TITLE: Undoing
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Apprehension
A week had passed and Temperance still had yet to inform her boss of her pregnancy. Currently, she sat in her office, busy typing away on her computer, when Dr. Daniel Goodman himself strolled in. "Good afternoon, Dr. Brennan," he greeted jovially, wearing a smile.
"Afternoon, sir," she greeted in return, her voice holding only slight distraction as she finished the e-mail she'd been composing and hit 'send.' She turned to face him. "How are you?"
"I'm well, thank you."
She watched as his eyes drifted toward her stomach, and she suddenly remembered what she'd been doing. She quickly grabbed the headphones off it, as well as the portable CD player that was currently playing a classical CD, and shoved it next to her computer monitor. "Sorry. I had just been listening to music while I was retrieving my e-mail."
"Mm-hmm." He nodded, slowly, with his hands clasped in front of him, and made his way toward the chair across from her desk.
Tempe watched, almost anxiously, as he took his time sitting down. She was aware she probably looked trepidatious, but there was nothing she could do to hide it now. "Sir, is there something I can do for you?"
The shaking of his head was slight, accompanied by a brief pursing of the lips that told Tempe his visit did not pertain to work. He met her eyes briefly, then nodded toward where she had placed her CD player. "You know, my wife used to do the same thing when she was pregnant with the twins. They say it's beneficial to the fetus cognitively to play soft music over the womb."
"Uh... sir..."
Goodman let out a deep chuckle. "Dr. Brennan, you must relax. I'm not here to reprimand you for anything."
"How did you know?"
"I'm a father and a husband, quite simply, Temperance. In this case, your glow was the tell. I intended not to say anything until you came to me with the information. I'll admit, I'm a little hurt that you felt you couldn't tell me sooner."
"Why are you saying something now, then?"
"Well partly because I wanted to be sure. While a glow is a tell, it's not a sure sign. Then, last week, I received confirmation of my suspicions when I noticed that bump you were trying desperately to hide from me."
"Sir, I'm so sorry. I have been meaning to tell you--"
"No worries, Temperance. As a father and a husband, I also understand how many complications can arise during the first trimester. I take it you are now in your second?"
"Yes, sir."
"May I ask how far along you are?"
She nodded with a slight smile. "Fifteen weeks."
Goodman's brows twitched upward, and he smiled. "You're getting close to your amniocentesis, then."
"Yes."
"Are you planning to learn the sex of the baby?"
"I'd like to, but--" She stopped abruptly, midsentence, and promptly closed her mouth. To finish it would not be the best idea. She wanted to learn the sex of the baby, but Booth didn't.
"But what?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. I, uh... I decided to wait."
He nodded slowly, but Tempe deflated a little when she noted the look on his face -- he knew there was something else she was hiding from him, and judging by the smile making its way across his face, he knew what the other secret was. "Are you getting excited?"
Tempe shrugged. "It's a baby, how thrilled can I be?"
Goodman tilted his head slightly at this and narrowed his eyes contemplatively. "Well... there's a certain excitement that comes from pending motherhood. You're not looking forward to the birth of your first child?"
"Well..." She trailed off with another shrug, this one facial in nature.
"Are you frightened?"
Another shrug, then she looked toward the doorway, where Booth appeared. He waved and smiled, noting she had company, and gestured that he'd be down the hall. She nodded and turned back to Goodman. "I don't know 'frightened' is the correct word, really."
"Apprehensive, then."
"Yes, I guess you could say I'm a little apprehensive."
"Temperance, I believe you'll make a fine mother. I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"My people skills aren't the greatest, sir. You know that."
"I do. But I also know that's not the required skill for motherhood. Besides, it's something you'll pick up along the way. Many first-time mothers are apprehensive, my wife included when she was pregnant with the twins. It's a learning experience."
Tempe smiled brightly and looked toward the doorway, where Booth had appeared again briefly. "That's what I've been told."
"And I'm sure you'll have help. I, or my wife, would be more than willing to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Have you told Ms. Montenegro?"
"Yes, she knows. She knew right away, somehow."
"She's a bright young woman. How about Agent Booth? Have you alerted him of your pregnancy? He is your work partner, after all."
Tempe swallowed and absently toyed with her chunky necklace. "Yes, Booth has been made aware."
"Well, then I'm sure he would help you out in any way he can as well. It is my opinion that Agent Booth would do just about anything for you. All you need to do is ask."
She smiled. "Yes, I know."
"And if you're still apprehensive, spend some time with a child to prepare." Goodman gestured toward the doorway, acknowledging Booth's presence as he appeared for the third time and lingered. "Agent Booth has a son, perhaps you could spend some time with him."
Tempe raised an eyebrow. "Parker?"
Booth took that as his cue to enter the office. "Y'know Bones, I bet you'd have fun with Parker. Maybe we could arrange for you to visit the next time I've got him."
She shook her head immediately. "I don't want to infringe on your time with your son, Booth. You get so little as it is..."
"It's no problem. He'd love you." He turned pink as the last three words left his mouth and he ducked his head, clearing his throat. It had slipped. His mouth had obviously forgotten they were still in the presence of Dr. Goodman.
Goodman just smiled knowingly. "I'm sure he would too, Agent Booth." He glanced between the two of them as he rose to his feet and checked his watch. "Well, I should be going. I've got a meeting with the board of directors in an hour and I need to prepare."
Tempe nodded, and both her and Booth smiled. "Thank you for stopping by, sir," she replied.
"It was my pleasure. And..." He turned in the doorway and gave another slight smile. "Congratulations, to both of you."
Booth and Tempe's eyes widened, and they looked to each other, panicked.
Goodman chuckled at the exchange. "Agent Booth, I'd like it if you and I could schedule a brief meeting around four-thirty today. Are you available?"
Booth, still with wide eyes, nodded slowly. "Yes sir, I am."
"Good. I'll see you in my office at four-thirty."
Goodman then made his exit, leaving Tempe and Booth to exchange worried, and slightly confused, glances behind his back.
TBC
