Chapter 4

Friday 8PM

Brennan looks up from her laptop screen and smiles nervously at Angela, she tries to close the workpad without drawing too much curiosity from Angela...today she's been throwing herself into finishing a chapter of her newest novel and it isn't a chapter that she wants to share with anyone at the moment.

"Hey Angela. Didn't you go home hours ago?"

"No...I didn't go home."

Angela flops onto the sofa and glances at her hand at a chip in her nailpolish. Brennan waits in silence for Angela's daily 'drink and dance' request. After a few more moments of silence Brennan gets worried.

"Aren't you going to ask me if I want to go out to a club? Have some alcohol? Glug Glug Woo?"

"Sweetie, I've already had some drinks today."

"You have a date tonight?"

"No, I was with Booth."

Brennan looks at her hands, suddenly finding her own fingernails incredibly interesting. Angela glances up through her eyelashes and smiles. Sensing Brennan's eyes returning to her proximity she looks directly at her.

"I haven't seen Booth today. Did he say anything about the case?"

"No we didn't speak about the case, but I think that he and Zack completed the paperwork between themselves this morning. I don't think that Booth will be back until he has another case..."

Brennan's face falls momentarily "Oh...I see." Angela tries to look concerned.

"You ok sweetie? You need to speak to Booth about the case? You could call him."

"No, no. It's not that, it's just..."

"Just what?"

Brennan forces a weak smile "You sure you don't wanna go for a drink? I feel like getting out of myself tonight."

Angela smiles brightly at Brennan and pushes herself up from the sofa.
"Tempe...This is definitely a dear diary moment, be still my heart...we may make a social creature of you yet."

Brennan laughs out loud as she walks with Angela out of the office, her laughter cuts short and she looks at Angela in confusion..."I don't get it." Angela shakes her head and nudges Brennan gently.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Friday 1030 PM

Brennan sits at the bar, Angela had disappeared some twenty minutes ago with someone that Angela had described as a 'Cobain'...Brennan didn't really understand if that was good or not, he looked as though he needed a shampoo more than anything...now she is sitting here trying to numb her brain.

When Angela comes back to the bar she will tell her that she is going home. It's a Friday night, she could be finishing the chapter in her novel...perhaps even cleaning her apartment...a hand lands close to her own on the bar, closer than a stranger would normally lay his hand, she didn't need to look up to know that this stranger was a male, a male who probably did some sort of martial art or boxing type of sport, his knuckles were roughened and there is a fresh bruise across two of them.

"Hi."

She looks up and is greeted by a warm pair of brown eyes and a smile. "Hi"

"Is anyone sitting here?"

"Actually, my friend...is dancing...and should..."

Brennan's eyes scour the dance floor but she can't see Angela.

"Mind if I sit here till he or she gets back?"

Brennan takes in the rest of this man's face and smiles her assent. He is a good looking man, broad shoulders, obviously from his sport, well defined arms and a chest that boasts his physical power. She takes a sip of her drink..."So you box?"

"Excuse me?"

"I just noticed the definition in your upper body and you have a bruise across your knuckles...I concluded that you are a boxer, or maybe something to do with the martial arts?"

"I'm impressed..."

"So which is it?"

"I teach martial arts." Brennan smiles at her victory. "What about you...You a psychic or a cop?" Something in his smile is familiar and she feels at ease.

"Neither, I'm a forensic anthropologist."

The male is obviously impressed and his smile seems to be infectious. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? I'm Jack, Jack Thornton."

He holds his hand out to her which she shakes "Temperance Brennan, nice to meet you Jack." No sign of recognition seems to pass over his features, he hasn't heard her name before, she smiles back at him.

From the dance floor Angela spots Brennan talking to a tall handsome male, she smiles gently as she notices them laughing then turns on her heel and heads for the doors, dragging 'Cobain' in tow.

Sunday 8PM

Booth jogs out of the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist and heads for the ringing phone in his bedroom.

"Booth"

"Booth, it's me Angela...I need your help"

"Angela I am not coming over to rub any sort of lotion on any part of your body... no matter how sore it may or may not be"

"Cute Sweetie, but it's not me...I'm worried about Tempe"

Booth clings to his towel and sighs. "Ok, you have my attention"

"She hasn't been home all weekend, I left her at a club on Friday night and I haven't been able to get a hold of her since..."

Worry lines crease his forehead and he sits down grabbing a notepad and pen from his drawer..."You've tried the office?"

"I tried the office before I tried her at home."

"What club and what time did you leave her?"

"Fury's around elevenish"

"Ok, I'll meet you at the Jeffersonian in an hour."

Booths hangs up and throws the phone onto his bed..."Let her be ok."

He grabs his jeans and a white tee from the bottom of the bed and walks back to the bathroom.