Back again! I decided to dedicate a chapter mostly to sibling fluff, so BB has once again been held off…there is a touch, though, so be happy! Own nothing, but those willing to help me kidnap Booth and Hodgins can share the wealth.

BB

The rumbling of Brennan's stomach was heard above the radio, and Booth raised his eyebrows. "You haven't eaten."

It wasn't a question, but Brennan shook her head anyway. "Not since the granola on the plane this morning. I forgot about it when I landed. I had a few other things on my mind."

Nodding, Booth smiled, turning his SUV suddenly onto a familiar side street. Two miles later they were sitting in front of Wong Foo's, and the nostalgia of it make Brennan choke up. Booth's voice broke her silence. "What do you want?" At Brennan's confused look, he continued. "You're exhausted, and not up to the Spanish Inquisition you'll get from Sid. We'll come back tomorrow with the squints, but what do you want tonight?"

"Let Sid decide." Brennan smiled softly in thanks. "I thought you knew better than to contradict him."

Booth responded with a full-fledged charm smile as he turned of the ignition. As he got out of the car he tossed his cell phone at her "Call Russ."

With that simple order he disappeared into the darkened restaurant, and Brennan stared at the phone in her hand. Russ…if there was anyone who had a right to be angry…Russ….

Images of her stoic teen brother after her parents disappeared ran through her mind, and she could imagine the same agony on his aged face. This time, she caused it…she was no better than her parents, the second blow to a brother who barely survived the first. Her hands were shaking as she dialed the number.

"Hello." Russ's voice caused a sob to rise in her throat, and she tried to choke out a response. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"It's me, Russ. It's Tempe." Silence flooded the line, and for an instant she was afraid he had hung up.

A shuddery breath on the other line confirmed his continued presence, and they sat for a moment breathing at each other. After almost a full two minutes of choked silence, she heard a "Don't lie to me" rasped in her ear.

"I'm not lying, Russ." Brennan whispered back, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm not lying…please, Russ…Polo. Polo."

She heard a sob on the other line, and in an instant all that surrounded her were tears and "Marcos" and "Polos", incoherent words with feelings behind them that explained them all. When the storm calmed and their breathing was even, she heard Russ mutter "How?" low and gravely from hundreds of miles away.

Taking a deep breath, she went through an abridged version of what the others had heard, promising a more detailed account when she saw him in person. "I'm sorry, Russ…I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course, Tempe, how could I not?" Russ laughed slightly and sniffed the last of the tears out of his voice. "You just did what Mom and Dad didn't…you came back."

A sniff was her response, and shaky laughter covered the phone lines. "I never meant to cause you anymore pain, Russ, I swear…"

"I know, Tempe, I know." He sighed. "I have a right to be angry with you, I'm sure, but I think I forfeited that right when I left you at 15."

"Why don't we just say all is forgiven and move on?" Brennan's voice was not strong, but there was a hope in it she hadn't dared to pull up before. They may just be ok.

"Marco."

"Polo."

As the last syllable left her lips, the car door opened, revealing two large boxes of food blocking a struggling FBI agent. Telling Russ to hold on, Brennan put the phone in her lap, reaching over to take a box and set it securely in the backseat.

"Thanks." Booth grinned, placing his box down. "Tell Russ I said hey."

"Booth said hey." Brennan picked up the phone again, and she heard laughter on the line. "What?"

"Shoulda known the agent was there somewhere…tell him I said hello." Before she could relay the message Booth nodded to indicate he heard.

"He heard you. I want to see you, Russ…I'll come down to North Carolina, if you'd like."

"I'll come to D.C.. I've been wanted to take Sarah and the girls on a vacation…this'll be perfect. Sarah would want to meet you." His voice lowered an octave. "She always regretted she never got the chance…"

"Now she does." Choking up again, Brennan blinked back the tears. "I'd love to meet her. When can you come up?"

"I don't know how much notice she needs, but as soon as I can…probably next weekend."

"Perfect." A wide grin broke out on Brennan's face, and she saw Booth smiling at her from the driver's seat. "I'll see you next weekend, then. I love you, Russ."

"I love you too, Tempe." She heard the tears rise in his voice again. "So much…."

"Good night, Russ."

"Sweet dreams, sis."

With a contented sigh she flipped the phone shut, setting it in the consol between them. Booth gave her a sidelong glance and a soft smile. "So, it went well?"

"Yes, very well." Leaning her head back against the familiar seat, Brennan gave her partner a half-smile. "I think this may just end up better than I first thought."

He returned her smile, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "I know it will." His hand lingered on hers a few seconds longer as he continued. "Oh, and Sid said, and I quote "If the Bone Lady ever wants food from Wong Foo's again, she will come and see me tomorrow at the latest.". So, you have been duly threatened."

"Threat noted." Brennan laughed lightly, closing her eyes. "You have no idea how happy I am to be alive again."

"Yeah…yeah I do." Her eyes fluttered open at his whispered words, and she met his dark brown gaze. They were unreadable in their intensity, and within a moment he turned his eyes to the road again without a word. She continued to watch him with half-lidded eyes as they made their way through the streets of Washington.

BB

And now comes the hardcore BB angstfluff…I really love angstfluff. It will most defiantly be abundant in the next few chapters, so hang with me.

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