A/N: Hi there, readers! This chapter was 'announced' in chapter 44. I wasn't sure if it was worth writing, but I think this makes for a fun read :).
Thank you Mphs95 for reviewing the previous chapter. I am also extremely thrilled that there are still readers putting this story on alert or favorite. Thank you all!
"Are you okay?" Bones asked as she stood in front of Angela's desk.
"Yes, I guess, why?"
"You haven't come to my office in over a week. I am frankly getting worried that you are upset with me. I had expected you to be back for those 20 questions a lot earlier."
"Sweety, of course, I am not upset with you. I've only been a little busy." Angela put away her keyboard since she felt this was going to be a long conversation. As she did so, she mumbled something beneath her breath. And I was worried about disappointing you.
"What was that?" Bones asked, only able to make out the word disappointing.
Angela sighed. Time to 'fess up. "I went to speak to Booth and it didn't go well. I planned on fixing that before I would ask you about the mystery man you're dating."
Concerned Bones took a seat on the opposite side of Angela's desk. "What happened with Booth?" Temperance was surprised that Booth hadn't told her about Angela trying to make amends, but then again, their issues weren't really any of her business.
"He's still really angry. You have already ripped me a new one last time, so let me save you your energy from giving another speech. I went too far and I broke Booth's trust or something worse and he was still incredibly mad at me. He told me I was overbearing and too invested in things I have no business in. He's right that I crossed lines that I shouldn't have but right now I don't know how to fix this. He barely wanted to listen to my apology. I am not sure what I can do to make it up to him."
Bones leaned forward and placed her hand on Angela's arm. "I am sure he'll forgive you sooner or later. Forgiveness is very important to Booth. I think you can only give him time to forgive you now. You apologized and that is the most important thing. At least he knows you feel contrite. He'll come around."
Angela nodded. "I hope so. I did put that off for too long, didn't I?"
"Yes, but I understand. Booth can be very... intimidating when he's angry."
"I'll say... You know the worst part was that he told me he thought Lilly forgave me too quickly." Angela sounded sad.
It seemed that Booth had been out for vengeance. "I guess he tried to hurt you back." Bones said simply.
"Yeah... So that is why I felt weird to tell you about this. It was uncomfortable enough as it is and I didn't feel that I deserved details about your midweek activities. Which might be exactly what Booth wanted. He did tell me to stop overstepping."
Bones could sense the conflict inside Angela. "Ange. We're friends, sometimes your interest in me is a little... intense but I know it is because you care and that is actually a nice feeling. From my perspective, you did everything you could to apologize to Booth for now. So, if you want to ask me those 20 questions now, we can."
After Bones' previous conversation with Angela, she had asked Booth if he wanted to tell people that they were now dating. Booth's response had been an exasperated hell yes, I actually want to scream and shout it from the rooftops, but at the same time, I enjoy us being our secret. In the end, they had decided to let people figure it out on their own in a more organic way than inviting everyone to tell the news.
"Really?" Angela quickened.
"Yes, but there are rules," Bren warned. "You can't ask me who the man is or ask indirect questions to determine his identity. You're too good at finding people's identities and I'll tell you his name when I think the time is right. I'll be the judge which questions are inadmissible. If you ask an inadmissible question you can ask another question instead."
"Okay alright." Angela thought for a second what kind of information she wanted. In the end, girl talk info won her curiosity. "Was it any good?"
Bones smirked. "Of course, it was good. I wouldn't have skipped work for sex with him for three days if it wasn't downright amazing and brain-blowing."
"Yeah, I suppose that makes sense." Angela bit her fingernail thinking about the next question. "Have you seen him again? since"
"Yes. I've been seeing him as much outside of work as I can. It is getting quite serious."
That surprised Angela. "How is he okay with your work schedule?" None of the team worked normal office hours and that made having a relationship a lot harder. Aside from trying to explain the job itself, the hours they all put in were usually a deal-breaker for potential lovers.
"He works odd hours too, so he is very understanding."
Damn it why did I waste a question like that. Trying to get more useful information out of her best friend, she changed her line of questioning. "What does he look like?"
"You know my type. Dark-haired, tall, impressively build, muscular, great at conversing." Bones got a dreamy look as she described her lover.
Angela shook her head. How could her best friend miss that Booth fulfilled all those criteria? "Have you told Booth you're dating someone again?"
"No."
That was suspicious unless a lot more got ruined when Booth and Bones had distanced themselves than Angela had thought. "Why not?"
"Because the relationship is too new to tell everyone about." That was an exceptionally answer, right? Temperance thought she had heard people say something along those lines before.
"Hmm-hmm..." Angela watched her best friend, not entirely convinced that was the reason. Before Afghanistan and Maluku booth and Bones would have shared their dating life. Irregardless of how long it had been going on. Not meddling was hard... She really just wanted to ask Bren if the newness of the relationship was the true reason, she hadn't discussed her date life with Booth.
Bones recognized the inquisitive look of Angela on track of something. "What is it?"
Unable to hold back Angela blurted out: "You always tell Booth everything."
"I do, but I decide when I tell him." The gaze Angela threw Bones was making her nervous. Temperance didn't want to ruin the surprise too soon. Being deceitful was pretty difficult, even if it was for a fun reason. As she tried to not give away too much because of her nerves, Bones tried to keep a calm exterior. "What is your next question?"
"Where did you meet this marvelous but top-secret guy?"
Bones considered her options. Maybe this was one of those questions that she shouldn't answer? On the other hand, meeting someone at work was very usual and she met loads of people. Maybe not answering would give away Booth and her away even earlier. "At the university."
"Oh, so he is a hot janitor or something?"
Amused Bones looked at her. "He's definitely something but he is not a housekeeper. What is your ninth question?"
"Come on Bren, that wasn't part of my 20 questions," Angela whined.
"Oh, yes it was." Bones said with a smile. "A question is a question and I answered it. Just be more careful with your next 11 questions."
"You're as awful as a genie in a bottle."
Bones shrugged unaffected. She was not getting the reference but sensed it wasn't a positive remark.
"Ugh, okay, fine. When did you meet him?"
"A while back." Bones responded. She was grateful for the ability to think quickly. Responding with a few years ago or a specific number of years would probably have given her away.
That sounded a bit evasive and it wasn't a very helpful answer. Bren usually was one to quickly move on. No need to wait until after a couple of dates. A while back was like what type of period? A couple of weeks? This secretive side of Brennan was quickly getting frustrating. "What does he do for a living?"
Bones grinned secretly. "That would be one of the questions I won't answer, Ange."
"What? No scratch that, that wasn't a question", Angela quickly added. "It isn't like all personal is going to be on the university website."
"True. However, you have access to a lot more sources to find someone and as I said, I'd like to keep his identity to myself a little longer."
"What made you guys decide to start dating?"
"We decided that we might make a good match and we wanted to see if it could work out."
"So, this isn't a fling? You're seriously dating this mystery guy to see if you two could be a permanent couple?"
Bones blushed and nodded. "Yes." It felt quite vulnerable confirming that Booth and she had tied their chances of happiness together.
Angela felt her nerves increase. Booth would not be happy about that. "But you've never wanted to date anyone longer than six months. "What changed Bren?"
"I did. The chance of happiness is better than the certainty of being lonely. Look at you and Dr. Hodgins. It was quite the road to where you're now but I can see you are happy with him and he is just as much over the moon with you."
"And you just changed your mind just like that?" Angela was skeptical. Her friend always needed proof or persuasive arguments built on a solid foundation of logic.
"I did change my mind, but it was a combination of factors." Brennan didn't want to explain that miss Johnson had given her the final push. It was slightly embarrassing that one of the interns was able to make her sway one of her strongest opinions into the opposite direction with such ease and from miss Johnson's perspective most likely unbeknownst. Sometimes it takes a while for a message to land and sometimes that happened at the most unexpected time.
Gosh if only the message Booth is perfect would have landed by now as well... Angela thought. "Okay that makes sense, I guess. "So, you're not going to tell me anything about him?"
"I am, aren't I? If you ask me a question at least."
"Come on Bren. Just tell me about him. What he is like. The things you would tell me to describe him to me when meeting a new hotty."
"He's amazing." Bren got a sly smile. "He's beautiful and kind. I admire his critical thinking skills. He's really respectful, caring, funny, patient, understanding."
"Wow, sweetie. I am happy for you." Angela was surprised at how fast and naturally Brennan spoke about this guy. "Are you sure you aren't moving too fast?"
"I am pretty sure we aren't. It isn't like we're planning a wedding or something. And we've known each other for a while now."
Wedding? Did her best friend just use the W-word? The ancient, archaic social construct that didn't only tie knots but tired people down? Angela's jaw dropped. "OMG, who is this guy and what has he done to you?"
Brennan shrugged. "He's the man that makes me happy."
"What did he study?"
"Military intelligence." Booth didn't have a degree in military science, but he had studied it while in the army. Technically this answer was a lie by omission, but Brennan felt comfortable enough keeping it vague. Soon enough she would tell Angela who it was she was seeing.
"Ph.D.?"
"No. Not unless he is keeping that a secret from me."
"Why are you so secretive?" I want to know so much more. Is there something wrong with him that you're keeping him a secret?"
Brennan laughed. "There is nothing wrong with him. I told you I am enjoying not everybody budding in. It's like he and I are in a private bubble where only our happiness matters. I believe you have one more question left."
Shoot, I forgot to count... "I am your best friend Bren and I could promise you that I won't bud in. I just want to share in your happiness. "Do I know him?"
"In a biblical sense?" Bones asked trying to keep her face straight.
"What? Are you dating Barembaum?" That would definitely explain why Bones had been out of the office for three days.
Bones snorted and laughed. "No, I am not dating your former husband, besides isn't he back in Bali? To answer your previous question: You do know him, yes. You know what. I'll give you three guesses to determine the identity of who I am dating."
"Based on only the little information you just gave me?"
Bones nodded. "Yes. I have seen your analytical skills so I am confident that you can manage."
Angela sighed.
"Well, you also have your overall knowledge of me."
"You never play games like this, you're never this secretive and tight-lipped."
"True, but I have to say that I am finding this very enjoyable", Bren smiled.
"Well... Your description of his appearance sounds a bit like Sully. Is he back in town?" Timothy Sullivan had been her first guess when Temperance has come back to the lab from her three days of heaven.
Amused Bones shook her head. "No, at least I don't know if he's back in town. You know I didn't meet him at University."
"Right. Honestly, Bren, I wish it was Booth. I know I shouldn't interfere or bud in and I swear I am trying not to, but as you said, as your best friend I just want to see you live the happiest life as possible. I truly believe Booth could be the person to make you happy."
Bones started to feel bad for her best friend. "Well, Angela. I never said that it wasn't Booth."
"I know. Wait... what? Is it Booth?" Angela's jaw dropped; disbelief clearly present in her eyes.
Brennan nodded, a cautious smile breaking through.
"You are dating Booth?" Angela asked to make sure she had heard this correctly.
"Yes, I am. Booth and I are dating." It felt strange but very satisfying to say that aloud.
Angela squealed and started jumping from one leg to the other, clapping her hands.
"Angela! Ange! You're piercing my eardrums!" Bones shouted as she covered her ears, laughing at her best friend's antics.
"I am sorry but I couldn't help myself. I am so happy for you! I should be mad at you for not informing me before and making me guess and fear Booth being upset while he still hates me... But I am too happy to care." Angela launched herself at Temperance and squeezed her tight. "So, who else knows?"
"Miss Johnson knows. Cam figured it out when Booth and I skipped work for three days."
"Wait. You told Lilly before you told me?" Angela was insulted and hurt, immediately loosening the hug to take a step back.
"No, I didn't. Booth told her. When Booth and I went on our first date she was still staying at his apartment. He made her promise not to tell anyone and as far as I know, she hasn't."
"Wow. Booth and she are really close, aren't they?"
Bones nodded. "I suppose. They might even be best friends."
Angela looked at Bones, trying to find traces of jealousy or irritations about that but finding nothing. "That doesn't bother you?"
"No. Best friends have a platonic relationship. I no longer desire a platonic relationship with Booth and everybody needs a best friend. Miss Johnson is helpful and genuine, so I would say that makes her a perfect best friend for Booth. Why are you so hung up on miss Johnson? She's dating We... I mean... I heard she is seeing someone as well."
"What? She and Wendell are dating? I am missing EVERYTHING that happens around here."
Bones cringed. "Ange, I didn't mean to say that. Mr. Bray's and miss Johnson's relationship isn't my news to tell."
"You're right. I'll keep that to myself. Let's go out to lunch so you can spill some of your own Booth secrets." Angela got up from her chair and grabbed her handbag.
A/N: Apparently, I couldn't stop at 20 questions XD. I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter.