Chapter Eleven

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Angela arrived at the Jeffersonian as usual next morning. She was feeling great, and knowing Temperance was at home for the first time in weeks, she felt even better.

Her good mood was all too soon replaced by concern and confusion as she spotted her best friend by the examining table. Angela frowned, what the heck was Tempe doing here? Normally she wouldn't have been the slightest confused at seeing her friend at work long before she herself arrived, but today it was everything but normal.

"Sweetie? I thought you were at home, sleeping… or at least at the Hospital watching over Booth, something wrong?" she asked as she walked up to her friend. It wasn't until then she realized Temperance looked like hell. She looked like she could collapse any time, her eyes were red rimmed and Angela could see she had been crying. She wasn't wearing her lab coat, which she always did at work and her hair was all messy.

"Gosh, Sweetie?" Angela asked. She wasn't sure she even wanted to hear what was going on. Why wasn't she with Booth? He couldn't have… no Angela told herself, Booth couldn't be dead, there had to be something else…

Temperance slowly lifted her head to look at her friend, starting to tell Angela about what she'd found out about her latest skeleton. Her voice was all robot-like as she spoke and Angela could see new tears brim in her eyes.

"Stop," she cut her friend off. "I don't care about that woman right now, Sweetie; it's you that I'm worried about. Now tell me what's wrong?"

Temperance made a trembling sigh. She looked down at the bones for a while, and then she looked back at Angela. Suddenly she felt dizzy. Temperance grabbed the table to steady herself but her legs didn't support her weight anymore and she sank to the floor.

Angela was by her side quickly. "Tempe?" she asked.

Temperance shook her head, burying her face in her hands as she cried. Her body was trembling with every sob. "Oh god, sweetie…" Angela took her in her arms, trying to comfort. She was confused, of course Temperance was tired, both emotionally and physically, but she didn't think she would break down like this. There had to be something else, something she wasn't telling her…

"Dr Brennan? Angela?" Zach's voice brought Angela back to reality. She looked at him, mouthing at him to keep quiet, at the same time waving her hand at him to leave them alone.

Zach seemed so confused Angela almost felt sorry for him. He just stood there for a while, not knowing what to do. The situation in front of him was something he thought he'd never get to see. After a while, Zach seemed to get the point, nodding at Angela, he left.

When Temperance calmed down a little, she pulled away, feeling embarrassed. But Angela just looked at her with compassion and concern in her dark eyes.

"Come on Tempe," Angela helped Temperance to stand and with an arm around her waist she led her to her office. Angela hadn't realized it until now, but Temperance was totally exhausted, she wouldn't be surprised if she hadn't slept at all… gosh, she didn't even have the strength to stand anymore.

They sat down in the sofa, and this time Angela wouldn't give up until she had all the information she needed.

"I couldn't sleep last night so I went to the hospital…" Temperance started. There was a long silence before she continued. "He has a girlfriend…" she whispered and Angela almost flinched at the pain she could hear in her voice.

"What? Who?" Angela was confused. Suddenly a thought struck her. She looked at her friend with big eyes. "Booth has a girlfriend?"

Temperance nodded, telling Angela what she'd seen.

Angela was stunned. Was it possible that Temperance was right? Could Booth lie about that, and why? Why would he want to hurt Temperance like that… it just didn't make sense…

Suddenly Angela felt mad. Who the hell did he think he was? She looked at her friend. Of course she was upset. "You're staying here; don't you dare go anywhere, okay? You stay here and get some SLEEP, you need to sleep do you hear me?"

Temperance nodded, no longer having the strength to argue, nor did she have the strength to go anywhere.

"Good," Angela got up on her feet.

"Where are you going?"

"To give that bastard something to think about, I can't believe Booth did this to you, son of a bitch!" Angela stormed off, leaving Temperance staring after her, confused. She didn't remember seeing her friend this angry in a long time. But somehow it made her feel a little better; at least there was someone who still cared about her…

"Hey Zach!" Angela stopped him on her way towards the entrance.

"What's going on with Dr. Brennan, why was she crying?" Zach asked, hoping he would get some answers this time.

"That damn FBI Agent lied to her," Angela snapped, making Zack take several steps backwards. He had never seen the artist like this before and it scared him. What the heck was going on? Everyone acted strange around here…

"Zack make sure Tempe doesn't leave her office."

"Uh okay…"

"Don't let her out of there," Angela demanded before hurrying out through the doors. If this was true, she would make sure Booth got to pay for hurting her best friend, yes, he would have to pay for this… Angela thought as her car speeded towards the hospital…

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TBC