A Good Workout - K+ - posted by saraluvzbones [13/09/2007]

Posted 21/09/2007 02:44:03 PM by saraluvzbones

Chapter 5: Found!

About half-an-hour later an urgent need to use the facilities woke Brennan. Slightly disoriented, she gazed around the room a moment before she remembered where she was. Grabbing her water bottle, she took a sip to relieve the dryness in her throat.

She grabbed her things and headed toward the toilets. I doubt I'll be able to do anymore thinking here. Did I forget anything? Brennan checked her list and found unexpectedly that she had covered all her items. No need to stay here anymore, I guess. She glanced at her watch. It's only 1:45. I can still get in a few hours of work.

As she wove through the tables and bookshelves, a tall man with broad shoulders and brown hair caught her eye. Wait, is that Seeley? The man took a few steps and she realized her mistake. That guy looks a little like Booth from the back, but he walks wrong. Hold on, did I just think about him as Seeley? I've never called him by his first name before, in real life or my thoughts. Crap. This is going to be difficult.

In the bathroom, Brennan took a few minutes to freshen up. She splashed some water on her face and reordered her sleep-mussed hair. Seeley. I like the way it sounds. Oh… and I love the way he looks. Thoughts of his appearance, reminded her of his muscular chest and her dream and she felt her temperature rise. Whew, I can't believe I had such an explicit dream about my partner. He's just my partner. Her brain attempted to convince her heart all the way out of the library and the whole trip back to her apartment.

She pulled out her keys and unlocked her car. As she drove toward work, she wondered if she had any messages. She stopped at a red light. A honk came from the car behind her and Brennan realized the light had changed. I really spaced out for a second there. That nap didn't do much to counteract a night without much sleep. She parked at the Jeffersonian a few minutes later and started searching her purse for her phone. It's crazy how quickly something on top of everything can get so buried. Oh well, I'll just dump everything out when I get to my office. I should probably clean out the junk anyway.

She walked down the hallway to her office. She sat on her couch for a minute and then remembered she was looking for her phone. She upended her bag over the coffee table. The couch is really comfortable. She lifted her phone off the table, sat back, and sleep overtook her.
___________________________________________________________________________

Booth slid his card through the security reader and walked with long, hurried steps through the Jeffersonian toward Angela's office. When he entered the Medico-Legal area, he glanced around looking for Brennan out of habit. Stupid. She's not here, that's why Angela called you. Then he noticed the light in Brennan's office.

Hope took root in his heart. Maybe Bones is here and safe. He practically ran the last few feet and then stopped abruptly in the doorway, shocked to find her sleeping peacefully on her couch. Relief flooded through him, and he spent a few moments gazing at the woman he loved, waiting for his adrenalin to recede and his heart rate to return to normal.

Booth pulled out his cell phone and snapped a quick picture of her before proceeding to Angela's office. At his quiet greeting, Angela lifted her head from her hands and straightened her hunched shoulders. One look at his face said it all. "You found her." When he nodded, the worry lines in Angela's face smoothed into a smile.

"She's asleep in her office," he informed Angela. Angela jumped up from her seat and practically ran for Brennan's office. Booth followed more slowly.

"She wasn't there the last time I checked. I wonder when she slipped in and how I missed it." Angela thought out loud, but Booth barely caught her words. She darted into Brennan's office and woke her with a tight hug. Brennan tensed for a moment and then relaxed when she recognized Angela.

When Angela kept holding on, Brennan asked in a slightly irritated tone "Angela, what's going on? Why are you hugging me so tightly?"

Angela release Brennan, stepped back, and started to give her the piece of her mind that had been worried for the better part of the day. "Bren, you totally disappeared. You weren't answering your phone and no one knew where you were. I was really worried."

Angela waved away Brennan's explanation about leaving a message with Cam and her phone being shut off. Brennan picked up her phone and turned it on. "See?" she said.

Ignoring her, Angela continued, "You weren't here to consult with Zach. He couldn’t figure out what to do and so he ended up pestering Jack all morning. I had to send them to separate corners to prevent them from hurting each other."

Angela stopped to catch her breath and took a good look at Brennan. "Sweetie, you look terrible." Brennan glared. "What? I'm sorry, but it's true. You weren't joking about not sleeping well, were you? Is something going on? You usually sleep well." Brennan pretended she hadn't heard the question and was relieved when Angela said, "You really should take the rest of the day off and rest." Brennan objected and started listing all the things she needed to do. Angela argued that she would be able to work more efficiently in the morning.

Until then, Booth had watched from the doorway, slightly amused, but he decided it was time to rescue Brennan. He wasn't ready for Angela to find out about last night, and he didn't think Brennan was either. He stepped into the room and joined the conversation. "Bones, if you're feeling up to it, I need you to sign these papers. Also, Cullen is expecting our report about the case we finished yesterday on his desk before noon tomorrow." Angela glared at Booth, but Brennan smiled in relief and practically shoved Angela out the door.

Booth took a long moment to assess Brennan's state and said, "I kind of agree with Angela though. It wouldn't hurt for you to leave at a reasonable hour." Brennan went to her computer and turned it on. Booth offered her the papers that needed her signature and sat down on her couch. While he waited for her to finish perusing the documents and sign them, he examined her to make sure really was okay. Even though she looks exhausted, she's still beautiful.

Brennan offered him the signed papers and he stood up and reached for them. He glanced out the door to make sure that he wouldn't be overheard. Lowering his voice, he said, "I think we need to talk about what happened last night, and I would really like to know where you were today. How about I come pick you up in a few hours and we can get takeout? Angela knows you weren't at your apartment, so you'd better have a good story if you're not going to tell her what really happened."

Too tired to argue, Brennan just nodded and turned back to the computer to work on the report. Returning to Angela's office, Booth assured her that he would make sure that Brennan left the office at a decent hour and suggested that Brennan was too tired to handle an interrogation today.

Posted 21/09/2007 04:04:40 PM by CheeseBK

i loved it, you are doing a great job here

Posted 21/09/2007 06:39:25 PM by Virpukka

This gets more and more interesting. So please post soon.

Posted 24/09/2007 02:21:56 AM by saraluvzbones


Chapter 6: Talk It Out

True to his word, Booth showed up a few minutes before six to pick up Brennan. Brennan argued with him the same way she did every other time he tried to get her out of the lab, but her words carried little conviction. I'm glad that she's acting so normally around me; I don't want anything to set off Angela's radar. He escorted her quickly to his SUV and held the door for her. She gave him a small glare he interpreted to mean "you're being an alpha-male" but spared him the usual tirade.

After a quick stop at Wong Fu's to pick up some food, they headed for her apartment. Brennan was so tired that she practically leaned against the wall to stay upright. The moment the door closed behind them, Booth set the food down, and pulled her into a long hug. After a few moments she started to pull away, but he tightened his arms around her. "You scared me today. I just need to hold you for a minute to assure myself that you're really okay."

After a minute they sat down to eat. She ate slowly and stared absently at the bookshelves, hardly able to form a coherent thought, still feeling the warmth of his hug. When they were finished, Booth pushed her toward the bedroom. "You're so tired you can hardly think. Sleep for a few hours and then we'll talk." He watched as she flopped down on her bed and promptly slept, fully dressed. He removed her shoes and scooted her toward the center. It wouldn't be good if she fell off the edge. A soft smile stole over his face and he stood there for a minute watching her sleep.

He cleaned up their dinner mess and sat on her couch, deep in thought. Thank God she's safe. I can't believe the ups and downs of the past not even 24 hours. I wonder where she disappeared to and what she was doing? It must have had something to do with the events of last night. Images of Brennan in his doorway, working out at the gym, and crying in his arms flooded his mind and his chest tightened with emotion. She opened up to me in a new way last night, and I want to continue to be her safety, her comfort, her shelter. I've crossed that line, even if it’s only in my mind, and I don't want to go back. Temperance and I are the opposites that complement each other. Somehow, we have to find a way through this.

Booth knew if he spent much more time thinking along these lines, he might let his hopes, no – his expectations – for the future put them in a difficult place. Right now we need to deal with today. So he grabbed the remote and turned the TV on.

Several hours later, Booth sat on the edge of the bed and gently touched her shoulder. "Bones, wake up. I went out and got us some dessert." Brennan groaned softly. I need a few more hours of sleep. Am I really ready to have this conversation? He's being nice about it, but I know what's coming. She blinked up at him sleepily; he was leaning over her, giving her a warm smile, his charm smile. He looks so yummy I might want to eat him for dessert. Her eyes went wide. Temperance, Stop that!

"It's German chocolate cake," he coaxed, and she was suddenly ready to get up. He's so thoughtful; he brought my favorite. Over dessert, Booth casually asked where she'd been all day and what she'd been doing. She readily answered the first question, but avoided the second by asking him about what he'd worked on that afternoon. She was relieved that he allowed her to redirect the conversation temporarily.

After savoring the last bite, she stood and cleared the dishes. "Can I get you anything to drink? I have beer, red wine, water, and milk, and I can make tea or coffee."

Booth answered, "Water, please," thinking that he would need a clear head for the conversation to come. Brennan poured water for him and wine for herself. I need something to help me relax.

Brennan handed Booth his glass and by unspoken agreement they moved to the living room. She sat in a chair and he sat diagonal to her on the couch. Wanting to appear relaxed despite his growing apprehension, he kicked off his shoes, put his feet up on the coffee table and rested his arms behind his head. Brennan relaxed just a bit. She hoped he wouldn't pursue the conversation for the moment, but she knew he was too tenacious to drop it. Sure enough, he returned to his earlier question.

"So, why did you disappear?" Booth asked.

Brennan replied, "I needed to spend some uninterrupted time thinking, you know, about…" Her voice trailed off as if putting into words what happened would make it more real.

"About last night?"

She gave a small nod.

"Bones, what did happen last night? You showed up at my house furious and I couldn't seem to do anything to help. Then you told me it was my fault because I looked at you, and you started sobbing. After a few hours sleep on my couch, you snuck out of my house and disappeared for half a day, all of which is very unusual behavior for you. Maybe you can understand why I'm kinda confused." He described the events from his perspective quietly and for a moment his word almost hung in the silence between the two.

Brennan's shoulder slumped a bit. How do I say this, she thought desperately. I'm so much better at putting things on paper. Being her usual forthright self, she said, "I realized something important yesterday evening. At first I was upset and I didn't know how to deal with it. I needed the time today to think things through."

Well, she answered part of my question, probably the easiest part. He reached over and squeezed her hand, trying to encourage her. "Perhaps you'll tell me what that important thing is?" He could imagine a thousand things that Brennan considered important, but only a few that would make her that emotional. I really hope it's something good, like she has feelings for me, and not something bad, like her father visited again.

Booth's warm hand on hers surprised her momentarily, but to Brennan it felt wonderful. Could we make it work? Should we? There are a lot of risks involved, and I don't know how I would handle him leaving.

Booth watched the emotions flickering over Brennan's face and waited patiently for her to say something, anything. Her words came haltingly at first. "You know, Angela's right about some things and wrong about others." Booth glanced at her in surprise, wondering what Angela had to do with this.

"Uh huh," he prompted.

Brennan continued bluntly, "She's right about the fact that I have feelings for you beyond that of partner and friend. She recognized it long before I ever did. But she's wrong. She thinks I never noticed. I've known for a long time; I just don't know what it meant." Brennan sighed in relief. The hardest part is over; I told him how I feel. I would have liked more time to try and figure out how he feels about me, but after last night there was no way I could have gotten it. I hope this goes well.

Shocked by her admission, Booth was silent for a moment. Confused he asked, "I don’t get what did this has to do with me looking at you yesterday."

"Oh," Brennan said softly. "The look you gave me last night made it impossible for me to ignore it anymore. It was confusing and my emotions were all over the place. I'm not good with emotions. They just don't make sense; they're not logical and I don't understand them. Suddenly it seemed like it was all your fault; and in a way, it is. This never would have happened before I met you. Somehow you know me better than anyone."

She examined his expression carefully, but his face didn't give anything away. This is not good. Why does he have his "interrogating the prisoner" blank face on? Maybe this was a mistake. She started to shift nervously in her chair.

Meanwhile, Booth was stunned. He could hardly think coherently. His mind flew from exultation that she cared for him to thoughts of what to say next. He opened his mouth to say something but no words came out. The sound of Brennan's hands rubbing her pants caught his attention and he realized her discomfort. She just laid all her cards on the table and I don't know what to do.

Wanting to reassure her, but not having any words, he patted the couch next to him in invitation. She looked at him questioningly for a moment and then, as if she'd made up her mind to trust him, stood up abruptly and sat near him. He reached over and pulled her into his arms. He took a deep breath, trying to order his thoughts, distracted by the lingering scent of her lavender shampoo.

"I'm glad you told me, Bones. I'm not sure where to begin. While you were sleeping, I did some thinking. I've had feelings for you above and beyond those of a partner and friend for a long time. Since you didn't seem to reciprocate those emotions, I thought it was better to ignore them. But now I'm not sure what to do. Maybe you can share your thoughts? It might help us figure this out."

Brennan summarized them for him, and then waited quietly for him to work things out. As she waited she reveled in the safety and comfort of being in his arms. Occasionally she took a sip from her glass of wine.

Eventually, he cleared his throat. He reached for his water glass and took a long swallow to wet his throat. "First, I know I said it already, but I want to repeat it again: I reciprocate your feelings. At the moment I'd love nothing more than pull you into my arms and kiss you senseless, but I think we need to discuss some things first."

Brennan agreed. "My biggest concern is how this would affect our work."

"Well, the FBI strongly discourages romantic relationships between employees and forbids them between partners. But you're employed by the Jeffersonian, not the FBI. It still could be a problem, but I think as long as we were careful they wouldn't split us up. We'd have to be extra careful to be professional at work."

"I don't think that would be a problem for me; I tend to get absorbed in my work. Could you handle it?" Brennan asked.

Booth thought carefully for a minute. "Because of my feelings, sometimes it's already been difficult, but I managed. I think I could continue to do so. I did with Cam."

Brennan frowned at the thought of him with Cam. Deciding to ignore it for now, she continued, "I'm also worried about what would happen if things didn't work out between us. Even if someone else became the liaison, you are friends with Angela, Jack, and Zach. I would hate it if they felt like they had to choose between us. It could cause friction within the team."

Reaching out to touch her cheek with the back of his index finger, Booth reassured her. "We both care too much about them to let that happen."

Brennan gave him a small nod and confessed, "I'm afraid that our being together might impair my judgment."

He looked at her in amazement. "You don't to anything without analyzing it first. I seriously doubt that's going to change." Gazing at her directly in the eyes for a moment, he too made a confession. "I'm afraid that somehow this will be just 'satisfying biological urges' for you and that I'll get my heart broken. Also, I'm worried that the hours you work might strain our relationship."

"You really don't have to worry about the first one. I've never felt like this before and you know me better than any of my other boyfriends ever did." She reached out and squeezed his hand. "I think the second one could be a problem for either of us. Logically speaking, if we were involved it would be better if we weren't partners."

Booth disagreed, "It might be easier, but I'm not sure about better. I would miss seeing you every day. And at least when we're working together I don’t have worry about the trouble you might get into."

Brennan said, "Yeah, but if they split us up it because of our relationship, things could get ugly very quickly. It would make both of us very angry. On the other hand, if we wait until one of us got a promotion or another assignment, we wouldn't have to worry about it. We also wouldn't have to worry about professionalism on the job."

The two discussed their options at length. An hour passed and it was approaching two hours when they finally agreed. Booth wanted to start something right then and there. After all this time, he finally knew how she felt about him and he wanted to express just how much he cared about her. But Brennan thought it might be better to wait a bit. Their work was important and they loved working together. She didn't want to jeopardize that yet, and he reluctantly agreed. Privately, he thought that she might need some time adjust to the idea.

"So we won't pursue anything further right now, but we'll consider it again in three months," Booth summed it up.

"No, nine months." Brennan argued back.

Booth stared at her. "You're a hard woman, Bones. How about we compromise on six?"

Brennan nodded in agreement, relief coursing through her. We agreed on a solution and we both think we can live with it for now. "And we both think it could be better for us not to be both work and romantic partners. When the time comes, one of us will see about getting reassigned." Brennan finished.

Booth wasn't sure he agreed with this last bit, but decided not to argue. Oh well, I can always try and change her mind.

"Whew. I feel like weight has lifted off of me. A decision of this magnitude calls for a celebration. Would you like some more cake?" she asked. At his nod, she pulled out a couple of plates, dished up the cake, and refreshed their drinks.

"Now we have one other minor detail that needs to be addressed," Booth said. "The fact that you turned off your cell phone. Next time please just set it to vibrate instead of shutting it off."

Brennan looked a little miffed and began to argue. "I can take care of myself…"

"Most of the time," Booth interjected under his breath.

"I heard that. I don't need you or Angela to worry about me." She defended herself for a few more minutes, but her argument lacked its usual edge. She softened a bit, "It can be annoying, but it's kind of nice to know you both care so much."

Posted 24/09/2007 02:22:37 AM by sweetjamielee

Epilogue

A few days later, Angela was still pestering the Booth and Brennan about what happened that day. All they told her was that they'd had a fight and resolved it, but Angela knew something was different. The two didn't fight quite as often and their words lacked the usual edge. The tension between them seemed different somehow. However, when she asked Brennan outright if the two of them had finally gotten together, the only reason she could imagine for the change, Brennan denied it. She watched them carefully for several weeks, but eventually had to agree that they didn't seem to have taken the plunge.

Posted 04/10/2007 04:08:22 PM by miller 0259

I'm so sorry I haven't been posting!!! I thought this was going to be a oneshot!!! I really liked it though!!

Posted 04/10/2007 09:45:45 PM by bones206

wait wait wait wait hold it right there for a second, They're not work partners anymore?! WHat in the world is going to happen if they're not work partners? But I really like this story, a lot!

Posted 04/10/2007 11:14:45 PM by BGWGscienceteacher

Bones206, their still work partners right now, but Bones is evidently thinking that if they decide to pursue anything in the near future one of them should apply for reassignment. I doubt Booth would let that happen if he has anything to say about it

Posted 05/10/2007 06:42:24 AM by bones206

alright I get it now but either way we can't let that happen! p.s. I'm hueiming12!

Posted 05/10/2007 03:27:24 PM by BGWGscienceteacher

Hey, bones206 (hueiming12). I'm glad to finally see you over here. I hope when you feel like writing you will post here to. The writers on this site are always willing to help their fellow writers.