OOM: DC--Shortly Before Bodies in the Book....

[dr_temperance]

Brennan's having a hard time not smiling these days. It tends to just creep up on her.

It's been a week since she made the first move on Sully. For once her instincts had been right on the money. Making the first move had definitely been the way to go.

And ever since she's had a hard time not smiling. Behold the power of endorphins.

Which is why she's smiling idly at her computer screen as she scrolls through images of a dismembered arm.

Comments

[bringonthewonder]

Angela looks at the screen.

"Why do I get the feeling your mind is not entirely on this case?"

[dr_temperance]

Brennan's smile widens. But she nods at the screen.

"The arm was recovered from a landfill in Philadelphia. It should arrive first thing tomorrow morning.

Anyone who didn't know Brennan might assume that she is inexplicably fond of severed limbs.

[bringonthewonder]

"I see," says Angela.

"And how is Sully?"

Angela knows Brennan well.

[dr_temperance]

"He's good."

Brennan scrolls to a particularly grisly close-up, but it does nothing to dim her mood.

"We're going out tonight."

[bringonthewonder]

Angela grins, but looks away from the arm.

"Yeah? Going out or staying in?"

[dr_temperance]

"By definition, we're going out. Staying in tends to come afterward."

Brennan closes the file and turns her full attention to her friend.

"How are you?"

[bringonthewonder]

"I'm good," says Angela.

"Rough case behind us, dates in front of us, all's right, yes?"

[dr_temperance]

"It does lend a certain pleasurable aspect to an otherwise ordinary day. Having something to look forward to."

"Dates, huh? What are you and Hodgins doing this evening?"

[bringonthewonder]

Angela grins.

"Staying in."

[dr_temperance]

Brennan gives her a knowing (and highly amused) look.

"Is this what they call girl talk?"

[bringonthewonder]

"Yes. Only usually, the participants don't stop in the middle of the conversation to analyze the fact."

[dr_temperance]

"Sorry. I'm not very good at it."

She doesn't seem especially worried over the fact though.

Alright. Analysis tabled. More talk.

"I'm having a really good time with him."

[bringonthewonder]

"That's good, Bren. Just do yourself a favor and try not to analyze that to death, either."

[dr_temperance]

Brennan laughs.

"What's so wrong with analysis? Especially since I happen to be good at it?"

[bringonthewonder]

"Nothing. Just remember you have organs other than your brain. And some of them can provide you with a great deal of pleasure."

[dr_temperance]

"Ange!"

Brennan's not really that shocked, though. She's been friends with Angela for quite a while.

....and in this case she happens to be right.

"How are things going with you and Hodgins? As if we can't see evidence of it everyday in the lab."

As friends they are meant to discuss these things rather than go solely on the evidence after all. Even though a simple observation of Angela's and Hodgins's interactions in the lab is very telling.

[bringonthewonder]

"Wow, dismembered partially decomposed arm doesn't faze you, and you object to talking about sex?" Angela asks, all mock-serious. "That was a joke," she adds, because sometimes you do have to spell it out for Brennnan.

"Jack and I are good. Bancroft case was a little rough, for a number of reasons, but I think we're though all that."

[dr_temperance]

Brennan pulls a bit of a face at Angela's teasing.

"How's he doing?"

Naturally, she knows that Hodgins is glad to have the case resolved and have his job at the Jeffersonian. But Angela knows him best.

[bringonthewonder]

"Good, probably not great," says Angela. "It's a lot to deal with. On a lot of levels.

"We've talked, though. So we're good."

[dr_temperance]

"Good."

Brennan nods in satisfaction.

"The two of you function well as a couple. Better than I had expected honestly."

It's clear that she means that sincerely.

[bringonthewonder]

"So far, it's been worth the risk," Angela agrees.

"And you and Sully? Getting serious, or just a distraction from severed arms?"

[dr_temperance]

"I'm not sure it really qualifies as either. It's certainly way too early for it to be serious."

Too early. And then there's the fact that Brennan doesn't really do serious relationships. Not of the romantic variety anyway.

[bringonthewonder]

"Bren, there's no universal 'too early.' It just depends. He seems pretty serious about you."

[dr_temperance]

"He's known me less than a month."

Brennan shrugs.

"It's a relationship between two socially, intellectually, and sexually compatible adults. Why does it need to be anything more than that?"

"How serious are you and Hodgins?"

[bringonthewonder]

"Socially, intellectually, and sexually compatible? Of course it doesn't need to be anything more than than. Most women would give their right arms for that. Bases covered there, Sweetie.

"Hodgins and I are . . . figuring that out."

[dr_temperance]

Brennan nods.

"That's good."

She's not going to press for a more detailed answer. It's not exactly that she's refraining from being nosy; she just doesn't need one.

Although a part of her wonders how Hodgins might answer that question.

"You seem to be enjoying the learning process."

Her grin is distinctly teasing.

[bringonthewonder]

"Well, the one-on-one tutoring sessions can certainly be pretty intense," says Angela, unfazed by any grins of any sort.

[dr_temperance]

"That they can."

Brennan is not, it should be noted at this point, talking about Angela and Hodgins.

Not that Sully needs much in the way of tutoring. He is a man of many talents.