A/N: Part of this story was inspired by a prompt on Bonesology: Brennan and Booth run into one of Brennan's old boyfriends (other than Sully or Stires).

Booth tried to shake off the March chill that Friday afternoon as he walked with his partner across the lab. "Thanks for having lunch with me, Bones." He followed Brennan into her office and sat down on the sofa, making himself comfortable as he smiled at his partner. "I had a good time trying to explain the Final Four to you. It was nice to talk about something besides murder, you know?"

Brennan's brows knit together as she glanced at him before settling in behind her desk to turn on her computer. "Why would you feel that it was necessary to thank me for having a meal with you? We do that on a fairly regular basis, Booth, and I don't recall you making it a point to thank me before now. It wasn't really any sort of momentous occasion..."

"Well, you know...I don't want you to feel like I'm taking our friendship for granted." Booth cringed slightly as he fidgeted with his tie. And I've really missed you…", he thought to himself. "I just want to show you that I appreciate you spending time with me. I know you have other things you could be doing."

"I've never felt like you've taken me for granted before, Booth. Why would I feel that way now?" Obviously confused, Brennan looked up from her computer monitor as she tried to understand what he meant. "Besides, we're partners. Spending time with you is what I'm supposed to be doing. It's part of my job…"

Sighing quietly, Booth smiled sadly at his partner as he shook his head. It was hard to explain what he meant, even to himself. "Well, you know...since Hannah and I broke up, and now you and I been spending more time together, I don't want you to feel like I want to do that...you know, spend time with you...just because I don't have Hannah around any more, or just because I'm alone right now…because that's not true. I want to spend time with you because I enjoy it. I mean, I know we have to spend time together when we're working, but I like spending time with you when we're not working, too." Realizing he was talking in circles, Booth paused, deciding it might be easier for her to understand what he was trying to say if he was blunt. "Look, I don't want you to feel like some sort of consolation prize, okay? Like the only reason I'm hanging around here is because Hannah is gone, because that's not true, okay? You're not second best in my book...not by any stretch of the imagination…"

"Oh, I see." Brennan smiled as she turned back to her computer screen. "I'm unconcerned about that sort of thing, Booth. Even when you were romantically involved with Hannah, you were always a good friend to me, so I see no reason why that should change now that you're no longer involved with her."

But I wasn't as good a friend as I could've been…"I get that, but, you know...things have been kinda weird between us the last few months, with Hannah being around, and it may take a little time before we get our groove back…" ...and I really do want things to change between us...

Rolling her eyes at her silly partner, Brennan shut down her computer and joined him on the sofa. "I don't think we have ever lost our 'groove', as you so quaintly put it. We are still...good friends, just like we've always been." She hesitated slightly, unsure of how to explain what she was feeling. "We had a good time on Valentine's Day, correct? It was like old times, being at the shooting range together…" The old times before Hannah, that is… "And we continue to do good work together, of course. We've always worked well together." Feeling awkward, Brennan swallowed nervously. "I think we still have a good work relationship, and our friendship is still intact…so I find that I'm happy with the way things are..." For the most part...

Booth shrugged in agreement as he sagged back on the couch. But I want so much more… "Bones…", Booth began softly as he reached for her hand. "I really need to tell you something…" He wanted to tell her so many things, but he couldn't find the words. He wanted to tell her how wrong he'd been in believing Hannah could ever replace her in his heart…about how he wanted a second chance to have a serious relationship with her...about how he'd always loved her...about how he wanted to beg for forgiveness for hurting her...for rushing her when he knew she wasn't ready...for backing her into the proverbial corner. He was ready to tell her everything that was overflowing from his heart when they heard the knock on her office door.

"Dr. Brennan? Temperance?"

"Yes?" Turning toward the door, Brennan's face lit up with a beautiful smile. "Eli? What are you doing here?" She jumped up from the couch and quickly moved to embrace her visitor. "This is certainly a surprise! It's so good to see you! How many years has it been?"

"Too many!", the man laughed happily. "I think I've lost count!" He chuckled at her as she stood with her hands on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently. "Oh, okay...ten or eleven years, I guess, but no one would know that by looking at you, Tempe. You still look the same as when I met you that day in Laconia...your eyes are still as blue as the skies over Santorini."

Blushing slightly, Brennan shook her head. "Of course that's not true, Eli, but it is nice to hear." Hearing Booth clear his throat behind her, she turned to apologize to him. "Oh, I'm sorry. I should introduce you two. Dr. Elias Lymberopoulos, this is my partner, Special Agent Seeley Booth. We work together solving murder cases for the FBI."

Stepping forward, Booth eyed Brennan's old friend suspiciously. The man was well over six feet tall and well muscled. His thick, curly black hair was streaked with silver, supplying an attractive backdrop for the olive complexion of his handsome face, and calling attention to his smiling black eyes and perfect white teeth. Offering his hand, Booth muttered the expected pleasantries. "Nice to meet you…"

"You, too. Any friend of Temperance is a friend of mine...although I hope not you're not too good a friend of hers." Eli raised a suggestive eyebrow at Brennan. "I've been looking forward to seeing you again, Tempe…we have unfinished business, you know."

"Eli teaches at the National University in Athens, Greece." Smiling shyly at her visitor, Brennan explained their connection to Booth. "I met him while I was studying a neolithic site that had been found in a cave on the island of Laconia. He's an archaeologist...an expert on the culture of the ancient Spartans. We spent a very pleasant summer together, didn't we, o filo mou?" She offered a flirty grin to her visitor, who winked back. "Greece is a very romantic place."

"The Spartans, huh?" Booth was unimpressed by Eli's credentials. "They were supposed to be fierce warriors, right? If I recall correctly, their culture was based on intense military training and the pursuit of excellence…"

Brennan glared at her partner's sarcastic tone before turning back to Eli. "Booth was a Ranger when he served in the Army. The Rangers' culture is based on ideals somewhat similar to those of the Spartans."

Recognizing the unspoken challenge in Booth's demeanor, Eli smiled politely. "I must agree with Temperance. I think you'll find that many of the ideals espoused by the US Rangers are very similar to those ideals espoused by the ancient Spartans."

"Exactly...so basically any fella who's had Ranger training from the Army can be an expert on Sparta...even a dumb cop like me, right?" Crossing his arms over his chest, Booth stared at the man, wondering if he had a rival for Brennan's attention. I don't like this guy one goddamn bit...

Coughing softly, Brennan gave Booth a piercing look. "Eli has studied many things besides the Spartans' military prowess, Booth. They had a major influence on Greek culture, and thus, by extension, on Western culture as a whole…"

"That's true, Tempe." Eli gently touched her arm, much to Booth's displeasure. "However, Agent Booth is correct in assuming that I've focused on their military attributes. In fact, that's why I'm here in the United States. I'm in town to give a lecture at American University about the Peloponnesian War tomorrow afternoon, as part of their annual Ancient Cultures Symposium. After I accepted their invitation to speak, I remembered that you were working here at the Jeffersonian, so I decided to drop by to pay you a visit." He pulled a book out of his briefcase and handed it to her. "I was wondering if you'd sign a book for my yaya…"

Booth laughed out loud. "Your yaya? What the hell is that...your pet parakeet?"

"Yaya is an affectionate Greek term for someone's grandmother, Booth." Brennan gave her partner another warning look before taking the book from her friend. "Of course I don't mind. How is Leda? I still remember the homemade hummus and warm pita bread she served us whenever we visited her."

"And as I recall, she was also willing to give you her secret hummus recipe, because for some reason, she thought we were going to get married." Eli laughed again, ignoring Booth's glowering stare. "She's doing as well as someone her age can be. She still asks about you. You made quite an impression on her."

"I'm glad to hear that she's well. That's good, isn't it, Booth?", she asked pointedly.

"Um, yeah...I guess." Booth stood with his hands on his hips, pulling back his jacket to make sure his shoulder holster was visible to his rival. "So you're here to give a lecture on some war that took place thousands of years ago? That's...oww...cool..." Still smarting after getting an elbow in his ribs from Brennan, he exhaled softly. "...I suppose…"

"The battle strategies developed by the Spartans are still in use today. I feel sure that as a Ranger, you actually employed several of them when you were on a mission of some sort." Smirking at Booth's blustery harrumph, Eli turned to Brennan. "Anyway, Tempe...since I'm here in DC, I was wondering if you'd have dinner with me this evening. There's a place in town I want to try...it's called Zaytinya's. They're supposed to have excellent Greek and Mediterranean dishes, including some vegan choices. You remember how I hate to eat alone, don't you, darling?"

"Yes, I remember." She glanced at Booth, who was concentrating on appearing to be disinterested in Brennan's conversation with her friend. "I think I'd like that very much, Eli, but I'm afraid I have a lot of paperwork to finish up here…"

"No problem. I have some things to do this afternoon, too, so perhaps we could eat later...I could pick you up around eight? Would that give you enough time to complete your paperwork?"

"Yes, I think that will be acceptable." Scribbling a note on a piece of paper, she handed it to Eli. "Here's my address and phone number. I'll see about eight."

"Excellent." Waving as he left, Eli quirked an eyebrow at the disgruntled man standing next to his former girlfriend. "Nice to meet you, Agent Booth…"

"Yeah...same here." Feeling as if he might throw up, Booth pursed his lips as he glanced at Brennan. Watching her smile at Eli was almost more than he could stomach. "I gotta go, Bones. I'll see you Monday."

"But you're supposed to help me with these case notes!", Brennan exclaimed. "We're supposed to spend this afternoon completing these files so we can start fresh next Monday."

"I know, but I don't feel so good...too many onion rings at lunch, I think." Booth grimaced as he rubbed his abdomen. "I'm sorry. Hey, don't worry about the files. I'll take care of them next week. See ya later, okay?"

"Yes, okay…", Brennan mumbled, wondering what had caused Booth's sudden change of mood. "I'll let you know how things go at the restaurant. You might like it. They're supposed to have excellent gyros."

"Whatever. Have a good time at dinner. Bye." Walking away from her office, he gave himself a good talking to as he strode across the lab.

There you go, you stupid asshole...you've really fucked up your life, haven't you? You're gonna be alone forever, right? If it's not Eli, it'll be someone else who takes Bones away from you, because you don't have the balls to make the move. You can't say the words, can you? You don't deserve her…

He pondered his evening's plans as he made his way down to the parking garage. Thinking about his beautiful partner having dinner with another man while he sat on his couch eating leftovers and drinking a couple of beers was too much to contemplate. He climbed into his SUV and angrily pounded on the steering wheel. His life was now officially ruined.

A/N 2: o filo mou means "my friend" in Greek. And yes, we have angst now, but things will get better. If you have time to review, I'd appreciate it. Laura