"Those two. It's so obvious they're crazy about each other. Why can't they see it?" Angela mused aloud as Booth and Brennan left to catch their plane to Los Angeles.
Hodgins came up beside her. "Booth and Dr. Brennan? Yeah, I would have thought they'd have jumped one another by now. They have so much tension, you know," he agreed.
"Well, one day, they'll have to see it. Before the end of the year, I'd bet," Angela said.
"I'll take that bet," Hodgins replied.
"What?"
"Ten bucks says they'll have their first kiss by, um, August."
"Who'll have their first kiss by August?" Zach asked, joining them on the balcony break room.
"Booth and Brennan. They've been working together for almost six months, and nothing's happened!" Angela bemoaned.
"You're placing wagers on their personal lives?! That's horrible!" Zach exclaimed.
"It's not like we're forcing them to do anything. We're just, predicting when they'll move ahead," Angela explained.
"But you're placing money on your predictions. That's completely illogical. The chance of return is so slim, there would be almost no guarantee that you could even break even," Zach explained emphatically.
"Do you want in?" Angela asked, a gleam in her eye. "Twenty bucks says they'll be dating by June. And they'll also have their first kiss, and sleep together by then."
"Okay, ten bucks for a kiss, twenty for their first date, and we'll say, fifty for when they sleep together?" Hodgins suggested.
"Just a second," Angela said. She ran out, returning a few moments later with a notebook. She began writing furiously before she spoke again. "I already said June for everything, you said August for their first kiss, and what about everything else?"
"First date in… May," Hodgins stated.
"May to August? That seems like a long time," Zach said.
"Do you think they're going to be quick about anything? Though, they'll probably sleep together in August as well," Hodgins explained.
"Zach?" Angela asked, her pen poised over the paper.
"Logically, Dr. Brennan would follow one step after another, so if she and Agent Booth would kiss in…March, then date in April, and sleep together in May," Zach explained carefully.
As the three looked over Angela's notes, the page looked incredibly empty.
"Maybe we should increase our chances and allow everyone to predict for any month that isn't already taken?" Zach suggested.
"We should have to take turns, or else someone may take a whole block of dates," Hodgins explained.
"Four months each for every event?" Angela confirmed.
With nods from the guys, she tore a piece of paper out of her notebook, then into thirds. She wrote their names on the pieces, and put them into an empty bowl.
"Hodgins, you first," she stated, holding the bowl out towards him.
"Zach," he read.
"You can pick one month for a kiss, one for date, and one for their 'sleepover'," Angela explained.
Zach signed his name under April for first kiss, August for first date, and October for their first sleepover.
They continued to take turns until the whole calendar was filled.
"Okay, everyone, pay up now," Angela demanded, palm out.
"Why?" Zach asked. "No one has won anything."
"Yeah, but we need to know everyone will pay. Seventy bucks by the end of the week, put it in an envelope in my office," Angela explained.
"Why your office?" Hodgins questioned.
"Because I have one," Angela countered, a slight dig at Hodgins' nomadic workspace.
"Fine. But we should keep the envelope in a visible spot, make sure you're not dipping in." Hodgins demanded.
"I would never!" Angela replied.
"Mr. Addy, Dr. Hodgins, have you been up there this whole time? We have an Iron Age warrior to authenticate," Dr. Goodman demanded from the ground floor.
Hodgins and Zach left, Hodgins snapping his rubber band as he did so.
Author's Note: Don't worry too much about who had which months. If you are really interested, PM me and I'll send you a table of who had what dates. Pretty much the point is just that they are having fun at Booth and Brennan's non-progressing relationship.