Disclaimer: I can't be stuffed to fabricate enough that I don't own either one of Bones or Grey's Anatomy, the two best shows in my eyes! So, I don't own Grey's Anatomy or Bones.
Chapter 2: Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Two days after the horrific discovery, Booth, Temperance and her team touched down at Seattle airport, not expecting anyone to greet them.
But, once they got to the area where people greeted their relatives and friends, a large flashing noise was heard and cameras were on a huge frenzy.
"What the hell?" Booth was confused. Never in his life did he expect paparazzi to be at the airport.
"I got used to it when I was 12…Oh! Merry!" Temperance shrugged before she spotted Meredith and started running towards her.
Booth, Angela, Jack, Zack and Cam walked towards where Temperance was hugged a petite honey blonde haired woman who was slightly smaller than herself.
"Tempe! How long has it been?" Meredith chocked out, tears in her eyes.
"Too long Merry, Too long." Temperance kissed Meredith's cheeks warmly.
Temperance then turned to face Derek who had his arm wrapped around Meredith's waist protectively.
"Derek Shepherd. We meet at last." Temperance stuck out her hand and Derek took it readily and with a smile.
"Likewise." Derek smiled, grateful the worlds most renown anthropologist had just flown down to see the bones but then again, she was Meredith's stepsister who loved her like a true sister.
Temperance then saw a small group around Meredith and Derek.
"This is Isobel 'Izzie' Stevens, George O'Malley, Cristina Yang and Alex Karev…Have I missed anyone?" Meredith pointed to each person in turn.
Temperance smiled at each person and each person smiled back.
"Ok. This is Agent Seeley Booth from the FBI, Angela Montenegro, Zack Addy, Jack Hodgins and Camille 'Cam' Saroyan." Temperance introduced everyone in her team in turn.
Everyone talked rapidly about absolutely everything and Booth was surprised while Temperance talked. She was talking happily and very fast but still, Meredith understood every single word and smiled.
"Mom and dad's house is two streets away so some people can stay there. Tempe, you and Booth have to stay at my house." Meredith announced, holding Temperance's hands protectively.
"What about your urges Mer?" Temperance giggled like a schoolgirl.
"We still have Derek's trailer. It's so beautiful and no one but us and Addison know the location of it." Meredith whispered softly.
"Alright then. Sounds nice. Angela, you and Hodgins can come too." Temperance turned to face Angela with a smile.
Angela was startled. She had never seen Brennan so happy but there she was, like a person on cloud nine and higher.
"Sure thing sweetie." Angela smiled. She placed the issue on the fact that Brennan hadn't see her stepsister in many years and was now delighted to see her, holding hands with her was a sure sign of it.
Booth was startled. He had never seen Temperance smile so wide and so publicly but there she was, smiling as hard as she could and her eyes shining.
Cam was also confused. She had always seen Temperance Brennan as cold, hard but right now, in front of her, Temperance was like a girl in a candy shop, wanting to buy everything with the pocket money she had saved.
"I still have the Hummer Grandma Kelly gave me so you guys can put your stuff and still be comfortable." Meredith explained happily. She felt comforted with Temperance there with her in Seattle.
All ten of them walked outside to see a massive Hummer H2 in front a menagerie of cars.
"We all took like a car between pairs so we have like 4 cars." Meredith shrugged as the people in Temperance's team gaped.
Booth, Angela, Hodgins, Cam, Zack and Temperance got inside of the massive Hummer after placing all their stuff in the back, surprised at how comfortable they were and at how easily the stuff fit in.
"Do you guys want a tour of Seattle Grace? We have time you know…" Meredith offered, turning around to look at the people in the back seat.
"Sure. Even thought it's a hospital, sure." Temperance smiled as she replied for the rest of the team.
It didn't take long for the Hummer to arrive at Meredith's massive townhouse which had been renovated with her parent's money.
"It's been renovated since the last time you came her. Mom and dad live two streets down from here. Their house is massive! I can't describe it!" Meredith waved her hands in the air.
Temperance and the others walked inside and they all took in the spaciousness of the house and the calm atmosphere.
"I think I'll stay at the hotel…" Cam offered softly. She didn't want to intrude on Temperance's obvious happiness.
"Me too. I actually have some friends over here so I'll stay with them." Zack noted gently. He didn't want to be in anyone's way.
Temperance,
Meredith and Derek, who were obviously startled, nodded gently.
"Izzie and George live here too but there's plenty of room."
Derek continued to talk to break the obvious tension as they
continued the tour of the house.
"Tempe, you can have the room across from Izzie's if you want. There are 8 other rooms so you can spread out. There's beds and stuff in them." Meredith guided everyone upstairs to see the rooms available.
(A/N: I drew a map for make it easier for myself. I can put it up if you want…)
Meredith, Derek, Izzie and George walked into their own rooms as Temperance and her team walked into the rooms they wanted.
Temperance took the room opposite Izzie's, Angela took the room in between Temperance and Meredith, Booth took the room next to Temperance and Hodgins took the room next to Izzie's.
They all found their rooms to their personal liking, even Booth.
After an hour, they all walked downstairs to join with the others after they changed clothes.
They found Meredith and Derek on the back porch, sitting on the bench swing, Derek's arm wrapped gently around Meredith's arms as she rested her head on his shoulder comfortably.
"You guys can have something to eat. I know that Izzie's making muffins and pastries in the kitchen." Meredith offered gently, not lifting her head from her comfortable and comforting spot.
Temperance nodded. She was jealous of the happiness Meredith shared with Derek but she knew, from Meredith's emails and numerous phone calls, that it wasn't the result of an overnighter (Ok, maybe it was on some levels) but something they had to get over together.
"Bren? You jealous?" Angela spotted Temperance's slightly obvious jealously.
Temperance widened her eyes in shock. She didn't realise her emotions were so obvious to her friends and the people around her.
"It's just that you looked at Meredith and Derek with envious eyes." Angela shrugged as she explained to her friend.
Temperance took Angela's arm and dragged her all the way upstairs, ignoring a startled Booth and Jack.
Once they got inside Temperance's room, Temperance jumped on her bed and sighed loudly, trying hard not to shed tears.
Angela immediately felt guilty. She could see the envy in Temperance's eyes but how much pain it caused her friend, she didn't know.
"Oh sweetie! Do you want me to get food?" Angela sat down on a chair next to the spacious double queen sized bed.
Temperance nodded, this time with tears falling from her eyes.
Angela crept her way downstairs, trying not to make much noise as Derek told his story of his and Meredith's fragile relationship and what they went through.
Unluckily, or luckily, she bumped into Meredith who had gone to the kitchen to take a pastry puff and a drink.
"Angela! What's the matter?" Meredith was surprised to see her stepsister's friend rummage around her fridge for ice cream.
"Tempe. She's crying." Angela replied in an undertone, watching Booth and Jack warily as they laughed at Derek's retelling.
Meredith's eyes narrowed but she walked back into the living room, whispering to Izzie something and then whispering something else to Derek who nodded.
Meredith returned to the kitchen with a box of tissues and Izzie as Angela pulled out a tube of cookies and cream ice cream from the freezer.
The three women walked softly upstairs and into Temperance's room where they found her on the bed, still crying.
Izzie immediately locked the door, knowing that the last thing Temperance wanted was the men walking up here and watching her cry.
Meredith instantly rushed to Temperance's side, handed her a tissue and held her gently, whispering reassuringly.
"I didn't miss the look of envy on your face, Tempe. The place Derek and I are in now didn't come immediately. It came after two long, hard years of negotiating, fighting and then, giving in. To what I understand, you're doing the first two but you're not doing the third." Meredith spoke gently, confusing Angela.
"Um… How much do you know, Meredith, not to be rude or anything…" Angela cut in gently. She was totally clueless in this conversation.
"Temperance sends me daily emails about her and Booth. You've noticed that, undoubtedly, being the kind, perceptive person you are. It wasn't long before it took me and Izzie here to realise that Tempe had a major problem on her hands. You know as well as well as I do that Tempe is strong willed and fiercely independent but when it comes to her emotions, she is clueless even more than the rest of us because she hides them so many times, it gets confusing." Meredith smiled, kissing Temperance's forehead as she explained it all to make it easier for Angela to understand.
Angela nodded. She could understand perfectly. It all fell into place why Temperance was so confused and crying right now.
"I'm not all the different. I'm in love with Jack Hodgins but I can't fess up either before I get concrete proof." Angela confessed, getting soft nods from both Meredith and Izzie.
"Derek's actually my boss' boss. I didn't know that until after I slept with him." Meredith chuckled gently, making Angela raise her eyebrows.
There was a moment of gently but not awkward silence.
"Why don't we go down to the pier? Today's a nice day and it might not be a bad idea." Meredith offered. She loved ferryboats and she though Temperance might like them as much as she and Derek did.
The other three agreed, even Temperance which was surprising.
"Great! I'll go pick out a car and I'll tell Derek." Meredith smiled wide as she kissed Temperance once more on the forehead before exiting the room.
Ten minutes later, the four women were at the pier, watching the world go by as they sat on the bench in front of where Meredith had parked the car.
"I like the ferryboats. They're so nice and calm." Temperance admitted as they gazed over the pier without a word passed.
The other three nodded. No one had to say anything and they didn't.
Truthfully, Angela thought she did as well which was nice.
"Izzie admits she thought Meredith and Derek's obsession with ferryboats was a bit weird at the start but now Izzie is taking a fancy to the ferryboats." Izzie admitted, giggling slightly.
Izzie's weird speech made the other three stare at her oddly, making Izzie burst out laughing at them.
"Please don't tell Meredith about the third person thingie. Oh crap…!" Meredith started to say before she realised what she was saying.
That made all four of them bursting out laughing. They really couldn't help it. The third person thingie was actually funny and it couldn't be avoided.
The three men found them that way, actually four if you counted Alex who had tagged along, laughing hysterically about something they couldn't figure.
"Ok… I think I need to take my hysterical girlfriend back home." Derek was a little bewildered to see the four women laughing so hard.
That made Meredith glare angrily at Derek, making everyone thankful they weren't on the receiving end of that stare.
"I'm not hysterical. We had to get out of the house for a while and the ferryboats are infectious." Meredith replied smartly, casting a withering glance at Derek but only half meaning it which Derek knew.
"Sure you did, Mer." Derek chuckled as he rolled his eyes playfully.
Booth was watching the playful banter pass between Meredith and Derek a little enviously. He couldn't explain it. He was just envious that he wasn't happy in his life but then again, maybe they deserved it after going through everything they went through with the divorce and things like that.
Everyone noticed Booth's envy just like they did with Temperance's but this time, Temperance herself didn't notice. She was too busy watching the ferryboats and crying silently. It wasn't until Angela turned around to face her friend did anyone notice her crying.
"Oh my god! Temperance! What's the matter?" Angela asked frantically of her friend, feeling scared as she watched the tears roll down.
Temperance shook her head, feeling self conscious as everyone's eyes turned to her, even Booth. She didn't want Booth to know her personal fight.
He'd never feel the same way. But Meredith, Izzie and Angela says he does! Ugh! I don't know what to do anymore. This feels sooo hopeless! Temperance thought as she wiped away her tears.
Out of all the times that Bren's ignorant of something, this one takes the cake. Angela rolled her eyes but she got worried over her friend none the less.
Luckily, Meredith took control of things once more.
"Why don't we all go to Seattle Grace? I'm pretty sure that Derek needs to pick up some paperwork." Meredith announced, turning smugly at Derek.
Derek nodded carefully. He actually did have paperwork he had to pick up.
They got to Seattle Grace in record time as they went when there was minimal traffic which said something.
Everyone in the group who worked at SGH, save Meredith, said their excuses before rushing off, all promising to come back to the front desk at 8pm, 4 hours later.
"I've got the day off and so do the others but we love the hospital because it's so addicting. Also, we know the hospital would crumble without us. Mind you, I got a $1 million restraining order on the hospital because of one of the things Uncle Richard promised everyone that I would be safe and happy." Meredith explained with a smile as they walked to the elevators.
One they boarded the elevators, Meredith discovered Addison was inside of them as well, not that she was complaining.
"Addison! It's your day off!" Meredith was surprised to see her boyfriend's ex-wife in the same elevator as her.
Addison smiled ruefully. She had the same excuse as everyone else.
"I was called back, just as I was going to get coffee." Addison explained with a soft smile. She remained being friends even after she found out Meredith had sex with Derek at the prom. It wasn't something you could point the finger at.
Meredith smiled softly back. She knew Addison's reasoning for being her friend even after the prom. No one could be blamed, even if you wanted to.
"This is Temperance Brennan, my stepsister, Special Agent Seeley Booth, Angela Montenegro and Jack Hodgins. The other two of their team, Zack Addy and Camille Saroyan, aren't staying with us, but they will help Temperance and her team." Meredith made the introductions as she saw the looks everyone had on their faces of pure curiosity.
Addison greeted everyone cordially. It surprised her to know that Ellis Grey remarried and was happy but that was life.
"I'm Addison Forbes-Montgomery, the OB/GYN/Neonatal surgeon here at Seattle Grace. Derek is my ex-husband." Addison greeted herself with a smile which held no malice.
The only person who retained a straight face in Temperance's team was Temperance herself. Everyone else just balked.
"And we're friends." Addison smiled even wider, her eyes catching Meredith's which were twinkling with hidden laughter.
"Addison, stop! You're freaking them out!" Meredith was almost ready to fall over and die with laughter after seeing the expressions on their faces.
Booth was the most bewildered. He had no idea how Derek could deal with his girlfriend and his ex-wife in the same building and how on earth the two women found anything in common.
"We find heaps of things in common. In fact, we're maids of honour for each other." Addison saw the look of confusion cross Booth's face.
"Ok. I think that's enough confusing the visitors for today. I haven't even shown them anywhere!" Meredith laughed, Temperance smiling with her.
They got off on the third floor, saying their subdued goodbyes to Addison.
"How on earth can you work with Addison being Derek's ex-wife and you being Derek's girlfriend?" Angela asked the question everyone save Temperance wanted to know.
Meredith's eyes widened a little and that made Booth aware that something had happened to make her feel apprehensive.
"Derek was still married when I met him. It took up until last month for him to divorce Addison. There was a lot of adultery. Addison cheated on Derek with his best friend, Mark Sloan, who is the head of plastics here. Then, to even the score a little, Derek was my one nightstand which turned out to last longer than just one night. Trouble is he fell in love with me and visa versa. It wasn't until almost the end of last year when she did eventually turn up and on that day, Derek and I decided to make some rules to make it easier for us and to solidify our relationship into something more. We forgave each other in the end but there is always something there that we can't shake off… Oh yeah. I used to date a vet by the name of Finn Dandrige. I keep on telling Liz that he's perfect for her but she's got no time to come down since she and Brian's staying with dad and Deanna all the way in Detroit." Meredith shrugged, suggesting an underlying and ongoing problem with her relationship.
Temperance and Angela led Meredith into an on-call room which was thankfully empty.
"What's going on, Mer? You seem so shaken up by something." Temperance confronted her stepsister with firm but comforting eyes.
Meredith turned desperately to Angela's face and then to Temperance's before sighing loudly. She knew this would have to be told some day.
"IthinkI'mpregnantwithDerek'sbaby." Meredith mumbled which both Temperance and Angela translated into normal English somehow.
"Aww Mer." Temperance swooped down on her stepsister with a smile.
"He doesn't know. Oh god! He can't know! I'm screwed aren't I?" Meredith started panicking heavily in Temperance's arms.
Temperance and Angela both shook their heads. They definitely knew Derek would find out soon because he was living with Meredith and if you're living with someone, you tend to notice something was up, especially if you're pregnant.
Meredith shot the two of them a dark and malicious look which made them nod their heads after a while of gazing at her.
"Yes, you are screwed, Mer. He's going to notice. I mean, you two share a freaking room! How can he not notice?" Angela asked exasperatedly.
Meredith held her head in her hands, sighing loudly. It wasn't as if she didn't want this kid. It's just that the timing sucked, big time.
"Tell mom and dad about it…or not." Temperance started to say but she was cut off by the searing glare from Meredith.
"Oh! The best idea from Tempe! Tell mom and dad! Do you think they're not going to freak out if I tell, especially now that we think we found Rory's bones?! Gee, thanks!" Meredith snarled harshly. She wasn't feeling the best, obviously.
Angela and Temperance gazed at Meredith hesitantly. They really didn't know what to do or what to say to her. They were never pregnant before and they agreed whole-heartedly that the timing sucked.
Temperance hesitantly placed her left hand on Meredith's back and started rubbing her soothingly, making more tears to appear in Meredith's eyes.
"I'm not going to have an abortion. I'd rather die than have an abortion. I'm freaking out and that's not good for the baby. Poor, poor baby. This is the worst kind of timing there is. Why is god punishing me?" Meredith started to ramble which she did when she was nervous.
Temperance gathered her stepsister in her comforting arms and let her cry on her shoulder, ignoring Angela gaping at her.
After a while, Booth and Jack entered the room, making minimal noise so that they didn't disturb anyone, especially Meredith who was still in Tempe's arms.
"What happened?" Booth asked Angela as the three of them watched Temperance Brennan expose the other side of her, the caring sister who wanted the best for her sister who was in pain.
"You don't wanna know, seriously. This info is strictly between Bren and Meredith. They're sisters and they aren't going to say anything soon, believe me." Angela shook her head. She had sisters and brothers and she knew how protective they could be when the situation arose.
Booth and Jack nodded slowly. Booth had come from a large family and so had Jack so they both knew the strict code of sibling and family confidentiality.
"That bad huh?" Jack whispered, understanding crossing his face.
Angela simply nodded. She obviously knew what the secret was because she was in the room at the time of Meredith's announcement but she wasn't going to tell anyone else anytime soon.
"Do you wanna tell Liz, Brian, Russ, Dan, Tasha, Troy, Tanya, Rhea and Ray?" Temperance asked softly, still rocking Meredith gently.
Meredith nodded in the safety of Temperance's arms.
Temperance helped Meredith up and the two sisters started walking out of the on-call room, only to come face to face with a very concerned Addison.
"Meredith! What happened?" Addison's face showed every inch of her concern for her friend and workmate.
At that, Meredith burst into tears once more, startling Addison.
"Take us to the neonatal ward, please Addison. She needs your help." Temperance whispered to Addison as she helped her stepsister back into her arms once more, letting her cry on her shoulder again.
Addison nodded and Temperance, Angela and Meredith followed her, making Booth and Jack run after the three women.
"Nuh ah ah! You guys stay here and not one word to the others, especially Derek!" Angela warned as she saw them coming after them.
Jack was clueless to what was going on but after remembering what Addison's specialty was, Booth understood what was going on.
"Meredith's pregnant." Booth muttered under his breath.
"What was that, G-man?" Jack whipped around to face Booth.
Booth grabbed Jack and they headed to a secluded corner of the hospital.
"Meredith is pregnant. Addison's the head of Neonatal here, remember? Put two and two together and Meredith's pregnant, Derek being the father of the kids. Talk about really bad timing." Booth explained as he checked the hospital for Derek. He knew the feeling of bad timing, especially with pregnancy.
That made Booth feel guilty about leaving Parker back home in Washington D.C with Rebecca and her new boyfriend.
"Missing Parker, G-man?" Jack recognised the look of guilt pass Booth's face.
Booth nodded. He always felt guilty for leaving Parker for any length of time.
"We could always ask Meredith or someone else if we can fly him down here…" Jack suggested lightly.
Booth shrugged. Maybe he could but after this point of bad timing, he thought it was highly unlikely.
"Both Meredith and Brennan are heiresses, dude. Being an heir myself, I have some planes, some vintage cars and stuff. Maybe they have the same thing. I mean, Brennan has a silver Opel GT back home! You can't buy that on normal forensic anthropologist money, even if she is a world famous author on the side." Jack spoke realistically.
That gave Booth a brainwave but then he had another problem. Who owned the planes and where were they?
At that moment, Temperance walked up to them, a wet patch on her shoulder from where Meredith had cried her heart out.
"Hey! What are you two talking about?" Temperance saw that Booth's brows were furrowed, deep in concentration.
"G-man here is missing his little G-man. Reckon you can fly him down here?" Jack explained lightly, making Booth glare at him.
To Booth's surprise, Temperance nodded.
"Mom has some planes that can land in D.C private airport which isn't far from the Jeffersonian. It would only take 3 hours there and back." Temperance replied gently. She had taken her mother's private planes often and she liked the calm atmosphere of them.
Booth was grateful but he didn't think he was up to the task of staying awake for six hours trying to get his son.
"You don't have to go. I'll go the little G-man." Jack offered gently. He really didn't mind and besides, he liked Parker.
Suddenly, Zack and Cam appeared and they walked towards where Booth, Jack and Temperance were.
"We settled into our places. I'm staying at the Archfield which is close from here and Zack is staying at his friend's place just two streets from Meredith's house. What were we talking about?" Cam explained hastily but everyone got her words easily enough.
"We were talking about Parker and how my mom has some private jets that can only take 6 hours totally to get from here to D.C and back." Temperance supplied gently. She didn't hate Cam, she just disliked her immensely.
"I'll go. I think I'll be more valuable back in D.C than here and I don't want to be in anyone's way." Cam offered. She really wanted to go back after seeing Temperance being so different.
Temperance was taken aback by Cam selfless gesture.
"Really? Are you sure?" Temperance asked gently.
Cam nodded. She had seen proof that Booth and Temperance loved each other. Her only wish now was them to get their act together.
No one spoke until Angela had run out of the elevator and towards the group.
"Meredith is freaking out and the only person she wants is you. Derek is around the corner and he's confused. Everyone on that damn floor is confused!" Angela spoke rapidly, alarming everyone.
Temperance quickly took control but everyone who knew her saw the different, a more soft side of her control, not the cold kind of control she had when she was around back home, working where everyone thought she was comfortable.
Cam, Zack, Booth, Jack and Angela followed her to the elevator where they found Izzie, George, Alex and Cristina.
"What happened? Does anyone know? We were paged out of stuff…" Izzie started to panic. She knew something was wrong.
Temperance shook her head. She knew Meredith did not want her secret being blasted all over the hospital walls.
"Cam, go to 24 Rochdale Avenue, two streets down from Meredith's townhouse. There, pick out the peach mansion and walk through. Press the intercom and say your name and why you're there. Maria can get suspicious so call me and I'll talk to her. Ask her to lead you up to where my mother and father are and hand them the phone. They'll lend you the plane." Temperance shouted to Cam who was just outside, hesitating as the doors closed.
Cam nodded and they all watched her rush off the car park.
No one spoke the whole time of the elevator ride because it was much more easier that way and no one wanted to speak anyway.
Once they got to the neonatal ward, Izzie, George, Alex and Cristina all started talking at once and rapidly at that too.
"Where's Mer? Why are we in the neo-natal ward? What's happening?" George started asking for the confused group.
Temperance turned away to avoid their curious gazes, making them realise.
"She's pregnant, isn't she?" Cristina spoke, more of a statement than a question.
Angela nodded, watching as Addison tried her best to sooth a shaking Meredith.
Everyone watched as Temperance as she walked into the room, wrapping her arms tightly around Meredith's shaking frame, kissing her forehead gently and lovingly, whispering things that made Meredith laugh and smile.
"I've never seen Mer that happy unless she's with Derek…" Izzie commented as she watched the two sisters smile reassuringly at each other.
"Maybe that's what she needed. Someone who would love her forever and grow old with her but at the same time, someone who is family that is there for her when she fell." Angela spoke softly, watching Temperance's obvious calmness and lack of icy barriers.
Booth watched his partner and her surprising emancipation, transformed before his eyes as someone who dearly loved her stepsister like a true sibling and was willing to drop everything, even her icy barriers, for her safety.
It wasn't long before they saw Addison giving Meredith the news and by the looks on Meredith and Temperance's faces, she wasn't pregnant.
Meredith rushed out of the room and head towards the elevator, beckoning for the others to come with her so that she could explain the days events to them.
"I'm not pregnant. Addison told me it was a combination of stress and the recent events, seeing Rory's bones exposed like that." Meredith smiled wide, Temperance by her side, smiling softly.
Once the elevator reached the ground floor, Meredith rushed out and as soon as she found Derek, she hugged him tightly, startling him for a spilt second before realising what was happening and hugged her back just as tightly.
"I was worried about you! Bailey paged me and luckily, I had just finished a surgery." Derek kissed Meredith forehead gently as he placed his hands securely on her hips.
Meredith took her time placing her head in a comfortable position on Derek's chest as the others walked over, making her even more comfortable.
"I thought I was pregnant this morning and I was freaking out. I made a wet patch on Tempe's nice shirt but she said she didn't care. I went to Addison… No, shut up! She's my friend, she's our friend and she needs to be happy, just like we are. Anyway, I went to Addison and she said I need to take a week or two off work because yesterday is just the beginning of my past, our past. Calvin is a mystery I need to solve and I always did need to solve. I'm not asking you to understand everything right this moment. I just want you to understand what I need from you. Can you do that for me, Derek?" Meredith asked her boyfriend, not looking up once for fear of fear, anger, hate or malice lurking in his eyes.
Derek nodded as he placed two fingers underneath Meredith chin and forced her to look up into his eyes which were full of love and concern.
"I will do that and more. You're in pain, Mer, and you need time to heal. I don't want you to be in pain, much the same type as Temperance doesn't want you in pain." Derek assured her, kissing her gently on the forehead.
Just then, Temperance's phone went off.
"Cam?" Temperance spoke gently, not to spark any ideas in anyone's head, especially Angela's.
"Yeah. I'm with Maria and she wants to hear you before she takes me up the stairs." Cam replied gently, a slightly confused tone in her voice.
Temperance's lips turned upwards, making everyone stare confused.
"Give the phone to Maria and I'll talk to her." Temperance replied softly.
Cam handed her mobile phone to Maria.
"Miss Temperance?" Maria asked hesitantly.
Temperance was almost at the verge of crying. She hadn't heard Maria's soft, comforting voice in years and she missed it.
"Maria. Maria, it's me, Tempe." Temperance whispered as tears of joy fell.
Maria's breath hitched. She missed all of the kids she had looked after, especially Russ and Tempe because they lived so far away.
"Oh Miss Temperance! I'm so grateful that you came! The master and mistress have been worried about Miss Meredith! How is Mr Russel?" Maria exclaimed, all the fear and pain washed away.
"Russ is fine. He's in Connecticut with his girlfriend and her two daughters. Now Maria, let Cam up the stairs and into where mom and dad are. We need a jet to fly her back to Washington and someone back here." Temperance wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
"Right away Miss Temperance. Please visit us soon!" Maria whispered fiercely.
"I will. Can you hand the phone back to Cam now?" Temperance asked gently, pulling out her diary and writing down that she had to visit her parent's house and Booth noticed she put it down as urgent.
"Temperance? Do you want me to phone you later?" Cam asked.
"No. I'll go there directly. It's easier. Have you got your things? You do? Ok. I'll get there as fast as I can." Temperance spoke before snapping her mobile phone shut with one hand.
Temperance started to walk out the double glass doors but Meredith stopped her in her tracks by blocking her way.
"Why are we going to mom and dad's? Why is Cam at mom and dad's?" Meredith gazed deeply at her stepsister, knowing she had planned something without telling her beforehand, not that she minded all the much.
"Booth is missing his son, Parker, and we had the idea of taking one of the jets to fly him over here. Cam wants to go home so the jet can drop her off and pick Parker up." Temperance explained softly.
Meredith thought for a while before nodding softly.
"I suppose he could borrow one of them…Who's going to pick Parker up from D.C though?" Meredith nodded, staring up at Temperance's hazel eyes.
"I'll go." Angela offered gently. She had to get more stuff and she wasn't that tired to begin with.
Everyone nodded gently. No one else was up to the 12-hour trip from Seattle to D.C and back.
No one spoke as the four cars made their way to Ellis and Jesse Brennan's house.
Booth, Angela, Zack, Cam and Jack's jaws dropped as they saw the massive estate with and equally massive mansion in the middle of it.
"Welcome to Tesla Mansion. Mom and dad refurbished the whole place and they got permits to expand the place so they did." Temperance explained, quite used to the fact that her friends were gaping.
They parked the cars at the estate's private car park which was right next to the actual mansion itself and offered a fabulous view.
"This is nothing compared to Grandma Kelly's house, Tempe. Remember what she is!" Meredith laughed, making everyone save Temperance gaze oddly at her.
Temperance nodded happily. She knew the secret had to be kept. It was like Jack with his family being the single largest donor of the Jeffersonian.
Only this secret ran deeper than anyone hoped to have dreamed of and there was no way in hell any one of the people in Meredith and Tempe's family would care to divulge it willingly, unless ultimate trust was sealed.
Booth gazed at everyone in turn. He had no idea what the secret was but he knew it was family secret and heavily guarded.
The two sisters walked arm in arm to the beautifully carved rosewood door, complete with a coat of arms on the middle for all to see.
Before they started to grab for the handle however, the doors were flung open and the two sisters were pulled into a hug by a motherly looking maid.
"Miss Meredith! Miss Temperance! You two are finally here in the same house and Tesla Mansion at that too!" The woman sighed happily, fiercely hugging the two sisters and they returned it.
"Maria! I miss this place every single day that I'm in D.C. I still have the photo of you, mama, papa, me, Meredith, Russ, Lizzie, Brian, Dan, Tasha, Troy, Tanya, Ray and Rhea in front of here." Temperance admitted with a wide and happy smile gracing her lips, her eyes sparkling.
Maria gently placed a loving kiss on Temperance's forehead. She was so happy that one of the two she never saw came back but of the circumstances of it, she was frightfully unhappy of.
"Oh! Before we forget, I need you to meet some people. This is Special Agent Seeley Booth from the FBI; this is Angela Montenegro, Zack Addy and Jack Hodgins. They all work with me and you already know Cam." Temperance led Maria to each person, smiling wide as Maria looked at them critically.
Hodgins was used to a critical maid because he had one back home but Booth, Angela and Zack had never been so openly scrutinised by one person.
"If you trust them, Miss Tempe, I will trust them." Maria spoke at last, her scrutinising gaze disappearing instantly.
Temperance smiled wide. She always wanted Maria's approval for people's trust. She knew that if Maria didn't trust someone, it was wise not to trust them as Maria was a very good judge of personality.
Meredith smiled. She had the same time introducing her friends and Derek to Maria just last week and she smiled in memory of Maria raising her eyebrows critically at Derek when Meredith informed her that he was her boyfriend.
"Come. The mistress and master are waiting for you in the sitting room." Maria walked slowly up the stairs, beckoning for the others to follow her.
Booth, Angela, Zack and Jack surveyed the lavish paintings, the lavish furniture, and the lavish décor. Everything in the mansion was lavish and rightly so.
"Mama got most of her money from her job as a neurosurgeon but she gets a fair bit from grandmamma. Dad got his money from keeping in trust the family business until I become old enough. Neither mom or dad want to be in the competitive world of being bosses of the world's most affluent companies." Temperance caught the looks of awe of on friend's faces.
Finally, they reached massive rosewood double doors which almost looked like it was part of the walls until Maria reached over and opened the door.
Booth had never seen so many lavish things in one place as those in front of him, not even at the houses of high profile people and he knew quite a fair bit of high profile people.
Two massive Great Danes shattered his revering, one white with brown speckles and the other brown with a black patch, by jumping on him.
"Whoa!" Booth was stunned. He had seen some massive dogs in his days but never had he seen dogs as massive as those right in front of him.
Temperance and Meredith laughed before they spoke.
"Speckles! Patch! Come here!" Temperance laughed as she called the dogs off.
Speckles and Patch ran to Temperance and Meredith who lavished them with baby words and their undivided attention.
"Aren't you a good girl, Speckles!" Meredith cooed over Speckles, ruffling her ears happily as Speckles licked her.
"Are you a good boy, Patch? Are you? You're my baby boy!" Temperance cooed over Patch with wide, sparkling eyes as he licked her.
"Might we remind you that Patch and Speckles are our dogs, girls." A slightly stern voice cut through the happy ambience like a knife.
Everyone save Meredith and Temperance gulped. They all had a very bad feeling about this and they wanted to get out before they got into trouble.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Meredith and Temperance smiled wide in unison as they switched on a light close to them, revealing two sitting figures and Cam.
Everyone watched as Temperance and Meredith hugged two people who they assumed were their parents, Ellis and Jesse Brennan.
"My, my! Haven't you two grown!" Ellis smiled wide as she took a great big look at the two grown women in front of her.
Meredith and Temperance laughed in unison.
"We haven't grown since we graduated from high school, mom!" Temperance laughed, her eyes sparkling with sheer delight of her mother's words.
Ellis Grey-Brennan smiled back at two of her daughters. She knew that of course but she missed all of her children and it showed in her voice whenever they came to visit, especially Temperance and Russ who lived so far away.
"You always seem bigger to me. Especially with El Salvador." Ellis replied softly. She knew that the incident at El Salvador was still fresh in Temperance's mind and she wasn't wrong as she saw her wince.
Booth saw the wince and his brows furrowed deeply. No one told him about what happened to El Salvador and with the look that Temperance had on her face, she wasn't about to say.
Ellis noticed Booth's knotted brows and she bit the side of her cheek, cursing inwardly. She knew that Temperance didn't tell things to people easily and boy did she know firsthand about that!
"And we'll always be bigger than you, mama." Temperance replied with a smile pasted on her face.
Ellis cringed inwardly. When Temperance called her mama, she asked her specifically to drop the subject or she would do something drastic.
"Cam was telling us that you have a plan with one of the planes." Jesse smoothly moved onto the matter at hand, changing the subject gently.
"Yes, Temperance. Care to explain?" Meredith smiled slightly forcefully at her stepsister. She hated being kept in the dark about anything.
Temperance sighed loudly before facing her family, turning her entire back to everyone else.
"I have to make a few introductions before I go on. This is Seeley Booth of the FBI. He's my work partner. This is Angela Montenegro, Zack Addy and Jack Hodgins. They are all part of my forensic team along with Cam back home in D.C at the Jeffersonian Institute." Temperance sighed as she pointed to each person as she described them.
Booth took a long look at Ellis and Jesse Brennan. They were, after all, the most untouchable couple as well as their whole entire family.
"A pleasure to meet you all. Tempe has told us so much about you." Ellis smiled widely, noting that Booth gazed at her stepdaughter with desire and concern.
Everyone else noticed the gaze as well and sighed. Here was a couple that were thrown together but neither knew the extent of the others emotions and they were too scared to ask in fear of bruising their own pride.
"As I was saying just before, Booth is missing his son, Parker, who is back home in Washington D.C and Cam wants to go back home and we were wondering if we could borrow one of the jets." Temperance cut short the exasperated musing of the people around her.
Jesse smiled at his oblivious daughter. He often wondered when she would see outside the square of thinking she had built. It worried him sometimes.
Temperance started blankly at her parents and then turned around to face her friends to see they had bewildered and exasperated looks on their faces.
"What…?" Temperance was confused. She hadn't seen anything that would make them pull that kind of expression.
"Nothing Tempe. Nothing at all." Meredith patted her sister's back gently. She was worried because of the lack of social skills Tempe had.
"I'm so sorry about that moment, Tempe. Of course you can! I would do anything for my daughters. Who's going in the plane to bring Parker back?" Ellis smiled, gently reassuring her bewildered daughter.
Tempe broke into a wide and absolutely glowing smile as she tightly hugged her parents who gently hugged her back.
"Angela offered. Aren't you tired, Ange?" Temperance turned to her friend with a gently smile gracing her lips, something that was rare to see back home.
Angela shook her head gently. She didn't mind and seeing the gentle smile grace Tempe's lips like that, it was worth it.
"You know Bones. I have never seen a beautiful smile from you back home in D.C." Booth commented lightly, and then, regretting it immediately.
Temperance giggled gently, getting odd looks from everyone else.
"I think I've missed my family and the comfort it brings, even if there are hassles that come with it. My life is so much more than my work and when I come here, I can let my hair down, you know what I mean?" Temperance replied gently, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"Yeah. I know what you mean." Booth replied just as gently. This was a side to Temperance no one had ever seen before but it was the more humane, the more likable side of her that he liked secretly.
"Even if it rains 6 days out of seven!" Izzie laughed softly, making everyone laugh along with her. Izzie always knew how to end awkward conversations, even if it wasn't her own.
"Alright! Alright! Everyone down to car park! We have to get that plane off the ground soon and preferably tonight!" Ellis smiled as the laughter gently stopped.
Everyone practically ran down the stairs until they got down to the bottom where everyone save Temperance, Meredith, Ellis and Jesse blushed.
"Oh don't worry about it! We do it all the time." Jesse assured gently as he kissed his wife's cheek softly.
"We even slide down the banisters but Maria would kill us for that." Temperance winked cheekily as she sauntered out the door and round the corner.
When everyone got to the car park, Jesse opened the massive garage and grinned when he saw slack jaws going around.
"Is that a Ferrari?" Angela asked, her eyes sparkling. She always wanted a Ferrari but she didn't have that kind of money.
Temperance smiled as she nodded. She knew her family's wealth was overwhelming at times but she wanted her friends to understand.
"How many cars are in here?" Derek finally managed to ask. He could only compare the amount of cars in here to a car dealership and even that fell short of the truth.
"68 at last count. I think we got 10 more last week. People send them to us. We have 34 private boats, 40 private planes and 24 estates around the world. We also own a ranch down in Texas where they breed race horses." Ellis replied after a while of thinking.
Booth whistled low. Temperance's family was the most loaded family he had ever seen but it was understandable since most of them were heirs and heiresses.
"But today, I think we'll take the limo. We have 25 of them and they're not included in the car count." Jesse announced gently.
Meredith nodded happily. She loved the limos because all of them were so amazingly comfortable, most lined with leather seats and the others with varying fabrics, one of them being velvet.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Most of them had never been inside of a limo before and they probably never would after this ride.
"But what do we do with the cars?" Izzie asked, pointing to the assortment of cars parked in the car park where they had left them.
"Leave them. We'll be coming back and I've asked Maria if she and the rest of the kitchen staff if they could cook up a feats for us when we get back." Ellis replied with soft smile.
It took only 30 minutes to reach the airport and everyone could see a massive area for the planes. Some of them had the English Royal Family crest on them.
"What's with the crest?" Jack asked gently to Temperance as they walked towards the planes.
Temperance shot a look at her parents and Meredith who nodded. They knew what Jack was and they could trust him with the secret. After all, Jack's family were very close to Temperance's.
"It's our family crest on mom's side. Dad's side has a different one but some of the things we own have a new crest that has bits of mom and dad's mixed together. Search it on Internet with the words 'Lord Jesse and Lady Ellis'. That will explain a lot of things for you but you must not tell anyone else. No one must know and it has to remain that way." Temperance replied. She was still hesitant to reveal the most damning secret her family had.
Jack nodded. He knew even with the tiny hint of information, she was exposing a lot about her family and he was grateful for it. He didn't like to push her.
"We'll use one of the smaller models for this trip. Some of them carry up to 100 people and some just carry the maximum of 4. They range between those two numbers." Jesse explained as they got to the private lounge which had a door that lead directly outside.
A man followed by a woman swung the door open.
"Lady Ellis! Lord Jesse! What can we do for you today?" The man smiled wide as he kissed Ellis' hand and shook Jesse's.
"Hello to you too Adrian. One of Tempe's friends needs to borrow one of the smaller planes for a return trip to Washington D.C. I spoke to Kevin just before and he said that one of them were filled up and ready to go. Is it ready?" Ellis spoke gently, smiling at Adrian.
"Certainly. Was it Sepia you wanted?" Adrian grinned wide. He loved his job. It took him places and Ellis and Jesse were so nice. They never placed any restrictions on their employees and gave them paid leave whenever they weren't needed which was nice.
"Yes. It is stocked up and ready to go? How is Margaret by the way? You two must be thrilled when you found out she was pregnant! How far along is she now?" Ellis smiled wider.
"Yes! She sends her love, by the way. She's about 2 months now. She says the lollies you sent her really removed the vomit taste." Adrian smiled even wider. In addition to the service Ellis and Jesse provided for their employees, they also helped their families in anything, even financial aid or just a shoulder to lean on.
"How about you, Kelly? Still with Josh?" Ellis turned to the woman, smiling.
Kelly sniffled as she shook her head.
"He dumped me and took a plane for Las Vegas! He said he would find even more beautiful girls than me! He said I looked like a whore!" Kelly scrunched up her face as tears escaped her eyes.
Ellis walked over and enveloped Kelly into a warm and comforting hug, very much like a motherly hug in many respects.
"Than he wasn't worth your time. You're a beautiful, beautiful girl Kelly. He is stupid and downright idiotic to tell you those things! I'm sure you will find a man who will love you and never leave you soon enough. How dare he call you a whore! He looked like a no brainier to me when you showed me a picture. You are a stunning, clever, thoughtful woman, Kelly Sanders, and no man can tell you otherwise. Now, wipe up those tears and forget him. Have a tea with me tomorrow and I'll help you, ok?" Ellis whispered fiercely, kissing the top of Kelly's head. She hated it when her employees were unhappy.
"Yes. Thank you Lady Ellis." Kelly nodded as she wiped her tears.
"That's a good girl, Kelly. Call me Ellis. Lady Ellis is only for people I don't like or other executives. You're my friend, Kelly. Ellis will do." Ellis smiled, kissing Kelly on the cheek before releasing her.
Kelly nodded as she walked back next to Adrian who gave her a gentle hug.
"Who will be travelling tonight?" Kelly asked with a smile, making her glow.
"Angela and Cam but Cam's getting off at Washington D.C. We've organised that Booth's son, Parker, would be boarding the plane there. Have you phone Rebecca, Booth?" Temperance replied before turning to her partner.
Booth nodded. He felt a twinge of guilt that he was asking Temperance's parent's if Parker could fly to Seattle in one of their private jets but then again, they were happy to do it and they were pretty rich.
"Rebecca said she would take Parker to the airport. What time do you think the plane will land there?" Booth replied before asking no one in particular.
"Around 12. Sepia is one of the more faster models here. It is a luxury plane that was a gift to us from the Government for all he charity work we've done in the past years." Jesse replied with a grin.
Booth raised his eyebrows. For a split second, he wanted to be the one picking up Parker but he was tired and Angela did offer.
Everyone walked outside to the hanger where the technicians pulled out the fuel cord out of the plane.
"Have you got all your belongings, Cam?" Temperance asked gently.
"I have. I'll be in the lab most days so you can send stuff over if need be." Cam nodded, patting her bags lightly.
"I've only got my handbag and left the rest of my stuff back at Meredith's house. This is the first time I've been on a private jet. Is it fun?" Angela chuckled nervously. She felt she was being rude.
Temperance nodded as she smiled. She had been on Sepia before and had quite liked the ride but she felt a bit lonely because it was only her on the plane, even if she was with Kelly at the time.
"Don't mind to ask us if you're hungry. We've stocked up on food and we don't mind serving. We are after all air hosts." Kelly smiled gently.
Everyone watched as Kelly, Adrian, Angela and Cam boarded Sepia, all of them except Cam had a smile on their faces as they waved.
"See you in a couple of hours!" Angela shouted, smiling wide.
Temperance grinned wide, her eyes shining as she waved back.
After they watched the plane take off, everyone turned back to the limousines and were driven back to Ellis and Jesse's home where they took the cars and drove home.
As soon as they reached Meredith's house, they all rushed upstairs, thankful for the fact that they had 2 bathrooms while they washed.
Temperance opened the door to her room and without a second thought, she ran to her bed and she fell asleep the moment her head hit the soft pillow.