Fic: Reflex (#53 in All That Lies Between Us)

[only_more_love]

Title: Reflex (Ficlet #53)
Series:  All That Lies Between Us
Word Count: 1435
Rating:  T or PG-13 for some language
Summary:  Booth catches Brennan getting ready for a date.
Characters:  Booth, Brennan
Timeline: Set not too long after 3x13: The Verdict in the Story.
Spoilers: Through The Santa in the Slush.
Notes: This grew out of a writing prompt posted by willgirl.
Feedback: is always appreciated. If criticizing, please be constructive.
Disclaimer: Bones and its characters belong to FOX, not me. This story is purely mean to entertain. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Click here to read the other ficlets in this series.
 

Watching her apply lipstick shouldn’t be this interesting. Booth stood in the doorway of Brennan's office and found himself nearly hypnotized, his gaze tracking each stroke of red pigment on Brennan’s mouth. Cultural significance blah blah blah, he could practically hear her say. To him, it just looked hot. “Objectifying yourself, Bones?” he asked, sarcastic smile firmly in place.

“I have a date,” she replied, glancing down at a small mirror in her hand and sounding way too preoccupied for his liking. When she pressed her lips together, Booth nearly groaned at the sight, his body choosing that inconvenient moment to notice for the thousandth time that his partner was a gorgeous woman with a gorgeous mouth.

“Really?” He injected a note of skepticism into his voice as he strolled toward her.

“Don’t sound so surprised, Booth.”

Shrugging he said, “It’s just that you hadn’t mentioned you were seeing anyone.” Leaning against the edge of her desk, he watched her retract the lipstick and stick the cap back on. When he'd decided to stop by, he'd expected to find Brennan nose deep in bone fragments or paperwork, not doing something girly like putting on makeup. For another man's benefit, his brain helpfully added.

“Do I tell you everything about my personal life?” she said.

”Actually, yeah. Usually you do.” He barely repressed a shudder as her question reminded him of Sully and every excruciating detail of their relationship that she’d shared with him.

”Then I must have forgotten to mention it. It’s a first date.” When she reached for her purse, Booth snatched the tube of lipstick off the desk.

“Give it back,” Brennan said, swatting his leg.

Satisfied now that he had her full attention, Booth ignored her and turned over the lipstick. “Ooooh, Scarlet Temptation.” He snickered and glanced at Brennan. “Who the hell comes up with these names?” Not that she needed lipstick; her lips looked pretty damned tempting completely bare. Not that he'd noticed. Much.

“I’m going to be late.” She shoved back her chair and stood, grabbing for the lipstick. He danced away from her, holding the treasure over his head. “Could you please stop being childish and give it back?”

He grinned. “Nope. Not till you tell me about the tool of the day.”

“What?”

He rolled his eyes. ”Who’s this guy you’re going out with tonight?”

“That’s none of your business,” she shot back, frowning.

He raised his eyebrows. “Since when?” If it had to do with Brennan, it was his business. Simple as that. He'd stopped asking himself exactly why that was the case a while ago. An anthropological inevitability. Or something. The sky was blue, grass was green, and Brennan was his business -- whether she liked it or not.

“Well, it’s not as if you tell me about all the women you date -- or the ones with whom you satisfy your biological urges.” She made another grab for the lipstick, but he palmed it with his other hand and held it behind his back.

“That's different.” He really wished she'd stop talking about biological urges. The squint speak he'd gotten used to. But hearing those two words had the unfortunate effect of reminding him of the urges he'd been having whenever he came within ten feet of her.

“Oh? How so?”

“For starters, my track record’s better than yours. None of the women I’ve dated are murderers or—”

“I'm going to ignore that comment,” she said, giving him her snootiest look, “but only because I don't have time to engage in a debate with you right now.”

“Oh, so now you don't have time for your partner?” he asked, annoyed by her changing priorities.

“Did you need something?” she asked, raising her arms in a questioning gesture. “From where I'm standing, it appears that you're only here to irritate me.”

Moving more quickly than he thought she could given that she was wearing heels, Brennan lunged, catching his hand and trying to pry his fingers open. Booth stepped back, pulling her with him. She collided with his chest and he grinned. Having her this close wasn't exactly a bad thing.

Her blue eyes narrowed. “Give it back,” she said, her warm breath puffing against his face.

“No.” Laughing, Booth yanked his hand free and shoved the lipstick in his right pocket.

Arching an eyebrow, she smirked at him. “You think I wouldn't put my hand in your pocket?”

She'd do it. He didn't doubt that for a second. “I don't know. Would you?” he countered.

With her eyes locked on his, Brennan reached toward him. He captured her wrist before she got too close. “Trust me, Bones” -- still holding her wrist, he stepped forward, his free hand curving around the back of her neck -- “you don't need lipstick.”

He kept his eyes open until the last possible second, watching her watch him as he leaned closer and closer. To his surprise, she didn't pull away. Even though she could have stopped him, she didn't. Her lips parted, and she inhaled. When her eyes finally closed, he let his slide shut, too.

Her lips were softer than he remembered. Warmer. Moving slowly against his like every single fantasy he'd never admit having. Like she wanted this, him, as badly as he wanted her. There were no holidays at stake and no family members to disappoint, he realized with satisfaction. This was purely about them, and if she didn't want him, well, she could just pull away.

No steamboats to count this time. Good thing, too, because he couldn't have kept count if he'd tried.

He flicked his tongue against her bottom lip, tasting lipstick she didn't need. A distant part of his mind recognized this was way over the line, but he didn't fucking care. Who knew why he'd done it? The only thing that mattered -- the only thing Booth cared about -- was that he'd done it, and now she stood pressed against him, arms wound 'round his neck, while he swallowed the tiny noises she made in the back of her throat.

Awareness returned slowly, but return it did. Booth finally had to acknowledge they were standing in Brennan's office making out. Yeah, it was evening, so many people would have left already, but anyone who looked through those big, sparkling windows would see them. There was one small problem: he didn't want to stop. He wanted to touch her -- wherever and however she'd let him.

Booth pulled away, reluctantly breaking the kiss. His hand drifted up from her hip, and he brushed his thumb over her naked mouth. “I told you you didn't need lipstick.” He'd kissed it off her, he thought, smiling.

“I have to go,” she said, sounding guarded. Without looking at him, she retreated, dipping her head to look at her watch.

“Go where?”

“How many times must I tell you this? I have a date.” He watched as she marched to her desk and gathered her purse and a stack of manila folders.

“You're seriously going to go out with this guy? After we...”

“After what, Booth?” she asked, eyes flashing. “What? One more kiss that didn't mean anything?”

“The hell it didn't,” he replied. How many times were they going to play this game? “And for your information, you kissed me back.”

“So? That was a reflex response.”

“Reflex? That's lame, even for you.”

“I don't know what you expected.” She shrugged. “Did you think you would kiss me and I would just fall at your feet?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Then?” she asked, regarding him coolly, lips pressed into a thin line.

He hadn't planned to kiss her. He'd just done it. Now, with her staring at him like that, the right words wouldn't come. “Bones...” Frustrated because he could feel her slipping away, Booth sighed and wiped a hand over his mouth.

Brennan bowed her head for a moment before turning and walking away, the click of her high-heeled shoes echoing off the floor. Frozen, Booth watched her go. When he could no longer see her, he collapsed on her couch, hands balled into fists and stomach tied in knots.

Shoulders slumped, he reached into his pocket and pulled out her lipstick. He rolled it in his hand, staring at it and seeing Brennan's face during those heartbeats before he'd kissed her. He laughed, the sound as hollow as he felt.

Man, had he fucked that up.

Comments

[starlite-diner.livejournal.com]

oooo, the angst --- I love this so much!

And my god, the kiss was one of the hottest kisses I've ever read. Thank you for this hun! :D

There was one small problem: he didn't want to stop. He wanted to touch her -- wherever and however she'd let him.

Booth pulled away, reluctantly breaking the kiss. His hand drifted up from her hip, and he brushed his thumb over her naked mouth. “I told you you didn't need lipstick.” He'd kissed it off her, he thought, smiling.
Perfection. ♥

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Shauna! Kisses are difficult to write without making them all sound the same. *g* I'm glad this one worked for you. :)

[buffyangellvr23.livejournal.com]

awww...nice but sad. I want fluff now!

she should just give in and admit it already

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

she should just give in and admit it already

*g* I know, right?

Thanks for reading and commenting.

[fangirlgonewild.livejournal.com]

Ah! Here I expect romance and I end with angst. Very and very well done. I would add more, but my head in aching and I really need to stop looking at the computer screen for a while.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Hope your headache is gone. *hands you a Tylenol*

This one seems to have surprised a fair number of folks. That surprised me. :)

Thanks for reading and feeding.

[highvoltage11.livejournal.com]

Ooh that was sexy. I wanted her to fish that lipstick out of his pocket. Hehe

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon.

I wanted her to fish that lipstick out of his pocket.

Never say never. ;)

[tgrfan23.livejournal.com]

Booth sure is a glutton for punishment, isn't he?

A part of me has wondered, since the first airing of Santa in the Slush, if in a early draft of the script, Booth was intended to be Caroline's accomplice in whatever favor she's originally told him she was going to extract from Brennan, thinking it will be something completely innocuous. Then, of course, he's completely blindsided once he finds out what Caroline has actually asked Brennan to do.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Love makes people do crazy things sometimes. ;)

That's a very interesting theory!

[makd.livejournal.com]

1. Satisfied now that he had her full attention... And he, oh so very much, always wants her full attention. :-)

2. If it had to do with Brennan, it was his business. True, so very true.

3. it appears that you're only here to irritate me.” Oh, Sweetie (to Brennan) if you only knew.... :-)

4. A distant part of his mind recognized this was way over the line - the line HE created.

5. He wanted to touch her -- wherever and however she'd let him. So obvious; so very obvious. As DB plays him, Booth can barely stand next to her and not touch her; it's in his face; it's in his body language.

6. Man, had he fucked that up. Dude: very, very, true.

7. very in character; very true to the rhythm of their speech. Excellent - as always.

FIclet 53

[(Anonymous)]

I wanted to leave comments here also. Hope you are feeling better. It is damp, rainy here in Washington, DC and this hot, steamy piece made my day. Could be continued, since he kept the lipstick and Bones loves a challenge.
This could be a continuation, please.

Re: FIclet 53

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

I wanted to leave comments here also.

I don't mind that you commented anonymously, but the above sentence makes me think you just forgot to sign in, and I should know who you are. If not, my mistake. :)

You are right that Brennan loves a challenge. *g* And I am tempted to continue this. I find I'm torn between leaving it like this and giving it a tidier and somewhat happier ending.

Thank you for reading and commenting; I'm pleased you liked this.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Makd,
Reading your comments always makes me love Booth and Brennan even more. :) Thank you for that -- and for reading. *hugs*

[pinktealeaves.livejournal.com]

Loved the teasing, loved the kiss, and not so loved the ending, but anyway that was so Brennan. I could really see her leaving.

So nice, great work.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. I know the ending wasn't particularly happy. It's possible I'll add to this.

[melissa-pbfan.livejournal.com]

Oooh, angsty fic. I like it. :)

“Did you think you would kiss me and I would just fall at your feet?”

“No. Of course not.”

Oh, yes he did. ;P

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Melissa. :)

Oh, yes he did. ;P

*g* Exactly.

[http://users.livejournal.com/alderaan_/]

I love Booth when he is like a child and when he is jealous and when he admits he is in love with Brennan and he needs to touch her. Therefore I love this Booth.

And the kiss? It's really perfect. Hot, sweet, warm and… perfect.

But… yes, there is a "but"… the end is, not exactly sad, unexpected. I would rather they went home of her and… you know ;D Perhaps the next time.
You can't please all the people all of the time.

Seriously now, great work, as always.

Besos

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Isabel. I'm glad parts of this appealed to you. I know exactly what you hoped for, you naughty girl. :P

Maybe Booth will get another chance. ;)

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

First of all, loved:

“Do I tell you everything about my personal life?” she said.

”Actually, yeah. Usually you do.”

Then my gosh, love me some angst/smooching :)

Guh, hot kiss. Loved that he kissed her lipstick off and was pleased.

Poor Booth. Would love a continuation of this one, should the mood grab you ;)

x

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

I love your icon; Gordon Gordon was awesome. :)

Booth had his ass handed to him. *g* Sorry, I shouldn't be grinning about that. Brennan kinda had a point, though. And I am sorely tempted to continue this, but I'm torn between leaving it like this and giving it a tidier and somewhat happier ending. Never say never!

Thank you for commenting, as always, my dear.

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

Thank you re: icon. I loved Gordon Gordon too. You were right about photoshop btw - can't stop making the damn things - will have to post some more soon :)

I loved Booth having his ass handed to him (that is such a deliciously american phrase btw, love it!)

I understand being torn between more of this or a happier ending... how about both he he he...

x

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

You were right about photoshop btw - can't stop making the damn things - will have to post some more soon :)

*grins* I will say I told you so.

Re: Booth having his ass handed to him
We Americans do say some silly things, I'll admit.

I understand being torn between more of this or a happier ending... how about both he he he...

Ah, have my cake and eat it, too. ;)

[dabhug.livejournal.com]

Poor Booth.

“Did you think you would kiss me and I would just fall at your feet?”

Thank you. I hope you feel better soon.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Donna. I just have a cold, and it's making me a little congested, tired, and headachey. Nothing major. :)

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful. A more likely scenario than a happier one, since I think Brennan is very wary of letting down her guard.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! She is wary; it's amazing Booth's made it in as far as he has. :)

[bamax.livejournal.com]

Patience people :)...it's the one trait that Booth seems to have in spades that will serve has and will continue to serve him well in courting his partner's affections. He's just slowly wormed his way into her heart and now that she's let him, she doesn't know how to expel him.

[anadxof.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was good. It's so cold today, and I needed some heat. The kiss was perfect after all the teasing, but poor Booth. I hope you feel better *hugs*

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Foxy. Glad this gave you a little warmth. :) *hugs you back*

[5230profile.livejournal.com]

that was great, I loved it! :)

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot! Glad you enjoyed this. :)

[evenstar1002.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwww *sigh* once again an amazing fic, and once again a speechless me *lol* Seriously, that was perfect. From the first to the last word: perfect story, perfect writing and perfect characterization.
I love this sentence the most: "The sky was blue, grass was green, and Brennan was his business -- whether she liked it or not." SO true <3

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

You are too kind. Thank you. I'm happy you liked that sentence; it felt right to me, too. Booth just kind of shoves himself in Brennan's space, physically and psychologically, because he thinks he belongs there. For the most part, she accepts it--with a little bickering sprinkled in. *g*

BTW, I love your icon--and the scene from which it's taken.

[evenstar1002.livejournal.com]

Hehe thanks :D Love your icon as well... *sigh* so much tension :D

And yep, you're so right! I LOVE that Brennan accepts it just like that. And even if she does bicker some times... she still loves it that someone takes care of her the way Booth does.

[freevortex.livejournal.com]

ahh perfect! I thought it was going to end romantically, but this was even better :)

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. I get the sense the end surprised some people. :)

[bamax.livejournal.com]

LOL! My mind immediately went his next move. I could just see him searching data bases and extracting fbi buddies to follow her-espec. with Gormogon still loose. You KNOW he'll know in 2.5 hours the name of the guy she's seeing, his shoe size and his mother's maiden name. No way he goes home and mopes after screwing that up and sending her fleeing and hurling into the arms of a new 'strange' guy.
:)

[pipergirl07.livejournal.com]

Oh, man... my stomach just sank into my heels...

Poor Booth. He really did fuck it up this time.

As usual, you make every conceivable scenario seem like it's been pulled from the show--very believable!

*runs to continue catching up on posts*

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

As usual, you make every conceivable scenario seem like it's been pulled from the show--very believable!

Oh, you have made my week. :) Thank you.

[killmotion.livejournal.com]

Gah! Amazing. Oh, the angst of Booth fucking up! That is a load of bull, the "reflex response”.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

That is a load of bull, the "reflex response”.

Brennan says some interesting things, doesn't she? *g*

Thanks for reading and feeding.

[bamax.livejournal.com]

Doggone woman! I feel like I *am* watching an episode moment whenever I read one of your fics! This is, of course, so spot on and so doggone perfectly in sync with where these two are right now. They truly don't know what's up and what's down in regard to each other but only that they do WANT something in regard to each other. The what, when, how and why are to be determined. I love how you put that total current dynamic between them into this ficlet! Wonderful stuff. I'm very interesting in reading further 'wants' , 'hows', 'whys' and 'whens' from you in the future! BRAVO!

[bamax.livejournal.com]

P.S...

My favorite line:

The sky was blue, grass was green, and Brennan was his business -- whether she liked it or not.

That is so *totally* Booth right there that I LOL when I read it! Wonderful stuff!

[gah-warrior.livejournal.com]

Love the angst. I feel like this scenario (or something like it) running through Booth's head is EXACTLY why he doesn't make a move. Sigh.

[(Anonymous)]

i like the fact that brennan is playing with him shes making her self in control of the situation.

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

There was one small problem: he didn't want to stop. He wanted to touch her -- wherever and however she'd let him.

This is SO Booth, and I was going to say, "It's so sweet," but then listened to myself and found that disturbing, the idea wanting her approval for whatever they did would be something I'd think was "sweet" instead of a GIVEN.

Booth is a gentleman, though, and I very much appreciate that, as well as the fact that he THINKS like one in your story.

[alias-jems.livejournal.com]

i am trying to make my way through some of your fics and i have to say how much i enjoyed this one - poor Booth LOL - i feel bad for the guy.

this story works perfectly though for the simple reason it is so in character. reading all the bickering as he keeps her lipstick from her, i could totally see it in my mind as the scene unfolded in her office. I didn't see the kiss coming actually so was a bit taken aback by Booth's move ... probably just as Brennan was LOL and I can totally imagine she'd just head off on her date anyways. LMAO!! she's so harsh.

am wondering if you ever wrote a sequel - i'll go look *g*