Author's Note: This won't make any sense if you haven't read the previous chapter. Go back and do that now if need be. Secondly, I know this is short, but I purposefully divided chapter 7 into two parts so it wouldn't be too long. It looks a lot longer in my notebook than it does here.

Disclaimer: As usual, Bones and related characters and plots are not mine. This story, however, is. Don't take it from me or I will be very sad.

"That is complete bullshit and you know it!" he argued back, his hands balled into fists. "First off, don't you dare blame me for your lack of social know-how. It's not my job to set a good example for you. I'm not some experiment for you to learn from. And don't you go reading into my motives either. That's what we have Sweets for. For someone who puts such little stock in psychology, you're really starting to sound like the guy. I can say these things because I care about you, because you are my friend. Friendship and love aren't mutually exclusive—and yes I know what that means. You can love a lot of people in this world. Don't blame me for 'coming and going' when you've been the one encouraging me to do it. You made it clear that you weren't interested. You were all about satisfying biological urges. You know how sick it makes me when you make comments about men's hips and thighs being 'perfectly developed for strength and maneuverability?" he shuddered. "You met guys online—"

"One guy. That was one time," I interjected.

"…you strung along three guys at once if I can properly recall. You had Sully and Hacker, but you weren't looking for the one. And if you were, you really weren't doing that great a job. You even got yourself involved with a guy who killed his own brother! As for my own relationships, you only encouraged them. You were the one who wanted to discuss my love life all of the time. And I don't think I have to remind you that you rejected me. I told you I had to move on, and you never stopped me. I drew that line and you said that you understood. So this is not on me."

Considering he wasn't one to talk about his own love life, it surprised me that he seemed to remember almost every one of my past relationships. I thought it made him uncomfortable and that he probably blocked it out. But now wasn't the time to be moved by his memory. I was angry and I wasn't going to be the one to back down. Booth clearly had the same idea and we sat in searing silence.

I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. His gaze was set on the black screen of the television, his jaw set with the occasional angry twitch. His hands, no longer in fists, twitched atop his legs, as if he were contemplating some action but trying with all his might to restrain himself. He caught my eye, and all restraint was out the window. He stood up in an instant, grabbing me by the arm and forcing me up with him. I tried to pull away but his grip was strong. I laughed spitefully.

"Wrong move, Booth."

No one lays a hand on Temperance Brennan and gets away unscathed. He of all people should know that. I swung at him with my free arm, but he was quick, grabbing that one too and squaring me forward so that we were eye to eye. It was his turn to laugh.

"You really thought you were going to fight me, Bones? Aside from the fact that you could never beat me, this is a new low for you." He tightened his grip. "I've got something to say. I'm going to say it, let you go, and walk out of here without another word. Then I'm leaving it to you. It's your move. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome, but I think the more I tell you, maybe, one time, it'll finally get through. Bones, it's you that I lo—"

I couldn't listen to him with his hands bruising my arms as they were. Okay, I could listen; my arms had no effect on my hearing, but I couldn't take anything the man said seriously when he was behaving like a bully. That might work on criminals, but not on me. In one swift motion, I kneed him in the groin, all the while looking him straight in the eye. If there was one way to get through to Seely Booth, it was by insulting his manhood. I just took the more literal approach. I was instantly released as he moved to shield himself from another blow, lowing himself to the ground as he hissed in pain.

"What the hell, Bones!" he squeaked. "You don't knee a man in the balls as he's about to tell you he loves you. As a matter of fact, you don't knee a man in the balls ever, okay?"

I stood over him, laughing, but this time not of malicious intent, but out of the sheer humor of the situation.

"This is not going as I anticipated," he sighed.

"When does it ever? We're not exactly normal," I smiled.

"Speak for yourself," he said, grabbing my ankle, gently this time, and pulling me down so I landed on the floor with a soft thud. And there we were, lying side by side on the floor of my living room, staring up at the ceiling as if it contained all of the answers we sought.

"I suppose you're right though, about us not being normal," he said. "If we were, this would be a lot easier."

"How do you figure?" I asked.

"For one, I wouldn't have gotten you drunk to fire you after our first case, especially since you squints essentially saved my ass in the end."

I nodded. "Maybe if I were normal, I wouldn't have left that night alone in that cab."

"But then we wouldn't be where we are now," Booth pointed out.

"On the floor?"

"No, well that too, but we've got something special going on. An abnormal, frustrating something, but special no less."

"So I'm not supposed to understand it?" I glanced at him.

"No, I guess you're not," he smiled, turning his head to look at me. "We figure it out together."

Author's Note: Don't worry, it's not over. It sounded like a good place to end things, but I wasn't quite satisfied yet. Anyhoo, let me know what you thought. Your feed back is always appreciated. Also, if you have any suggestionas as to where you want things to go from here, I'm always open to suggestions.