Two of a Pair

By Nerdofmanytalents

The first time, he hardly realizes what he sees. They're discussing a case in his office, and she's gone off on a lecture about the anthropological significance of such-and-such part of the case. She pauses her pacing, arms akimbo, and she shifts her weight—and that's when he sees it. The classy slacks lift to reveal the slightest peek of azure and yellow above those ankle boots.

"Booth, are you even listening to me?"

His gaze snaps back up to her irritated face, and that flash of color leaves his mind as he stutters a hasty reply.

The next time he's walking into her office, and he notices her shoes are off and under her desk. Black, he thinks, and dismisses it quickly. He explains how their suspect's alibi checked out, and the possibility of getting a new lead from the evidence Hodgins's just explained to him on his way in. She pushes away from her chair, toeing her shoes out from under the desk as she begins asking about the new potential suspect and their plan of action. It's as she slips her feet into the conservative shoes, he sees them—the shape of each dainty toe visible, like a glove. But they're only there for a moment, before she's brushing past him, grabbing her lab coat on the way out her door.

The third time, he's looking for them. For once, the silence between the partners and Sweets doesn't grate his nerves, and he uses the opportunity to sneak a glance at Brennan's crossed ankles. She's wearing the short boots again, and he can see it. Brown and pink plaid. He can't keep the grin off his face as he startles both his partner and Sweets by beginning a discussion on the previous weekend with Parker.

He stands out in the lab, watching her office as an intern delivers the file to her. She appears to be interrogating the young man, probably as to why he was delivering something that normally Booth would bring in himself. After a minute, the intern escapes, and she flips open the file. Her posture stiffens as she takes the pair from the folder—black and red stripes with white skulls. Her other hand grasps the note to read, and he can't keep the grin off his face as her gaze darts up and their eyes meet from across the lab.

"Enjoy the socks, Bones."