You guessed it; I decided to add a second chapter. It just didn't feel done to me. I'm still not sure that it does. And that's where YOU come in. I have sort-of a plottish thing in mind, so if you read this and feel I should continue, please let me know and I will be happy to do so. Nothing makes me happier than pleasing others. And, thanks a million to my reviewers. My friends heard wonderful stories about you all. :)
Oh, and googleaddict, you were right. There was another bomb thing that already happened in the show with Zach. And I referenced it. Last chapter, Temperance says something about Zach being right that Booth was strong. That's because he pulled Zach away from the blast and gave Zach most of his injuries.
No Exceptions
Chapter Two
It was early in the morning, no later than a few minutes after six, and Temperance Brennan was already hunched over a set of remains. The skeleton proudly displayed that the person had been a male in his early twenties. He was just one of the millions of people to lose their lives in WWII. Brennan was prepared to identify him; she was ready to give him some sort of sense of peace.
She knew that beginning before the sun had risen was unhealthy; she lacked sleep as it was, and certainly did not need to lay on anymore stress. Busy work, that's what it was, something to keep her mind off of more trivial matters. She listed endless notes on her recorder, retreating to her office only when her shoulder began to ache. She had just swallowed an aspirin when Angela Montenegro showed up at her door.
"And I thought I was here early," said the artist.
"I had some things to catch up on," Brennan said and pressed a few keys on her computer.
"No one has anything that important to do at," she checked her wristwatch, "six-thirty in the morning."
Temperance leaned back in her chair. "I was having a hard time sleeping, so I came in. Is that really so unlike me?"
"No, but it doesn't mean that I shouldn't be a little irked that you're not taking it easy. Everyone's entitled to some relaxation." She crossed the floor and found a spot on her best friend's couch. "Did Booth drop you off?"
"He was at his house; I was at mine. I drove myself."
"It's been what, three weeks since the explosion? Haven't you two done anything together?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
"Booth is very respectful. He doesn't want to rush anything and neither do I."
"If you say so." She rose from the couch and adjusted her skirt. "Well, I'll leave you to your catching up. I've got work of my own to do."
Brennan watched her friend leave and sat in silence as she waited for the pain-killer to take effect. She was hard at work again when Hodgins showed up.
"Ooh, fun case?" he asked.
"I'm busy identifying the remains of a World War Two soldier," she replied.
"Booth hasn't brought another case around?"
"Not lately." She picked up a pencil and noted an anomaly on the lower portion of the femur.
"So he didn't drop you off?"
Her face wound into a scowl that made the man halt his steps. "Look, I have my own car and am completely capable of driving. Booth is not my chauffer and it would do you all well to remember that."
Hodgins shrugged and continued on to Angela's side. "She is not happy," he whispered.
"I know. Give it an hour, and if she's still grumpy, I'll have a chat with her." She pursed her lips and watched as Brennan said something harshly to herself. Maybe I'll wait half an hour, she thought.
Angela carried her latest sketch across the room and toward her office. She peeked at Brennan on her way by and noticed that the woman was staring out the window, probably daydreaming. If that wasn't strange enough, she made no indication of acknowledgement when Angela rapped on the door frame a minute later. She took a step closer and cleared her throat.
Brennan's head whipped around and she tried to conjure up an expression that said she had been working on something important. She failed.
"I know that look," Angela said retaking her spot on the couch. "You want to talk about it?"
Temperance sighed. "Do I look confused? Because I feel confused."
"About what?"
"I'm not sure. I keep replaying that day over and over in my mind. You said it yourself, it's been three weeks, so why is it such a big deal?"
Angela smiled sympathetically. "It was a monumental day for you. You not only almost got yourself killed, but you let someone in. That's a big deal for you."
"I suppose. Sometimes when I think about that day, I can't help but wonder what is more important, that we didn't catch the bad guy, or that I let Booth kiss me," said Brennan.
When Special Agent Booth walked into their range of sight, looking giddy as a schoolboy on the day of the dance, Angela grinned and tossed her head his direction. "I'll let you guess which one I'd pick." She winked and made her exit as Booth entered.
"You know, Bones, keep coming in early and people are going to start to think you live here."
"You've been talking to Angela."
He flashed his charm smile. "That's right. She seems to think you need to get out of the lab. I happen to agree with her." He reached around her back and lifted the jacket from her chair. "Come on, let's go get something to eat."
She put up a small fight, but in the end he won her over. In all truth, their expedition to the diner was not much different than any previous time. He still opened doors for her and walked with his hand on the small of her back. Only now she recognized the touch as more than a leading gesture; it was something that said he was there for her, that he'd always be behind her.
"I have some good news. They found our man holed up in another abandoned warehouse." He pulled out her chair and then sat himself.
"Three weeks in hiding must've taken a toll. What'd he say?"
"Nothing that we didn't already know. He tried to play innocent, but let's face it, he's toast."
"Hmm," she mumbled before turning her attention to the menu posted on the wall.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked and placed the back of his hand to her forehead. "You seem kind of distant."
"I've just been thinking. I'm not used to this."
He placed a hand on top of hers. "What? Us? We can go slower if you need to. We can do whatever you want. Just tell me what you want. I'll do it."
As he stared into her eyes, something in her mind clicked. It didn't matter that all of this was confusing, it didn't matter that she wasn't used to having someone like him, they were going to be there for each other. She also found the answer to her dilemma, and she had a feeling it was the same as Angela's. So what if they hadn't caught the murderer that day, she had caught something of her own, something that, in her opinion, was even better.
Let me know your wonderful thoughts. And as before, I'm sending all of those who review plenty of Booth-filled dreams.
And as before, this was un-betaed, so just let me know and I'll be happy to fix any typos. :)
