A/N: SORRY IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO UPDATE...the song I used is JUST ANOTHER DAY BY JON SECADA. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.

I breathe a little faster

Every time we're together

It'd never be the same

If you're not here...

Booth's alarm went off at 6:30 AM on the morning of December 28, but, if truth be told, he'd been awake for at least an hour. He chuckled to himself. Here he was, a grown man...a badass federal agent...and he was as excited as a 16 year old boy who had a date with the most popular girl at school. As a matter of fact, he remembered being a 16 year old boy who had a date with the most popular girl in school, but what was happening today was even more exciting, and caused no small amount of trepidation. Bones was going to meet him for lunch at the diner today.

He showered and shaved extra close, being careful not to nick himself. A little splash of the good aftershave, a little breakfast, and then it was time to get dressed. He stood at the closet door looking through his shirts and ties. Pops had always accused him of being overly particular about his appearance, but Booth knew that Angela's dad was right: every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man. Important occasions like this called for attention to detail. He picked out his best blue broadcloth shirt, remembering how many times Bones had admired the color, but the problem was which suit to wear. He went back and forth between the navy suit and the gray one. Finally it was time for a reality check. "Jesus, Booth...get dressed already. It's just lunch, not your wedding, and you gotta be at work on time today." He scolded himself as he grabbed the gray suit and the gray tie with the blue stripe. "Get a grip, man...you don't want to come across as desperate and needy, even if you do feel that way." He gave his shoes a wipe down and took one last look in the mirror…."God, you're a handsome devil", he smirked at himself….and off to work he went.

The traffic was bad, but that wasn't what Booth was worried about. He'd spent the morning drive praying to St. Michael and St. George, the patron saints of police officers, and, by extension, FBI agents, hoping he wouldn't have a new case that would cause him to miss his lunch date, with a special note to ask St. Christopher for no car trouble or flat tires. "A guy never can have too many saints on his side for an important date like this one.." So far, the morning was uneventful, if not downright boring. Time dragged by...he checked his phone several times to make sure the office clock hadn't stopped. Finally…11:45 rolled around. He waved to Charlie on the way out. "I'm going to lunch, and I may be a bit late coming back, but I've got my phone if you need me."

"Hey, Booth?...", Charlie started. "Did you see the email that Cullen just sent out?"

"Is the world going to Hell within the next hour and a half, Charlie? Because if not, I'll read it when I get back."

Charlie shook his head as he watched Booth trot through the office toward the elevator. "Okay...yeah...enjoy your lunch…."

oooooooooo

...I don't wanna say it

I don't wanna find another way

To make it through the day without you...

Brennan checked her hair and lipstick in the car's visor mirror one last time before she got out of the car, all the while acknowledging it was a completely irrational thing to do. "I'm having lunch with Booth...he's seen me with messy hair, dirty clothes, and no make up. It doesn't matter what I look like, really. We're friends and we're going to share a meal. That's all it is. It's just lunch at a place I've been several times."

Logic, however, did nothing to calm her nerves. Brennan was aware enough of her own body to realize that her adrenaline responses had kicked in, especially the rapid heart beat. How frustrating it was to have her own body betray her, and all because she was going to have lunch with Booth! She tried to shake off the idea that this was a special occasion as she walked quickly toward the restaurant, but she wasn't successful. Even though she was not normally given to excessive vanity, she paused to look at her reflection in a shop window on the way, and decided that her clothing choices had been acceptable. She was wearing slim black pants, boots with a three inch heel, and a turquoise sweater...a sweater that Booth had commented on several times when she wore it last winter. She tried to convince herself that she'd worn it because of the cool air temperature, and not because he liked it, but deep down she knew she had decided to wear it to get his attention. "Using my feminine wiles to get Booth to notice me….shame on me.", she laughed to herself. "I hope it's worth the effort to do so."

Brennan had missed Booth terribly while she was in the Caymans. She'd been gone a little less than two weeks when she realized she had made a terrible mistake leaving DC, but she tried to make the best of things. Sully wasn't a bad person...he just wasn't what Brennan wanted or needed. He just wasn't Booth. Finally, Brennan had to face the truth...she was making herself and Sully unhappy by staying with him in the Caymans when she really just wanted to go back home. Sully didn't put up much of a fight to make her stay….He seemed to know she couldn't be happy sitting around on the deck of a boat with nothing to keep her mind occupied.

"There is no logical reason to be nervous about having lunch with Booth. I'll have a salad like I always do, and Booth will have a hamburger, and maybe I'll steal a few of his fries. We'll have coffee, and Booth will have a piece of apple pie. We'll chat...things will be fine. This is not a momentous occasion...it's a meal. That's all." She chided herself for acting like a silly teenage girl but there was no denying that her heart fluttered a bit when she walked into the diner and saw Booth flashing a charm smile at her.

oooooooooo

Making the time

To find the right lines

To make you stay forever...

...Give us a chance to make it...

Booth looked up as he heard the diner doorbell chime. He truly believed he'd never seen anything more beautiful in his life. "Bones...over here." He gave her a little grin as he waved and she gave him that quirky half smile of hers in return. Inhaling deeply, he tried to calm himself. He knew he had to avoid coming on too strong, or he'd scare her away. "You look great. That sweater looks great on you...the color's perfect for your eyes."

"Thank you, Booth. I think your shirt is a very good color for you to wear." She looked over the diner's menu, hoping that she wasn't blushing under his intent gaze. "I see that the menu hasn't changed since the last time I ate here." Looking up at the waitress, she ordered. "I'm going to have a garden salad and a cup of hot tea."

"Alright." The waitress smiled. "It's good to see you back, Dr. Brennan. Agent Booth has had to eat by himself too long now."

Booth's ears turned bright red as he handed the waitress his menu. "Yeah, great...Thanks, Ellie. I'll have the usual, okay?" Booth handed Ellie the menu and turned back to Brennan. "I haven't had a partner since you've been away…it's just been little ol' me, all by my lonesome." He glanced shyly at Brennan. "So why did you decide against going back to work at the Jeffersonian, Bones? Aren't you bored since you aren't working every day?"

Brennan avoided eye contact with Booth...it was hard to explain, and she was embarrassed. "When I got home, I was planning to ask for my old job back, but I wasn't sure Cam would agree to rehire me...then I conceived a wonderful idea for a novel, and I wrote it very quickly. It was rushed to publication, and I was asked to do a nationwide tour promoting it, so I wasn't home enough to work." She took a sip of her tea and cleared her throat. Looking up at him, she continued softly. "It wasn't because I didn't want to work with you, Booth...I did, but I didn't know if you'd still want to work with me...I thought I might be in the way…"

"IN THE WAY?" Booth realized he had spoken too loudly when the entire lunch crowd turned to look at him. "In the way? How could you ever think you'd be in the way, Bones? You're my partner…you'll always be my partner, and you'll never, ever be in the way…."

Brennan paused as the waitress delivered their meals. "I didn't mean professionally, Booth….I meant between you and Cam. I didn't know how she would feel about us being partners...I thought it might be awkward, and I'd be uncomfortable…Angela said Cam was jealous of our friendship, but I'm not sure why Cam would feel that way."

Booth knew Cam was jealous of Bones...their last argument had been about that very subject. "Look, Bones...it doesn't matter if I'm dating someone else or not...you're my partner, and you never have any reason to feel uncomfortable about that situation, okay?" Booth paused as he realized what he said. Dating someone else? Me and my big mouth... "And since Cam doesn't work at the Jeffersonian any more, I think you should go back to work there, and we can partner up again. C'mon...whaddya say? Partners again? It would be fun, right?"

"Do you think I'd have to do all the administrative work like Cam did? I'm not sure I'd enjoy that aspect of the job. I think I'd rather be out in the field working on cases instead of behind a desk."

"I bet the Jeffersonian can find someone to fit the bill on the administration side if you don't want to be stuck in the lab. Please tell me you're at least gonna go talk to Goodman and see what you can work out. Please consider being my partner again…" He gave her a charming grin.

Brennan nodded as she listened...Booth could be very persuasive. it would be fun and interesting to be partners with Booth again, out in the field, helping him solve crimes…. but she also wanted to guard her heart. She knew it would only be a matter of time before Booth had another new girlfriend, and things would be awkward between them again. That would too hard to deal with… Her musings were interrupted as Booth's phone rang.

"Booth…shit...really? Okay, well, we just got our lunch. We'll be there in about forty minutes...yeah...they can go ahead and start...yeah...okay...yeah….see you then...bye." Booth sighed heavily and gave Brennan a small smile as he put his phone away. "They found a body out in the goddamn middle of nowhere and want me to come take a look at it." He took a bite of a french fry and then used it to point at her. "Hey...I've got an idea...if you're not working on anything today, why don't you come with me, you know? Just for fun? For old times sake?" Booth was pulling out all the stops in his plea. He even pulled out the sad puppy eyes….

Knowing she was beaten,Brennan nodded as she ate a bite of salad. "Okay….I guess I can ride along, but don't get your hopes up, Booth. I'm not going to be your new partner."

"Okay, I'll remember that." Booth knew he'd already won...Bones wouldn't be able to resist getting out of the SUV and sticking her nose into the remains…she'd be his partner again in no time. "Well, let's eat up so we can get out there before the techs mess with your remains….I mean, the remains." He chuckled as he corrected himself. "Thanks for meeting me for lunch, Bones….you have no idea how much I've missed this."

oooooooooo

The SUV came roaring to a stop about 15 yards from the area where several police cars were parked around an area marked off by yellow crime scene tape. Booth hopped out and came around to the passenger side of the car so he could open the door for Brennan, but she was out of the car easily and was waiting for him. "I'm not really dressed to work out here, Booth…especially my boots..."

"That's okay...you wait here, and I'll go see what's going on…" Booth grinned to himself, knowing very well that Brennan would be following close at his heels. "Easy there, Bones. It's kinda muddy here." He offered her a hand which she waved off. Booth turned to a well dressed man as the local police official walked away. "What's the story?"

"Well...same old story...body dump...how's it goin', Booth?"

"I don't believe this….Sully? What the hell….What are you doing here? Booth stood in shock as he watched Sully walk toward Brennan, ignoring his question.

"Hey, Tempe...you look great. I guess this climate agrees with you, huh? Better than the Caribbean, I guess." Sully threw his arm around her and gave her a squeeze before turning back to Booth. "Hey...did you say something? I musta missed it." Brennan moved out from under Sully's arm and stepped away from him.

Booth was furious. "I said what the hell are you doing here? I thought you'd quit the FBI…"

"Nah...I was just on leave without pay. I decided to come back to work right here in DC. Didn't you get Cullen's email?"

"What email?"

"I'll take that as a no….Well, surprise!….I'm gonna be your new partner…."

"Like Hell you are…" Booth turned back and looked at Brennan. "Did you know about this? Is this some sort of sick joke?"

She shook her head as she looked at Sully. "No...he didn't say anything to me about this…"

Sully sauntered back to where Booth was standing. "New rules...all field agents have a partner for safety reasons. Cullen thought we'd make a fine team." Glancing back at Brennan, Sully continued. "Since I didn't have anyone on the boat with me, I got bored, so I came back to work. What's the matter, Booth?" Sully cast an appreciative eye towards Brennan again. "Worried about the competition?"

oooooooooo

...I don't wanna say it...

I don't wanna find another way

To make it...

Brennan sat quietly listening to Booth bluster and rage all the way back into town. "I don't need that jackass Sully for a partner. Safety, my ass. That bastard couldn't figure out what he wanted to do for a living, and they think he's gonna make me safer? No way...the shit's gonna hit the fan. Wait 'til I see Cullen. I'm gonna tell him a thing or two….."

"Are you through, Booth?" Brennan glanced over at Booth. His jaw was clenched and his hands were wrapped tightly around the steering wheel as he stared straight ahead.

"What do you mean...am I through….I'm just getting warmed up. Just wait 'til I see Cullen….wanting me to work with the guy who stole my partner from me."

"I think you should reconsider your plan to yell at Director Cullen, Booth." Brennan looked out the side window as she continued. "I think you'll regret it. Cullen most likely thinks he's done you a favor, partnering you with Sully."

"Cullen knows you're my partner, and I don't need anyone else."

"Director Cullen doesn't know I've returned from the Caymans unless Sully told him, and I don't work for the Jeffersonian any more, so I'm in no position to be your partner right now. Cullen thinks you and Sully are friends, so you'll work well together."

"We were friends. I mean, I always thought Sully was a great guy, and then….well, you know...he convinced you to leave."

"Sully didn't steal me away, Booth. I went of my own accord, but he wasn't the one who convinced me to leave. You were."

"What? I did not!"

"Remember? We were standing in the cemetery as that body was being exhumed, and I told you that Sully wanted me to go with him. I asked you what you thought. Do you remember what you said?"

Oh, God…"I said you should go so you could live large….but I didn't really want you to go...I was trying to be supportive."

"I thought you told me that because you wanted me to leave...because I was in the way. If I left with Sully, Cam would be happy, and that would make you happy."

"Wait...you thought I wanted you to leave? NO...no, I wanted you to stay….It hurt so bad when you left.."

"You said it was okay, and you were fine…" Brennan shifted in her seat slightly to look at Booth. "That's what you told me. You thought I should go with Sully. What was I supposed to think?"

"I guess I thought you should be able to read my mind, and then you'd know it was killing me when you decided to leave. God, I missed you so much….I wanted you to be happy, and I thought Sully made you happy. That's why I told you to leave...not because I wanted you gone."

They rode in silence for a few minutes, trying to sort out their conversation.

"I'll call Dr. Goodman tomorrow, Booth. It may take a few weeks, but I believe I can get my old job back, and if a change in partners can be worked out, I'd be willing to be your partner again."

Booth heaved a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks, Bones."

"You know you don't have to worry about the competition, right?"

"What?"

"You know….What Sully said back there? The competition? You've already won…" Brennan smiled demurely as she looked out the window.

Booth broke into a huge grin as he realized what she meant. "I think you're right, Bones. By the way….what are you doing New Year's Eve?"

...To make it...

I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER...MORE SOON.