He stood in front of her on what had to be the longest day they'd had in months. She felt it too, the anxiety that had ruled every minute of the day, the need to be with him. The explosion that sent the taxi they were in flying, rolling, crashing to the ground. The case that separated them almost immediately after the crash. He ran off to save a lobbyist too arrogant to listen to them and chase a serial killer. She went off to make sure her brother knew the instructions to come to the the FBI hadn't come from her or Booth but from their father. She'd hoped to smooth things over with him. Then off to talk to Caroline Jullian and an ultimately futile attempt work out some kind of deal for Russ.

Under it all, the pressure they felt to hide their relationship from the FBI, the Jeffersonian, and closest friends and co-workers had become unbearable today. It all crumbled the moment he finally broke free and was able to make it back to the Jeffersonian. It was evening, the Medico-Legal Lab was nearly abandoned. But he wasn't sure he would have acted any differently had the place been packed with people.

He needed to touch her for himself, to attend to her, to hold her. Carefully he fingered the hair that rested on her forehead, lifted it and smoothed it back so he could see the laceration held together by Steri-strips. Her eyes fell shut as he tenderly turned her face and took in every little scratch.

"I'm sorry about that, Bones, sorry you got hurt."

"It wasn't your fault."

"I was arguing with you, I shouldn't have been, maybe if I'd seen it sooner-"

"You saved us. You reacted very quickly, Booth, it could have been much worse." She knew, she'd considered it, running the scenarios over and over in her mind. She was sure he'd save them.

Gently he kissed her forehead. Holding her, being attached, connected, it felt good, he needed that. She did too. She let her hands slide inside his suit coat. She tugged and pulled at his dress shirt, weaving her way around until she could feel his warm familiar skin under her hands. It was comforting. She let out a long deep breath as she melted into his embrace. She wanted to check each bone, each joint, to feel for herself that he was okay. Quick and careful, a cursory exam, then they fell into a long deep kiss. It was need and relief all mixed together.

Hodgins was just leaving his office to grab Angela and head home for the night. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he watched the pair, the ones that insisted they were just partners professionally and not romantic in any way, they were engaged in maybe the hottest kiss he'd ever seen. He ran to Angela's office, grabbed her without a word of explanation, and dragged her, protesting, back to hide behind a pillar outside of Dr. B's office. He shushed her several times, once even slapped his hand over her mouth as he whispered into her ear to just watch.

Of course by then they were no longer twisted around each other in a passionate entanglement. She was holding him as he hugged her firmly to his chest.

"It's just a 'guy' hug, Hodgins. I know all about these." There was clear disappointment in her voice. "You got my hopes up and dragged me over here for nothing. It's just some ridiculous rationalization of Booth's that Bren has totally accepted. She is his partner, therefore he can hug her like she was a guy partner, making it a 'guy' hug." Her eyes rolled at the absurdity of it all – it was another way that her genius friend proved everyday that you could both be wildly intelligent and absolutely naive at the same time.

Hodgins laughed. "Oh, baby, trust me what I saw was no guy hug! It was full on lip to lip action, hot and heavy." He was still chuckling as he finished a detailed description. Angela's interest was piqued but she was still skeptical. Surely, she would have noticed if something had changed in Bren's relationship with Booth. She would tell me, Angela thought, I've certainly given her enough opportunities to, that was for damned sure. "Just wait. I bet they go at it again." His excitement could hardly be contained.

"How much?"

"How much what?"

"How much do you wanna bet?"

Having defined their wager they turned their attention back to the couple and waited to see what happened.

Bones held him, he held her until she pulled back. "I promised Amy I would drop by the hospital and read more of The Secret Garden to Hayley before I went home." She sounded almost disappointed. It wasn't that she didn't want to drop by the hospital, it was that she just wanted to go home with Booth and be with him, just him, just her, together.

He understood but reminded her how much Amy and her girls needed her right now. He could wait, he reassured her. The concept of family was still relatively new to her, she wasn't used to this kind of need or obligation. He told her he was going to drop by the shooting range to literally blow off some steam. They agreed to meet back at his apartment in a couple hours.

Then he pulled her in, a sharp fast press as he let his hands hold her hips to his own. If he thought this was going to make it easier to part and go their separate ways he was wrong. It made it harder. He kissed away her worries as he captured every part of her, body and soul. They fell farther and farther into each other, kiss after kiss. When he tried to pull away she told him, no. She needed just a little more time in his arms.

Zack came bumbling by on his way to bring Dr. Brennan some test results she'd been waiting for. There seemed to be no acknowledgment of the scene playing out before him. He was about to walk right into the middle of it. He made it just about two steps past the pillar before Jack and Angela attacked. Each grabbed an arm as they violently pulled him back, shushing him all the way. No way they were going to let him spoil their view by interrupting the couple.

Zack stood still. He held the folder with Dr. Brennan's results tightly in both hands, irritated at his captors for delaying him.

"I need to get these results to Dr. Brennan, she's been waiting for them."

"Zack, are you blind? Do you not see what's going on in there?" All three peeked around the pillar just in time to see Dr. Brennan's hands slip down below Booth's suit coat as they rounded his hips and grabbed his ass.

"I see, of course I see, I am not blind."

"You don't seem the slightest bit shocked." Angela turned to Jack. "He doesn't seem the slightest bit shocked."

"Of Course I'm not shocked. Clearly they reached a point at which they could no longer sublimate their intense physical attraction for each other."

"Yeah, well I understand all that and seeing it right here, right now for the first time, I'm still shocked."

"Oh, it's not the first time I've seen them like that."

Angela almost blew their cover, in the loudest whisper she demanded and explanation. "What!?"

He sounded surprised by Angela's shock. "After the Halloween party." He stated so matter-of-fact, as if everyone knew. "I came back to change before I met Naomi from Paleontology in the hopes of a romantic interlude."

Angela's eyes opened wide, her eyebrows shot up high on her forehead. When Zack didn't continue she got irritated. "More. Now."

He looked nervously back and forth between Hodgins and Angela. "They were leaving. She was spinning, like Wonder Woman and he caught her, then kissed her, and said he was going to take her to his fortress of solitude." His eyes, serious and fixed, they watched as he recounted the night. His careful exactness made him sound like he was testifying in court, recounting a detailed explanation of what he saw. "Then they left." He pointed toward the sliding Medico-Legal lab doors.

Hodgins found great humor in knowing this had been going on right under their noses. Angela did not. "Zack." She paused for effect while she put her arm around him, squeezing his shoulder. "Honey, when things like this happen you need to tell me, immediately."

Their little powwow was interrupted by the sound of Brennan giggling. Three sets of eyes widened then peeked around the pillar and looked into her office. Booth nibbled on her ear and seemed to be whispering to her, promised for later when she was done at the hospital. She nodded her agreement. Then giggled more as he kissed his way down her neck. They shouldn't be watching, they knew that but couldn't pull their eyes away. These two, this possible pairing, had been the source of so much office gossip, betting pools, and predictions. They had waited a long time for this and felt completely justified in enjoying the view.

The click of Dr. Saroyan's heels filled the empty lab but the three were too entranced to pay attention to it. It wasn't until the clicking stopped right behind them and she cleared her throat, intentionally loud, to get their attention that they turned away from Booth and Brennan. Without thinking they shushed their boss.

"Seriously people, are we all back in junior high here? Give them some privacy."

"You know too." Not a question, she stated it as more of a terrible realization than anything else. Angela had a hard time accepting that she was the last to know. "I can't believe you know too. When did you find out?"

"Not too long ago but I've suspected for a little while; however, it is really none of our business."

"Did they tell y-" Cam cut her off.

"No, no, they don't know that I know." Her voice trailed off a bit. "And you need to keep this secret for them too. They're meeting with Dr. Sweets because the FBI is evaluating their working relationship. If he were to find out about this it could be the end of their partnership." She motioned towards the couple.

Booth had grabbed her jacket and held it while she slipped it on, then tenderly pulled her hair from inside to the collar. He rested his hands on her hips and rocked her slowly back and forth still talking softly in her ear.

"I know Seeley, I could see all the signs." She had a bit of a wistful tone in her voice. She cleared her voice and stood a bit taller. "It wouldn't be good for either of them if the FBI split them up or good for us as a team." Completely back in boss mode she looked at them each directly and added scolding. "So keep your mouths shut."

Booth turned her around, pulled at the collar of her jacket. "I'll meet you at my place. I'll text you when I get home, okay?" She looked up at him, her sad eyes clearly didn't want to be separated. "What you're doing for them, Amy and her girls, it's the right thing to do, Temperance. I'm proud of you." Letting his lips fall on hers once more he pulled her into a strong open kiss.

"That is just so hot." Angela marveled out loud. I'm sorry, guys, I won't tell anyone, I swear; but I am not letting her get away with not telling me." He marched off towards Bren's office as she left Hodgins, Zach and Dr. Soroyan all standing with their mouths hung wide open in shock.

Angela cleared her throat to get their attention. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, weight jetted out on one hip, her foot tapped impatiently. Her eyes made it clear she wanted an explanation and she wanted it now.

"Sweetie, you got some splaining to do."

I posted this before I add the author's note...silly me! I just wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful reviews and comments here and on twitter. I had SOOOOOO much fun writing this story and I'm ecstatic that so many had equally as much fun reading it. Also Happy Birthday to Geraghtyvl! Welcome to Crafty's Birthday Season! Very anxious to see what you think about this Epilogue - those that follow me on twitter know that I ended up with 4 or 5 started epilogues - this was the one that finally clicked and I finished!