OOM: Post-"Judas on a Pole" 11 p.m., Brennan's apartment

[paladinsuitsyou]

Booth shifts the bags of take-out and knocks firmly on the door. It's late, but he knows Bones'll still be up. She's always still up. He has no idea how she manages to get any sleep at all, with the hours she keeps, but since she never seems tired or anything, she must manage to get some rest.

He just hopes she's hungry, as he's got enough Indian food here to feed six people.

Comments

[paladinsuitsyou]

"Sometimes idle speculation is fun," Booth says, making a face at her for the chicken stealing. "It's like a short break from real life. A mini-vacation, if you will."

[dr_temperance]

Brennan gives him a What are you going to do about it? raised eyebrow.

"But it's not really rational. It's up there with romanticizing."

[paladinsuitsyou]

Booth shrugs. "Rational, schmational. Sometimes, fantasy is every bit as important. Just the thought of something that you know is impossible and irrational is almost as good as the thing itself."

[dr_temperance]

"That....makes no sense," Brennan replies.

She addresses the contents of her take-out box as she continues.

"Dwelling on things that never happened or never will happen is, at best, a waste of time an energy and, at worst, keeps us from dealing with reality."

Not that it's that big of a deal when it comes to a working vacation in Mongolia, but, when it comes to other things, it can be detrimental.

[paladinsuitsyou]

"If you do it to excess, yeah, but in moderation, it's not so bad. Chicken khorma every night isn't good for you, but once in a while it's not awful. Same thing for imagination."

He won't argue with that one.

[dr_temperance]

"That true, I guess," Brennan concedes.

She's been pondering on way too many what-ifs this evening. She really needs to shake herself out of that.

[paladinsuitsyou]

Booth gives her an easy smile. It's not often he can get Brennan to concede anything, so he's pretty pleased with himself.

"So, anything big on tap for this week? Fun new bones coming in from God-knows-where?"

He's just hoping there aren't any cases as dramatic as this one in the near future. They could all use a break.

[dr_temperance]

Brennan makes a face at him. Booth really can be incredibly smug when he thinks he's scored a point.

"Nothing really pressing, time-wise," she replies in response to his question. "But there are several sets of bones that were flown in from Egypt a few weeks ago that I've been dying to take a look at. Hopefully it will be a quiet week, and I can work on them."

She says it like someone anticipating a luxurious spa retreat.

[paladinsuitsyou]

It's a good thing he doesn't score many, then.

"Glad to hear it. You deserve a quiet week if anyone does."

She's had a rough couple of months, after all. Compared to all that, no doubt a few quiet weeks will be almost as good for her as any spa retret.

[dr_temperance]

"I think we all do."

There are Egyptian bones, and Hannah's visit to prepare for, and she's pretty sure that Angela is going to drag her out to something that will prove interesting.

"I appreciate you coming over to cheer me up," she adds.

[paladinsuitsyou]

"Did it work?" he asks, closing up his now-empty box of chicken khorma.

[dr_temperance]

"Yes. It did."

It's reassuring to be reminded that while the situation with her biological relatives may be tenuous and uncertain, her friends can be depended upon.

[paladinsuitsyou]

"Then my work here is done," he says, standing and yawning. "Which is good, because I've got to get some sleep. You want the leftovers?"

[dr_temperance]

"Sure, if you don't."

Brennan stands as well.

"I should turn in too. It's been a long day."

And other understatements....

[paladinsuitsyou]

"To say the least," Booth says, giving her a rueful smile. "Sleep well, Bones. I'll see you 'round, okay?"

[dr_temperance]

Brennan nods, walking him to the door.

"You too. Good night, Booth."