A few weeks had passed, and Brennan was still thoroughly enjoying her job. The best part was going out with Booth on cases. They were a very good team, and she was still marveling at how she even landed this position. Without Booth, she'd still be teaching science at the school. She wished Angela would come on board, though. Her friend was still saying no, and Brennan didn't know how to change her mind.
"Maybe it's just not her thing," Booth said after she brought it up again one night. She was staying at his place. They had gotten Parker to bed and were on the couch watching the news. Brennan noticed that Booth seemed edgy, so she decided to find out why.
"Is everything all right?" she asked. She knew he was working on a very high profile case, one that would earn him high recognition if he solved it.
"Huh? Yea," he answered.
"You seem on edge..."
"You would be too if your estranged brother was coming to visit," Booth sighed.
"You have a brother?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes. Jared. We haven't talked much lately, and our relationship kind of fell apart in our teen years. I'm just feeling anxious about him coming here and meeting you."
"Why anxious about him meeting me?" Brennan asked, confused.
"Because he's always kind of wanted what I had. I wouldn't be surprised if he puts a move on you," Booth said, looking at her.
"He won't get farther than that," she promised, patting his hand.
"I know. It still bugs me that he does it, though."
"I don't have to meet him if that's easier."
"No. You should meet him. He is my brother after all."
"Want me to take your mind off of it?" she asked slyly.
"All right," he grinned.
...
"You're meeting Booth's brother?" Angela repeated. They were at a cafe together the next day, and Brennan had just finished telling her the news.
"Yes. I find I'm nervous," Brennan admitted.
"Oh, sweetie, please. He'll adore you."
"That's the problem," Brennan sighed. She finished the rest of the story.
"I can come too if you want," Angela suggested. "Take his sights off of you."
"It's all right. I can handle it," Brennan reassured her. Her phone rang then. "Oh, excuse me." She stood and answered it. Angela sipped her coffee and watched her friend's face light up. That could only mean one thing: a dead body.
"You have to go," Angela said when Brennan came back.
"Yes. Booth is at the crime scene now."
"Who is it this time?"
"We don't know yet. The body was discovered by a police training team."
"Oh boy."
"I'll call you later."
"Sounds good, sweetie," Angela replied as Brennan left. Shortly after, a man entered and ordered a coffee. He scanned the room, spying Angela. She couldn't help but love his smile.
...
Booth watched as Brennan examined the body. He could tell she was in love with her work. He felt proud that he had brought her aboard the team.
"No obvious exit wound," she said, looking at the back of the skull.
"That implies a .22 or a .25 caliber," Cam noted, leaning in to look too. "I'll keep watch for it when I examine his brain."
"Hey, hey," a voice called. They all turned, seeing a man and Angela coming towards them.
"Jared," Booth said, staring. How had he met Angela already?
"Brother," Jared responded, going and giving him a hug. "Camille!"
"Jarhead," Cam said back, grinning.
"Hey, that's a marine. I'm a lieutenant in the Navy. That is not an easy mixup," Jared said, offended.
"Gosh. He's sprouting so fast," Cam teased, nudging him. "Soon he'll wanna stay out past midnight and get his own car."
"Is this the girlfriend?" Jared asked, spying Brennan.
"This is my girlfriend, Temperance Brennan," Booth said, nodding. Jared shook her hand.
"A pleasure," he winked.
"Yes," she agreed. She saw her friend finally. "Ange? What are you doing here?"
"I met Jared after you left the cafe. We got talking, and he wanted me to come along with him to see his brother. I didn't realize this was Booth's brother," Angela said. Hodgins came into view then, and his face fell when he saw Jared standing with Angela.
"Uh oh," Booth murmured to Brennan.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"So, dinner tonight?" Jared's voice cut in.
"Sure," Booth agreed.
"You don't mind if my date comes too?" Jared questioned, taking Angela's hand in his. Hodgins's face grew a shade more purple.
"That's fine," Booth nodded. He put his hand on Hodgins's shoulder and gripped hard to stop him from commenting.
"Great," Jared beamed. "Until then!" He left with Angela in tow.
"What the...how did...who is he?" Hodgins demanded, finally able to get it out.
"It's my brother, Jared. They met at the cafe today," Booth clarified.
"I thought you two were just friends?" Cam asked.
"Well, obviously I was heading for more than just friends," Hodgins spat. "I can't believe she just went off with him like that!"
"If you're trying to win her love, being a jealous, angry guy isn't going to help," Brennan pointed out. She knew that much at least.
"Excuse me," Hodgins said, pushing past them all.
"Angela won't fall for anything fake, Booth," Brennan promised. "I do know her."
"I hope she doesn't," Booth sighed.
...
Booth barely got through the dinner. Jared was overdoing it with Angela, and he still made a pass at Brennan when he thought no one was looking. He wanted to beat him to a pulp.
"This has been lovely, but I have to work tomorrow," Angela said after a while. She detached herself from Jared and stood up.
"I'll walk you out," Jared smiled, following her.
"Ugh," Booth said after they were gone.
"He's a little much, isn't he?" Brennan noted.
"I'm sorry," Booth apologized.
"Don't be. You can't help it," she shrugged. Jared returned then.
"Up for a late night?" he asked, pouring himself more wine.
"No," Brennan answered. "We have to work too."
"Aw, that's no fun," Jared whined.
"That's life," Booth said briskly. He and Brennan got up to leave.
"See you," Jared smiled.
"Don't drive," Booth warned.
"Oh, Seeley, you know me better than that," Jared winked. Booth didn't. He didn't trust his brother either to make the right decision. Jared reminded him of his father that way.
"Will he be all right?" Brennan asked as they drove home.
"I bloody hope so," Booth sighed.
...
His phone rang at a late hour. He answered it quickly, feeling Brennan stir beside him. They basically lived at her place with the occasional night at his. The business of moving in together was on the horizon, Booth could feel it.
"Hello?" he said quietly. The voice on the other end gave him the news. Sighing loudly and hanging up, he crept out of bed without disturbing Brennan. Once again, he had to go save his brother's ass.
...
A few days later, Booth had suddenly lost all credit for the case he had worked so hard on. Brennan was able to put two and two together. She had known Booth had left late the night of their dinner with Jared and returned even later. She wasn't completely blind. She knew his losing the credit had something to do with it and Jared, so she went on the hunt.
"Where is he?" she asked Angela. She had arrived at Angela's classroom.
"What do you mean?"
"Where is Jared?"
"I don't know. I dumped him," Angela replied. "He kept putting down Booth and calling him a loser, and I think he has a drinking problem. I don't need that headache right now."
"I'm really glad you saw through him, and I want to talk about it more, but I need to go find him," Brennan said, hurrying off. She did find him eventually, in a bar.
"Hello, Temperance," he said, grinning. She stormed towards him.
"Don't think I don't know what your brother did to save your ass," she hissed.
"I really don't think that's your concern," he said back.
"You know, telling my friend how much my boyfriend is a loser was a real low, but this puts you even lower," she snapped. "Booth was right about you."
"Of course. He's always right," Jared sneered. Brennan went to leave when she whipped back around and shoved him as hard as she could, making him fall off the stool. She stormed off then, shaking. She had to compose herself as she was meeting Booth at the Stegman's house.
...
"You okay?" Booth asked her, his gun still trained on the sheriff.
"Yea," she answered. Her arm stung like hell. Getting shot wasn't exactly a picnic. She watched helplessly as the sheriff threw Lily Stegman out of the car, and Booth fired off shots after him. The car crashed, and Lily ran to her husband. Brennan watched Booth check the sheriff and then look at her. She knew he was dead. He came back to her slowly as sirens erupted in the air. He bent down to look at her arm.
"It's okay," she reassured him.
"You're still going in to get it looked at," he said, helping her up. When the ambulance arrived, they looked after her. She watched Booth looking around at everything with a sad look on his face. She wished she could make him feel better.
...
Brennan saw Jared leave and went outside to join Booth. She brought a piece of cake with her.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yea," he answered. "He didn't really like what I had to say, but who does like to hear that they won't get bailed out anymore?"
"You did the right thing."
"I know."
She handed him his cake, and they sat down together on a bench.
"I'm here," she said. He looked at her gratefully.
"I appreciate it. I just don't want to talk about it anymore," he said.
"Okay."
He picked up the fork and played with the cake before pushing it down to get a piece.
"My dad drank," he finally said after a moment. Brennan watched him carefully. She knew better than to push, that he'd share more with her when he was ready.
"I'm sorry," was all she said. He leaned over and kissed her cheek, not saying anything else. Brennan decided to let it go for now.
...
"Hey," Hodgins said, approaching Angela. He felt nervous suddenly.
"Hey," she answered. "Look, about Jared..."
"No, no, don't apologize. You have the right to date people. We're just friends," he said. She tilted her head at him.
"Oh don't pretend you weren't torn up inside," she teased. "Clark told me."
"Clark!" Hodgins whined. Clark turned away, feigning a coughing fit.
"It's all right," Angela reassured him. "I think I'd be a little jealous if you dated someone too."
"Really?"
"Maybe. I don't know for sure," she replied, eyes twinkling.
"I'll take it," Hodgins grinned. He tapped her glass with his. Just the thought of the chance was enough to make him deliriously happy.
Thank you for all your reviews! Keeps me motivated :D
