Chapter Four

Spill Your Guts

Present day…

Brennan sat quietly at her desk, she had been a wreak ever since she took the pregnancy test this morning, and the events of 6 weeks earlier kept playing in her head. She had her head in her hands, elbows resting on the desk. Things had been pretty awkward between she and Booth and neither one of them had mentioned what had happened. Temperance had hoped they wouldn't have to bring it up and soon enough all would be back to normal. Booth had specifically told her 3 months ago that he only wanted to be friends and she assumed that since he hadn't brought the awkward conversation of what had happened, up…Than he obviously still felt that way.

"Hey, Bren I was-" Angela stopped in her tracks as Temperance practically jumped out of her own skin. Brennan looked up at her and swallowed loud. "Geese, Sweetie…You look like a deer in the headlights…" Angela continued to walk in slowly, never taking her eyes off of her best friend.

Temperance cocked her head slightly. "I don't know what that means…" She tried to calm herself, but truth be told she was absolutely terrified right now. She felt like she was going to burst keeping it all in. 'You've got to calm yourself, Temperance. You just need to think rationally…' Her mind never seemed to stop racing.

"It means you look like you we're just caught doing something you weren't supposed to…Like you're hiding something." Angela narrowed her eyes slightly and placed her hands on her hips. "You are hiding something…Temperance Brennan, spill your guts" She edged closer to the desk.

Brennan felt her stomach churn and she felt sick. "…I-I think I'm about to." She stammered, trying to focus on something other than the tumbling in her tummy. Angela's brows knitted together as a confused expression washed over her.

Before Angela could say anything, Brennan was up and bolting out of the door. "Bren! Wha-" She hurried to the door to see Brennan just as she entered the bathroom. Angela hurried after her. As she pushed the bathroom door open the room echoed with the distinct sound of heaving and gagging.

Angela grimaced and clutched her own stomach. She slowly walked toward the paper towels and grabbed one to run under the sink. Once she did this, she squeezed out the excess water and stood by Brennan's stall. As the toilet flushed and the stall opened, Angela handed the damp paper towel to Brennan.

"Thanks…" Brennan mumbled as she took it from Angela and wiped her mouth. She stared at her face in the mirror and swallowed hard, grimacing at the bitter taste in her mouth. Angela was silent, watching her closely.

As she watched Brennan throw water in her face, Angela stepped next to her. "When I said spill your guts…I meant tell me what's up…" Temperance glared at her from the mirror and Angela bit her lower lip. "Sorry…Bad joke. I uhm…I have some mouth wash in my office." She placed her hand gently on her friend's back in a comforting manner.

Temperance merely nodded and she dried her pale face before they both headed back to Angela's office. Angela was silent until they entered. She walked slowly to her desk and dug through her drawers. "So," she started as she pulled the mini bottle of mouth wash from her drawer and shut it with her hip. "Are you going to…" She paused, watching what she said this time. "Tell me what's going on with you?" She held out her hand for her friend to take the mouth wash.

Taking the bottle from Angela's hand, she twisted the cap off and barely held the bottle above her mouth, careful not to let the tip touch her lips. She tipped it slightly and allowed enough of the mouth wash in her mouth before putting the cap back on. She swished the liquid in her mouth and motioned Angela to follow her.

Temperance walked back into the bathroom to spit the mint tasting liquid in the sink and rinse it out. Turning slightly, she jumped to see Angela right behind her. It was obvious that Angela wasn't going to let up and was looking for a lie. Taking a breath, she sighed. "Nothing is up, Angela…" She tried to act as sincere as possible.

Angela gave her friend an 'as if' look and placed her hands on her hips. "…Right, I'm not a genius like you, Bren…But I know when my best friend is lying through her teeth." She gave her a sarcastic smile. Brennan heaved a sigh and breezed past her friend, walking briskly back to her office. Angela wasn't giving up that easy, she was right behind her. As she entered Brennan's office, she shut the door behind her and took a seat on the arm of the couch.

"Bren…" Angela had a serious expression on her face as she waited for her friend to look up at her before she continued. "…Are you pregnant?" Temperance could never understand how Angela knew exactly how to read her. Brennan felt as though Angela's stare, penetrated her very soul. She was silent, trying to gather her thoughts. Angela never took her eyes off of her.

Finally, Brennan brought her gaze to Angela, though her eyes wouldn't meet the Artist's. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. That requires sexual intercourse and I-" Angela cut her off with an obnoxious chuckle and it aggravated Temperance to the core.

Folding her arms, Angela stood up. "Don't play stupid, Brennan. Being in denial doesn't work…That kid is still gonna pop out 8 and half months from now weather you want it to or not." She pushed a strand of hair behind her ears as she stood up straight.

"That's not true, Angela…There are ways that I could prevent the child from being born…" Temperance watched as Angela's eyes widened and a look of fear washed over her face.

"Temperance Brennan!" Angela's voice seem to echo through the lab despite the door being shut, causing Brennan to wince. Angela walked forward, a look of anger flashing through her eyes. "I can't believe you would eve-" Before she could continue yelling, Brennan put up her hand to cut her off.

"Angela! I would never do that. Ever…" She collapsed in her seat and stared down at her hands which rested in her lap. Angela felt herself calm down now and she took a breath and stared at Brennan as she began to speak once more. "I already love it with everything I have…" She looked up and the look on her face made Angela's heart drop.

"Oh Sweetie…" Angela walked around the desk and, pulled her friend up from her chair, wrapping her arms around her waist. She felt Brennan begin to cry softly into her shoulder. "Come sit on the couch, sweetie." Angela let go of Brennan only to grab her head and lead her to the couch. As Angela took a seat, she pulled Temperance down with her.

Brennan looked down at her trembling hands as she started to speak. "I'm terrified…" She admitted as tears slowly streamed down her rosy cheeks. Angela pulled Brennan into another hug and rubbed her back in soothing circles.

The artist felt her heart go out to her best friend and she continued to hug Brennan as tight as she could, allowing her to cry into her shoulder. "Bren, you don't have a reason to be scared. Booth isn't going to be angry and he wont leave you. And, Sweetie…You know you'd be an excellent mother. You're already an amazing Aunt to Jackson. God, he loves you to death. Every time we come to get him from you he fusses and cries himself to sleep." As Brennan pulled back, Angela took her thumb and gently wiped away her tears.

There was a small smile on Temperance's face as she stared into Angela's dark brown eyes. "R-really? But, Booth…He-" Angela shook her head softly.

"He loves you…He loves you more than anything. Any idiot could see that." Angela smiled softly, the look on her face only showing compassion and concern. Brennan sniffled and wiped another tear away. "You already wanted this with Booth not long ago…You we're gonna do it. Only instead of Artificial insemination you did it the old fashion way…And it only took once, that's obviously saying something about studly." She laughed and Brennan grinned. "Are my assumptions correct, how was he…It?" Angela only grinned more as her friend's cheeks turned three shades of red.

"You're assumptions we're wrong…" She smirked as Angela's expression turned into that of a shocked one.

"I was wrong…? He's-"

"Way better than you ever assumed." Brennan's cheeks flushed more and she bit her lower lip in thought.

Angela grinned wide. "Oh, wow…" She shivered at the thought. "I don't know how you keep from jumping him now If he's that good." She chuckled softly, but her expression changed into a serious one. "But you have to tell him, Sweetie…He's gonna find out eventually and I'm sure you'd prefer it be in a rational manor…"

Brennan nodded slightly, taking a breath. "I-I will…I just…I need to figure out how to tell him…" She swallowed and took another deep breath.

Angela stared at her once more before speaking. "Alright…Just…Don't wait too long. I wont say anything until you're ready to tell people…" she stood now and kissed the top of Brennan's forehead. "Remember…Tell him as soon as you can. I'll be in my office if you need me." With that, Angela nodded and left Brennan's office.

Temperance felt fear burn in her belly at the thought of telling not just Booth, but her co-workers as well…Her 'family'. In truth they we're her family. She had never cared what anyone thought of her, but the thought of telling their little group of this only made things harder. She sighed and fell to the side, curling up on her couch in deep thought.

"Bones…Hey Bones…" A Special Agent Seeley Booth sat on the side of the couch where his partner lay asleep. He tapped her shoulder softly and she suddenly jolted up. "Whoaa. Easy, Bones. Are you alright?" A look of concern flashed over the Agent's face as he stared at the frightened looking Temperance.

"What? Of course I'm fine, Booth. I-I must have dosed off." She brought her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes softly. She had been having a nightmare. As the images replayed in her head, her stomach made a noise as she felt it tumble. 'Please no more vomiting right now…' She thought as she swallowed hard.

Booth wasn't convinced as he eyed her suspiciously. "You look all pale, are you sick?" He brought his hand to her forehead, causing a jolt to shoot through her.

Brennan shook her head and moved from his touch. "I'm fine, Booth. I-I just had a nightmare. That's all…" She took a breath, trying to forget the dream.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Booth wouldn't let up.

"What? No! No…I'll be fine." Her dream had been about losing the baby. 'T-There was so much blood and I-No. Just forget about it before you start to cry and really get Booth suspicious.' She quickly pushed the thoughts aside and focused on calming her upset stomach.

Booth rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. There was something she wasn't telling him. He sighed and nodded, deciding not to push her further. "Alright. Well I came to see if you wanted to grab lunch." He stood up now and crossed his arms over his chest.

Temperance made a face and closed her eyes a moment. 'If I refuse he'll press the subject of me being sick or something about my eating habits.' She sighed inwardly and stood up. "Sure, of course." Brennan offered him a fake smile as she started for the door.

Brennan had been very quiet since they took a seat at their usual booth at the diner. She had ordered a water and a salad, but the thing that bothered Booth the most was that she hadn't even touched his fries. She usually ate half of them. She had only taken a couple of bites of her salad and spent the rest of the time picking at it with her fork.

"Bones, really…What's wrong?" Booth couldn't take the silence.

The Anthropologist looked up at her partner in silence, until she finally forced herself to speak. "Booth, I assure you nothing is wrong. I'm just tired…" She tried to sound as normal as possible.

Booth sighed and shrugged. "If you say so…Look…I know things have been awkward between us…" He paused as he tried to gather his thoughts.

'I can't have this conversation, now!' Temperance groaned in her head as her expression went from blank to nervous. Booth watched the color wash from Brennan's face and she swallowed loudly. Her nerves we're shot right now and she could feel her stomach begin to churn again.

"I've been thinking a lot," Booth finally continued, though he watched Brennan carefully. The anxious look on her face made him anxious and he tried to keep his thoughts organized. "and I think tha-" He was cut off.

"Booth, I can't…I can't talk about this right now. Not here, anyway." She took a breath waiting for the wave of nausea to dissipate. "W-will you take me home, I don't feel good." Brennan gave him a pleading look and he simply nodded, placing money on the table as he stood up and led her out the diner.