A/N: Sorry for the delay, I was sick with the flu! The song is The Promise by Tracey Chapman. Thanks for all the reviews!
They were worried about her. And frankly it was damned annoying. From her office she could see the furtive glances Zach was giving her. That was the least of it. Angela bothered her everyday and Hodgins kept randomly walking by her office. Cam had wisely said nothing. Why couldn't they all understand. She just wanted to work. She saw Agent Matthews come up to the platform.
It had been five weeks since Booth had left, the longest five weeks of her life. She hadn't set foot near an FBI case since then. Agent Matthews had turned out to be pretty decent. He came in and did his job but always made it perfectly clear that he was just subbing for Booth. He was also working well with Zach, who was beginning to be more confident in his abilities. There was a knock on her door and she looked up.
"Angela, what do you want?" she said. She couldn't keep the irritated tone out of her voice.
"I just came to give you my sketches, Bren." Angela explained.
"Sorry Ange." She replied, feeling guilty.
"It's okay." Angela said. "But while I am here can I tell you that you look horrible."
"Wow, Ange that makes me feel better." She said sarcastically.
"What I mean is maybe you should lie down for a bit." Angela said, biting her lip. She didn't want to be yelled at again.
"I can't Ange." She replied. "Parker's coming in a while and I have to finish this report."
"You have Parker again?" Angela said, sounding surprised. "Rebecca is letting you have him a lot."
"Yeah well she and Drew have been busy. I guess her parents sometimes help, but I said I would take him anytime." She said.
"You really love him, don't you?" Angela asked, sitting down on the couch.
"He's so much like Seeley." The words tumbled out of her mouth before she realized that she had said them. She walked over to Angela and sat down.
"Oh sweetie." Angela said sadly as she gave her a hug.
She blinked back the tears. "I..Ange..I have to do work." She got up and headed back to her desk. After a few minutes, Angela sighed, got up and left.
Angela, Jack and Zach all walked towards the door of the Jeffersonian. It was six-thirty in the morning, far too early to be at work in Angela's opinion, but Agent Matthews had called Zach saying they had found four bodies in a shallow grave.
Dr. Saroyan was heading for the entrance as well. "Good morning." She said stiffly.
"Morning." Angela and Zach replied. Hodgins just nodded his head. They all walked in together and were stopped in their tracks by what they saw.
Brennan was sound asleep, her head on the exam table resting near a skeleton. There were piles of papers everywhere and several boxes that contained other skeletons. There was a small CD player on one of the side tables and the last few seconds of a song played before there was silence. The next track started and music filled the lab.
If you wait for me
Then I'll come for you
Although I've travelled far
I always hold a place for you
In my heart
If you think of me
If you miss me once in a while
Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart
Remembering your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way
Back to you
If you'll be waiting
"Oh God." Angela whispered, as she heard the words. Tears were falling down her face. She was crying for her best friend. She couldn't imagine what Bren was dealing with. If Hodgins left for five weeks without a word, she knew that she would be pretty distraught. It didn't help that Bren was working like crazy. She had been sleeping in the lab for the last two weeks, only going home to get clothes. The only time when she wasn't at the lab was when she was with Parker. She couldn't believe the connection that had been forged between her and Parker. When Bren was with Parker, her eyes lit up. She listened to his endless questions about bones and skeletons. The guys liked having Parker around the lab too. 'So do I.' She thought to herself. She slowly inched her way towards the platform.
She turned and looked back at the others. They all had concerned looks on their faces, even Cam. She swiped her card and walked softly over to her.
"Sweetie, wake up." Angela said, shaking her softly. She raised her head and looked around, seeing Cam, Zach and Hodgins staring at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, what time is it?" she said, standing up immediately. She started grabbing the various piles of paper around her.
"It's only six-thirty." Angela said.
"Why are you here?" she asked, puzzled.
"Agent Matthews called us. We have four bodies." Hodgins said, as they all came up on the platform.
"Well, let me move my reports." She said, gathering them in her arms and heading off to her office. When she came back, she heard the last verse of the song playing.
Please say you'll be waiting
Together again
It would feel so good to be in your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you make a promise
If it's one you can keep
I vow to come to you
If you wait for me
And say you'll hold
A place for me
In your heart
She stood frozen on the platform, tears welling in her eyes. Suddenly she snapped out of her thoughts, marched over and turned the music off.
"I was unaware that anyone would be here this early, Dr. Saroyan." She said.
Angela noted that Brennan didn't say anything about actually being sorry.
"That's okay." Cam said. "However we will need all of the exam tables for the bodies coming in."
"Yes, let me finish." She replied. As she put the last bone in the box, her cellphone rang.
"Brennan." She said. "Absolutely, of course I will." She said into the phone. "I'll come right now." She snapped her phone shut and looked at everyone. "Rebecca's mother is in the hospital, I have to go get Parker. I will be back." She grabbed her keys and purse from her office and headed out.
