Chapter 9

Disclaimer: Sad to report I do not own Bones.

Between stopping for coffee (Bones complained about being late but Booth insisted) and traffic, it was 8:30 by the time the pair arrived at the Jeffersonian.

"What are you doing?" Brennan asked as Booth shut of the engine and stepped out of the car.

"I'm walking you into the lab." Did he have to explain this to her every time?

Once they entered the lab Booth decided to take the opportunity to pick Angela's brain. The comments Bones made before leaving earlier really shook him. She couldn't really think he'd be better off with an agent partner, could she? Booth like to think that he could read his partner well after all this time but she really threw him.

Booth was headed towards Angela's office when Brennan called out to him "Booth! I need your keys. I left my laptop in the truck."

Booth tossed her the keys "Be sure to take a security guard out with you. I need go over evidence with Angela." Brennan gave him an odd look at that but left nonetheless.

Booth wandered over to Angela's office, knocking on the door as he entered. "Hey Angela, do you have a minute?"

"Sure Booth" This ought to be good Angela thought Booth rarely needs to talk to me.

"What's she done this time?"

Booth started. Leave it to Angela to get to the heart of a problem. "It's…ah…nothing

she did so much as what she said…" Booth began pacing, his face solemn "And I don't

know if she was serious or if it's just this case that's getting to her."

"What did she say?"

Angela had been smiling, thinking all sorts of happy thoughts. She had it all worked out

in her mind that for Booth to be coming to her Bren must have finally confessed feelings

for her partner. At least that's what she thought until she took a good look at Booth and

could see something was terribly, terribly wrong. "Okay Booth. You're really starting to

worry me here. What did Bren say?"

"I guess my first question should be how much you know about Bones' connection to this

case."

"Bren's my best friend. I know the whole sordid story."

Booth turned abruptly "You knew all along and didn't bother to tell me?"

"No! I pried it out of her yesterday afternoon. You got all nuts about security and

she kept quiet. I knew something was up."

"I guess that makes sense." Booth said more to himself than Angela. He resume his

pacing as he continued. "If she told you that then she told you I convinced her to stay

with me last night." Angela's face lit up and Booth held up his hand to stave off any

further comments "She wanted to stay with you but this guy Davis already contacted her

at home so the safest place to stay was with me. Anyway, last night everything was

fine and this morning she starts talking about me needing a new partner. She made

up some crap about all the danger and I should be working with an actual agent."

Angela's jaw dropped at this bit of information. She knew Brennan was in love with

the hunky agent, despite all her protestations against love in general, but she hadn't

realized just how far Brennan had fallen until now. For Brennan to suggest

splitting up their partnership meant Brennan was a goner. Then another thought

occurred to her. "What happened last night?"

"Huh?"

"Did you finally jump each other?" Angela's smile grew even wider at Booth's blush.

"No! I mean, we slept together, but we didn't sleep together." Booth tried

explaining.

Clearly, Angela was imagining all the wrong thins so he continued "I woke

up to Bones screaming in the middle of the night with one of those nightmares.

I ran in to check on her, I talked her through it and she asked me to stay with

her. All we did was sleep, Angela. Really."

"Oh my God" Angela whispered. "And you don't get why she said what she

did this morning."

Booth nodded.

"Wow. I thought you knew her better than that." Angela looked up to Booth

in disappointment. He, in return, only seemed more confused than before.

"Despite being brilliant, Bren is…let's say slow…when it comes to emotions.

But she's been changing ever since you two started working together. I

tried before to get her to own up to feelings but got nowhere. You, though

she listens to you."

"And?"

"In the past, whenever she felt someone getting too close she bailed. I

mean, come on, that's what everyone did to her. It's actually ironic if you

think about it I mean she tends to do exactly what's been done to her…"

"Angela!" Booth's sharp voice brought her back "Focus please!"

"Right. Sorry. Anyway, she relies on you, more than she will ever

admit. Last night…there's a huge chunk of her past she doesn't

discuss with anyone. Even me. Yea, we all know about her family

but this is the first any of us has heard about her years in foster care."

"I see your point. I thought we were finally past all that. I thought

she believed that I wouldn't abandon her. She's my partner. In

this business you have to be able to trust your partner."

"That's just it Booth. Bren does trust you and it scares the hell out

of her." Angela shrugged her shoulders at his incredulous look "Hey,

I didn't say it made sense. We both know the girl needs therapy."

"Too bad she hates psychology."

Meanwhile

Brennan hurried out to the SUV to retrieve her laptop, grateful to have a moment alone.

Booth told her to take security but of course she didn't. Brennan sat down on the

Concrete curb after retrieving her bag and sighed. Booth was understandably

upset by her comments earlier. What's wrong with me? It's not as if I

meant any of it. I don't know what I would do without Booth. He's been my

rock through so much…She woke up with a sense of security this morning,

knowing it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with Booth. The

real question she needed to ask herself was whether or not she could still

take care of herself. When Davis tracked her down last week at the signing

she froze. In some irrational part of her mind she'd been waiting for Booth

to walk in and…fix it. For them to continue as partners she had to know,

absolutely, she could still back him up.

Little did she know the opportunity was approaching.