Two weeks had passed and there had been no word from Booth. She'd learned from Angela that he'd gone north; his family had a cabin in Alaska. Angela continued to make references to the length of his absence, but she had remained silent on the subject mentioning only that he had too much vacation time and that the FBI was forcing him to take it. During his absence she was plagued with the thought that Gemma was with him. She'd met her once, it was brief, but it was long enough to know that Gemma was everything that she could never be. The woman who had faced her seemed to glow from somewhere within and he had beamed in her presence. She rises from her desk and goes out to the lab, the guys are huddled together in front of a pc with their backs turned to her. She walks up behind them and peers over their shoulder.
"What are you looking at?"
Hodgins sighs and turns to the others. "Busted." She looks at him and Angela rolls her eyes.
"Sweetie, I was just showing Jack and Zack what Gemma looks like… she is doing an interview today, something to do with a donation that some charity is making to her hospital. Booth told me about it."
Suddenly she was very interested, "Is it live?" Angela nods and Jack lets up a deep satisfied sigh. Brennan looks to him quickly.
"Booth is one lucky son of a gun. She is a hottie." Angela nods in agreement and Zack pulls a funny face.
"She isn't my type. I prefer auburn hair…" His eyes flit to Brennan quickly and he blushes, although oblivious to him Angela does manage to roll her eyes. Brennan clears her throat gently.
"So? Gemma didn't go with Booth?" Angela looks at her distractedly and shakes her head.
"No, she's going up to meet him next week I think, at last he said something like that." Brennan's face falls and Angela catches the quick change. Brennan forces a smile and nods. Walking away from the desk she heads back to the office.
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Booth looks from his book to his watch, placing the book down on a side table he stretches and yawns. The cabin is rich and comfortable in furnishings and the time spent alone here has been rewarding. He has come to a decision, it hadn't been easy but he was certain of what he needed to do now. The first week had been plagued with thoughts of Brennan..the second only with thoughts of Gemma. Gemma was so easy to care for, she was soft, gentle, kind. Sometimes he was sure that she was too good for him and he had spent many confused hours trying to sort through his feelings for both women. He'd found his answer, he knew exactly what he needed to do when he got home. He knew that he needed to talk to both women. He wasn't looking forward to facing either of them, but he knew that the truth would have to come out if he was ever to have an honest relationship. Pushing himself to his feet he grabs the duffel bag from the side of the chair and heads out of the cabin to catch his flight back to both of the women in his life.
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Brennan is in the kitchen chopping onions, tears stream down her face as she tries to watch each stroke of her knife. A knock at her door causes her to put down the onion and knife and grab a dishcloth to go and answer her door.
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Gemma puts down her book as she hears a knock at the door, she pushes herself up and goes to answer the door, stubbing her toe on her journey.
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Brennan pulls her door open and smiles widely at her guest. "Hi"
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Gemma opens her door and launches herself into the arms of Booth, he chuckles lightly as she clings to him tightly. "Seeley!"
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Brennan walks back to the kitchen as David closes the door quietly behind him. He shrugs off his jacket and follows her. "I know I'm early… We finished up at the office slightly earlier than expected. Sorry." She shrugs and waves a hand to show she isn't concerned with his timekeeping. "Those onions huh? There was me thinking that you were one of these new age chicks who never cries." Brennan chuckles.
"I try not to, but you've discovered my weakness. Onions kill me." He walks into the kitchen and takes the knife from her, moving aside she allows him to continue chopping them for her.
"Take a seat Tempe, I'll be done in no time." She smiles gratefully and goes to the fridge to pull out a couple of beers. Opening them both she slides one across the counter to him and takes a seat. He watches her for a second before going back to chopping the onions. "So where is he?" She looks at him confused.
'Who?" He rolls his eyes and she looks at her beer sheepishly. "Booth is on vacation with his girlfriend." David looks surprised and nods slowly. He dumps the onions into the casserole dish beside him and pops it into the already heated oven. Picking up his beer he comes over to sit in front of her. He leans across the counter.
"So tell me…. What happened?" She looks at him and sighs before nodding, preparing to tell him everything that had happened and everything that she has been feeling.
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Gemma looks at her hands, Booth shakes his head and runs a hand over his face. She looks to him and seeing the pain etched in his features she bites her lips and brushes a tear from her cheek. He pushes himself to his feet and nods slowly. "I should go….. I'm sorry." She nods not really hearing his words. He walks past her to the door.
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Brennan pushes her plate away from herself and lets out a groan. "I think I ate too much." David smiles and finishes his beer. He picks up her plate and moves to the sink to run them under water and looking at his watch lets out a sigh.
"I guess I should head." She nods and walks him over to the door, he steps out into the hallway and leans forward to place a soft kiss on her cheek. She smiles gently and watches him walk towards the elevator before closing the door.
From the shadows Booth watches. He watches as David walks away from her door, watches as she ducks into the apartment. His heart sinks and he leans against the wall.
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