August 28th- 7:30am
Booth climbed into the SUV and took a deep breath, glancing over toward the smile on Brennan's face. "Why did you do that?" He asked, unable to keep the smile from his lips, he watched her shrug her shoulders lightly.
"I don't know what you mean." She said, trying to sound innocent, but failing miserably. She looked out the window and sighed, smiling at her reflection.
"You stranded me in there with Cam." He laughed, starting the car as he watched Cam drive away toward the Jeffersonian, he still waited for Brennan to look at him, but could see that she was still trying not to laugh. Her shoulders were shaking slightly as she tried desperately to stifle her laughter.
"I feel that you are a strong, capable, professional FBI agent with skills that exceed any and all expectation." She said, turning to look at him. It was clear from the mirth in her eyes that she was fighting very hard not to laugh. "I assumed that you could handle telling one of your oldest friends, and my boss, that you and I are in a committed relationship. I don't believe that you needed my presence in order to accomplish that." She said, lifting her own eyebrow at his introspective glare.
"It's fine." He said, shrugging. "It's fine, I see how it is." He teased as he put the car into gear, and drove toward the Jeffersonian, listening intently to the muffled laughter of his partner beside him. "Just know, my sweet, beautiful scientist. As a strong, capable, professional FBI agent... I don't forget." He said, shaking his head at the light laughter and sparkle in her bright blue eyes.
August 28th- 4:45pm
The day was busy, and focus on the case had been brought on the owner of a white 1998 Toyota Corolla. The security camera at the house across the street was grainy at best, but the make and color of the car was clear, and when they did a little more digging, it was learned that the car belonged to the brother of one of the victim's ex-boyfriends. The man was from Maryland, and Booth spent the day with several other agents trying to locate him and the car.
Brennan stayed back at the lab, knowing that Booth might be gone until late that evening, and she felt that it was more important that she remain close to care for Michael in the instance that Booth's absence kept him overnight in Maryland. She also had her psychologist appointment for the next day to think about, focus on, and mildly panic about. Her typing slowed as she stared at the screen, reminding herself briefly of her promise to Booth that she would do it, she would get help, she would get better. She stared at the report on her screen for several moments, letting out a rattled sigh. Her eyes moved across her office to the clock, and for a moment she focused on her iguana in his tank, standing stoic and strong, focused on nothing in particular. For a moment, she envied his boredom. She rolled her eyes and moved back to staring at her report on the screen.
Cam had said nothing about the news that she learned that morning about Booth and Brennan, and Angela had also been fairly absent for most of the day. Brennan looked over at the quiet lab, again distracted by the eerie quiet and wondered for a moment if she shouldn't just retire to Limbo for an hour or two. It was getting close to the end of the work day and she hadn't heard from Booth since he had left for Maryland. She didn't feel particularly nervous, but when he went without her, she was never completely comfortable about his safety. She glanced back to the screen and then let out a sigh, deciding that perhaps all she needed was some time with Michael to boost her spirits. If she wasn't getting anything done, there was no sense in her sticking around the lab.
She slowly stood up, focusing on something on her desk for a moment when she looked up to see a familiar face in her doorway.
"Doctor Sweets." Brennan said, swallowing involuntarily. The psychologist gave her a friendly smile, but Brennan's brow furrowed. "Can I do something for you?"
"I won't be in next week, and our session was cut short yesterday." He started. "I just wanted to stop in quickly to see if there was anything that you wanted to discuss."
Brennan's mouth was slightly agape, her eyes wide with a bit of surprise, and as usual, her brain started firing off other possible reasons for Sweets visit. Did he think something was suspicious? Did Cam call him this morning? Did he overhear or see something that they thought had been private? She stood staring at him for the longest time, before she quickly snapped back into reality. "I'm sorry?" She said, deciding that it was better to give nothing away than to offer up something.
"You and Agent Booth seemed a little stressed when you met with me, and you also insisted that Agent Booth stay when you typically stick together. I just wanted to check in to see if there was anything you wanted to discuss."
"No." She replied, her expression blank.
"Where is Agent Booth today? I thought you were working on a case." He said curiously.
"He is in Maryland, locating a suspect." She said, leaning back on her desk slightly, she crossed her arms in a defensive manner.
"And he didn't take you with him?"
"I am not a child, Doctor Sweets. I don't need to be led around by Agent Booth." She snapped.
"I understand." He said defensively, apparent by the way he held his hands out to her. "How is Michael doing? Is he acclimating well? He appeared quite happy." Sweets said, ensuring that she understood that he wasn't questioning her parenting ability, just the child's welfare.
"He's doing very well." She said, watching Sweets' dark eyes carefully.
"Have you and Agent Booth looked into his next of kin?" He asked, deciding immediately to tread lightly when he saw the slight twitch in her eye at his question.
"Angela has been doing some research for us. The mother's parents are deceased, but there may be a relative that may be able to take him in. Though I fully intend on vetting any candidate completely before handing him over." She said sternly. "I will not have him placed in an unfit household simply to avoid having him go into the foster system."
"I understand completely." Sweets said, nodding. "I commend you for not letting him go into the system, Doctor Brennan." He said sincerely, holding back his typical psychologist continuation of 'how does it make you feel' in favor of keeping his front teeth where they currently resided.
"I'd like to mitigate as much trauma as I possibly can." She said softly, feeling a bit emotional all of a sudden, though she wasn't about to let Sweets know that.
"Well, I'll be out next week, but I look forward to seeing you and Agent Booth the following Tuesday for our usual appointment." He said, nodding. He watched her eyes carefully, and there was a split second that he was sure she wanted to say something further. He paused for a beat and smiled. "Have a good week."
"You too, Sweets." She said with a friendly smile, watching as he turned and walked out of her office after giving her a friendly wave.
She turned to start gathering her things when her cell phone began to vibrate across her desk. She sighed and picked it up, immediately noticing the caller. "Brennan." She said, reaching around her desk for her bag.
"Hey, Bones." Booth sounded upbeat, but there was a bit of a downturn of his tone that she noticed immediately.
"You didn't find him yet, did you?" She sighed.
"Nope." He said, clearing his throat. "It looks like I'm going to have to be here overnight at the very least." He said, literally feeling the tension in the pause over the line. "Bones?"
"That's fine." She said, swallowing a bit hard. "It's fine. I can handle it." She said.
"You can always ask Angela to stay the night with you if you need help with Michael or..."
"I said that I can handle it, Booth." She grunted.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing." She said abruptly. "I just don't understand why people seem to think that I am completely inept without you by my side. I've been alone most of my life, Booth. I can handle it for one more night." She said angrily, noting the complete silence in the line. "Or are you worried about my nightmares with the baby around?" She said, with a tone akin to venom on her tongue.
"Stop." He said, his tone serious and deep. He listened to the silence on the line for a number of seconds. "I will call you later, Bones. I just wanted to let you know that I have to stay." He said, pausing for a moment.
She released a long breath into the line, feeling her anger deflating. "I love you." She said, swallowing hard as if she didn't expect him to say it back.
"I love you, Bones." He said. "I'll call a little later to check in. Get home, get some food for you and Mikey, and I'll talk to you soon."
"Okay." She said softly.
"Make sure you lock up the apartment tight." He said, simply out of caution and habit, he could hear a low growl in the line. "I'll call soon, love you." He said, hanging up the phone before she snapped at him again.
