A/N: We're back to our favorite couple after a brief hiatus. When we left, Daisy had just realized Jessica had hidden some information from her. How will she react? Read on to find out.

As they sat in Brennan's office, Aubrey listened quietly as Jessica finished explaining what Daisy had told her, frantically wiping away her tears. When she finally broke down, the agent immediately took her in his arms and let her cry.

"I hate lying to my friend…", Jessica muttered into his shoulder. "Now her mother-in-law is trying to use her to stop us from investigating this case…"

"This has been so hard on you, Jessica and I'm sorry…it won't be much longer, I promise. When all is said and done, Daisy will understand why we've had to keep her in the dark. She loves you as much as you love her, and she'll also understand that her mother-in-law put her in a bad spot.", Aubrey said soothingly, hoping that he was right.

"I hope so…"

When she had calmed down, he let her go. "We need to tell Booth and Dr. B about this right away...Genny and Hunter, too."

Jessica nodded while wiping away a few more stray tears. "Genny and Hunter left right before I talked to Daisy to go meet up with Danny and her mother tonight for dinner. Do you think we should call them now?"

"No, let them have their family time. This case has taken enough family and personal time away from all of us. I can call them later tonight. Dr. B and Booth still here, though." Aubrey hugged her one more time before standing up from the couch. "I'll go look for them. Just stay here and compose yourself, Jess. Do you want another drink?"

"Yeah...yeah, I do." The redhead exhaled softly. "More than one, actually, but I don't want to make an ass of myself at a work party."

"Smart girl. I'll find Booth and Dr. B and then swing around to Hodgins and grab you another one of his special cocktails. Actually, I'll grab all of us one because we'll need it."

"Just don't two fist it like at Cam's wedding, Aubrey…", Jessica joked.

"Making jokes about our worst date ever…that's good." Aubrey felt better when she laughed. Bending down, he kissed the top of her head. "After we talk to them, want to head home so we can have a quiet night to ourselves with Skinner? We'll get into our PJs and sit by the fireplace. I think you and I need the downtime."

Jessica nodded. "That sounds wonderful, Aubrey."

"Good." Aubrey kissed the top of her head. "Be back in a few minutes."

When he was gone, Jessica composed herself and began to do some yoga deep breathing exercises. When she felt more stable, she closed her eyes, leaned her head back on the couch, and sat quietly to make her headache go away. Suddenly, her peace and quiet was disturbed by a loud, shrill voice.

"What did you say to him!?"

Opening her eyes, she looked up to see a tipsy Daisy standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at her. "Daisy, what's wrong?"

Daisy took a step closer, almost stumbling. "You heard me! What the fuck did you say to Oliver to make him push me away?"

Surprised at her venom, a still shaky Jessica stood up. "Daisy, I-"

Daisy angrily pointed her finger at her friend. "Damn it, tell me what you said to Oliver to make him decide that his skank Rani was better for him than me! Tell me what you did to make him think I was better off with Beau! Tell me why you lied to me right now!"

Jessica knew this confrontation had been a long time coming. "The day we were all attacked here, I was so angry about what had happened between you and Oliver at the NFL, and how shook up you were because you two almost had sex in your office. Thank goodness Beau called you from Canada at that moment..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Beau stopped me from doing something stupid. I don't need a rehashing of all that." Daisy folded her arms. "Now out with it!"

"After you texted me saying how upset and torn you were about what to do, Oliver asked how you were and I...snapped." Jessica took a breath, still shook up. "I confronted him about how he'd needled and pursued you even though you were married as well as about how he was putting doubts in your head about whether you should stay with Beau. Of course, he was as oblivious and arrogant as always..."

"Quit dumping this all on him, Jessica!"

Jessica could see Daisy's brown eyes blazing with anger and knew that she was having more difficulty standing up straight. "I know this is a conversation we need to have, but maybe you and I should talk about this later, when we haven't been drinking. We've both had a few of Curly's killer cocktails..."

"NO!" Daisy stormed over, almost stumbling into the couch. Pushing herself up, she continued her path until Jessica could smell her alcohol laden breath. "I want to hear it all, Jessica. I want to hear how my best friend selfishly ruined my life...now…"

Suddenly, the redhead snapped herself. "Ruined your life? Is that what you are calling it? I didn't do shit, Daisy. You were the one who married someone on the rebound! You were the one who continued to flirt with Oliver after you were married, and continuously compared Beau to that asshole...it was you who practically stalked Oliver when he was hospitalized after we were assaulted. You're lucky no one has told Beau about all that yet!"

"Beau didn't need to know anything." Daisy inhaled and exhaled harshly. "I was not stalking Oliver, either. He's my friend, I was scared he was going to die, and he was all alone!"

"Daisy, he wasn't alone...he had Curly, who has his power of attorney, and then Rani came back from Mumbai as soon as she could! Once they got involved, you didn't have to hold a constant vigil. The only reason you did it was because you wanted to push your own agenda..."

Daisy pointed her finger at Jessica. "Because Rani had abandoned him before he was almost killed, but that's not the point! You had no right to manipulate my life and play God!"

Not caring about her friend's feelings anymore, Jessica blew up. "I didn't manipulate your life, Daisy, but since you brought it up, let's talk about the stuff you've done to Oliver and Rani since they've gone public with their relationship, shall we?"

Daisy's spine stiffened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh really? You don't remember going to Curly, trying to persuade him to cancel their forensic sensor prototype project at the lab? It was too bad they already signed the contract and cashed the damn check. I'm sure you gave him some cock and bull story, didn't you?"

"No, I tried to appeal to his sense of responsibility since he was acting head of the lab. It's just some sensor that may or may not help identify temperature and time of death on a decedent, Jessica. The hypothesis is flawed...and not a good fit for the lab! Dr. Hodgins threw away his own money on a stupid vanity project. I was just looking out for everyone. Dr. Saroyan would have taken my concerns seriously. I wasn't trying to manipulate anyone..."

Aubrey, Booth, and Brennan were approaching the office when they heard Jessica shouting. "BULLSHIT, DAISY! YOU'RE THE QUEEN OF MANIPULATION!"

"NO, I DON'T PLAY GOD OR TELL LIES TO BREAK UP RELATIONSHIPS, JESSICA! THAT'S YOUR DEPARTMENT!"

"Shit, they're going to kill each other." Aubrey moved to go in, afraid of what would happen if they both lost their tempers. "We have to stop this-"

Booth held him back. "No, Aubrey…"

Aubrey grew irritated. "Booth, Jess has a temper when she pushed far enough and Daisy is shit faced enough to do something stupid that she'll regret later-"

"I know that, Aubrey, but this confrontation has been a long time coming and Daisy needs to hear what Jessica has to say. If it gets physical, then we go in. Let them duke it out."

Unaware they had an audience outside, Jessica dove into the fray, full tilt. "Cut the crap, Daisy. You were snotty to her at our Christmas party, then when she arrived from Mumbai after Oliver's assault, you refused to step aside, making it so awkward that she was forced to have you kicked out of his room. She suspected that you two were having an affair, you know...and I had to lie to her face so you wouldn't get caught!"

The anthropologist rolled her eyes. "We didn't sleep together, Jessica. Don't act like you were some martyr doing me a favor-"

"I was doing you a favor because you were also ignoring calls from Beau since you refused to leave Oliver's side! When you broke the hospital visitor rules again, you were finally banned! Didn't that ring a bell in your head that perhaps you needed to chill out?"

"Rani had no right to keep me from Oliver. We mean a great deal to each other-"

"Even after all that, you wouldn't let up...badmouthing Rani to Curly so he would ban her from visiting Oliver and then nagging him for Oliver's rehab location...begging Dr. B to use her connections to get you access to him...all because you are obsessed with him, even though you're a married woman! That's messed up!"

Daisy clenched her fists at her side. "That's not true! Rani was just jealous of our friendship and she was trying to cut him off from everyone! Oliver needed me there! I'm important to him!"

Jessica clenched her fists as well. "No, you used to be important to him...but you're the one who told him to move on with his life last fall. He can be a dick, but he's finally listening to you and doing what you suggested. Instead of being happy for him and moving on with your life with Beau, you're determined to be all up in Oliver's shit and push Rani out of his life."

"That's ridiculous! Besides, she's always mean to me-"

"She's always been respectful to you until you pushed her too far with your behavior in the hospital and then slapping her because you blamed her for Oliver telling you to leave him alone. Now, you've been determined to hate Rani, not because she's a bitch, but because she now occupies Oliver's attention instead of you. Don't you see, Daisy? Trying to undermine Rani behind her back, trying to monopolize Oliver's time, putting ideas in his head to create doubt in their relationship...that's the exact same thing Oliver did to you until he and I were attacked by Gerald Maxwell...all because YOU are jealous."

Daisy shook her head violently as Jessica's words struck a nerve. "I am not! He's my friend and she's taking him away from me. Besides, why would I be jealous of her? I'm married to Beau, remember?"

"Yeah, but you've always complained about how your marriage sucked compared to being with Oliver. I swear, all of our conversations the last six months were almost always 'Oliver this...Oliver that...Beau just doesn't understand me...Beau does the same boring shit in bed unless I nag him...Beau can't keep up with me in a conversation...Oliver is so intelligent…Beau is so dense…'. " Jessica took a breath. "Some of the crap you've pulled with those two is no better than what Karen Delfs did to me and Aubrey."

"Don't you dare compare me to that nutcase!", Daisy yelled back. "I deserve to be happy! You got your damn happy ending with your Prince Charmington! Now I want mine!"

Jessica was shocked and perplexed at Daisy's last comments. "What does your failing marriage have to do with me and Aubrey?"

"Because it's not fair!", Daisy yelled. "I lost my prince, but you've got a man who has more than a few brain cells and varied interests. From the stories you've told about Aubrey and how amazing he is in bed, you actually have a man whose fucking is worth bragging about!"

Outside, Aubrey's face was bright red while doing an inner jig. 'Yes, it's wrong to be happy right now but I keep my woman satisfied!'

Booth groaned. "I did not need to know that…"

Back in the room, Daisy wiped away a tear. "What did I get? A dead boyfriend, a man I fall for who is emotionally stunted, and a nice, boring man who I foolishly married...a man who doesn't have much between his ears but football and, with the rare exception, fucks the same every damn time! Oliver and I finally connected while Beau was in Canada but my damn husband calls and messed up the mood. Of course, that same night, Oliver's pissy ass girlfriend takes off to India because they had a fight! Then he almost gets killed the next day by some guy who was pissed off because he couldn't get into your pants!"

The intern ignored Daisy's oversimplification of what had happened with her fellow intern and Gerald back in January. "Oliver and Rani got into a fight because she felt his attitude with you was rude and disrespectful! She actually stuck up for you! After she left, you almost had sex with her boyfriend! Instead of being ashamed or feel bad, you are blaming Beau and Rani for not being able to sleep with him! What the hell is wrong with you?

"Oliver and I had a moment-"

"You got stupid is what you did!" Before Daisy could respond, Jessica continued. "Yeah, Rani left town early...but it was for a conference she'd already planned to attend. She did not abandon him in a pique and you know that. Nothing you can say will justify the fact you almost committed adultery because you wanted to fuck Oliver since you still had the hots for him...even after you married Beau, so don't play the victim card with me, Daisy!"

Daisy's finger went into Jessica's face. "Instead of being my friend and butting out, you made Oliver think he was ruining my life by being honest, and you made him feel guilty for loving me! Thankfully, he survived an ordeal that would kill most people, but instead of seeing that we're meant to be together, he decides to move on and leave me behind!"

"No, he finally listened to his conscience, remembering that you were a married woman and to help you cheat on your husband was wrong! I don't care how he realized that, I'm just grateful that he decided to do the right thing!" Jessica was growing tired of the circles their conversation was going in. "Daisy, I merely told him to either step up and be with you or quit playing games so both of you could move on with your lives. I was trying to help you-"

"No, you got tired of dealing with Aubrey and all his daddy neuroses and Karen issues so you had to make me as unhappy as you were. What made you mess with my life, Jessica? Was it the fact that Aubrey led that nut job shrink on because he wanted to secretly fuck her-"

"ENOUGH!", Jessica roared, stunning Daisy into silence. Seeing the surprise on her friend's face at her explosion, the redhead finally let loose with her feelings. "I've been patient with you...listened to you whine to me over and over about how your husband doesn't understand you and that you're suffering so much...I've made excuses for you because you've dealt with so much loss, but no more. If you want to be angry with me because I made Oliver get his head out of his ass, fine, so be it, but don't you dare drag Aubrey and his past into this! He's done nothing to you but be respectful even after you've tested his patience more than once."

Daisy frantically shook her head back and forth. "No, he's not respectful. My life is complicated and I need my friend to be there for me. Aubrey gets put out that he has to share you with me and then he gets really snarky."

Jessica rolled her eyes in disgust. "Daisy, get off it. Aubrey is a blunt and honest person, and I respect that about him. However, he's secure enough in his manhood and in our relationship that we don't need to be joined at the hip, unlike your husband until recently…"

Daisy continued to push through, not listening to her friend. "Aubrey has been rude and condescending with me-"

"Yeah, because you've overstepped so many times, like when you showed up at the house the day he came home from the hospital. He was recovering from a bruised spleen and two gunshot wounds and needed quiet and rest per the surgeon's orders. I told you that when you wanted to come over, but you wouldn't let up until I gave in and let you visit. Then, there was the FBI banquet and commendation ceremony honoring him, Booth, and Genny. First, you were pissed that I chose to go with him instead of hanging out with you, but then you called me during the damn banquet because you and Beau got into another stupid fight! You knew how important that night was to Aubrey...and me. Instead of using some damn common sense, you couldn't see beyond yourself and whined on the phone to me incessantly to leave his side to come and hold your hand!"

"Aubrey wasn't alone…", Daisy trailed off.

"That doesn't matter! You weren't dying or hurt...just pissed off that your guilt trips to keep me from going with Aubrey didn't work. Then, there was New Year's Eve weekend. You called after we left town, pushing for us to turn around and come home because you were bored. After that, you bombarded us with calls on New Year's Day starting at 7:00 in the morning because you and Martin argued!"

"Damn it, Jessica, I needed my friend-"

"No, you needed someone to tell you what you wanted to hear, and it didn't matter that I wanted to put Aubrey first for a change. He's very tolerant for my sake, but he also doesn't pussy foot around you, either. He told me he'd had enough that weekend after your fourth phone call, which you interrupted us while we were being intimate. He was angry and frustrated, even telling me that while you're a good person, you're so caught up in your drama that you can't see how self centered you were being. After he stormed off, I realized that he was right. You still don't see how much of a selfish pain in the ass you've been these last few months, do you?"

Daisy didn't like the truth being thrown in her face. "Get off your pedestal! Why the hell do you get to be so holier-than-thou? I was there for you when Aubrey almost died! You're so ungrateful! How the hell did someone like you snag a guy like him, anyway? He seems smart enough to find someone better than a redhead who used to always open her legs for any available man because she was so desperate to be the center of attention!"

All the color drained from Jessica's face, but she held herself together. "Yeah, I had casual relationships before Aubrey, but I've never, ever, cheated on him or anyone in any sort of affair with another man, either physical...or emotional. I've also never lied to him merely to placate him because I didn't want to deal with our issues. I've also never let myself become so self absorbed that I hurt the people I cared about to make my bad behavior seem acceptable. You're my best friend, Daisy, but I can't help you...no one can because you're determined to self destruct and suck everyone down with you."

"I'm trying to find my way…"

Jessica saw the truth and it made her sad for her friend. However, she couldn't push it aside, and decided to give Daisy a dose of tough love. "No, you're angry at the world and taking it out on the people in your life in one way or another. Not Andie, Dr. B, Booth, or anyone else...just the people who either have what you want or who are shattering your fantasy of what you think your life should be like, such as Beau...Rani...Aubrey...even me, your best friend."

"Jessica, you're nuts-"

"You're looking for excuses to justify your anger at whomever you're blaming for the shitstorm that's your life right now...and I'm fresh out for you. You're drowning in all this...pain...so much so that you can't see what it's doing to you or the people who love you." Jessica looked down at the floor before returning her gaze to Daisy. "What happened with your family...and how you lost Sweets...all that is wrong and you didn't deserve that, but you have to make the decision to leave the past behind."

Daisy shook her head violently. "I do not live in the past-"

"Yes you do.", Jessica said quietly. "You're pining away for a man that's emotionally and physically unavailable while being married to another man because you still want that damn Prince Charmington fairy tale you wanted with Sweets, but he's gone, Honey. You can't reproduce what you had with him...but you can move forward with your life and remember what you two shared, including a beautiful little boy."

Daisy's denial turned into anger at Jessica's words. "You have no right to judge me! Remember how you cried at my apartment after Aubrey practically ditched you in that interrogation room! I remember how many nights you cried to me after you two broke up. I didn't tell you that it was your fault, even though it pretty much was because you freaked out when he said he wanted to be serious. You caused your relationship with Aubrey to fail the first time. How you are not fucking it up this time without Karen as a distraction I'll never know."

"Yeah, you're right, but I've owned up to my mistakes and so has Aubrey." Jessica knew Daisy was deflecting but while her words hurt, the redhead knew that if she loved her friend like she always said she did, she had to be brutally honest. "I'm sorry I lied to you, Daisy, but you were the one who chose to stay with a man you didn't love because you couldn't have the one who got away...or the fantasy life you wanted. That's on you."

"Go to hell!", Daisy cried before storming out of the room, stopping in her tracks when she saw Aubrey, Booth, and Brennan. As the lanky man swooped by her into Brennan's office, Daisy looked to her friends.

"Did you hear all that? She manipulated my life! She lied and then tried turning it around on me to make herself look good! She was so cruel to me saying those things...she's so jealous of what I have with Beau. Aubrey's neurosis takes up so much space in her life that she can't stand that I'm happy."

Before Booth could speak, Brennan stepped forward. "Dr. Wick, she didn't manipulate you...she simply told the truth regarding your insolent, selfish behavior of the last four months. It took courage for her to be honest with you. The things you said were cruel and uncalled for and I've never been more ashamed of you than I am right now. My only regret is none of us have had the courage to do what Ms. Warren did until now."

Shocked at her mentor's response, she pressed forward, determined to make the older woman see the truth. "Dr. B, she lied to me about Oliver-"

"Jessica did the right thing, Daisy. More than anyone, she has tried to be there for you, including putting you ahead of Aubrey because she cares so much about you. However, it was never enough as you kept taking and taking until she was forced to fight back.", Booth said quietly. "Throwing his issues with Karen in her face was a low blow."

Booth put his hands in his pockets as he continued to speak. "However, for several months now you're determined to create drama in your life and can't find any way to be happy. You have a beautiful son who should be a reminder of the times you had with Sweets, but it's not enough for you. Jessica is not the jealous one, Daisy. You are, and you need to come to grips with that."

Shocked, Daisy grew indignant. "That's ridiculous...I have a husband, a son, and an amazing career...she's still a graduate student, dragged her feet with her boyfriend until she finally moved in with him a month ago and she shares his mean cat. I have nothing to be jealous of. You're supposed to be my friends. You promised to always support me after Lance died…"

Booth stepped forward. "We are your friends, Daisy...you are part of your family, and we've tried to support you. However, all of this chaos is a mess of your own making. Until you're ready to let your fantasies of perfection and a fairy tale go so you can live life again...no one can help you, not even Oliver. The only person standing in way of you being happy is you."

Daisy said nothing, merely sobbed before storming past Angela, who just arrived. Hearing what sounded like sobbing, she peeked into Brennan's office and saw Aubrey trying to comfort his upset girlfriend. "Booth...Bren...what's wrong with Daisy? Why is Aubrey trying to calm down Jessica?"

"They had a very nasty, and very personal argument over Jessica keeping Daisy in the dark about some personal things. Daisy didn't take it well.", Booth explained, deciding that if either of the ladies wanted Angela to know, they could tell her themselves.

"I can't imagine Jessica doing anything to intentionally upset Daisy that much..." Angela trailed off as she saw Daisy heading to Hodgins' bar. "...and she's now getting another drink. Maybe I'll try talking to her later."

"Tread carefully, Angela…they don't need gossip going around here. The subject is very personal and none of anyone's business."

Angela gritted her teeth in irritation. "Booth...I'm not going to snoop for crying out loud, but Daisy can't go home like that, either.", she said grimly before walking away.

Booth and Brennan looked in again at the couple and decided to give them their privacy. "Aubrey's got this, Bones. Let's go back to the party. Jessica and Daisy doesn't need everyone involved in all this."

After Brennan nodded agreement, the couple walked away, shaking their heads at what had just transpired. When they were out of sight, someone stepped out from behind the back hallway by Angela's office, devastated at what he had overheard for the last thirty minutes. Holding back tears, the person walked away quietly unseen by the partygoers and left the lab.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

A short time later, a furious Daisy stood in a corner of the main lab area observing the party as she nursed her sixth, and according to Hodgins, her last drink. On her right, Cam was sipping a cocktail while laughing with Arastoo and a visiting Dr. Thompson. When she saw Oliver and Rani holding hands as they said their goodbyes, she absolutely seethed.

"Oliver...I didn't know...you stupid ass man...I have to figure out how to get you to see that Rani is not the right woman for you...she's taking advantage of you..."

After they left, she turned to the bar where she saw Hodgins talking to Booth and Brennan, who'd joined him. "How could they take Jessica's side? I've known them longer...I'm the one who lost her boyfriend before having his baby, but Jessica's now all noble and righteous because she now lives with her FBI agent boyfriend. I remember when she boffed a new guy each month after she broke up with Sweets because she didn't want a commitment."

Her expression grew hard as she saw Jessica and Aubrey head over and talk to the group. "I can't believe she said those nasty things! I'm not jealous...Jessica is the one who has to always have everyone's attention. She did it when she fucked Sweets on her first day here and she's doing it again by monopolizing Dr. Brennan's attention at every turn. I'm the one who is head of an important part of the National Forensics Laboratory...she's still just a damn intern."

Daisy sipped her drink again. "Sure, Aubrey is an okay boyfriend. He's respectful to her...affectionate without slobbering all over her...likes the same weird stuff she does, although I'm sure she exaggerates a lot about his prowess in the bedroom. "Aubrey likes trying new things in bed...he's a generous lover who still surprises me...I've never had to fake a orgasm when Aubrey and I make love...he gets so horny at times that he barely gets my panties off before he pounds me against the wall or on the kitchen counter...he's got amazing stamina…"

Daisy gritted her teeth. "What a bunch of crap. He's so skinny...how can he do all that stuff she boasts about? Aubrey is a bottomless pit and only works out at home a few days a week. My husband is a football player whose almost twice his size and we only do it a few times a week…"

Seeing the agent hold Jessica's hand before she held onto his arm affectionately, Daisy grew more irritated. "Then she's always like, 'Aubrey is my best friend...he always makes me laugh no matter how angry or sad I am...he's always there for me..."

Daisy continued to watch the group. "...and all that talk about being best friends? OMG...I think I'm going to be sick. Husband and boyfriends are not your best friends...good grief."

Holding back tears, Daisy continued muttering to herself as she watched Aubrey and Jessica leave the lab. "Beau was supposed to be there for me and Lance...that's why I didn't leave him. I don't get why I have to fight so hard while Jessica is now living the dream with Aubrey, in the Mighty Hut of all places...I don't care what she and Dr. Brennan say...I'm not jealous. My husband isn't the greatest, but he's a wealthy football player for the Washington Redskins…he's famous...Aubrey's just an FBI Agent. She says she's my best friend, but she stabbed me in the back!"

"Daisy?"

The anthropologist turned around and saw a concerned Angela. "Hi, there."

Angela put her hand on Daisy's shoulder and pulled her into a hug. "Oh, Sweetie...are you alright?"

Daisy accepted the comfort before stepping back. "Fine...just found out that I've been lied to everyone, especially Jessica. She's supposed to be my best friend...what a joke that is."

'Oh, Jessica told her us working the Vacchio case. Explains her snarkiness.' Angela put her arm around Daisy. "Honey, it's been hard on her, keeping all that from you. It's been hard on all of us because we love you so much."

Surprised, Daisy turned to Angela. "You knew?"

Angela nodded. "Yeah. When Booth called us about reopening the Vacchio case again, we didn't know that it was going to focus on your father-in-law. I'm sure Beau is pretty upset about his father's audit, and then hearing that Martin had confessed to his part in the money laundering scheme. I just hope that your hubby doesn't get tangled up too much in the case."

Fighting to keep herself under control, Daisy wiped her eyes. "Yes, I hope so, too."

Angela squeezed the young man in a show of comfort. "Well, I'm sure you understand that because of protocol, we had to keep you two out of the loop. It wasn't easy for us and it was particularly hard on Jessica...she hated lying to you. We all did..."

'Oh my God...Jessica was helping them snoop, too! Was she working undercover at lunch? OMG, I told her about Denise...damn her!' Daisy felt sick to her stomach and it wasn't from the drinks. "Why is everyone keeping secrets from me? I never thought you would too, Angela! I hate you all! Get away from me!"

Daisy gave Angela a shove as she raced out of the room with the artist barely managing to hold onto the metal pole near the platform due to her pregnancy. "Daisy…"

Seeing his wife almost fall, Hodgins took off in his wheelchair as Booth and Brennan jogged over to Angela, who was having difficulty lifting herself up. Putting the brakes on, he took her hand. "Angie...hold onto my chair and I'll help you up."

When she steadied herself and Booth helped her stand up, Hodgins relaxed. "Angie, what happened?"

"Daisy was upset and pushed me by accident…" Angela saw her husband's face. "Hodgins, she didn't hurt me, just shoved me out of the way. I'm okay...the baby's okay…"

Booth looked around, but the woman was gone. "Damn it, she's pissed off and drunk as hell...where did she go?"

Angela sat down on the edge of the platform. "I don't know, Booth...but she's pissed off about Jessica and her part in working on the Vacchio case, including investigating her father-in-law and keeping her in the dark. I tried to reassure her that Jessica didn't want to keep it from her and that we would do our best to help Martin. She was so angry though that everything I said went in one ear and out the other."

Booth turned to the pregnant woman. "You told her about that we were reopening the Vacchio case? Why did you do that?"

Shocked at the hostility, Angela reared back. "Because you all said she found out about it. I wanted to let her know it wasn't personal, but she flipped out."

"Angela, I said she found out something personal things Jessica didn't tell her. I did not say she told Daisy about our investigation! Now you've compromised it! Damn it!" Booth turned to Brennan. "Bones, I have to call Aubrey and let him know so we can decide what to do next. Son of a bitch...I'll be right back. Maybe I can find Daisy before she drives off. If she tells anyone about our investigation, it'll be dead in the water."

Angela saw Booth rush out and turned to her friend. "Bren, you said the girls fought about stuff being kept from Daisy…"

"It was an unrelated matter, Angela. Booth and Aubrey made it clear from the beginning that our investigation was on a need to know basis. I wish you would've talked to us before assuming that Daisy knew. Why would you think it was about the case?"

"Well, why didn't you tell me that it wasn't related to the Vacchio case? I wouldn't have said anything otherwise."

Brennan sighed. "Booth explained to you that it was personal. I had assumed that you understood that what happened was none of your concern unless one of them told you. Booth and I only know because we'd overheard the argument and because of previous confidences."

"I still should have been told why, so I would have understood what was going on.", Angela grumbled. "Booth really overreacted to me telling Daisy."

"No, Angela. You're my best friend, but you did not need to know why Jessica and Daisy fought. It did not concern you. As for Booth's reaction, it was quite restrained. The last few weeks have been quite stressful as there's already been a leak in the investigation that has resulted in several people trying to bribe us and warn us off the case. We could all be in danger right now, including you...and the investigation could be in serious trouble as well. Excuse me, I have to find Booth…"

Angela grimaced as she watched her friend quickly walk away. "Hodgins...I really didn't know...I thought they were talking about the investigation…what is she talking about with that getting warned off the case stuff?"

"Booth told us earlier that he, Aubrey, and Genny have had attempted bribes and veiled warnings from Mrs. Pixler to get off the case. They're going after Jessica and now Dr. B this afternoon at that luncheon she attended with Cam. They know of one leak either in the IRS or the SEC they're trying to plug. Cam sent a emergency email to Carl Andersen about an hour ago requesting extra security this weekend and until this case is resolved."

"Daisy won't spill to everyone, will she? She understands…I mean they could have warned me ahead of time…"

"They did, Ang. It wasn't their place to tell you what happened." Hodgins was blunt. "You were meddling and assuming too much again…"

Angela realized what her husband was saying. "You're right...I could have trod more carefully instead of assuming things..."

"Ang, things will be alright." Taking her hand, he calmed her down. "Now, relax. Booth will calm down and things will blow over once things get resolved. Remember that Dr. Banno said to watch your blood pressure. The baby isn't due for six weeks yet and I don't want you in early labor from stress."

"Okay, but I wouldn't mind having this baby early. It's not as easy this time around like it was for Michael Vincent.", Angela said as the couple returned back to the party.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Two hours later, Aubrey checked on the fireplace before filling up the electric kettle with water and turning it on. After grabbing a bag of Jessica's favorite tea from the cupboard, the agent scratched his belly under his Syracuse Law t-shirt as he contemplated their evening.

His girlfriend was a mess and after they'd gotten home, he'd convinced her to get in the tub for a while before they had their quiet evening. After he got her one of her favorite sets of MSU pajamas, he left her to her bath. When he got downstairs, he fed a hungry Skinner before setting things up for a night in the living room.

Daisy was lucky they'd left the lab because it took all he had not to track her drunk ass down and give her a piece of his mind. Jessica stuck up for her all the time, even to the point of causing more than one argument between them. In spite of the unusual start to their friendship, they had a close bond and tried to be there for the other...until now.

All Jessica did was push Oliver to make up his mind and not be an asshole to Daisy. If, after he almost died, the intern chose to move forward with his new girlfriend instead of playing games with the one that got away, good for him. Rani was a nice woman who was standing right by Wells and for all the man's faults, Aubrey was glad. Daisy was married and had been playing with fire before deciding to work on her marriage with Beau, although for less than ideal reasons. Yes, Daisy Wick was a good person and had endured several setbacks, but her recent selfish phase of the last few months was getting old and he was fed up with appeasing her.

Hopefully, the anthropologist would get herself together before it was too late. One had to wonder what Sweets would think if he could see what was going on from wherever he was. While didn't know the psychologist long before his death, he knew the man well enough that he would be very disappointed in her behavior of late.

Hearing the electric kettle beep, Aubrey turned it off and made his girlfriend a cup of catnip tea. "Ugh...this shit stinks…"

The tea having been made the way Jessica liked it, Aubrey headed upstairs. Walking into the bedroom, he greeted their cat before walking into the bathroom, where Jessica was quietly resting against the back of the jet tub. Her face was tearstained once again and it broke his heart to see her that way. Not wanting to disturb her, he began to back out quietly.

"I'm awake, Aubrey. You can come in."

He walked back in and offered her the mug before sitting on the edge of the tub. "I made you some catnip tea. I thought it would make you feel better."

"You made me stinky tea...thank you." Jessica sipped the beverage. "I tried calling Daisy twice...but she didn't answer."

'Not surprised. Probably either whining to Beau if he's not hiding away or getting shit faced somewhere.' Aubrey gently combed her red hair from her face. "Just give her time, Jess."

"I think I really messed up this time..."

Aubrey rolled his eyes. "Jessica...enough of that crap. You did nothing wrong. You did your friend a favor by telling that douche bag to either stand up and be a man or let Daisy move on with her life. Oliver was the one who chose to be with Rani. Daisy was the one who chose to return to Beau and her marriage. You merely omitted information that would have caused more trouble than it was worth. If she's going to end her marriage so she can chase after Oliver or choose to be mad at everyone because they were working a case and following FBI guidelines, then that's on her, not you."

"But the case…"

"Jess, her family was under investigation and she had to stay in the dark. Would she leak the info? Knowing her...no, but she may say unintentionally something to give everything away or just be in a bad position. We already have movers and shakers trying to bribe us all off the case, including Dr. B. She's worked enough cases as an intern to know that it's standard protocol to keep her out of the investigation. The only reason I'm involved in this case is because I'm the original agent on record for the Vacchio case. If my father is proven to be a player in this case, I may be asked to recuse myself, alright?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. It's been hard to be objective, but Booth has gone to bat for me with Stark regarding my father, and I owe it to him to be on my best behavior and not let him down. Maybe I shouldn't have let you work this case…"

Turning to her boyfriend, Jessica leaned on the edge. "James Aubrey, you couldn't keep me away from this case."

Aubrey continued to play with her hair. "I could try…"

Jessica leaned her head on her arm. "I know...and I'm sure if it gets rough, you'll try again, but it won't work."

'Good, she's got some fire back…' Aubrey nodded. "Okay, I'll concede. Now, I have the fireplace lit and when you get out we can make some popcorn and maybe watch a movie. I'll let you choose."

"Sounds good." Jessica smiled. "Now let me finish my bath, Agent Aubrey…"

"You got it." Aubrey got up and walked out. "Skinner is on the bed waiting for you."

"Thanks.", Jessica said with a smile that disappeared once the door shut. Quietly, she sipped her tea while a few more tears fell down her face.

"I'm sorry, Daisy...I didn't want to hurt you…"

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

At the same time as Jessica was drowning her sorrows in tea, Daisy got out of a cab and stumbled up the steps to her condo, muttering to herself. "Jessica...ruined my life...I hate her…", she slurred as she pulled her keys out and opened the door. "Beau…..BEAU!"

Slamming the door, she slipped into the wall as she headed through the foyer. "Beau...I had a shitty day with my shitty best friend...shitty ex-best friend now...Beau...are you wallowing in the den again?"

Finding the den, she turned on the light but saw no one there. "BEAU! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU? COME OUT AND TALK TO ME! DR. SAROYAN'S PARTY SUCKED!"

Now drunk and angry, she stormed through the house but Beau was nowhere to be found. "Beau, this isn't funny, damn it! You know what...screw it. I'm taking a nap."

Making her way up the stairs, she turned on the master bedroom light, only to be surprised by an envelope in the middle of the bed. Picking it up, she recognized her name in Beau's handwriting and grabbed the note. "What is going on here?"

Opening it up, she scanned the beginning contents and immediately sobered up. Sitting down, she read the letter.

Daisy:

I overheard you tonight talking to Oliver and arguing with Jessica at the lab when I went down to surprise you, and now I realize that our marriage is broken. Hearing all that made me realize that no matter how much I try to be what you want, it will never be enough for you. What's broken inside you is more than I can help you with...and you don't want me to help, anyway. As much as I love you and Lance, I can't be there just because you can't have Oliver...and you want back what you had with Sweets.

I don't know when, or if I'll return to DC. I need some space from you, my folks, and everything. I dropped Lance off at Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth's house before I left. Don't try to find me, please. I need to be alone.

You're welcome to stay in the condo as long as you want.

Beau.

Daisy sat in shock before reading the letter again. Crumpling it up, she threw it across the room before breaking down to cry on the bed.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Booth woke up with a start around 1:30 Saturday morning. Turning to his left, he saw that his wife wasn't in bed. Growing worried, he got up, peeking in Hank and Christine's rooms before walking out in the open area to see Brennan sipping tea at the center island.

"Bones, what are you doing up?"

Startled, she turned around and saw her husband. "I'm sorry to worry you, Booth. I just couldn't sleep."

The agent down down on a stool next to her. "Still thinking about Daisy, aren't you?"

Brennan nodded. "We failed her, Booth."

Shocked, Booth turned to his wife. "Bones, how the hell do you think we failed, Daisy?"

Brennan sipped her tea as she gathered her thoughts. "She's been...traumatized, Booth. We're supposed to be there for her, Booth...her 'support rocks' you said...after Sweets died. She seemed to be doing fine after she lost him...even after Lance was born...but we were so caught up in our own lives we didn't see that she was not fine."

Booth hung his head. "Because of my gambling…"

Brennan took his hand. "Not just your gambling relapse, Booth. Having Hank...losing Jared...Hodgins' paralysis and being there for Angela...Radik's children killing my father and Aldo...you and I trying to help Aubrey after his father came back to the States and his resulting issues with Ms. Warren...our work..."

Refusing to let his wife take the blame, Booth held his hand up. "Stop! Bones, we can't...avoid dealing with our own lives just to hold Daisy's hand with everything. Yes, she lost Sweets at the worst imaginable time. Losing him was part of the reason I lost my sobriety, but there were a lot of other factors that caused that, like me going to prison and Pops dying while I was locked up, as well as my anger at what happened to me. We were also having another baby and then I was shot trying to save my brother's ass and almost died."

"Booth, Jared needed you-"

Booth continued slowly. "One of our oldest friends had a life altering injury and his world was shaken, including how he dealt with his wife and son. Aubrey and Jessica didn't have the experiences we've had, but they were also unable to cope with the things that happened to them and needed our help to them get back on their way. We both have stressful jobs, and other people depend on us to do it to the best of our abilities, and, besides you and me, our children should be our top priority as well."

"What you're saying makes sense…"

"We've always offered Daisy support, but she's a mother now, and she has to pull herself together for Lance's sake, and her own. As Pops would say, Daisy has to either 'shit or get off the pot', Bones. We can offer her advice or assistance, but she has to make the decision to live life without taking her pain and anger out on others because they're navigating through life better than she is. She has to take responsibility for her own life."

"I know…" Brennan felt Booth take her hand and she squeezed his in turn. "I'm just afraid that she will shut herself away...like I did. But it's her hostility towards Ms. Warren that has me most concerned, Booth. Omitting the truth about what Dr. Wells said that day, considering how both he and Daisy later committed to their relationships with Dr. Mittpalli and Beau, was very sensible."

"I agree that Jessica did the best thing she could do for everyone concerned." Booth shrugged a shoulder. "I hate saying it, but Beau was just a means to an end...Daisy's subconscious attempt to regain that 'happily ever after' that she was supposed to have with Sweets. She loves Jessica dearly, but she's also human. Seeing a friend who previously didn't want domesticity and commitment getting something Daisy so desperately wanted cut her very deeply. Finding out the truth about Oliver's feelings for her was just the catalyst for all her frustrations to come out into the open."

Brennan exhaled softly. "Their friendship was so...wonderful, even though its origins came from both having sexual intercourse with Sweets. They seemed so good for each other."

"In some ways, I think they're like you and Angela...two people who on paper don't fit but actually complement each other." Booth exhaled softly. "One day, Daisy will see the truth, and she'll feel both sad and guilty for everything that happened between the two of them. Eventually, she'll have to find a way to be happy alone and know that it's okay. When she gets to those places, Daisy will find her way to true love and happiness...and that includes mending her friendship with Jessica. They'll work it out."

Brennan smiled. "You sound logical and linear…"

"...and you're taking the emotional route, Bones. We're rubbing off on each other." Booth chuckled. "Come on, let's go back to bed. Christine, Hank, and Lance will be up in a few hours."

"Good idea." Brennan got up. "I don't understand why Beau was called out of town so quickly...with all that is going on with his father."

Booth put his arm around his wife as they walked back to bed. "I don't know either, Bones. I'll sure we'll find out about it when Daisy comes by later to pick up Lance. Judging by how much she had to drink, it'll probably be lunch time."