Returning to work at the lab would prove to be more difficult than Dr. Brennan had initially thought. Everything there reminded her of Booth. She couldn't stop thinking about all the cases they'd solved there, the coffee they had drank up on the balcony, him sleeping on the couch in her office, the two of them kissing under the mistletoe.
All of these thoughts prevented Brennan from focusing on the remains of what may have been a member of the Cahokian elite, dating back over a thousand years. Something of this magnitude deserved the whole of her attention, but she just couldn't force herself to concentrate.
Temperance knew everyone was watching her. Cam had come in multiple times to check on her, each time leaving disappointed with her lack of progress. Hodgins had finished with the last of the particulates hours ago, but she still had yet to discover any evidence that would make his findings significant.
She'd been staring blankly at the Spinous Process of a Thoracic Vertebra for several minutes now. Brennan should have been done with it ten minutes ago, but she found that after her very thorough inspection of it, she could not remember what she just looked at. So, she would inspect it again. It was making for a painstakingly slow process.
Brennan was startled out of her trance by a loud voice behind her. "Sweetie!"
She dropped the Vertebra with a curse, wincing as it clattered to the table. "Angela, Please! These bones are a thousand years old, the last thing I need to be doing is dropping them."
Angela offered up an apologetic smile before grabbing Temperance by the elbow, trying to steer her out of the lab.
"I'm sorry Bren. But you have been in here all day, and even I can see you're getting nothing done. I had Cam call and ask Arastoo to come in and help identify this guy. And, while he's doing that, you and I need to talk. Something is up Sweetie, and I want you to tell me what it is."
Ever obstinate, Brennan tried to wrench her arm out of her friend's strong grip. "This guy as you so eloquently put it, could very well be a Cahokian Chief, and there is nothing to talk about, I'm fine, honestly."
But she could tell that no matter how stubborn she was going to be, Angela was going to be more so. Not about to fight with a very pregnant woman, Brennan allowed herself to be led to her office. Once there, Angela planted the two of them on the couch, shooting Brennan an expectant look.
Exasperated, Temperance tried once again to deflect Angela's curiosity. "It's nothing to worry about. I promise." But, as soon as the words left her mouth, she saw her friend's eyebrows rise, and realized her mistake.
"So, first you tell me nothing is wrong, and then tell me it is nothing to worry about. It is something. Therefore, something must be wrong. I know that there is. I feel it in my gut."
Dr. Brennan saw in Angela's expression that there would be no convincing her that she was fine. And as much as she pretended she didn't, Brennan was aching to tell someone about the pain she'd unleashed inside herself. She could still feel it eating her up inside. With a sigh of defeat, Brennan made the decision to be honest with Angela. If anyone could understand what she was dealing with, it would be someone who had been with her every step of the way.
"I came to a realization the other night. I believe that I may have been incorrect before. It has always been my conclusion that love was just a result of a chemical reaction, but the other night, I had a dream, I woke up crying. And now I regard that as a misguided assumption. "
She was rambling, Brennan could feel it, but she couldn't put her thoughts in order. "Slow down Sweetie, and tell me about what happened," Angela said reassuringly.
Brennan began again, already close to tears. "It's just that, before everyone left, Booth asked me to give us a chance. But I told him no. And then when I was in the Islands, I started thinking that maybe, I'd made a mistake. That maybe, I could be what he needed. But then we all came home, and he brought Hannah with him. I've tried to rationalize it for months now, but I just can't anymore. I missed my chance, and it hurts, and I don't know what to do anymore."
By now she was sobbing, and Angela moved to embrace her. "Jeeze, Bren. I knew this was hurting you, I knew you couldn't be as strong as you said you were. I'm so sorry."
"It is just so painful to be around him now, Ange. Hearing him talk about Hannah, and pretending like nothinig has changed between us? It's just too hard. I don't think I can do this anymore, I just can't be…"
Temperance was interrupted by a voice calling out to her from the lab, the very voice she wasn't ready to hear that that moment.
"Bones! We've got a case. Let's go! Chop Chop!"
Booth stopped dead at the entrance to her office, watching as his partner tried to wipe away tears "Bones, hey what's wrong?"
She cleared her throat, acting as though she hadn't been hysterical merely seconds before. "Nothing, Booth. It's just a- a personal matter. I believe that I will send Mr. Vaziri with you today. Some field experience would be quite the beneficial experience for him. "
Before he could utter another word, she rushed from her office. He turned to question Angela, but his words were halted by the glare she gave him. "I think, Booth, that we should leave her alone right now. You know? Go work on your case."
Booth was left there, dejected and completely confused. Something was wrong with his partner, obviously. But her best friend had clearly stonewalled him. And then there was a case to investigate. And he had dinner plans. So, with a resigned shake of his head, he ventured back into the lab to collect the intern.
Later, Dr. Temperance Brennan made a few calls, determined to make some changes before she lost her resolve. In a few days time, she would be returning to Illinois, to her Alma Mater of Northwestern University. In a few days time she would escape this.