Fanfic: The Solution
Title: ‘The Solution’
Author: Elroy
Pairing: Booth/Brennan
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Loosely -Season 2
Summary: Booth and Brennan get the green light but are they ready for it?
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“I should do what?!”
Booth, who had shot up from Dr. Gordon Wyatt’s office sofa just moments before now leaned across his large mahogany desk with something akin to disbelief on his face.
Gordon of course wasn’t the least ruffled by the outburst.
Nodding slightly, Gordon answered him quietly. “I believe Agent Booth that is indeed the only solution to this ever present problem between you and your...what is it you call her?” He snapped his fingers as he remembered. “Ah yes...Bones.”
Drawing his eyebrows together for a short moment, Booth then blew out a breath and tossed his face skyward as if in fervent prayer. He remained silent for a long moment and Gordon, who had anticipated the reaction, allowed him to have the moment.
Booth dropped his chin and swung his dark eyes back to the psychiatrist. “So, what do I do?”
Gordon wanted to chuckle but kept the impulse in check knowing it might not be the best thing at the moment. Instead he brought his hands to a clasp in front of him thoughtfully.
“Well, Agent Booth, I would assume you would do it the way you’ve most likely accomplished the task, er...numerous times before.”
Booth continued to stare at him, still trying to digest the doctor’s idea and the images that now played through his mind without consent. He was a bit disturbed at the ease in which they came to him.
“So just....do it?”
Gordon nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving the younger man’s. “Yes, just go forth and... do it.”
Booth nodded slightly himself and twisted his mouth in thought, his brain still spinning.
“Are you sure there isn’t some other option or solution?.”
Gordon, still purposefully stoic, shook his head. “None. It must be done if the two of you are to move to a more constructive professional and personal plateau.”
“And you’re sure doing this will make things... better?” At his use of the word ‘better’, Booth stopped himself short and tried to ignore what he thought was the beginning of a smirk on the doctor’s smug face. He didn’t want the man thinking he was somehow perversely excited by the idea.
Because he wasn’t.
Really.
Her image played through his mind again and then he was seeing it happen. Curiosity warred with tingles of...something else. What that something else was, he would not entertain. Especially not here in his therapist’s office of all places.
“Do I just...grab her?”
Again, Gordon had to hide a chuckle. These two were truly something else.
He kneaded his fingers together and rubbed his chin thoughtfully before answering.
“I don’t believe I would suggest...er, how did you put it? Grabbing? No, I don’t think that would be prudent.”
Booth immediately nodded his own head in agreement.
“She’d probably toss me over her head and kick me in the groin.” He tossed a quick snarl at the doctor. “If this lands me in the hospital, I’m sending you the bill.”
Gordon allowed the chuckle this time. This pair was so entertaining. He hadn’t had this much fun on the job in years.
Gordon leaned back in his chair. Perhaps, a little more ‘professional’ advice was in order.
“Agent Booth, it isn’t brain surgery. It’s a simple kiss. She will not toss you anywhere.”
Booth smirked now himself. “With Bones, brain surgery would be easier.”
Gordon continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “As your therapist, I must insist that you do this. Once you do, it will remove the final barrier between yourself and Dr. Brennan and you’ll be able to more fully focus on matters at hand. Natural male-female curiosity will be satisfied and Wa-la!....you can be pain-free partners once more.”
He sat back with a small satisfied smile playing about his lips. He knew exactly what he was doing. These two young people were quickly becoming his favorite pet hobby. He’d get them there-and have a little fun in the process-of that he had no doubt.
“Now, Agent, if there’s nothing else...I am rather busy today.” Gordon stood, grabbed his favorite golf ball from his desk and held his hand out toward his office door.
In deep thought himself, Booth almost missed the dismissal.
“Um, sure Doc, but one more thing...When?”
Gordon walked to the door and held it open before facing him again with a pleasant smile.
“That will be up to you my dear boy but if I were you, I’d complete the mutual task as soon as possible. I think you’ll find that Dr. Brennan will understand and be most cooperative.”
Booth walked to the doorway, still not sure.
“Do I tell her when to do it?”
Gordon put a hand to his back and gave him a little push outward.
“With women, I’ve always found that the element of surprise sometimes works best.”
He shut the door with a click leaving Booth standing in the hallway wondering how the hell he was supposed to kiss his partner and make her understand it was necessary.
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He watched her. Studied her really.
Like he had so many times before. And yet, each time, her passion for what she did never ceased to fascinate him.
Her capable hands turned the instrument in her hand in various directions as she intently dissected and cataloged what was left of the poor soul on the table in front of her. The hands moved deftly and confidently without so much as a slight hesitation.
Man, she was good. So damn good.
It was times like this that he felt almost guilty for being a planet in her orbit. He was beer, football and strong coffee. She was...
He held his breath as she absently tucked an errant strand of loose hair behind her ear.
Just incredible at times.
The shiver of excitement that coursed through didn’t shock him- it had happened too many times in her presence- but it always took him off guard leaving him feeling like he had been sucker punched in the stomach. And at some point-he couldn’t even say when-he’d come to accept the feeling and not let it bother him.
But that didn’t mean he had to like it. The tender feelings for his unconventional partner weren’t part of the original agreement. Weren’t part of the plan. And it always pissed him off when plans went awry.
Brennan could feel his scowl. She’d felt him watching her from the moment he’d stepped upon the platform. She couldn’t get a visual on him but she could ‘see’ him. Dark jacket, dark slacks, bright socks, leaned up against the rail like he had nothing better to do than watch her.
Oh yeah, she could see him alright. And she almost wished she couldn’t. The man distracted her when she didn’t want him to. She’d expected him to interrupt her like he usually did. And it was driving her a little crazy that he wasn’t.
“What’s up Booth?”
Without looking up from skeletal remains, she tossed the question into the quiet air of the lab.
He said nothing for a moment and she turned her head to the side to get a real view of him. It pleased her that she’d been right on the socks.
Pushing from his perch, he made his way to the table, gesturing at the remains.
“Who’s the new boyfriend Bones?”
Brennan couldn’t stop the automatic lopsided half smile that his teasing coaxed from her.
Glancing back down, she reached for her chart to record her findings. “Unless I change sexual preferences, this one wouldn’t interest me.”
“Whoa, kin-ky Bones...I like it.”
She chuckled with him and realized it felt good. They’d been at odds lately and just...off and she couldn’t put her finger on why.
Holding his gaze, she snapped her records shut. The laughter died and neither spoke for a moment but rather just stared. He hadn’t been around as much lately and both were very aware of it.
Booth blinked, almost forgetting where he was. There was something strange that happened when she looked at him like that. He was here to talk. Yeah, talk. About that.
She began. “Are we going to stand here and discuss the pros and cons of being kinky or do we have a new case Booth?”
He blinked again before coming back to Earth. “Uh, case? Well...no...I just came by to...Um, I needed to- “
“Did somebody say kinky?”
With a huge smile, Angela climbed the couple of steps to the platform as Booth expelled his breath feeling both irritated and relieved at the same time.
“Well, here I am.”
Booth couldn’t help but grin back at Angela as she winked at him. He’d just bet she could be too. Hodgins was one lucky son of a gun.
Brennan reached for the file folder Angela was holding, flipped it open and scanned it quickly. “I don’t have even a preliminary on this one yet Ang. I’ll need Zach to do a dental and mineral morph.”
Angela shrugged and cast a sympathetic sigh toward the bones on the table. “Well, it isn’t like he’s going to be late for a hot date anytime soon.”
“She.” Booth interjected quickly causing Angela to raise an amused eyebrow his way. Strutting over toward him, she ran her fingers down his long tie. “Now, who’s being kinky wonder boy?”
He playfully knocked her hand away and glanced at his watch. He had a meeting in office at 1:00 sharp. Looking up, he tried to catch Bones’ eye which was still studying the remains in front of her thoughtfully. Like a dog with a bone. The woman didn’t let go until she had an answer.
Well, that was exactly what he hoped to provide them both with. And he was counting on her logical mind to see the wisdom of it.
“Bones, I need to talk to you.”
He didn’t think she heard him as she eyed the report more carefully.
“So talk.” She didn’t look up.
He glanced at Angela who was now just bouncing on her heels patiently beside him. Booth knew she didn’t miss the ill at ease nuances in his tone nor his body language but it couldn’t be helped. He eased closer to the table now standing directly across from his partner, leaned over the table and shot Angela yet another glance.
“I need to speak with you...you know...” He jerked his head toward the direction of her office.
Now Angela grinned unabashedly just loving the couple-like cloak and dagger by-play going on in front of her. “Just pretend I’m invisible.” she whispered conspiratorially .
Neither paid her any attention.
“Bones...” Something urgent in his voice finally got her to lift her head once more.
“Talk...Oh, you mean alone?”
Geez, she made it sound like he wanted a quick lunch session of nookie in her closet. He would not blush in front of Angela who was enjoying this far too much. Would not. He pulled at his collar which now felt far too tight.
Dropping his voice just a bit he said, “Yeah, alone. Can we go to your office...please?”
Brennan raised her eyebrows, her own interest now piqued. She handed Angela the folder and strode in the direction of her office without another word.
Booth shot Angela a tight smile trying to ignore what he knew she was thinking as he followed.
Angela reached a quick hand out to grab him. “Make her scream cowboy. Goodness knows she needs it. The woman has been tighter than a rubber band lately.”
Booth twisted his lips with a low growl and pulled away. He might make Bones scream but unfortunately, it wouldn’t be from delight.
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“He wants us to do what?!”
Booth winced ever so slightly and held up both hands. “Yeah, that was my reaction too. But he insists that it is the only way we can get -and I’m quoting- ‘past the natural male -female curiosity and renew our professional relationship’.”
Brennan plopped into the chair behind her. Of all the things she’d expected Booth to come through the door with today, ‘Hey, we have to kiss each other.’ had been down there right around ‘I’m giving up food, beer and flashy socks for good.’
It just seemed surreal. Were they really having this conversation?
Them. Kissing? Mouths meeting? Touching like that? On purpose?
She automatically reached for the phone, picked it up and hit a button.
“Who are you calling?” Booth sat on the front of her desk.
“Wyatt. I should have known better than to listen to a psychiatrist.” She snarled out the last word as if speaking of a known criminal.
Booth knew she was wasting her time but he allowed it. Bones had to know she’d exercised every option available to her. He waited patiently while she spoke to his office.
After just a few moments, she smacked the phone back into place. “His secretary says he’s on the golf course until further notice.”
Booth shrugged. “Told ya. He says he won’t meet with either of us again until after we complete this ‘step in our growth’.” Booth’s fingers made little air marks showing again the directive was straight from their therapist’s mouth.
She leaned her head back now on the chair and sat quietly a moment.
“Did he give us a time line?”
Was she warming to the idea? Booth swallowed hard.
“He said the sooner the better.”
She pursed her lips a moment and then stood and straightened her clothing. Mechanically, she walked around the desk to where he sat. He stood when she reached him. Why the hell was she standing so close? And did she always have to smell so fantastic?
“Well, let’s get it over with.” She began to lean toward him, her arms coming up to his shoulders.
Every neuron in Booth’s brain seem to fire at the same time. What? No!
He caught her arms. And she immediately straightened. “No, Bones...this isn’t...”
She blinked in confusion. “What?”
How could she be so cold about it? So clinical? Maybe she was right. Maybe they should just do it here in her office quickly and get it done with. But somehow, he just couldn’t. It just wasn’t right. How in the world did he explain himself without coming off sounding like he wanted something special from the experience?
“Listen, Bones...I’ve got a meeting that I’m already going to be late for so why don’t we just talk about this later. I’ve got some new stuff on the Givens case for you so I’ll be in touch.”
Brennan knew he was escaping and she let him. But she didn’t feel the least relieved. She wanted to get it over with. Not think about it. She didn’t need it sitting there in her mind becoming more important than a simple doctor’s medical treatment.
“O.K. Booth.” She sounded as unconvinced as he felt as she watched him stride toward the doorway. He turned and looked back at her and if she’d had any confidence in her ability to read him at all, she’d have sworn he seemed a little nervous.
“Hey, Bones, Doc says it’s going to make us a lean, mean working machine again.”
She looked blank.
He put his hand on the knob. He had to get out of here before he said something really stupid.
“It’s all good Bones...really.”
She shrugged. “I guess we’re going to find out.”
He held his breath at her literal remark. He had nothing to say to that. Absolutely nothing.
With the slightest salute to her, he left.
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She was watching the clock.
No she wasn’t. She didn’t watch clocks like some fifteen year old on her first date. She was above that.
6:54.
Crap. Why had she agreed to this?
Because he’d asked that’s why. It was really annoying how the man could get her to do things against her better judgement.
But he’d been so nice to her today. Too nice. It had been uneasy between them since Sully had left and she was tired of it. Booth was the one person besides Angela that she wanted and needed to be herself around. And he was the expert on relationship stuff-not her. If he believed the doctor’s psycho babble remedy would cure them, then who was she to say it wouldn’t?
But kiss him?
Wow.
It wasn’t like she had never given it some thought. With Angela constantly in her ear talking about how sexy and handsome and perfect Booth was, it was impossible not to wonder a little. But she’d never actually thought it something they could actually do.
Guilt free? Isn’t that what he’d told her on the phone.
‘Get dressed Bones and look good, we’re going out on the town tonight-guilt free.’
She wondered if he’d felt guilty before when they’d spent time together off work hours. She had always enjoyed their time spent at the café or eating at her house or walking in the park. She liked talking to him. She could admit that. He was her best friend in the world next to Angela.
Should she feel guilty about that?
6:59.
The buzzer rang making her jump.
This would be fine. They would be fine. Booth was right. Things were going to be better.
She straightened her clothing, stood and padded to the door. Booth waved wildly to her through the peephole and had her smiling as she opened the door.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
Booth stared at her for a long moment taking in her designer pants and soft white sweater. “You look....really...nice.”
“Thanks. You do too.” And he did in his grey slacks and red polo.
“Oh, I almost forgot.”
A hand was behind his back and he jerked it around in front of him to reveal a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers.
Brennan stared at them for a long moment. Flowers?
“Flowers?”
Booth looked down at them and shrugged. “I just picked them up on the corner-thought you might like them.”
She continued to stare at them. They were pretty. But...
Her head snapped upward.
“I thought this was just a therapy session Booth. You know...Flowers are a symbolic statement in most cultures of feelings of deep sympathy or affection. The Ancient Yakomomis tribe of remote northern Brazil used to give flowers as an indication they wanted the receiver to give them a bath and the -.”
“Just take the flowers Bones.”
She took the flowers.
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“So where are we going to complete this task?” Snapping her seatbelt, she turned toward him.
A flicker of annoyance crossed Booth’s face. “Don’t sound so excited about it.”
“Why would I be excited about it?”
Booth gave her one of his gravely stares as he fired the ignition and pulled away from the curb and she knew she’d said something wrong.
“What?”
He continued cast darts at her as he drove.
Finally, she blurted, “What?”
He rolled his eyes. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe we could just enjoy ourselves this evening and let this..this...task happen naturally rather than talking it to death?”
“I think it would be better just to do it. Get it on and get it out of the way.”
He almost swerved off the road.
Casting a long, dark look at her, he said nothing else. He should have known this was a bad idea.
She twisted to half face him in the seat.
“I mean if we pretend that this...this... task is a part of something larger or more important then we run the risk of making it into something that it isn’t. And if we do that, we then have an entirely different problem to deal with. And then, it isn’t therapy or a solution for us, it becomes part of the overall larger problem for us...Ouch!”
She rubbed her knee as it crashed into the dashboard. “What did you do that for?”
Booth ignored her as he pulled to the side of the road and jerked the transmission into park. Without a word, he got out of the vehicle, slammed his door and strode around the front to her side. Opening her door, he reached in and grabbed her by the arm.
“Booth! What are you doing?”
He looked angry and she didn’t know why and that confused her even more.
Pulling her onto her feet, he slammed the door shut behind her and backed her up until she was standing with her back flush against it.
He placed his hands flat on the glass on either side of her head and leaned in toward her.
“I don’t know what you think this is accomplishing but...”
He stared into her eyes, which were now blazing with a fire to match his own. God, she could make him mad. And damn it, turn him on too.
She met him nose to nose and didn’t give an inch. Man, he loved that about her.
“I don’t appreciate being manhandled. And I would like an answer to my question. What do you think you’re doing?”
She brought her hands up to his chest to shove at him and he caught them in his own, interlacing his fingers with hers and putting them against the cool glass on each side of her head.
That shocked her. He could tell from the instant flare in her eyes and it gave him the advantage he needed.
He leaned into her ever so slightly, never taking his eyes from hers beautiful blue ones. A challenge leaped in those eyes causing him to forget everything but the need to touch her; to make her know who it was that was holding her.
“What I should have done the first time you ran off at the mouth too much.” He spoke now just mere centimeters from her lips and she felt the puff of his hot breath against her skin.
She realized what he meant to do as his lips covered her own. But she wasn’t prepared for it. Not by a longshot. This was Booth and he was kissing her. His lips were a little rough at first as they settled and then they became ever so soft on her own, rubbing back and forth as if to get them both past the shock and newness of it.
She could taste him. Taste Booth. He was dark and smoky and delicious. And she began to participate, allowing her own lips to nip back at his, unable to get close enough to satisfy the insane feelings rioting through her body.
She pulled at his full lower lip with her teeth and he growled. She felt his fingers squeeze hers and become almost painfully tight.
More. More. Oh, god, more. More. It was all he could think of as he continued to devour her. She was kissing him back. For some reason, he hadn’t counted on that. If she had just stood there or remained agitated, he could have handled it. But she was more than a willing participant. He suspected those soft, pink lips knew how to kiss but he couldn’t have guessed at how incredible they would feel wet and hot over his own. And oh, she tasted good. She opened her mouth and he had to let his tongue slide inside.
Brennan knew the instant his tongue touched her own sending a wave of need crushing over her. The shock was stunning as she felt his sudden invading heat cover her body and push her back into the hard metal. The warm thrust of his tongue deep inside her made her tighten all over.
She shuddered just a little and Booth felt it. And oddly, that show of uncharacteristic vulnerability brought him to his senses. What the hell was he thinking to kiss her like this?
He was ready to have her in an instant and it scared the life out of him. They were both crazy. There was no other explanation for it.
He raised his lips from her as she followed with her own, instantly regretting the absence of his on her mouth and seeking to find them again. She felt his gentle fingers at the back of her neck, rubbing softly through her hair. When had he let go of her hands?
Dropping her chin, she let her forehead rest on his solid chest for a long moment. She didn’t dare look up at him until she had herself under some semblance of control.
How long they stood there like that, each just slowing down their breathing, she didn’t know.
A car horn taunted them as it passed.
Booth chuckled and she could feel the vibrations against her hands which rested on his stomach.
“I guess that’s our cue to get it moving one way or another.”
Brennan had never been so speechless in her life and they both knew the reason why.
Looking up at him, she tried to toss him a shaky smile.
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
With a finger, he clipped her under the chin and held her gaze.
“Hey, it’s done. Now we can just go eat and not think about it any more.”
Brennan agreed. That was logical. They’d had a task. They had completed it. Completely and totally logical.
Wasn’t it?
Booth opened the door on her side for her and she slid onto the seat.
She watched as Booth rounded the front of the vehicle and darted between traffic to open his own door and get in. He turned the ignition and putting the car in drive looked over at her again with that patent trademark charming smile of his.
“Done. Over. Moving on?”
She nodded in agreement, trying to inject as much finality into her own voice as he seemed to have in his.
“Done. Over. Moving on.”
As he pulled away from the curb, and into the oncoming busy night traffic, neither said anything more for a long time.
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Gordon made the three foot carpet putt perfectly. Pulling his golf club up to his chin, he smiled indulgently. A little time on the green always improved his mood.
Hearing his intercom click, he turned toward his desk.
“Doctor? Your two o’clock is here.”
Gordon leaned over to pick up his golf ball and placed it along with his club into the bag leaning by his desk.
“Ah, yes...please show them in Maxine.”
Strolling over, he casually sat down behind his desk just as the door opened. The ever persistent G-man and his lovely partner walked in and sat down on his sofa. He noticed right away that neither greeted him.
Getting up, he rounded the desk, leaned back on it and looked down at them. Ah, yes. Their little mutual task. He was quite anticipatory to know how that had worked out for them.
“Well, how is my favorite couple today?”
Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan looked at each other tentatively and then immediately looked away. Whoopsie. Perhaps, he had miscalculated.
Finally, Booth began.
“We have a new problem Doc.”
Gordon looked surprised.
“Oh?”
“You know that task you assigned us?”
“Yes, I remember it quite well.”
Again, they glanced at each other and then back at him almost accusingly.
“Well...we...enjoyed it.”
Brennan nodded her head in agreement, a worried frown on her face.
Gordon pulled his finger up to his mouth, tapped the end of his nose, stared at the pair and said nothing for a long, long moment.
Finally, he leaned back on his desk, turned slightly and pushed a button on his phone. A voice came over the intercom immediately.
“Yes Sir?”
Gordon didn’t hesitate.
“Maxine, hold my calls and cancel my 4 p.m. tee time would you dear?” He sighed as he cast a patient and knowing glance at the couple on the sofa. “I’m going to be a while.”
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Finis.
Hope my fellow Bones fans enjoyed!
Author: Elroy
Pairing: Booth/Brennan
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Loosely -Season 2
Summary: Booth and Brennan get the green light but are they ready for it?
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“I should do what?!”
Booth, who had shot up from Dr. Gordon Wyatt’s office sofa just moments before now leaned across his large mahogany desk with something akin to disbelief on his face.
Gordon of course wasn’t the least ruffled by the outburst.
Nodding slightly, Gordon answered him quietly. “I believe Agent Booth that is indeed the only solution to this ever present problem between you and your...what is it you call her?” He snapped his fingers as he remembered. “Ah yes...Bones.”
Drawing his eyebrows together for a short moment, Booth then blew out a breath and tossed his face skyward as if in fervent prayer. He remained silent for a long moment and Gordon, who had anticipated the reaction, allowed him to have the moment.
Booth dropped his chin and swung his dark eyes back to the psychiatrist. “So, what do I do?”
Gordon wanted to chuckle but kept the impulse in check knowing it might not be the best thing at the moment. Instead he brought his hands to a clasp in front of him thoughtfully.
“Well, Agent Booth, I would assume you would do it the way you’ve most likely accomplished the task, er...numerous times before.”
Booth continued to stare at him, still trying to digest the doctor’s idea and the images that now played through his mind without consent. He was a bit disturbed at the ease in which they came to him.
“So just....do it?”
Gordon nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving the younger man’s. “Yes, just go forth and... do it.”
Booth nodded slightly himself and twisted his mouth in thought, his brain still spinning.
“Are you sure there isn’t some other option or solution?.”
Gordon, still purposefully stoic, shook his head. “None. It must be done if the two of you are to move to a more constructive professional and personal plateau.”
“And you’re sure doing this will make things... better?” At his use of the word ‘better’, Booth stopped himself short and tried to ignore what he thought was the beginning of a smirk on the doctor’s smug face. He didn’t want the man thinking he was somehow perversely excited by the idea.
Because he wasn’t.
Really.
Her image played through his mind again and then he was seeing it happen. Curiosity warred with tingles of...something else. What that something else was, he would not entertain. Especially not here in his therapist’s office of all places.
“Do I just...grab her?”
Again, Gordon had to hide a chuckle. These two were truly something else.
He kneaded his fingers together and rubbed his chin thoughtfully before answering.
“I don’t believe I would suggest...er, how did you put it? Grabbing? No, I don’t think that would be prudent.”
Booth immediately nodded his own head in agreement.
“She’d probably toss me over her head and kick me in the groin.” He tossed a quick snarl at the doctor. “If this lands me in the hospital, I’m sending you the bill.”
Gordon allowed the chuckle this time. This pair was so entertaining. He hadn’t had this much fun on the job in years.
Gordon leaned back in his chair. Perhaps, a little more ‘professional’ advice was in order.
“Agent Booth, it isn’t brain surgery. It’s a simple kiss. She will not toss you anywhere.”
Booth smirked now himself. “With Bones, brain surgery would be easier.”
Gordon continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “As your therapist, I must insist that you do this. Once you do, it will remove the final barrier between yourself and Dr. Brennan and you’ll be able to more fully focus on matters at hand. Natural male-female curiosity will be satisfied and Wa-la!....you can be pain-free partners once more.”
He sat back with a small satisfied smile playing about his lips. He knew exactly what he was doing. These two young people were quickly becoming his favorite pet hobby. He’d get them there-and have a little fun in the process-of that he had no doubt.
“Now, Agent, if there’s nothing else...I am rather busy today.” Gordon stood, grabbed his favorite golf ball from his desk and held his hand out toward his office door.
In deep thought himself, Booth almost missed the dismissal.
“Um, sure Doc, but one more thing...When?”
Gordon walked to the door and held it open before facing him again with a pleasant smile.
“That will be up to you my dear boy but if I were you, I’d complete the mutual task as soon as possible. I think you’ll find that Dr. Brennan will understand and be most cooperative.”
Booth walked to the doorway, still not sure.
“Do I tell her when to do it?”
Gordon put a hand to his back and gave him a little push outward.
“With women, I’ve always found that the element of surprise sometimes works best.”
He shut the door with a click leaving Booth standing in the hallway wondering how the hell he was supposed to kiss his partner and make her understand it was necessary.
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He watched her. Studied her really.
Like he had so many times before. And yet, each time, her passion for what she did never ceased to fascinate him.
Her capable hands turned the instrument in her hand in various directions as she intently dissected and cataloged what was left of the poor soul on the table in front of her. The hands moved deftly and confidently without so much as a slight hesitation.
Man, she was good. So damn good.
It was times like this that he felt almost guilty for being a planet in her orbit. He was beer, football and strong coffee. She was...
He held his breath as she absently tucked an errant strand of loose hair behind her ear.
Just incredible at times.
The shiver of excitement that coursed through didn’t shock him- it had happened too many times in her presence- but it always took him off guard leaving him feeling like he had been sucker punched in the stomach. And at some point-he couldn’t even say when-he’d come to accept the feeling and not let it bother him.
But that didn’t mean he had to like it. The tender feelings for his unconventional partner weren’t part of the original agreement. Weren’t part of the plan. And it always pissed him off when plans went awry.
Brennan could feel his scowl. She’d felt him watching her from the moment he’d stepped upon the platform. She couldn’t get a visual on him but she could ‘see’ him. Dark jacket, dark slacks, bright socks, leaned up against the rail like he had nothing better to do than watch her.
Oh yeah, she could see him alright. And she almost wished she couldn’t. The man distracted her when she didn’t want him to. She’d expected him to interrupt her like he usually did. And it was driving her a little crazy that he wasn’t.
“What’s up Booth?”
Without looking up from skeletal remains, she tossed the question into the quiet air of the lab.
He said nothing for a moment and she turned her head to the side to get a real view of him. It pleased her that she’d been right on the socks.
Pushing from his perch, he made his way to the table, gesturing at the remains.
“Who’s the new boyfriend Bones?”
Brennan couldn’t stop the automatic lopsided half smile that his teasing coaxed from her.
Glancing back down, she reached for her chart to record her findings. “Unless I change sexual preferences, this one wouldn’t interest me.”
“Whoa, kin-ky Bones...I like it.”
She chuckled with him and realized it felt good. They’d been at odds lately and just...off and she couldn’t put her finger on why.
Holding his gaze, she snapped her records shut. The laughter died and neither spoke for a moment but rather just stared. He hadn’t been around as much lately and both were very aware of it.
Booth blinked, almost forgetting where he was. There was something strange that happened when she looked at him like that. He was here to talk. Yeah, talk. About that.
She began. “Are we going to stand here and discuss the pros and cons of being kinky or do we have a new case Booth?”
He blinked again before coming back to Earth. “Uh, case? Well...no...I just came by to...Um, I needed to- “
“Did somebody say kinky?”
With a huge smile, Angela climbed the couple of steps to the platform as Booth expelled his breath feeling both irritated and relieved at the same time.
“Well, here I am.”
Booth couldn’t help but grin back at Angela as she winked at him. He’d just bet she could be too. Hodgins was one lucky son of a gun.
Brennan reached for the file folder Angela was holding, flipped it open and scanned it quickly. “I don’t have even a preliminary on this one yet Ang. I’ll need Zach to do a dental and mineral morph.”
Angela shrugged and cast a sympathetic sigh toward the bones on the table. “Well, it isn’t like he’s going to be late for a hot date anytime soon.”
“She.” Booth interjected quickly causing Angela to raise an amused eyebrow his way. Strutting over toward him, she ran her fingers down his long tie. “Now, who’s being kinky wonder boy?”
He playfully knocked her hand away and glanced at his watch. He had a meeting in office at 1:00 sharp. Looking up, he tried to catch Bones’ eye which was still studying the remains in front of her thoughtfully. Like a dog with a bone. The woman didn’t let go until she had an answer.
Well, that was exactly what he hoped to provide them both with. And he was counting on her logical mind to see the wisdom of it.
“Bones, I need to talk to you.”
He didn’t think she heard him as she eyed the report more carefully.
“So talk.” She didn’t look up.
He glanced at Angela who was now just bouncing on her heels patiently beside him. Booth knew she didn’t miss the ill at ease nuances in his tone nor his body language but it couldn’t be helped. He eased closer to the table now standing directly across from his partner, leaned over the table and shot Angela yet another glance.
“I need to speak with you...you know...” He jerked his head toward the direction of her office.
Now Angela grinned unabashedly just loving the couple-like cloak and dagger by-play going on in front of her. “Just pretend I’m invisible.” she whispered conspiratorially .
Neither paid her any attention.
“Bones...” Something urgent in his voice finally got her to lift her head once more.
“Talk...Oh, you mean alone?”
Geez, she made it sound like he wanted a quick lunch session of nookie in her closet. He would not blush in front of Angela who was enjoying this far too much. Would not. He pulled at his collar which now felt far too tight.
Dropping his voice just a bit he said, “Yeah, alone. Can we go to your office...please?”
Brennan raised her eyebrows, her own interest now piqued. She handed Angela the folder and strode in the direction of her office without another word.
Booth shot Angela a tight smile trying to ignore what he knew she was thinking as he followed.
Angela reached a quick hand out to grab him. “Make her scream cowboy. Goodness knows she needs it. The woman has been tighter than a rubber band lately.”
Booth twisted his lips with a low growl and pulled away. He might make Bones scream but unfortunately, it wouldn’t be from delight.
-----------------------------------------------------
“He wants us to do what?!”
Booth winced ever so slightly and held up both hands. “Yeah, that was my reaction too. But he insists that it is the only way we can get -and I’m quoting- ‘past the natural male -female curiosity and renew our professional relationship’.”
Brennan plopped into the chair behind her. Of all the things she’d expected Booth to come through the door with today, ‘Hey, we have to kiss each other.’ had been down there right around ‘I’m giving up food, beer and flashy socks for good.’
It just seemed surreal. Were they really having this conversation?
Them. Kissing? Mouths meeting? Touching like that? On purpose?
She automatically reached for the phone, picked it up and hit a button.
“Who are you calling?” Booth sat on the front of her desk.
“Wyatt. I should have known better than to listen to a psychiatrist.” She snarled out the last word as if speaking of a known criminal.
Booth knew she was wasting her time but he allowed it. Bones had to know she’d exercised every option available to her. He waited patiently while she spoke to his office.
After just a few moments, she smacked the phone back into place. “His secretary says he’s on the golf course until further notice.”
Booth shrugged. “Told ya. He says he won’t meet with either of us again until after we complete this ‘step in our growth’.” Booth’s fingers made little air marks showing again the directive was straight from their therapist’s mouth.
She leaned her head back now on the chair and sat quietly a moment.
“Did he give us a time line?”
Was she warming to the idea? Booth swallowed hard.
“He said the sooner the better.”
She pursed her lips a moment and then stood and straightened her clothing. Mechanically, she walked around the desk to where he sat. He stood when she reached him. Why the hell was she standing so close? And did she always have to smell so fantastic?
“Well, let’s get it over with.” She began to lean toward him, her arms coming up to his shoulders.
Every neuron in Booth’s brain seem to fire at the same time. What? No!
He caught her arms. And she immediately straightened. “No, Bones...this isn’t...”
She blinked in confusion. “What?”
How could she be so cold about it? So clinical? Maybe she was right. Maybe they should just do it here in her office quickly and get it done with. But somehow, he just couldn’t. It just wasn’t right. How in the world did he explain himself without coming off sounding like he wanted something special from the experience?
“Listen, Bones...I’ve got a meeting that I’m already going to be late for so why don’t we just talk about this later. I’ve got some new stuff on the Givens case for you so I’ll be in touch.”
Brennan knew he was escaping and she let him. But she didn’t feel the least relieved. She wanted to get it over with. Not think about it. She didn’t need it sitting there in her mind becoming more important than a simple doctor’s medical treatment.
“O.K. Booth.” She sounded as unconvinced as he felt as she watched him stride toward the doorway. He turned and looked back at her and if she’d had any confidence in her ability to read him at all, she’d have sworn he seemed a little nervous.
“Hey, Bones, Doc says it’s going to make us a lean, mean working machine again.”
She looked blank.
He put his hand on the knob. He had to get out of here before he said something really stupid.
“It’s all good Bones...really.”
She shrugged. “I guess we’re going to find out.”
He held his breath at her literal remark. He had nothing to say to that. Absolutely nothing.
With the slightest salute to her, he left.
--------------------------------------------------
She was watching the clock.
No she wasn’t. She didn’t watch clocks like some fifteen year old on her first date. She was above that.
6:54.
Crap. Why had she agreed to this?
Because he’d asked that’s why. It was really annoying how the man could get her to do things against her better judgement.
But he’d been so nice to her today. Too nice. It had been uneasy between them since Sully had left and she was tired of it. Booth was the one person besides Angela that she wanted and needed to be herself around. And he was the expert on relationship stuff-not her. If he believed the doctor’s psycho babble remedy would cure them, then who was she to say it wouldn’t?
But kiss him?
Wow.
It wasn’t like she had never given it some thought. With Angela constantly in her ear talking about how sexy and handsome and perfect Booth was, it was impossible not to wonder a little. But she’d never actually thought it something they could actually do.
Guilt free? Isn’t that what he’d told her on the phone.
‘Get dressed Bones and look good, we’re going out on the town tonight-guilt free.’
She wondered if he’d felt guilty before when they’d spent time together off work hours. She had always enjoyed their time spent at the café or eating at her house or walking in the park. She liked talking to him. She could admit that. He was her best friend in the world next to Angela.
Should she feel guilty about that?
6:59.
The buzzer rang making her jump.
This would be fine. They would be fine. Booth was right. Things were going to be better.
She straightened her clothing, stood and padded to the door. Booth waved wildly to her through the peephole and had her smiling as she opened the door.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
Booth stared at her for a long moment taking in her designer pants and soft white sweater. “You look....really...nice.”
“Thanks. You do too.” And he did in his grey slacks and red polo.
“Oh, I almost forgot.”
A hand was behind his back and he jerked it around in front of him to reveal a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers.
Brennan stared at them for a long moment. Flowers?
“Flowers?”
Booth looked down at them and shrugged. “I just picked them up on the corner-thought you might like them.”
She continued to stare at them. They were pretty. But...
Her head snapped upward.
“I thought this was just a therapy session Booth. You know...Flowers are a symbolic statement in most cultures of feelings of deep sympathy or affection. The Ancient Yakomomis tribe of remote northern Brazil used to give flowers as an indication they wanted the receiver to give them a bath and the -.”
“Just take the flowers Bones.”
She took the flowers.
---------------------------
“So where are we going to complete this task?” Snapping her seatbelt, she turned toward him.
A flicker of annoyance crossed Booth’s face. “Don’t sound so excited about it.”
“Why would I be excited about it?”
Booth gave her one of his gravely stares as he fired the ignition and pulled away from the curb and she knew she’d said something wrong.
“What?”
He continued cast darts at her as he drove.
Finally, she blurted, “What?”
He rolled his eyes. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe we could just enjoy ourselves this evening and let this..this...task happen naturally rather than talking it to death?”
“I think it would be better just to do it. Get it on and get it out of the way.”
He almost swerved off the road.
Casting a long, dark look at her, he said nothing else. He should have known this was a bad idea.
She twisted to half face him in the seat.
“I mean if we pretend that this...this... task is a part of something larger or more important then we run the risk of making it into something that it isn’t. And if we do that, we then have an entirely different problem to deal with. And then, it isn’t therapy or a solution for us, it becomes part of the overall larger problem for us...Ouch!”
She rubbed her knee as it crashed into the dashboard. “What did you do that for?”
Booth ignored her as he pulled to the side of the road and jerked the transmission into park. Without a word, he got out of the vehicle, slammed his door and strode around the front to her side. Opening her door, he reached in and grabbed her by the arm.
“Booth! What are you doing?”
He looked angry and she didn’t know why and that confused her even more.
Pulling her onto her feet, he slammed the door shut behind her and backed her up until she was standing with her back flush against it.
He placed his hands flat on the glass on either side of her head and leaned in toward her.
“I don’t know what you think this is accomplishing but...”
He stared into her eyes, which were now blazing with a fire to match his own. God, she could make him mad. And damn it, turn him on too.
She met him nose to nose and didn’t give an inch. Man, he loved that about her.
“I don’t appreciate being manhandled. And I would like an answer to my question. What do you think you’re doing?”
She brought her hands up to his chest to shove at him and he caught them in his own, interlacing his fingers with hers and putting them against the cool glass on each side of her head.
That shocked her. He could tell from the instant flare in her eyes and it gave him the advantage he needed.
He leaned into her ever so slightly, never taking his eyes from hers beautiful blue ones. A challenge leaped in those eyes causing him to forget everything but the need to touch her; to make her know who it was that was holding her.
“What I should have done the first time you ran off at the mouth too much.” He spoke now just mere centimeters from her lips and she felt the puff of his hot breath against her skin.
She realized what he meant to do as his lips covered her own. But she wasn’t prepared for it. Not by a longshot. This was Booth and he was kissing her. His lips were a little rough at first as they settled and then they became ever so soft on her own, rubbing back and forth as if to get them both past the shock and newness of it.
She could taste him. Taste Booth. He was dark and smoky and delicious. And she began to participate, allowing her own lips to nip back at his, unable to get close enough to satisfy the insane feelings rioting through her body.
She pulled at his full lower lip with her teeth and he growled. She felt his fingers squeeze hers and become almost painfully tight.
More. More. Oh, god, more. More. It was all he could think of as he continued to devour her. She was kissing him back. For some reason, he hadn’t counted on that. If she had just stood there or remained agitated, he could have handled it. But she was more than a willing participant. He suspected those soft, pink lips knew how to kiss but he couldn’t have guessed at how incredible they would feel wet and hot over his own. And oh, she tasted good. She opened her mouth and he had to let his tongue slide inside.
Brennan knew the instant his tongue touched her own sending a wave of need crushing over her. The shock was stunning as she felt his sudden invading heat cover her body and push her back into the hard metal. The warm thrust of his tongue deep inside her made her tighten all over.
She shuddered just a little and Booth felt it. And oddly, that show of uncharacteristic vulnerability brought him to his senses. What the hell was he thinking to kiss her like this?
He was ready to have her in an instant and it scared the life out of him. They were both crazy. There was no other explanation for it.
He raised his lips from her as she followed with her own, instantly regretting the absence of his on her mouth and seeking to find them again. She felt his gentle fingers at the back of her neck, rubbing softly through her hair. When had he let go of her hands?
Dropping her chin, she let her forehead rest on his solid chest for a long moment. She didn’t dare look up at him until she had herself under some semblance of control.
How long they stood there like that, each just slowing down their breathing, she didn’t know.
A car horn taunted them as it passed.
Booth chuckled and she could feel the vibrations against her hands which rested on his stomach.
“I guess that’s our cue to get it moving one way or another.”
Brennan had never been so speechless in her life and they both knew the reason why.
Looking up at him, she tried to toss him a shaky smile.
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
With a finger, he clipped her under the chin and held her gaze.
“Hey, it’s done. Now we can just go eat and not think about it any more.”
Brennan agreed. That was logical. They’d had a task. They had completed it. Completely and totally logical.
Wasn’t it?
Booth opened the door on her side for her and she slid onto the seat.
She watched as Booth rounded the front of the vehicle and darted between traffic to open his own door and get in. He turned the ignition and putting the car in drive looked over at her again with that patent trademark charming smile of his.
“Done. Over. Moving on?”
She nodded in agreement, trying to inject as much finality into her own voice as he seemed to have in his.
“Done. Over. Moving on.”
As he pulled away from the curb, and into the oncoming busy night traffic, neither said anything more for a long time.
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Gordon made the three foot carpet putt perfectly. Pulling his golf club up to his chin, he smiled indulgently. A little time on the green always improved his mood.
Hearing his intercom click, he turned toward his desk.
“Doctor? Your two o’clock is here.”
Gordon leaned over to pick up his golf ball and placed it along with his club into the bag leaning by his desk.
“Ah, yes...please show them in Maxine.”
Strolling over, he casually sat down behind his desk just as the door opened. The ever persistent G-man and his lovely partner walked in and sat down on his sofa. He noticed right away that neither greeted him.
Getting up, he rounded the desk, leaned back on it and looked down at them. Ah, yes. Their little mutual task. He was quite anticipatory to know how that had worked out for them.
“Well, how is my favorite couple today?”
Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan looked at each other tentatively and then immediately looked away. Whoopsie. Perhaps, he had miscalculated.
Finally, Booth began.
“We have a new problem Doc.”
Gordon looked surprised.
“Oh?”
“You know that task you assigned us?”
“Yes, I remember it quite well.”
Again, they glanced at each other and then back at him almost accusingly.
“Well...we...enjoyed it.”
Brennan nodded her head in agreement, a worried frown on her face.
Gordon pulled his finger up to his mouth, tapped the end of his nose, stared at the pair and said nothing for a long, long moment.
Finally, he leaned back on his desk, turned slightly and pushed a button on his phone. A voice came over the intercom immediately.
“Yes Sir?”
Gordon didn’t hesitate.
“Maxine, hold my calls and cancel my 4 p.m. tee time would you dear?” He sighed as he cast a patient and knowing glance at the couple on the sofa. “I’m going to be a while.”
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Finis.
Hope my fellow Bones fans enjoyed!