Chapter 3: Secrets

He missed her smile. Several weeks had went by since his admission in her office. Ever since that day, she stopped smiling. It seemed like with each passing day, she was getting less likely to. Her protective walls were higher and stronger than ever before that even Angela had a hard time getting through to her. She blocked him out completely. Whenever he stopped by to work on cases, she would leave the room or if she was trapped, pretended to look at the microscope when there was nothing under it. She did all she could to avoid him. She even managed to stop going out into the field.

The news were broken to him one day when Dr. Goodman and Cullen surprised him one day in his office. The fact that the two were in his office together was frightening enough but the fact that they needed to talk to him scared him even more. They informed Booth that Dr. Brennan had requested to be pulled off field work. When he asked why, they said that she stated her reasons were personal. They added that even though she won't be going out into the field, her team would still be able to help him on cases.

They stunned him even further when they informed him that Dr. Camille Sayoran would be his new partner. The request was made by Dr. Brennan, not by Dr. Sayoran.

When Dr. Goodman had left, Cullen turned to Booth and said, "Sorry, Booth. We tried to talk her out of it but she wouldn't budge." Then as an afterthought, he added, "You know, even though she's stubborn as hell, she's an alright person…for a squint. I'm still thankful to you, Dr. Brennan, and her team of squints for catching the son of a bitch who gave my daughter cancer. Who knows how many lives you saved."

He patted Booth on the back and stated, "You two made one heck of a team. I like her a lot better than this Sayoran person. Good luck."

The severed partnership between them was Brennan's last attempt to cut off all contact with him. At least she didn't return the ring yet, he thought. But she will, the pessimistic side of him argued. At least you have still Parker. He's your last connection to her. Keep that link.

The thought of his son made Booth smile. He looked in the rearview mirror and smiled at his son who smiled back, before continuing to play with his toy car. Brennan may have stopped smiling around him, but she always smiled around his son. That's why whenever he had Parker, he would always bring him to the lab just so Booth could see Brennan smile.

He felt like he had to share Parker three-ways. On days that Parker could visit, he shared him with Brennan. If he didn't, his son would wonder why. Back when they were dating, Parker and Brennan got along real well. They always spent time together whenever he came to visit. So naturally, Parker assumed that whenever he visit Daddy he would visit Tempe also.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, kiddo?" Booth asked, looking into the rearview mirror.

"Are we going to visit Tempe?"

"Yep."

"Yay!"

Booth smiled at his son's enthusiasm. It seemed like Parker was occupied with his toy when he didn't speak again. It turned out that Booth was wrong.

"Daddy?"

"Hmm?"

"Why is Tempe sad?"

Booth froze in the front seat. "What do you mean?"

"Tempe's sad. Sometimes I talk to her and she doesn't listen. When I asked her what's the matter, she just shake her head."

"That doesn't mean she's sad, Parker. She could just be thinking."

"Nuh-uh. I saw her cry."

Booth pulled into his parking space and unbuckled his seat belt. He sat silently for a minute before he turned around in his seat and asked, "You saw her cry?"

Parker nodded. "She was crying in her office. She didn't know I was there. When she saw me, she wiped her tears and smiled."

Booth sat thinking. He looked up at his son, gazing into the same brown eyes as his own. "Parker, you tell me if there's anything wrong with Tempe, okay? You can be my eyes whenever I'm not around. You like that?"

"I can be your eyes?" Parker asked.

Booth nodded. "Yep. Here you go." He pretended to pluck out his eyes and held them in his fists. He squeezed his eyes shut, giving Parker the impression that Booth had no eyes.

"Eww! Daddy!"

"What? You're going to be my eyes, right? So you need my eyes."

"Daddy!"

"Okay, fine. You can use your own eyes." He put his hands up to his eyes, rubbing them into his closed eyelids, pretending to put them back into their sockets. He opened his eyes and smiled at Parker.

"You promise to be my eyes, Parker?"

"Yep."

"Good. Now let's go see Tempe," he said as he opened his door. After he had unbuckled Parker from his car seat, he placed his son on the ground before he locked the car. Taking Parker's hand, the two set off into the Jeffersonian.

As they were heading towards Brennan's office, they were stopped by Cam.

"Hello, Booth," she said with a smile. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Cam," he greeted curtly. He gave his son's hand a slight tug and started to resume walking when she stopped him again.

"I need to talk to you," she said, glancing down at Parker, "alone."

"Can it wait?" He was starting to get annoyed. Even though she was his official partner, he didn't like her. They didn't have that connection, that chemistry required to have a great partnership. He did with his former partner.

"No, it's important." Then she turned her attention to Parker, "Do you mind if I talk with your father, little guy?" she asked, planting a fake smile on her face.

"Daddy…" he held onto his father's hand tightly.

Booth crouched down to his son's level. "It's alright, you go on ahead to Tempe's office. I'll be there soon." He patted Parker on the back just before the boy ran off in search of the safety of his beloved Tempe's office. He watched Parker as he ran into Tempe's office.

Brennan, who was sitting on the couch typing on her laptop, was startled when Parker ran into the room. She put her laptop on the table before turning around and enveloped him in a great hug. Brennan's face was alight with a smile. Booth gave a slight smile as he stood. His smile faded when he remembered that Cam was still standing there.

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Reminiscing about the past?"

He frowned at her. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Perhaps we should have this conversation in the privacy of my office," she said, turning around and heading for her office. Booth gave one last look at Brennan's office before following Cam.

When he entered her office, she closed the door behind him. He remained standing while she sat down behind her desk.

"Sit," she gestured towards a chair. He shook his head. "With the news I'm about to tell you, it might be better if you're seated." He reluctantly sat down in front of her.

"What is it?"

She didn't like to beat around the bush so she just came right out and said it. "I'm late."

Booth's mind stopped functioning. His mouth went dry. His heart stopped pumping blood.

"What?" he asked hoarsely.

"I'm late."

"…for an appointment?" he asked hopefully. He knew that wasn't what she meant, but a guy can hope.

"No…" she said, slowly.

She could see his mind traveling at a million miles per minute. She could see that he was trying to grasp the idea that she could be pregnant. The fact was…she wasn't.

When they had left Wong Fu's, she had planned to take him back to her place. She struggled to put him in the passenger seat. It didn't help that he was trying to dance to some song playing in his mind. When she had finally got him settled and entered her side of the car, he was already passed out. After moments of pondering what to do with him, she decided to go on with her plan. When he wakes up, he'll assess the situation and come up with a conclusion. It may be the wrong one, but I'm not going to correct him.

She was pulled back into the present when he asked, "Maybe it doesn't mean anything. You could just be…late."

She shook her head. "I'm never late."

"Well, you're late now!" He raised his voice.

She glared at him. "Do you want the entire lab to know?" She paused before adding, "Including Dr. Brennan?"

His eyes widened when he remembered about Temperance. Temperance.

He don't know how she'll take the idea. He screwed up their relationship by sleeping with her boss. Then he went and got Cam pregnant. Life was going real well for him.

He sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. After a moment, he raised his head and regarded Cam. "How long has it been?"

"A few days."

"It's only been a few days? You can't be sure yet--"

"I'm sure," she said with quiet certainty.

Booth looked at Cam closely. He didn't believe her. "If you're sure, go see a doctor. Get your blood work done. Come back and see me once you have the results."

He stood up and walked to the door. He opened the door, staring out at the lab. His gaze landed on the examination table. He could see Angela holding Parker in her arms. His son was talking animatedly to Temperance, who smiled at his enthusiasm.

Booth felt so...so…what? There were no words to describe what he felt. He had her, then he lost her. Good going, Seeley.

He sighed deeply before he walked out of Cam's office, leaving the door wide open. Cam was still sitting at her desk, motionless.

Booth had wanted a blood test. He needed proof that she was pregnant. Proof that she didn't have. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. He really loves her.

Temperance, for once, had nothing to do. A new body had arrived but she wasn't working on it. Zach was. She was gradually giving him more work. She knew he could do it, but he doesn't have much confidence in himself. He needed the practice in order to get his degrees. She was letting him get used to the idea.

All of her paperwork was done. There was nowhere that she needed to be. She sat down heavily on her chair. After several minutes of rubbing her forehead, she remembered that she promised her publisher several more chapters on her new book. Sighing, she turned on her monitor.

When she was halfway into the chapter, her back began to hurt. She tried to massage the soreness away, but it was no use. It was a good thing she had brought her laptop to work. She saved her work onto her JumpDrive before turning off the computer. She got the laptop from her bag before plopping onto the sofa. After plugging her JumpDrive in, she went back to work.

It took her a while to realize that she was hearing footsteps heading for her office. She really didn't want to be bothered once she was in her writing mode. But after listening to the footsteps, she realized that they were running towards her office. And the sounds weren't loud enough to be an adult's. It could only belong to one person.

"Tempe!" Parker yelled as he ran into the room.

She remembered to save her work before putting the laptop on the coffee table. Then she turned, giving him a big hug. She missed him.

Over his shoulder, she saw Booth following Cam towards her office. She pushed the twinge of pain she felt tugging at her heart. She knew what Cam needed to talk to Booth about.

Cam had hinted at it earlier that morning. She was at the lunch area, finishing her tea and bagel when Cam walked in. Brennan tried to get away, but not before Cam subtly told her that parker would have a sibling soon to play with.

Thinking about it now, she squeezed Parker a bit tighter before letting him go.

"Hey, Parker. How have you been?"

"Fine. Do you have any new bones, Tempe?" he asked eagerly. He was fascinated with bones like his beloved forensic anthropologist.

She smiled. "Yep. Do you want to see them?" He nodded his head vigorously.

"Let's go," she said, picking him up. The last time she let Parker ran ahead of her towards the examination table, the alarms went off. She had forgotten about the security measures.

She swiped her card and walked onto the platform. Parker was too short to see onto the table so she continued to hold him so he could see the skeleton.

"Cool! Was he killed, Tempe?" he asked, his eyes wide.

"I don't know yet. That's what we're trying to find out. How's school, Parker?" He had recently started school and she was curious about his development.

"Okay. I made lots of friends. One of my best friends is Tom and guess what?"

"What?"

"He just got a new baby sister! Her name's Lilly!"

Brennan gave him a wavering smile as Parker started playing with her hair. He went on with his story, telling her how cool Lilly was when Tom's mom brought her when she picked Tom up from school.

Angela heard the last of Parker's tale when he exclaimed, "I want a baby sister too!" She placed a hand on Brennan's shoulder, causing the other woman to quickly spin around.

Parker squealed when he saw Angela. "Angela!"

Angela gave him a big smile, "Hey Parker!"

He raised his arms, signaling that he wanted to be held by Angela. After transferring him to Angela, Brennan went to examine the bones. She needed to check them to verify Zach's report later.

Angela kept a worried gaze on Brennan while having a conversation with Parker. After the whole Booth issue, Angela worried about her than ever before. She knew how deeply Booth had hurt her best friend.

When Angela finally caught Brennan's gaze, she gave Brennan a telling look. "Did you tell him yet?"

Brennan slowly shook her head.

"Are you going to?"

Brennan gave a slight shrug.

Angela shot her another look before turning to Parker, who was watching the women with interest.

Turning to Parker, Angela asked, "Hey, Parker, do you want to know a secret?"

His eyes grew wide. "A secret? I love secrets!"

Both women smiled. "We know you do. But before we tell you, you have to promise that you won't tell anybody first. Can you do that?"

He nodded.

"Pinkie swear?" She stuck her pinkie out, letting the boy hook it with his own. Angela carried him over to Brennan so he could do the same with her.

Angela leaned in towards Parker, cupping her free hand to his ear. After a few whispers, the boy's eyes grew even wider.

"Really?" he asked incredulously.

"Yep."

"Tempe?" He turned towards her for confirmation.

She gave a nod.

Then he surprised them both when he let out a loud yell. "Yay!" Both artist and scientist laughed.

"What's all the hubbub about?" a voice behind them asked.

They turned around to find Booth standing there, a slight smile on his lips. It didn't reach his eyes.

"Nothing," Parker said.

"Really?" Booth asked, eyebrow raised. "Nothing?"

"Yep."

He watched his son carefully. "You aren't lying to me, are you, Parker?"

"Nope."

He regarded his son for a few seconds more before turning his stare towards Brennan. She was bent over the table, examining the bones. She tried to ignore his presence.

Angela watched the exchange between the two. Brennan tried to go on with her examination while Booth's gaze was unwavering. She was still miffed at Booth for hurting Brennan like that. She had never seen her friend let anyone into her heart like she did for Booth. Then he went and stamped on it. But she knew he was regretting what he did. His actions said so. His face said so. Angela was slowly starting to forgive him.

Booth's stare was starting to bother her. She tried to look at the bones carefully, but could feel his eyes on her. Touring over her body, assessing. Finally, she gave into the fight. She gradually raised her eyes to his.

Their eyes locked for a few seconds before she quickly averted hers. But in those precious seconds, her eyes told him all. They told him of her pain, her sorrow. Of his betrayal. But most of all, they told him that she knew. She knew about Cam's…condition. And that, her knowledge of Cam's possible pregnancy, was what pierced Booth's heart the deepest.

Author's Note: For those that were confused, the italics during the story were the characters' thoughts. Anyways, how did you guys like the chapter? It wasn't my best work but it got the point across. And don't worry. This story will be BB, eventually. Continue reading, for the next few chapters will get interesting...