Thankyou for coming on this little journey with me. Hope you are enjoying it!


Chapter 7


It was now Thursday morning and Jack had been trying to speak to Angela since Monday. Was she avoiding him? He couldn't think of any reason why she would be, but she always seemed to be rushing off to do something or be somewhere whenever he found himself in the same room as her. If he called her on it she would probably just laugh at him and tell him he was being paranoid again. Maybe he was. He couldn't think straight when it came to her at the moment. He couldn't seem to get her off of his mind.

He spotted Dr Brennan going into her office and decided to use it as an opportunity to corner Ange himself. He made his way towards the door of her office, staying just out of sight until Brennan exited before stepping in and making his presence known.

"Hey Ange, how's it going," he greeted her.

She glanced up, lacking the usual sparkle in her eye, and responded in a very business like manner. "It's pretty hectic at the moment Jack. How can I help you?"

"I just wanted to touch base with you about Saturday night. To check what time you wanted to come around Saturday and see if you needed me to do anything to help? You are welcome to come over for dinner Friday night if you wanted and we can get a head start on things?"

Angela's body language relaxed slightly, but she was still clearly not herself. "I might drop some drinks over and put them in the fridge Friday night if that is okay. I won't stay for dinner though, I am sure you have better things to do, especially since you are giving up your night on Saturday."

"It really isn't a problem Ange," he assured her. "And I am not giving up my Saturday. Actually I am really looking forward to it." He gave her a smile but she did not return it and he was struggling to get a read on what was going on. "Is everything okay Ange?" he asked her.

"I'm fine," she told him shortly, "Just busy Jack.

He was far from convinced, but knew better than to push her further. "Okay. Well you know where to find me if there is anything I can do." He left her office and made his way back to his own, more confused than when he arrived.

Angela remained at her desk and let her head fall to her hands. This was killing her. Even though they had mutually agreed to go their own way, the thought of him with someone else was too much to bear. She thought that she had moved on, but the thought of him doing the same was crushing her. He hadn't said anything about a new relationship, nor had she actually seen him with anyone for certain, but she had convinced herself that this was the only logical explanation for his behaviour the previous weekend. He still cared about her enough not to spring it on her and rub her face in it, but he had met someone.

She turned her attention to box in the corner of her office instead. Trying to distract herself from the wave of emotion that had struck. The box was slowing filling with the Kris Kringle gifts for Saturday night. Digging through the four gifts now in the box, she read the names on the tags. Hers and Hodgins were missing. The fact that Sweets had not dropped of the gift for Hodgins yet was not surprising. She didn't recall having seen him at the Jeffersonian so far that week. Sadly whoever had her name, either Cam or Hodgins, hadn't added hers to the box yet. Maybe they knew she wouldn't be able to resist peeking. Maybe they were still hunting for the perfect gift. Or maybe it was Hodgins and he was just too distracted by his new woman to think about shopping for something for her.

Realizing that this was not providing adequate distraction she made her way to Brennan's office instead. "Wanna grab a coffee Sweetie? Make it an early lunchbreak?"

Brennan saw the pleading look in her eye and didn't argue. "Sure Ange," she replied, standing up and grabbing her purse.

Before long the two friends were sitting, sipping their drinks. Angela was unusually quiet. "Has something happened Angela?" Brennan asked, her concern growing.

"No," Angela replied. She looked up and saw the questioning look in Brennan's eyes. "Yes. Maybe. I don't know sweetie." A single tear slipped from her eye and ran down her cheek.

"Is it something medical?" Brennan asked, unsure as to what had brought on this break in her friends normally happy, carefree disposition.

"No, nothing like that." Angela sighed.

"Then what is it about?" Brennan pushed, feeling very inapt at dealing with her clearly upset friend.

Angela sighed again. "It's Jack."

"Is something wrong with him?" Brennan asked. "I had not perceived any change in either his physical or emotional state to lead me to believe he had a problem."

Angela shook her head, "That isn't the issue."

"I thought you stated it was Jack that had the problem."

"No," Angela replied, "Jack is the problem."

"Does this pertain to your failed relationship, or has their been a new complication that has arisen between the two of you?"

"I think he has a new girlfriend."

"And this is causing you emotional distress?" Brennan asked her.

Angela nodded, another tear escaping from her eye. "I think I made a terrible mistake when I let him go."

"Does Hodgins know that you feel this way?"

"No, and please don't tell him. It isn't fair of me to throw this on him.

Not when he is happy and has moved on."

Brennan was confused again. "But surely it would be easier for you if you just told him how you felt. Wouldn't this make it easier for you to adjust to the new dynamics of your relationship and move on?"

Angela shook her head. "I don't want to move on. But I have to. I will be okay. I just need to get my mind off of this and find someone for myself. I've been single for too long."


Angela and Dr Brennan heading out to lunch had not gone unnoticed by Hodgins. Evidently it was only him that Angela was too busy for. He knew that he was being unreasonable. He had relinquished any claim he had over her when they chose to go their separate ways rather than getting married. It had taken them time to move on beyond this, but lately things had really been feeling more positive. The banter and smiles were returning. They were enjoying each others company. She had been comfortable enough to ask to use his house to host her party. He had dared to hope again, but now he wasn't so sure.

He fingered the small package sitting on the desk in front of him. Angela's Kris Kringle gift. He had spent hours agonising over what to get for her. Eventually he had decided to go out on a limb, to take a chance. Now he was wondering if he should scrap the whole idea and just grab her a photo frame or some other generic knick-knack instead. He slipped the box back into the drawer he had taken it out of. He would decide what to do later about it later.


Angela and Brennan had finished their drinks and the conversation had moved to lighter topics.

"That dress is going to look superb on you Saturday night," Angela told her friend. "And I bet Booth is going to look hot as well."

"He wears a suit for work Angela. I fail to see how there will be a significant alteration in his appearance."

"I am not saying he isn't easy on the eye. He is always perv worthy I agree with you there. If it were me working so closely with him I would be spending a good part of my day with my eyes fixed on his ass. But I bet he manages to take it up a notch just the same."

"While I agree with you that his symmetry is attractive and the definition of his muscles is easy on they eye, I assure you it does not detract from my work in any way."

Angela laughed at her friend. "Well if it doesn't detract from your work I see no reason not to have a good stare." She winked at her friend.

"Ange," Brennan whined. "It isn't like that."

"Well it should be," Angela assured her.


TBC

Another short chapter I know, but it seemed like the most appropriate place to leave it. The next chapter should be a good one to make up for it.

Please drop me a line to let me know how you are finding things so far.