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"No!" Peter said stubbornly. "I don't like it one bit."
"Peter! You're just being stubborn." Olivia reasoned, continuing to pack a small backpack with a few necessities.
"Stubborn? Stubborn?" Peter positioned himself in front of her. "Is it stubbornness that I want you alive?"
"Who said anything about me dying?" Olivia paused to scrunch her nose at him and looked confused.
"Every time I leave you or you leave me your life ends up in danger. I've learned my lesson and I'm not letting you out of my sight," Peter said, willing her with his voice and face.
"Peter…" Olivia's shoulders dropped and she set the pair of socks in her hand into the bag and took a step closer to him. "You say it like I try to get myself killed when we're apart." She tugged his hand into hers and squeezed it.
"I know. I know you don't try, but it's too soon." Peter pleaded. "I feel like I just got you back and I can't lose you again." He pulled her into his embrace and buried his face into her hair.
"Haven't we learned that it takes a lot to kill me?" Olivia half joked, her voice muffled into his chest.
"I'm not willing to risk it." Peter said, kissing the top of her head.
"I promise to be extra paranoid. They've even given me a bullet proof vest." Olivia ran her hands down his chest to settle at his hips.
"At least let me come with," he tried one last time.
"You're safer here and Walter needs you," she murmured, rolling her body into his; willing him with her body to let it rest since he wasn't listening to her words, but he caught on quickly.
"Are you trying to seduce me, Dunham?" He asked skeptically, until she began to nibble and kiss his neck making him quickly forget what they were talking about. When she found his pulse point he was all but putty in her hands as strangled noises of pleasure escaped his lips.
Olivia dragged her fingers up under his t-shirt and brushed them over his flexing muscles drawing the most delicious noises from him. Faster than Olivia could react, Peter snatched her hands away from his chest. When she made to protest he brought his lips crashing down onto hers, swallowing any noise she may have made. Peter walked them back into the bed, kissing her the entire way. His hands trailed down her sides and then slipped into her back pockets in her jeans to squeeze her backside. Olivia wriggled in his grasp and moaned. With his hands still in her pockets, Peter scooped her up so that her legs wrapped around his waist. Unexpectedly, laughter erupted from Olivia as she was able to look down at Peter, who's eyes were filled the combination of lust and affection.
"What's so funny?" Peter asked, pausing in their trek to the bed. Olivia smiled brightly down at him.
"I've just not been this happy for a while," Olivia gave him a gentle kiss, filled with affection and possibilities.
"I'm not going to ask you to stay again, because I know you won't, but promise me you'll be careful." Peter whispered huskily.
"I wouldn't go if Broyles didn't need me to check in on this suspect. It could be our big break to get out of this house and get our lives back to normal. He wouldn't risk my life sending me out on a wild goose chase, but yes, I promise to be careful." She smiled indulgently at him.
Peter tilted his head up and she met him half way in a sweet kiss. Slowly, Peter let her down and with a sympathetic look, Olivia continued to pack her bag.
Brennan watched on as Olivia said her goodbyes and slung a pack over her shoulder. She both envied and worried for the agent she was growing fond of, despite her earlier feelings. They may not have shared as many girl moments as Angela and her had or talked in excess, but she respected the woman because she was clearly good at what she did and very straight forward. You didn't find that quality in many people, but to Brennan's relief, this woman possessed it in abundance. You always knew to expect the truth from her. When Olivia had finally said her goodbyes to all but her and Peter she turned to her.
"If I believed in luck – which I don't, I'd give it to you." Brennan fumbled a bit through her words, trying to convey the sincerity she sometimes lacked in expression. "Be safe."
Olivia's face which was at first amused confusion brightened by the end of her speech.
"Thanks, Brennan. You keep taking care of my partner while I'm away."
This of course got an offended "hey!" from Peter, but they both just ignored him.
"I wouldn't have thought he needed it, but I've seen him when he thought you were dead. I'll do the best I can." Brennan said.
Olivia blushed and nodded while Peter was sputtering in objection.
"Knowing you, your best will keep my mind at ease." Olivia said and Brennan accepted the compliment graciously. She turned to Peter and squeezed his hand in hers. "I'll be back tomorrow by lunch." She went on her tip toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Be good."
Peter clearly ignored her last joking comment and pulled her into his arms for a hug. Definitely not a guy hug, Brennan thought wryly. The doorbell rang and the partners broke apart. Booth moved to open the door and Broyles stepped in.
"Ready?" He asked, standing in the doorway expectantly. Olivia just nodded and seemed to give herself a quick once over to be sure. She was dressed in khaki cargo pants that hung low on her waist and t-shirt that clung comfortably to her form without giving away the bullet proof vest underneath. She gave one last sympathetic look to Peter before she disappeared behind the door. Brennan watched and waited for Peter to do anything or show some kind of emotion but he seemed to be locked up in neutrality. Booth would say that it looked very forced though. After a minute he turned and headed upstairs without another word.
Astrid and Walter eventually migrated over to the living room and then she turned to Booth, who looked a little fearful.
"You're worried." Brennan stated. Booth sighed and ran a hand through his short hair.
"Yes. I know it sounds stupid, but this is the longest both Olivia and I have gone without someone trying to kill us and it's like we're just throwing her out as a target. It just seems too good to be true that we've gone this long being safe." Booth paused and Brennan rested a reassuring hand on his arm. "I don't normally befriend other agents. Sweets would say it was because I project my expectations of myself and being a good agent onto others, but Olivia is the real deal. She's a great agent and friend and I can't protect her from inside this house."
Brennan felt a touch of jealousy that this other woman could inspire such devotion to protect in Booth, but she knew it was because she had somehow slipped into the family they had been creating over the long years of being partners. Booth would do the same for Angela or Cam.
"It's like you said Booth. She's a very capable agent, and I'm sure she'll be fine." Brennan said, rather proud of her ability to voice her empathy. Booth beamed down at her, obviously rather proud as well.
"You're getting a little too good at that," Booth said smiling.
"Too good? At what?" Brenna raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"Never mind, Bones. Thank you," and he leaned down and gave her a sweet kiss that left her heart fluttering. "Didn't you say something about making that mac'n'cheese dish of yours tonight?" Booth said, giving her a silly smile.
Brennan chuckled at the quick change of attitude and nodded.
"And Walter said something about helping Astrid bake an apple pie." Booth looked to almost be dancing on the balls of his feet at the thought of his favorite desert. Brennan shook her head and made for the kitchen with right behind her.
"Why don't you go remind Astrid she has that pie to make while I start getting everything ready," Brennan said, pushing Booth into the direction of the living room. Laughing, Booth followed her instructions and soon Astrid entered the kitchen. Brennan watched from the corner of her eye as Astrid puttered around collecting ingredients for the pie.
"Would you mind if I worked over here?" Astrid asked, standing in the space beside Brennan.
"Sure, I don't need too much space and this kitchen has a lot of it anyways."
The women worked in silence before Brennan let her curiosity out.
"So what exactly do you do? She asked, mixing her selection of cheeses together.
Astrid smiled over at her as she continued to work the dough with her hands against the powdered counter top. "I'm Olivia's assistant, technically."
"Like a secretary?" Brennan asked innocently.
Astrid laughed good naturedly and started to flatten the dough out. "No, I'm a junior agent for the FBI and Olivia's kind of been teaching me the ropes. But as you've seen, I usually end up at the lab with Walter and sometimes Peter, assisting in experiments."
"That must be disappointing to have signed up to be an agent and ended up being a scientist of sorts," Brennan commented, leaning over to check if the water was boiling.
"At first it was a little annoying," Astrid said. "But I've learned so much working in the lab and not just science stuff. And working with Walter has been a real test of patience, but he's a brilliant man and it's been a privilege working with him."
Brennan half laughed and turned to stare at the junior agent. "I still find it hard to believe he's a genius."
They both laughed at that.
"Believe me, I forget sometimes too." Astrid said smirking.
An hour later, the table was set and dinner was ready. Everyone but Peter hovered anxiously around the kitchen and dining room, just waiting to dig in. Brennan surveyed the ground floor in disappointment. Peter still hadn't made an appearance since Olivia had left. Sharing a look with Astrid, they nodded and Brennan slipped out of the kitchen and up the stairs toward Peter's room.
He was reclined against the headboard of his bed, reading a science magazine, but looking very distracted.
"Hey," Brennan said, trying to get his attention. When he looked up at her, she continued. "Dinner is ready."
Peter nodded but didn't budge. "I'm not hungry."
"You know, starving yourself isn't going to keep her alive." Brennan reasoned.
Peter scowled at her and pointedly went back to reading and ignoring her.
"If it were Booth, I… I don't know what I would do and I understand that being apart from your partner and unsure of her safety is very difficult, especially when you can't help any." Brennan said, trying not to squirm from nerves of sharing so much. Peter looked up at her and seemed to be gazing into her to tell if she was being honest.
"It's not just that she's my partner. Last night…" He paused to think of whether or not to continue. "Last night I found out she likes me as more than a friend and now she's in danger already. What if last night and today is the only time we had as something more? I should've told her exactly what she means to me – how much I love her, but I chickened out."
"Booth would say that you just need to make the most of the time you do have together."
"You put a lot of stock into what Booth says." Peter said dryly.
"I've learned over the years that when it comes to matters of the heart and emotions, he's usually right." Brennan shrugged guilessly.
"I guess Olivia and I have yet to begin the stage in a partnership where listening to each other without asking is a given." Peter laughed.
"Oh I question him all the time. I'm just fortunate that he is a patient man." Brennan smiled. "Besides, if you love her, you can start by trusting her when she says she's going to be alright."
Peter looked ready to argue that point but Brennan silenced him with a 'don't even try it' look.
"I know Olivia wouldn't want you to miss my famous mac'n'cheese while worrying over her, so why don't you join us." It was said as more of a statement and Peter just rolled his eyes before following her downstairs.
Brennan took the seat beside Booth and he gave her a look that spent her heart spinning. It was one of total love and admiration. He rested the hand closest to her on her knee and gave her a swift kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks for Dinner, Temperance." Booth said and dove into the food placed around the table. Brennan had one last fleeting thought for Olivia and what she was up to before she settled in to enjoy a dinner with friends; because that was what they had all become