only be described as an evil grin shaking his head "No Bones, I was not stalking you."

"Booth, you knew what restaurant I was at, you were outside my condo waiting for me to come home with my date…"That sounds like the FBI definition of stalking, wouldn't you say?" She knew she was getting into dangerous unexplored territory, but she always wanted to know the truth and this was no different.

"You are incredible you know that?" said Booth shaking his head and running his fingers thru his hair in lieu of wrapping them around her pretty little neck.

"Well?" She asked again hands planted firmly on her hips. "Why were you stocking me?"

"I wasn't stalking you Bones, jeez…. What the hell,now you think I'm some kind of psycho?"

"I didn't say nor, do I believe you are a psychopath." Replied Temperance knowing her literal reply aggrevated him.

"Thanks Bones! Good to know you don't think I'm a psycho, just a stalker." he said sarcastically wondering for at least the ten millionth time, why he had to fall head over heals crazy in love with the most infuriating woman in the world.

She silently held her ground and continued to glared at him.

"If I was stalking you baby, you sure as hell would have never seen me." He was not about to admit that he had indeed followed her once when she went out with the alleged reformed felon a couple years ago.

"Why were you outside waiting, for me?" She reminded him.

He caught her eyes and he seen nothing, but determination causing him to decide maybe she'd picked up more interrogations skills than he'd given her credit for. "Oh I don't know Bones, you call Angela, and send out an, S.O.S then you turned off your damn phone, so no one could call you back." replied Booth defending himself. "What did you expect me to do?"

"You could not get hold of me for a mere two hours, and that gives you just cause to stake out my house?" demanded Temperance as she sat down and poured herself another glass of wine.

"You're lucky I did not put out an APB, on you." He replied hotly as he started to pace, God she pissed him off.

"That would have not only been inadvisable, but highly inappropriate waste of public resources." Retorted Bones before downing her third glass wine. "I didn't turn off my phone!"

"Go a head Bones, check your phone see how many missed calls you have."

She bit he lip realizing now he must be right, she'd must of accidentally turned the damn thing off again.

"Go on Bones, check it out" said Booth again as he slid his tie off and tossed it on the back of the couch.

Sighing she stood up, and walked over to her phone, she remembered taking it out of her purse, and turning it on when she called him. Reaching for the new phone, she picked it, and touched the screen, and it reveled that Booth, was correct.

"Well how many?" asked Booth before downing his beer "How many people were worried about you?

She didn't reply as she scrolled the list of missed calls and text messages. "I guess I should call Angela, and let her know I'm home safe." Said Bones as she continued to read her texts messages and felt bad for worrying her friend.

"I already called her." Said Booth "She said she'd call you tomorrow."

"Of course you did" she muttered rolling her eyes.

"I asked you a question." said Booth loudly, ignoring her sarcasm in favor of his own "How many missed calls?"

"I'm not a suspect; don't talk to like I am." sassed Bones spinning around and stepping into his space daring him to continue his interrogation.

"You knew that if Angela couldn't get in touch with you after you left that message she would eventually call me."

His nostrils flared and he was taking deep measured breaths, but she was not intimidated by his anger. "I specifically asked Angela not to call you. When she did not call me back ,I assumed she did not get my message," said Bones

"I don't know Bones, you knew I'd look for you and you knew I'd find you. Maybe you just get some kind of thrill out of jerking me around."

"I didn't think you'd be searching the city for me. "Admitted Bones pointing her finger at him,"but I sure as hell knew you would be showing up here!"

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Asked Booth not liking her accusatory tone.

"Don't play dumb Booth, we both know your not. You know exactly what I mean."

"Spell it out for me Bones …because as usual I don't know what the hell you're talking about." Lied Booth.

"I knew you would find a reason to interrupt my date Booth, you always do! You are trying to run my life but, you want to keep your safe distance."

"Now wait a minute."

"I have been waiting and for a very long time. You don't want me, but you don't anybody else to have me." She yelled, her face was red and she was shaking with anger.

"Bones, that's not true" insisted Booth softly, blindsided by her comment. "I've always wanted you, but."

"But What Seeley? What?" She demanded, but he just starred at her not really sure of what to say, so afraid of saying the wrong thing.

She was not deterred by his silence "I've grown incredibly tired of your indecision. Either cowboy up or mosey along but, it's time for you to make a choice Seeley Booth." Insisted Temperance more terrified and excited than she'd ever been in her life. " You can't have it both ways anymore."

Cowboy up? ...Mosey along?... Are you fucking kidding me? He stood there and processed her words not knowing if he should laugh or cry ...after all this time she was giving him an ultimatum. Priceless. " You are really something you know that Bones?" said Booth with a deep chuckle as he felt the last bits of control he had been holding onto start to slip away. "So you think you've got this all figured out?" He asked her directly with a lazy smile , as his eyes roamed over her. He was not depending on the unspoken sub text behind her words, he wanted her to answer him.

She opened her mouth to answer, but she could not find her voice. Now that she'd said all she been feeling, her need to vent had been replace with fear. Fear that she'd just ruined everything. She was chewing on her bottom lip and he knew she was nervous and for once he couldn't make himself care.

"Hun? Do you have it figured out?" challenged Booth as he moved toward her. She could see the vain in is forehead pulsing, that was a physical indicator he was angry. God help her did he look sexy, when he was angry even when his anger was directed at her.

"Well it doesn't take a genius to figure it out, Booth." She admitted still agitated as she felt herself retreating, her heart was beating so loudly she wondered if he could hear it.

"Do you really know what you saying here Bones?" taunted Booth inching closer amazed she was retreating. "Are you telling me, you've got all those sorry ass losers out of your system? You're telling me that you're ready for something real?" His eyes never left hers, his anger now dangerously mixed with desire. " Are you telling me you're ready to admit what's between us? Is that what I'm hearing Bones?

"Yes, I know what I said Booth!" he was looming over her in her bear feet and suddenly she could see the raw masculinity in his eyes and it made her want him more.

"Really" laughed Booth nodding his head in mock agreement "So You're done dating my co-workers and your co-workers and my fucking dumb-ass boss?" He could see the rise and fall of her chest as well as the surprise in her eyes as his questions persisted. To fucking bad she'd started this and there was no turning back now.

"I'll remind you I'm not a suspect Booth, don't you dare talk to me like I am." insisted Bones finding her equilibrium once again. "I'm not the one who needs to admit or confess, now am I Seeley?"

"Temperance, are you ready? Because you know once we step over that line there is no going back." Declared Booth as he reached forward and grabbed her hands and squeezed them to make his point. "This is not just a quick fuck Bones, it's all or nothing, do you really understand that?

"You and your precious line…I am so sick of it, you tow the line, you walk the line, and you blur the line…. Why won't you just cross the fucking thing already?" Prompted Bones her eyes stubbornly fixed on his as she pulled free of his hold.

"Where are you learning all this phrases from Bones? Pop culture for Dummies?" snapped Booth growing tired of her little jabs as he methodically closed the distance between them backing her up against the wall.

He saw the anger flash in her eyes almost as if she's become possessed by it. Before he could respond he felt the coolness of the air caused by the quick flick of her hand then he felt the hot sting on his right check.

"I hate you…"Shouted Bones emphatically raising her hands pushing him away.

If you like it ....please let me know.....reviews only take a minute ....and they don't hurt at all!!

Oh...The Bistro Laurent Tourondel is a real place in DC...no harm meant to them and if I'm ever in DC I'd love to go there!!