A/N: Wills and I were in a colloborating kind of mood today...and thought a little bit of B&B fluff was in order! Hope you enjoy...AnaG
"Booth, where are we going?" She asked, forehead creasing at the unexpected route he was taking.
"Back to the lab. You need to pick up your car, right?"
"But I thought--we always go to the diner after a case." she said, looking confused.
"Not tonight."
"Why?"
"I've got a, you know, a date." He answered without looking in her direction.
"A date?"
"Yes a date. You know, dinner, dancing."
She bit her lip and then smiled, hoping he didn't see the look on her face.
"Oh, well have fun." she said hesitantly. Why was this bothering her so much?
"Yea, I think I will. Charlotte is really nice, we met at a friends party last week."
Charlotte. What kind of name is Charlotte?
"She must be a lawyer."
"Assumptions already, Bones? I thought you didn't jump to conclusions?"
"Well, Booth, you have to admit that you display certain...patterns...when it comes to choosing your mating partners."
"Mating partners?" Booth stammered.
"Yes, you have a tendency to.."
"I get it Bones." he replied, holding up his hand. "And for your information Charlotte is not a lawyer, she's a kindergarten teacher."
"A teacher?" she squeaked.
"Yes, she loves kids."
Of course she does. She probably would make mother of the year.
"Anyway, we got to talking at the party and we seemed to really click, so we are going out tonight."
"Where?" The words escaped her lips before she could tell her brain to shut up. Why was she asking for details of her partner's date? And why did the thought of him being on a date leave her a little nauseous?
"That little Italian place around the corner from my place."
Near his place. Of course. The idea of Charlotte being anywhere near his place made her stomach clench. What was wrong with her? He deserved to be happy. He sounded happy.
"I hope..." She couldn't bring herself to say it and scrambled for something appropriate to take its place. "Charlotte sounds very nice, Booth."
"Yeah, she is. Nice. Nice and normal." Booth said, the last words trailing off as if he were talking to himself.
"Normal." She said, ignoring the sting of his words. "Normal's good."
They were silent for a moment as he navigated the streets of D.C.
"So what are you up to tonight?" he casually asked.
Supposed to be going to the dinner with you! her mind screamed.
"I have work to do. On my book." That was a lie, she finished it a week and a half ago but all of the sudden she felt that if she had said she would be working, it would sound lonely and pathetic.
"Oh yeah, how's that going? Am I in it?" he waggled his eyebrows.
"How many times do I have to tell you, you're not Andy Lister." there was a hard edge to her voice and he seemed a little startled by it.
"Sorry Bones."
"It's okay. I just have a headache. Stress of the case." It was a feeble excuse and she knew it. But Booth didn't seem to notice for once.
He's probably too busy thinking about her to even notice.
"Well, the case is done, so you can relax. You should go out, have a little fun of your own."
"Work is fun to me, Booth."
"Just saying. All work and no play makes Bones a..." His voice lilting in a teasing tone.
"Am I not normal?" She interrupted.
"Wh-what? Where did that come from?"
"You're insinuating that I'm somehow not normal for wanting to work. I should be used to it, you've done it before."
"What?" he asked as he pulled up to the Jeffersonian. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing." she replied, unbuckling her seatbelt and opening the car door.
"Wait, Bones, we are in the middle of a conversation here."
"It doesn't matter Booth." she said, getting out of the car. "Just...have fun on your date."
She slammed the door shut and stalked off.
He shook his head and went to start the car again, but changed his mind, unbuckling his belt, getting out of the car and going after her.
"Want to tell me what is going on here?" He called out as he hurried to close the distance between them. Abruptly, she turned to face him and he stopped short at the look on her face.
"Temperance?"
"Why wouldn't you answer my question, Booth?" She challenged him.
"Why does it matter? You've never been concerned with 'normal' before."
"Did it ever occur to you...never mind. Go. Just go." She turned ready to walk away again. To run.
"No."
"What?"
"No. You are not normal. Not even close."
His words were like a blow to the solar plexus. But she had asked for the truth and now she had it. Even it hurt like hell to hear him say it.
"You're extraordinary."
"Thanks." she said softly. "I have to go."
"Bones..."
"Please Booth." she said, her back to him. "I just...have to go."
She blinked back the tears and headed inside.
"No." His voice rang out. He took a few steps toward her. "Not until you tell me what's going on." He reached for her arm and turned her to face him, noting the tears in her eyes.
"Temperance.."
"You are going to be late."
"Late?" he questioned, having completely forgotten about his date. He was more concerned with how distraught his partner was. And he didn't even know why.
"For Charlotte."
"Look, Bones, whatever's bothering you..."
"Nothing's is bothering me okay?" she said defensively, her voice rising.
"It doesn't look that way to me." he replied loudly.
"Charlotte's waiting, Booth. Don't be rude. Nice, normal women do not like to be kept waiting."
"Snotty is not going to work this time, Bones. I'm not leaving until you tell me what it is that has your panties in a twist all of the sudden."
"The current condition of my undergarments is none of your business, Booth. Why don't you go see if you can get a peek at Charlotte's?"
"I don't give a rat's furry ass about Charlotte's..."
"Really? You seemed pretty infatuated earlier."
"I'm not...infatuated."
"Then why, Booth?"
"Why...what, Bones? Why don't you quit with the games and ask me whatever it is you want to know!"
"Why are you taking her on a date?"
"What? Seriously Bones, this is what's got you all hot and bothered?"
"I'm not hot and bother..."
"Yes you are. All because you want to know why I'm taking Charlotte out? I know we are partners but we don't have to share everything. I can have my personal life. You certainly do."
"What?"
"Yes you, with your 'biological imperatives' and telling me every time you and Sully had sex. Really, I like to keep stuff like that private."
"That's not why I..."
"Then what is it Bones? Huh? You think it will affect our partnership? Think we have to go see Sweets again or I'm going to shoot a clown? Well I'm glad you are concerned about my well-being but.."
"I want to go out on a date with you!!" she shouted.