ALRIGHT! You've guilted me into it. This is the sequel to "Umm... What?"
The whole idea behind the ending of "Umm... What?" was that life goes on and nothing changes dramatically except our actions. We've all read the stories where they tell Parker about the baby and he's all, "Yay! A new toy for me to play with!" but we all know that that is how it would work out. I kind of wanted a pan in/out moment of Booth and Brennan's life. So this is another pan in/out of Brennan and Booth's life a little further down the line (about six months after "Umm... What?" takes place).
Sorry to throw you all for a loop with that one. I hope that this sequel makes up for the quick ending of "Umm... What?".
Read and Review loves!
Booth had gone on assignment and as per usual, the FBI was keeping the Jeffersonian and in particular Doctor Temperance Brennan on a need to know basis. From what they did know, he was out of the country and would not be back for an indeterminate amount of time.
Brennan went on with her day to day activities as though nothing was amiss. She would get up early in the morning and be at the Jeffersonian by 7:30 to examine and identify bones from limbo. The fieldwork had been temporarily postponed for the scientist unless absolutely needed for a particular case, and even then she was barred from going on interviews and interrogations with the Agents because they found her of no use.
Brennan believed that most of the FBI Agents at the bureau found Temperance to be cold hearted and difficult to work with. She knew that that was common, considering that she didn't get along with Agents before Booth came along, but she assumed that they had all changed their minds when Booth took her under his wing in a manner of speaking. The fact that she neglected to pose as an option was that the Agent's knew that if Booth's girlfriend and the mother of his child were to get into any kind of dangerous situation in his absence, there would be hell to pay; and that was not just a figure of speech.
Despite being six months pregnant, her work at the Jeffersonian had begun catching up to itself. Granted, there were many bodies left in limbo to be identified, but she was moving through them swiftly; faster than her superiors had anticipated anyway. She was also spending some more time teaching her assistant how things worked in this particular lab. The new assistant was doing well; she wasn't anything like Zack, but doing well nonetheless.
Angela had been watching Brennan closely feeling an impending breakdown on its way even though the stoic scientist continually harped that she was fine. Despite her insistence, Angela knew her friend well enough to know when she was sad; either that or Angela was making up drama to avoid thinking about her recently unengaged engagement.
It was a Wednesday afternoon when Temperance had finally gone into her office for some rest and Angela figured there was no time like the present to see how her gal-pal was fairing.
"Hey there." Angela said, seeing Temperance laying down on the couch.
Brennan sighed and closed her eyes, "I'm fine Angela." She said defensively.
Angela laughed and sat down on the edge of the coffee table in front of the couch, "Yeah, usually when you say that, you actually mean, 'I'm not fine in any way shape or form and I'm only saying that I'm fine so that I don't have to talk to you about why I'm really upset'. Did I hit the mark, sweetie?"
Brennan put her hand on her forehead and turned her head slightly away from her friend, "You need to stop, Angela. Picking at a scab only makes a person start bleeding again. That isn't helping."
"Yeah, except that I don't think your wound is anywhere near healed. You should talk about how you feel. It will make you feel better."
Brennan shook her head, "I'm just worried about him." She said, opening her eyes and looking at Angela, "It's irrational because I know that he is perfectly capable of taking care of himself, but I'm concerned for his safety." She said, sitting up, "Who knows what kind of assignment they have him on? It could be something really dangerous that could lead actual death. I'm afraid that since his last "death" was fake that I might have trouble accepting his death knowing that it could just be… a cover."
Angela sighed and took her friend's hand in her own, "Booth is not going to die."
"Everyone dies Angela." She said standing up and walking toward her desk, "This mission could very well be the end of Booth for all we know."
Angela stood and walked toward her, "Yeah, and I could get hit by a bus walking to my car after work."
Brennan rolled her eyes, "Buses don't normally drive through the employee parking lot of the Jeffersonian."
"You know what I mean." Angela said, crossing her arms, "I have faith that Booth will come back here, back to you in one piece. Like the pie he loves so much." Angela smiled.
Brennan stood for a moment and looked at her and then smiled slightly as well.
"Ah!" Angela said, "I knew I could get you to smile!" They both laughed, "Feel better now, Sweetie?"
Brennan nodded, "Yeah, I do. Thanks Ange."
"Anytime babe." She said, then exiting her office.
Brennan sat down at her desk and turned on her computer monitor. She turned and looked outside of her office to make sure no one was looking, and then opened a shortcut on her desktop. The image loaded and there on her screen was a picture of Seeley Booth's charm smile staring her in the face. She placed her hand on her protruding stomach and smiled back at him.