Wooo! Thanks so much for the feedback on the last chappie, I hope this lives up to your expectations! ;)

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CHAPTER 15

It was going to be a very long interrogation.

I sat down next to Booth and did as Sweets had said. Trying not to hesitate, I took his strong hand in both my own. Since I wasn't going to be asking many questions, I pretended to trace invisible patterns around his knuckles, ignoring Frank Bram's bright blue eyes trying to catch mine.

"Excellent, Dr Brennan." Sweets said in my ear. I knew Booth could hear him too, but he didn't even flinch; his expression stayed cold and cruel.

"I thought this interrogation was about me." Was this my lack of expertise, or did Bram sound annoyed as he noted our hands intertwined?

"Sure it is, pal. Just answer our questions with the truth, this time."

"I'm tired of you guys thinking I'm lying. What else am I supposed to do?"

"Tell me about Margaret and Kevin's relationship."

As I stared at Booth's hand, I couldn't help but wonder what good a biased, unreliable description from an ex-suspect would do us, but no doubt he and Sweets knew what they were doing.

"I told you. He was an asshole. Treated her like some jewel of his, and not a person, you know? Margaret needed a strong man, this guy was a weakling. Pathetic, I tell you. Dr Brennan, you wouldn't have liked him at all."

In a rush, I heard "Quickly, you're indignant. How can he know what you like? He doesn't know you, Dr Brennan! Distance yourself from him!"

"The hell do you know what I like?" I asked, letting more petulance slip into my tone than I usually would have.

"You seem into this guy here, right?"

I glanced at Booth and didn't have to modify my expression one bit. I smiled at my partner and softly admitted:

"Yeah. I like this guy here."

But now Bram looked really bothered.

"I mean, the way you two were going at it in the car, I'd say like is a pretty big understatement…"

"What?" Sweets shouted in my ear.

Oh crap.

"Look pal…"

"What is he talking about? What happened?"

"Not now, okay?" I said loudly to Bram, hoping Sweets understood I was talking to him.

"You don't want to talk about what I saw, babe?"

"Don't let him call you that, Dr Brennan."Sweets said quickly. But then he added: "You two and I are going to have a conversation…"

"Don't call her that, you idiot, what the hell's the matter with you?"

"Do you feel threatened, Agent Booth? Oh, and the doctor doesn't like you speaking for her."

He was right, I hadn't controlled my expression and was looking at Booth with raised eyebrows. I quickly rearranged my features, but it was too late.

"Do exactly as I say, guys. If I tell Dr Brennan to say it, let her say it, Agent Booth!"

"Stop nagging him, Bram." I said, and drew my seat closer to Booth's. Two against one, Sweets had said.

"Dr Brennan, touch him, hold him, anything. He's already separating you two."

I let one of my hands trail up Booth's arm and watched, fascinated, as my fingers entwined in his hair forming wonderful patterns. I let the smile tugging at my lips show, but Booth still didn't glance at me.

"Agent Booth, you need to look at her. Remind Bram that she's not alone. You're a unit, remember."

So Booth flashed me quick grin and then turned back to the suspect.
"Do you think we can leave my girl out of this, Bram?"

"Nah. I like her. She's hot, man."

I could hear the anger waking up, but he barely modified his expression. His pulse was absolutely frantic, and I got brave and kissed his cheek.

"Booth, it's okay. You're hot too." I chuckled, and Sweets said "Fantastic. You are a natural, Dr Brennan" in my ear.

But this didn't work as I'd hoped. Instead of relaxing, his pulse quickened. I could measure it with my fingers around his wrist.

"Mr Bram, tell us about working for the Stoker family."

"Well, I told you it was only for two months, right? So it was Margaret who I met first…"

As he spoke, I didn't look at him once, pretending (well, not really pretending) to be absorbed in Booth, but almost absent-mindedly, as though we did this often.

My thoughts strayed to the man sitting opposite us. Underneath Frank's plain exterior, there was a cold, cruel intelligence in those bright blue eyes which disturbed me. Why was this man a gardener? His strong build and dominant personality suggested anything but a man dedicated to grooming flowers.

"And you like women who look like Margaret, don't you?"

"Yeah, I guess." He looked visibly uncomfortable. But then he grinned. "The nice Doctor here is my type too."

"You're forty three, Frank. She's too young for you." Booth spat immediately. But then he seemed to gain control again. "Besides… she's mine. So cut it out."

"If you say so…"

I frowned at the man who doubted I was, in any way, not Booth's.

"Why dark hair, Frank?"

"Excellent, Agent Booth, you're making him very uncomfortable."

"I don't know, man. You tell me." He nodded in my direction again, and I rolled my eyes. I wasn't helping in this interrogation.

For once, just this once, Sweets agreed with me.

"I think it's time for Dr Brennan to leave. We could make things worse if she stays."

Booth nodded imperceptively.

"Kiss him when you go, Dr Brennan."

"What?" I said, losing my calm for a moment.
"What is it, babe?"

"Stop calling her that!"

"Why is it necessary!"

"I'll call her whatever I feel like!"

"Shut up, you…!"

"Everybody calm down!" But Sweets shouting for calm didn't mean I could lower my heart rate at will.

Booth, trained Agent that he was, was the first to regain control. He stood up, took out his earpiece ("What's he doing! Agent Booth, stop this!") and faced Bram with contempt.

"Frank, I think you're an asshole. But more than that, I think you're stupid, Frank. Do you know why? It's because you are a gardener when you could be someone else, and that is what makes you stupid. You say you're in love with Margaret Stoker, that she reciprocates your feelings… I believe you. I've been in love… I am in love. But since I know what you say is true, I also know you're trying to annoy me by not answering a single one of my fucking questions. Instead, you flirt with my girl here. Well, that ends now. Tempe, go watch this stupid asshole from behind a glass and we'll talk later."

It was the use of my name, Tempe, the way only my father and brother had ever used it, that brought me crashing back.

"Kiss him before you go, Dr Brennan. It's important. Please, for once can someone do as I ask?"

I stood up and walked to Booth. How would I kiss him if we were a couple? A quick peck? Would that ever be enough? Could I stand not running my hands through his hair, or not pressing my body against his if I knew I was allowed to?

In the end, I leaned toward him gently and placed a hand on his chest, as if to soften the tension in his muscles. But then something happened.

He smiled.

It was a warm, fantastic, caring smile which lazily lit his face, and it stopped me in my tracks. I felt as though the happiness he exuded would surely blaze violently if I actually kissed him. I felt as though I would be burned by the fire in his eyes if I came too close.

I felt paralysed.

I couldn't. I couldn't kiss him.

Booth must have sensed this, because he placed his hands on either side of my face and brought his lips to mine. In an instant every thought disappeared, and I stepped closer to deepen the contact. It had been too long. We hadn't kissed since yesterday as the sun was setting…

I had been right. I was burned.

"Shit, you'd think I was in the fucking FBI building, not some porno studio."

We broke apart and, instead of looking away, Booth smiled at me again. He needed to stop doing that.

I left the room feeling drunk.

*

"Never, ever again am I conducting an interrogation with Bones in the room doing… those things. Never. I can't concentrate like that. I can't think. It's the stupidest thing I've ever done. I was terrible in there. What the hell was I thinking…?"

"Booth, it's okay. It's over. I'm going back to the lab and…"

"No. Stay for a few seconds. Please?"

"Yes, you're staying for a few seconds, Dr Brennan. We need to talk."

"Not now, Sweets…"

"Yes, now. For once, you two are going to tell me what's really happening and then you're going to listen to me and do as I say. Let's pretend I don't care about you right now. Let's pretend I'm not concerned about any issues you are developing. But for the girls, for Anne, I want you two to work properly, and you are going to tell me what Bram meant."

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Dun, du DUUUUH!!!

Unfortunately my funny-o-meter is down today. So I'm going to ask you ultra nicely, okay?

Would you be so kind as to please if it isn't much of an inconveniece to you of course because it would be ever so helpful to me to REVIEW?

THANK YOU!