You could cut the tension with a knife. This was what Special Agent Seeley Booth discovered when he stepped inside the Jeffersonian on this rainy morning. As usual, he found the Squints working on their examination platform, some with fresh bodies discovered over the night, others examining remains from World War II. One person was missing from the group, Booth quickly noticed. His partner was nowhere to be seen.

Scanning himself onto the platform, he joined his colleagues, all of whom were too absorbed in their work to notice his arrival. Not even a clearing of his throat could get their attention.

"Earth to Squints." Booth said, irritatedly.

Hodgins looked up briefly from his microscope, making quick eye contact, before going to back to his fungus. Booth let out a quiet sigh before walking over to Cam's table.

"What have we got here?"

"20-year-old male, found dead behind a bar last night." Cam replied, her eyes never leaving the cadaver.

Booth watched in disgust as Cam emptied the body from its content.

"Where's Bones?"

Everything stopped around him and Booth turned around, surprised. Time seemed to stand still. He examined each faces individually. All bore the same uncomfortable expression. Had something happened to his partner? Booth's worry aggravated.

"Did something happen to Bones?" Booth asked, his voice raising.

"Relax, loverboy." Hodgins replied. "She's fine."

"We haven't seen her all morning. She's been locked up in her office since she got here." Zach added.

Booth's eyes sought Angela's for confirmation but the artist averted his gaze and looked down at her victim. Cam, Booth noticed, hadn't bothered looking up from her body but he could see by the tensing of her body that she hadn't been unconcerned by the situation.

Sighing in frustration, Booth climbed down the stairs and made his way to his partner's office. Thoughts raced through his mind. Something in the Squints' behavior was worrying him. Again, he asked himself, had something happened to Bones? Was she hurt? Did she need him?

As he neared her office, a sound reached his ears. It was soft and gentle, muffled by the closed door.

Music. Booth thought. Since when does Bones listen to music on the job?

Softly, he rapped at her door but got no answer. Frowning, he tried again a little louder. Still nothing. Hesitantly, he turned the knob and slowly pushed the door open.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise as he stared at his partner sitting on the floor, legs crossed. New age music played in the background.

"Have you achieved nirvana yet?" He joked, a smile twitching at his lips.

His comment was greeted by an annoyed growl.

"What do you want, Booth?"

"I came to pick you up. We have more interviews to do today, remember?"

He heard her sigh and watched as she uncrossed her legs and got to her feet. He frowned slightly as his eyes met hers. She looked tired, like she hadn't slept at all the previous night. Dark circles had formed under her blue eyes, hidden by what Booth assumed was foundation. She avoided his gaze.

"You okay?"

"I'm just tired, I guess."

Booth nodded, not entirely convinced.

"Alright. Let's go then." He replied, trying to sound cheerful to hide the skepticism he felt towards her answer.

They said nothing as Temperance grabbed her coat and put on her boots. The silence grew even heavier as they left her office. They walked side-by-side, their hands brushing every now and then. Neither of them said anything. As they neared the examination platform and Booth felt the tension in the air, he couldn't help stealing a glance at his partner.

He watched as her gaze met her best friend's. Both women, unable to look at one another, looked away and Booth heard his partner sigh.

He waited until the sliding doors had closed behind them to ask the question that was burning his tongue.

"What's up with you and Angela? Did you two have a fight?"

He felt her body tense beside his and knew he had found the cause of the tension in the lab.

He turned around to find her a few feet behind him, staring at him. Tears formed in her eyes and, before Booth even had a chance to react, he felt her body collide with his. Her body was wracked with his sobs and all Booth could do was hold her tight against him. His curiosity turned into worry. He had never seen her like that before. Never had he seen her so hurt by something.

He continued to hold her, rubbing her back softly, until her sobs subsided and Temperance pulled away as quickly as she had hugged him. Confused, he watched her wipe her tears from her eyes and sniffle.

"Need a tissue?"

Temperance shook her head.

"It's okay, Booth. I'm fine."

"You really don't look fine."

Instead of arguing, Temperance simply shrugged.

"I'm not really up for some interviews today."

"Okay, Bones. You can stay here if you want."

"Actually, no. I can't stay here. Can you do me a favor?"

Booth nodded. Seeing her like this, he would have followed her to the end of the world if that had been her favor.

The metal door screeched loudly as it opened, making him shudder. He looked up to find a tall, salt-and-pepper-haired man, looking down at him.

"Max Keenan? You have a visitor."

Her heart raced as she sat at the metallic table. All around her, other inmates talked to their family members or their friends. On her right, a young man was talking to his wife and young child. Inexpertly, Temperance judged the child to be around four. She sighed and felt tears prickling at the back of her eyes. She forced them in, hoping they wouldn't fall from her eyes.

The ride in the SUV had been uncomfortable. She had stared out the window the whole way down to the prison, almost hypnotized by the images of what had happened earlier. She still couldn't believe what she had done at the museum She just hadn't been able to control herself. The thought of her conversation with her best friend on the phone the previous night had echoed in her ears. She had heard, once again, Angela's voice as she begged her to reconsider her decision. In that same instant, she had seen Hodgins' glare and Angela's sad look when she had walked in the lab that morning. The tension, the tone of their voice, the gazes... it had all come back to her in an instant and she had broken down. Then Booth had been there for her, like he always was, had held her tightly against him and rubbed her back softly until she had stopped crying. She could still feel his strong arms holding her. Her back still burned at the spot where his hands had been.

Booth hadn't asked any more questions. He had simply driven her down to the prison, promising as she got out that he'd wait for her in the parking lot and would drive her back to the lab afterwards. She had been so focused on the task ahead that she had forgotten all about the interviews planned for the day. All that mattered at that moment was her father. She would see her father for the first time in months.

Now, here she sat, at this cold, ugly green table. Her heart raced madly inside her chest and she almost wished Booth were there with her. But she couldn't talk to her father with him. Booth couldn't know about Angela's own favor. Not yet, anyway. Not until the situation was cleared and that everything was back the way it should be.

She was barely aware of her father sitting down across the table from her. She looked up to find his blue eyes staring at her. She tried to smile but all she managed was a grimace.

"Hey Baby."

"Hi Dad."

Her voice was small. Her anxiety level rose higher and her 'flight' alert rang loudly in her ears.

Run away. It seemed to tell her. Run away before it's too late.

But before she could move, her father spoke again.

"How are you?"

She heard the concern in his voice and she knew she wouldn't be able to lie to him.

"Fine. You? How's life in prison?"

She hadn't seen him much since his incarceration. She could count on the fingers of one hand how many times she had visited her father after the sentence; once with Booth, once alone. This was the third time in a year.

"Can't complain. I guess I got what I asked for, didn't I?"

Max chuckled bitterly. Temperance forced another smile.

"There's something bothering you."

Temperance looked down and shook her head.

"No."

"Temperance..."

She didn't move.

"Temperance, look at me."

Slowly, she raised her head but her eyes still wouldn't focus on her father. She chose a point just left of him and hoped he would think she was looking at him directly.

"I'm a little more to the right."

Her eyes slowly moved to him. She saw the concern written all over his prison-aged features.

"What's wrong, Honey?"

Glancing around her as if to make sure no one was listening, Temperance replied:

"There's something going on."

Max frowned.

"What do you mean, there's something going on? Is there a new break in the case?"

Temperance shook her head.

"No, I meant... In my life."

"Does it involve Booth?" Max asked, hopefully.

Temperance rolled her eyes.

"Why does everyone always assume that it has something to do with Booth?" She asked, annoyed.

"Sorry, Baby. I didn't mean to pry like that. Go on."

Temperance took a deep breath.

"Angela asked me a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"She asked me to be a surrogate."

Max's eyes widened. Of all the things he had thought of, this was certainly not what he had expected his daughter to tell him.

"What did you tell her?"

Temperance gulped. Her heart was still racing in her chest and so loudly that she wondered if everyone else could hear it. Her hands shook on her knees and her throat was dry.

"I said no."

She lowered her eyes before she could see the disappointment on her father's face. But if she would have kept her eyes on him, she would have seen worry instead of disappointment, and sympathy instead of judgment.

"I mean, I couldn't say yes, right? I can't be pregnant."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want children, Dad."

"Is that the only reason?"

Temperance looked up and quirked an eyebrow. Of course, there wasn't any other reason. She didn't want children. If she didn't want to carry a baby for herself, why would she want to carry one for someone else?

"It's the only reason, Dad."

"You see, that's where you and I disagree."

Temperance frowned.

"I think you're afraid."

Max saw her body tense and knew she was probably preparing herself to turn into defensive mode. He quickly explained what he had meant.

"It's okay to be afraid, Temperance. I mean being pregnant is huge deal. Your body goes through a lot of changes. Not only do you gain weight and eventually have to carry an eight-pound baby around with you, you go through morning sickness, back pains, swelling, mood swings."

Temperance chuckled.

"How do you know all of that?"

"Your mother and I had two beautiful children."

Temperance looked down, blushing slightly.

"I was around when all of that happened. I watched her stomach grow rounder and bigger every month, Temperance. I held her hair a few times while she was emptying her stomach. I massaged her back a few times too. I suffered the mood swings as well."

Temperance smiled in spite of herself.

"And then, there's labor and delivery. Your mother didn't want to have an epidural for your brother. She wanted to do it as naturally as she could. Let me tell you that she changed her mind when it was time to give birth with you. But you know what, Temperance? When Russ and you were born, it made everything we had gone through those past months completely worth it. Even the following months, when Russ wouldn't stop crying, and you would never sleep. When you have children, Temperance, it's... there's no words for it. It's the best gift a person could get."

Max paused and stared into his daughter's eyes. He smiled tenderly at her.

"You're afraid, Temperance. And it's okay. Because when you carry this child around for nine months, you develop a bond. For nine months, that baby is part of you. The thought of giving your child away must be really hard. I know I wouldn't have been able to do it and, as strong as your mother was, I don't think she would have been able either. I can completely understand the pain those surrogate mothers feel when it's time to give the baby, their baby, to its parents. And I can see why that would scare you."

"I'm not..."

"Going to get attached? I hardly doubt that. I know you say you never want to have children and I totally respect that decision but you would still get attached to that child and it would pain you when you have to give it up. Just think of what you'd be giving though. I told you, having a child is the best gift a person can get. How long has Angela been trying to get pregnant?"

"A year, I think. Ever since Hodgins and her were able to officially get married. She's had two miscarriages already. The doctors said that it was because her uterus couldn't hold a baby in. They can't explain why exactly but they told her not to try to get pregnant again."

"And they really want that child?"

Temperance nodded. Max did the same.

"Then you know what you have to do. Whatever your decision is, I'll support you. You're my daughter."

"I've already made my decision."

"I know. But there's still time to change your mind."

A buzzer rang behind him and Max knew it was time to go back to his cell. Seconds later, guards were marching inside the cold, dark room.

"How are you going back to the lab?"

"Booth is waiting for me."

A smile twitched Max's lips.

"Tell the man I say hi."

Temperance nodded. She watched her father turned around and walked out of the room, a security guard behind him. She turned her gaze to the couple at the next table. She watched the man bend over the table and kiss his son on the forehead. Her gaze met his and the man smiled painfully.

"It's hard being away from them, you know?"

Temperance forced a smile and nodded. Then, getting to her feet, she hurried out the room and into the fresh air outside.

Just as he had promised, Booth was waiting for her in the parking lot. Sitting on a picnic table, he was busy talking to a security guard on break when she arrived.

The sun was shining brightly. The difference between the bright outdoors and the dark room hurt her eyes and made her squint. Booth looked at her and smiled.

"How did it go?"

"Bring me back to the lab."

Booth and the security guard exchanged looks.

"Just bring me back."

Apologizing to the man, Booth hopped down the picnic table and followed his partner to the SUV. Just as she had asked, Booth dropped her off at the lab. Without saying goodbye, Temperance climbed down and walked away quickly. Booth watched her go, confused.

It hadn't been so hard but she was relieved to be in the comfort of her office. She hadn't stared at anybody as she made her way through the lab. Now that the door was closed behind her, she could feel herself beginning to relax.

Her visit to her father hadn't gone exactly as planned. She thought that talking to her father would have been comforting, that she would have felt more confident in her decision. Instead, it was the opposite. Her decision seemed like the wrong one now.

She sat down at her desk and sighed. What was she going to do? All the arguments she had put to rest after her call to Angela the previous night were coming back to her. On top of them now laid her father's own opinion.

It was no use thinking about this now. She had some work to do and her visit to her father had prevented her from doing what she paid to do. She was waiting for some lab results from down in Miami. Maybe they'd be in her Inbox. She clicked on an icon and a window popped up.

She recognized it instantly – a familiar name. Her heart began to beat a little bit faster. Clicking on the message, she waited for it to open.

She saw the attachment before she saw the message. Curiosity got the better of her and she clicked on the link. A second window opened and a soft melody began to play. She read the message as the singer began to sing.

Dr. Brennan,

I'm sorry to disturb you but I couldn't stop thinking about our conversation yesterday. I was getting the feeling that you were in a situation where you didn't know what to do. I heard this song a year or two ago and it's really helped me cope with my reality. Even after all these years, it is still one of my favorite songs. Listen to it. I think it'll help you with your decision.

Vivian Summers

N/A: Okay so how many of you can guess the song I will be referring to in the next chapter?