Y'ALL ROCK!!! Thanks so much for the awesome replies. And just like I promised, here's the next chapter. Read, enjoy, and review, please!!!
Chapter 5
For the first time in a long time, Angela arrived at the Jeffersonian early. She was dying to talk to Brennan. Knowing she had to already be in her office, Ange strode purposefully across the lab. Much to her surprise and excitement, Brennan's office door was closed and the lights were off. Squealing with delight, she turned back toward her own office.
Thirty minutes later, Zach and Hodgins arrived at the lab already arguing about some species of bug. Zach came to a sudden halt as the two stepped onto the platform.
Interrupting Hodgins mid-sentence, Zach voiced his concern, "Where is Dr. Brennan?"
"Probably in her office, Einstein," mocked Jack.
Shaking his head in disagreement, Zach replied, "No, if Dr. Brennan were here. Remains would already be out on the examining table."
"So, she late," Jack gestured.
"And I bet she'll be late for the next few weeks at least," Angela's voice chimed in.
"And why would that be, Madame I Know It All," Jack teased leaning in for a kiss.
"Oh I have my ways," she gave Jack a wink.
Zach was at a complete loss as to what to do. For the last two years, everything had been so scheduled. Their main concern focused on bodies in limbo and working with museums around the world. The exciting life or death situations of the FBI ended after Brennan's meeting with Cullen. If the FBI needed their assistance, Dr. Brennan would review the remains and fax a report. They no longer spent hours analyzing patterns, anomalies, or matching weapons. If Cullen wanted to play hardball, he picked the wrong forensic anthropologists to do so with. So…Zach muddled about.
Three beetle races later, Zach and Hodgins heard a familiar voice approaching the platform. Swiping his card, Booth proceeded up the platform steps.
Smiling, Booth waved the card in Hodgins directions.
"I see you're remembering how things work around here," Jack replied to Booth's gesture.
"Looks that way," he answered.
Hearing Booth's voice, Angela made her way out of her office.
"Booth," she grinned, "I take it things went well?"
Booth shot Angela a blank stare.
"With Brennan," she continued.
"-Well- isn't the exact word I'd use," he raised one eyebrow.
"It couldn't have gone that bad," Angela began, "Brennan still isn't here."
Sighing Booth muttered, "She's probably left the country."
"You're serious," she asked as her hope fell.
"Very," he nodded.
Turning slightly, Angela grabbed the receiver of the desk phone. Dialing Brennan's home phone, she waited through the rings. Transferred to an answering service, Angela decided not to leave a message. Next, she tried Brennan's cell. Even if Brennan did "leave the country", she would still have her cell. Much to Angela's dismay, she was transferred to voicemail.
"Bren, Sweetie" Angela stated, "Where are you? We need to talk. Give me a call as soon as you get this."
Rotating back toward Booth, she began firing questions, "What did you say to her? What did you do?"
"Calm down Angela," Booth snapped, "I didn't get a chance to say anything TO her. She slammed the door in my face. The only things I said to the door were that I was sorry, I needed to explain, I loved her, and I wasn't giving up on us. I finally left sometime close to one this morning when she turned off the living room light."
"That's it?" she questioned.
"That's it," he answered.
Suddenly the frantic pace of tennis shoes running across the lab caught Booth and Angela's attention. Shifting to get a better view, Angela saw Brennan fumbling with her keys at her office door.
Moving towards Brennan, she began rambling, "Sweetie, you had us all worried. Where have you been? Why are you dressed in sweats and tennis shoes? Bren, is everything alright?"
"Not now, Ange," irritation creeping into her voice.
Successfully unlocking her office, she barreled through the door frantically searching her desk's contents. By this time both Angela and Booth were standing just inside her office door watching a frenzied Brennan wrecking her own office.
"Sweetie," Angela began.
"I said not now, Ange," Brennan's patience growing short.
"Sweetie," she began again, "Maybe if you tell me what you're looking for I could help."
"Pictures!" Brennan spat, "Pictures of the new additions to the dinosaur exhibit!"
Angela walked over to the coffee table in front of Brennan's couch.
"These?" Angela questioned.
Dashing toward Angela, Brennan quickly scanned the stack of pictures.
"Ange, you're the best," she stated giving her friend a quick hug before racing toward her office door.
Her escape attempts were foiled as Booth stepped out to intercept the fast paced anthropologist.
"Let me give you a ride," he pleaded touching her forearm ever so lightly.
Yanking away from his touch as though she'd been burned, she quickly snapped, "I've been driving myself around for the past two years. So thanks, but no thanks. I'm perfectly capable of driving myself."
With that, Brennan left the Jeffersonian as quickly as she had arrived.
Zach purposefully strolled around the corner; lab coat on and a file in hand.
"Dr. Brennan, would you like to begin…" Zach's words faded away realizing his boss was no longer present. Throwing his hands up in frustration, he retreated back to his beetles.
Booth turned his attention to Angela, "She's never going to forgive me, is she?"
"Never is a difficult and strong word. Don't you think?" Angela stated.
"Temperance Brennan is a strong and difficult woman," he replied.
"This is true, but you're the one who fell in love with her," she smirked.
Giving a slight grin, Booth stated, "I always liked a challenge."
Booth's instinct told him to follow Brennan; to find her and force her to face him, but Angela's voice of reason won out. Whatever Brennan was doing, she wanted to do on her own. This was not the time to push; Booth especially.
ooOoo
Brennan's car zoomed back into an open space of the hospital parking lot. She was on a mission to keep her promise to a six-year-old boy. Running through the entrance doors, she smacked the elevator buttons repeatedly. Finally giving into her demands, the doors pushed open allowing her step in. The half-minute journey simply wasn't fast enough for the anxious Brennan. She silently cursed herself for not taking the stairs.
As the doors pushed back, Brennan hurried past the nurses' station and toward his room; slowing down just before she entered. Padding her way to the other side of his bed, she noticed how still he was. Even the brightly colored safari print barely rose off his chest as he breathed. The heart monitor beeped out a rhythmic beat in time with the green line that danced across the screen. She resumed her station in the hard plastic chair beside his bed. Clasping her hand on top of his, she began talking to Benjamin. She discussed all the usual topics they covered from stars, to ancient empires, and of course dinosaurs.
"Oh yeah, by the way, I brought those new pictures. So you're going to have open those eyes up, okay?" she soothed.
If someone wished to discuss maternal instincts, Brennan would have very little to say. She wasn't a mother; she didn't have a mother to learn from or remember from, but she did know quite a bit about being left behind; she was a pro in that department. So Brennan didn't see her actions portrayed as a mother, but rather as a friend. However,
many would disagree, and one of her biggest opponents in that discussion would be Dr. Cole Andrews, Benjamin's doctor. Cole Andrews was a force to be reckoned with. He expected only the best and hospitals fought to get him or keep him around. His terms were always the same: newest equipment, best nursing staff, and newest drugs available, FDA approved or not. Benjamin had the best of both worlds.
Emily walked in to check Benjamin's vitals.
"I'm glad you're here," she whispered.
Brennan just smiled in return.
Emily continued, "I does him good to hear your voice. Wednesdays are his best days."
"She right you know," a voice came from the doorway.
Both women turned around to see Dr. Andrews making his way in the room.
"Ben here is a lucky man," Dr. Andrews continued. "Not just anyone can persuade Dr. Brennan out on a date."
"I would hardly call this a date, Cole" replied Brennan.
"But it's not Wednesday between the hours of eleven and three, so I would definitely call this a date," he teased trying to keep the mood light.
Brennan smiled recognizing his teasing nature and the meaning of his date comment.
Bending down, Cole whispered, "It does us all good to see you smile."
After reviewing Benjamin's chart, Cole seemed pleased.
"Everything is looking up," he commented. "I think he's going to make it through this after all."
Relief washed over Brennan as she allowed her shoulders to relax and released a breath she'd been holding.
Resting his hand on her shoulder, Cole remarked, "Why don't we go get a cup of coffee. I sure could use one and I bet you could too."
Brennan looked over at Benjamin as she contemplated her answer.
"He's not going anywhere and if anything changes I'll be the first to know," he stated.
Finally giving in, Brennan agreed to go.
Well...whatcha think?