So, this is my first Bones fic, but definitely not my first idea. It just popped into my head and was short enough for me to write before my tennis match today. So, I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: Why would I write stories about something I owned?

Summary: "I would stake my professional career on it…I did." Right after The Man in the Mourge.

Holding the Evidence

"We'll, uh, just be going back to…to finalizing our reports on JOHN DOE 361," Hodgins lied.

"But I'm done," Zack argued as Hodgins dragged him out of the room.

"No. You're. Not." He whispered forcefully, receiving a grateful smile from his female coworker before she turned to her companion.

"Sweetie, what do you mean 'this proves something'"?

"I'm…not quite sure," Brennan said, still staring at the green earring.

Angela was a little upset. "How can you not know?"

"I don't know, Ange. This earring, my mother's earring, all I have left of her, it wasn't at my house when I woke up on Thursday. I couldn't find it. And then, now, after all this, Booth somehow got a hold of it."

"Honey, he cares about you."

"That is irrelevant. Emotions would have no correspondence to-" she gasped.

"What? What is it?"

"He said he would stake his professional career on the fact that I didn't commit the murder. Then he whispered he already did, but I heard him."

Angela just stared at her friend in confusion.

"He withheld evidence in a criminal investigation! Ange, he's an FBI agent, if anyone found out-"

"How can you be sure?"

Brennan shook her head. "I can't be."

Angela just smiled. Her friend was taking a hunch, using the psychology she loathed.

"Maybe you should ask him."

Brennan glanced at Angela. "There's no need to."

"Sweetie, because I love you, I'm going to say this in the nicest way I can. There's your proof. He cares about you. You need to face up to it and stop denying yourself. I did, and I lost him-"

Brennan frowned and started to say something.

"No, listen. What I had with Kurk, well, it was love. True love. And I can see it in your eyes when you look at Booth. It doesn't matter if you don't confess to him because if you lose him, it will hurt all the same. He has a dangerous job, Tempe. Kurk was a photographer in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don't waste your time. I don't want you to go through what I did."

"Ange…"

Angela just shook her head and pointed to the door.

Brennan got up and walked over to door, glancing back at her friend before turning to find Booth.

Angela wiped her eyes as she finally let the last of her tears be released.

"You did the right thing," a voice from behind her said with a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Angela sniffled. "Did-did you stop him?"

"Yeah, we got him just before he left. They should be meeting up any second now."

Angela smiled gratefully at Hodgins. "Well, let's see if it worked!"

The two exited the office, Hodgins hand guiding Angela out the door to their prey.

FIN

So, not totally crappy, but I'm not sure I like the ending much, it just didn't seem…right. I dunno, it seems sorta forced. To me, at least. Anyways, tell me how you liked it!