Author's Note: Thank you for your reviews. To Aching Bones: While I can't say there won't be some angst in this story, I can assure you that I'm not at all a fan of tragic endings. I can't make any promises now, but I can say that I have a point and it might take a while but I think most readers will enjoy it when it comes. So thank you Ger and ttuzz for your encouraging reviews. Hope you like what's coming next.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones or any of the characters. This story has entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.


Chapter 2 – Talk Tonight

"Hey Angela" Booth greeted joyfully.

"Hi Booth" she replied with a small smile. "Aren't you supposed to be interrogating our suspect right now?"

"I am." Booth answered. "I just came here to pick up Bones. She said she wanted to be present during the interrogation."

When he got no further comments, he asked "Is she in her office?"

Angela hesitated for a moment. "Yes she is. But…"

"But what?" Booth questioned with an inquisitory look on his face.

"Well…it's just that since earlier this afternoon Brennan's been a little irritated" She started. "Hodgins said he saw her on the phone and she looked a bit upset, so we're all thinking that maybe that's what has been bothering her" she continued. "I've tried talking to her but she said nothing's wrong, so I just came out here and continued working".

"Uhmm" Booth murmured. "I'll see what I can get her to tell me" he said as he walked away from Angela, heading towards Brennan's office.


He saw her through the glass doors and walls, paperwork spread over her desk. But she had her eyes fixed on the couch in front of her. Something is clearly wrong for Bones not to be focusing on her work, he thought. Let's find out what it is.

"Heeey Bones" he said with a cheerful voice, trying to hide the fact that he knew something was going on with her

His voice took her away from her deep thoughts, and she raised her eyes to the doorframe where he stood. "Hi Booth" she replied, giving him a small smile.

Despite her attempt to hide what was happening, Booth could tell she was forcing that smile so he wouldn't bring up the subject. So he decided to let it go for the moment.

"Came to pick you up for the interrogation" Booth said, reminding her of the agreement they made on the previous day.

"Right" she said, sounding a little distant. "About that…" she spoke pausedly. "Would you mind if I don't go this time?" she continued. "I know we agreed to go together, and I'm sorry to change our plans with such short notice, but I just have a lot of work to do here so I thought we could work separately today and get more things done."

"Uh…yeah…sure" Booth replied. "I'll call you later to tell you if there's any new information, then".

"Ok. Sounds good" Brennan said. "I'll talk to you later, then".

"Ok, Bones" Booth said as he started turning away to leave. When he got to the door, however, he stopped and turned back to face her. "Bones…" he said softly. "Is everything ok?" he asked.

Brennan just stared at him, as if wondering what he was talking about.

So he continued. "I mean…you seem a little disconnected today".

"Disconnected?" she said, without meeting his eyes. "Nope…everything's fine, Booth. There's just too much on my mind today".

"Are you sure?" he insisted.

"Yes, Booth, I'm sure" she said with an annoyed sigh. "Now can I please go back to work?" she said with an end-of-conversation tone in her voice.

Booth looked a little hurt, and Brennan noticed it. She felt bad for treating him like that when all he was doing was looking out for her. But sometimes she just wanted to be left alone. And this was one of those times.

"Bye, Bones" Booth said in a low voice, turning away without waiting enough time so she could answer.


On his way out of the Jeffersonian, Booth accidentally bumped into Angela, sending the files she held directly to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Angela" Booth apologized as he bent down to pick up the files.

"Didn't go well, did it?" Angela asked, already knowing the answer to that.

"She wouldn't tell me anything" Booth said, sounding a little upset. "And she's not coming to the interrogation anymore".

"I'm sorry, Booth" Angela said. "Just give her time" she continued. "You know Brennan always confides in you" she put a hand on his shoulder. "You have a special way to make her open up" Angela said with a smile. "She's probably just confused right now, but I'm sure she'll talk to you eventually".

"I guess you're right" Booth said, appearing slightly more hopeful. "I'll see you guys soon" he said. "I'm in a bit of a hurry now" he added, handing her all the papers he had made her drop and turning to leave.

"Bye, Booth" Angela said as she waved him goodbye. "Lock up that son of a bitch and make us proud" she teased.

Booth gave a loud laugh before disappearing through the long corridors of the Jeffersonian Institute.


Night fell, announcing the end of one more day of work. Brennan slowly gathered all her things, turned off the lights in her office and headed to the parking lot.

She drove home slowly, thinking of all of that day's events, trying to figure out what she would do about them. Not being able to come to a decent solution, she simply decided to try to forget about it that night, postponing the time when she'd have to deal with it.

She took a long bubble bath, made herself some coffee and settled in the couch, while listening to her favorite jazz CD. She closed her eyes, relaxing at the sound of the music, almost falling asleep. A knock on the door made her come back from her trance. She got up quickly, feeling a little dizzy while she walked to the door. She opened it and there he way. Typical, she thought, smiling slightly. He usually came by her house when he thought something was wrong with her.

"Hey there, Bones" he smiled. "Brought you some Thai food" he said, looking at her as if seeking for approval.

She opened the door a little more, allowing him to enter. "Come on in" she said, helping him with the take-out bags.

They sat beside each other in the sofa, after Brennan got drinks for both of them. Booth told her about how the interrogation went and she listened carefully. Apparently they had caught the wrong guy. They discussed minor details of the case, deciding how they would act next, and after they finished discussing work, a sudden silence fell between them.

It took a few minutes before Booth started. "Bones..." he said, and she knew, before he could say anything else, where he was going with this conversation.

"Booth" she interrupted. "Can't you just leave it alone?" she asked, pleadingly.

"I'd rather not" he replied. He looked at her, and she lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze. "Bones, look at me please" he asked her. At his request, she raised her eyes to look at him. "Bones, I need you to talk to me" he continued. "Please" he said, reaching out his hand to rest on top of hers.

Brennan looked deep into his eyes for a moment, and then turned her gaze to the living room's windows, as if deciding whether to say something or not.

"What happened?" he insisted, with a sweet tone in his voice.

She finally turned her gaze back to him before saying "My father called me today". She took a deep breath and continued "He called from jail, saying he wanted to have a big family talk…Him, Russ and I".

"And why is that bothering you so much?" Booth questioned, not understanding why this would leave her so upset.

"I don't know" he answered honestly. "I already knew he wanted me to testify in his favor…but now this…" her voice faltered, and Booth could notice some tears forming in the corner of her eyes, despite her attempt to hold them inside.

"He wants to tell us everything. All that happened since before Russ and I were born, why they left…everything" she continued.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Booth asked, still confused.

Brennan stood up, the anxiety evident in her every move. "It should be, I guess. But…somehow I don't think I want to know. I don't want to hear it" she said, her voice almost inaudible.

"But why, Bones?" Booth inquired. "You, of all people…" he added. "You're the one who always wants to know the truth. The one who doesn't like to mask the reality. The one who prefers to know everything, no matter how hard the truth may be" he continued. "Why wouldn't you want to hear what your father has to say?" he asked.

"It's different now. This is my family" she said. "Why open up those old wounds again, Booth?" she said with her voice rising. "They left me. No matter how noble their reason was, they left me. Left us" she said with a broken tone.

"I don't know what to believe anymore" Brennan told him. "Sometimes I think my father loves me, but then…I don't know. He could be doing this so we'd fell sorry for him".

"He loves you" Booth interrupted. "He stayed because he loves you, Bones" he added. "Don't doubt that. He just did what a father had to do to protect the ones he loved most in the world" he said in a reassuring tone.

Brennan just stared at him, unable to say anything.

"You should go, Bones. Listen to what he has to say" Booth said when she remained silent. "If you don't then you can wake up one day in the future and wonder what could have been" he added. "And there are few things in this life worse than regret" he said.

Booth got up from the couch, walking over to where Brennan was standing. He placed a hand on his arm, squeezing it softly, as an act of encouragement.

Without thinking twice, Brennan turned to hug him, burying her head on his chest. She tried her best not to let the tears that were forming escape, but her efforts weren't enough and she let out a few of them.

Booth held her tight in the embrace, caressing her hair and whispering words of comfort. "Everything will be ok, Bones. Just give your father time to explain it all" he said.

She let herself hold on to the embrace a little longer. She always felt safe in his arms. And even if just for a moment, when he hugged her all the pain and despair she felt seemed to go away. "Thank you, Booth" she said in a nearly inaudible whisper. "Thank you".


I hope everyone liked this chapter. Thank you again for reading. Please review and tell me what you think. Next chapter will be up as soon as possible.