Brennan’s arrival to the hospital was welcomed warmly par Cam, Zack, Angela, and Hodgins. Booth insisted on carrying her up to the room she was put in and refused to leave her side.
“I’m fine,” he declared. “I don’t need any plus medical attention.” Truth be told, Brennan didn’t want him to leave either. She was still getting over the whole kidnapping ordeal, and she had something important to tell him. After her near-death experience, Brennan didn’t know if she could ours to have another opportunity slip away like she had let so many others.
When they were finally alone after everyone else had gone home, Brennan tried to get up the courage to tell her partner how she felt. Booth had turned on the small TV that hung from the ceiling and they were in the middle of watching the Flintstones. Wilma had just gotten after Fred for yelling at poor Barney and locking him out of the house. She took the remote from him and muted the cartoon. He glanced over at her, protesting playfully. “Hey, I was watching that!”
“Booth.”
“Yeah?”
“I have to tell toi something.”
“What is it, Bones?”
She glanced at him, her gaze shifting nervously from her lap to his face. Booth gazed back at her with all the tenderness in the universe returning to his eyes. He took her hand in his and whispered, “C’mon, Bones. toi can tell me.”
“Booth, I…we’ve worked together a long time. toi understand me like no other person before and toi have risked your life for me on countless occasions. This…this is difficult for me to say. I am a scientist, and it is hard for me to change. I have a system. I have methods. But I realized tonight that in some cases, all the methods and systems cannot solve all problems. I realize now that I cannot let another opportunity to slip par me. I don’t want to miss my chance. Therefore, I will now say this.” She took a deep breath and continued. “Booth, ever since our first case together, when we first met…I…I’m in l’amour with you.” There. She had finally told him her deepest secret. Her heartbeat quickened, and the telltale monitor beeped faster and filled the thick silence. But Booth just stared at the ground, his face impossible to read. Why wouldn’t he say anything? She shouldn’t have told him that. Now everything about their relationship was ruined.
“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have a dit that. I-“ Brennan’s words were cut off as Booth leaned close and kissed her full on the lips. She just barely resisted, all the old alarms setting off in her mind, but they soon disappeared as she melted in the long-forbidden passion that emanated from him. When he finally pulled away, Booth caressed her bruised cheek and whispered, “Temperance Brennan, toi have no idea how long I’ve waited to do that. I l’amour you.”
“You do l’amour me.”
“Yes. I always have. I always will.”
Brennan smiled slightly and looked down at her lap. “You know, I used to be envious of toi all – Angela and Hodgins, Cam, Zack, marguerite, daisy and Sweets, even you.”
“Me?” Booth echoed in surprise.
“Yes. toi all wanted to lose yourself in someone else, to fall completely and absolutely in love. toi believed it was always worth it. I was jealous because I lacked the capability ou understanding and courage to do that. All my life I’ve built up my walls, afraid to let anyone in, afraid to l’amour and give myself away. But you,” she returned her gaze to her beloved. “You helped me find that capability and courage. toi are the l’amour of my life, Booth, no matter how long it took me to realize that. But I still worry.”
“About what? Bones, I will never stop loving you. toi know that right?” he reassured her.
“I know. I believe you. And I will never stop loving you. But how can we be together? The FBI – “
“Screw the FBI. I don’t care. They have forbidden something that should never be contained. I’m not going to let that one thing stand in the way of us! I l’amour toi too much,” Booth exclaimed.
“Shh-shhh. I know. But I don’t want to sneak around with this. I don’t want to hide it. I don’t need the FBI’s permission, but I want to do this right. I also don’t want any chance of us not being able to work together again,” she replied.
“Bones, now that you’re truly mine, I’m not sure how much longer I can deny – “
“Don’t worry. We will as soon as I get out of here. Can I have another Kiss to satisfy me for now?”
“Of course. C’mere,” he murmured, stroking her hair. He scooted closer to her so as to give her a gentle Kiss and was not prepared for the suppressed passion she forced at him. Brennan propped herself up with her good arm and almost shoved him back in his chair. He decided to return that feu and prodded at her lips with his tongue. She immediately complied and opened her mouth, letting him slide his tongue in her mouth. Sensations ran throughout her body as she tasted what she had missed out on for so long. Booth tried to break away for a seconde to catch his breath, but Brennan didn’t let him. She was now sitting up all the way in her hospital bed, ignoring the searing pain her side and leg. She pulled him back towards where she lay and Raiponce her fingers in his carefully gelled hair.
“Now if toi keep that up, you’re ribs ain’t gonna heal any faster,” a dit a feminine voice with a Southern accent. Brennan moved back sharply and gasped as pain shot up her body.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. The woman glanced at her pointedly before she walked over and sat a tray on the bedside table.
“You want pudding? I know your friend here does. Oh, I’m Sallie Mae, your official nurse. I’ll be takin’ care of ya most times when your doctor’s not pokin’ and proddin’ at ya. All right?” chatted Sallie Mae with a wide grin on her face. “Here’s your pudding, darlin’. I hope ya like chocolate. Well, holler if ya need somethin’. I’ve got some other patients to attend to.” And she walked out of the room.
Booth chuckled. “Nice lady.”
“Mmm. Now, where were we?” murmured Brennan as she began to sit up again.
“Bones,” Booth warned, placing his hand on her shoulder. “I hate to say no, I really do, but I don’t want toi getting any plus hurt than toi already are. The plus toi rest, the faster toi can get out of here and, well, cash in on your promise.”
“What promi – oh! That promise. Well,” she grinned mischievously. “I suppose I’ll just have to wait. Well, it’ll be worth it.”
“Good.” He glanced longingly at the tray sitting suivant to her. “Um, can I get some of that pudding?”
Six weeks later, Brennan was released from the hospital. Booth drove her accueil and grinned hugely at her expression when he opened her apartment door to a huge surprise welcome-home party, courtesy (of course) par Angela.
“Hi, sweetie!” Angela exclaimed, rushing over and giving Brennan a great big hug.
“Um, Ange, not so hard! Still recuperating here,” Brennan gasped.
“Oh, sorry,” she grinned sheepishly, letting go of her friend.
Zack approached her then. “Hello, Dr. Brennan. I am very glad to see toi are recovering. I hope toi will return to work soon. It’s just not the same without you.”
“Thank you, Zack. I will be returning Monday.”
“Hey, Brennan!” greeted Hodgins.
“Well, hello, cherie! I see this experience has drawn toi and Special Agent Booth closer together. If I could have a word with toi two later, that would be greatly appreciated,” a dit Caroline, giving them both a knowing look. The others stared at Booth and Brennan.
“Thanks a lot, Caroline,” Booth muttered sarcastically, glaring at his boss. Angela punched Hodgins lightly on the shoulder.
“Pay up, bucko. I always a dit my money’s on Dr. B. and Booth. toi owe me twenty bucks,” she ordered. Hodgins handed over the money, sighing heavily.
“Whoa, whoa! toi made a bet on – Cam, did toi know about this?” Booth growled.
“No, Seeley,” she replied, shaking her head. “All I have to say I remember the security cameras.”
“Cam, that’s not even funny,” whined Angela.
“Okay!” exclaimed Brennan, clapping her hands together. “How about we just forget about all of this and enjoy this wonderful party that Angela prepared for us?”
“Agreed!” Booth headed quickly to a table, tableau piled with food. “Who wants cake?”
A few hours later, Booth and Brennan a dit goodbye to the last of their party guests and starting cleaning up the mess. Caroline stayed behind to help clean up and to talk to the wary couple.
“So, Booth – “
“Look, Caroline. I know the FBI’s rules about fraternizing with coworkers, but I don’t care. I’m not going to deny my feelings for Bones anymore. I almost Lost her again, and I’m not going to let that happen one plus time, especially without being able to express my feelings. I’m in l’amour with her, and nothing with stand in the way of our relationship!”
Caroline glared at Booth and turned to Brennan. “Do toi have anything toi like to vent before I can continue.”
Brennan nodded. “I agree completely with what Booth said. I don’t want anything to stand in our way. However, I also don’t want to risk our professional relationship.”
“Fine, cherie. Just keep it out of the workplace.”
Booth and Brennan stared at Caroline. “That’s it?” asked Booth. “No lecture, no –“
“Look, cherie, do toi want a fight? Do toi want me to file a rapporter and have toi two officially deemed unworthy to work together? Just keep it out of the workplace. With the way toi two have been going about it all these years, toi might as well have been in a relationship anyways!” Caroline retorted.
Brennan suddenly gave an unsuspecting Caroline a hug. “Thank you, Caroline. toi have no idea how much this means to me,” she whispered.
“All right, cherie. toi can let go. I’m going accueil now. toi kids have a good night,” replied Caroline uncomfortably as she headed out to her car.
“Night.” Booth turned to Brennan. “So, I say we finish up these dishes and then I’ll meet toi in the bedroom.”
She leaned her head on his muscular shoulder. “That sounds good.”
Booth helped with most of the cleanup and then left her to finish the rest, saying there was something he needed to take care of. Brennan didn’t mind, as there were only a few pieces of trash left to throw away. When she came back inside from taking out the garbage, Booth wasn’t in the room.
“Booth?” she called. “Where are – oh!”
Her partner had lit a few candles and put on some soft music, and was now sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for her.
“I-I hope I wasn’t being presumptuous,” he stammered.
Brennan slipped her chemise off and tossed it on the floor beside her. “Not at all,” she murmured seductively. She joined Booth and pressed her lips against his. They made their way onto the lit and within a few minutes, clothes were scattered all over the floor.
Brennan couldn’t remember the last time she felt loved, truly loved. She loved how Booth reminded her with every Kiss and tender touch. He also reminded how much of a fool she had been to wait this long. But then again, forbidden fruit always tasted that much sweeter.
“I l’amour you, Booth.” She gave him one last Kiss before she rolled off of him and snuggled deep in his strong embrace.
He kissed her forehead and replied, “I l’amour toi too, Bones. So very, very much.”
She shifted to gaze into his dark eyes. “Do toi really?”
“Yes. Never, ever doubt that. Nothing in this world can ever keep us apart again. Not until the jour toi decide toi don’t want me anymore.”
She chuckled softly. “I don’t ever see that happening.”
“Good. Rest now, Temperance. I’ll be here in the morning,” Booth whispered, stroking her hair until he felt her soft, even breathing that indicated she was asleep. Then he, too, slipped into the river of dreams.
“SURPRISE!!!”
Angela skipped vers l'avant, vers l’avant and hugged her best friend. “Congratulations, sweetie. He’s the whole package,” she said, glancing at Booth.
“Ange! Did toi do all of this?” Brennan gestured to the balloons and streamers that decorated the platform. The artist grinned wickedly.
“Well, we have to celebrate! I’ve waited almost five years for this!”
“Angela!”
“Brennan, relax. Everyone else thinks it’s a welcome-back party. Which it is, technically.”
Brennan made her way over to Booth and took his hand, dragging him from the crowd to her office and closing the door behind them.
Booth sighed with mock relief. “Thanks, Bones. That was getting pretty awkward, with all those squints in one place. I don’t know much longer how I could have stood it back there.”
She crossed her arms and glared in the direction of her best friend. “Angela went too far this time.”
“Aw, c’mon Bones! Give her a break. I think we both kind of figured she was going to do something like this.”
“Well, I guess so, but I’m still not comfortable with it.”
Booth stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Don’t worry. You’ve got me to help toi through your troubles. And we still have a murder to solve.”
Brennan closed her eyes in dread. She had almost forgotten the murder of the deputy director with her kidnapping and everything else going on. She also wished she hadn’t remembered about the murder that they needed to solve, because the answer wasn’t pretty and it would cost her dearly.
“Booth, I know who killed Kirby. It was my father.”
“I’m fine,” he declared. “I don’t need any plus medical attention.” Truth be told, Brennan didn’t want him to leave either. She was still getting over the whole kidnapping ordeal, and she had something important to tell him. After her near-death experience, Brennan didn’t know if she could ours to have another opportunity slip away like she had let so many others.
When they were finally alone after everyone else had gone home, Brennan tried to get up the courage to tell her partner how she felt. Booth had turned on the small TV that hung from the ceiling and they were in the middle of watching the Flintstones. Wilma had just gotten after Fred for yelling at poor Barney and locking him out of the house. She took the remote from him and muted the cartoon. He glanced over at her, protesting playfully. “Hey, I was watching that!”
“Booth.”
“Yeah?”
“I have to tell toi something.”
“What is it, Bones?”
She glanced at him, her gaze shifting nervously from her lap to his face. Booth gazed back at her with all the tenderness in the universe returning to his eyes. He took her hand in his and whispered, “C’mon, Bones. toi can tell me.”
“Booth, I…we’ve worked together a long time. toi understand me like no other person before and toi have risked your life for me on countless occasions. This…this is difficult for me to say. I am a scientist, and it is hard for me to change. I have a system. I have methods. But I realized tonight that in some cases, all the methods and systems cannot solve all problems. I realize now that I cannot let another opportunity to slip par me. I don’t want to miss my chance. Therefore, I will now say this.” She took a deep breath and continued. “Booth, ever since our first case together, when we first met…I…I’m in l’amour with you.” There. She had finally told him her deepest secret. Her heartbeat quickened, and the telltale monitor beeped faster and filled the thick silence. But Booth just stared at the ground, his face impossible to read. Why wouldn’t he say anything? She shouldn’t have told him that. Now everything about their relationship was ruined.
“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have a dit that. I-“ Brennan’s words were cut off as Booth leaned close and kissed her full on the lips. She just barely resisted, all the old alarms setting off in her mind, but they soon disappeared as she melted in the long-forbidden passion that emanated from him. When he finally pulled away, Booth caressed her bruised cheek and whispered, “Temperance Brennan, toi have no idea how long I’ve waited to do that. I l’amour you.”
“You do l’amour me.”
“Yes. I always have. I always will.”
Brennan smiled slightly and looked down at her lap. “You know, I used to be envious of toi all – Angela and Hodgins, Cam, Zack, marguerite, daisy and Sweets, even you.”
“Me?” Booth echoed in surprise.
“Yes. toi all wanted to lose yourself in someone else, to fall completely and absolutely in love. toi believed it was always worth it. I was jealous because I lacked the capability ou understanding and courage to do that. All my life I’ve built up my walls, afraid to let anyone in, afraid to l’amour and give myself away. But you,” she returned her gaze to her beloved. “You helped me find that capability and courage. toi are the l’amour of my life, Booth, no matter how long it took me to realize that. But I still worry.”
“About what? Bones, I will never stop loving you. toi know that right?” he reassured her.
“I know. I believe you. And I will never stop loving you. But how can we be together? The FBI – “
“Screw the FBI. I don’t care. They have forbidden something that should never be contained. I’m not going to let that one thing stand in the way of us! I l’amour toi too much,” Booth exclaimed.
“Shh-shhh. I know. But I don’t want to sneak around with this. I don’t want to hide it. I don’t need the FBI’s permission, but I want to do this right. I also don’t want any chance of us not being able to work together again,” she replied.
“Bones, now that you’re truly mine, I’m not sure how much longer I can deny – “
“Don’t worry. We will as soon as I get out of here. Can I have another Kiss to satisfy me for now?”
“Of course. C’mere,” he murmured, stroking her hair. He scooted closer to her so as to give her a gentle Kiss and was not prepared for the suppressed passion she forced at him. Brennan propped herself up with her good arm and almost shoved him back in his chair. He decided to return that feu and prodded at her lips with his tongue. She immediately complied and opened her mouth, letting him slide his tongue in her mouth. Sensations ran throughout her body as she tasted what she had missed out on for so long. Booth tried to break away for a seconde to catch his breath, but Brennan didn’t let him. She was now sitting up all the way in her hospital bed, ignoring the searing pain her side and leg. She pulled him back towards where she lay and Raiponce her fingers in his carefully gelled hair.
“Now if toi keep that up, you’re ribs ain’t gonna heal any faster,” a dit a feminine voice with a Southern accent. Brennan moved back sharply and gasped as pain shot up her body.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. The woman glanced at her pointedly before she walked over and sat a tray on the bedside table.
“You want pudding? I know your friend here does. Oh, I’m Sallie Mae, your official nurse. I’ll be takin’ care of ya most times when your doctor’s not pokin’ and proddin’ at ya. All right?” chatted Sallie Mae with a wide grin on her face. “Here’s your pudding, darlin’. I hope ya like chocolate. Well, holler if ya need somethin’. I’ve got some other patients to attend to.” And she walked out of the room.
Booth chuckled. “Nice lady.”
“Mmm. Now, where were we?” murmured Brennan as she began to sit up again.
“Bones,” Booth warned, placing his hand on her shoulder. “I hate to say no, I really do, but I don’t want toi getting any plus hurt than toi already are. The plus toi rest, the faster toi can get out of here and, well, cash in on your promise.”
“What promi – oh! That promise. Well,” she grinned mischievously. “I suppose I’ll just have to wait. Well, it’ll be worth it.”
“Good.” He glanced longingly at the tray sitting suivant to her. “Um, can I get some of that pudding?”
Six weeks later, Brennan was released from the hospital. Booth drove her accueil and grinned hugely at her expression when he opened her apartment door to a huge surprise welcome-home party, courtesy (of course) par Angela.
“Hi, sweetie!” Angela exclaimed, rushing over and giving Brennan a great big hug.
“Um, Ange, not so hard! Still recuperating here,” Brennan gasped.
“Oh, sorry,” she grinned sheepishly, letting go of her friend.
Zack approached her then. “Hello, Dr. Brennan. I am very glad to see toi are recovering. I hope toi will return to work soon. It’s just not the same without you.”
“Thank you, Zack. I will be returning Monday.”
“Hey, Brennan!” greeted Hodgins.
“Well, hello, cherie! I see this experience has drawn toi and Special Agent Booth closer together. If I could have a word with toi two later, that would be greatly appreciated,” a dit Caroline, giving them both a knowing look. The others stared at Booth and Brennan.
“Thanks a lot, Caroline,” Booth muttered sarcastically, glaring at his boss. Angela punched Hodgins lightly on the shoulder.
“Pay up, bucko. I always a dit my money’s on Dr. B. and Booth. toi owe me twenty bucks,” she ordered. Hodgins handed over the money, sighing heavily.
“Whoa, whoa! toi made a bet on – Cam, did toi know about this?” Booth growled.
“No, Seeley,” she replied, shaking her head. “All I have to say I remember the security cameras.”
“Cam, that’s not even funny,” whined Angela.
“Okay!” exclaimed Brennan, clapping her hands together. “How about we just forget about all of this and enjoy this wonderful party that Angela prepared for us?”
“Agreed!” Booth headed quickly to a table, tableau piled with food. “Who wants cake?”
A few hours later, Booth and Brennan a dit goodbye to the last of their party guests and starting cleaning up the mess. Caroline stayed behind to help clean up and to talk to the wary couple.
“So, Booth – “
“Look, Caroline. I know the FBI’s rules about fraternizing with coworkers, but I don’t care. I’m not going to deny my feelings for Bones anymore. I almost Lost her again, and I’m not going to let that happen one plus time, especially without being able to express my feelings. I’m in l’amour with her, and nothing with stand in the way of our relationship!”
Caroline glared at Booth and turned to Brennan. “Do toi have anything toi like to vent before I can continue.”
Brennan nodded. “I agree completely with what Booth said. I don’t want anything to stand in our way. However, I also don’t want to risk our professional relationship.”
“Fine, cherie. Just keep it out of the workplace.”
Booth and Brennan stared at Caroline. “That’s it?” asked Booth. “No lecture, no –“
“Look, cherie, do toi want a fight? Do toi want me to file a rapporter and have toi two officially deemed unworthy to work together? Just keep it out of the workplace. With the way toi two have been going about it all these years, toi might as well have been in a relationship anyways!” Caroline retorted.
Brennan suddenly gave an unsuspecting Caroline a hug. “Thank you, Caroline. toi have no idea how much this means to me,” she whispered.
“All right, cherie. toi can let go. I’m going accueil now. toi kids have a good night,” replied Caroline uncomfortably as she headed out to her car.
“Night.” Booth turned to Brennan. “So, I say we finish up these dishes and then I’ll meet toi in the bedroom.”
She leaned her head on his muscular shoulder. “That sounds good.”
Booth helped with most of the cleanup and then left her to finish the rest, saying there was something he needed to take care of. Brennan didn’t mind, as there were only a few pieces of trash left to throw away. When she came back inside from taking out the garbage, Booth wasn’t in the room.
“Booth?” she called. “Where are – oh!”
Her partner had lit a few candles and put on some soft music, and was now sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for her.
“I-I hope I wasn’t being presumptuous,” he stammered.
Brennan slipped her chemise off and tossed it on the floor beside her. “Not at all,” she murmured seductively. She joined Booth and pressed her lips against his. They made their way onto the lit and within a few minutes, clothes were scattered all over the floor.
Brennan couldn’t remember the last time she felt loved, truly loved. She loved how Booth reminded her with every Kiss and tender touch. He also reminded how much of a fool she had been to wait this long. But then again, forbidden fruit always tasted that much sweeter.
“I l’amour you, Booth.” She gave him one last Kiss before she rolled off of him and snuggled deep in his strong embrace.
He kissed her forehead and replied, “I l’amour toi too, Bones. So very, very much.”
She shifted to gaze into his dark eyes. “Do toi really?”
“Yes. Never, ever doubt that. Nothing in this world can ever keep us apart again. Not until the jour toi decide toi don’t want me anymore.”
She chuckled softly. “I don’t ever see that happening.”
“Good. Rest now, Temperance. I’ll be here in the morning,” Booth whispered, stroking her hair until he felt her soft, even breathing that indicated she was asleep. Then he, too, slipped into the river of dreams.
“SURPRISE!!!”
Angela skipped vers l'avant, vers l’avant and hugged her best friend. “Congratulations, sweetie. He’s the whole package,” she said, glancing at Booth.
“Ange! Did toi do all of this?” Brennan gestured to the balloons and streamers that decorated the platform. The artist grinned wickedly.
“Well, we have to celebrate! I’ve waited almost five years for this!”
“Angela!”
“Brennan, relax. Everyone else thinks it’s a welcome-back party. Which it is, technically.”
Brennan made her way over to Booth and took his hand, dragging him from the crowd to her office and closing the door behind them.
Booth sighed with mock relief. “Thanks, Bones. That was getting pretty awkward, with all those squints in one place. I don’t know much longer how I could have stood it back there.”
She crossed her arms and glared in the direction of her best friend. “Angela went too far this time.”
“Aw, c’mon Bones! Give her a break. I think we both kind of figured she was going to do something like this.”
“Well, I guess so, but I’m still not comfortable with it.”
Booth stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Don’t worry. You’ve got me to help toi through your troubles. And we still have a murder to solve.”
Brennan closed her eyes in dread. She had almost forgotten the murder of the deputy director with her kidnapping and everything else going on. She also wished she hadn’t remembered about the murder that they needed to solve, because the answer wasn’t pretty and it would cost her dearly.
“Booth, I know who killed Kirby. It was my father.”