She rushed inside the lab with tears flowing from her eyes. She was never the person to cry, especially not in front of her fellow scientists, but she couldn't help it. She had known Booth for over three years and lately she thought that they were growing very close, until now of course. Now it was like Booth had ripped her heart out. What was she going to do? Could she really trust Booth anymore? The answer was sure to come sooner or later. Wasn't it?
An intern in paleontology had noticed Dr. Brennan come in. She knew that this reaction was certainly not like her role model anthropologist. The intern, Stacy, had admired Dr. Brennan ever since she became interested into science. It was a dream to be able to work in close proximity with her. Stacy had talked to Temperance a few times and she knew that she was a strong, logical woman. This, to her, did not seem logical.
Stacy watched as Dr. Brennan swiped her key card and run up onto the platform. She slumped into a chair and started to type things on the computer, but Stacy didn't remember there being a case so she suspected that Dr. Brennan was trying to shake off whatever had happened to her by working. That was not abnormal with Dr. Temperance Brennan. Stacy had few people skills but she figured that striking up a conversation would help Dr. Brennan calm down.
"Dr. Brennan," Stacy started, approaching Brennan slowly.
"Yes," Brennan replied; her voice full of sorrow.
"My name is Stacy. I am an intern in the paleontology unit here. We've talked a couple of times in the lounge," Stacy said.
"Oh now I remember. I'm sorry, this isn't like me," Temperance said wiping her eyes.
"I figured. Is something wrong?" the question seemed pretty obvious to Stacy but someone once told her that it was ok to ask the self-explanatory question to people.
"Yes, but I don't think it's any of your business," Brennan stated.
"I'm sorry. People tell me that I'm nosey…and nerdy…and geek…and that I have very low…."
"People skills. Yeah me too," Temperance said getting up off of the chair and walking off the platform and to her office. Stacy followed, but stopped at her office door.
"May I come in," Stacy asked politely.
"Sure," Temperance said sitting down on her couch.
Stacy entered the office and closed the door behind her. She noticed that quite a few scientists were leaving the lab. That was odd since it was only midday. She sat down next to Brennan on the couch and met her at eye level.
"Dr. Brennan I know I am just an intern and that we haven't talked that much, but are you willing to tell me what's wrong?" Stacey asked.
"You can call me Temperance. I don't know if I am willing to tell even my closest friend what's wrong," Brennan said quietly.
"The artist right, what's her name," Stacy pondered.
"Angela. I can tell her everything but this is just too hard," Brennan said looking down at her shoes.
"Then I should just leave," Stacy said getting up but Brennan reached up and grabbed her arm.
"No, you're good company," Brennan said pulling Stacy back down next to her.
"One of my friends once told me that it was good to tell someone. He said that it helps you get over something," Stacy said trying to scrape her brain for some good advice, but it was difficult for someone like Stacy Plank.
"I won't get over this. You see, my partner arrested my father about 6 months ago," Brennan started.
"Wait a second. Agent Booth arrested your father?" asked Stacy who was clearly startled by the piece of information.
"How did you know that Agent Booth was my partner," asked Brennan a little startled herself.
"Well he comes here a lot. Everyone always sees you two bickering. Everyone around here pretty much knows about the dynamic duo that is Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth," said Stacy. She hadn't realized that her mention of all the playful teasing and bickering tugged at Brennan's heart. After seeing Brennan's eyes start to water again, Stacy realized that she had said something wrong.
"Did I say something?" Stacy asked.
"His trail was today and as the arresting officer, Booth had to testify against him. Basically his testimony, among other's, caused my father to be sentenced to death," Brennan said through gritted teeth so she wouldn't start crying again.
"Oh my God. I didn't realize that I…I'm so sorry," said Stacy trying her hardest to comfort Brennan.
"I just don't know if I can trust Booth. He told me that he wouldn't betray me, but now…I just don't know," said Brennan who hugged Stacy and cried into her shoulder. Stacy was startled by the act of kindness or something, but she hugged back anyway.
At that moment the squints walked into the lab as the last scientist left. They ignored the empty lab and walked straight over to Brennan's office. Of course they were all surprised to see Brennan hugging someone that they had never seen before.
"Sweetie," Angela said softly walking over to Brennan. Brennan lifted her head from Stacy's shoulder and started to wipe her eyes, an act that she had done many times in the last hour.
"Hey Angela," said Brennan.
"Are you feeling any better," Angela asked rubbing Brennan's back.
"Not really," said Brennan. At that moment Booth pushed through the group of squints and walked in front of Brennan's couch.
"Booth? What do you want?" Brennan's comment, full of anger, had shocked all of the squints, even Stacy.
"Bones I think we need to talk," he said looking at her glassy blue-green eyes with agony. Her eyes were so beautiful, but now they were filled with sorrow and anger.
"Actually I don't think we need to," Brennan said standing up and looking Booth straight in the eye. Everyone watched the exchange like watching a soap opera.
Just as Booth was about to speak, an alarm rang throughout the lab. Everyone except Stacy and Cam knew that alarm too well. It was the biological contamination alarm that had trapped them inside the lab during Christmas two years ago.
Everyone except Stacy and Cam ran to the door to try to escape, but it was too late. The doors sealed shut in their faces.
"Not again," was everyone's response.