July 1992

Seeley Booth sat in the corner of the club, nursing a beer and counting the minutes until he could make his excuses and get the hell out. The first part of the evening hadn't been bad - cheese steaks and BS with Dave, Matt and Pete. He'd been ready to split after dinner but then Matt had suggested a drink and the others had readily agreed and he'd been outvoted. Then, they "just happened" to run into Matt's girlfriend Peg and some of her sorority sisters. Dave and Pete had quickly paired off with two of the girls and were out on the floor dancing, leaving Booth with Peg's friend Cam and a dilemma. Normally asking an attractive woman to dance would not have been big deal, but his newly rehabilitated feet were reminding him that his life wasn't quite normal yet. But the volume in the club was too loud for easy conversation. So far she seemed content to just listen to the better than average cover band but it was kind of awkward to be sitting in silence with a near stranger.

He leaned over to at least make some attempt at conversation, but she just shrugged and indicated that she couldn't hear. She took a long swig of her beer and then looked at him. She said something which he couldn't hear. The song ended and as he was about to speak but she was too fast, "Look, I don't want to be rude, or for you to take this personally. I'm sure you're a nice guy and all, but, I've had a totally crap week that's been on the heels of many other crap weeks. I only came out tonight because it was easier to go along with Peg than to fight her-I figure I have about another hour before I can beg out of here and return to my previously planned evening of finishing homework, then a drink and a trashy romance novel. I don't want to dance, and if you are looking to score tonight you should direct your energies elsewhere, because it ain't happening here. Okay?" She gave him a look that dared him to argue with her and took a long drink of her beer.

He stared at her, processing her rant and then to her annoyment he burst out laughing. She took another drink and leaned in again, "I wasn't joking."

He tried to look serious and failed. "I know." At her glare he confessed, "I was working on a slightly less blunt version of that speech." She raised her eyebrows, "Of course I was going with beer and a ball game. And I wouldn't have mentioned your odds of getting laid." He sipped his beer and said primly, "I am a gentleman."

She stared at him in disbelief and then had to chuckle in spite her mood. He smiled at her, "Okay, since neither of us wants to be here, what do you say we make our excuses to the gang and go hang out at the diner around the corner until we can safely return to our respective places without a lecture on how we should have spent our Friday night." At her skeptical look he pleaded, "We can ignore each other there as well as we can here and it will be a hell of a lot quieter which will definitely help my headache." The band started up again proving his point.

That made sense. She nodded and they drained their beers and went in search of their friends to let them know they were leaving. Peggy was delighted that they had hit it off and they didn't bother enlightening her with their true plans. They walked towards the diner in silence. Cam feeling a little ashamed, after all her outburst, while honest, hadn't been exactly polite. Booth was focused on making sure he didn't trip-after a couple hours of sitting his right foot was numb, and he knew from experience it would take a few more uncomfortable minutes before full feeling returned. When they arrived a disinterested waitress motioned them towards a corner booth and tossed a couple of sticky menus on the table. The waitress returned a few moments later and grudgingly filled their coffee mugs, huffing when Cam asked for decaf and he ordered coffee and apple pie ala mode.

Booth waited till she was out of earshot before commenting drily, "Ah, that's what I've missed about Philly - friendly service and brotherly love." Cam was about to reply when she noticed the server stomping back with his pie and the check which were both placed none too gently on the table. They both took an extreme interest in the table top rather than risk eye contact and laughter while the server was in range. He took a bite of the pie and declared, "Thankfully their baker is better at their job than the server is." She started to dig in her purse and he held up his hand, "Sorry, no need to leave already, I'll go back to ignoring you as promised."

She looked puzzled and then let out a short laugh, "Don't mean to disappoint you, not leaving yet, just thought you might like a couple of these." She produced a small bottle of Advil.

"If we hadn't already agreed that this relationship is going nowhere, I would be tempted to kiss you." He shook out a couple, dry swallowed them and handed the bottle back to her. "Thank you."

"No problem." She sipped her coffee and studied him. If her life was different she might be tempted to kiss HIM, but she wasn't in a good place right now. Somehow she got the feeling, neither was he. "And I'm ok talking if you are."

He shrugged, "Might make the hour go faster. So, what do you want to talk about?" He internally winced a little after the words left his mouth, he really wasn't in the mood for small talk.

She thought for a moment, go with small talk or since this was definitely a 'one and done', satisfy her curiosity. He hadn't seemed to be put off by her blunt rejection, was attractive, and all the guys she'd met through Peg and Matt had been nice enough even if sparks had never flown. "So, what's the deal with you?"

Well that was an open ended question. Not sure what to say he deflected, "Nothing terribly interesting."

She narrowed her gaze, "Not sure that I believe that."

"Why?"

She sipped her coffee before replying, "I've known Peg for four years. Since she started dating Matt 2 years ago, she's been on a non stop match making mission." She gave a wry grin, "Peg wants everyone to be as happy as she is. Anyway as a result, I've pretty much met all of Matt's friends at least once, this is the first time I've met you even though I've heard your name in tales of varsity basketball exploits. So, either you've been out of town or off the market. But, for some reason I don't think it's the second, and I get the feeling that wherever you've been, you haven't had the standard college experience of classes and keggers. " At his questioning look, she shrugged, "Even though you're the same age as the guys you seem older. Am I right?"

He smiled at her assessment, this could be an entertaining hour. "Maybe. If I tell you my story, you gonna tell me yours? "

"Depends."

"On what?"

She smiled, "On how interesting your story is."

He took a bite of pie, chewed slowly and contemplated. "Okay, challenge accepted. Yeah, the guys and I were basketball teammates. I headed off to State College on a scholarship, red shirted freshman year, career ending injury in practice the second year. Good bye scholarship and girlfriend who decided that dating Seeley Booth wasn't as interesting as dating number 23." He shrugged, "No big loss there. Shoulder recovered enough to shoot a gun but not a basketball, so I joined the army. Got shipped off to Iraq, was injured in February. Have spent the last few months recovering. Currently taking independent study to a criminal justice degree, when I turn in the paper I SHOULD be finishing tonight I'll have 10 classes left. But it will be another couple of years before I finish since I'm heading back to Fort Benning in September to pass the training program and re-join the Rangers. Till then, I'm working part time as a filing clerk with the VA, which is boring as hell and the captain in charge is definitely not a people person, but hey, it's only temporary, and you go where the army tells you, and the hours let me study and workout. Living with my family in South Philly." He sipped his coffee, "Interesting enough?"

"Well, it's more interesting than mine, I'll give you that."

"Oh, I doubt that," he replied mildly.

"What makes you think so?" In spite of herself she was intrigued. There were obviously a lot of interesting details left out of his recitation. Yet rather than take advantage of an opportunity to elaborate he was turning the tables. Most guys were more than happy to talk about themselves. But, she reasoned, most guys would have stayed at the club.

He caught her musing look so answered her question, "You and Peg likely rushed the sorority together, so you should have graduated with her. But, you said you were finishing homework, so either that was a lie to spare my feelings, which given what you told me before we left the club, I doubt, or you didn't have enough credits to graduate. The reasons for not graduating on time are either choosing your major too late, partying too much or something interupted your studies. Since you definitely don't seem to have a problem deciding what you want, I doubt it's either of the first two. " He sipped, "You also have the much too young to feel this old vibe about you."

"Observant one aren't you?"

"I try. So, how'd I do?"

She gave a small smile, "Pretty good. I got behind last quarter, took a few weeks off to be with my mom in New York. She died of cancer in May. Profs gave me incompletes rather than failing me, with the condition that I finish up by the end of July. Even if they didn't give me deadline, I need to finish up because as of September first I'm joining the training class at the NYPD academy and I need the degree - bachelors is required even though my major doesn't exactly relate to law enforcement. " At his questioning glance, "It's pre-med."

"I'm sorry about your mom. Is she the reason you're changing course?"

"Thanks. " She took a deep breath as if to gather her composure, "Yeah. The last few weeks I came to the conclusion that while I've got the interest in medicine, I don't have the psyche to deal with patients or their families and research doesn't interest me, so had to come up with a plan B."

He thought about all the doctors he'd dealt with in the past few months. "I get it."

She smiled at that, "Then you're in the minority. If I had a nickel for everyone who's told me I'm crazy in the last couple of months I'd be set for life. So, a lot of experience with doctors?"

"Enough." He didn't want to talk about it, so time for deflection, "But why a cop?"

She caught the change in topic but understood. Sometimes you just got tired of dealing with your own crap. She had noted the cautious way he moved on the walk over, definitely not the easy grace of a college athlete, and if he was still recovering five months later whatever happened had been bad. She shrugged, "It's kind of the family business. My dad, an uncle and two cousins are on the force. " She gave a wry grin, "If I wasn't a girl, no one would have ever expected me to do anything else."

"I know how that goes." At her raised eyebrows, "The army is kinda the Booth family business."

"Ahh. So if you had gotten your degree would you have been a major disappointment to them?"

He laughed, "Not exactly. Pops was pretty excited about the scholarship." He clarified, "My grandfather."

"What about your parents?"

He took a bite of pie, "Um, they aren't exactly in the picture. Pops has raised me and my kid brother for the past 10 years."

She got the hint that was another topic of conversation that he didn't want to pursue. Still she was curious, "So is Pops the guy that will lecture you on how you should be spending your Friday night?"

He smiled, "Yeah. The only reason I went out tonight is that Matt called while I was still at work so they arranged everything. " He shook his head, "I think me being underfoot is cramping his social life, Jared usually has a date or a game so he's been used to having Friday nights on his own. "

She smiled at that, "Well, makes sense then that you didn't want to go home early. I think the only thing worse than interrupting your roommate making out would be to catch your grandpa in the act."

He shuddered at the mental image. "Oh God. Yeah, that would be WAY more of Mildred Fields than I want to contemplate. I think now I need to stay out another half hour just to be safe."

She couldn't help but laugh at his horrified expression. She also found that she didn't mind the idea of the evening being extended. She glanced around for the server to indicate she'd like a refill. Again avoiding eye contact as the waitress acted like she was doing them a huge favor by pouring coffee. After they were alone he said, "So you're going to hang out with me a little while longer?"

She nodded over the cup, "I have to. There's no way I can sleep until I get the image of half naked senior citizens out of my head. So, really, what the hell happened to the Sixers in the second round of the playoffs?"

He grinned both at the thought of her company and the opportunity to talk sports. They launched into a spirited discussion about what moves the team needed to make in the off season. They moved onto other sports, who really had the best cheese steaks in the city and what the best variety of TastyKakes truly was. Sometime in their discussion the waitress gave up and just dropped off a carafe at the table. When the pot was empty they were both shocked to find that it was after midnight. Leaving a generous tip they left the diner, walking slowly. He because his damn foot was numb again and she had noticed the careful way he'd stood and didn't want to rush him.

"Can I give you a ride?" He asked, "My car is just over at the club."

"My place isn't far. I can walk." Sensing he was about to protest, "I'm leaving for the police academy in a few weeks. No way I can think about patrolling in the Bronx if I'm afraid to walk a few blocks."

"I don't doubt you can take care of yourself."

"But?" she challenged.

"Gentleman remember?"

"So, I'll offend your delicate sensibilities if I refuse?"

"Something like that."

"Well, can't have that." He led her to his Mustang. "Nice car" she said approvingly then frowned at the sizeable dent in the front fender of the passenger side. "Ouch, what happened here?"

"Oh. Jared was driving it while I was gone. Haven't had time to fix it yet."

She wondered why his little brother hadn't fixed it himself but decided that fell into the none of her business category. She climbed in and a few minutes later they were at her place. He started to get out to walk her to the door and then caught her glare. "I think I can manage the 50 feet to the front door Seeley."

"Booth" he corrected, "and sorry, old habit Camille."

"Cam. " She smiled, as she opened the car door, "and thanks. Turned out to be a nice evening."

"Yeah it did." He found himself wishing that they hadn't already said this was it. He wasn't in the market for a girl friend at this point in his life, but he really had enjoyed talking with her. He stuck his hand out, "Nice to have met you Cam."

She exited the car and then reached back in to shake his hand. "You too, Booth." She shut the door, but on impulse turned and leaned back in the open window. "When I'm not home I can usually be found in the study carrels on the third floor of the library. If your Pops needs some alone time we can ignore each other again."

He grinned, "Tuesday is canasta night. Around six? We can study for a while and then you can try and convince me that Genos steaks are better than Pats?"

"I'll be in the library. See you then."