AN- Your response to this story has been overwhelming and really touches my heart… thank you so much! Keep reviewing… it keeps me going! ;- )

For those of you who were disappointed by the big reveal, I'm sorry… I had hoped it would live up to expectations. I had to let the story tell itself, and this is the way it played out. Honestly, right up until the moment I wrote it, I had planned for the event to be more graphic and much more violent. But this story is really about dealing with the emotional and psychological pain of the trauma… I think the way it played out was perfect for the tone of the story.

Chapter 10 - Rules

"Oh my god, Brennan!" Angela jumped up from the chair and went to hug her best friend, tears in both of their eyes. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry. That must have been so hard for you. You should have told me…"

"I'm sorry, Angela," Brennan said, as Angela moved back so they could see each other's face. "Please don't be angry with me, I just couldn't talk about it…"

"What? No. Why would I be angry with you?"

"You were angry that I didn't tell you Booth and I got married," Brennan said. "I suppose these are the kinds of things you're always telling me that best friends should tell each other."

"Well, they are," Angela said, "but I just meant you should have told me then. I would have flown out to help you."

Angela took both of Brennan's hands in hers as she looked over at Booth.

"Boys," she said. "Can you give us a minute?"

"Sure," Booth said, glancing over to his wife. She nodded to him, indicating she'd be all right with Angela. "We'll run down to Sid's and pick up some dinner."

"That's a good idea," Angela said.

"I'll be right back," Booth said into Brennan's ear as he leaned in to kiss her goodbye.

"I'll be fine," she answered quietly.

The women watched in silence as their husbands made their way out of the apartment. Angela stood up and turned toward the kitchen.

"I don't know about you," she said. "But I need a glass of wine."

"Sounds good," Brennan replied, standing up to follow.

Angela went to retrieve two glasses, while Brennan pulled a bottle of Pinot Noir from her wine rack.

"Red okay?" she asked.

"Perfect," Angela answered, taking down the appropriate glasses.

Brennan opened the bottle, setting it aside while she took out some Edam and a box of water crackers. She spread the snack out on a plate and carried over to the island where Angela was seated. She went back to the counter to pick up the wine and brought it over before sitting down across from her friend.

"It's all very confusing," Brennan said, pouring the wine.

"What is?" Angela asked.

"There seem to be so many rules governing social interactions and relationships. I'm never sure if I'm doing it correctly, or even if I'm capable of doing it correctly."

"First of all," Angela told her, "you're doing fine. You seem to be handling the whole marriage thing really well…"

"That's different," Brennan said.

"How so?"

"Things are just different with Booth. I don't have to worry about doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing. I know he'll love me anyway, and if I do or say something really wrong, he'll tell me."

"He's your guy, Bren," Angela said, truly happy for her friends. "He always has been."

There was an awkward pause, and the two women sat in silence for another moment before Angela spoke again.

"Look Brennan," she said. "I can't tell you how sorry I am for how I reacted to your wedding ring. But I was wrong. You are my best friend… you changed my life, you do realize that, don't you?"

She waited a moment, looking into friend's eyes before continuing.

"Brennan, if it weren't for you… I'd probably still be drawing caricatures on a sidewalk somewhere trying to scrape up enough money that elusive trip to Europe. But, because you believed in me… look at where I am. I'm a part of a respected team of scientist and law enforcers. Bren, what we do is incredible. It sucks that there is actually a need for it, but what we do…what you and Booth do for those victims' families… and because of you I am a part of that."

She stopped again, waiting for her words to sink in.

"And that trip to Europe? Let me tell you, spending a year in Paris with my sexy gazillionaire husband was a hell of a lot better than staying in a hostel and drawing tourists along the Champs Elyse. Your friendship changed my life, sweetie. There is no right and wrong in our relationship. There are no rules, Bren. It's just that I love you and I really want to see you be happy."

"I love you, too, Angela," Brennan said. "You know, Booth told me once that there is more than one kind of family. And you and Hodgins, Cam, and even Sweets and Daisy… you are our family. I just wish I was better at conveying those feelings."

"You're getting there," Angela answered. "You know, maybe I was wrong. Maybe there is at least one rule…"

"What's that?"

"The rule is that not only do we, as best friends, have to be there for each other, but we have to be able to let the other one be there for us."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Brennan, that best friends rely on each other. I know that Booth has always been that best friend for you… but let me be the back-up. Take now, what we've been talking about this evening. I could have been there for you. I should have been there for you. Booth couldn't come… but I could. I would have come… I wish you'd called me."

"I couldn't do that," Brennan said. "You were on your honeymoon. I wouldn't have wanted you to interrupt that for me."

"Ten months in to a year-long honeymoon," Angela pointed out. "I think Jack could have survived without me for a few weeks. How are you, really?"

"I'm okay," Brennan answered. "I'm seeing Dr. Delaney weekly… but now that I have Booth, and you, I'm thinking of cutting back to every two weeks. Booth and I are going to have to start seeing Sweets again when we get back to work, I'm sure…"

Angela let out a long sigh.

"I can't even begin to imagine what it was like," she said.

"The hardest part has been the guilt," her friend answered. "I didn't even consider the fetus when I attempted to extricate Miss Wick from the fallen boulders…"

"Bren, you saved Daisy's life. She's very likely still alive because of you."

"Perhaps, but my baby isn't."

"You're not being fair to yourself, Brennan. You did the right thing."

"How can you say that, Angela? I killed my baby."

"No, Brennan. You didn't. It was an accident, a terrible accident," Angela said as she reached over to wipe the tears from her friend's face. "And you don't know that anything you did caused what happened to the baby… you were buried under those rocks, yourself. You said you had internal injuries. Sweetie, there probably wasn't anything you could have done differently."

"Maybe it was for the best," Brennan said. "What kind of mother doesn't even think of her child?"

"Don't do that. You know you're going to be a great mother. We've all seen you with Parker… Sweetie, you will be a terrific mother. It just wasn't meant to be right now. You and Booth just got married. You've only been living together a month. Give it time."

BnBnBnBnB

Booth and Hodgins sat at the bar at Wong Fu's, each nursing a beer silently as they waited for Sid to prepare their takeout order.

"It sucks, dude," Hodgins said. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," Booth answered. "I'm just worried about Bones."

"She's strong. She'll be all right."

"She's not as strong as everyone thinks," Booth said with a sigh.

"Maybe not," Hodgins replied. "But she can handle this."

"I know that," Booth said. "But I'm not sure she does."

"Then remind her," Hodgins answered. "She's got you… and Ange… and me."

"I never really thanked you for taking care of her in that car," Booth said.

"It was her, man," Hodgins replied. "She kept me going. And she did it because of you. She knew you'd find us. Even then, dude, she had total faith in you. And it's my guess that's what's getting her through now. She's knows you're gonna be there, no matter what."

"I told her once that I'd die for her," Booth said. "That I'd kill for her."

"But you've gotta live for her," Hodgins said. "She's probably looking to your lead for how to move on and get past this. I can't imagine what it's like, and I won't pretend to. But what she told you back there is right. You've both got to move on, get past the pain and the loss…but most importantly, you've gotta move past the guilt. It's only then that you'll be able to move on with your life."

"Damn, Bug man," Booth said, sporting a genuine smile. "When did you get to be so smart?"

Hodgins smiled in return but chose not to comment.

"My guess is Angie is telling her pretty much the same thing," he told him instead.

BnBnBnBnB

"The house has a nursery," Brennan said. "It's very cute. Pale green, with a forest mural on one wall."

"Sounds nice," Angela said.

"I don't think I'd want to change it."

"Yeah?"

"It's very nice, and would be suitable for either a boy or a girl," Brennan said.

"Tell me about the rest of the house," Angela said.

"It's really very beautiful," Brennan answered. "I think I'd want to repaint the master bedroom, and Booth wants to make some changes to his man room, but otherwise it's really perfect."

"Did you call the realtor?" Angela asked.

"Yes," Brennan replied. "We looked at a few places in Maryland and Virginia this morning, and we decided that we really do want to stay in the District. I called this morning and made an offer. We should know something by the end of the week."

"I can't wait to see it," Angela said. "Better yet, I can't wait to help you go furniture shopping."

"What's wrong with my furniture?"

"Nothing, sweetie. But you can't tell me there is enough furniture in this apartment to fill a house in Forest Hills. I still can't believe Booth is willing to live there."

"It is ridiculously large," Brennan said with a smile. "Much more than we'll really ever need. But I have to tell you, Ange…there was just something about it. When we walked in, I just knew it was the one. I could see us living there."

"I'm sure it will be great," Angela said. She paused a minute before changing the subject. "So, you're coming back to work tomorrow?"

"Yes," Brennan answered. "Finally."

"I never really thought about it before, but I think Cam said something about Daisy coming in this week. I think she might be looking to come back, how do you feel about that?"

"Why would I have any feeling either way? I think it might be a good thing, she's very talented," Brennan said. "But didn't Cam hire Dr. Edison? With Mr. Bray and Miss Wick both defending their dissertations this fall, I don't think we're going to need four forensic anthropologists on staff…"

"She hired Clark on a temporary contract to fill in for you," Angela replied. "You still haven't hired an assistant, and that coupled with the fact that you are continually working more FBI cases, I think she's okay with having more hands on deck."

"I don't know what that means," Brennan said, much to Angela's amusement. "But of course, at this point we don't know what my ongoing role is going to be with the FBI cases."

"Now I don't know what that means," Angela retorted.

"With Booth and I being married, I don't know what kind of involvement the FBI is going to allow me have in his cases."

"And you're okay with that?"

"No, but I don't have much choice, do I? I've at least had six months to consider it. Of course I want to work with Booth… but our marriage is a fact, and there are rules."

"And when has that ever stopped you, Mrs. Booth?"

BnBnBnBnB

"I heard Daisy's coming back to the lab this week," Hodgins said. "You think Dr. B's gonna be okay with that?"

"Why wouldn't she?"

Hodgins didn't say anything, just gave him that look that said, Are you kidding me?

"She doesn't blame Daisy," Booth said.

"Yeah, I guess she wouldn't."

"If anything, she blames herself," Booth said. "She's really looking forward to getting back to work. I don't think Daisy being there would be a problem for her. At this point, I don't see anything being a problem for her as long as she's back at the lab."

"What about the bureau?" Hodgins asked. "Are they going to let you keep working together?"

"What?" Booth said. "Why wouldn't they?"

"Oh, I don't know. I think they might frown on the idea of their agents being married to their partners."

"Right," Booth said. "Well, all I can do is let our record speak for itself. I'm better with her than without her."

"Maybe they'll bend the rules for you since you're the best of the best and all," Hodgins said. "I mean, they're the government… they never play by the rules."