Thank you for all the reviews, favorites, and alerts! I didn't think that many people were actually interested in this story. I totally enjoyed writing this chapter! Thanks for keeping me writing.
When Booth exited the shower he clumsily threw on a pair of clean sweats and a t shirt. He managed to stumble out of his adjoining bathroom to his bedroom. He noticed that his sheets and comforter had been pulled back reveling the clean crisp sheets. He knew instantly it had been Bones. He found the door knob to his bedroom. He opened the door slowly knowing that it sometimes creaked if it was open past a certain point. He slid out the small opening into the living room. He saw Brennan cuddled up on the couch. She looked peaceful as she slept. Booth took the navy blue blanket off the back of the couch. In one quick motion he opened the blanket and softly laid it over her, careful not to wake her. He then gently touched her forehead and brushed her chocolate bangs off her face. She stirred slightly before falling quiet again.
He smiled softly before slowly heading back to his bedroom. He wasn't very angry at Brennan anymore. He had a moment of rage. After the initial anger had passed, it was replaced with remorse. He shouldn't have blown up on Brennan like that. He just didn't know how to handle his emotions. He was agitated at himself and the situation. He just wished the whole Briggs case would be set to rest. He knew Brennan in her rational way was only trying to protect him. He reasoned through his jumbled drunk mind that maybe he was upset with Brennan working with a Chase. He knew very well that Brennan could handle the cocky, young, agent. He just didn't like the thought of being replaced; that was an irrational thought. He knew Brennan would have had said the same thing. He didn't like that his team at the Jeffersonian was working under someone else. His head began to hurt as he finally laid down in bed. As soon as his heavy head hit the pillow he passed out.
Brennan woke the next morning to the sun shining through the cracks in the blinds hanging near the window. She squinted as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlit room. She rolled over on her back and stretched out all of her tense muscles before she sat up. She noticed the blanket that covered her body. She knew Booth must have placed it over her last night. She put her bare feet on the hard, dark, wood flooring before standing up. She grabbed the blanket and neatly folded it and placed it back where it belonged. She fluffed up the pillow that still had an indentation of her head in it. She quietly made her way to Booth's room and poked her head inside the slightly ajar door. Booth was still fast asleep. As she made her way down the hall towards the door she noticed Booth's cell phone on the floor underneath his jacket he had worn night before. She crouched down and picked it up. She had promised Booth that she wouldn't see or speak to Booth until he had forgiven her. She figured this would be the best way to pass the time. She slipped his phone into her feather down winter jacket as she pulled out hers and dialed a very familiar number as she slipped out Booth's apartment.
"Hello?" asked a very groggy woman's voice.
"Ange, it's Brennan."
Brennan heard some shuffling before Angela spoke, "Everything alright?" she asked panic seeping into her sleepy voice.
Brennan smiled, "I'm assuming you don't know what time it is."
"Jack and I are just trying to catch up on some sleep. Michael has been up half the night." Angela explained, "He just fell back asleep a couple hours ago."
"I apologize for calling then." Brennan stated as she waved hello to one of Booth's neighbors.
Angela cleared her throat, "You wouldn't be calling this early on a Saturday if there wasn't something up." her voice sounding clearer now.
"I need to ask you a personal favor." Brennan hinted, "Could you meet me at the lab in approximately a half hour?" she asked, "I need your opinion and expertise."
"Sure sweetie." Angela replied not happy with having to go into the lab but knew that if Brennan was asking for her expertise on a Saturday it must be extremely important, "I'm on my way."
A half hour after their conversation Angela entered Brennan's office. Brennan was sitting at her desk fiddling with a cell phone, "Hi Bren." Angela said softly not to startle her best friend. Brennan looked up quickly to see Angela walk through the doorway. Angela looked different; she had not a trace of make up on. She was dressed in attire Brennan rarely saw her in: a hoodie, a pair of skinny jeans, and gym shoes.
"Hi." Brennan replied looking relieved that Angela had arrived.
Angela noticed Brennan looking over her choice in clothing, "Sorry, I didn't think you would want me to waste time actually getting dressed," She said with a smile as she sat down across from Brennan stifling a yawn, "Sorry for yawning, it's been a very long night."
"You don't have to apologize for an automatic body function."
Angela nodded, "So what's up?" she asked mentioning to the cell phone, "Is that's whose phone I think it is?"
Brennan nodded, "If you're indicating that it's Booth's phone then you are correct."
Angela looked at her confused, "Why do you have his phone?"
Brennan contemplated how she was going to answer this question for a moment, "Agent Briggs cell phone number appeared on his caller ID last night at dinner." Brennan began, "I brought you here to see if you could track it."
Angela held up her hand, "Whoa. Wait." She paused, "You're telling me that Agent Briggs phone called Booth's cell last night?" she asked in disbelief. She didn't know if the sleep deprivation was messing with her thoughts.
"That's precisely what happened," Brennan assured her.
Angela's eyes widen, "That's like a call from the dead."
Brennan stifled a laugh, "That's highly unlikely."
"Well, I can try the best I can to locate where the call came from." Angela said taking Booth's phone in her hand, "I'll get right on this. Have you called agent McCormick?"
Brennan shook her head, "I wanted to see what you found first."
Angela headed for the door before she stopped, "You wanted me to ask my opinion on something…" Angela remembered, "Would you want to talk about it?" Angela asked, "Did Booth find out about us taking on the case?"
"Yes, he did." Brennan admitted, "I thought I would like your advice but I think I'm going to handle it on my own."
Angela smiled, "Sure thing. I'm always here if you want to talk."
Brennan slipped back into her coat, "If you find anything will you let me know?"
Angela nodded, "Of course." Brennan grabbed a thick file off her desk and headed back out the door of the Jeffersonian. She pulled back up to Booth's apartment a while later. She had grabbed coffee and brought Booth's SUV back to his apartment. Once inside his apartment she noticed it was still quiet. She went into the kitchen and placed both coffees and the file on the high table before boosting herself up onto the wooden bar stool. She sipped her coffee gingerly testing the temperature before beginning to open the file she brought with her. She then paused and closed it. She had brought it for Booth. She was going to keep the promise she had made to herself. She was going to wait for Booth to either tell her the story about agent Briggs or until he gave her the 'okay' to open it. She pushed it aside and instead opened up the newest issue of her favorite anthropology magazine. She heard movement in Booth's bedroom before footsteps started to come closer to the kitchen. Brennan looked up to see Booth enter.
"I brought you coffee." She said sliding the other cup towards him. He didn't say anything as he reached for the paper cup and paused. Brennan looked out of the corner of her eye and saw Booth staring at the file. She didn't say anything but kept reading.
Booth knew all too well whose file that was, "Why did you bring his file?" Booth asked his voice faltering as he spoke, "If this is your way of saying sorry, it's pretty shitty, Bones."
"I wanted you to see what we found recently." Brennan explained, "I took your cell phone for Angela to try and track the number. I hope you don't mind."
Booth picked up his coffee and took a sip. He turned around and started messing around the kitchen. He was trying to do anything but look at that file. He knew what kind of emotional baggage he carried around not knowing what was inside it. He couldn't imagine how much would be added to that if he actual read about it. After he had been put under psych evaluation the FBI wouldn't allow him to look at the file. Of course his words and point of view would be documented in detail but that was all he knew. He just didn't know if he could handle it. The tug of war of should he, shouldn't he was driving him crazy. He poured himself a bowl of cornflakes and poured milk into it. He leaned over the counter and looked out the window still debating on what to do.
"I brought it here not to torture you, Booth." Brennan began, "Rationally…." She then stopped herself. She needed to say this the right way. She knew with this whole deal Booth was over her rational thoughts, "I felt that you should see what we found. Last night you were upset that I took this case on without you." She slid the file towards the end of the table closer to him. He took his cereal bowl over to the table and pulled the stool out from underneath it. He sat down and eyed the file again. He ate his cereal for a few minutes before he pushed it aside and brought the file in front of him. He looked up at Brennan before he placed his hand on the manila file folder.
So is he going to open the file or not? If he does open it what do you think he's going to find? I think that should be enough to keep you thinking until the next chapter. Please Review!
