What I Wish I Could've Said

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing... Obviously. Just playing in someone else's sandbox for a bit.

Summary: Hindsight is always 20/20. Everyone has a single moment that they wish they could have said something better than what they actually did. A completely random series of what-if vignettes.

A/N: In 1880, Mark Twain wrote, "I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English - it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them - then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice." Thus, my challenge is as follows: using no more than two to three short lines from a classic Bones episode, in about 500 words (give or take), rewrite something that we all wish had been said in a new and interesting way. Happy, sad, romantic, sexy, angry, snarky, funny, honest – it really doesn't matter, as long as it's no more than about the length of a short vigenette, i.e., approximately 500 words. I have a few other scenes in mind, but I'm doing this as a bit of an experiment writing-skills wise. So, if anyone has any suggestions, or wants to see what my warped and twisted mind can come up with, feel free to pull a line or two from you're favorite Bones scene – it doesn't matter what season - hit the review button, and inspire me so that I can see what I might be able to come up with… But, for now, without further adieu, a completely random beginning.

Ch 1: That Time Brennan Inhaled

"Are you two high?" Booth asked, looking at Brennan with a mixture of concern and amusement clearly evident on his handsome face.

Her voice softly muted, Angela responded first. "Only by accident, so it doesn't count."

Brennan narrowed her eyes at the blonde interloper standing next to Booth. Tilting her head at her partner, Brennan asked, "Why'd you bring Tessa? This doesn't seem like such a great date."

Opening his mouth to speak, Booth was cut off when Tessa answered for him. "We were out to dinner when he got your call. Your pupils are the size of saucers."

"Yes, I'm aware of that, thank you very much," Brennan snapped. Turning her head back to Booth, Brennan said, "I had no idea you felt comfortable enough in your masculinity to let a female answer for you, Booth."

Booth shrugged, "It's not a big deal, Bones."

"Yes, yes, it is," Brennan whirled around and pointed at Tessa. "Considering the fact that I've been told I'm one of the most arrogant and presumptuously condescending individuals that most people have ever encountered, I admit it's more than a bit ironic when I say this, but you should have more respect for a man like Booth than to presume to speak for him."

"Excuse me?" Tessa said, clearly taken aback.

With a curt nod, Brennan told her, "You heard me."

Turning to face Booth, Tessa said, "You're little partner there did not just say something like that to me, now, did she, Seeley?"

"I'm taller than you are," Brennan said, clearly affronted at Tessa's snide remark. Her arms still on her hips in a classic defensive pose, Brennan took a step towards the blonde lawyer that Booth immediately recognized for what it was – posturing.

Taking a step in Brennan's direction, Booth edged his shoulder between the pair of women, Tessa having responded in kind to Brennan's nonverbal threat. "Okay, now. Knock it off. We've got a dead body here, Bones—"

"It can wait," Brennan snapped, sliding past Booth's bulky form.

Shaking her head lightly, Tessa laughed at Brennan. "You know what, little girl? You don't scare me. I cut my teeth on two-bit scumbag embezzlers, crooked accountants, and sleazy greaseball CEOs. Do you really think some hippy granola chick like you can really intimidate me?"

"Why don't you get your inferiorly modified rhinoplastied-septum over here, and we'll murder two aves with a single solid aggregate mineral. I'll even do you a favor so that when I break it again, you'll have an excuse to get a good plastic surgeon this time while I'll offer ample evidence why you really should be scared of me," Brennan retorted.

Turning her head away in disgust, Tessa looked at Booth and said, "Seeley?"

"Oh, for Chrissake's, Tessa," Booth said, waving his hand through his hair. "What do you want me to do?"

"Shut her up!" Tessa exclaimed in aggravation.

"No one shuts me up," Brennan muttered defiantly.

Taking a determined step in Tessa's direction, she only stopped when Booth grabbed Brennan's shoulder and leveled his intense gaze at hers.

"Enough."

-TBC-