TITLE: Undoing
CHAPTER NINE: Cutting Slack
Booth had said they'd take baby steps. And, after he explained the concept to her, they did just that. They resumed their professional relationship with the decision to momentarily put their personal relationship on hold. There was still a lot to process, for both of them.
It was now nearly two months into Tempe's pregnancy, as she had decided. If her calculations were correct, she was set to have the baby in December. And though she still hadn't warmed to the idea of motherhood, she was no longer completely against it. She just simply did not want to be a mother.
She reapplied her makeup for the third time in the bathroom at the Jeffersonian, making sure to add more blush to hide the pallor in her face from throwing up. She looked up, at the reflection of the door, as a reflection of Angela came through it wearing a sympathetic smile. "Hey, Sweetie."
"Hi. Are those sketches finished?"
"Yeah. Booth's looking at 'em right now. He wanted me to come in and check on you."
She rolled her eyes. "Tell Booth that I'm not made of porcelain and that I can handle this on my own."
"What did I tell you about having a hot knight in FBI-issue body armor, honey? Let Booth fuss over you a little bit, at least."
"Why?"
"Because you're carrying his baby," Angela sighed, and threw her hands up in a shrug. "And, because he's a man and he's clueless, and I would bet that he's never gone through a pregnancy with someone before."
Tempe shook her head. "Rebecca wouldn't talk to him until after Parker was born."
"See? So, cut him some slack. He's never been through this before, and neither have you. It wouldn't hurt anything to lean on each other, and learn together."
"God, I feel like I'm fifteen again! I just found another pimple."
Angela chuckled at the very un-'Brennan'-like comment to escape the anthropologist's lips. "That's normal, honey. The book said that pregnancy increases oil secretions... that, plus the hormones coursing through you? You're liable to get a few pimples. Just relax. The book also said that'll most likely go away after your first trimester."
"Good." She finished sticking her makeup back in her makeup bag, and started for the door.
Angela, predictably, followed on her heels. "So today's your first 'big' doctor's appointment, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Is Booth going?"
Tempe threw a look toward where Booth stood in the middle of the forensics center and was not at all surprised to find his eyes already on her. Though he'd kept a respectable distance the past few weeks, his eyes were never far from her; under any other circumstance, she would badger him for this, but for some reason she found it sweet. And Angela was right... she needed to cut him some slack.
"I, uh... I haven't asked him--"
"Sweetie!"
"--yet," she finished with a sigh, giving her friend a look.
"Sorry. It's a reflex, scolding you about Booth."
Tempe chuckled just slightly and strode through her office door, setting her makeup bag on her desk. "Yeah, I noticed."
"Thanks, Sid." Tempe smiled at her favorite restaurateur as she was handed a cup of tea, then she turned to her partner. "Booth--"
"Bones, you're not getting anything for lunch?" He sounded surprised. "You need to eat, come on. Let Sid make you something."
"Don't coddle me, Booth. I had a sandwich in my office."
"Alright, then." He tilted his head to the side and studied her while she sipped at her tea. "Now what did you want to say?"
She lowered her voice slightly, keeping in mind that the information she was about to share with him was still considered confidential. "I have a doctor's appointment today. And... I'd like you to come with me."
He stared at her a moment before a slow, genuine smile spread across his face. "I'd be honored." He reached out and gave her hand a squeeze, eyes sparkling their gratitude for his inclusion.
Tempe smiled back and gave his hand a squeeze in return. So far, the 'baby step' idea seemed to be working.
TBC
