Not as much drunkenness as I thought but it was a girl talk nonetheless…

Please give me ideas on where to go from here... I'm kinda grasping for ideas!

"Oh, God, you should have seen his face Brennan! I couldn't have timed it better!" Angela laughs heartily with the random memory but slowly falters at the non-response. Frustrated with the efforts of drawing out her friend, Angela takes another sip of her wine and shakes her head. It's so obvious that Brennan is preoccupied and on a completely different wavelength. Waving her hand exaggeratedly in front of the scientist's eyes she sings, "Earth to Brennan!"

Brennan's eyes snapped up at the mention of her name.

"Honey, what's wrong? You've been quiet all night."

Staring into her glass of red, Brennan sighed. The effects of the wine lowering her defences, "We kissed."

Angela propped herself up on her bed – her eyes widening at the juicy bit of info, "You kissed Booth?"

Brennan gulped the rest of her wine and nodded, "well, he kissed me… and a… God, Ang, it was amazing… I've never felt so… moved… in a sexual situation."

Angela squeezed her friends hand, "Really?! You guys finally jumped bones?" the artist sighs dramatically and flops back onto the bed, "Oh… Thank God!"

"No, Ang. We didn't and we shouldn't."

"On what planet?"

"Ang, he's got everything confused. He thinks he's in love with me but that will fade just like every other symptom of his surgery."

"Sweetie, that's where you're wrong, Booth has always loved you."

"No, he's confused Angela. He's confused me with his coma dream protagonist."

Angela takes the empty glass from her friend's grasp and places it safely on the side table, "Brennan, honestly, you're too stubborn for your own damn good. Booth loves you. Trust me. I know these things… I have a sixth sense."

Brennan scoffs, "humans only possess five senses, Angela."

"No, Brennan, you're wrong. You need to trust Booth."

Brennan rolls off the bed, frustrated at the fact that she'd let herself get so drunk and reaches for her glass to take it into the kitchen, "Just leave it Ang."

"No, Brennan! You're my best friend and it's my job to intervene… you're sabotaging the perfect relationship that you and Booth could have together!"

"I'm doing nothing of the sort Angela! I'm being the only rational one out of all of us! I'm putting aside my feelings and looking at the situation with rational, logical thought… something that you could take hint from!"

Trying hard to keep level headed Angela forges forward, "Brennan, stop! You spout all this logical bull shit but what does your heart tell you?"

Temperance rolls her eyes in mockery, "My heart is an organ that pumps blood around my circulatory system, Angela… it holds no relevance in this conversation!"

Angela throws her arms up in surrender, "Ugh! No wonder Booth started seizing! You're so God-damn frustrating, Brennan! You're never going to be happy if you keep cleaving to this ultra-rational, robotic, self-fucking-martyr thing you've got going here! Let yourself feel for God's sake! What have you got to lose?"

Temperance's face crumples, "Everything… I've got everything to lose."

Angela shakes her head with strident disagreement, "No, Brennan, all you have to lose is your selfish pride. Is Booth's true love really worth surrendering over that?" Having reached her limit of self-control, Angela leaves the bedroom, slamming the door on the way.

Brennan shakes her head, burying her head under the pillows and cries.

…

Sunlight claws unsympathetically at her eyes, she sniffs and scruffs her nose in defiance. Breaking through the sleep seal of her tired eyes, Brennan opens them against the light and is greeted with the wide open stare of her best friend, "I'm so sorry Brennan. I didn't mean what I said last night."

Brennan takes a moment for her mind to surface and grow lucid, covering her mouth to stem the morning breath she calms, "It's OK Ang. I know it's a frustrating circumstance."

Angela cups her friend's face tenderly and rubs a soothing thumb over her cheek, "It is… but it's not your fault, sweetie."

Brennan's eyes water, "I'm just… I'm just so emotionally exhausted Ang. It's all so above me at the moment."

Swiping her tears with her thumb, Angela whispers, "I know sweetie… It's OK. Just rest, honey. I'm here."

Folding the scientist into her arms, Angela rubs a soothing hand over her back, lulling her back into sleep.

…

Hours later, Brennan awakes to the smell of coffee, bacon and eggs. Wandering out to the kitchen of Angela's apartment, Brennan smiles at the sight of her best friend singing and dancing along to the radio, "Morning Ang."

The artist swings around happily, "Hey sweetie! I know you don't like bacon but I've got eggs, toast and coffee for when you're ready. There's even some fruit salad in the fridge if you feel like it."

Brennan smiles, genuinely grateful for her best friend, "Thanks Ang, I must admit, I'm quite hungry."

Sitting down together at the table, Angela tries again to apologise, "I know I upset you last night, Bren. Honestly, sweetie, I'm sorry. I just don't want you to sabotage one of the best things that's ever happened to you."

Crunching on a piece of toast, Brennan talks around a mouthful, "What makes you think he's always felt this way about me Ang? I am a very observant person and I've never picked up on it until now. Prior to the coma Booth was always annoyed with me, frustrated with me and just…" she shakes her head, "I don't know. He's different now and it's all been strictly since the coma dream."

Angela smiles slightly, "Are you sure that it isn't just that he's putting himself out there after having such a close brush with death? He's not holding back because he realises that life is short and that all those stupid reasons he had for drawing lines and keeping you at arm's length are now just that - stupid."

Brennan's heart stutters with the thought that Angela is possibly right.

"Look, sweetie, there's no need to be making a decision right now. Booth's obviously not going anywhere and neither are you… and he's certainly in no position to be making advances."

"Well… I was actually considering giving him some space. There's this dig in Guatema…"

"Stop right there Brennan. I will not let you run from this."

"Ang, I'm not running. I've been thinking a lot about it and there's a verse that says, "If you love something set it free; if it comes back it's yours, if it doesn't it never was." I'm not normally one for sappy poetry but I believe there's some truth to that prose."

Angela scoffs, "Yeah, and there's another that says, "If you love something set it free, but don't be surprised if it comes back with herpes" God, Brennan, if you left Booth he'd be devastated."

"I wouldn't be leaving him, Ang, I'd be…"

"Bren, sweetie, this is one of those times where you just have to trust that I'm right and you're wrong, OK? Seriously wrong."

Brennan sighs and shakes her head, "I don't think I could anyway… it was Sweets who suggested it."

"Mmm… Sweets. I think I'd better have a chat to our weasely, meddling shrink." Angela does a double take on her best friend then scoffs emphatically, "He's totally playing with you guys Brennan! His number one priority is the FBI and he knows that if you and Booth hook up it will spell trouble for the FBI's no fraternisation rule. Trust me… he reeks with hidden agenda."

Brennan nods tiredly into her coffee. Angela can't remember a time she'd seen her friend look so lost. Clasping her hand comfortingly her voice softens, "Listen, I'm going to make some suggestions here, Bren and I'm certain that they're for the best, OK? Take Booth home, care for him, be his friend, look after him and just go with the flow. Don't stress over anything, don't question anything. Obviously no jumping bones until he's cleared but just let the relationship unfold naturally and be honest with him, Sweetie… don't go hiding behind your fears OK? There's no need to name it or label it. Just let it happen."

Brennan's lips turn up with affection, "That's very vague advice, Ang."

Angela smiles and drags the scientist out of the chair, "I know. But it's good advice, you'll see. Now, let's go pretty those bitten-to-the-bone nails of yours before we have to go save your lover boy from that crazy matron nurse of his."

I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter.

Not quite sure if I should do the whole Angela/ Brennan-pedi/ mani girlfriend thing but I've just discovered Jamberry so I may just have some fun with that!

PM me if you want to know more about the awesomeness that is Jamberry!

Please review!