The flight to Pennsylvania was somber and the drive to the police department was even more so. Booth was silent the whole time. She had no idea what to do or say. She was never good with comforting people. Now was no different, no matter how badly she wanted it to be.

She, on a professional level, understood why he wanted her there. If the body was so badly burned that it was mostly bones or even just partially she would be able to give him an identification close to absolute, but when they stood above the body waiting for the sheet to be pulled back and his hand grasped hers desperately she knew it wasn't professional. They were partners but she was certain that if his partner had been Charlie he wouldn't be holding his hand this at all, let alone this tightly. Angela had told her once that sometimes a simple touch was enough. She hoped it was. They pulled the sheet back enough to see the face. Booth's hand became clammy and squeezed tighter, his eyes watered. He stared intently at the woman in front of them, his features schooled. The right half of her face was burned beyond recognition. Booth let go of her hand and whispered "Let's go, Bones." Then walked away from her and the room quickly.

Once they got to the hotel Booth went straight to his room. In the car he had told her he wouldn't need her to do an identification, still stoic. She laid down on the bed. She always felt out of touch with the human race, a little ironic because she devoted her life to understanding it. It was times like this that she wished she could grasp the intricacies of human emotion though. Booth needed a friend and she was trying to be, but things had changed so tremendously since they got back from their respective trips and especially since the Lauran Eames case. He had been talking to her less, it hadn't stopped completely but she knew he was trying to distance himself from her. He was in a relationship now, and it made him happy. Now though, she didn't know her place in his life. Suddenly she heard a very loud thump behind her. She sat up quickly from the bed and looked in the direction of the noise which was also Booth's room. She looked at the clock realizing she was reflecting than she thought then she heard the thump again. She got up and headed next door to Booth's hotel room. She knocked, hearing more thumps and they were getting closer. When Booth opened the door the smell of alcohol hit her. She looked at him, his eyes were glazed and his hair was disheveled. He was definitely drunk.

"Hey, Bones." He said trying to sound sober.

"Booth? Are you alright?" She asked knowing it was a stupid question. He looked at her and for a second his face changed into something she couldn't decipher.

"Yeah, Bones. I'm great" He said, not a hint of sarcasm, just grief.

"May I come in?" She knew he probably wanted to be alone but she didn't want to leave him. Right now she was his friend. His shoulder, as the saying goes. He looked like he wanted to say no, like he was going to say no, but in the end he opened the door wider to let her in.

"Want something to drink?" She nodded in the affirmative. He got her a plastic cup and poured her a finger of scotch, she downed it and he poured them both another and another until she refused any more. She sat back against his headboard, slightly buzzed. He was completely, understandably, drunk. He looked so bleak as he sat next to her. He turned to her looked her in the eye for a moment and then turned away. "I haven't talked to her in so long. At least 3 years. I can't even remember why not anymore. Stupid, huh?"

What could she possibly say to that? She sat stunned trying to think of the right thing. She just went for a heartfelt "I'm sorry" He dropped his head and his shoulders began to shake. It didn't take her long to realize he was crying again. She put her arms around him and let him cry. Eventually he ended up with his head in her lap and her hand running soothingly through his hair. His breathing had evened out a long time ago. She gently slid out from underneath him tip-toeing back to her bedroom calling Angela once she was seated on her bed. She hadn't even thought that Angel might be sleep when she called, but when Angela answered she sounded wide awake. Which she blamed on the baby.

"What's up, Bren?"

"Booth's mom is dead." She said bluntly. She heard Angela gasp on the other end of the phone.

"How is he?" Suddenly Brennan thought this fell under the "What happens between us is ours" clause. And Booth wouldn't want her telling Angela about him crying. She wouldn't want him telling Hannah if it were the other way around.

"He's…" She couldn't think of how to describe him right now without breaking the "ours is ours". She sighed "I don't know how to help him, Ange. I've never been good at comforting people."

Angela had to agree "You're his best friend Brennan. He knows you, he knows you aren't the best comforter on this planet, but obviously he wants you there. He trusts you. Listen when he needs to talk. Just be there for him. That's probably all he expects from you right now." Brennan was silent. She would do anything for Booth that had never changed, she just hoped she could do it.

She didn't know what was going to happen in the next few days but whatever she would support Booth as best she could.

AN: There is a reason my chapters are so short. but my next one will probably be longer so it might take longer for an update.

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