She closes her eyes as she boards the plane, knowing that she's going to have see him soon. She takes one last look, and then takes a step forward.
At Dulles international airport Angela waits on Brennan impatiently.
Brennan had received the call less than twenty four hours earlier. She was in a tent, taking a break when her computer decided to ding. Caroline's face pops up.
"Are you having fun in the jungle cherie?"
"Why are you..."
"I'm so glad that you asked," Caroline cuts her off, "I need you back here, yesterday."
"Why? What's going on?"
"Something's come up, and I need you back pronto."
"I'm in the middle of..."
"Of digging in a whole, in the middle of nowhere, up to your neck in bugs, and bones? Aren't your ready to come home?"
"I... I don't know if I can..."
Caroline cuts her off again, "I've already gotten your ticket. You've just got to print it out. Your flight leaves before sundown."
"Caroline..." she begins to protest, but Caroline's face disappears.
Angela studies the screen overhead. She taps her foot impatiently. A flood of people migrate towards her. Finally Brennan appears toward the back of the crowd. Angela's face lights up. Finally Brennan reaches her. She holds her messenger bag in front of her.
"Hi sweetie," Angela smiles.
Brennan steps into her embrace.
Finally after several seconds Angela lets go.
"We should probably get the rest of your luggage," Angela suggests.
"Yeah," Temperance agrees.
They move towards baggage claim. After half a ton of suitcases Brennan spots her. Angela grabs it off the conveyer belt before she even gets a chance. Temperance pops up the handle, and wheels the bag behind her. When they reach the parking lot Angela helps Brennan put her suitcase in the back.
She studies Temperance carefully. There was something different about her that she just couldn't quite put her finger on. She smiles, "Brennan do you have human remains in your bag?"
Temperance looks down at the bag that she's clutching tightly, in front of her. "No. I don't have remains in any of my luggage this time," she admits.
"So then why are you holding on so tightly to your bag? Do you have contraband of some sort?"
"No," Temperance shakes her head.
"So are you going to let go of it, or not?"
Angela motions for the bag.
"Promise you won't be mad."
"You didn't bring me back a souvenir?"
"Of course I did."
"So why would I be mad?"
"I may have..."
"You may have what?"
"I may have been withholding information."
"What kind of information?"
"I'm definitely going to need your help."
"Need my help with what?"
"There is a possibility that I really screwed up."
"And you've seen the err of your ways, and now you're ready to profess your love to Booth?"
Temperance scowls, "Angela..."
"I'm sorry. What is it? Just tell me I'm sure that it can't be that bad."
"Maybe I should have taken a cab home."
"What did you do?"
"Let's just go," Temperance begs.
"Fine, are you going to put the bag back here, or are you going to hold it on your lap the whole way?"
"I'll hold it."
Angela slams the back hatch, and moves toward the front of the vehicle. Temperance takes seat in the passenger's seat. The ride out of the parking garage is completely silent. Angela pays for her parking spot, and leaves the airport. Three or four minutes later the car is still silent, as Angela pulls up to a stop light. She looks over at Temperance.
"Angela the light is green," Temperance points out.
Angela finds herself at a loss for words. She goes through the light. She switches into the right lane, and pulls into the first parking spot she can find. She turns the car off. Temperance stares at her in confusion.
"I want the bag," Angela insists.
"Why?"
"Put it in the backseat," Angela demands.
Temperance looks down at the messenger bag. Angela unfastens Temperance's seat belt. The belt is over the bag. Temperance holds the bag.
"Let go," Angela begs.
"I'll put it down," Temperance agrees. She takes a deep breath, and gently places the bag on the floor, in front of her.
"You're mad?" Temperance questions.
"I don't know if that is the right word," Angela admits.
"Could you give me a hint?"
"This is way worse than withholding information."
"That is all that I did."
"That's it? You make it sound like you forgot to tell me that you got a sunburn. This is completely different."
"You didn't tell me that you got married," Temperance points out.
"Not right away, but I told you. You were supposed to be gone a year. That's a long time not to tell your best friend something like this."
"I'm sorry."
"Did you think that I wasn't going to find out?"
"I was hopeful."
"What was your plan? What if you... what if you hadn't been summoned back early?"
"Ange... I'm sorry."
"I'm disappointed, and confused."
"I know, and I am going to explain everything."
"Start talking."
"What do you want me to say?"
"You can start from the beginning."
"Ange... please don't be mad. I really need your help."
"How am I going to help you? You never thought to mention this to me? How long have you known?"
"I didn't mention it to anyone."
"That makes it ok?"
"No... please calm down," Temperance begs.