CHAPTER 29

"Hey—Booth," Angela's eyes came together.

"Angela." He opened the door for her to come in.

"Just stopping by?"

"Actually leaving. For mass." Then he pulled her closer to him. "James escaped custody last night."

"The agent who had Brennan?" Booth nodded. "Then why are you going to mass?" Her eyes narrowed in accusation.

"Will you relax? I'm not going. Just pretending to go. You know Bones."

"Yeah, I know how Brennan is. But you normally don't let that get in your way in protecting her."

"Give the circumstances, I'm sort've giving this one to her."

"You mean her memory?"

"She didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"That my memory is back." Brennan stepped out into the living room.

"That was a quick shower," Booth commented.

"I had no motivation for it to be a long one," her eyes swept his. Booth gulped.

Angela opened her mouth at Brennan's statement about having her memory back but closed it—watching the exchange intensely.

Knowing the way Angela's mind works and having no desire to be around for her inquisition, Booth rushed out, "I gotta go," fleeing out the door.

"Hey Angela," Brennan greeted. When she didn't get a response, "what?"

Angela didn't move. Just folder her arms and looked at her intently. "Speak."

"About what?"

"Oh no," Angela came towards her. "That won't work with me. Perhaps if you didn't have your memory back but you do—which by the way, why didn't you tell me that you had it back when we talked on the phone?"

"I wanted to surprise you and I didn't want Booth to overhear us talking. I knew you would want details."

"Yes. Yes, I want details. Especially about that little exchange I saw between the two of you just now. You were flirting with him when you said that you didn't have a reason for your shower to be a long one. If I didn't know better, I would say that you invited him in the shower with you and that he refused." At her silence, Angela squeaked. "OMG, something did happen between the two of you!" Brennan covered her ears. "I want all the details. Couch. Now."

"Well, we started talking about my memory and how confusing it was for me last night after the party at Sid's. How there was a lot I didn't understand. Booth asked me to give him an example. So I did. I told him I didn't understand why we weren't lovers."

"What?! OMG, how did he react to that?"

"The usual way whenever I talk about sex with him," Brennan shrugged, "backing away. But even though I didn't remember him, I knew I didn't want him to leave. So I changed the subject. I told him about a dream I had and I used that dream explanation to make a move on him. He fought it for awhile but I eventually convinced him to go a little farther than we had before. Then he-," she smiled, "Let's just say he has a lot of skill with his fingers."

"He gave you an orgasm?"

"Several as a matter of fact." Her eyes glazed as she remembered. "But that first orgasm, when I came—Angela, it was so sudden but memory came back just like that."

"You got your memory back when Booth caused you to cum. That is so totally wicked."

"Yeah, you wouldn't have guessed it by the way he reacted though. I did finally get him to understand that though I may be clueless on a lot of things, that taking it to the next level of our relationship I was not. That I knew and understood that it wasn't just sex. That it could never be just sex between us. And he called me Temperance most of the night. Temperance is his lover, Bones is his partner," she smiled happily and Angela couldn't help but grin at the way her friend was glowing.

"So now the two of you…"

"We're together but I'm still learning what that means. I just know that we're together. We belong together," she affirmed.

"Oh Brennan, I'm so happy for you. For both of you."

"Me too." Brennan smiled then faltered. "How do you think Cam will feel?"

"About the two of you? That's so unlike you to be worried about her feelings." Brennan straightened and Angela held out her hand. "I didn't mean that as a bad thing honey. It's just you usually just pass by things and are fine with the facts of life being how they are. Frankly, I'm surprised that she entered your mind at all. Especially since it was so long ago that they were together."

"We briefly talked about her last night," Brennan admitted. "How going out with her was a mistake in Booth's mind. Dating someone you work with. That she almost died. He still blames himself for rushing her."

"As he should always take part of that blame. But it's also on her for not following her instincts. You wouldn't have compromised that—especially given that psycho's history. And it's mainly that psycho's fault anyway. So don't let that bother you. Or him. And as far as Cam's feeling on the two of you finally getting together, she'll say something about its goddamn time and move on. That's it. Don't worry about it."

Brennan smiled. "Thanks Angela. Somehow you do always make me feel better."

"Just not the way Booth does."

"Or the way Hodgins does for you."

"Wow. Kill joy right there. We are talking about you and Booth. Not mine and Hodgins failed attempt at being happily ever after."

"Right. How could I forget?" Brennan smiled at her friend. "Although--" the doorbell rang, interrupting her.

"Don't even think about finishing that thought," Angela warned as she got up to get the door.

Brennan sighed as she got up to get another drink.

Angela opened the door smiling, "How may we help you today?" expecting to see one of the agents on duty.

"Move inside and don't scream," was directed at her along with the clicking of a gun at her head instead.