I felt like I need another chapter. Things were missing. The ending was hell. It's weak and lame but it's there. It's kind of weird since I had a hard time naming this one. I hope you like. Enjoy and thanks for reading…
Angela woke up exhausted and sore after another couple of hours of uninterrupted sleep. Right now she was envying her best friend as she poked her head into the spare room to check on her. Thankfully Tempe was able to sleep soundly as well. As far as she could tell there hadn't been any other disturbances due to nightmares or night terrors or what ever the hell happened last night. Angela sighed with relief but was still worried about the woman currently buried so deep into covers only a tuft of brunet hair stuck out from under the heavy comforter.
A wide yawn escaping her mouth made Angela wince. Tempe had taken a few swings at her last night clipping her across the cheek bone, 'Note to self never touch Brennan in her sleep again!' Angela thought as she lightly touched the bruise on her slightly swollen cheek, 'Thank God I was able to get out of the way of that heavy weight punch but now it looks like I have an abusive boyfriend.' Quietly opening the front door Angela snuck off to work leaving Tempe to sleep. She hoped Tempe would be okay being left alone for the day.
Angela had arrived at the Jeffersonian Medico-Legal Lab a half hour before everyone else, which was a minor miracle, considering how little sleep she managed to get. She was deeply immersed in there current case of a young female stabbed with a yet to be identified weapon. It was up to her to determine the manner in which the object made its way into the youth's sternum. The seen was unsettling but she had a job to do. That was a lesson she had to learn along time ago.
FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth made his way into the lab unbeknownst to Angela Montenegro. He smiled as he snuck up behind her and boomed, "HELLO ANGELA!"
Startled she nearly fell off her stool, "God, Booth you scared the hell out of me! What are you here?"
"I was looking for Bones. Did you beat her here for once?"
She turned to face him and watch as his faced shifted from amusement to something else. Noticing this but ignored it she said, "She's not coming in today, Booth."
Booth's face fell when he got a good look at Angela's bruised face. Over the last year he had grown very protective of the squint squad. He would gladly maim or arrest anyone who would dare lay a hand on any of them. He admitted, only to himself, that that protection included Zack Addy, the crack assistant, and Jack Hodgins, the entomologist. He was trying to control his now bubbling anger before he spoke, "Angela, who do I need to kill?"
Surprised by the tone of Booth's suppressed anger she asked, "What? Kill who?"
He made a motion with hand to indicate the side of her face. With dawning comprehension she said, "Oh, it's nothing. Brennan did it."
Now it was his turn to be surprised. He never imagined Temperance Brennan striking her best friend for any reason. None at all, it must have been one hell of an altercation. It was no wonder Brennan hasn't shown her face yet. This was more disturbing then he cared to admit. He spoke as he gently turned her face to him for a better look, "You got in a fight with, Bones?"
"Seeley, please I'm not that stupid. She'd sooo kick my ass in half a second. She beat up a gang leader for crying out loud. I wouldn't stand a chance again her."
"So, what happened then?"
"She stayed at my place last night. I woke her up from a nightmare. Booth keep note don't touch Brennan when she's asleep she'll kick your ass by accident. I think she cracked one of my ribs along with the bruise on my face."
"She was at your place last night? When did she get there? It must have been around 11 when Russ and I left."
"It was pretty late. I think she turned up at my doorstep at 3am. Finding her mother really shook her up."
"You said she's not coming in today? Is she okay?" he asked with concern lacing his deep voice.
Angela couldn't help but smile at his concern, "She wasn't feeling to well this morning. I made her take the day off. And since I was the one with the car she was forced to stay home. At any rate when I left she was still asleep."
"She's sick? Maybe we should check on her", Booth said not bothering to hide his concern for his partner's well being.
"Sweetie you need to relax. Yes the rain didn't do her any favors nor did this week's sleepless nights but she is going to fine. She just needs someone to force her to stop. You know damn well she won't do it herself."
"Yeah I knew that the first day I met her. She doesn't want to leave the lab until she knows who she is examining. It's harder than she admits when we can't find some poor souls identity…wait a second. Did she walk to your place?"
Angela nodded an affirmative, "caught that, huh?"
"That's like what…"
"…nearly 10 miles," She finished for him.
"What? She walked 10 miles through Washington, DC, the murder capitol of the world. What was she thinking?"
"She wasn't thinking. You didn't see her last night. She was totally overwhelmed. It was very disturbing to see like that. I never considered her as vulnerable."
"Angela, contrary to popular belief Bones is human and she has feelings…deep feeling. The fact of the matter is she's probably more vulnerable then any of us. She is just better at burying it."
The conversation was cut short by Booth's shrilling cell phone, "Booth…yes sir…no sir, I'm going to be solo today…but I'll pass all the evidence to squint squad…yes sir I'm on my way." He looked over at Angela, "New case, I gotta go. Uh, Angela…do you think it would be okay if I stopped by your place later?"
Angela smiled at him, "how about this instead. You'll be working late today and tomorrow is Saturday. Why don't we plan a picnic for her? She needs a couple of days away from the lab and the FBI I think she'll appreciate it. Let's say noon-ish?"
He looked slight crestfallen but agreed. He was already making mental plans for the next morning.
Angela's day went by uneventful. She and Jack made senseless banter most of the day leaving a poor Zack clueless. 'When will that man ask me out?' Angela thought as looked over at Jack longingly. She would leave it him to make the first move. He was the billionaire after all.
When Angela arrived home she was surprised to see no evidence she had a visitor. She made her way to the guest room carefully opening the door. Looking in she could see Brennan still asleep. It appeared as though Tempe hadn't moved since Angela had looked in on her earlier that morning.
'Was this normal?' Angela thought worriedly walking to the bed.
"Bren?" there was no response. She tried again putting a light hand on Tempe's blanket buried shoulder, "Sweetie, it's time to wake up."
Tempe let out a low moan still hesitant to open her eyes. She rolled onto back toward Angela before she spoke, "is it time for work already?"
Angela would have laugh if she wasn't so worried about her best friend. She sat on the edge of the bed slowly stiff from the accidental altercation from the night before.
Tempe noticed Angela's wince, "Are hurt? Are you okay?"
Angela waved it away, "Yeah, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Tempe nodded then asked again making an half hearted attempt to get out of bed, "is it time for work?"
Placing a gentle hand on the shoulder of the woman next to her, "Bren, Sweetie, you missed work today."
Looking stunned Tempe asked, "I missed work? Are you telling me I've been asleep for 15 hours?"
"Yes, Honey, that is exactly what I'm saying."
"Oh, then why do I still feel like I haven't slept in days? I'm totally exhausted."
"I know you don't like psychology but this is your body's way, both mentally and physically, of dealing with the events of the past few days. Not to mention the fact you haven't has a full night's sleep in 15 years."
"Angela…"
"No, Bren! I love you but you have no defense in the situation. You don't take care of yourself. You forget to eat and God knows you don't sleep regularly. Yes, your job is extremely important but your health is just as important if not more so. If you work yourself until you are too sick to even go to work then who will be left to do your job?"
Tempe looked at her concerned friend. She had to admit Angela had made an excellent argument. She had no fight in her at the moment anyway. Wearily she leaned back against the pillow and said, "Point taken, Angela."
"Thank you. Now get up I have dinner ready and waiting for us?"
"Ange, I'm not really hungry right now. I really just want to go back to sleep."
"Bren, you slept all day. You need to eat something."
"Please Ange. I promise I'll eat something later", Tempe gave her friend a pleading look accompanied by an exhausted sigh. All she wanted to do was sleep.
"Okay, Sweetie. I'll be in the next room if need anything."
It didn't take long for Tempe to fall into a deep sleep once again. With a quick look over her shoulder Angela made her way out of the room. She was hoping the next few hours will leave her best friend nightmare free. Leaving Tempe to sleep for a few more hours Angela made her way to the living room to make a phone to a certain FBI Agent. Before picking up the telephone receiver she had already made the decision to force feed Temperance Brennan if necessary, even if it meant risking life and limb. Hopefully Tempe would be up to getting out of the house tomorrow. There would be big plans in works if she knew Seeley Booth at all.