Bed and Breakfast

Summary: When a case in West Virginia catches Bones and Booth by surprise, what could be more relaxing than a night's stay in a cozy B&B?

Rating: T - For a tad of poor language and mentions of 'birds and bees.'

Spoilers: For 5.16-5.18, just to be safe.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones, but I can dream right?

B&B

"Bones, I'm sorry."

"No, you aren't."

"Look," Booth rubbed his face, other hand on the steering wheel. "I did it for your own good."

"Own good?" Brennan fumed. He could see her nostril flare with rage. "You literally dragged me from my date, which was going very well by the way, and compelled me to pack a bag and come with you with no regard to me!"

"I-"

"And not only that!" her jaw tightened. He could only imagine in what other situations her jaw would tighten like that.

How desperately Booth wanted to squeeze his eyes shut and pull his hair. Truly, interrupting a date of Bones' was one of the last things he wanted to do. Moving on wasn't an easier after seeing her dressed up for another man. Heck, he had to run out on Catherine to go find bones in some God forsaken field in West Virginia, which not to mention, was a three hour drive without even mentioning the shitty traffic on the Beltway and I-270.

"-then you began to reprove him." Brennan glared at him, "Are you even listening?"

"Yeah but hang on. I never approved of him. Did you meet this creep online?"

"Not approve, reprove, which means to mildly criticize. Why would it matter how met him?" Brennan frowned, creases forming on her beautiful face.

"Great," he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "Thanks for the stirring SAT prep. Besides, I was…" his eyes drifting out the window, "…on a date with Catherine."

"Oh," Brennan looked down. Was she sullen? Upset that he also had to sacrifice?

Eyes on the road Booth, eyes on the road.

The sound of silence hung over the car. Booth struggled to keep his eyes on the road. Occasionally, he would sneak a glance in Brennan's direction. She looked out the window, surely examining some minutiae detail in the busting traffic. God, he wished he could trace that sharp jaw line, or whisper sweet nothings into her ears.

A light sign escaped her slightly parted lips.

"Why the sigh Bones?" he asked gently.

"I was simply breathing, respiration is necessary to allow energy to be released in the cells"; stubborn as always.

Through the silence, Booth couldn't help but think of the random guy she picked off the internet. What happened to Hank? At least he wasn't a pedophile, convicted felon, murderer, rapist, creeper; the list went on and on.

"I was only worrying about your safety," Booth blurted out.

Brennan stirred, "To what are you referring?"

"To your date."

"Well, if you were truly concerned for my safety, you would pay attention to the road."

"What?"

"Being agitated reduces your concentration. I, by the way," Brennan smiled, "never drive when emotionally unsettled unless it is an absolute emergency."

Booth's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I'm not agitated."

"There is no reason to be so obstinate."

He looked over at her, eyes locking. "I am in complete control of my SUV."

"See!" Brennan pointed.

"What!?" Booth shifted his gaze to the road, then back to Brennan.

"While in our culture it is customary to look at who you are talking to, it is irrational to shift your attention from driving," Brennan remarked.

"Bones," he chuckled. "Of the two of us, I'm the best driver."

She snorted, "Grammatically, it would be the better of two drivers, and that is an opinion, not a fact."

"Good better best never let it rest. 'Til the good is better and the better is the best. And I-," smirking and poking his chest, "-am the best."

Brennan burst into laughter. "Best implies that presence of three objects. You and I are only two. Wait" she pointed to a silver Volvo. "He's trying to merge into-"

"I noticed!"

She shrugged, "If you were a better driver than I, you would be the better, not the best." They shared a brief smile.

Silence once again blanketed the car, but this time, it was a comfortable distraction. He should be on a date, trying to move on; not in the car on the way to Nowhereville with Bones, not that he didn't want to spend time with Bones. She was right though; Catherine was certainly wasn't as smart as bones, but she was easily as pretty. But Catherine wasn't even close to being as beautiful though, not even in the same league.

'Booth…" Brennan suppressed a yawn. "I think I might fall asleep, I'm feeling quite hypnagogic…"

"What time did you leave the lab last night?" He asked softly. Without a case, he had visited Catherine at the shore near Reagan National Airport. He remembered Bones telling time ones that the area was a great place to sail.

"Around midnight…" she whispered.

On any other occasion, he would have argued that she should have left earlier, or he would have asked whether or not she had eaten. But considering that she was out like a rock, her head nestled upon the window, the argument would fall upon sleeping ears.

Jesus she was breath taking when she slept. Her face relaxed into a sanguine serenity. 'Good words,' Booth imagined her remarking. Shaking himself from his oneiric haze, he sighted the dash clock.

9:52 Friday

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had hoped this case would be a one-evening investigation. But no, this case could easily take longer. Bones and he were going to visit Pops at the nursing home on Saturday! He shoved his hand into his pock, digging out his cell phone and punching speed dial #3 (Voicemail was #1, Bones #2, and Pops #3).

"Hey Pops," Booth whispered into the handset.

"Shrimp! Why are ya whispering?"

"Bones is sleeping."

"So you got your crocheting in early eh?"

"No!" Booth exclaimed a bit too loudly. "It's just that we have an out-of-state case-"

"So?"

"Bones and I won't be able to see you for lunch tomorrow."

"Ah, what cha' worryin' about if you've got a beautiful sleepin' woman in your car?"

"Ha ha yeah. We'll reschedule okay?"

"Sounds great to me."

"I'll talk to you later Pops."

"Wait-"

"What's up Pops?"

"Don't let 'er run."

"What are you talking about?"

I didn't raise you to be that stupid Shrimp. Maybe I didn't do enough. Heh, goodbye."

Who else has their grandfather hang up on them? Good grief. Suppressing a yawn, Booth's eyes lingered on Bones' slumbering form.

"W-what time is it…?" Brennan mumbled almost incoherently.

"10:32; we're almost there," he reached out, smoothing his hand over hers where it rest on the arm rest. It was an oddly intimate gesture but it felt too right. "Sorry I woke you."

"It's not your fault." Her voice was breathy with sleep. "I am an extremely light sleeper."

Booth gently patted her hand, "Go back to sleep, I'll wake you when we get there."

B&B

"Bones?" Booth delivered a gentle shake to her slumbering form. "Bones, we're here."

"I-I-I'm awake," Brennan croaked.

"I checked us into a nice bed and breakfast, but there was only one room left…"

She struggled to her feet, "H-how many beds…?"

"Two," he smiled. "Come on now, up you go!" He helped Brennan from the passenger seat. Unsteady on her feet, she leaned into Booth, nuzzling into his shoulder. He couldn't help but smile; this is where she belongs.

"I need to grab my bag and forensics gear and-" she attempted to squirm from his grasp, feebly twisting and turning.

"Whoa," Booth hugged her to him, pulling her to the stairs leading up to the bed and breakfast. "I already took all our bags up."

"You didn't have to do that…"

"Yes, yes I did," Booth guided her to their two-bed room; up a spiraling staircase to the appropriately and plainly named "blue room."

It was a small suite; a bathroom and two twin beds, with a small room across with a sofa and a TV.

"You can have the bathroom fort; you won't want to sleep in… that," he gestured to her tailored business suit.

Brennan nodded wearily, walking into the washroom and closing the door behind her.

Booth plopped down on 'his' bed with a sigh. God, this was a great bed! Much better than a crappy cockroach infested, magic-finger abound motel cot. This was the life; a nice bed, Bones… his mind began to wander to things far less appropriate.

"Booth," Brennan called. "The bathroom is all yours." She sauntered to the other bed, crawling under the sheets and hand-knit quilt. "Good night."

He took that as a sign to clean up, he tip-toed in to the bathroom, slowly shutting the door behind him carefully as to not wake Brennan. He stripped, washed his face, and stripped at light speed.

Pull it together Booth! He drew into a boxing stance, pulling a few jabs. He and Bones had shared a room before; even the same bed! But now, everything felt… different, and it was. He loved her! Damn! He didn't want this "move on" crap!

Don't let her run.

He knew she loved him; he could chase her around the planet with no results! No, if Bones wanted him, she had to come on her own. He flipped the bathroom light switch off and sunk into bed. Bed. Bones. Bed. Bones. Bed. Bones. Booth began to stir, well, not him, his… his… private parts.

This is going to be a long night.

B&B

Something (or someone) warm nettled into the crook of Booth's arm.

"Bones?" he groaned.

"Don't move on," Brennan whispered.

"I'm here for you but-"

"Please," she looked up into his mahogany eyes. "I'm immutable, I can't change, but I have these irrational feelings that-"

"Shhh," he stroked his hair.

"-but seeing you with Catherine, that fish lady," she spoke with contempt. "I hate being weak like this!"

Booth tilted her head up to his with a finger. "Bones, you are one of the strongest people I will ever know." He brushed a tendril of hair from her features. "I love you."

"I'm not ready to say that," she mumbled quickly.

"It's okay, great even. I love you for who you are."

"Why did you tell me that," she sibilated.

"I feel like I'm going to kiss-" he was silenced by a kiss. Their lips engaged in an elegant and sensual dance. There was tongue contact, boy there was tongue contact.

"Booth?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we going to have intercourse?"

"Umm… that's something that just happens, you know?"

"Well, I'm too tired to…"

"Goodnight Bones."

"Goodnight Booth."

B&B

A.N. - Wow! I've had this written for a while, but as I do all the tough work on paper, the longest thing in my writing process is actually getting the words on to my computer here. I hope you enjoyed this and that it wasn't too OOC. I see that if Brennan stays the course, she's due for a crash.

I can't guarantee updates as I write when I'm supposed to be doing something else and I am currently working on a multi-chap. But! Send me a review (this is my first foray into Bones FF and I would love the tips) and maybe even an alert for my (hopefully) consistent updates! Bye!

~Objective Mistress