Proximity (Ficlet #29)

[only_more_love]

Title: Proximity
Series:  All That Lies Between Us
Word Count: 300, 301, or 305 (Different counts from different counters. Hmm...)
Timeline: Takes place after Santa in the Slush
Spoilers:  For Santa in the Slush.
Rating:  PG

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Click here to read the other drabbles in this series.

When Brennan peers into Angela's office, it takes her eyes a moment to adjust to the dim light. A rustle and a soft laugh attract her gaze. Her friend is seated, and Hodgins stands in front of her, his head bent. They don't touch, but there is something undeniably intimate about the scene.

Heat floods her cheeks; she has no desire to intrude upon a quiet moment that has nothing to do with her. Her question can wait. As quietly as she can, Brennan backs out of the doorway before they notice her presence.

Unsettled, she rushes down the hall toward her office. A hand on her shoulder startles her, and she whips around, muscles tensed.

"Whoa, hey, Bones. Relax, it's just me." Booth stands behind her, hands raised in a gesture of surrender. But he is close--close enough that she can smell his aftershave, cologne, or whatever good-smelling concoction he has sprayed on himself. His physical proximity draws her mind back to Angela and Hodgins, and she steps away. Has Booth always stood this close to her? If so, why hasn't she noticed it before?

His gaze dances over her face, sharpening as it lingers on her cheeks, and she knows he sees the flush. An almost effervescent sensation rises in her stomach, and her brain rushes with questions, with flashes of Angela and Hodgins, and of her and Booth, and that kiss that really, truly didn't mean anything. Something is happening to her, and she doesn't like it, and Booth is looking at her with a frown of concern, and she really can't deal with this--whatever this is--right now.

So she does the only thing she can: she strides away from Booth, ignoring his surprised exclamation, and heads toward the ladies' bathroom--where he most assuredly won't follow her.

Author's Note: This morning I received an email that said, "Get what you have been missing all your life by clicking here." I clicked, but Seeley Booth didn't materialize in my living room. What did I do wrong?

 

Comments

[pinktealeaves.livejournal.com]

She gets into the bathroom because she's horny. ;) Wow, great way to ruin the magi of your fic in a few words. But still I love the idea.

Great work.

By the way, I receive mails for increasing the size of my penis every day. I've never clicked because I was afraid to get one of my own, but great to know these things don't work. ;)

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

*g* Sorry, I couldn't see her credibly doing anything but freaking out at this particular moment.

By the way, I receive mails for increasing the size of my penis every day. I've never clicked because I was afraid to get one of my own, but great to know these things don't work. ;)

hahahahahaha *hugs you*

Thanks, my friend.

[hoosabrat.livejournal.com]

Aww, poor confused Brennan. I think one of the reasons that I like this show is that her whole awkwardness with social customs and inability to read people reminds me so much of myself. XD I would very much like to think there's a Booth in my future, lol!

I forget, are you writing any longer post-Santa in the Slush fics? I feel like that Christmas tree tangibly changed something, but I have yet to see a really good longer fic that takes the aftermath to some kind of conclusion.

[witchofthedogs.livejournal.com]

Something is happening to her, and she doesn't like it

And she wouldn't because she is all about control - she didn't have it growing up but she's damn sure she's going to have it now and falling in love, falling in whatever, is something she can't control and that's terrifying.


Well done.

[toughlovebaby.livejournal.com]

the ladies is always the place to go if you dont wanna be followed ;) LOL

i can't wait to see more episodes - to see them explore the impact of the kiss.

[mdemvizi.livejournal.com]

She finally realizes how close they are!


Nice little sweet fic to make a Saturday more enjoyable.

[pipergirl07.livejournal.com]

Poor Booth. He already has enough trouble trying to figure Brennan out :)

I can easily see her becoming frazzled with the loss of control she has over the situations she finds herself in...

[odakota-rose.livejournal.com]

Oh Brennan... must you be so unintentionally dense? hehe..
But yes, I suppose she must. And that's exactly the kind of thing I could see in an ep. One of these days Booth is going to have to figure it out :D

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

This is excellent. Brennan confused by feelings that she can't classify, dealing with the only way she can - by running.

If I though clicking a button would make Mr. Sex appear in my basement, I'd be a very, very happy woman.

[fangirlgonewild.livejournal.com]

Ah, the space invaders! Seriously, I keep waiting for Brennan to be like, "Excuse me, Booth? Could you take, like, half a step back when simply speaking to me? The fact that we stand on top of one another all the time is slightly distracting."

In summary: nice one.

[her-lovelyheart.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness. I don't even have words to describe how perfect this, seriously. See, it's so perfect because it's so Bones. It's so so Bones. *sigh* WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD?! I swear, Seely Booth should have landed on your doorstep by now for all the wonder you write! =] Keep waiting!! ;]

Oh, and once you're done with him, send him my way! ;] Haha.

But, seriously, seriously, seriously, another ~perfect~ drabble- keep them coming! ♥

[her-lovelyheart.livejournal.com]

OH, and love your new layout header. We totally know that's what he meant to say haha. ;]

Gosh, I miss these two, do you know when a new episode airs already? End of February, I heard. =[

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

So she does the only thing she can: she strides away from Booth, ignoring his surprised exclamation, and heads toward the ladies' bathroom--where he most assuredly won't follow her.

if he really wanted to know what was wrong with her, I bet he would just follow her to the bathroom.

and as a side not, Brennan, he's always been that close. lol you just never noticed. ha!

[joyreader.livejournal.com]

His physical proximity draws her mind back to Angela and Hodgins, and she steps away. Has Booth always stood this close to her? If so, why hasn't she noticed it before?

It's really interesting that you posted this story today. I was watching a few episodes from the middle of season 2 today (Lye, Aliens, Witch, Man in the Cell etc...) and I was noticing there was an incredible physical closeness between them. Not just Booth's gentle hand on the small of her back thing, but real "sharing the same space" closeness. *All* the time, and *really* close. Even when Booth was kissing Cam, there wasn't that level of physical intimacy. It just seemed unusually obvious today that these two share a magnetic field. How come Brennan (or Hodgins or Cam) hasn't noticed?

Anyway, loved the fic. This is eerily exactly what I was thinking about today.

[buffyangellvr23.livejournal.com]

very nice :) And lol at your AN

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *g*

[raggedy-edge.livejournal.com]

"Has Booth always stood this close to her? If so, why hasn't she noticed it before?" Yes! That line just summarizes the entire Booth/Brennan relationship for me. :)

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) I'm glad those sentences seemed like Booth and Brennan to you.

[elena1701.livejournal.com]

True, the ladies is probably the one place Booth won't follow her!

I always get emails offering me discounted Rolex watches, which amuses me because I never even wear a watch!

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

True, the ladies is probably the one place Booth won't follow her!

*g* When it comes to Brennan, anything's possible.

I always get emails offering me discounted Rolex watches, which amuses me because I never even wear a watch!

Spam, while annoying, can also be very amusing. :P

Thanks for reading, Elena. :)

[killmotion.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't put it past him to stride into the ladies' bathroom after her. :P

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't put it past him to stride into the ladies' bathroom after her.

Me either. *g*

[makd.livejournal.com]

Neat one - something really is happening to Brennan: and we like it!

Author's Note: This morning I received an email that said, "Get what you have been missing all your life by clicking here." I clicked, but Seeley Booth didn't materialize in my living room. What did I do wrong?

BWAHHAHAHAHA! I'm sitting on the same sofa on this one, Sweetie. :-)

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, we like it. *g*

BWAHHAHAHAHA! I'm sitting on the same sofa on this one, Sweetie. :-)

Those emails always promise so much more than they deliver. *sigh* ;)

Thanks for reading!

[sarabones.livejournal.com]

Great! :D

About the AN xD I click in a lot of links and I never get Booth or David.. I already gave up -.-' xD LOL :P

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Sara, those emails are so misleading. ;)

Thanks for commenting, as always! *hugs*

Proximity

[otismotis.livejournal.com]

I think Booth just might follow her into the bathroom. I really like this story, because of the visual it created for me. I always look for your stories, because they encompass all the feelings and what we experience in our daily lives or want to live out in our fantsies. Also, want to thank you dropping a line on the reviews that I submit. I know it is not easy to write a personal note, as you recieve a lot of reviews on your stories, and it is appreciated.

Re: Proximity

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

I agree that Booth might follow her into the bathroom. She thinks he won't, though. :P

I'm really happy that you read and enjoy my stories. Booth and Brennan have captured me in a way that's difficult for me to articulate. My brain knows they're fictional characters, but my heart and imagination have fallen love with what they are and especially what they could be. That's why I write about them. :)

Also, want to thank you dropping a line on the reviews that I submit. I know it is not easy to write a personal note, as you receive a lot of reviews on your stories, and it is appreciated.

Oh, you're so welcome! It's my pleasure, even though I'm never able to respond as quickly as I'd like.

Thank you again for taking the time to read and comment; that is something I will never take for granted.

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

Excellent Brennan hiding and running from confusing feelings.