A/N: This is a missing scene from episode 1x22. Set when Angela gives Brennan a ride home. Enjoy! By the way, I love reviews.
Holding it Together
I don't think I'll ever fully understand how she works. She just found out that her mother's remains had been found after all these years, and all she can do is sit in the passenger seat of my car and stare out the window. Shouldn't she be having a breakdown of some sorts? I know that if I were in her position I'd be falling apart. But not her. Not Temperance Brennan. She always manages to hold it together.
What am I saying? She's not holding it together. She's lost. She doesn't know what to think. Her past is suddenly resurfacing and it's causing her to feel all sorts of forgotten emotions. And she doesn't know how to deal with that, so she shuts herself off from everyone else. That's what bother's me the most. She's hurting, but she's too proud and too stubborn to admit it. And I worry about her, because she's holding back. But it's her way of coping, so I leave it alone and hope that she comes around. And usually, she does. But this time I'm not so confident.
It's too much. I finally break the silence. "Sweetie, I'm sorry."
A heavy sigh is all I get as a response. Wow, Bren. Thanks so much for the insight into how you're feeling. Well, okay. That's not fair of me. But I'm so worried about her right now, and I don't know how to get her to talk. This is heavier than anything I've ever faced with her. I take a deep breath and start again.
"Bren, do you wanna talk about it?" There is a long, long pause.
"Not yet, Angela." It's so quiet that I can barely hear it. It's not quite what I wanted, but 'not yet' means she'll talk about it later. Progress is being made.
The rest of the drive is spent in silence. I find myself casting glances in her direction every few minutes. She continues to stare out the window. My heart goes out to her. I wonder what she's thinking. We finally pull up to her apartment building.
"Do you want me to come in?" I ask her.
"No. I need some space." Her voice is so hushed it scares me. I wish she'd stop staring out the window.
"All right," I say. I understand that she needs some time alone. " Call me if you need anything, okay?"
She nods and reaches to exit the car. Then she turns and looks at me for the first time since she got into my car. I see that her eyes are shining with unshed tears. "Ange what's going to happen?"
I'm slightly surprised, but answer her anyway. "Booth is going to find the person who did this. I promise."
"Are you sure?" She's insecure about this, and that's not like her.
"Yes. I'm 100 sure. Booth won't stop until he finds the person who did this. He cares, Brennan. We all do. And we're here for you every step of the way." A tear falls down her cheek and she bites her bottom lip. I reach out to her. She hugs me tightly. "I promise everything is going to be all right in the end." I kiss her cheek and we break our embrace.
"Thank you, Angela." She says.
"Anytime. Love you."
She smiles, though it does not reach her eyes. Then, she gets out of the car and walks into her building. I sigh and head back to the Jeffersonian. Brennan is going to be okay. I know she will be. She always is.
FINIS
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