Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Bones. This is just for fun.

Author's Note: The car thing described below really happened to us, that was scary. But thanksfully nothing happened :-)

BonesDBchippie: Thanks for your comment. In my opinion, he needed time to think and going away was the easy way to have time. I'm not planning to quit soon, thus he will come back... someday ;-)

43n5ic fr3ak: No knight in this chapter... sorry :-)

---Chapter Ten: Chicken-Hearted Caricature---

Streets of Washington, D.C., Wednesday night

The black SUV made it's way through empty streets. The sky was pitch black, the light from the street lanterns mostly absorbed by the rain. There were no other cars heading home, no walkers making their way through the night. It was a man driving, dark hair, brown eyes starring somewhere, but not on the road.

The car slowed down only a tiny bit at each intersection, suddenly turning right or left. It was as if the driver didn't think, didn't even realize that he was on the streets.

He imagined pictures, events he had no desire to know about. His fantasy was showing him how they looked together, how easily he had gained her trust. He should have told Sully that she was his, that he wanted her. But no, somehow he'd thought that she wouldn't want Sully. He had been sure that Brennan would stick by him.

And than she had told him about them having sex. Ever since he'd had the picture in his head, Brennan naked, glistering with sweat, hot and breathless. Just like his and every man's dream in real flesh. In his mind he'd touched her, touched her everywhere from her perfect lips down to her breasts and slowly deeper until his fingers could feel her heat and wetness.

Groaning Booth shifted in his seat. The image was too intense, his jeans suddenly too tight.

But then the dream became a night-mare, it was no longer him touching her, it was Sully. Sully feeling her wetness, making her come. And now Sully planting his seed in her. He felt like he had lost her now and forever. Sully would come back and laugh at him. He'd had more than his chance, but not used it.

And so the looser in one game would win the match and get the girl. His girl.

Suddenly he could feel the SUV loosing it's grip on the street. Releasing the gas pedal, he could see the guard rail moving toward him. It felt like slow motion, and yet he knew that there wasn't time to do anything except holding the steering wheel steady. His brain screamed, but he wasn't sure if it was a prayer or a curse. And if it was a prayer, was it to God or to the woman he loved?

Then the back of the car started moving sideways, stopping his forward movement. Forces he couldn't control had taken possession of his car and then it stopped.

He had turned 180 degree, but hadn't hit anything. Crossing himself he breathed deeply, then started to turn the car again. There was no need to stay put and wait until another car could crash into him.

Booth was fully awake now, trying to orientate himself. He was just a few blocks away from Rebecca's. Not sure what he should do with this night he drove to her house.

It was dark, but he could see a shimmer of light coming through the curtain of Parker's room. There was his boy, sleeping peacefully and protected. If he could only protect her and her baby as well. Baby. He still couldn't completely realize that Brennan, his Brennan, his Bones, would become a mother. He had heard her protests against having children more than once.

Seeley hesitated. Or hadn't she told him because she didn't want to keep it? Because she thought he would talk her into keeping it even if she didn't want to? He was catholic, children and life in general was sacred to him. He even had asked Rebecca to marry him when she got pregnant.

Was that the problem? Yes, he would try to talk with her, but he was realistic enough not to try to change her mind. He had seen her interact with children, with Parker and she was great at it. Perhaps he should give her a chance to explain?

It was hours later, the standing SUV had began to cool down and the first hints of dawn colored the sky a beautiful red. Seeley finally decided to drive away before Rebecca or one of her neighbors could spot him.

Today he would talk with Brennan, he'd decided, and if she wanted to move on with Sully, he would accept it. Graping a cup of coffee from a McDonald's on his way, he went home to get a little sleep and shower before his day had to start.

Washington Memorial, late Thursday morning, Aug 8th

Dull light filled the room as Brennan awoke. The window was streaked by raindrops and a glance at her watch on the bedside told her that she'd slept during most of the morning. But in contrast to the weather and the last days, she felt rested and even in peace with herself. The urge to cry was thankfully gone, her head clear and she was eager to start doing something.

Visiting the bathroom was getting easier, her left hand-coordination better and the instinct to reach out with her injured right subsided. Today she would use the hours of undisturbed time and write.

Setting up the laptop, connecting to the Internet and reading her mail was done even before the day nurse entered her room with breakfast. Today it was girl nurse on duty and she seemed to like Brennan: peppermint tea and cereals with chocolate pieces inside made this breakfast taste really normal, not like hospital food. Only a cup of coffee was missing, but perhaps she could get Angela to bring her some.

"You look a lot better today, Dr. Brennan", smiled girl nurse while collecting the tray.

"I do feel better."

"I take it that your husband cheered you up yesterday?"

Brennan blinked. The only male visit she's had was from Hodgins. "No, Jack is only a friend and colleague. He tried to cheer me up, though." She pointed to the book laying on her bedside.

"That's not the man I spoke to. The tall one, with the fruit basket. He was here before."

"Booth? With dark hair and eyes? But he wasn't here yesterday."

"Yes, that's the one. He came when Dr. Franklin was with you, so I told him to wait."

Brennan shook her head. "He's my partner at work, not my husband."

Girl nurse blushed. "I.. it looked like he was... that's why I told him..."

Sitting up straight Brennan starred at her. "What, exactly, have you told him?" Her voice was like steel, the one usually reserved for suspects.

The young woman before her bit her lip. "Lay down, please, you shouldn't get upset. That's not good for the baby."

"I shouldn't get upset? What have you told him?" Her voice got louder.

"Just, just that your healing well and that you and the baby will be okay."

Brennan closed her eyes and dropped back onto the bed. Exhaling, she opened them and starred at the nurse. "So you just broke your professional discretion? You told Booth about the baby?" Breathing heavily she looked like she would jump out of bed and throttle the nurse.

"Get out." Spoken dangerously low, the girl nurse ducked and left the room in a hurry.

Throwing the first thing in range that would not break, Brennan fired the clown after her. It dropped against the closed door with a soft rattle.

'He knows.' She wanted to punch someone, to throttle the talkative nurse, to somehow work the angry energy out of her body. But other than punching her pillow softly - no need to hurt herself at the IV needle, was there? - there was nothing she could do. 'Angela.'

Hitting speed dial on her phone, Brennan hoped that her friend was alone.

"Montenegro."

"Ange, it's me. Can you come over?"

"Sure, give me a few minutes. Is something wrong? You sound angry." Concern showed in Angela's voice.

"I'd rather tell you here. Oh, and can you get me a coffee, please?"

"Are you sure? A decaf perhaps?"

"Angela, get me a real coffee. I don't want to know if it's good for me or not, I need one."

"Okay okay, don't throttle me through the line."

"There is no line on mobiles."

"That's the Brennan I know." Angela laughed a bit. "See you in ten."

"See you."

It wasn't even ten minutes before Angela entered the room, carrying a cup tray with two cups on it. But the time had been enough for Brennan to clench her left fist until half-moon marks covered the palm.

"Here, sweety. A real Latte macchiato for you, an iced cacao for me."

She handed Brennan one cup and settled herself with the other one.

Sipping, a happy smile settled on Tempe's face. She enjoyed the taste for a moment before swallowing. "That's great, Ange. You're my rescue."

Suckling through her straw, Angela observed her friend. "Thanks, but coffee wasn't the matter you phoned me, was it?"

"No, but it's a nice incentive." Sipping once more, she put her cup down. "Booth knows."

Angela blinked, then took in the appearance of Brennan once again. "And it was not you who had told him?"

"No, it was that nurse." She started to get agitated again. "How does she dare to tell him about something this personal?"

Angela shrugged. "I don't know. But it makes it easier for you, you don't have to tell him."

"It's not easier, Angela." Brennan looked around if there was something to throw at the wall, but the clown still lay next to the door. "He didn't visit me after she told him."

"You're kidding. You have to be kidding." She shook her head. "Booth walked out on you?"

"No, she told him on the corridor and he left. He didn't step in this room yesterday." Now she was near the edge of tears again, but no drop dared to fall.

"Honey", Angela hugged her, "that has to be some kind of misunderstanding. He will come back."

"But what, if he won't?"

"He will, trust me. If there is absolutely no other way, I will drag him at his tie into your room."

Soft laughter escaped Brennan. "Imagine, you dragging him and he's trying to free himself." She sighed. "Well, freeing himself wouldn't be a problem for Booth."

"It would, trust me. Do you want me to bring him here and make him stay until you've told him what you want to tell?"

"You would do that?"

"Yes, but only because you are in no shape to capture him yourself. Go, wash your face, brush your hair or I could braid it for you. And then I will get that chicken-hearted caricature of an FBI agent in this room."

More laughter. "Sounds like a plan. A braid would be nice, my hair is always tangled with laying so much."

Angela went to pick up a brush and the clown on the way and helped Brennan to look as good as possible. Combed hair and a hint of eye-shadow could do so much for a woman's self-confidence.

Then Angela left in search of the missing agent and for Brennan a time of waiting began.

Before she could become bored with waiting, Dr. Franklin entered the hospital room.

"How are you today, Dr. Brennan?" A smile showed on her dark face.

"Fine, or at least I was fine until your nurse told Booth about the baby."

"Yes, I was already informed about this incident. I'm sorry, but she really tried to help you. She's still young, we all made mistakes in our judgment when young. I'm sure she has learned that now."

Brennan sighed. It was over, there was no way to make Booth forget what he'd learned.

"But, Dr. Brennan, I have good news for you. I'll stop it IV now, if you feel up to it and have someone who can stay with you, you may leave tomorrow. But it's important that you keep resting during the weekend."

She started to work on the IV and disconnected to line in Brennan's hand. "Fine. You'll still need antibiotics but pills are enough now."

And gone she was. Brennan was confused. Somehow she hadn't expected to be able to leave that fast. She had no person to look after her. She clearly couldn't ask Booth and Angela had done so much for her this week, she surly would want to spend the weekend with Hodgins. "Crap!"

Well, that would mean to stay here in the hospital during the weekend. First thing she'd have to do on Monday was employing a housekeeper. Even if she was allowed to move around as she liked, there was no way she could keep her apartment tidy with only one hand.

And then she'd have to speak with her financial advisor and the employment office at the Jeffersonian. With the first to determine if it was possible for her to spend one year at home, perhaps only writing one novel in that time, with the other to see if she was eligible for their sabbatical program. Judging by the words the doctor had said - and not said - she thought that it would be several weeks before her hand was back to normal and by that time she'd definitely be showing her pregnancy.

Six month until the child was born, six more month until it was old enough to be taken care of by an au-pair or a nanny. She couldn't imagine to spend more time permanently at home, but one year, give or take a few weeks, was about as much as she could imagine to manage.

After determining this next steps, she settled again to wait for Angela and Booth.

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