Chapter 7
Brennan woke early the next morning, as her internal clock was still on DC time. She managed to convince herself to go back to sleep when she first woke at three in the morning, but by five O'clock she couldn't lay in the bed any longer. She quietly crept out into the hallway and made her way down the hall towards the room she had seem Anna go into the night before.
The door was cracked so she looked in through the crack to check on her. As she gazed upon the child her heart felt as though a great weight was crushing it. She wasn't certain why she had such an extreme reaction to this peaceful looking little girl. She knew the child was her own blood, her child, but as she hadn't seen her since she was not yet two months old, she had no idea why the sight before her caused such emotional upheaval.
Blinking back a few tears she backed away from the door to the room silently and set about taking a shower and getting herself dressed. An hour later she stepped out of the guest room again feeling refreshed, cell phone in hand, poised to listen to any voicemails she had gotten since she had once again shut off her phone. She dialed her password and wandered into the kitchen.
"Brennan, it's Angela, I need you to call me today and explain to me exactly why you are in Oregon and why you couldn't tell me about it. If you think I'm going to make a big deal about you going out to see an old flame you're wrong, so if that's it just tell me okay?" Angela's voice sounded aggravated and Brennan sighed hating that she seemed to be upsetting everyone in her life just by not telling them what was going on in her personal life.
The next message was from Booth, 'just checking in', he'd said. Obviously hoping she would relent and tell him about Anna before she was ready. She pressed end on her phone and went about making a pot of coffee. While that brewed she looked around the kitchen trying to find something to serve a ten year old girl. Part of her wished that she could call Booth and simply ask him what he would suggest, as Booth has a son close in age to Anna. She quickly decided against that course of action however, as then he would ask why she was caring for a child, and the explanations would have to start before she was ready. If she was honest with herself she wasn't sure she'd ever be ready to talk about this part of her past, well present now, with anyone she had come to know in DC.
How many years had she droned on about not understanding the draw of producing offspring? How many times had she told them all she didn't want kids? Although there had been once when she thought she was ready to try again, and she had asked her partner for help. Unfortunately, that hadn't come about. In hindsight it was probably a good thing though, as she would have had an infant right now on top of this girl, and she wasn't even certain of how she was going to manage the one she did have custody of now, let alone an infant as well. Still though, what would they think of her now?
She was brought out of her thoughts as Anna padded into the kitchen rubbing her eyes and letting out a light yawn. "Morning Anna." Brennan said as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
"Good morning," Anna ground out grumpily before flopping down on one of the barstools that surrounded the breakfast nook in the center of the kitchen. Anna sighed heavily then, as if he own reality was just catching up to her.
A frown crossed Brennan's face momentarily before she sipped her coffee, "So, what would you like for breakfast?"
The young girl grimaced at her and shook her head lightly, "I'm sure I can manage that on my own. I'll probably just grab a bowl of cereal or something." The girl paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face, "I know you were wanting to leave for DC tomorrow so you can get back to whatever it is you do and all, but…" She paused again, capturing her lower lip between her teeth as she contemplated, "But I'd really like to see my dad before we have to leave, and say bye to my friends too. Do you have an address and phone number for where I'll be? That way I can leave it with them."
Brennan thought for a moment before writing down her home address and telephone number and handing it over to the girl. "Of course, this is my current address where we'll be staying as well as the home telephone number there. However I should warn you that as you'll be staying with me now we may be looking for a larger apartment soon. I only have a three bedroom currently and one of those consists of and office while the other is a guest room. I'd like for you to feel like it is your home as well while you are with me, so I thought perhaps you would like to help decide upon a new residence with me." Brennan trailed off as she realized she was rambling, instantly regretting how much she had said when she looked up and caught the girl's eye. Tears were glistening and she was blinking rapidly to keep them from escaping,
Looking away Anna nodded, "Yeah whatever."
The rest of the morning passed in silence between the two, whenever Brennan did try to speak to her it seemed to only agitate the child, or worse cause her to tear up again, so Brennan decided to stop trying and just take her cues from the girl. After awhile Anna went about calling her friends, and at Brennan's suggestion inviting them to have dinner with them at the restaurant of her choosing. Brennan had of course told her that she would be picking up the tab for all of them after Anna had made mention that a few of her friends wouldn't be able to afford going out. The day passed by quickly as Brennan helped Anna pack what she wanted to take with her, also promising that if she left anything behind she found she would later need or want they would come back to get it.
Before the dinner that night Brennan took Anna to see her father and waited outside while she spoke her goodbyes. As she waited she began to feel guilty about not calling any of her friends back in DC, but knew if she called Booth now he would easily be able to get the information about Anna out of her and she really wasn't ready to discuss it, especially over the phone. She was certain that it was a conversation meant to be had in person. So instead of calling Booth she dialed Angela's cell while she was waiting for Anna.
"Hello," Angela's voice rang through the line cheerfully.
Hesitating a moment before responding Brennan drew in a deep breath and spoke softly, almost in fear of Angela being able to do the same as she feared Booth would, "Hey Ange. I apologize for not informing you of my departure; however it was late and urgent for me to go at the moment." Brennan rambled off knowing that her friend would let nothing else go before talking about her lack of communication.
"Bren!" Angela cried out, obviously not having looked to see who was calling when she answered, "I was so worried about you. Don't you dare do this to me again! I don't care how late it is you call and wake me up if you have to, got it?"
"Yes Ange." Brennan's voice was a mere whisper as Angela continued speaking.
"Anyway, what was the big emergency? I mean you left so suddenly haven't called me before now to let me know anything and all Booth told us was that you were in Oregon. I mean I know there are a couple of guys up there that you may still have a… well could have a good time with anyway, but nothing I know of to cause you to run off there without a word."
Brennan sighed before responding, "Ange can we talk about that when I get back? I'm supposed to be back around noon tomorrow if the flights not delayed, maybe you could come over to my place for a late lunch and we could discuss it?"
"Sure sweetie, I guess I could wait that long, but, you are okay right?"
"I'm fine Ange, really. Something came up that I had to take care of, that's all. Everything's gonna work out fine." Brennan replied swiftly, sounding far more confident that she felt.
"Okay, well Bren you give me a call to confirm when your flight is getting in and I'll pick you up at the airport."
"Ange you don't…"
"Yes Bren, I do, and I will even if I have to stake out the airport until you arrive, okay?" Angela's voice left no room for reproach and she heard Brennan sigh across the line.
"Ange, just don't freak out okay? And promise me you won't tell anyone else this but… I won't be alone, and it's not what you think." Brennan spotted Anna coming towards her swiping at her eyes, "I gotta go but I'll text you the flight info later okay? Bye."
After Brennan hung up on Angela she began walking towards Anna, "Hey," she said softly raising her arm to envelope the girl in a slight embrace before reconsidering and placing her hand gently on Anna's arm, "You ready to go have dinner with your friends?"
Both Anna and Brennan tried to smile, but neither one's reached their eyes. After tearful goodbyes and promises of phone calls and letters from all her friends they were ready to go back to the house and get some sleep before their flight the next day. Brennan was as nervous about bringing Anna home to DC with her as she was about going. Neither slept well that night.
