Note to the readers: I started this story in a moment of… nostalgia, you might say. It turned out sad. I had no intention of posting it, as it lacked balance between humour and seriousness. But as I was proof reading it, it occurred to me that there are moments in life when we just wish that a fairly insignificant event that causes pain and despair could be magically obliterated or, failing that, turned into something else of good. I call those my Scarlet O'Hara moments. So, from the same beginning, two stories came up.

The idea is this: If you like tearjerkers, by all means, stick with ending A. I stress, you do this at your own peril. If, on the other hand, you prefer happy ending because life already throws enough crap at you, then skip to ending B.

Either way, don't be shy: please let me know what you think and which one you chose.

Jane

Part 1

Temperance Brennan took the set of keys out the ignition of her brand new car- a present from her publisher for the success of her 5th novel. She opened the door of the vehicle and stepped out. Her usual quick step was instead a wavering undecided walk. She moved towards the door of her apartment building, walked into the lobby. Her eyes took in the surroundings. It was a nice place, welcoming. She took the elevator up to her 2nd floor. She wouldn't usually have done that. Her impatient nature compelled her to jog the two flights of steps- rather than wait. But her body had no strength left.

The doors of the elevator cart opened silently and it took her a fraction of a second to realise this and move forward.

She reached for the keys once more, selected the one needed to open the door to her apartment and walked in. She put her purse down on the floor and moved directly to the couch where she sat. She removed an envelope from her pocket and read it once more. It still said the same as before when she had opened in her doctor's office. Tears ran freely. She should tell someone. It was time. She was tired- more than tired, actually- she was exhausted of fighting on her own. All her life she had done nothing else but survive on her own. It was time to lean on somebody else for a change. The doctor had told her it was for the best. She agreed.

She called Booth. Who else? There was a family in her life now. But the only one that could offer comfort now was him.

It took him 10 minutes to get to her apartment. He could hear the emergency in her voice, the panic. He had switched on the siren and the lights. She always liked to sit with him during those rides. She would have loved to have driven the SUV with the siren and the lights.

He jumped out of the car and jogged up the steps and knocked on her door. As the door opened and he took in her sunken red eyes, he felt the air sucked out of him and his heart squeezed unbearably tight. She had a piece of paper in her hands and when he walked in she just stood there. As always, he did what came naturally when she was involved- he hugged her tight. Maybe too tight as she slumped against him. He was shocked. Alarm bells went off in his brain. With a gentle movement, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the sofa. He sat with her in his arms, holding her as he would have held a small frightened child. He so badly wanted to ask what was going on but he had a gut feeling that the moment he knew, his whole life would change.

Temperance cried until her tears dried and she felt empty of all emotion. When he felt the sobbing subside, he held her face in both is hands trying to read her eyes. She closed them. She desperately wanted to postpone the news. She felt like the moment she put it all into words, it would all become real.

So, instead, she asked him for a cup of tea. He did not want to let go of her, but sensed that she needed that time. He came back to the couch with a cup of tea and handed it to her. Her hand shook spilling some of the tea. He held her hand steady.

"Temperance, please!"

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