A/N: Glad everyone is enjoying. Never fear, our duo is making headway. Enjoy, and don't forget to review.
Brennan sat at her desk finishing up the report for her latest limbo case. She had been at it for about 15 minutes now, yet the screen in front of her was still blank. Concentration eluded her. She could only think of the encountered that had just occurred with Booth.
Well, technically, it had been an encounter with Booth and Cathy, and it had been terrible. Well, terrible for her. Anyone who had witnessed the exchange wouldn't have thought that anything was wrong. All outward indications showed a pleasant exchange between friends. Brennan had tried to be warm and welcoming to Cathy, and it had nearly killed her.
Booth had brought Cathy by the lab on their way out to the National Aquarium benefit Gala to introduce her to everyone. It was a big step in a relationship. She was meeting his friends, Brennan thought with a heavy heart. It was the first time in her life that she had allowed herself to feel with her heart. Now that she had started, she found she couldn't stop, at least where Booth was concerned. She had wanted to try and get passed these feeling since there was little chance of them ever being put to good use. Booth was happy with Cathy, and she wasn't going to do anything to upset that. And besides she had no reason to believe that Booth would even welcome an out pouring of feeling by her.
Cathy had looked so elegant in her floor length gown, tall and slender, the perfect compliment to Booth's tunxedoed form. She laughed at the contrast to her own attire, the standard issue blue lab coat that at the time had been covered in a cleaning solution she was working with on the bones. Boy what a prize she was! More than enough to tempt any man.
Releasing a sigh she looked back at her monitor and tried to buckle down and get some work done.
Angela wasn't sure what was going on. It was like she had entered a parallel universe. She had watched the exchange that had taken place a few minutes ago between her best friend and Booth and his woman. It had been surreal.
She wasn't sure who the woman was inhabiting Brennan's body was, but it certainly wasn't her best friend. This person had been smiley, gushy and over the top fake. Oh, most other people might not have noticed the forced smile or rigid stance, but Angela did. She also saw the longing that passed ever so briefly through her friends eyes as she watched Booth leave.
Angela had an inkling that her friend had discovered her true feelings for her partner. It was about time, although it looked as though the timing was bad. Booth was currently with Cathy, and everything, on the surface anyway, appeared to be going swimmingly. Although, something bothered Angela about Booths' behavior during the introductions. He never touched Cathy. It was strange. People in the throws of a new relationship usually couldn't stop touching each other, holding hands, brushing up against one another, his hand on the small of her back. But there had been none of that. The only one he touched was Brennan, briefly touching her arm when they arrived. It appeared to Angela that his hand lingered a second longer than was necessary.
This behavior had immediately set the sirens off in her head. Something wasn't right Along with no touch, there also were no shared looks with smiles meant only for each other. In facts Booth's smiles didn't quite reach his eyes when he looked at Cathy. And she saw how he watched Brennan, thinking that no one was paying attention. Things definitely were not as they seemed, and she was going to get to the bottom of it. This had gone too far, and things needed to change.
Striding into Brennan's office she started the conversation with," Ok, what was that back there?"
Brennan looked up from her empty screen, "What? Back where? Has something happened?" She asked glancing over Angela's shoulder in to the lab.
"Yeah, something's happened. I think the body snatchers have invaded." Angela answered snarkily.
"Body snatchers? Has someone stolen some bones from limbo?" Brennan asked becoming alarmed.
Angela rolled her eyes and walked farther into the office to place both hands on Brennan's desk.
"No, nothing has been stolen. It's a movie Sweetie. The bodies of, oh just forget it." She answered, straightening from the desk and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Ok Brennan look, I am not going to beat around the bush with you this time. What was that little display you put on out there for Booth and Cathy? Cause, I've gotta tell ya, it was not you out there. I don't think I've ever seen you hold a smile for that long."
"What are you talking about? I simply greeted Booth and Cathy" Brennan stated, turning her eyes back to the screen in front of her. She didn't want Angela to see her eyes, because she knew Angela would be able to tell.
"Uh Uh. Nope. I don't think so. You're lying to me." Angela said.
Brennan whipped her head around to look at her best friend. How could she know?
"I don't know what you're talking about." Brennan replied.
"Oh yes you do. Come on, fess up." Angela prodded.
Brennan was having a hard time at this moment controlling everything roiling around inside her. It was all too much. Seeing Booth with that woman had been too much. She couldn't do it anymore. She closed her eyes in an effort to ward off the tears that threatened to escape. When she opened them, she looked at Angela, and it was her undoing. Her friends face held such a concerned loving look that she could no longer hold back the dam. She needed Angela's help.
Angela saw the tears slipping from her friend's eyes and was astonished. Temperance Brennan was crying.
"Oh my God, Sweetie!" she exclaimed rounding the desk in a heartbeat. Taking Brennan's hand, she lead her to the couch.
She seated Brennan carefully, then settled next to her.
"What happened?" Angela asked with compassion filling her voice.
"Oh Ang, I can't do it anymore. I just can't. It was so terrible. I can't hold it in anymore. I thought I had done a pretty good job out there hiding everything, but apparently anyone would have known."
"First, I'm not just anyone. I'm your best friend. I know all about you, and can tell when things are off. Secondly, what would anyone have known?"
Brennan hesitated. She had never said the words out loud and wasn't sure what would happen if they were unleashed into the world.
She took a fortifying breath amidst the small sobs and tears. Turning her eyes to Angela she took a leap, "I love him." She said in a small voice.
Angela's breath was taken away. Not so much by the admission, because she had known it all along, but by the pain she saw on her friends face. She opened her arms to Brennan and was glad that the woman sitting next to her took advantage of the offer. She held her close, absorbing the tears and pain and hurt, in an effort to relieve this soul of just a portion of its suffering.
Brennan had her cry, finally ending on dry sobs, having exhausted her reservoir of water.
"Tell me." Angela asked gently.
Brennan sat up slowly. She made an effort to wipe her face, but knew that it was hopelessly stained.
"I don't know where to start Angela. It's been so long. I hardly remember when it first started. You are the first, and likely only person that will ever hear that confession." She said sadly.
"The only time I have ever openly admitted it to even myself was when Hodgins and I were trapped by the Gravedigger. I wrote him a goodbye letter to try and explain things since I never expected to survive. I wanted him to know that I had loved him. I know it is incredibly out of character for me, but it felt right at the time. Perhaps it was the lack of oxygen, I don't know."
"So tell me, if you have loved him this long, why haven't you ever told him?" Angela inquired.
"It never seemed right. And besides he doesn't want me that way, he never has."
"Sweetie, you are kidding me right? I mean I know that you have problems dealing with people and social situations, but you can't possibly be telling me that you've never known how Booth feels about you."
"I don't know what you are talking about Ang." Brennan said looking at her friend with huge sad eyes.
"Sweetie, he loves you." Angela said.
"No." Brennan said shaking her head. "No he doesn't. He never has. We've only ever been friends. I would know if he had felt those things for me. He drew a line Ange."
"No offense, but would you really know? I think you both need to be taken out back and have some sense smacked into you. Bren, he has been in love with you for I don't know how long."
"No Ange, you're wrong. And even if he had been at one point, he obviously isn't now. He's with Cathy and he seems very happy. They are a very nice couple."
"Please, Booth isn't as interested in her as you think. There are no sparks or passion between them. Christ, you two practically ignited rooms sometimes. He never touches her Bren, and up until two months ago, he could hardly keep his hands off you. He doesn't love her. His eyes betray him. He loves you, always has."
"I want to believe you Angela, but I'm not sure I can." She said in a dejected voice.
"Just trust me in this Sweetie. He is all yours if you just take a chance with that heart of yours." Angela told her. She gave Brennan a kiss on the cheek and rose, intent on leaving her friend alone to sort out her thoughts and emotions. As she left the room she thought "One partner down, one to go". Angela was no longer leaving anything to chance. Sometimes destiny needed a little help.