TITLE: Undoing
CHAPTER FIVE: Waiting


"So do you think he did it?"

"Booth," Temperance sighed as she and her partner slid onto their usual stools at the bar at Wong Foo's, "I think you know by now that I don't draw conclusions so easily."

"I know. I was just--"

"'Poking and prodding,'" she chuckled. "I know."

"Well if isn't my two favorite crime-fighters," Sid called as he emerged from the restaurant kitchen. "Here for lunch?"

"Yes we are, Sid. What are we having today?" Booth smiled.

Sid held up a finger in a signal for them to wait a minute. "I'll be back in a few, and you will see, my friends. Excuse me." He ducked back into the kitchen, leaving Booth to chuckle at his exit before turning back to his partner.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes flicking over her.

She shrugged. "I feel fine."

"Angela mentioned yesterday that you might be coming down with something."

Tempe rolled her eyes. "I told her not to say anything."

"Why?" he grinned. "Because I'll hover?"

"Yes! Exactly. You do that enough as it is."

"I promise to behave. But seriously, Bones, if you need to take a sick day or something, don't let me stand in the way of--"

"You're not. And neither is the work. I'll be fine, believe me."

Just a few minutes later, Sid emerged once more from the kitchen with a tray of food. He set a bowl of chicken fried rice and a mug of tea down in front of Tempe, "Rice and tea for the lovely bone doctor..." and then set a plate of orange chicken with lo mein, and a soft drink in front of Booth. "And some chicken and Coke for the G-man."

"Thanks, Sid." Booth nodded his gratitude while Tempe echoed the sentiments with her mouth full, and Sid left them to eat.

Once they had finished and Booth had paid the bill, they remained seated, each sipping at their drinks. Booth checked his watch. "We gotta head back to the lab and see what your squints have for us before we chase that lead I was talking about."

She swallowed the rest of her tea and slowly shook her head. "You'll have to do that without me. I have to go see my editor."

"Oh, that's right." A cheeky grin spread across his face. "About adding in that sex scene between our characters, right?"

She slugged him in the shoulder and he feigned a wince before he chuckled.


Temperance slowed her car on K Street, keeping her eyes peeled for a parking spot. Once one was found and she had pulled into the space, she cut the engine and sighed to herself, looking out the passenger-side window at the Anderwood Clinic. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths through her nose. Nausea was coming over her again.

She shook her head at herself and told herself that she could do this. She popped open the car door and slowly climbed out, shutting the door and ignoring her trembling knees as she went inside. The perky receptionist did nothing to calm her nerves or her stomach, and Temperance gave a tight-lipped smile. "Appointment for Temperance Brennan."

"Of course. I'll just have you sign in, and you can head to the waiting area."

Tempe nodded, once. "Thank you."

After signing the proper form, she took another deep breath and placed a hand against her still-churning stomach. "Here goes nothing," she whispered, and headed for the waiting room.


TBC