Disclaimer: I still do not own Bones Please see previous chapters. Bones and the X-files are owned by Fox, Kathy Reichs and Chris Carter&Ten Thirteen (this isn't a crossover fic I promise!)

Chapter 2: Morning after the Night Before

Jack sat at his work station studying evidence from the latest skeleton to be brought to the Jeffersonian. The team had been working on the murder investigation for over a week. The identification of the victim had been more difficult than usual, owing to the lack of skull when the rest of the body had been found. Jack was glad that all the bones were now accounted for so that the team could identify the body and ultimately bring a sense of closure to the family. He knew Booth would be along later to collect the findings. He was focused solely on the microscope as Angela walked up to him. He could hear her heels clicking against the floor as she approached.

"Hi Ang" he smiled without removing his eye from the microscope

"Hey Hodgins" she leant against the table as she waited for him to look at her.

"You seen Brennan this morning?" she waited for a response as he shook his head.

"No, not yet. She may be in Cam's office but don't know. Why?" he was suddenly interested. It seemed his ex had gossip. If there was one thing Jack loved, aside from Angela Montenegro and conspiracy theories it was gossip. "Oh no reason" she smiled at Jack's sudden interest. "I just have a face to put to the skull that's all. Oh and if you see her tell her that her Knight in FBI issue armour is not going to be here until later. The state he was in last night I doubt he'll be here at all." she smiled sweetly at Jack before turning and walking across to the office. Jack was amazed and went to call out after her as Cam approached.

"Jack! Jack!" she watched the entomologist stare as Angela walked away. "Dr Hodgins!" she snapped her fingers as he finally realised his boss was there.

"The particulates?" she waited as Jack continued to look blankly at the pathologist.

"Huh?" Jack replied "Oh ah yes, the sandstone. Not much that can help us with our victim. Generic building sand, found in most builders yards across the US and probably Europe too." he shrugged as Camille folded her arms. She had a feeling she really didn't want to know what had got in to the team's artist and forensic entomologist today. The whole team knew Jack was still in love with Angela, it was just a matter of time until Jack and Angela realised it and got back together but Camille was aware of the distraction they had provided each other when they were together. She didn't need them to be distracted now. There was also the problem created by Temperance Brennan, who had yet to arrive at work. It was unheard of for her to be late and Cam was beginning to get worried. Deciding that if there was no sign of Brennan in the next hour she'd ring Booth she walked across to her office ready to talk to Daisy the current intern that was trying to fill Zack's shoes.

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Brennan stared in the mirror, her tired reflection the only evidence that she had spent most of the night in tears. Pulling her hair in to a ponytail she decided that she had to get to work. Forensic Anthropology was the only thing in her life that had never let her down. It didn't try to change things when she wasn't ready or expecting it. Cold, hard facts were what she could rely on. No emotion, no feelings just the science in front of her. Science always had the answers, you just had to know where to look. Temperance Brennan knew where to look. Picking up her hand bag she left the house.

Xxxxxxxx

Booth had been in his office at the FBI since 7 am. He knew Angela had said she would be expecting him at 8 am sharp but as the clock ticked past 9 am he couldn't force himself to make the short journey to the Jeffersonian Institute. Normally he couldn't wait to get there, to bound up the few steps to the examination platform and begin teasing his Bones. But that was the problem, she wasn't his Bones and she never would be. She had made that quite plain the night before and however much it had hurt Booth felt he had to respect that. The last thing he had wanted was to scare her, he cursed Sweets for forcing him to face up to feelings that he had long kept hidden. The last time he had hurt her this badly he hadn't seen her for a year. He had ended up bribing a friend in Homeland Security to arrest her on her return to the US. He knew Angela had thought that had been romantic. Bones did not. But it had kick started their relationship again and for that reason only Booth knew he could never regret it. He glared at the phone on his desk at it rang. He considered ignoring it but the persistant ringing was getting annoying and would only alert fellow FBI agents if he didnt answer it. Sometimes he envied the partnership that had the basement office. Sometimes being the FBI's most unwanted seemed to have advantages.

"Booth" he snapped in to the phone

"Is there a clock in your office? Do they not teach you to tell the time in FBI school?" Angela chided as she walked around her office cell phone in hand.

"Sorry Angela. Time got away from me." he lied. He knew Angela was aware that he was lying but he couldn't bring himself to tell the truth. He had a feeling he would be spending alot of time in the Confession Box this week.

"Well, get over here." She sounded worried

"Angela is there something wrong?" he heard Angela sigh as he stood up knowing that sooner or later he would have to leave and head across to the Jeffersonian. At least Angela was still talking to him.

"Oh, honey" Angela paused "Look, just get here and I'll explain everything" she looked up to see Cam and Jack in the doorway of her office.

"It's Bones isn't it? Something has happened to her" he was panicking. He always had a sixth sense when it came to the anthropologist. He felt sick as he waited for Angela to reply.

"Booth, please just get over here" she hung up the phone as Jack crossed the small gap between the door way and the desk before pulling Angela in to his arms.

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Brennan knew she was late for work. It had never happened before, but she was dreading the look on Booth's face when he finally met with her. She knew she would have to explain the findings of Cam's postmortem report and the histological and anthropological discoveries in relation to their victim. Pulling the car out in to the main flow of traffic she also didn't relish Cam's lecture on punctuality. She had seen Jack on the recieving end of it a few times. Then there was Daisy to deal with. The girl meant well and was gifted in her work but the constant cheeriness did grate somewhat. In all Brennan was not looking forward to her working day. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced since El Salvidor. She shuddered at the memory as the 4x4 in front of her slammed on its breaks as a juggernaught slammed in to the side of Brennan's car. The last thing she heard was the screams of pedestrians as her world went black.

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"Ok" Booth walked in to the Jeffersonian to see Daisy crying in the corner. He thought Brennan or Cam had yelled at her again and couldn't help but feel sorry for the young woman. "I'm here" he stretched out his arms to see Angela walk towards him. Jack and Cam were also stood on the platform. They looked like they were about to leave.

"Thank God" Cam breathed "We were about to leave without you" she walked towards the main entrance as Booth frowned in confusion.

"Leave? Where are we going? Camille?" he turned as Angela pulled her tissue out of her purse and wiped her eyes.

"Booth sit down. Please" Angela looked like she was on the verge of tears as she crossed to the stairs and sat on the top one. Booth followed her as she nodded towards Cam and Jack.

"I need to talk to Booth. You two wait for me in the car. Daisy call Sweets and have him meet us there" Daisy nodded, grateful that Angela had given her something constructive to do.

"Angela" the warning tone in Booth's tone caused her to draw breath. He held her gaze as she spoke.

"I didn't want to tell you over the phone." she took another breath to steady herself, turning the ring on her right hand she closed her eyes as Booth waited.

"Brennan was late for work. She is never ever late for work. I mean her father was in court on murder charges and she never late for work. But today she was late. I thought it was because of you know, last night." Booth nodded as he waited for her to get to the point. "Just before I called you Cam got a call from the hospital. They tried getting hold of you. You are her 'in case of emergency' but they couldn't get hold of you." The tears were now back and Angela blinked. Booth squeezed her hand.

"Angela, why were the hospital looking for me?" he tried his best to stop the panic rising.

"There was a car crash. She's at the hospital. A big truck hit her car. Side impact. She's in surgery, we need to get there Booth" he nodded and stood as Angela got to her feet.

"Right. Ah, well what are we doing here. Angela, c'mon" he walked towards the entrance as Daisy rejoined them. The team were all headed towards the hospital, although none of them knew exactly what had become of their forensic anthropologist.

author's note: Let me know what you think. If it's too anglicised sorry but it's my first attempt at writing American. Should I continue? More romance and Angela may get to matchmake next time.