Before we begin, this is not a crime-fighting, ass-busting story. This is a set of personal pieces about friendship, growth and loss. it is intended for us to remember what we love about the people around us, and the people that have gone. By gone, I mean they are no longer apart of your life for some reason.
I've often thought about Brennan and Booth in their break year away from everybody. I've experienced so many losses over the past year that this little event has had some significance to it, and I really wanted to try my hand at more emotional pieces. I'll put personal experiences into each story, and each chapter will be dedicated to one person I've lost the last year.
Here's the first chapter, when Brennan discusses Maluku with Angela. To Minyi, wherever you are.
This means the character's thoughts, and this is emphasis. :)
"Ange, there is something I need your opinion on."
Angela's head immediately snaps upward. She watches as Brennan shuffles her feet uneasily at her office door. Angela notes that her best friend is unusually twitchy and fidgety lately. I wonder if it's about Booth.
She quickly wipes her charcoaled hands and drags Brennan to the couch. Normally she would have let Brennan stand there and speak in case the scientist suddenly ran off with the idea, but this time seemed different. This time seemed unsure, touchy. Angela did not want Brennan running away now. "Sweetie, you know you can tell me anything, right?"
"Yes, Ange, I am fully aware. I have heard it reinstated to me every time we have a conversation. You have instructed very clearly that open communication, to a point, is essential in all human interaction..." Angela recognises Brennan's wordiness as stalling and smoothly cuts with a "Very good, honey. So, what are you here for?"
Now Brennan starts to cross an uncross her ankles, a sign of the nerves. Angela starts to worry, and gives her scientist a little pat on the shoulder to encourage her. Brennan lets out a short breath and begins, "They've asked me to go to the Maluku Islands. This is a terrific prospect, with the possibility of discovering the unknown links in the evolution of Homo sapiens. As the leading anthropologist the world, I have a duty and responsibility to contribute to this expedition. But- " She starts to mumble, all in a rush. "I... I don't feel like going, Ange. I feel like... staying! I feel like I should be there, that this trip might be the greatest thing in my career, but I feel stuck here. It's confusing, Ange..."
Angela listens to the worries of her BFF (Best Friend Forever), and takes a moment to respond. "Well, this Maluku thingy, you were so huffed when they asked Daisy to go and not you. And now that they've asked you, you sure you want to stay?" She watches the conflicting emotions of pride, fear, worry cross Brennan's eyes. The smartest woman in any room, and she can't hide her emotions. Angela automatically thinks. Maybe that's what makes her the best and smartest, because she doesn't allocate brain space to hypocrisy, her brain replies.
Angela takes a steadying whoosh of air, and gives Brennan a shifty glance as she says, "Isn't Booth going back to Iraq?" She winces as she notes the uncertainty in her friend's eyes. I hate to do this, babe, but you can't stay where your heart is getting broken.
"Firstly, it was Afghanistan to train the troops, and secondly, Booth said he wasn't going..." Brennan reasons quietly, unsure. Angela senses her struggle.
"Well, Bren. You know Booth, and you know that in the end, he can't turn down the pleas of this country. They've already sent that army guy, like, two times, right? So right now he's just being stubborn, and when he's finished being stubborn, he's gonna go." Angela takes One of Brennan's hands in her own. "Babe, I hate to say this, but the you I know would kill to go on this trip..."
Brennan shoots Angela a thoughtful stare, contemplating her next words. "Well, I have told Booth before that I've... tired of all this murder. I am a scientist after all, Ange. I keep thinking about finding new things, and going, in your words - icky - places. I don't want to find out whose responsible for fracturing whose zygomatic arch any more..." Brennan scrunches her forehead. "You're right, Ange. I can't make Booth stay and not fulfil his right to his country, and there is no way I can let Daisy make this miraculous find on her own..." She twitches in her seat again, hovering between decision and heart.
Angela just watches as Brennan's logical mechanism switches on, and observes as the mechanism, as always, overrides Brennan's emotions. The process is an oddly familiar, yet heart-wrenching process. Even the smartest woman has her demons to overcome. In a way, Angela muses, I've become a scientist, studying and filing away all the weird things about all the people I care about. I'm the human scientist in this place. A small smile plays on her lips, unnoticed by Brennan.
In a quick movement, Brennan suddenly stands up from the couch. Angela is caught unaware and hastily copies her friend's actions. Brennan gives Angela a strong, brief hug. "Thanks Ange, I know what to do now." She releases her dazed best friend, and claiming urgent, pending results of a bone scan, leaves Angela's office.
"You're welcome, sweetie! Love you!" Angela calls out after Brennan's retreating form. I guess this is the beginning of something very big...
Her gaze follows Brennan until the scientist steps into the Bone room, then she drops back to the couch as crosses her legs in a thinking pose. She's so deep in thought, she doesn't realise Hodgins sneaking in and waving in her face, until she hears the 'beep' from the Angelatron as Hodgins pokes a button in an attempt to wake her from her meditation.
"Oh hey babe, I was... thinking back there. Now step away from my computer before I show you nasty." She flashes Hodgins a sneaky smile and her fingers fly over the controls.
Chapter one's done! this is just to get the ball rolling... one a week! stay tuned :)