I'm a sucker for Angela-Brennan heart-to-hearts, so here's another one for you guys. Enjoy :D
A week later, Brennan was sitting on the floor of her office at work, leaning up against the front of the couch. She had moved her coffee table to the far side of the room to allow ample space for Ryder, who was sitting in front of her and waving his arms up and down. Daycare had been cancelled last minute, so that meant she had to take him to work with her. She explained the situation to Cam, and even though the pathologist was less than pleased that there was a baby in the lab, she told Brennan it was fine as long as he stayed in her office and far away from the expensive equipment.
Brennan rolled a textured, rubber ball with monkeys stamped on it towards Ryder and smiled when he threw his arms down and batted the ball with his hands, effectively stopping its momentum.
Ryder wiggled and his smile was infectious. With a little prompting from his mom, he pushed the ball back to her. "Nay-nay-nay-nay," he babbled, his eyes searching around the room.
"RJ."
At the sound of his mom's voice, Ryder turned his head back to her and covered his face with his hands. He let out a squealing laugh and bounced up and down.
"Here it comes." She rolled the ball back a little too forcefully and it went right past him.
He watched it fly past and then got to his knees. He lunged forward and crawled after the ball.
"You got it. Now roll it back to me," she said softly, coaxing him with her tone and hand motions.
He batted at the ball, enthralled by the tinny, echoing sound it made.
"Can I have the ball, please, RJ?"
"I think you've lost him, Bren."
Brennan turned her head quickly at the sound of her best friend's laugh-filled voice. "Yes, I think you may be right, Angela." She shifted and motioned for Angela to come farther into her office. "Do you need something? Or is this one of those girl-chat things you're always talking about?"
Angela laughed, not even bothering to correct Brennan, and sat down beside her. "I just wanted to see how you were doing."
"I'm fine, Ange." Brennan was about to elaborate, seeing her best friend's doubtful expression, but she was interrupted. She turned her head and saw her son surrounded by his toys, some in his lap, the bucket they were in now flipped over onto its side.
Ryder looked up and his eyes met his mom's for a moment, his face lighting up with a smile.
"That certainly is a more efficient way of getting all of your toys out of the bucket, Bud." Brennan smiled at the baby and turned back to Angela. "What were we discussing?"
"You were telling me that you're fine."
"Oh, yes. I am fine, Ange. Dr. Jurzik started weaning Booth off the ventilator on Monday and Booth's O2 levels have been either steadily increasing since then or staying the same. His heart rate and pulse are stable, as well. The doctor is hopeful."
"But hope isn't scientific enough for you," Angela said, no hint of a question in her tone.
Brennan smiled briefly but then all traces of humor and contentment disappeared. She cast her eyes downward and swallowed. "What if he—?" She lifted her eyes and caught Angela's gaze. "What if he doesn't want a life with me, Ange?"
Angela coughed and blinked slowly. She wasn't sure what she was expecting her friend to say, but it definitely wasn't that.
Without waiting for an answer, Brennan continued. "If he regains consciousness, there is still no guarantee that he'll even remember who I am. It has been two years. His brain has been—." She trailed off and picked at her plaster cast, looking away.
Angela sighed and placed a supportive hand on Brennan's thigh, drawing her attention back to the artist. "Sweetie, he's going to want a life with you. He's going to want the whole shebang."
"I don't know what that means."
"Yes you do." Angela paused. "Love is risky, there are no guarantees, but loving someone means you say screw the risks and jump in with both feet. He's going to need you, Sweetie. He doesn't have anyone else."
"That's not true. He has you, and Cam, and Hodgins, and Hank, and Parker, and Wendell, and all of his coworkers at the Hoover."
"Yeah, we all care about him, and we're here for him, sure, but he's going to need you the most."
Brennan swallowed. "I'm no good at relationships."
"Have you seen his track record?"
Brennan stifled a laugh.
"You two are both messed up in the love department, Hon." Angela patted her best friend's leg. "I'm not saying you have to profess your love for the man the second he wakes up, but don't run from your feelings. Let things happen naturally. Don't fight them."
"He's my best friend, Ange. He's my partner. I can't—what if things go badly? I can't lose him."
"It's worth the risk, Sweetie. Look at Hodgins and I. It hurt when we broke up, but I never once regretted what we had. Now, we're married, in love, and expecting a child together. No relationship is perfect. Even as partners and friends, you and Booth fought and had misunderstandings that threatened your relationship, but you decided that what you two had was important, so you fought like Hell to keep it intact."
"I—."
"Stop over-thinking everything and just let things progress naturally." Angela glanced over at her "nephew", who was currently sifting through the pile of toys for something new to play with. "If not for yourself than do it for your son. From the time you were fifteen, all you ever wanted was a family. Don't let your fears or insecurities prevent Ryder from having what you wish you could have had."
Brennan looked at Angela and narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying I'm a bad mother because I chose to do this on my own? Because I chose to have a child, even knowing there was a good chance he'd never meet or know his father?"
"Whoa, Sweetie, relax. That is not what I'm saying at all. You're a wonderful mom. Ryder's a lucky kid. I'm just trying to make you understand what you could be missing out on, what you could be taking from your little boy."
Brennan swallowed and after a long pause, she confessed, "I want that for him, all of it, everything I didn't have. I just don't know if I'm strong enough to take the risk." She sighed. "The next year is going to be far more challenging than anything Booth and I have ever faced as partners."
"I bet Booth has a sexy nurse fantasy. That could come in handy." Angela waggled her eyebrows.
Brennan laughed, slightly embarrassed, which rarely happened. "Angela."
Angela just shook her head, moving on. "I'll say it again since you seem to not be listening." She could see that her best friend was about object to the accusation, so she quickly added, "Be there for him the same way you've always been there for him. Be his partner, but more importantly, be his best friend. If things are meant to change, they will. Just let it happen. You're getting a second chance here, Bren. Don't waste it." She paused. "Take the bull by the horns and ride him all night long," she said suggestively.
"Angela, please. Booth will hardly be able to move even his hands, let alone have enough stamina and muscle control to have intercourse." Brennan sighed and rested her head on her best friend's shoulder. "I just—I miss him so much," she confided.
"I know, Sweetie." Angela took Brennan's hand and smiled sadly. "Hodgins and I can babysit RJ tonight if you need some space."
Brennan shook her head and sniffled, lifting her head and looking her friend in the eye. "No, no, I'm fine. I just have a lot to think about, I guess."
Ryder crawled over and climbed into his mom's lap, raising his arms to show her the rubber teething pretzel he was holding.
"For me? Why, thank you," Brennan said, her tone taking a complete 180. She took the pretzel and pretended to munch on it.
Ryder giggled at her antics and reached for the rubber toy.
Brennan gladly let him have it back and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. "I love you, RJ."
Ryder tilted his head and smiled. "Lalayayala," he babbled. He nuzzled into her and rested his head against her shoulder. He sucked on the pretzel and closed his eyes.
Angela smiled. "I'll see you later, Sweetie. Wanna go out for dinner and drinks after work?"
"I was planning on going to see Booth, but you can come with me and we can pick up dinner on the way."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I would not have suggested it if I wasn't sure."
"Let me know when you're ready to go. If I'm not in my office—."
Brennan nodded. "You'll most likely be with Hodgins. Either way, I'll find you."
Angela laughed and played with Ryder's socked feet. "Bye, Little Guy." She waved and left her best friend's office.
Brennan shrugged her shoulder and sighed. She looked at Ryder, who could hardly keep his eyes open anymore, and ran her hand up and down his back, soothingly. She stood and changed his diaper before placing him down in the travel crib for his afternoon nap. "Sweet dreams, RJ," she whispered, though her son was already asleep.
You guys are awesome. I hope you liked this chapter.
P.S. You won't have to wait too much longer for that very special chapter ;)
