Fic: Liquid Therapy
Title: Liquid Therapy
Disclaimer: Bones belongs to Fox, Hanson and Reichs
Rating: PG-13/T
AN: Written for bitesize_bones . Prompt: Booth & Hodgins, bourbon and boytalk
OooOoOo
Booth splashes another couple of fingers bourbon into his glass and hands back the bottle to Hodgins. The entomologist hasn't bothered with a glass since he barged into Booth's place two thirds of a bottle ago. Is there a note with a map to his place on a notice board somewhere in the Jeffersonian encouraging people to head there after a difficult day? If there is he is sure it has a big "x" marking his liquor cabinet.
Hodgins takes a swig and sighs.
"It's not like he's my best friend or anything, but couldn't she have picked someone else?"
Booth is beginning to regret his last three? four? top ups. Dealing with squints requires that you're sober. Or possibly a lot more drunk.
"Have you told her how you feel?" he tries.
"Dude, you sound like Sweets. If I wanted Sweets' advice I'd talk to him."
"So you came here instead?"
"Yeah. Sweets would probably suggest that the three of us sat down together." Hodgins pauses for another swig. "Cause that wouldn't be awkward at all. Not at all. I figured you'd be more sympahet... sympahecti... understanding with Brennan going out with Hacker and all that."
"It's not the same thing. You and Angela were, you know, involved. Bones and I are partners." Booth finishes his glass in one go, the liquid burning all the way down to his stomach.
"Partners, if that's what you want to call it, man. It doesn't change what you are. She lied to the FBI and asked her criminal father for help when you disappeared. Dr Brennan never breaks the rules. And she's kind of pretty pissed with her father. She let you arrest him."
"I know. I was there."
Booth grasps the bottle again. He's going with option number two, a lot more drunk.
"And remind me, when was the last time you stepped in front of a bullet for Charlie?" Hodgins continues as he relieves Booth of the bourbon. "Or brought me Chinese when I'm working late at the lab?"
"I thought you came here to talk about Angela. And Charlie's not my partner."
"Like I said, it doesn't change a thing." Hodgins waves the bottle in Booth's direction. "You, my friend, can use whatever labels you want. Partners, colleagues, co-workers. Doesn't change the facts."
"So we're friends now, huh?"
"Yep, and as your friend I'm telling you, the only person you're fooling is yourself."
"Thanks, Dr Hodgins. Don't give up your day job for psychology, though."
"You know, I feel a lot better. At least Angela's not dating my boss. That would be even worse. Thanks, Booth."
"I'm gonna call you a cab. And stop waving that bottle around, I don't want my couch smelling like an old wino."
"I guess I shouldn't drive. I think I might be a bit drunk."
"Which is why I took your car keys the minute you went for my second most expensive bottle."
"Hey, at least you still got the best one left."
"No I don't. Someone else drank that one."
Booth sticks out a hand when Hodgins moves to hug him by the frontdoor.
"We should do this more often, dude."
"Really?" Booth extricates his hand from Hodgins'. "Your cab should be here by now. You okay to go downstairs without falling over?"
"No problem," Hodgins assures him as he struggles to put his arm into the jacket sleeve. Can I ask a favor though?"
"What?"
"Don't mention any of this to Angela and Wendell or anyone else."
"Believe me, I won't," Booth sighs as he closes the door.
FIN
Disclaimer: Bones belongs to Fox, Hanson and Reichs
Rating: PG-13/T
AN: Written for bitesize_bones . Prompt: Booth & Hodgins, bourbon and boytalk
OooOoOo
Booth splashes another couple of fingers bourbon into his glass and hands back the bottle to Hodgins. The entomologist hasn't bothered with a glass since he barged into Booth's place two thirds of a bottle ago. Is there a note with a map to his place on a notice board somewhere in the Jeffersonian encouraging people to head there after a difficult day? If there is he is sure it has a big "x" marking his liquor cabinet.
Hodgins takes a swig and sighs.
"It's not like he's my best friend or anything, but couldn't she have picked someone else?"
Booth is beginning to regret his last three? four? top ups. Dealing with squints requires that you're sober. Or possibly a lot more drunk.
"Have you told her how you feel?" he tries.
"Dude, you sound like Sweets. If I wanted Sweets' advice I'd talk to him."
"So you came here instead?"
"Yeah. Sweets would probably suggest that the three of us sat down together." Hodgins pauses for another swig. "Cause that wouldn't be awkward at all. Not at all. I figured you'd be more sympahet... sympahecti... understanding with Brennan going out with Hacker and all that."
"It's not the same thing. You and Angela were, you know, involved. Bones and I are partners." Booth finishes his glass in one go, the liquid burning all the way down to his stomach.
"Partners, if that's what you want to call it, man. It doesn't change what you are. She lied to the FBI and asked her criminal father for help when you disappeared. Dr Brennan never breaks the rules. And she's kind of pretty pissed with her father. She let you arrest him."
"I know. I was there."
Booth grasps the bottle again. He's going with option number two, a lot more drunk.
"And remind me, when was the last time you stepped in front of a bullet for Charlie?" Hodgins continues as he relieves Booth of the bourbon. "Or brought me Chinese when I'm working late at the lab?"
"I thought you came here to talk about Angela. And Charlie's not my partner."
"Like I said, it doesn't change a thing." Hodgins waves the bottle in Booth's direction. "You, my friend, can use whatever labels you want. Partners, colleagues, co-workers. Doesn't change the facts."
"So we're friends now, huh?"
"Yep, and as your friend I'm telling you, the only person you're fooling is yourself."
"Thanks, Dr Hodgins. Don't give up your day job for psychology, though."
"You know, I feel a lot better. At least Angela's not dating my boss. That would be even worse. Thanks, Booth."
"I'm gonna call you a cab. And stop waving that bottle around, I don't want my couch smelling like an old wino."
"I guess I shouldn't drive. I think I might be a bit drunk."
"Which is why I took your car keys the minute you went for my second most expensive bottle."
"Hey, at least you still got the best one left."
"No I don't. Someone else drank that one."
Booth sticks out a hand when Hodgins moves to hug him by the frontdoor.
"We should do this more often, dude."
"Really?" Booth extricates his hand from Hodgins'. "Your cab should be here by now. You okay to go downstairs without falling over?"
"No problem," Hodgins assures him as he struggles to put his arm into the jacket sleeve. Can I ask a favor though?"
"What?"
"Don't mention any of this to Angela and Wendell or anyone else."
"Believe me, I won't," Booth sighs as he closes the door.
FIN