Chapter Four

A few hours after Booth visit to Brennan, Angela's apartment.

Brennan POV

I hesitate before knocking on the door of Angela's apartment. I take a deep breath. It was a few hours after midnight, more specifically, three hours and forty seven minutes. I take one more deep breath and I knock on the door three times.

Knock, knock, knock.

I wait, trying to get my ideas in order, with no success, what I was particularly not accustomed to. The door opens, revealing Angela in sleeping pink dress. If she seemed surprised for seeing me, she did not showed it.

Brennan: Good night, Angela. Sorry for disturbing you at this hours, but ...

Angela: It's okay - she says, interrupting me.

Brennan: You're not with Wendell?

Angela: No - she responds, shaking her head, briefly laughing.

Brennan: Or with Hodgins? – I inquire.

Angela: No - Angela responds once again, with a forced smile. - But come in, we can talk inside.

Brennan: Sure - I reply, doing what Angela told me.

I listen to the door slamming behind me.

Brennan: Is there a problem between you and the Hodgins? - I wonder.

I had found it strange that Angela had responded with a forced smile when I said his name.

Angela: It doesn't matter right now, Brennan. You came here for a reason. Despite enjoying your company, you don't usually visit me this late ... or this soon.

Brennan: Well ...

I look around, inspecting the home of Angela that, though it was simple, was filled with various paintings of art from various periods and movements, classic, modern, etc ... As well as various paintings of her own. I had already advised Angela to open a gallery. I even offered to give her some money, which she refused, for some reason. But Angela said to me recently that she was considering doing just that, with the money I had given her from her help in my books.

Sometimes I didn't understand her very well, but that wasn't a reason for her not to like her any less.

I breathe in and out, being relaxed and ready to talk.

Angela: Wait! - Exclaims Angela. – You can go to the living room that I'll get two glasses of wine - suggests Angela, heading to her kitchen.

I nod, directing me to the room and Angela sitting on the couch three places that stood in the middle of it. Waiting...

Angela: I'm back - Angela announces while passing through the door and handing me over a glass of wine.

I take a sip.

Brennan: Where is your pig, I'd like to see him – I say, trying to gain some time, looking around the room.

Angela: It seems that adopting him will be a longer process than I initially thought, but what matters is that he is safe until then. Now stop stalling and tell me what is going on – she said.

I never was able to fool for her for too long.

Brennan: Booth went to my house and ...

I give another little sip of wine.

Brennan: He confessed that he likes me ... that he loves me.

Angela: Really?

I nod.

Angela: What did you said? That you also loved him, right? - Angela replies, ecstatic.

Brennan: Well, I told him I needed to think. Why? Do you think I should accept?

Angela: Oh, dear ... - Angela looks at me, revealing a more worried expression- What I think doesn't matters right now. For me you would have had many more boyfriends, believe me – she adds with a smile, her expression becoming more serious, shaking her head. - You should follow your heart - Angela points to my heart - instead of following your head - and she points out to my skull.

Brennan: But the heart is a muscle that only...

But before I could continue, Angela throws me a look that was generally followed by one: Really?

Brennan: Oh, you mean metaphorically – I whisper. – What does that mean? – I question.

I raise both hands in exasperation.

Angela: You have to stop trying to rationalize all your emotions and hiding from any emotional contact that makes your heart beat faster or that makes you feel butterflies in my stomach. You must learn to trust other people, to open yourself to the world and to stop having so much fear of being hurt, because if you lose this opportunity and you really love him, you can lose the opportunity to be happy, of having a family.

I sigh, suddenly becoming aware in my heart that Angela was right, even if such thought was ridiculous and such process impossible, but knowing exactly what I had to do.

One day after the visit of Booth to Brennan, Dr. Sweets' office.
Booth POV

I was sitting in the office of Sweets for about fifteen minutes and he has not yet uttered a word, looking at me with an evaluating look during the whole time. I returned his look with an expectant one.

Sweets: So how did it go with Dr. Brennan? – Sweets questions.

Finally!

Booth: I'm not sure ...

Sweets: You confessed to her the feelings you nourish for her, right?

Booth: Yes – I nod.

Sweets: How did she react?

I sigh.

Booth: I don't know, it was all very confusing. She told me she needed to think about it ... – Sweets' expression becomes more exciting.

Sweets: Okay, thinking is good. You know you can't rush her.

Booth: I know but ...

Sweets interrupts me.

Sweets: You even told me once, remember? Now you have to wait for Dr. Brennan to digest this information, that she comes to terms with the facts you provided her and then she will act according to her conclusions. She will tell you what she thinks when the time comes.

It takes a bit to reply, questioning why, all of a sudden, everything seemed so much more complicated than it really was.

Booth: But I thought we were in a hurry ...

Sweets interrupts me again, raising one hand, giving no importance to the subject.

Sweets: You just needed to get this weight off of you, to admit these feelings to Dr. Brennan. You were in an emotional impasse that allowed to your coma self to rise to the surface. Now there are two events that may happen. Or Dr. Brennan acknowledges the feelings that she neuters for you, leading that to a happy ending or she decides to rationalize ignore them leading to a not so happy ending. Either way the impasse ends.

I had not understood anything of what Sweets had told me.

Booth: Hmm

It seemed to me that somehow Sweets expected Bones to like me, which I was not so sure to be completely true. I had to talk to someone, someone who knew her almost as much as I.

Several hours after the consult of Booth with Sweets, Angela's office.

Booth POV

I peek into the Angela's office, which was doing a facial reconstruction, so I think it was probably better not to bother and to come back sooner, turning around.

Angela: Oh, Hello Booth! Why don't you join me?

I turned back to Angela.

Booth: I came to talk to you but it seems that you are busy right now, so I'll be back when you are not...

Angela shakes her head, making me a gesture to come closer with her free hand.

Angela: I may be busy but - Angela makes a deprecating gesture with her hand - the computer does half the job.

I laugh.

Booth: So okay, since you insist ... I admitted Bones I liked her and she ...

Angela interrupts me.

Angela: She reacted pretty bad, right?

I was impressed by the fact that Angela know in advance.

Booth: How do you...?

Angela: Brennan went there for the home today is night and told me everything.

Off course!

Booth: Than, she told you it was a complete disaster, hum? – I ask her while sitting on the couch.

Angela: I would not say she used the word disaster, at least literally. But it was pretty close. She was really disoriented. I had never seen her like this.

I so shouldn't have pressed her!

Booth: She gave you some idea of what she would do? - I wondered.

I waited for Angela to answer me for a few seconds until I start to feel impatient, causing Angela to laugh.

Angela: I don't know, we were talking and she suddenly exclaimed, "I know" and left out the door.

Booth: Oh…

Then Bones had already made a decision, I just don't know what it was and whether I would or would not like her decision. But whatever her decision is, I am left with nothing to do but to accept it. I remain sitting on the couch for a few more minutes below the watchful eye of Angela.