Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Well my vacation is officially over now (I start classes again tomorrow), and I managed to write three chapters. Lucky for you, this is the only story I had inspiration on, so you get the next addition to the Care Package! This is the fourth installment, and takes place about eleven months after the last story. On my profile I have posted when each story is set so that you can see the timeline. If you are new to this series, please read the first three, a lot of things will make more sense if you know what has already happened. Enjoy!

P.S. In my head, Angela and Hodgins got married between Being Careful and Carefully Laid Plans.

P.P.S. Italics are a flashback

Handle With Care

PG-13/T

Chapter One - Plans

Temperance Brennan sat at her desk, in her office at the Jeffersonian, staring intently at her computer screen. She was flipping between the windows that were open on her desktop. One was the document that held her latest novel, and another held images from their latest crime scene, the other, final, window held an email with a variety of flower arrangements. The past eleven months had been filled with wedding plans. Brennan had decided on a spring wedding, so the planning had begun in earnest, and now the big day was only a month away.

The planning had really taken off as soon as Angela had found out about the engagement.

The morning after the proposal, Brennan arrived to work early, as usual, beating everyone else in. She had gone straight to work, examining the bones they had found and cleaned the day before. She was so wrapped up in her work that she jumped and nearly dropped the skull she was holding when Angela screamed.

"Oh. My. God!"

Setting the skull carefully on the table, Brennan looked up at her friend in concern, only to be greeted by Angela's grinning face and barely contained bouncing. Brennan followed her friend's line of vision to the ring on her own left hand, which had been reflecting the light streaming in from the glass ceilings. She gave a soft smile and Angela squealed again, attracting the attention of the others.

"Angela," Brennan chided fruitlessly as she rose from her place at the exam table. She took Angela's arm, leading the artist, who was bubbling with excitement, towards her office.

"I'm so excited for you sweetie!" Angela gushed as they walked. "How did he ask? Let me see the ring! Oh I'm so happy!" She gave a little bounce as Brennan closed her door, sighing as she saw Cam and Hodgins trade looks before they glanced towards the office. It wouldn't be a secret for long. She turned her attention back to Angela with a smile. "So how did he ask?" Angela asked again and Brennan laughed as she was pulled down onto the couch.

"Well, I kind of ruined his plans. I found the ring in his coat pocket at Parker's soccer game yesterday." Brennan laughed again as Angela pulled her left hand into her own to examine the ring.

"It's gorgeous sweetie." Angela declared, looking up at her friend with a smile and a hint of tears in her eyes. "I'm so happy for you. Are you happy?"

Brennan nodded through some tears of her own. "I love him." She said simply, then confessed, "I've never felt this way before. I know I've always said that I don't need a piece of paper to prove my commitment, but I'm starting to see the appeal in everyone knowing he's mine."

Angela laughed and pulled her into a hug. "I know what you mean sweetie." She pulled back a moment later and swiped at her tears. "So when's the wedding? I better be helping you plan it, seeing as how I'm an expert now," she teased.

Brennan laughed. "We don't know yet, we haven't had a chance to talk about any details."

"I'll bet you haven't," Angela raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"Ange, really! We had Parker!" Brennan exclaimed.

"You can be quiet when you want to."

"You really are shameless aren't you," Brennan said, shaking her head wryly. "Anyway, I will need your help planning, because I really have no idea what needs to be done."

"Well, you'll need a dress, location, music…"

From there the plans were off and running. They had decided to hold the wedding the next spring, on May 19th, in the rose gardens of the Jeffersonian. The gardens would be beautiful for a spring wedding, and the location acted as a sort of compromise, so that Booth's parish priest could perform the ceremony. The couple was writing their own vows as well.

The dresses were picked out, for Brennan and the bridesmaids, and Booth and his groomsmen had been fitted for their tuxedos. Angela, acting as their wedding planner, had taken over planning the reception. She had rented the ballroom of a local hotel, which also held the honeymoon suite and several rooms for guests who chose not to drive home after the party. She had acquired live entertainment through her personal connections and had enlisted the services of a well known catering company for the meal. All that was left now was the selection of the flowers and the final fittings for all of the dresses.

Angela had been waiting on Brennan's decision on the flowers for a few days now, but Brennan had been distracted, first by a high profile case, then by Parker, who had come down with the flu earlier that week. Now Brennan turned her attention to Angela's email, which held sample pictures of bouquets and floral arrangements. She had been poring over the images for about a half an hour before she was startled by a knock at her office door.

"Hey sweetie, how's it coming?" Angela asked as she came in and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Brennan's desk.

"Fairly well actually." Brennan answered as she relaxed into her chair. "I got some work accomplished on my book, and I've been looking at those pictures you sent me."

Angela's eyes lit up. "Any choices?" She asked, coming around to look at the screen over Brennan's shoulder.

Brennan smiled and gave a little half shrug. "I really like the daffodil arrangements for the centerpieces at the reception." She clicked the image to show her friend. "Yellow and white."

"That's a good choice, they're beautiful. What about the bouquets?" Angela asked, leaning against Brennan's desk.

Brennan shrugged again, "I like the ones with roses, but between the garden and the dresses, I'm not sure which color, or if it's even a good idea."

"I'll talk to the florist," Angela promised, "He's already seen the garden, but I'll show him a color swatch from my dress and see what he suggests so that nothing will clash."

"Thanks Ange, I appreciate it."

"No problem sweetie." Angela grinned, changing gears. "So, are you excited? It's only a month away!" She singsonged.

Brennan chuckled. "I was, but as it gets closer I'm starting to worry about the details."

"Well don't," Angela gave a wave of her hand. "You leave all that stressing to me. Just show up and have your vows ready, the rest is taken care of," she assured her friend.

"I can't thank you enough for everything you're doing Ange." Brennan said softly, surprising herself as she began to tear up.

"Oh sweetie," Angela pulled her into a hug. "That's what friends are for."

"Hey Bones, hey Angela." Booth paused in the doorway as the women looked up. Concern laced his features as he spotted tears in their eyes. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Nope, just some wedding details," Angela answered, standing as Brennan tried to dry her eyes inconspicuously.

"Ah, I see. How's it coming?" He leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets. "Anything I can do to help?"

Angela smirked. "Like I told her, just show up with your tux and your vows," she patted his shoulder as she passed him, then with a glance back at her friend she added softly, "and keep her from stressing out. I've got it covered."

He nodded as she left the office. He took a seat on the couch as Brennan turned back to her computer. "Everything okay?"

"Of course," she answered without looking up, as she shut down her email.

"No second thoughts?" He asked softly.

That got her attention and she looked up sharply. "Of course not," she assured him immediately. Pushing away from her desk, she joined him on the couch, placing a reassuring hand on his leg. "I want to marry you Seeley. I will not change my mind," she told him, her voice soft yet forceful. His hand covered hers on his leg and squeezed it gratefully. "I may be rethinking the wedding part," she joked to lighten the mood, "but definitely not the marriage part."

He chuckled lightly at that. "Angela said not to worry about that," he reminded her.

"I know, but I've never done this before," she reminded him, "and I don't plan to do it again, so I'd like everything to go as smoothly as possible."

He laughed again and couldn't resist kissing her. "I'm sure it will be perfect."

She relaxed in his arms a moment, enjoying the time alone together, before she sat up suddenly. "Why are you here?"

"Can't a man just want to see his beautiful fiancée?" He teased.

"I meant did you need something?" She asked.

He sighed. "We have a case."

She pushed off of the couch and grabbed her bag. "Well, let's go then." He stood, chuckling again, and followed her out of her office, closing the door behind them. "I assume you have the file."

"You know what they say when you assume…" He teased.

"No, what?" She glanced back blankly as they headed down the stairs.

"You make an-" He shook his head, "you know what, nevermind. You can read it in the car on the way," he assured her as he led her out of the lab.

"When are you going to let me drive?" She grumbled, and he just laughed.

When they reached the crime scene, Booth stepped aside to talk to the officer who had secured the scene, while Brennan headed straight for the remains. He had started questioning the couple who had stumbled upon the body when he caught sight of her over the man's shoulder. She was crouched beside the body, gloved hands carefully probing. As he watched her, her body swayed and she staggered back a step to keep from falling.

"Would you excuse me please?" He sent the couple to another officer before hurrying to her side. Ignoring the stench that turned his stomach, he crouched beside her. "You okay?" He asked in a low voice.

"Mmhmm," she murmured, not looking up.

"You look kinda pale Bones," he commented, noticing her right hand beginning to tremble as she steadied herself with her left hand.

"I'm-" she began, breaking off to take a deep breath through her mouth. "Just a little-" she groaned and he staggered back as she rose in one fluid motion, getting as far away from the crime scene as possible before emptying her stomach. He followed her, coming up behind her to hold her hair and gently rub her back as she gagged. "Oh god." She rose shakily when she had finished. He tried to pull her into his arms, but she resisted weakly. "Work, Booth," she whispered. He looked around before gently grasping her arm and leading her around the corner, out of sight of the crime scene, where she allowed him to pull her into a hug. She buried her face in his chest, breathing in the scent of him, and her arms wrapped loosely around his waist.

One of his arms wrapped around her back as the other hand came up to soothingly stroke her hair. "What happened baby? Are you sick?" She shook her head, still pressed against his chest, and mumbled. "Sorry Bones, I didn't catch that."

She pulled her face away. "The smell. It hasn't bothered me in years, but it just hit me, and I couldn't stop it this time." She explained softly. "I can't believe I vomited, like some kind of-"

"Human." Booth cut her off gently. "It only makes you human, Bones. Those guys out there will probably respect you more for it." She crinkled her nose in confusion and he chuckled before pressing a kiss to the tip of it. "Don't worry about it." She sighed, reluctantly pulling away from him and straightening up. "You wanna go back?" He asked somewhat skeptically and she nodded.

"I have to finish my job Booth." She took a deep, settling breath, then made a face. "Do you have any gum?" He fished around in his pockets and handed her a piece. "Thanks." She chewed it for a moment then nodded. "Ready?" He followed her back to the crime scene, still concerned, but proud (as always) of how she carried herself with confidence, still determined to finish her job, despite feeling sick. She wrapped up her examination with the usual order to send the remains and samples to the Jeffersonian. As they climbed into the SUV, she turned to him, her smile wavering on her still pale face and sighed. "Take me home?"

He nodded and pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. "Rest. I'll wake you up when we get there," he told her softly.

She fell asleep moments later. At a red light, he glanced over at her resting form. Her face was still pale, though her hair obscured her expression, and her body was tense, one arm resting over her likely still unsettled stomach. The light changed and he redirected his attention, watching her from the corner of his eye until they reached their apartment. Deciding not to wake her, he went around to her side of the SUV and lifted her from the car. She shifted in his arms and he paused, waiting until she settled into his chest before carrying her inside. When he got into the apartment, he carried her to their bedroom and laid her down on the bed. She woke slightly as he slipped her shoes off.

"You were supposed to wake me," she murmured sleepily.

"Shh, go back to sleep," he instructed gently as he helped her into pajamas then under the blankets. "You probably caught Parker's flu bug. You need your rest so you can get better fast." He pressed another kiss to her forehead and smoothed her hair back. "I have to go back to work, but I'll be back tonight. I love you," he whispered, but she was already asleep.

Please review! The next chapters will be posted as soon as I can type them, and my typing speed tends to increase by the number of reviews I receive...funny how that works isn't it. :)