AN: A special thanks you Thnx4theGum for the quick edits and suggestions
The Couple behind the Masks
It was New Year's Eve and the both the Jeffersonian and the Hoover officially closed at noon for the holiday. Everyone wrapped what they were working on. Angela called Cam over to Brennan's office. She carried two white boxes, one with a big gold bow and the other one with a midnight blue.
"Hey Cam! Hey Bren! I have your masks here. I hope you love them as much as I do. This has been my best work," Angela bragged while she passed out the boxes. "Plus, now I can spot you both at the party."
Angela turned to Brennan, "So, are you going to put me out of my misery and tell me about your mystery date or not."
"No, you will meet him after midnight, I promise" Brennan said in a matter of a fact tone then slipped into a sly smile.
"Dr. Brennan, I too can't wait to see who put that kind of glint in your eye. I do want to hear what he has to say about that dress when he picks you up later tonight," Cam teased.
Jack Hodgins walked into Brennan's office and saw the women together. "Dr. B and Cam, glad I caught you both!" Jack said as he dug in his coat pocket for hotel access keys "You guys can get ready in your rooms. We already checked you in so don't have to worry about traffic later. The rooms are already paid for and check out is on Sunday so you can enjoy recovering the next day without having to get out before 11. I plan on making the punch!"
Both Angela and Brennan groaned as they remembered the last time he spiked the punch. Cam just laughed and said "I will be sure to stay away from that table."
Cam was very excited and said "Okay, since I am the boss and everything is completed for the day, let's close up shop!"
"I just have to reply to my publisher's email but I shall see everyone tonight. Angela, thank you again for the mask" she said as she pulled Angela into a warm hug.
As soon as everyone left, Brennan picked up the phone to call Booth. It rang then went straight to voicemail. She called his cell phone, same thing happened. Getting a bit worried, she started to send him a text message when she looked up and saw him leaning up against her door frame with a cocky smirk on his face.
"Looking for someone, Bones?" Booth said as he pushed off the door.
Brennan questioned quickly and professionally, "Do we have a case?" She looked around the lab to confirm they were the only ones left. She pulled him behind the file cabinets for a much needed kiss.
"Nope, just a case of a man who missed his girlfriend and wanted to take her to lunch" Booth replied while he kissed Brennan's jaw line to her ear.
"That is a case I find fascinating when do we start?" She teased.
Booth noticed the hotel key and the box, "Hey Bones, what are these?"
"Oh, Hodgins already checked into our rooms so we can get ready there and the box is my mask. I thought it would be best to get our stuff now and head over to the hotel. We can avoid everyone until the party."
"Sounds like a plan, let's head to my place first since yours is closer to the hotel."
They both gathered Brennan's things and headed for Booth's apartment. Brennan stayed in the SUV while Booth packed his overnight bag and garment bag. On the way to Brennan's apartment, she asked if he got his mask.
"Yup, and it is a manly man's mask. Simple not girly messy stuff" he said proudly.
"So you went shopping for it yourself?" Brennan asked curiously.
"Uh, no, I sent Charlie, good thing I did 'cuz he found it in under 3 hours" Booth boosted.
Booth parked in his usual spot at the apartment. Once inside, Booth made a quick snack for them while Brennan packed her items and bag.
"Bones, did Hodgins give you our room number?" Booth asked before he took a bite of his sandwich.
"No, in fact he didn't, let me call just to be sure." Bones said.
"When you have him on the phone, ask when they are heading over" Booth suggested as Bones was calling Angela.
"Angela, can you ask Hodgins what room number I am in? Great, oh one more thing, what time are you heading to the hotel? Oh, okay, well I will see you at 7," Brennan said as she ended her conversation.
"Booth, we need to leave now, they are packing now and heading over there. I want to be sure to avoid them as much as possible. You know, we can order room service, if you are that hungry." She teased.
"Nah, I'll just take this to go. I am not spending $30 on a sandwich" Booth argued as he packed the rest of his lunch.
"Now, are you gonna let me see this dress or not?" Booth whined as he grabbed the bags to pack the car.
Bones gave a husky laugh, "No, I want it to be a surprise."
A groan came from Booth, "You are killing me, Babe"
"Trust me, Booth that is not the plan" Bones whispered in his ear.
When Booth opened the door to their suite, he let out a low, slow whistle. "Bones, this room is bigger than my apartment! I don't even want to know what this goes a night!"
"I would agree with your statement so I won't tell you" Brennan said as she placed a kiss on his cheek. "You know it is only 1:30, we have plenty of time before we need to begin getting ready. What do you say we fool around then take a nap until then" Brennan said as she pulled on his tie and lead him to the sofa in the sitting area.
"I think we can manage that," Booth said as he took off her jacket then pulled her onto his lap.
Brennan wrapped her arms around Booth and all was right in their world.
The automatic wake-up call service was set to wake up the couple at 5:30, which they did. Booth pulled Brennan into his arms to rouse her awake. "Bones, baby, come on get up. You have to shower first. You take longer to dress than I will tonight," he said as he placed feather light kisses on her lips and cheek.
"Hmmm, 5 more minutes if you keep doing that," Bones smiled and stretched like a well fed feline.
"If I do, I will be taking my 3rd cold shower here since we have checked in" Booth joked. "Now get up lazy bones!" He placed a quick kiss and gently pushed her off the bed.
"Meany!" Bones cried as she walked into the bathroom.
Booth just laughed as he gathered his things to take a shower in the other bathroom.
About an hour and half later, Booth pulled on the black suit jacket over his tuxedo shirt. His hair was parted to the side. As Booth surveyed himself in the mirror, he was reminded of an old Cary Grant style. There was not a cocky belt buckle or striped sock in sight and yet he felt like a million buck. All that was missing was a beautiful woman on one arm and a stiff drink in another. Booth smoothed out his jacket and caught movement in the mirror so he turned around. Brennan was standing in the doorway of the bedroom. For a few seconds, he was breathless. She literally took his breath away. He was for all purposes, speechless but his eyes devoured every inch of her.
"Do I look okay?" Brennan asked. She wore the midnight blue sequined dress with a pair of stilettos that made her legs go for miles. Her hair was fell down in soft waves with her bangs brushed to the sides, but what threw him for a loop was her eyes, they were made up to look smoky, but the color, the color would be burned into his brain forever. Her lightly glossed lips begged to be kissed.
"I love you." Booth choked out when he was able to find his breath again "Bones, you are stunning. I don't think there are other words that I could use."
"Thank you. Booth, you look very debonair. You look very old Hollywood. I find you more than pleasant to look at, in fact, you might say that I am very sexually aroused just looking at you." Brennan purred.
"Bones, I am more than sexually aroused just looking at you," Booth countered back.
He handed her the box with her mask and she handled it with care as she placed it on her face so to not disturb the feathers, glitter and sequins. She helped Booth put his covering more than half his face except his eyes.
They stared at one another for a moment longer before he offered her his arm. "Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"
"Yes, let's go knock their shoes off"
"Socks, Bones, knock their socks off"
"Well not everyone will be wearing socks, but they will be wearing shoes" Bones said with a straight face.