At lunch he watches her push her food around. He notices that she is visibly angry about something. He finally gets annoyed enough to ask her.

"What's bothering you?"

"I don't understand,"

"Understand what? How to eat? That's simple just pick up the food, put it in your mouth, chew, and then swallow,"

"No. I know how to eat,"

"Then why aren't you?"

"I don't know,"

"I do. Something is bothering you what is it?"

"How can someone do something like that?"

"Are you referring to the case?"

"Yes. What else would I be referring to?"

"I don't know,"

"I just don't understand how a mother could do that to her own child,"

"What do you mean?"

"She carried that baby for nine months. She gave birth to her and then she got so angry that she killed her,"

"It was an accident,"

"I'm not saying that it was intentional necessarily but I'm not convinced that it was an accident either,"

"What do you mean?"

"Her grip on the baby was so tight that she broke four of her ribs. She didn't do this because she was frustrated she did it because she was angry,"

"Why would she be angry?"

"That's the part I don't get. I understand why she would be frustrated but why would she be angry? A crying infant doesn't make you angry it frustrates you,"

"Maybe the crying wasn't why she was angry,"

"What do you mean?"

"What if she was angry because she felt that she had to sacrifice too much for her daughter,"

"What do you mean?"

"She had to give up a man that she loved. She gave up her freedom,"

"Are you suggesting that she loved her ex more than she loved her child?"

"I'm saying that it's possible. People are sick Bones I don't know why she did it, it doesn't matter,"

"Of course it matters. I want to know the truth,"

"She's going to prison,"

"But I want to know why she did it,"

"When did you become so interested in the why?"

"I don't know. I mean it just doesn't make sense to me. She said that she didn't think that she could have children, which is why she chose to have..."

"Maybe she was in over her head. She worked two jobs to pay the bills. She didn't have a significant other because he left because of the child, and she didn't have the time to look for another love interest because all of her time was spent with her child,"

"So you think that she resented the child?"

"Yeah I do,"

"Interesting,"

"Bones be honest, what is this really about?"

"What if I am the same? What if I..."

"You could never kill anyone,"

"How do you know what I'm capable of? Being under stress coupled with sleep depravation could cause my judgement skills to be impaired,"

"You're very clear on right an wrong. You tend not to react adversely to stress and sleep depravation. You're also not capable of murder,"

"But what if I am?"

"Ok I'll admit that in some situations that you could be capable of murder, but not when it comes to this. Not when it comes to a child–not when it comes to your child,"

"It's not mine," she answers solemnly as she stares at her plate of fries.

"What?"

"I said..."

He cuts her off, "No I heard what you said, I just don't understand what you meant,"

"I just don't feel like it's mine. I feel nothing. I feel like I have a parasite,"

"That's a little harsh,"

"Not really,"

"It is harsh,"

"But?"

"I understand where you're coming from, but you're wrong. He's yours. You don't have to share him with anyone, and no one will take him away from you,"

"I still don't feel like it's even real,"

"Are you admitting that you're in denial,"

"If I were admitting that wouldn't it mean that I'm not?"

"Bones..."

"Sorry. I just feel like this is all a really bad dream. I keep waiting to wake up and it just hasn't happened yet,"

"I know,"

"This is worse than a nightmare because I never get to wake up,"

"Maybe it isn't a nightmare,"

"What?"

"Do you ever have dreams where you wake up right before you're getting ready to find the answer,"

"Sure I guess why?"

"This is kind of like that,"

"How?" she scowls.

"It's a really long dream and you just haven't gotten to the good part yet,"

"Oh. Regardless I still feel like the situation is surreal,"

"Eventually you won't,"

"And when is that? When do I get to wake up from this nightmare?"

"I don't know, but you will,"

"When?"

"You'll know,"

"How?"

"You will I promise,"

"I really don't think that I can do this. You know I still haven't told my boss,"

"I thought that you told Cam,"

"I did. I mean the boss, boss. Cam's boss,"

"Oh why not?"

"I'm not ready to tell him. I'm not ready for this to be real,"

"It's been real from the beginning. You know that you have to tell him right?"

"I thought that Cam would beat me to the punch,"

"You thought or you were hoping?"

"Hoping I guess,"

"You know that Cam isn't going to divulge your secrets to him,"

"So I have to tell him?"

"Yeah and if you don't do it soon he's going to be pissed,"

"Why does the timing matter?"

"Because they have to find a temporary replacement for you,"

"Why?"

"There is this thing called maternity leave,"

"Do I have to take it?"

"You'll want it trust me,"

"How long is it?"

"Six weeks,"

"I haven't had that much time off... ever,"

"Well you will,"

"Why can't I just have the baby and then..."

"You're not coming back to work immediately after being released from the hospital,"

"Why not?"

"Because you can't. You'll have a baby to take care of,"

"I can do that and my job,"

"No you can't, it's a lot harder than it looks,"

"It can't be that hard,"

"It is trust me. Who is going to take care of the baby?"

"What?"

"After six weeks of maternity leave who is going to take care of the baby?"

"I am," she answers.

"While you're at work,"

"I don't know I haven't really thought about it,"

"Start,"

"Why?"

"Good childcare is really hard to come by,"

"How hard?"

"Like trying to identify a person by a single bone,"

"Oh,"

"I'll help if you want,"

"Right now what I want is to get this over with,"

"Get what over with?"

"Being pregnant,"

"Does it really bother you that much?"

"What?"

"Being pregnant?"

"You should try it,"

"You've stopped throwing up haven't you?"

"Yeah,"

"So then it shouldn't be that bad,"

"Maybe you could switch me places one day,"

"I don't have the equipment for that,"

"I could arrange something,"

"Please don't. Just try to enjoy it,"

"What is there to enjoy?"

"There is something growing inside of you. Doesn't that interest you in the slightest?"

"Not really,"

"You're cold," he tells her bluntly.

"Excuse me?"

"You've frozen it all out. You've blocked all of your emotions out so you don't have to deal with them,"

"That isn't true. I have been very emotional lately,"

"No you haven't. What are you so afraid of? Maybe if you dealt with your emotions this wouldn't be so bad,"

"What is it that you want me to feel? Just tell me,"

"I want you to feel him,"

"I feel it all the time. It's inside of me in case you forgot,"

"I didn't forget. Just because you know where he's located doesn't mean you're really feeling him. Let yourself feel him,"

"I do. It moves all the time,"

"Stop calling him it. He's a boy he's got a name... or at least he has one picked out,"

"Your point?"

"Stop thinking of him as a parasite and start thinking of him as a tiny person. That is what he is Bones. He's a tiny person,"

"I know that,"

"Logically you know that, but you're having a hard time accepting it,"

"What do you suggest that I do? I talk to him what more do you want?"

"No you talk at him not to him. Talk to him. Start a nursery. Do something, because if you don't make this real very soon you're not going to be able to face it,"

"Maybe that's best. Maybe I'm not cut out for this. Maybe he would be better off if someone else took him,"

"He wouldn't and you know it. You're just scared. There are too many variables for you to control, and you're afraid that you're going to fail. Guess what, the only way you fail is by not trying and that is exactly what you're doing right now. So as of now you're failing not only him, but yourself,"

"And what do I do to fix that?"

"Connect. Talk to him use his name, plan a nursery, get a baby book started, look for a nanny. Anything, just do something,"