A/N: Based on spoilers from last weeks episode, "The Skull in the Sculpture", where Jared shows up. It's insinuating Brennan slept with Jared, so I'm going off that.
Foregoing Everest
Although Dr. Temperance Brennan would never admit it, she and Cate Pritchard had become close friends during Brennan's stay in England. They kept up their friendship over web cam, instant messaging, texting and odd-hour phone calls, seeing as England was five hours ahead of DC. Normally, Pritchard would be getting of work when Booth dragged Brennan to lunch. It was almost 5 o'clock in DC, and it was a Friday. Brennan was getting ready to go home and take a hot bath when her computer beeped at her, saying, "You have a web cam request."
Brennan wondered who would be at this time of night, so she clicked on the message.
"Hi, Bren!" came an English voice.
"Pritch! I'm surprised to hear from you! Isn't it about 10-ish over there?"
"Yeah. It is. I'm on a case and needed some time off. Saw your computer was signed in, so I thought I'd try to see if you were in your office."
Brennan smiled at the curly-haired brunette. "Lucky you I was. Need help on the case?"
"No. No bones this time. Speaking of bones, have you climbed Everest yet?" her friend asked with a sly grin glued on her face.
Brennan rolled her eyes. In this aspect, Pritch was worse than Angela. Pritch was even more determined than her best friend to see her and Booth together.
"No… I forewent Everest and climbed Kilimanjaro."
"Kilimanjaro being…?"
"His younger brother."
"As cute as Everest?"
"At least. Kilimanjaro is… how do I say this…" Brennan trailed off, not knowing how to get her thought across.
"Great?"
"Very…But I didn't feel anything."
"Oh, yeah. I know that feeling."
"Did I ever tell you I've kissed Everest?"
Pritchard gasped so loud, Brennan thought she could have heard it all the across the Atlantic Ocean without the aid of the web cam. "No… And I didn't hear about this? My, God, Bren! When?! How?!"
"Christmas before we went to England. My father was in jail, and the state attorney was feeling 'puckish' as she put it, so, Caroline and I made a deal. I kiss Everest under the mistletoe or my family didn't get the trailer for Christmas. Tongue was involved, before you ask and at the end. He said 'thanks for the gum Bones.'"
Pritch looked shocked. "Oh, wow… And you two weren't dating? How could you climb Kilimanjaro after that?!"
"Easy. I am still not going to climb Everest," she answered simply.
Angela poked her head into the room. "Bren? I've got that facial reconstruction for you…"
Brennan nodded. "Okay. Pritch, let me take care of this."
"Bren, climb Everest, not Kilimanjaro!"
"Not going to happen Pritch. Happy with Kilimanjaro. Everest isn't in my sights."
Angela walked over to the desk and said, "I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Angela Montenegro. Brennan's best friend."
"Cate Pritchard. You're the one who did that wonderful facial reconstruction for the case for Scotland Yard?"
"Yeah…How did you…?"
"I was the supervising officer. I'm Detective Pritchard."
"Oh! Okay. Yeah. What are you talking about?"
"I'm telling Bren she should not forego Everest and go straight for Kilimanjaro!"
Angela raised her eyebrows and Brennan said, "Pritch, she doesn't get that. I haven't told her about Everest or the kiss."
"Why not?!" Pritchard was aghast.
"What kiss…?" Angela was suspicious now.
"Should we tell her, Pritch?"
"Yeah. We should. That way I might have an ally in this."
"Okay… Fine. When Booth and I were in England, he was doing (busy with) something, so Pritchard and I were walking to her car. She advised me to 'Not forego Everest', referring to Booth. Jared is Kilimanjaro. To get the trailer for Russ and Dad for Christmas, Caroline made me kiss Booth under the mistletoe for 'five steamy steamboats'."
Angela nodded. "I guess that makes sense. I'm just happy you kissed Booth! And we'll be talking about this later." She looked back at the computer screen. "I agree. I never thought I'd find an ally in England."
"Never thought I'd find an ally in America. By the way, I have so many vacations piled up I could take a year off, and they'd still have to pay me. I'm thinking about visiting the states… Bren, could I stay with you for a while?"
"Yeah sure."
There was a call of, "Bones! We got a case!"
Brennan sighed. "I'll leave you two to talk. No plotting while I'm gone. Talk to you tomorrow, Pritch."
"Talk to you later, Bren."
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Oneshot for now. Should I continue?
Dedicated to my amazing friend who gave me this idea without even know she did.
It wouldn't get out of my head until I wrote it. I didn't mean for Angela to come in. She just did...My first fic with out Booth's parents.