7:47pm – Paris, France

After leaving the United States two months ago, she's only now starting to adjust to life here. So many things are the same, but it's the subtle differences that make it difficult. She's never been away from home this long, and she's never been away from the Jeffersonian this long. It's a great life, though. She would never doubt that. Hodgins is giving her the dream she's always wanted, and she's so grateful for every single dime that splashed out of his pocket to fulfill her wants and needs.

But something is missing.

There's a tug at her heartstring every time she thinks about home and everyone. She's spent almost every day of her life with these people for the last five years, and she misses them.

Especially Brennan.

Saying goodbye to her in the airport terminal felt like the last goodbye she'd ever say, but she'd never dare say the words exactly. She doesn't believe in goodbyes. But thinking back about the hug they shared before they left, holding each other so tight she could barely breathe, her smile so bright it hurt her face, made her miss everything she had before.

Minutes pass as she rests her hand on a warm cup of tea on the balcony of their hotel room. The view is beautiful, and the sun peaks through the clouds just enough for everything to be covered in a warm orange color in the sky.

She misses home, so she's going to get a piece of it right now, even if she was told not to.

12:59am - Maluku, Indonesia

It's hard for her to sleep in a tent on the ground when she's constantly scared of just trying to make it through the day. This expedition was everything she wanted and more, with the exception of Daisy accompanying her. It's not that Daisy is a bad person, unintelligent, or anything negative of the sort, she just got in the way a lot. Nevertheless, she still wanted this more than anything. A chance to leave and reevaluate her life, doing something she loves to pass the time.

So as she shifts uncomfortably in her sleeping bag trying to shake her feelings and bring sleep to her eyes, the last thing she expects is the loud, repetitive sound of her satellite phone to go off. So quickly, as to not disturb Daisy of her sleep, she grabs the giant phone and unzips the tent so she can step outside and speak properly.

"Hello?"

"Hi, sweetie."

She knew that voice. She could never forget it if she tried. It warmed her heart to feel a little bit of home.

"Why are you calling me? It's very late, and you know that I'm only supposed to use this phone for strictly emergencies."

"I'm so sorry, I forgot about the time difference, do you want me to just go?"

Brennan reacted immediately.

"No! No, no it's fine, just please be more thoughtful next time. Is there any reason why you've called?"

Angela wants to answer her honestly, but she feels like saying I just really miss you and wanted to hear your voice would be an uncomfortable response, so she decides against it.

"I've just been checking up on everyone. It's been a while. I hope you're okay."

Brennan sighs. She wants to say she's fine, cover everything up as per usual, but there's something about the quiet night sky that puts her enough at ease to say how she's really feeling.

"I've been stressed, quite honestly, and while Ms. Wick is an excellent scientist, she's very hard to talk to."

"I understand that. Is there anything you want to talk about?"

There is. Brennan wants to tell her how she still feels like she's going down the wrong path in life, and how she doesn't know if she can continue on how she is, but she knows that's too much to say.

"No, I think I just need to focus on my work more. But look, I'm very sorry but I should probably go. I'm not supposed to use the phone unless I really need to. It's foolish that I even gave you the number in the first place."

Angela can hear the sternness in her voice. Brennan's not going to open up right now, and she respects that. So she lets it go instead of trying to bring the truth out of her.

"Okay. Just know that I'm calling you because I care, and, I really miss you."

Brennan isn't good at reading people, so the sound of sadness in Angela's voice is almost unheard, but she still feels the pain in her chest when Angela says it.

"I miss you too. Only ten more months until we are all home. I find it best to remind myself that days can be counted, they don't seem as long when I do."

"Goodnight, Brennan."

"Goodnight, Angela."