I know some people are very sensitive about the topic of abortion, so I believe I should warn you all that it is mentioned in this chapter. I am in no way injecting my own opinion into the story, so please nobody get defensive – this is just how I think the characters would feel about the subject.

CHAPTER TWO

"Still late?" Booth teased four days later, walking into his partner's office to find her at her table with her head in her hands. "Maybe it's time for a doctor's appointment. Or a home pregnancy test. I'll even run out and get it for you," He grinned. "And pay, too."

"Booth…" She raised her head and looked at him. "What if I am?"

The teasing smirk dropped from his face and he walked closer to her. "It's – what? A 99.8% chance that you're not pregnant, Bones? I think the odds are in your favour."

"But it's not a hundred. What if I'm in the .2 percentage? It wouldn't be completely unbelievable…"

"Maybe you should just make sure and get it over with. Then you can stop worrying. And maybe go to your…Ah, girly doctor. And find out why you're…Late."

Brennan nodded, sniffling quietly even though she wasn't crying. "But what if I am?"

"Then…" He breathed in deeply and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Then you are. We'll deal, Bones. You'll deal. You always do."

"There's always abortion," She said, shrugging.

Booth stepped away and swallowed awkwardly. No. Don't start anything, this is her choice and will always be her choice. Your opinion doesn't matter. "Yeah…Th-there's always that."

She looked up at him, puzzled. "You'd be…Uncomfortable with that choice?"

"I…"

The doc raised her eyebrows expectantly.

"Yes, I would be, Bones. But it's your choice."

"A fetus' heart doesn't start beating until around the fifth week. It's not really a person until-"

"You don't even know how far along you are!" He exclaimed, immediately knowing it was the wrong thing to say. Her eyes widened and her face paled, obviously terrified.

"I'm not pregnant," She said quickly.

"You don't know that," Booth replied, unable to stop himself. "You said so yourself, you could be in the .2 percent!"

"It's a .2 percent chance!" Brennan yelled.

"But it's possible! What other reason could there be for your…Lateness?!"

"I told you, there are a lot of other-"

"I know, I know. Stress, sickness, whatever," He sighed. "You know what, Bones? I am going out to get you a test. Then we can stop arguing."

"No," She said, standing up. "No, no, I don't want you to."

"What, so you're never going to find out? Why wait if you can just do it today?"

"Why do it today if I can just wait?" She countered pleadingly, knowing it was a childish response.

"Bones…You're going to have to find out sometime."

"Sometime. Not today," Brennan tugged on his arm to stop him from leaving. "Please, Booth, I don't want to know right now."

"Why? It's a .2 percent chance. You know we're both being paranoid to even think that you could be pregnant," He chuckled. "Just get it over with."

-----

"Thank you," Brennan quickly took the brown paper bag from Booth's outstretched hands.

He smiled and stared at her anxiously. "So? You gonna take it right now?"

"You know, Booth, I really don't appreciate how cavalier you're being about this. The results of these tests could change my whole life," She glared at him.

"Sorry, sorry," The agent raised his arms defensively. "And I only got one – there's no tests. Those things cost a fortune, you know."

Brennan rolled her eyes and sat back down at her desk.

"So? Go take the test, Bones," He urged.

"I'm not taking it now. Forget about it. I'll take it when I get home."

"Aw, Bones. You're such a party pooper."

She glanced up at him and frowned. "I don't know what that means."

"Of course you don't, Bones. Well, I don't think we'll be seeing each other today. No new cases. So – bye. G'luck with the test. Call me after you take it."

A few minutes after her partner left, Brennan glanced up at the door to make sure that nobody was looking into her office and quickly snatched the paper bag from the edge of the table. She opened it apprehensively and took out the bright blue box, dropping onto her lap so that there was no risk of anyone seeing it through the open door.

She examined the box carefully. Clearblue easy – over 90% accurate. Turning it over, Brennan read the instructions, her breathing a little bit shallow.

"Hey Bren," Angela said cheerily, walking inside and sitting down on her friend's couch.

The blue box rattled in her hands, nearly falling to the floor. "Ange," She smiled nervously. "You startled me."

"Whatcha got there?" The woman asked curiously, raising her head to look over the table.

"No. Nothing," She quickly shoved it back into the paper bag and turned back to her friend. "Is there something you need?"

"Yeah, a case," Angela pouted childishly. "I'm normally all for a decrease in this city's crime rate, but…I'm bored."

"I'll bring up some cases from Bone Storage later."

"Yeah, alright…" Ange answered dejectedly. "That FBI agent of yours better bring us something good soon, though. I'm getting restless," She smirked. "And you know that's never good."

Brennan smiled back, still a little jumpy over nearly getting caught. "Yes, I understand. Although it's not really up to Booth if we get any new cases or not. He's not the one committing murders."

"Right, sweetie," Angela smiled good-naturedly at her friend's nit-picky attitude. "Well, I should go," She stood up. "I have an internet date."

Brennan drew her eyebrows together, confused, but kept her mouth shut. She really only wanted to be alone.

-----

Temperance walked into her apartment tiredly, throwing her keys into the bowl next to the door and dropping down onto the couch. She zipped down her boots with one hand and draped her jacket over the arm of the sofa with the other, then lied down on her side and sighed.

It was time, she knew. It couldn't be put off any longer. While she knew that most likely her late period had nothing to do with pregnancy, her heart beat faster and faster with each passing minute, knowing by tomorrow morning she'd be making an appointment with her gynecologist – either a harmless check-up to see if her lateness was anything serious, or a pre-natal visit.

After a few minutes of lying down and staring at the ceiling, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart, Brennan sat up and brought her bag up to her lap. She fished around inside for the Clearblue box and then headed to the bathroom quickly, before she could change her mind.

The instructions were simple enough – Remove the cap from the absorbent tip and hold under urine stream for 5 seconds. Make sure the entire tip is wet, keep it facing downward and replace the cap, then wait for results.

She held the plastic contraption as far away from herself as she could, waiting with baited breath for the outcome.

And there it was – plain as day. Brennan threw the test into the waste basket and walked out into the living room, numb.

She picked up the phone and dialed the number that was as familiar to her as her own.

"Bones?" He answered, his voice eager. "Did you take it already? Wanna go out to dinner and celebrate?"

Brennan was silent, her eyes filling with tears at his words.

"Bones?"

And then she was sobbing into the phone, mumbling words that made no sense, and he understood that this wasn't cause for celebration.

"Oh, Bones…"

"Booth," She said, sniffling loudly. "Will you come over?"

Arghh, it's so hard to keep Brennan in character! I'll write something and then read it over and be like, "Oh, but would Bones really cry into the phone? She would probably be cool and detached about this, right?"

But I couldn't help myself. Reviews, please??