The Promotion

Chapter 10

Temperance Brennan shifted her weight from one foot to the other, as she examined the contents of her refrigerator while simultaneously listening to her friend on the other end of the phone.

I have nothing good to eat here, she thought with resignation, realizing that a trip to the grocery store would be in order.

"Well, I don't see why I have to do this medical leave thing Ang. I realize I was shot, but I am healing nicely. I see no reason why I can't be at the lab working on something. I hate being at home. It's so boring!" she grumbled, the phone wedged between her shoulder and her ear. Seeing nothing in the refrigerator that looked good, she turned and let the door shut on its own.

"Sweetie" Angela began with a sigh "You were shot. Okay? Shot. This isn't like a bump on the head, you could have died. Can you just relax? Please?" her friend asked with emotion evident in her voice.

Glad she was on the phone so Angela couldn't see her, Temperance rolled her eyes. "Fine" she agreed irritably. "But I really don't see what the big deal is."

"Brennan" Angela warned

"Right, right. I know" She amended, with a low chuckle.

Just then a loud knock sounded from her door. Temperance said to Angela "Listen; there's someone at the door. Call me tomorrow Ang". She pushed the 'End' button on the cordless phone, and hurried over to the door.

After quickly checking to see who it was, she unlocked the door and allowed her former partner into her home.

"Booth! Hi, this is a surprise, come in" she greeted awkwardly taking a step back to allow him entrance. Booth offered her a quick smile, and proceeded into her home.

For a moment, he said nothing, just simply stood there and stared at her. He looked tired, haggard even. She'd been busy prior to the Moen case, and hadn't had time to see him, or make time to meet at the diner for coffee. Between the bone storage cases and the occasional case with Sully, not to mention attempting to get some work done on the outline for her new book, she'd had no time left for other activities. Sully, of course, was doing everything he could to worm his way back into her good graces He wanted to go back to what they were, but Temperance wasn't convinced it was a good idea and was resisting, not wanting to mix her work life with her personal life. In the past she'd been burned on that, and had no intention of letting that happen again anytime soon.

Frowning, with a small smile tugging the corner of her lips, Temperance said curiously "Booth? Are you okay?" her hands placed on her hips, her head tilted quizzically.

Stuttering, he finally responded "Uh, yeah. I'm fine." He turned from her and settled down onto the sofa, placing his head in his hands.

"Bones…I am so sorry, …I don't even know what to say. This is all my fault" he began in a voice filled with quiet anguish.

Standing there, seeing how upset he was, Temperance stared down at him in confusion. What is he talking about? She wondered to herself

Sitting down beside him, she placed on hand on his knee, and asked levelly "Booth, what is all your fault?"

"This whole mess. The whole Sully partner thing, the no more working together thing, and most of all, the you being shot thing. It's my fault, Bones. He confessed, looking at her quickly then back down again.

"Booth, you didn't fire the bullet that hit me. Furthermore it's irrational to place blame on yourself. You accepted the position for your own reasons and I supported you in that. Sully is not as seasoned investigator as you are, so he made a mistake" she soothed, unsure how to make him feel better.

"A mistake is one thing but you being shot, that was more than a mistake. Bones, had that bullet been a fraction of an inch either way, it would have hit an artery and you could have died. Died Bones. Don't you get that?" he said harshly, his eyes bright with anger.

Recalling the similar conversation she'd just had with Angela, she nodded slowly. "Yes, I do realize that Booth, but its done and over with. Obsessing about past events is fruitless. We need to move on and learn from our mistakes" she soothed

"Right. Move on and learn. I get what your saying here Bones, but it doesn't change what happened" he replied, standing again.

"Well…" she began, but was distracted by another knock at the door.

She repeated the entire procedure as she had when Booth arrived, this time opening the door to her new partner.

"Sully, hi" she said, allowing him to enter.

He was armed with what she and Booth use to love to eat— Thai Take Out.

He wandered into the kitchen to set the boxes down then turned to look at the two of them. "Am I interrupting something?" he wondered aloud

"Yeah, you know what Sul, you are. Could you excuse us?" Booth demanded, his eyes dark with anger.

Sully, taken aback at the reaction he'd received, quickly looked to Temperance for help.

"Booth…" she began

Sully seemed to feel the tension in the room because he backed off quickly.

"Um, yeah, it's no problem…. You guys just have something to eat, and I'll maybe talk to you later, Tempe?" he offered, hopeful expression on his face

Not even glancing in his direction, she answered "Yeah"

Then he was gone and they were left alone again.

End this chapter.

A/N: this chapter brings to you my new Beta – you know who you are, and may I say, you did a great job! – Riviera-