Brennan blinked away the tears and took a deep breath before rejoining Angela.
She wandered into the restaurant with a dazed look in her eyes, which Angela picked up on immediately.
"Um, earth to Brennan! Sweetie, can you even hear me? What did Booth say?" Angela questioned.
"He…um… he was inebriated… completely inebriated…" She stammered detachedly, ''and he was gambling."
Angela's jaw dropped open and her eyes widened.
Brennan blinked a few times and furrowed her eyebrows, "Booth hardly drinks. His father was an alcoholic, so Booth doesn't ever get drunk…"
"Well sweetie, I think he's really stressed out right now, and since you left with Christine, he just.. cracked."
"Booth is gambling," Brennan repeated, mostly to herself, "And it's my fault."
"Oh no, Bren, it's not your fault! I mean, you're not there! There's nothing you can do." Angela said.
"I have to go back," Brennan said, matter of fact, then louder and more forcibly, "I have to go back. I have to help Booth. He can't do this alone."
"Hate to break it to you, sweetie, but you're on opposite sides of a veeery large country."
"Actually, Booth is in Las Vegas, and I could fly since I won't have Christine or many personal items."
"Wait, what? Booth is in Vegas? I could go for a little drinkin' and dancin' in the casinos! Totally jealous right now. Well, I guess not so jealous since he's feeding an addiction…and mocktails aren't half as fun as alcohol..."
Brennan ignored her comment, "Michael doesn't start chemo until Wednesday, and it's Saturday. I could be back by tomorrow night at the earliest, which would leave plenty of time. I'm going to get him, and I'm going to bring him to Seattle."
Brennan left the restaurant, with Angela hurriedly waddling after her.
When they arrived at the hotel, Brennan packed a light bag, then booked a plane ticket and a night in a hotel in Las Vegas.
She went back up to Jack and Angela's room to beg them to watch Christine until she returned, and to her delight, they agreed without hesitation. Angela's only request was for Brennan to bring her back a stripper and some fojitos.
Brennan walked over to Christine and picked up her toddler, "Hey, Christine, mommy's going to go bring dada here, okay? I promise I'll be back very soon. You will stay with Michael and Auntie Ange and Uncle Jack until then, okay? Be a good girl for me."
Christine smiled at her mother, and Brennan was sure she understood what she has said.
She gave Christine to Hodgins, thanked them one more time, and left for the airport.