Chapter 1 and 2 put together for you. Hope you like it…
She laid a freshly cut white rose alongside the headstone.
"I'm sorry." She said softly. "It's time to say goodbye." Angela ran her manicured hand over the etched lettering which read: KIRK PERSINGER. She touched her fingers to her lips before resting them on the marble while standing up. "I love you." Were the last words she whispered before wrapping her arms around herself as the cold air assaulted her tan-flesh. Angela's long black skirt blew behind her in the autumn breeze as she walked towards her car. The red of her high heels matched the crimson of her v-neck shirt perfectly. She looked nice. She wanted to look nice. For him and for Kirk.
Angela made her way back to the lab to continue with her work after all her lunch break had ended fifteen minutes ago.
The Lab
"Today is the day, buddy boy." Said the entomologist as he walked onto the platform.
"Dr. Hodgins, please don't call me that." The young man sighed. "And as for your comment; today is a day. There are no recorded historical events or birthdays that I know of."
"No kiddo. What I meant was today is the day I ask out Angela." Jack smiled proudly as he fixed his hair.
"Do you really think that is a wise idea?" asked Temperance as she looked up from the bones on the table.
"What do you mean?" questioned Jack.
"Well you're both wrong. For one Zach, today isn't just a regular day. Today is the anniversary of Kirks death. Hodgins I think you may want to reconsider your plans for today." The forensic anthropologist explained as she sat down on a stool to regard her two co-workers.
"Shit man." Hodgins exclaimed as he fell back onto his chair in defeat.
"What's wrong Jack? Lose some bugs?" came the familiar voice of the woman in question as she ascended the stairs.
"Hey Angela!" Jack yelled, much louder than necessary. "Naw, I uh- um I just thought I was getting somewhere with this specimen but I guess not." Angela glanced to Temperance who just shrugged.
"Miss Montenegro you look nice today." Said Cam as she joined the other scientist.
"Thanks Cam." Angela and Temperance shared another suspicious look.
"Dr. Saroyan you seem…" Zach attempted to comment.
"Chipper?" Jack smirked as he discretely moved around the table next to Angela. "She definitely seems chipper. Don't you think?"
"I had a good night is all." Camille smiled back at him.
"Good afternoon my wonderful squints. Bones." Booth nodded to everyone before nodded to Temperance yet he didn't meet her eyes. Once again Angela and Tempe shared a glance.
"How was your night Seeley?" asked Cam as she took the folder from his hands and maneuvered her way past him. "Big date no doubt."
Booth stared blankly at the woman. The squints watched as the FBI agent quickly approached Cam and took the folder from her. "Here Bones. This is for you." He handed her the manila folder more gently before grabbing Cam's arm and pulling her down the stairs with him. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" he yelled.
"Geez Seeley I was only kidding around." Cam tried to remain composed as her team of scientists leaned over the railing to listen in.
"Yeah, joking at my expense. Now listen to me," he grabbed her shoulders "last night was the last time that will happen. Understand?"
Cam nodded. She watched as the Agent walked back up the stairs, Cam decided to let the squints handle this case as she turned and walked toward her office.
"Everything alright man?" Hodgins asked his irritated friend.
"Yeah." Booth patted the entomologist on his left shoulder before speaking again. "So what do we have today?"
Angela and Temperance shared one last glance before getting to work.
After about an hour on the platform, Angela and Tempe went to their respective offices followed closely by their respective men.
Angela's Office
"So um, Ange, you gonna find us a face?" asked Hodgins as he followed the woman closely.
"Yeah Jack, that's what I do here." She smiled at her favorite bug guy.
"Oh yeah. I know." Hodgins shuffled around her desk. He gently picked up the browning white rose from its crystal vase and sniffed its core.
"What does it mean, Jack?" she asked, avoiding his clear blue gaze and fiddling with the pencil in her hands.
Hodgins stood there for a minute staring at this woman considering what she had just asked. He couldn't imagine not seeing this woman everyday for the rest of his life. She was so incredibly beautiful. He laid the flower on the desk in front of her. When she didn't look at him he moved to her side and kneeled on the floor. He spun her chair to face him. Hodgins watched as a tear rolled down her creamy cheek. His strong Angela was crying and yet he felt as though he loved her more for it.
"Hey." He said lifting her face with his palms, allowing his thumbs to rub away the wet spots. "Angela, it means I care about you. A lot." He sighed. "I always have and always will."
Angela felt that smile creep back to her face as more tears grew in her eyes. This time they were tears of joy and not pain. She couldn't fight them, she loved this man and he loved her. She raised her hand to his rough cheek. Angela watched as Hodgins closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. "Jack," his eyes opened and connected with hers. "I love you."
He couldn't help it. He had wanted to say 'I love you too' but he needed to kiss her. Hodgins gently drew her lips to his and let his fingers entwine in her dark hair as she deepened the kiss.
After a few moments the couple came back to reality. Panting slightly, Jack pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. "God, I love you too Ange." He smiled at her sweetly. A rare smile. Not his usual cocky smirk or that 'Oh shit what did I just say' smirk, but one of true happiness. Angela placed one last kiss on his lips.
"Ok Romeo. We have work to do." She smiled as he stood.
"You're right, my Juliet." He lifted her hand and kissed it softy. "Until dinner?"
Angela nodded and watched as her man left the office.
Temperance's Office
Temperance took the manila folder off the exam table and walked towards her office, all the while aware that her partner was on her heels. As Tempe walked into her office she kicked the door and allowed it to slam into the toes of the handsome FBI agent.
Booth stifled his cry as he entered the office and closed her door behind him. "Bones, you okay?"
"I'm fine Agent Booth." She said stoically as she sat down at her desk and turned to her computer screen.
'Shit' he thought 'she is definitely not alright.' Booth placed his palms on her desk and leaned over as he spoke. "No Bones, you're not." She continued to ignore his persistent stare. "Look at me Bones." Tempe absently typed on her computer. "Temperance!" she lifted her gaze to his slightly. "Is this about the thing with Cam this morning?"
After a short silence she spoke. "I may have trouble with cultural references Booth, but I'm not stupid when it comes to relationships." Booth looked away shamefully giving Temperance some strength to face him. She stood and walked around her desk until she was toe to toe with her partner. "I also know that this relationship" she said the last word with slight disgust, "could cost you our partnership if anyone else found out."
"It's not a relationship Bones." He tried in a pleading voice. "It was just-"
"Sex?" she asked harshly. "Well your…" she thought for the word "sexcapades could lose us our partnership. Did you think of that? Of me?"
Booth could see the hurt in her eyes and he instantly knew that it wasn't just about their work anymore. She was fighting back tears. He could see it and he immediately wanted to take his gun to his temple for hurting her like this. Booth grabbed her shoulders somewhat roughly. "It didn't mean anything Temperance. I swear." She tried to turn away from his grip but he quickly pulled her to his lips.
Temperance tensed under his touch at first but as Booth moved his soft lips against hers she relaxed considerably. Her hands found their way into his hair and across his muscled back. The kiss lasted until they were both out of breath then Seeley pulled away suddenly.
With labored breath he spoke first. "That meant something." With that Booth left Temperance alone in her office: her body tingling, heart racing, and a delicate hand over her lips.
The Lab
"Geez, sorry man." Hodgins apologized as he picked up the files that lay on the floor as a result of their impact. "Dude you seem twitchy."
"I'm fine." Booth replied nervously. "How come you seem so-"
"Don't say chipper." Hodgins rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Well I just kissed the most incredible woman I know for the first time." He smiled happily.
"That makes two of us." Booth mumbled to himself.
"What?" Hodgins asked loudly. "You kissed my Angela? Was this before or after I did?"
"What? You kissed Angela. Congrats, man." Booth said, allowing that smile to creep back up his face.
"Thanks. But wait, who'd you kiss?" Hodgins asked curiously. 'Man, if Dr. Brennan only knew about you and Cam.' Jack thought.
"Uh. I-uh I kissed Bones." He blurted out quickly.
"Man!" Hodgins smacked Booth on the back. "Congrats to you. Did you get your ass kicked?"
"Um no. But I have to get back to the bureau." Booth hurriedly moved around the entomologist and towards the door.
"There is some serious chemistry going on in this lab." Jack mumbled to himself, as he stood alone in the hallway.
Later
"Come in." Temperance replied to the resonating knock on her door.
"Hey sweetie." Angela said as she flopped down in the chair across from the doctor's desk. "What's wrong? You're doing that thing with your forehead."
"Thing?" she asked, covering her forehead with her hand. "It's nothing, Ange."
"Bren I've known you long enough to know when something is bothering you. Plus the sooner you tell me what's bothering you the sooner I can tell you my big news." Angela smiled at her best friend.
What happened?" Tempe asked intrigued.
"Uh uh. You first." The artist sing songed.
"Ange, don't 'freak'" Temperance used air quotes for a word she didn't really know the meaning of. "but… Booth kissed me today."
"No way!" she yelled. "And?"
"And I kissed him back." Tempe plugged her ears as her friend squealed. "I'm really glad everyone's left already. Now tell me your news."
"Well." Angela smiled. "Jack kissed me. I think we're kinda together now. We are having dinner in a little bit. Jack just went home to get changed."
"That's really great Angela. I'm happy for you." Tempe shut her computer off and moved around her desk to give Angela a hug. A knock on the door got both of their attentions.
"Angela, are you ready?" Hodgins asked from the doorway. He had changed from his adorable scientist look and was now wearing an Armani blazer with his traditional blue jeans and vintage band shirt. "You look great. When did you change?"
"Oh this old thing?" Angela smiled. "I ran home on a break and picked it up. You really like it?" she spun around to give him the full affect. She was now wearing a red halter dress that came to mid-calf and was slit up the left side. Angela opted to wear the same red stilettos she had on earlier in the day.
"Definitely." He smiled again and offered his arm. "Night Dr. Brennan."
"Good night sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow." Angela waved as she disappeared through the door. "Oh and Bren?" Angela poked her head around the corner.
"Yeah Ange?" she replied.
"Maybe you should grab dinner at Wong Fu's tonight." She smiled. "You never know who you'll run into."
Wong Fu's
"Hey Dr. Brennan. Good to see you." Sid said as he continued to clean a clear glass with a towel.
"You too Sid. Can I get a beer please?" she asked. Sid nodded and got her the usual beer. "Have you seen Agent Booth tonight?"
"You mean me?" a voice came from behind her, Tempe tensed a little in her seat. "I was sitting in the booth." Seeley sat down next to her, his beer already half empty.
"I thought the bar was your territory." Tempe stated with a small smile.
"Yeah. Well, I felt the need to be closer to the squints tonight. I suppose that's what I get for avoiding the lab all day." Booth smiled nervously at her.
"Booth, don't worry about it. We can forget it happened." The bell above the door rang signaling someone had entered the bar as she spoke.
"No, I cant. Tempe-" Booth started to argue.
"Hey guys." Came a familiar and unwelcome voice.
"Hi Cam." Booth said, very annoyed as Cam came up behind him and ran her hand over his back.
"Excuse me Dr. Saroyan." Said Temperance. "Booth and I were having a private discussion. When we're done he's all yours."
Cam tried to ignore Brennan's harsh tone. "Alright. Seeley, I'll be over in the booth." She smiled as she turned away.
"Booth, nothing happened. We're partners." She gave him a kind smile. "I'll see you tomorrow." With that she grabbed her coat and left the bar.
Angela's Apartment
"Jack I had a really nice time tonight." Angela said as they walked up the steps to her door. Their hands were entwined and they were both smiling more than they had all day.
"I did too Ange. We'll have to do this again sometime." They stopped as they reached her door.
"Soon." She smiled.
"Yeah. Definitely soon." Jack leaned forward and kissed her gently. Angela quickly deepened the kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Jack?" Angela whispered. "Do you want to come in?"
Hodgins kissed her one more time and sighed. "How would you like to come over to my place Friday and let me cook you dinner?"
Angela smiled. "I'd love that."
"Me too." Hodgins placed a kiss on her hand. "Sweet dreams."
"You too." Angela watched Jack walk down the stairs before disappearing into her apartment.
Next Chapter up soon. Review please