AN: Thank you for clicking on my story! If it sounds familiar, do not fret! I posted this as The Helmet in the Hideout, but realized I was actually writing two stories. So, I deleted it and have made edits. This chapter is mostly intact with only a few changes, but everything else is new after this. This story features Booth as an Army Ranger and Brennan as a new forensic anthropologist. Inspired by DB's new project, Seal Team.

Disclaimer: Bones and it's characters are not my property. If they were, I probably wouldn't be sharing them. Definitely not Booth.

Happy reading!

January 1991

Booth waited at the bar for Teddy. Punctuality was not one of his friends strong points. As he waited, Booth spun around in the barstool, pressing his back against the bar top. The bar was full of couples. He never understood how people claim to meet women in bars. Every woman there was coupled up.

As Booth continued to people watch, Teddy finally arrived. The two men clapped each other on the back. Thinking of their impending deployment, the two men savor the taste of beer and the sight of pretty women. Teddy said as much. The two men continued talking and drinking beers.

"So, I reminded my parents to let my truck run every once in a while. Last year, I tried to drive when I got home, and it wouldn't turn over," Teddy complained.

"You've had that truck since you were in high school. And, it was a piece of shit then! Ever think that it's just finally quitting time?" Booth asked. Booth knew how to press Teddy's buttons. He had been subject to many rants about Teddy's love affair with his vehicle.

"Never," Teddy disagreed, downing the rest of his beer. "This next round is on you, Sarge."

Booth shook his head, refusing to argue. He continued people watching, noticing a group of women that walked in. Two of the girls were dragging a third by her wrists into the bar. The girl being dragged was trying to plant her feet, but to no avail. All three were giggling, having fun.

Teddy came back, sliding a beer in front of Booth. "I don't know why you have to be so rude to her, man. She's a classic," Teddy said.

"Are we still talking about your truck, or is there something else you need to tell me?" Booth asked, keeping his eyes on the group of girls.

Teddy sputtered a response, but stopped suddenly when he noticed that Booth's attention was elsewhere. Teddy followed Booth's gaze. "Oh, there's a view," Parker said, punctuating his sentence with a low whistle.

Booth's eyes were stuck on the woman who was drug into the bar. She had brown hair and a pale complexion that made her bright eyes seem too pale blue to be natural. Her brown tank top accentuated the lines of her jaw and collarbone, not to mention the amount of cleavage revealed. The women beside her were also attractive, but Booth couldn't tear his eyes off of her long enough to notice.

Teddy punched Booth quickly in the arm, succeeding in diverting his attention. "She's coming this way! You can't be staring at her," said Teddy. He spoke into his beer, willing his buddy to be cool.

Booth fought off a blush at his own brazenness. He followed suit with Teddy, gulping his drink. He almost choked on a mouthful when one of the other two girls approached the bar right between Booth and Teddy.

The woman was of Asian descent, her dark eyes and hair showing her heritage. She wore heels, making her seem taller than she was. As she placed her elbows on the bar, the many bracelets on her wrists made a chiming sound. She ordered three drinks, succeeding in getting the bartender's attention in a way that only beautiful women can. The woman leaned back from the bar and looked directly at Booth.

"We're celebrating her break up," the woman said, nodding in the direction of the first woman that had stolen his attention. Booth tried to act like he didn't know what she was talking about, but she was not fooled. "Go easy, studly," she said.

The woman turned her attention away from him, turing to Teddy instead. Booth overheard her introduce herself as Angela. When her drinks were ready, Booth offered to help her carry them over to the table. Angela agreed, but seemed to find his unnecessary assistance humorous.

"Girls," Angela greeted her friends at the table, "I found us some friends!" Teddy had followed as well.

Booth watched as blue eyes rolled, obviously used to this antics before. He slid into the curved booth beside the two remaining women. Angela was standing off to the side, talking to Teddy. Booth watched as Angela placed an open palm on Teddy's chest, laughing at something he said. Hopefully his conversation would go as well.

Before he could open his mouth to speak, he saw the third woman leave the table. All he noticed was her fluffy ponytail and her pink dress as she walked away. Alone with the woman that had captivated him since she walked in, Booth said the first thing that popped into his head.

"Do you believe in fate?" he asked. He flashed a charming smile.

"Absolutely not," she answered quickly, eyes raking over his dark features. "Ludicrous."

Booth's smile only grew as he outstretched a hand. "Seeley Booth," he introduced himself.

"Temperance Brennan," she responded, placing her hand in his outstretched one.

When their hands touched, Booth savored the contact. He had to fight visions of pulling her closer, or kissing her hand, or never letting her hand go. He fought off the urge to do all of these things, instead just gripping her hand for a few moments too long.

"I see you've met Angela," she said, "Since she brought you over here, I guess that means you passed her test with lots of colors." At his confusion, she added, "It means you did very well."

"Flying colors," Booth amended, "I passed with flying colors." He realized that his smile had yet to falter. This woman was awkward, but so enchanting.

She returned his smile heartily. Booth turned his body toward her, eager to speak with her. Brennan mirrored his actions. "What did she tell you?" Brennan asked. She knew the profound meddling capabilities of her best friend.

"Just that you were celebrating," he said. Brennan could tell he was holding something back, but let it slide.

"And you think you can help with that?" she said.

Booth took in her expression, one eyebrow raised high on her forehead. He nodded, accepting her challenge. Brennan's eyes scanned the man in front of her. His dark eyes were focused solely on her and his brown hair stood in disorganized spikes. The blue t-shirt he was wearing fit snugly over his broad chest and muscular arms. When he noticed her gaze rise to his lips, one corner of his mouth turned in a crooked smirk.

"I think someone like me could benefit hugely from an association with someone like you," she said.

Booth laughed to cover his blush. "Are you yanking my chain?" he asked, shocked at her brazenness.

"I don't know what that means," she replied, "but I can assure you, I'm not." Her eyes were once again finding his lips, as if they were moving of their own volition. Booth's watched her carefully. Noticing the mutual attraction, he put his arm on the back of the booth, letting his fingers dangle to where they were skimming her shoulder.

Their attention was torn from each other as Angela and Teddy approached the table. "Hey, sweetie. Teddy and I are going to go somewhere a little more private," Angela said, exchanging a knowing look with the blonde man at her side. Brennan nodded, catching the hint. "I'll see you and Daisy at the lab for lunch tomorrow," Angela added.

"See you tomorrow. Is Daisy leaving as well?" Brennan asked.

"She left a while ago with some of the other interns," Angela said. "She didn't want to interrupt this." Angela punctuated her sentence with a sweeping hand gesture between Booth and Brennan. Brennan ignored her friend's comment and Booth laughed as they walked away.

"You work at a lab?" asked Booth. He would not be shocked to find out that she was a physicist or researcher from their conversation thus far.

"Yes. I'm an anthropologist. I'm here doing a partnership with the military coroner. The access gives me time to gather information for my next dissertation," she answered. She shivered at his fingers drawing lazy shapes on her exposed shoulder.

Booth nodded, impressed by her words. "So that's your thing? Bones?" He slid his arm from the back of the booth, trailing his fingers from where they rested on her shoulder until he was at her hip. Splaying his hand wide, he pulled her body closer to his, never losing eye contact.

"You could say that. What's your niche?" she said. He had more information about her. All she knew about the man beside her was his name. That, and her body was responding to the strong jaw line and the breadth of his shoulders. The proximity was making that response quite profound. Maybe she didn't need to know more, after all.

"Army Ranger," he answered, searching her eyes for any hesitation. Some women were immediately turned off by his profession, not exactly relationship friendly. Her gaze did not waver.

"Now that my friends are gone, we could follow suit," she suggested, abruptly changing the course of their conversation again. Her eyes were dancing around his face, pulled back to his lips over and over again. His arm was still around her. She was acutely aware of his hand spread on her lower back and his knee touching hers under the table.

Booth swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'll call a cab," he said quickly.

A few minutes later, they were rushing out of the front door of the bar and into the rain. Booth reached out for Brennan, who was a little ahead of him. "Hold on, hold on. Listen," he grabbed her elbow and waved for the cab to wait for them. "Listen, Bones. I've got something to confess."

Brennan looked up into his face, sliding on her coat against the January chill. They were under the overhang, keeping dry. "What? The fact that you're a direct descendant of John Wilkes Booth? I already know that," she offered. Booth gave her a confused look, asking how she knew. "From your bone structure," she answered. All night, she had been studying it closely enough to draw conclusions. She noticed the use of a nickname, Bones, belatedly.

"Just keep that under your hat, okay? For now?" His request was met with a chuckle and a smile. "What I wanted to confess was," he continued, "I won't be here long. I'm about to go on deployment."

"Why did you feel you had to tell me that?" She was stunned that he told her. Most men would be thankful for an excuse to have a one night stand that they would never see again.

"I just feel like," Booth replied, wetting his lips with his tongue. "I feel like this is going somewhere," he finished. His eyes flashed from her eyes to her lips, and back again.

"Why did you feel like this is going somewhere?" She was scooting closer to him. He could feel the warmth of her breath on his face as she talked. Their noses were almost touching.

"I…," he stammered, his voice taking on a husky quality. "I feel like I'm going to kiss you." He barely had time to get out the words before their lips connected.

Her mouth on his was soft. He was almost scared to move under her lips, not wanting to break the spell. The hesitation lasted only a moment before he moved his mouth against hers. As their lips touched, she brought her hand up to his shoulder. Booth snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Her mouth opened against his, and he felt her tongue seeking permission to touch his. He was once again surprised and aroused by her daring manner. The kiss increased in passion, only ending when the taxi honked its horn.

Brennan pulled away first, placing a hand on his chest. She giggled when she heard him say "Wow." Opening the door of the taxi, she turned back to Booth. "We are not spending the night together," she called through the rain.

"Of course we aren't. Why?" He was too awestruck to move.

"Tequila," she responded, sliding into the cab and closing the door. When he saw the door closing, Booth sprung into motion, willing the cab to stop.

He tapped on the window. Booth asked, "So you're afraid that when I look at you in the morning, I'll have regrets?" as she rolled down the window.

"That would never happen," she answered confidently, smiling wide and giggling.

The cab pulled away, and Booth walked into the street behind it. He watched as she turned around in the cab, sending him a wave and a smile. Electrical buzzing filled his ears, and he saw the flashing POOL sign above the bar. He shook his head, knowing that nothing in that bar could satisfy him now.