A/N: Here's the second part to Worked to the Bone;
Placing her steaming coffee onto the desk Brennan turned to close the office door behind her, leaving the blinds partially open so she could see out into the empty lab.
Making herself comfy she pulled up her chair to the desk and reactivated her laptop which had gone to 'sleep'. At least someone would sleep tonight she thought wryly. The screen lit up with her notes on the chapter so far, and Brennan's fingers splurged out the loose prose which, as a perfectionist she would go back and edit vigorously later. If she could get the basis of the end of the chapter written then maybe she could submit the completed version to her publisher before the deadline, leaving her more time to concentrate on her real, important work.
Special Agent Seeley Booth put down his pen and stretched out his hand after signing off the last of their paperwork, he put it in the pile to be sent up to Cullen where it would be paired with the Jeffersonian reports and submitted. Shrugging on his jacket he looked over to the clock on his desk 1:32. Sighing Booth gathered his keys, turned off the lights and headed out of the office; the last part of the paperwork had taken a lot longer than usual due to some discrepancies in the report. Pulling out of the parking complex he drove the short few blocks to the Jeffersonian, hoping for both of their sakes that Brennan had gone home since Cam had called. An argument was really not high on his agenda right at this moment.
He was cleared through security without a problem; it wasn't unheard of for him to be in and out of the lab until the early hours of morning although he tried not to make a habit out of it. The pristine Jeffersonian had something of the menacing look about it at this time of night. Booth quickened his pace, seeing the forensic platform in partial darkness he headed straight to Brennan's office. He could see lamp light spilling softly through the gaps in the blind; he knocked the door and entered without waiting for a reply.
"Bones?" Booth entered the office, his eyes scanning around. It didn't take long to locate her, Brennan was sat in her usual spot at her desk. Her back was hunched and her head was resting on her folded arms, she appeared to be breathing deeply… "Oh Bones…" Booth sighed. As he moved closer he couldn't help but let a brief chuckle escape his lips, it was a rarity that he ever got to see Brennan like this. Of course they had shared moments, their 'guy hugs', some accidental shedding of tears here and there. But it was most defiantly a novel thing to see The Temperance Brennan, Forensic Anthropologist extraordinaire asleep at her desk. Deciding that he'd laughed at her expense quite enough he moved to wake her, gently scooping back curls that had curtained over her face, his thumb lingering on her cheek.
"Bones…" When Brennan didn't stir he tried again a little louder "Bones, wakey wakey!" Booth lightly shook the hand on her shoulder.
"Mmmmmm" Brennan sleepily turned her head and shifted in her chair so that she was facing away from the source of disturbance. Booth, unable to contain himself indulged in another low chuckle. Due to her movement, Brennan's elbow was now pressing down on some of the keys of her laptop, bringing the screen back to life, after gently removing her arm he went about deleting the long string of random letters that she'd accidently added. After completing this he clicked save and was about to quit the document when he caught sight of his name, Booth checked the title of the document assuming that it was paperwork from a previous case. However he was surprised to find the words 'Chapter 14'. Brennan would go mad if she found him reading any of her work before it had been published, but it literally had his name written on it, what more of an invitation could there be? Despite knowing that he shouldn't, he couldn't help maybe reading just one or two paragraphs…
Kathy tested the movement of her bound wrists, finding that the tight rope didn't leave much room for manoeuvring. After further investigation she found that the ropes binding her ankles were not as tight, theoretically if she could remove her boots then she could get one foot free. Kathy attempted to make slight movements with her legs and feet in order to get the blood flow back, after the estimated five or so hours that she'd been kneeling in the same position the likelihood of normal movement was near impossible.
Back at FBI headquarters Special Agent Andy Lister had been relentlessly sifting through any and all of the information that had been gathered on his partners kidnapping. He was determined not to stop until she was safe. After another tense few hours the team came up with a possible location. Securing his side-arm Andy rushed to join the group that he would be leading, she had to be okay. He would get to her in time. (*Should Andy follow protocol or go against orders to save Kathy? – Booth has broken protocol to save me on numerous occasions, without which I would most likely not be here. But it goes against Kathy's character to need to be saved – she is not weak, she can handle it alone.*)
Booth frowned at the screen, part of him was secretly happy that even though 'Special Agent Andy Lister' (at Brennan's most vehement insistence) wasn't actually based on Booth, he now had proof that she thinks about him when working on Andy's character. However, his attention was caught by what she'd written last 'she is not weak, she can handle it alone' was Brennan implying that she herself was weak? This bothered Booth; he'd known from early on in their partnership that her self reliance was very important to her. Did she feel that he was taking her independence away? He didn't get much more of a chance to postulate this as Brennan started to stir. He saved the document and put the lid of her laptop down, and once again brushed the stray curls from her face, this time revealing a pair of tired blue eyes. Booth's insides started to melt and he couldn't keep a genuine smile from forming on his features.
"Booth?" Brennan voice was groggy and the crease between her brows was prominent, indicating confusion.
"Heya Bones, I think it's time to get you home…" Booth stepped back and went about collecting her coat and bag in order to give her some space to wake up and gather herself.
As Brennan rose from her chair she couldn't help but stretch out her aching muscles, stiff from lack of movement and her awkward upright sleeping position. "What time is it Booth?"
"Past my bed time, and most definitely past yours by the look of things!" He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, Brennan moved curiously to the windows looking around empty lab for signs of her co-workers assuming it was morning. She scowled when she saw none, watching her glance towards the clock he prepared himself for the oncoming piece of mind he was about to receive.
"Why are you here this late? You should be at home…" Brennan's dull eyes lit up suddenly as she slipped her lab coat off "Do we have a case?"
"No Bones, we don't have a case, I'm taking you home to sleep. You do remember what that is right?" Walking up to her he took the lab coat from her arms and he saw her posture stiffen at the mention of her late night lab work.
Brennan crossed her arms in front of her chest defensively "Of course I do! I was attempting to complete the chapter that I'm working on for my publisher's deadline. It's hard to write a novel when we have a large case load; that's all." Her harsh tone of voice was betrayed by the tiredness and emotion she was trying to hide.
"A little bird tells me that this is not the first time you've locked yourself in the lab overnight either, we're going to have to have a little chat about that new habit Bones…"
"Dr Saroyan?" Brennan huffed half-heartedly.
"Don't be angry at Cam Bones, she was just concerned, and it is part of her job as your boss. And being your partner it was only logical that she would come to me with these concerns." Brennan nodded in understanding, although she still didn't look happy about any of it. Booth approached the next topic with care. "We all need a brake sometimes Bones, I'm sure you could have your publisher push back the release date a little? I know you Temperance, you don't want to let anyone down, but you can't please everyone all of the time." Smiling softly he brushed her cheek, encouraging her to look at him.
"It's alright – I'm alright, really. I suppose I -" Brennan let out a heavy sigh, casting her eyes down "I've just had a little trouble processing since, well…"
"Kenton." Booth filled in knowingly.
Brennan slowly wandered her eyes up to meet his, he saw the shame and confusion staring back at him. He could see the tears prickling in the corners of her eyes.
"Hey Bones, come on, come here…" Booth enveloped her in a tight hug, her face pressed to the crook of his neck as she attempted to fight the onslaught of tears staining Booth's collar. He rocked her in silence, occasionally assuring her that it would be alright.
"I'm sorry" Brennan mumbled after a few minutes, she pulled back, wiping the tear tracks from her face.
"It's okay Bones, sometimes we all need saving. You're forgetting the amount of times that you've saved me!" Booth smiled at her reassuringly, stepping back and giving her a few moments to right herself, he grabbed her bag from her desk and held out her coat for her to put on. "Madam…"
A small smile tugged at the corner of Brennan's lips as she slipped into her coat, looking a little embarrassed. Booth handed her bag over returning her smile, was that a blush he saw adorning her cheeks? Well that was certainly a first!
"How about it Bones? We can go back to your apartment, order in some Thai - because I don't know about you but I am starving!" Brennan chuckled a bit at that which made his heart a little lighter "Then maybe we can talk about all this…process, together. Then we can crash out and sleep in until – oh I don't know, at least 10am? Because I swear Bones, if you wake me up before 8am I will be plotting some very creative revenge!" Winking at her he held up his arms "What do you say?"
The last remains of her tears sparkled across her cheeks that were now thankfully draped with a tired smile. "I think I'd like that very much Booth."
"Good" Resting his hand at the small of her back he guided her out of her office… "And this time we order two pots of noodles, because I like them to you know!"
Brennan playfully punched his arm, before the quiet descended and the air shifted. She turned to him. "Thank you Booth"
The agent's face lit up "No problem Bones, what are partners for?"
They finally walked together out of the doors of the Jeffersonian at 2:15 not for the sleep that they both desperately craved, but to start re-connecting together, to get back to Brennan and Booth.
A/N: Hey! Cheers for all of those who reviewed / followed and favourited! Much appreciated. I have a few ideas, but I think I might end this one here, I think it's a natural end to the story line. This is my first fic so it's brief – but it was more for my benefit, my mind is busting with ideas for future longer and hopefully more in-depth stories! Thank you all again for reading :)