Dr. Brennan meet Dr. Brennan

Chapter 12

By LizD

A/N: Assume Ten Weeks have passed. Hannah is gone and hasn't come back but there has been communication between Booth and Hannah. We will see the scene in which Booth tells Brennan about how she left and the post-departure communication but it will be in flashback and not in this chapter. Assuming Two Chapters left of this little saga. Wanted to be done by Thursday, but I don't think that will happen.

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"Hi honey, I'm home," Ryan called out as he let himself into Tempe's condo. His voice was less than thrilled, it was a phrase that she hated and had voiced it a number of times. It was just after midnight and he had been on stake out for the past six nights. He slammed into a stack of boxes and tipped them over. "Tabernac!" he shouted. He muttered along in French words too colorful to reprint.

There were boxes stacked in the living room, the hall and more in the kitchen. The place was way over crowded. It had been ten weeks since they had agreed to live together, agreed to find a place together rather than moving into one or the other's place. Ryan gave notice and moved out rather quickly. Tempe was dragging her feet but claiming it was because they hadn't found the right place (there wasn't a lot of time dedicated to the search). She was also planning on renting out her condo rather than selling it which caused a reaction in the Ryan camp. The words 'backdoor' and 'safety net' were bantered about in less than flattering tones. They worked through it – well rather they tabled it.

"You through?" Tempe emerged from the bedroom in sweats and a terry robe that had seen too many washings. The honeymoon was over. Birdie padded along after her probably expecting a midnight snack.

"Thought we were renting a storage unit for this stuff?" he barked. "Hey Charles," he taped at the birdcage and Charlie whistled back.

"WE are … as in I DID … but WE … as in YOU … need to find the time to haul this crap outta here."

He pulled a beer from the fridge. "Don't suppose you know when I will be able to fit that into my busy schedule?"

She reached around him to pull a plate of food out of the refrigerator and put it in the microwave. "No clue … but it will be your problem come Sunday."

"If that's for me," he nodded to the plate. "I ate." He took another swallow of beer and sat down on the couch to take off his boots.

Tempe pulled the plate back out and stuffed it back in the refrigerator. "Could've called."

"Could have done a lot of things including catching this asshole so I can get back to a regular schedule."

"That would be good too." She headed back to bed.

"You aren't going to stay up for ten minutes and talk to me?"

"You're in a mood. When you're out of your mood and have showered off the STINK of the stake out and that includes brushing your teeth, I'll be waiting for you in the bedroom."

"Suddenly my mood has improved." He got up to follow her.

"Don't get any ideas, bucko. I have to be at the lab at six – already missing too much of my beauty sleep for you."

He thought about making some super sweet remark about her beauty, but she was in a mood too. "Guess I should make that a cold shower."

"Good idea."

About twenty minutes later Ryan knocked and entered the bedroom. The only room where everything was neatly in its place including the half of the closet that belonged to Ryan as well as half the drawers in the dresser. It was easy to give them up since she was only there part time, she didn't keep much at the condo.

"Safe?" He entered wearing only a towel. That improved Tempe's mood.

"Always." The bedroom was the only place they didn't fight. It wasn't a discussion, it was just a thing. She was reading and trying not to notice him but it was hard not to. She was actually reading the latest book by Brennan. Birdie was curled up on Ryan's side.

"You still reading that stuff? Don't you get enough during the day, or do you just like to pretend that is your name on the cover?" He was pulling the stuff out of the pockets of his jeans and placing them on the dresser.

"God knows, I should write." She nodded to the jeans he just tossed on the chair.

"Out?"

"Burn them," she stated. He tossed them in the hall near the laundry basket. "This thing is still on the best seller list. I'll bet Brennan is raking in the cash."

"Do they get any better?"

"Her science is dead on and she actually writes a compelling mystery – a little gruesome in the retelling, but very interesting."

"How are Kathy and Andy Lister doing?"

"Well, they are far from happily-ever-after and it seems that one or the other of them is getting wounded or saved from imminent death."

"Familiar. Sorry Bird," he said scooping up the cat and placing him gently on the chair in a little blanket nest they had for him.

"But they still enjoy a very active sex life."

Ryan slipped under the covers next to her and pulled her close. "I can appreciate that."

"Four-thirty wake up for me."

"That gives us just under four hours."

"Not tonight, Ryan."

He rolled over on his back. "That's it. I'm gonna catch this guy tomorrow. I'm telling you tomorrow is the day. And he better not resist."

Tempe laughed. "Why? Because he's interfering with your sex life?"

"You bet your tiny white ass, buttercup. Do you know how hard it is to sleep next to you and just ... you know … sleep?"

She smiled at him not believing a word of what he was saying.

"I would have thought you would be out there with me looking for this guy by now."

"If I were … we'd never catch him."

"There's that."

"You do remember that I'm headed back to North Carolina on Sunday."

"I remember," he groaned. "Might have to fly down the following weekend. Won't put a cramp in your weekend plans will it."

"Would love to have you - as always." She stuck the bookmark in the book, set it down on the night stand, reached over to turn out the light and snuggled back so he could spoon up behind her. His hands were a little more explorative than would constitute sleep. "Stand down, sailor."

"Just trying to remember what I was missing," he whisper huskily into her ear knowing what affect that had on her. "It's been a long time, eh?" He settled in and they were quiet for a long moment.

"Brennan is coming up tomorrow." She said after a moment of quiet.

"Coming to get her book back?" he said sleepily.

"Wants to see what we've got on the Snowland case."

"Do you scientists type not understand the concept of a COLD CASE? We don't have anything."

"Easy there, big fella. We're not asking anything from you. Just the case file and I have already gotten it from records."

"Fine, waste your time." He eased up on his elbow and looked down at her. "Please tell me she's not staying in the guest room."

"There's no room for her in the guest room."

"I'll try to stop by to say HI before I head out to relieve the other team."

"That would be nice."

"Booth coming?"

"Don't think so."

"They work it out?"

"They're working together and she says that things are fine."

"Good, good for them." He yawned. "I need sleep, cupcake."

"Great!" she said. "Now I'm up."

"How up are you?" he kissed her shoulder.

"Not that up."

"Then shut up so I can sleep."

"Nice, Ryan."

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

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Angela picked up some files from Brennan. "So how long will you be gone?'

"Day or two," she said. "I'll be back in plenty of time for the shower."

"You don't have to throw me a baby shower."

"I understand it's a tradition and if I'm to be this child's surrogate aunt and she will be my namesake … then she will have the best."

"Sshhhhhhhhhhhh." She said looking out the door. "Hodgins doesn't know I found out that we were having a girl."

Brennan shook her head. "With the number of secrets you keep from each other, I wonder how long your marriage will last."

"Don't say that either. And we don't keep anything important from each other." Angela finally had to comment about the flowers on Brennan's desk. "Little early for Daffodils, isn't it?" Angela turned the beaker that the yellow flowers were in to get a better look at them.

"Booth said they were the first sign that spring was coming."

"Booth gave you flowers?"

Brennan didn't respond.

"Really?"

"Please don't read anything into it. He was at the farmer's market and they were there. It's no big deal. An impulse buy."

"That's our Booth, impulsive."

"He left them on my desk while I was in with Cam this morning."

"Then how do you know they were from him?"

"Cause he asked if I liked them when he called me for dinner tonight."

"Ah … flowers and dinner." She nodded approvingly. "Nice."

"Ange," she scolded.

"Hannah is really gone then?"

"Angela, I don't feel comfortable talking about details that Booth shared with me in confidence."

"Ok, Ok … I get that … but he was clear that she left and he does not expect her back."

"It wasn't an inquisition and I didn't press. He seemed rather sad about it. I'm sorry for him."

"Of course you are."

"Angela, he deserves to be happy."

"Agreed. You two seem to be spending a lot of down time together. Dinner again tonight - and not just a working meal. You went to the zoo with Parker last weekend. Movies. Museums. Flowers."

"Booth and I are partners – nothing more. Friends."

"Yet." Angela scanned her up and down commenting without words that she was dressed up more than she was that afternoon; a little more make-up, a different shirt, different shoes. So, not a casual dinner then. She touched the flowers. Brennan shook her off. "Right. Partners." She grinned and left.

xoxoxoxox

On her way down the stairs she passed Booth on the way up to Brennan's office.

"Hey there, Booth?" she greeted him.

"Wow, Ange. You are absolutely glowing."

She shook her head. "People say that to pregnant woman cause they can't say 'you're bigger than a house, how do you walk around like that?'"

He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Not true. You're beautiful."

"Oh wow, you're in a good mood. You look - happy."

"I am. Case is closed – thanks in part to you – THANK YOU - and I am off for five days and I have Parker."

"If hanging with kids puts that kind of smile in your face, Booth, you can baby sit anytime."

"Consider me available." He looked up the stairs. "Bones in her office?"

"Ready and waiting for you," she cooed.

Booth waived her off and took the stairs to Brennan's office two at a time.

xoxoxoxox

Dinner was great. Conversation never faltered. The work talk lasted for the first five minutes then they were off on other topics. Booth was in a good mood, Brennan matched it. After dinner it was a little too early to call it a night considering that Brennan was getting on a plane for Montreal the next day they decided to take a walk and wound up by the reflecting pool.

"Tell me again why you are going?" he asked.

"Just to review what they have found and not found."

"The case is cold, isn't it?"

"Yes, but Tempe and I just want to review everything to see if we missed anything or if Ryan did."

"Right," he smiled at her.

"Come on Booth. Cold cases get solved all the time. It just needs someone -"

"Or two someones - with genius IQ's"

"To keep working it. I understand why the investigation stopped. It's only for a couple of days."

"Is Ryan working this thing with you."

"No, I understand he has a big case that he is working at the moment. Staking out someone. Tempe and I can handle it."

"No doubt." He smiled brightly at her. He was proud to know that she didn't give up on victims and that he had helped to give her skills to be a true investigator.

"It is just going over case notes," she told him.

"Of course." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Need some fresh INVESTIGATOR eyes on this thing?"

She leaned into him. "We would appreciate your help, but you have Parker. You should enjoy your time with him not take on Freelance work." She slipped her arm around his waist and they continued to walk together.

"Parker was asking about you ... will you spend some time with us when you get back?"

"Of course. He's a great kid."

"Wish I could take credit for it."

"He's your son, Booth."

"Yeah." Booth was proud of him. "He loves you too."

Brennan looked down wondering if that comment said something more that how Parker feels about her. "You still want to have another child?"

He looked back at her wondering if she was asking a different question. Her eyes were down so he couldn't read her expression. "With the right woman," he said softly and squeezed her shoulders slightly. "When the time is right." He wondered if he should return the question but thought he could get the wrong answer and he didn't want to hear it that night. It was such a lovely evening.

"You will be coming on Sunday, right?"

He winced. "To that thing for Angela and Hodgins? That's a girl thing."

"It's called a baby shower - though there will be no water. There will be other men there including Hodgins, Cam's boyfriend, Sweets and others."

"Other squints."

"Not all ... some of Angela's friends are artists."

"Great."

"There'll be lots of food. You don't have to worry about a gift. I have purchased several and can easily put your name on one to say it's from you. And you can bring Parker and slip down to the pool after the party gets going."

He smiled. "You've thought of everything."

"It's my job. I'm going to be an aunt." She smiled happily.

"You're going to be a great aunt."

"Please come Booth. Just make an appearance. It would mean a lot to Angela and Hodgins." She paused. "And me."

He couldn't resist her sweet plea. "I'll be there ... with bells on ... and I can bring my own present. Parker and I have already picked out something for the little bundle of joy."

"Not sure why you would be wearing bells." She read his expression and saw that it was a joke. "You know that they're having a female child - but no pink." Brennan didn't actually understand the correlation between girl and pink, but Angela had said it often enough for Brennan to repeat with authority.

"Yes, yes ... Hodgins doesn't know ... I got it." He released his hold on her and turned to face her. "How about if Parker and I come early to help you set up."

"It's not necessary," she said. "But it would be appreciated."

They had worked their way back to the other end. It was getting late. Brennan's car was to the west and Booth's was to the east. It was reasonable for them to part ways on that spot.

"Do you need a ride to the airport."

"No, thank you. I'm leaving rather early."

He nodded. He would have been happy to get up and drive her. "Ok. Well fly safe. Say hello to Tempe and Ryan for me."

"I will."

They stood in front of each other for a moment. It wasn't the first time at the end of a night that they found it hard to say good-bye, but she was getting on a plane in the morning. It need more than a 'see you tomorrow.' They each smiled and spontaneously they kissed and folded into an tight embrace. They held on for a little longer than they had planned but the kiss - as chaste as it was - scared them a little bit. Brennan let go first and stepped back.

"Have fun with Parker," she said.

"You too with Tempe," he said back. "Be careful."

They held each other's gaze for a long moment.

"I will," she said. "See you soon."

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Saturday afternoon Booth was playing video games with Parker. He was getting his ass handed to him by an eleven year old and no he wasn't letting the kid win. His phone buzzed on the end table just as he was killed for the fifth time that session. He looked over at the number but it was blocked. Brennan should have been back that morning. She had stayed an extra day so he wasn't sure what her itinerary was.

"Hang on," he told Parker. He picked up the phone, "Booth."

"Booth, Detective Ryan here. We've got a situation." His words were sharp and clipped.

Booth's heart froze. There were a thousand questions formulating in his mind but the answer to only one was important. "Where's Bones?"

"That's the situation. Both Tempe and Brennan are not answering and no one seems to know where they are."

"How long?"

"It's been at least fifteen hours since they were last seen."

"I'm on the next plane." Panic was over taking him. He needed to focus. He let his training take over his actions while his brain told his heart that Brennan would be OK. His heart wouldn't listen.

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A/N: Come on ... had to know there would have to be some kind of rescue. If you are not a Kathy Reichs reader maybe you didn't see this coming, but for the rest of you? Please. New chapter soon.