Alright, here it is. I actually had a bit of trouble deciding what outcome to write, even though the last chapter strongly implied that the test was positive. I don't have an outline or a plan, so I'm pretty much just thinking it up as I go along. I hope you all enjoy what I decided!
Also – thanks for all the awesome reviews so far, and for everyone who added this to their Story Alert and/or Fav Stories. It really means a lot :D !!
Oh, and thoughts are in italics.
CHAPTER THREE
She answered the door and he was smiling. His smile was sad, almost pitying really, but still her spirits lifted a bit and she was reminded that no. I am not alone in this. I am not alone.
"I, um, I brought ice cream," He said, lifting up a slightly damp bag. "I thought of getting the coffee-flavored one that you like, but…Ah…."
"Right," Brennan whispered, moving aside and motioning for him to come in. "Thank you."
They were both silent as Brennan pulled out utensils for them to eat with, and as she watched him open the tub of ice cream and pick up a spoon to scoop some into their bowls, she paused and said worriedly, "Wait. Shouldn't we eat it right out of the tub? That's what people do in times of disaster, right? They eat ice cream right out of the container?"
"Uh…" Booth looked up at her, confused as to why she was concerned about something trivial like that. "I don't know, Bones. Do you want to eat it right out of the container?"
"I don't know," She shrugged. "When Angela comes over…We always do."
He grinned a bit at the image – Temperance Brennan eating ice cream right out of the tub like some heartbroken teenage girl.
"Alright then. We'll eat it like this."
"Thank you," Brennan said quietly.
"No problem, Bones."
They were silent again. Mostly Booth just watched her, occasionally spooning some of the dessert into his mouth. He knew she felt him staring at her, and as her scoops got quicker and quicker, he knew it was making her nervous.
"Stop, Bones," He placed his hand lightly over her wrist to stop her from bringing the spoon into her mouth. "Just stop."
Temperance sighed, never looking up to meet his eyes. "I don't know what I'm going to do," She admitted.
"You should tell him first. Before going to the doctor, before making any type of decision, you should tell him. He's the father, he deserves to know and to have a say in what you're both going to do."
"I…I don't know how to reach him," Brennan confessed tearfully.
He frowned. "You don't have his number or anything?"
"I-I do, but…But he's…He's working now. At sea. I have no idea how to reach him, if it's even possible for me to reach him."
"Alright, then…" Booth thought for a moment, "Then…Then I'll look into it for you. Mark, is it? What's his last name?"
"Gaffney. Mark Gaffney," She said, her voice still quiet and hoarse from crying.
"Okay. I'll look into that, and you just…I don't know, make a doctor's appointment, I guess."
Brennan nodded.
"It's going to be alright, Bones," The spoon full of melted chocolate ice cream was still in her hand, and he pried it away gently before taking her hand into his own. "I promise, alright? You know I'll be here for you, and so will Angela and the squints. Your father and Russ, too. Don't worry about it, okay? You're not alone in this."
She nodded quickly, swallowing the massive lump in her throat before letting out a strangled sob.
"Shh, it's alright," He soothed, standing up. He moved closer and hugged her so that her face was pressed up against his stomach, soaking his t-shirt.
"I don't know why I'm crying so much," Brennan exclaimed confusedly, as if angry with herself.
"Maybe it's hormones."
She looked up at him and at his light, teasing smile, and they laughed together as she pulled away, rubbing her eyes with her sleeves. And everything was normal for a moment, just as it always had been.
I'm not alone.
-----
Brennan woke up the next day with the sheets wrapped tightly around her, uncomfortably so.
"Hmm," She squirmed awkwardly, her hands angrily pushing away the stifling red sheets.
And then in a rush she remembered everything, and Temperance fell back against the bed almost as if the recollection was a physical blow.
Her morning proceeded as usual, except for the constant effort she took to force recent memories out of her mind.
That is, until she had everything ready. Because now it was time to make a call.
"Women's Health Clinic, how may I help you?"
"This is Temperance Brennan, I'd like to make a," Brennan paused, taking in a deep breath before continuing. "I'd like to make a pre-natal appointment with Dr. Kaur."
"Are you a regular patient, Miss Brennan?"
"Dr. Brennan," She corrected automatically. "And yes."
"Alright then, when's a good time for you?"
"Uh…A-as soon as possible."
"Dr. Kaur has an opening at ten thirty today if you'd like."
"Not that soon. Do you have any other openings today?"
"Yes, we have one at five, is that good for you?"
"Yes, thank you."
Brennan hung up quickly without waiting for any confirmation, and headed out to the Jeffersonian.
-----
"Do you think I should tell people?"
"Well hello to you too, Bones," Booth walked in and settled himself at the end of the couch.
"Well do you?"
"I don't know," He shrugged. "If you want to, I guess. You'll have to tell Cam eventually. And eventually other people will notice too."
"Unless I don't let it get that far," She pointed out.
His face fell at her words and he sighed. "Yeah. There's that."
"I don't want a baby, Booth," Brennan said decisively. "It's either that or putting it up for adoption."
"And what about the father?"
"What about the father? The father has a job where he's gone, nearly unreachable, for most of the year. And the father won't be carrying this child for nine months. And the father won't be pushing it out of his-"
"But it's not only your decision!" He yelled, standing up. "Maybe you are doing most of the work during the pregnancy, I accept that. But it's not your child any more than it is his, Bones, and he deserves a say! You don't know what he'll want. Maybe he'll decide to get a job here! Maybe he'll want to be a part of the kid's life, you ever think of that?! Not all guys are irresponsible assholes, you know!"
"I never said anything like that," She said calmly. "But you're right. If he wants to be a part of the baby's life, then I'll have the baby."
"Great," He smiled, relieved.
"Then I can give it over to Mark and never have to think about it again," Brennan shrugged.
Booth stared at her, stunned.
"What?" She asked defensively. "I'm obviously not fit to raise a child. If he wants it, he can have it."
"It's a baby, Bones. It's not a…A…"
"A?"
"I don't know! I can't think of anything right now because you're pissing me off so much! But it's. A. Baby! Your baby! And you're planning to give it away to somebody you barely know without a second thought! What if he's not fit to be a father, either?"
"Then…Well, then it's back to abortion or adoption, I guess."
Booth sighed and closed his eyes, trying to contain his anger.
"Yeah, Bones," He said, turning away. "Whatever."
I actually spent about twenty minutes researching if pregnant women could have coffee ice cream or not. I dunno why it was so important to me…I'm trying to get stuff as accurate as possible – I don't know much about pregnancy. So if something's wrong, feel free to tell me, okay?
Reviews encourage me to keep writing ;) !