NOTE: Emily D. is pregnant for reals, please stop vetching about how the Bones finale disappointed because she was prego, but you saw no sexy time. Emily D. is like four months along, she doesn't WANT to do sex scenes. Go re-watch End in the Beginning and get over it. That's what I did.
rant over.
I'm sorry this took so long. The hospital makes everyone uncooperative. Even my muse. No matter how much Pandora I feed it. Ah well. Hopefully the next chapter will come together faster.
Temperance Brennan had placed her dress and shoes on the bed and come to the painfully obvious conclusion that she would need a different set of clothes to return home in.
The confidence and adventurism that had spurred her to choose the dress the night before was now gone, and in the sterile light of the hospital room she knew there was no way she was ever putting that dress on again. Or indeed any dress for a rather long time.
My judgment would have had to have been sincerely compromised for me to have chosen that dress last night.
She sighed.
Regardless of my confidence in my previous decision, I will not wear that home.
She was suddenly struck by something Denise had said as she had handed her the discharge paperwork, "Mr. Booth is still in the lobby waiting room, he said that if you need a ride home, he'll be more than happy to take you."
Brennan shifted her weight on her feet uncomfortably. She didn't do well with strangers, she didn't do well with people she'd known for years; even she knew that. There was nothing that could entice her to ask a stranger for a ride home, regardless of what he had done for her.
Besides as I need someone to bring me clothes, there is no logical reason for me not to have them drive me home as well. I don't need his help any more, I am quite capable of taking care of my own problems.
That put her in a predicament. She had precisely one friend.
One single solitary friend who she could trust implicitly; but that friend was currently out of the question.
Given my circumstances, I would be most at ease with someone who I am familiar with encountering when I am similarly indisposed. However, my options even within those parameters are very limited.
She sat on the bed and went through a mental list of the other students with which she shared her general living space. Then she isolated those who she would be comfortable sharing her situation with, without being concerned that the story would make it to their peers on campus.
It seems my options are limited to Sweets or Zach.
Brennan sighed and fell back on her pillow, staring at the shadows on the ceiling, neither option was preferable. Ideally she would prefer to have Angela come to retrieve her, but that was out of the question as Angela was in Great Falls National Park, 'communing' with nature; Which is ridiculous, one cannot communicate with inanimate objects. That includes nature.
She closed her eyes and sighed, rubbing nasal bone with first and second fingers as she weighed the pros and cons of calling Sweets versus calling Zach.
Zach would have to make use of public transportation, whereas Sweets has a car. But Sweets will attempt to have a conversation about the events of last night, how I feel about it, and then he will feign some sort of sympathy in an effort to delve into my past.
I hate psychology.
Zach on the other hand, won't continue to ask questions after I tell him to stop, and I can discuss coursework and projects with him for the duration of our trip home. With Sweets, if I refuse to discuss the events of last night and my emotions regarding those events I'll end up being subjected to his very loud and very percussive music.
Reluctantly, Brennan found she had reached her conclusion.
As distasteful as I find public transportation, it seems that Zach would be the better option.
Brennan rolled off the bed and took a couple of steps to phone on the adjacent cabinet, she lifted the receiver to her ear and dialed Zach's number from memory. She sighed impatiently as she listened to the sound of the phone ringing out, waiting for him to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Zach. This is Brennan. I need you to use the emergency key I gave you for my apartment to get me a few things. There are quite a few items, it would probably be best if you take down a list. Let me know when you have a piece of paper."
"I can assure you that I have an excellent memory, and have no need for a written list. Although, may I ask a question?"
"Yes."
"Why not just ask Angela to bring you your things? She would be a better choice as she is familiar with your apartment and the whereabouts of the items you need. Did something happen between the two of you that I am not aware of?"
"Angela is out of town at a retreat that I consider to be idiotic. I need items from my apartment and you are the preferable remaining option."
"While I am flattered that I am preferable to whoever the other options were, I should tell you that Angela is not out of town."
"Are you certain?"
"I saw her this morning as I went for my run. She seemed very irate that you weren't at home."
Brennan took a deep breath and let it go with a sigh, her frantic concern over who to call and how to explain her situation to them suddenly seemed trivial.
If there was ever an appropriate time for Angela to abruptly return from one of her trips, this is certainly it.
Zach held his phone closer to his ear, confused as to why Brennan hadn't responded.
"Do you still need me to bring you your things?"
"What? No. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Brennan pressed the receiver button to disconnect the call and then quickly dialed Angela's cell number.
"Brennan sweetie! Where are you?"
"I'm at the hospital. I need you to-"
"You're where?"
"At Rush Medical, I need you to-"
"Why are you in Chicago?"
"I went to a party. I need you to-"
"You went to a party?"
"Angela! I need you to pack my travel bag and bring it to the hospital. And I need you to give me a ride home."
"What happened?"
"I'll explain when you get here; but I can't leave without appropriate clothes. So please? Hurry."
"I'm holding you to that. See you soon."
Brennan replaced the phone receiver and sat on the bed, using the remote she flipped through the channels on the TV until she found something interesting to pass the time while she waited for Angela.
It was almost an entire episode before Angela burst through the door, "Sweetie." She scooped Brennan into a hug, her chunky bracelets digging uncomfortably into Brennan's back.
Brennan wriggled out of her arms and looked her in the eyes.
"Angela I'm fine, really."
"What happened?"
"I'll tell you in the car. Can I have my clothes please?"
"What are you watching?"
"It's a show that postulates that there is a man who travels through time and space in a blue police box, having improbable adventures. Now, may I have my clothes?"
Angela spun to face her, "Oh my God, sweetie there's this really hot guy in the lounge."
"Angela! Clothes!"
She pouted, but gave Brennan the travel bag she had packed and sat on the bed.
"Bren, this guy is fantastic, he's tall and hunky and he has this broody thing going on and-"
Brennan rolled her eyes, she half-listened to Angela as she unpacked the bag and sorted her toiletries and clothes out onto the bed.
"He looked like he'd been here a while, his clothes were all rumpled and had that 'after sex' kind of messiness going on. He just had this air of confidence and-"
Brennan stopped listening, Angela was chronically fascinated with anyone and everyone she deemed to be 'hot', and she could go on for hours. It was difficult to keep up with her on the best of days; and today is not the best of days. I my coping mechanisms are not capable to deal with this right now. I just need to take a shower, put on real clothes and get out of this hospital.
And she realized, to get out of the hospital she would have to go through the lobby. And in that lobby there was a man who knew who she was and what she looked like. And he could be anyone.
Seeley Booth is still in the lobby, waiting for me.
Brennan felt a wave of inferiority and apprehension wash over her.
Correction, he is waiting for the girl he brought here last night. I am not that girl. When he sees me, he'll expect me to be a girl who dresses and acts in a manner congruent with my behavior last night; an unintelligent, superficial girl whose only redeeming attributes are physical, and therefore transitory.
Why does it matter so much what he thinks of you? The voice in her head demanded. All you want to do is thank him. Right?
She silenced the voice; she had been out of control of enough things so far, she was not going to continue in such a manner. The need to take control of something, anything, was overwhelming, and when or if she would meet Seeley Booth in person was, at the moment, the only thing she could completely control.
There is no reason for us to meet face to face; if we do, I will only disappoint. I can adequately thank him over the phone; however, for that to work I need to have his phone number.
She could vaguely hear Angela still talking; Bren knew Angela would keep going until she stopped her, or until she noticed Bren wasn't listening. The two options shared an equal probability of occurring.
I would also rather not have to listen to Angela wax poetic regarding her new 'most beautiful man'. I will be able to prepare to leave much faster without her here.
Brennan was stuck with an idea, beautiful in its simplicity.
I can have Angela go ask Seeley Booth for his number, and tell him that I have a ride home, and that he therefore does not need to stay. When she gets back I'll be almost ready to go, all my birds will be dead without the overuse of rocks!
She returned her attention to Angela, who hadn't stopped talking about the guy in the lobby for much more than a breath.
"-he would be so amazing in bed, you can just tell, and-"
"Hey, Ange."
"Hm? What?"
"Could you go down to the lobby, find Seeley Booth and get his phone number for me?"
"Who is Seeley Booth? And what does he look like?" Even Brennan could hear the lusty inference in Angela's voice; she rolled her eyes.
"He's the guy who brought me in last night, and I have no idea what he looks like, I've never met him before."
"But I thought you said he brought you in?"
"Yes. I was unconscious. So I have not technically met him. But I would like to thank him for his actions."
"You are so telling me what happened right now."
"Angela. Please. I promise to tell you later."
Angela looked her over, the streaky remnants of last night's makeup, the frazzled hair, and nodded, "Well you shouldn't see him in that state anyway, unless he's the one who got you that way." Angela laughed as she headed towards the door, "Ooooh, I can get the phone number of my mystery guy at the same time."
Brennan looked up from the bed and met Angela's eyes, totally serious, "That sounds like an excellent idea. While you do that, I will prepare to leave. We can go after you return."
Angela rolled her eyes and laughed lightly, shaking her head as she walked down the hall.
Brennan collected her things and walked to the showers.
She laid out her things methodically, hanging up the towel, heating the water; everything in its place.
Comforted by the order she could create around her she stepped into the tiled shower stall.
The hot water ran in rivulets down her body, pooling slightly at her feet before swirling down the drain; taking with it the offensive feeling of the hospital, the disappointment of the night before, and the embarrassment of her current situation.
She quickly washed her hair and rinsed the soapy residue from her body.
Clean, and feeling once again like a productive, responsible member of society Brennan stepped out of the shower and dried off vigorously.
She piled her hair on top of her head and wrapped it in her towel. Looking over the clothes Angela had brought for her she sighed with relief; Jeans, tank-top, undergarments, boots. I will never dress so far out of my comfort zone again.
She pulled on her clothes, enjoying the feel of natural fibers against her skin, she laced her boots tightly and returned to her room to comb out her hair and wait for Angela
It was only a few minutes before she heard determined footsteps coming down the hall.
"Brennan!"
"Angela!" She responded, mocking Angela's frantic tone.
Angela pouted for a moment and the sat on the end of the bed with a bounce.
"You're never going to believe what happened."
"As it is unlikely that anything truly out of the realm of possibility happened to you, I will therefore most likely believe what you tell me."
Angela gave her a withering look and continued, "That amazing guy I told you about earlier? That's Seeley Booth."
"I don't understand the importance of that."
"Brennan! Your knight in shining armor is HOT. Like sex god hot. "
"Denise did say he was handsome."
"Honey. Handsome doesn't cover it."
Brennan looked at Angela as she swept her still damp hair into a ponytail and gave her reflection a once over.
"I still don't see how his physical attributes relate to his actions towards me." Brennan used a hair band to hold her ponytail in place. "Did you get his phone number?"
"Yes." Angela smirked. "You should ask him out."
"Given your description of him it is unlikely that he would be interested in me."
Angela cocked her head, her face somber and thoughtful, "How is it that you always forget how gorgeous you are?"
Brennan looked at Angela, her eyes sad and tired, "Sex gods do not, ever, go out with studious individuals."
Angela raised an eyebrow, but chose not to dig into this particular part of Brennan's past, at least not yet.
"So what are you going to do with his number?"
Brennan shrugged, stuffing her things back into her overnight bag, "I told you earlier. I'm going to thank him."
She lifted her bag and started toward the door, terminating that line of conversation.
She looked at Angela expectantly, "Are you prepared to leave?"
Angela jumped off the bed and snatched the bag from Brennan's hand, draping her other arm around her shoulders, "Don't think I've forgotten, you still have to tell me how you got here."
Brennan glared at Angela, who laughed uncontrollably as she pulled Brennan towards the elevator doors, "Tell you what, how about we start with some food. I'm starved."
As they walked to the parking lot neither of them noticed the Chevy Tahoe as it pulled out of the main hospital drive and into traffic.