A/N: I can't say enough how awesome you readers and reviewers have been! Sorry if it is getting repetitious, but I'm just overwhelmed with the response you have been giving me. I'm very blessed.

Melissa and Lori, once again, you girls are amazing. Thanks for the encouragement and support you've given. This story wouldn't be anything without you both!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones, or the characters, or Fox. Unfortunately.

ooo

Brennan woke with a start in the slightly unfamiliar bedroom. Sitting straight up she took a look at the room around her and let out the breath she was holding. She was in one of the many extra bedrooms in Angela and Hodgins' home and she laid back against the plush bedding.

"Oh good," Angela exclaimed bursting into the room, "you're already awake. I was sure I would have to wake you up myself."

Brennan pulled the down comforter up and tucked it underneath her arms. "I think I may go back to sleep."

"Nope," Angela said shaking her head letting her brown curls bounce. "We're having a girls day out."

"I'm really not in the mood…"

"I know," Angela told her. "Which is exactly why we're going out. I've already made us appointments at my favorite spa. We're getting our hair done and pedicures and a nice massage."

"I really don't think I want to go anywhere."

"You can't stay in this bed until he comes home. You need to get up and out. Maybe we'll go shopping afterwards. You'll need a new dress for our Christmas party."

"Ange…"

"And you're staying here until Booth is secured and he is home. You don't need to be staying by yourself."

"Really Ange…"

"Sweetie," Angela interrupted, "Jack and I, we insist. We want to you stay with us. Please?"

"But…"

"No arguments, okay?"

"Okay," Brennan finally relented with a half smile. "Thanks for being such a great friend Angela."

"I know," she smirked, "I'm the best. Now, get up. We've got a spa date to meet."

Brennan nodded and watched as Angela started to leave the spacious bedroom. She turned suddenly, "don't make me come back in here. And I will, if you're not in the kitchen in twenty minutes."

Brennan nodded and promised to meet Angela in the kitchen as long as Angela promised to have coffee ready.

Four minutes later she was standing under the hot water in the guest bathroom attached to the bedroom she was staying in. The heat of the water eased the tension in her muscles and she took a deep breath in.

Brennan stepped into the kitchen almost twenty minutes later feeling more refreshed than she had in days.

"Hey Dr. B," Hodgins greeted with a smile and an outstretched hand with a cup of coffee, "Ange was just telling me she's taking you away for a girls day."

"Yes," Brennan answered, "I wasn't given a choice."

"You'll have a good time," Jack assured her. "And it's probably good for you to do something for yourself. You've been working hard lately."

"I don't feel like I've done anything since returning from Afghanistan."

"Cam had to force you out of the lab the second day back," Hodgins reminded her. "We closed for the holidays for a reason."

"Yes," Brennan answered, "But I wasn't supposed to be here. I don't often do vacations."

"Maybe you should call Max…"

"He's spending time with Russ and Amy and their kids. I don't want to disturb him."

"You wouldn't be."

"I know," Brennan admitted slowly. "But I want to stay close. Besides, Angela would not be happy if I ditched her Christmas party."

"That is true," Angela's voice greeted from just outside the kitchen as she walked in. "I would be very unhappy. Are you ready sweetie?"

"I guess."

"Great!" Angela exclaimed. "You won't regret this."

ooo

"I wanna get out of here," Grigley complained as he tossed a homemade ball back and forth with Booth. "Can't we leave yet?"

"No," Booth informed him sternly and threw the ball back hard. "We're staying here until at least after Christmas. We have to give them time to find us."

"We could get back to the base in a couple days…"

"You don't know that for sure," Booth stated firmly. "And I'm not taking the chance. I've already lost too many men. I'm not putting your life on the line too."

"And staying here is safer?" Grigley questioned evenly.

"We haven't run into any problems yet," Booth answered with a shrug. "And we've been here for about a month. I think we'll be fine for another week or so."

"If you insist."

"I do," Booth stated. "And I'm still your commanding officer."

"I know Sarg," Grigley assured him. "I'm listening to you. Even though I don't like it."

"Good," Booth said, "now show me what you've got and throw that damn ball like you mean it."

Grigley laughed and threw the ball with all his might towards Booth who caught it easily. "You got it boss."

"Booth! Grigs!" a voice called from closer to the center of the camp. "Come here boys!"

"Boys?" Booth questioned as he jogged to where Sarah was standing with another one of the girls, Kelsey. "I hardly think you can consider us boys."

"If it quacks like a duck…"

"Okay, okay," Grigley protested with a laugh. "What can we do for you girls today?"

"We're getting ready to head into one of the villages," Sarah explained, "and we were wondering if you wanted to join us. I know you've been stuck here in camp for awhile."

"I think that could be good," Booth answered. "What is the plan for today?"

"It's a fun day with the kids," Kelsey answered with a smile. "A few lessons, some games, and a bible story."

"I'll go," Grigley answered with a shrug. "It sounds pretty good. Anything is better than being stuck around here for another day. No offense, I've just got a case of cabin fever."

"That's understandable," Sarah assured him with a laugh. "So, are you coming?"

"Sure," Booth agreed. "Let's go."

ooo

"I love it Sweetie," Angela gushed, "your haircut is so cute styled like that."

"I decided to go with something new," she said with a smile and brushed aside her new bangs. "You really like it?"

"I do! And I'm sure Booth will too."

Brennan felt her cheeks burn bright red and she couldn't stop the smile that spread over her face.

"You know," Brennan started allowing Angela to thread her arm through hers as they walked out of the spa. "I think you were right. I needed this."

"Dr. Temperance Brennan is admitting that she was wrong and I was right, I think that I need to write this day down in history."

"I don't know what that means."

"It just means that you saying you were wrong doesn't happen very often," Angela tried explained. When Brennan continued to look blankly at her she shrugged, "You know what, never mind."

"Are you sure about this Christmas party?"

"Oh yeah!" Angela exclaimed happily a bright smile lighting up her face. "It's my first Christmas as Mrs. Hodgins, I want to make sure that everyone knows. With Jack's standing with the Cantilever Group, I have to do this."

"Hodgins said that?"

"Of course not," Angela assured her. "I offered. I want to do this for him."

"You're a good match for him Ange," Brennan told her sincerely. "He's good for you. Marriage suits you."

"I think so," Angela agreed with a bright smile. "That's another thing I wouldn't have thought would come out of your mouth."

"What?"

"That marriage was good for me, or suited me. You're against marriage."

"I may be altering my view on the ritual of marriage…"

Angela stopped in mid-step as her mind registered what Brennan had said. "Wait, what?"

"I have been observing your relationship with Hodgins and other married couples that I am associated with and believe that I may have been wrong about my views on love and the customs related to marriage."

"This is an interesting turn of events."

"It is?"

"Yes," Angela said with a nod and squeezed her arm gently. "It just shows how much you have changed. Despite your arguments against your ability to do that."

"I know," Brennan admitted. "I think it was easier to convince myself that I couldn't change than it was to realize and accept just how much I have changed."

"You changed because of Booth."

"And you," Brennan added quietly and squeezed her friend's arm. "Sure, Booth was there and pushed me into things that I didn't expect. But you also were there to push me into new things too. You showed me what having fun was, that working all the time really isn't a life. I never have thanked you for that."

"Oh sweetie, you don't have to. I'm glad that I was able to be here for you."

"But I want to," Brennan insisted. "You've been the best friend I could have ever been lucky enough to have. So thanks, for everything."

"It was my pleasure," Angela assured her and wiped a tear from her eye. "Okay, enough with all this mushy gushy stuff, I'm ready to shop."

ooo

Booth watched as Sarah and Kelsey communicated in nearly perfect Chinese to the children who had flanked their side the moment they walked into the village. He smiled as he tossed the ball he was holding in-between his own hands. They hadn't been there too long when a young boy ran up to Booth and tugged on his shirt.

The young boy spoke in a quick tongue and Booth had no idea what he was saying. He motioned to the ball in Booth's hand and Booth nodded and handed him the ball. The young boy flashed him a bright white smile and ran off towards another group of children with the ball in hand.

"They really seem to love you here," Booth said walking up to stand next to Sarah who had a little girl who couldn't be more than four on her hip. "How often do you come here?"

"We try to get here at least once a week," Sarah told him. "There are three other local villages we visit too. Plus we have the clinic at camp. We stay busy."

"I can see that," Booth said with a laugh. "Grigs seems to be fitting in perfectly with the children. That makes sense since he's about as mature as a ten year old."

"I doubt that," Sarah answered with a laugh. "You're just jealous the kids like him better."

"Yeah," Booth answered sarcastically, "that's exactly the problem."

"Sarah!" Jackson called from the trail. Sarah and Booth turned towards the entrance to the village where Jackson was running. "Booth and Jeff need to hide. There are militia men on their way."

"Again," Booth groaned. "Where should we hide?"

"I'm friends with a woman, Saki, who will hide you in her vegetable storage. Get Grigley and follow me. And hurry."

When Booth and Grigley climbed into the underground storage room they quieted down and tried to listen to the conversation going on outside in the village. Booth heard shouts and it took everything inside of him not to move from his hiding spot and charge into whatever was happening in the village.

Suddenly it was quiet again and Booth held his breath as he tried to figure out what was happening on the other side of the door. Several minutes passed slowly before the door to their hiding place swung open.

ooo

A/N: Another cliffhanger. I'm evil huh? I'm okay with that, honestly. I hope you enjoyed another installment. I hope you will review. It makes my day!