“And with the end of another successful case, what are you going to do, Temperance Brennan?” Booth grinned at his partner as they left the Las Vegas FBI field office. His partner looked at him, her look just screaming, ‘I don’t know what that means.;

“I’m planning to go back to the hotel and work on my book.” She furrowed her brow together at the look of utter audacity that crossed Booth’s face.

“Oh, come on Bones, you have to know of that particular pop culture reference. You have to.”

“What reference?” Booth sighed. He placed his arm around her shoulders as he directed her towards the rental car.

“You know what, never mind. You, however, are not going to work on anything this evening. We are going out on the town. Come on.”

“Booth, I really need to get another chapter done.”

“No. This is Vegas, there’s plenty of fun stuff to do, and we are going to live it up. Do you want to know why?”

“Do I want to know?”

“Because we have just officially closed out hundredth case as partners. Who knew that we’d still be working together after all this time?”

“I know. I’m surprised I didn’t hurt you after Cleo Eller’s case.”

“Ouch. That was a little harsh.”

“Oh, come on Booth. You were really mean to me and my team back then.”

“All right, I’ll grant you that. I was a bit rude, but you guys aren’t always the easiest people to work with.”

“Aren’t the easiest to work with? And you are?”

“Whoa, easy Bones. All I mean is that you and the squint squad are an acquired taste. Now how’s about we try to get through one night without bickering and just have a fun evening.” Brennan looked at Booth and considered his words. Though she and Booth had been to Vegas on a case before, this was somehow different. His sexual fling with Cam was over, and though she and Booth remained partners only, there was an unofficial understanding between them.

“Sure, Booth, why not.” Her partner’s face broke out into a wide grin that was infectious. Brennan found a smile spreading over her own face as the arm around her shoulder squeezed her a little closer to him. Words floated through her head from a conversation with Angela.

“Sweetie, you’re going to Vegas with Booth. It’s called Sin City for a reason. Have fun, do something wild, something that would make me proud. And remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

“Great, then what do you want to do, Bones?”

“I don’t know, Booth, what would you recommend?”

“Why don’t we just walk the strip and see what happens?”

“Sure.” Brennan grinned at him again, and got into the car as he held the door open for her.

“Bones, you are in for the time of your life.” He winked at her, then closed the door, jogging to the driver’s side. Tonight he planned to show his partner the time of her life, and if he was really lucky, it would lead to something all together different.

XxXxX

“Hey Angela, what’s your wager?” Hodgins entered into the artist’s office with a pad of paper and a pen. Angela looked up at him, curiously.

“My wager for what?”

“Vegas, baby. What with the dynamic duo over there, what’s your wager?”

“Well, what do you have?”

“Even odds say nothing happens, two to one says they kiss, three to one says Booth falls off the gambling wagon, four to one Brennan develops a gambling addiction with the discovery of card counting, and five to one odds say they finally do the deed.”

“Can we add a category?”

“For you, anything.” He grinned at her and was rewarded with a smile.

“Okay, I say they pull a Brittany Spears and Jason Alexander.”

“Does that include the fifty six hour annulment?”

“No. At the least, Nikki Hilton, and at the most, it keeps.”

“And exactly how much are you willing to put on this?” Angela reached for her purse, pulled out her wallet and riffled through the contents. She pulled out one hundred dollars and handed it to Hodgins.

“Hey, big spender!”

“Well, the way I see it, at the most I lose one hundred, but of course we all know how brilliant I am, so I’m expecting a high return.” She grinned at him before turning back to her work. Hodgins lingered a moment longer before leaving the office. As he stepped out, Angela watched him walk away, a smile firmly planted on her face.

XxXxX

“Bones, come on, it’ll be fun, I promise.”

“No. I’m not going on that thing.”

“You said you were up for anything. Don’t go back on your word now.”

“Booth, it’s a roller coaster.”

“Exactly, and they’re lots of fun. Now suck it up and get in line.” Booth grabbed hold of her hand and dragged her into the line. Temperance sighed, but made no further comment on the subject. While she felt that such activities were childish, she also noticed that many of the people in line were either around her own age, or older. I suppose it can’t be that bad. I mean, it wouldn’t be running if it weren’t safe, right? Brennan squeezed Booth’s hand tightly, which surprised him. “You aren’t scared, are you?”

“No, of course not. It’s just…we’re so high up.”

“This isn’t high. The Stratosphere is high. You are scared, aren’t you.” Booth gave a little laugh at her discomfiture. “Bones, you’ve rappelled into the bowels of Washington DC, and this scares you?”

“You have no control in a situation like this, that’s all.”

“You know I wouldn’t do this if I thought it wasn’t safe, right?” Brennan nodded, her grip on Booth’s hand remaining tight. He squeezed it reassuringly, and offered her a smile. “Besides, you can hold onto my hand as long as you want if it’ll make you feel better.”

“Are you trying to display your Alpha Male tendencies again, Booth?” Her mouth slid into a little half smile as they moved to the loading dock.

“Call it what you want, but you still know I won’t let anything happen to you, right?”

“Well, you have shown that protective capacity in the past, so, I guess I believe you.”

“And you, Dr. Brennan have shown the capacity to be frustrating as everything. Now come on, it’s our turn to ride.” With that, Booth gave a small tug on her hand and led her onto the Manhattan Express.

XxXxX

“So what do you say, Zack. You wanna put your money where your mouth is?”

“I find it highly unlikely that Dr. Brennan would develop an addiction to gambling, and I think that Agent Booth is stable enough to resist the temptation, so I think I’ll go with nothing happening.”

“Oh, come on Z-man. Be a rebel.” Hodgins looked at his friend with frustration evident in his features.

“Fine, I’ll go with gambling.”

“Which one?”

“Dr. Brennan learning how to count cards.”

“Alright, now we’re talking. How much are you going to put down?” Zack dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a five-dollar bill. He handed it over to Hodgins, who looked at it, disappointed.

“Five dollars? That’s it?”

“Yes. Why, is there a limit?”

“No, I just thought you’d go for a bigger risk than that.”

“I’ve weighed the statistical probabilities, and I’m not going to put anything on the line besides that.”

“Fine, be a spoil sport.” Jack pocketed the money, then walked away from the examination platform. There were still more bets to be collected after all.

XxXxX

“Okay, why exactly are we here?” Booth looked at the exhibit with a slight distaste. The human bodies, organs and other bits were a bit unsettling to him. Temperance, of course was completely at ease.

“You dragged me onto that roller coaster, so I chose this as our next fun thing to do.”

“I believe I said we needed to try something new. Looking at body parts is kind of old hat.”

“I don’t know what that means.” Tempe reached for Booth’s hand, much to his surprise and drug him around the exhibit as they looked at the displays of human bodies and organs. “This is really fascinating. I bet Dr. Saroyan would love this exhibit.”

“You know Bones, seeing as how I’m here with you, I’d prefer leaving her out of this.”

“I’m just stating a fact.”

“I understand that, but you’re the one with my undivided attention. I’m with you, now.”

“Well of course you’re with me, but seeing as how you’re looking at the bodies, I hardly have your undivided attention.” Booth looked at her and shook his head in disbelief. Why do I even bother? Because I’m crazy about her, that’s why. He watched her as they wandered through the exhibit, looking at the displays and reading the informative plaques that accompanied them. Every now and then he’d see her shake her head and mutter under her breath. He could only assume that she felt the information was incorrect in some way. She looked up at him and smiled, the enjoyment she was feeling obvious in every pore of her body. He offered her one in return and slowly laced his fingers with hers. He meant what he said. He was with her in whatever capacity she would allow him.

XxXxX

Jack Hodgins stepped quietly into Dr. Goodman’s office, waiting patiently for the administrator to get off the phone. Goodman looked up at the entomologist and motioned for him to take a seat. As he finished his phone call, he looked at the scientist.

“Can I help you, Dr. Hodgins?”

“Sir, I was wondering if you’d like to place a little wager…”

“Does this have anything to do with Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth?”

“Uh, yes sir, it does. Since they’re in Vegas, we were, you know…”

“Say no more, I understand. You want to know if I’m willing to put up any money on this trip.”

“Exactly.” Jack fidgeted as he waited for the administrator’s answer. After a moment, Goodman pulled out his wallet and handed a twenty to Hodgins.

“I think that Dr. Brennan will engage in something she’s never done before.”

“That’s a bit vague, sir. Care to elaborate?”

“I’ll put money on her trying something new. If that’s too vague for you, Dr. Hodgins, then I apologize.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ve got it.”

“Is there anything else?”

“No sir, that’s it.”

“then I would appreciate you getting back to work.”

“Yes sir, will do.” With that, Hodgins left the office, writing down the needed information.

XxXxX

“Booth, you can’t tell me that the exhibit wasn’t at least a little bit interesting to you.” Brennan walked along “The Strip” with Booth while she played with his fingers. The sensation of her hands on his was slightly distracting to Booth. He hadn’t expected her to be so…attached to him.

“I could have done without looking at human bits. Now, with that out of the way, what do you propose we do?”

“Well, you said there are lots of shows to see. Why don’t we do that?”

“Okay,” Booth rubbed his hands together. “There’s a really great free show in front of the Bellagio every hour. Why don’t we try to catch that?”

“Sounds like a good idea.” She smiled at him, blushing ever so slightly under his gaze. Booth’s heartbeat increased as he wondered what the blush represented. They walked quietly for a few minutes until they reached the lake in front of the Bellagio.

Seeley leaned on the railing, watching Temperance as she looked over the expanse of water. A stray strand of her hair blew forward, and fluttered against her cheek. He fought the urge to reach over and smooth it back behind her ear.

“Uh, Bones, I was wondering something.” She turned to look at Seeley, her blue eyes holding his, captivated.

“What’s that?”

“Do you like me?”

“Of course I like you. I wouldn’t be standing here with you if I didn’t.”

“Yeah, but do you like me, like me.” He watched as she furrowed her brow.

“Like you, like you?”

“Yeah, as in LIKE me.”

“Of course I like you.” Booth sighed. He knew the approach was awkward, but he couldn’t think of any other way to find out how she felt about him. He ran a hand down his face as he tried to find a better way to put what he wanted to know.

“Look, what I’m asking is how do you feel about me?” Brennan’s eyes widened, and Booth could see an inner panic bell going off in her head. It took a moment before she responded, and when she did, it was somewhat evasive.

“How do you think I feel about you?”

“I’m thinking you feel something like this…” Booth moved in toward her and pressed his lips to hers. He felt her stiffen for just a moment before responding. When he pulled away from her, he searched her eyes for the answer. Bones smiled softly at him before she returned the kiss. Booth wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer as her arms went around his neck.

As if fate, or God, or the angels were rejoicing in the moment, jets of water burst to life on the lake behind the enraptured couple. The smooth sounds of Dean Martin slid from the speakers above their heads.

How lucky can one guy be?

I kissed her and she kissed me

Like the fellow once said,

Ain’t that a kick in the head?

The room went completely black.

I hugged her and she hugged back

Like the sailor said, quote,

Ain’t that a hole in the boat

My head keeps spinning

I go to sleep and keep grinning

If this is just the beginning

My life is gonna be beautiful

I’ve sunshine enough to spread

It’s just like the fellow said

Tell me quick ain’t that a kick in the head

XxXxX

Angela, Zack and Hodgins were on the examination platform, working as Camille Saroyan scanned in to join them.

“Okay, people. I want the details of this one finished so I can send the report to the Hoover building.”

“Dr. Saroyan, I was wondering if you’d like in on a little bet,” Hodgins queried.

“Is this work related?”

“You could say that.”

“Then make it quick Hodge Podge. I have a meeting to get to.”

“Well, with Booth and Dr. Brennan in Vegas together, we’ve put together a little pool of possibilities.” Cam looked at him, then rolled her eyes as she extracted a ten from her pocket.

“Ten dollars says that absolutely nothing happens. We are talking about the doc here.”

“Perfect. Now all we need is Deputy Director Cullen…”

“You will not call him on this. This isn’t something that he needs to be bothered with, and it’s completely unprofessional.”

“But Dr. Goodman put in a wager.”

“No, nothing outside of the Jeffersonian, Hodgins. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Dr. Saroyan. I won’t call Cullen.”

“Good.” With that she strode from the platform on her way to her meeting. As soon as she was out of earshot, Hodgins turned to Angela.

“So, you’re going to call Cullen, right?”

“Don’t you know it.”