Brennan's standing on the Forensic platform, examining a set of ancient remains she has yet to identify. She hears the lab doors swish as they open, but continues to focus on the task at hand.
Booth rushes through the entrance and stalks up the platform steps, not bothering to swipe his card.
"Only authorized personnel can be up here," she says without looking up.
He pulls out his ID then, waving it. "I am authorized personnel," he grumbles, walking right over to her.
She lifts her head at the sound of his voice and meets his fiery gaze. "What are you doing here?"
"You would like to know, wouldn't you?"
"Yes, I would, that's why I asked." She sets right clavicle down in its rightful place and takes a sideways step, picking up the pelvic bone.
"Cullen called me into his office and informed me that you requested a new partner and if he didn't comply with your request, you'd quit working with the FBI all together!"
"A temporary partner," she corrects and finding nothing anomalous about the pelvic bone, she sets it back down.
"All the same, Bones." He pauses. "What the hell?"
She just shrugs. "I'm busy working, Booth."
"You're serious with this whole 'new partner' business?"
She looks up at him again. "I have no real desire to work with anyone other than you or to stop working with the FBI, but unless you want to change your mind about Sweets or your refusal to take me out in the field until after our son is born, I'm serious."
"I don't and I won't. I stand by my decision."
"Then, I stand by mine."
"You're just doing this to spite me. That's petty. I made my decision out of my love for you and our unborn son."
"I'm not discussing this with you here, Booth. I'm busy, as you can see." She motions her hand over the skeleton on the table in front of her. "We can discuss this at home later, though it appears that we have little to actually discuss on the matter."
He sighs. "Whatever. Talking to you about this is like talking to a brick wall."
"Perhaps you should go see Sweets if you're spending your time talking to brick walls."
He rolls his eyes. If she had made that comment to anyone else, he'd have laughed or at the very least, smiled a little. "I have to go pick up Parker. I'll see you at home." He starts to walk towards the stairs, but stops.
"I'll be home late. I'll probably miss dinner, but I'll be home at some point tonight."
He nods and heads down the steps and out of the lab.
She watches the doors close behind him. So what if she's being petty? She's just trying to prove a point. As much as she hates fighting with him, she is not about to back down, at least not before he does.
It's close to midnight and Booth's lying in bed awake, on his back, his eyes closed. Brennan isn't home yet and to say he's terrified is an understatement. He knows they had a fight, he knows she's going to be late, she said so herself, but it's nearing midnight. Surely, she didn't mean this late, right? He can't help but think of the worst-case scenario. It's happened before. A late night at the lab, leads to an even later night at the hospital. He sits up and as he reaches for his cell phone, he hears the front door click shut. He pulls back his hand and lets out a sigh of relief. She's home. She's safe. He lies back down and shuts his eyes, rolling onto his side and feigning sleep.
Their bedroom door opens a few minutes later and then closes again. Brennan sets her purse on the chair and unbuttons her blouse. She brushes it off her shoulders and opens her dresser, opting for a simple long T-shirt. She loses her bra next and unbuttons her slacks. She pushes them off her hips and shimmies out of the constricting fabric, feeling instant relief. She pulls the T-shirt over her head and disappears into the adjoining bathroom.
He tugs on the sheets and peers at the clock through one squinted eye. It's 12:03. It's late, but at least she's home and he knows she's safe. He feels the other side of the bed dip a little as she crawls into bed beside him. He groans, keeping up with his charade. "Bones?"
She turns her head quickly. "Oh. I didn't mean to wake you up," she whispers, settling down for what she figures will be a sleepless night.
"It's after midnight."
"I'm well aware of the time, Booth."
"I was worried." He rolls onto his back and turns his head to look at her.
"I told you I would be late."
"I heard you. I just figured you didn't mean this late."
"I didn't specify how late I was going to be. I was vague on purpose. I didn't know what time I would be home and I, too, didn't mean this late when I informed you of my plans earlier."
"Were you working?"
"Of course I was working, Booth. What else would I be doing?"
He shrugs. "I don't know."
"Obviously you do know or you wouldn't have asked if I was working." She pauses. "If you're accusing me of something, just come out and say it."
"I wasn't accusing you of anything, Bones. I just wanted to clarify that you were working and not just avoiding me." He pauses. "Christine was upset that you weren't home when I put her to bed."
"I just checked on her. She woke up briefly and gave me a kiss goodnight. She also told me to never be late again."
He smiles. "I told her you would be in to say goodnight to her when you got home."
"I always say goodnight to her, no matter how late I come home."
"I know. That's why I told her you would."
She nods. "Goodnight, Booth." She rolls onto her other side, facing away from him and closes her eyes.
He sighs. He doesn't want to go to bed angry, but she's giving him no choice. They're obviously not going to make up tonight and bringing up the 'new partners' discussion again will only result in a bigger fight. "Goodnight, Bones. I love you," he whispers.
She smiles faintly. They may be fighting and she may not like him at the moment, but she does love him and she needed to hear that he loves her too, no matter how messy this whole situation is right now.