Here is Part 2. Stay tuned and keep me posted with those reviews. I appreciate the time everyone takes with those.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones but I most definitely should.
Angela was at home doing exercises for her right arm. Unfortunately she could only lift up to two inches. Frustration mounted as she felt tears in her eyes. The therapists told her that she has made more progress that was expected at this time, but to her those were just words.
She had ideas for her art, but she couldn't express them as before. Her attempts at a chalk drawing resembled a preschooler's art project. Due to her lingering respiratory difficulties, she got winded very easily and tasks that were nothing to her in the past were difficult if not impossible due to the nerve damage in her dominant arm.
She also knew she wasn't being fair to her husband when she got snarky with him. Hodgins picked up the slack for her without complaint, even when she got frustrated with him doing everything for her. It just reminded her of how things have changed.
Remembering what the therapist said, the artist stopped her exercises. Deciding that her son was the best to take a break with, Angela walked over to Michael Vincent's playpen and started to lift him up. Before he could finish, Hodgins walked in the room and quickly took over.
"Angie, you're not supposed to lift stuff. Now relax. I'm going to put our son down for his nap. I'll be right back."
"Sure, Hodgins."
When her husband returned a few minutes later, he didn't look happy. "Angie, you need to quit stressing yourself out. The doctors and the therapist said you shouldn't exert yourself until your lungs have fully healed. Quit trying to do everything and concentrate on yourself, all right?"
She knew he meant well, but all of the feelings that were swirling inside since her poisoning pushed through. Suddenly she picked up a vase and threw it at her husband, barely missing him.
"FUCK YOU JACK HODGINS! FUCK YOU!" she yelled before throwing another vase at a book shelf with her left hand. Hodgins could only stop in surprise at the force that was his wife.
Angela felt herself getting winded and leaned against another bookshelf. When Hodgins came to assist her, she yanked her arm out of his hand and continued to spew her rage.
"I am so tired of being poor Angie! I am not a cripple, Jack Stanley Hodgins the fucking Fourth! I don't need someone dogging my every move…..complimenting me on art I know is shit…patting me on the head telling me I am doing so good….that I will get the function in my arm back….that I'll be able to breathe normally again, it just takes time and patience. That is bullshit! All of this is fucking bullshit! You are just feeling sorry for me and being condescending! I can pick up my own damn son and there is nothing you, my dad, Pelant, or anyone can do about it. SO FUCK YOU! GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY FACE!"
She saw the look on her husband's face as she came down from her explosion. Immediately regretting her words, she tried to say something, but nothing would come out. Rejected, her husband left the room.
After a few moments of standing there in silence, she saw the pictures she attempted to draw with chalk. Feeling her rage build again, she walked over and started ripping them into shreds. When she was done with that, she found various objects and threw them at the wall.
"Damn you, Pelant! I hate you! I want you to die you evil son of a bitch! I hate you!" She yelled as she tossed another vase.
Spent, she looked around the room she partially destroyed. Overcome with sudden regret, she collapsed on the ground and broke down for the first time since she was poisoned. Feelings that she hid behind rage and sarcasm flowed freely.
As she was on the tail end of her purge, she felt a pair of arms around her. Expecting to see her husband, she was surprised to see her best friend.
"Bre-Bren, why are you here?"
Brennan looked over the room. Paper was ripped and scattered and there were shards of china all over the floor. After a few seconds, she let Angela go. "Jack called me and said you needed me. He left when I got here."
Angela sniffled. "I'm sorry you were called away from work."
"Don't worry about me, Angela. You've been there for my irrational, emotional difficulties. Let me try to help you with the same."
Angela knew her friend meant nothing by her comments but what was stated. She also knew her best friend was holding back emotions of her own and sensed Brennan had an idea of what she was feeling. Overwhelmed by her emerging feelings, Angela broke down again in Brennan's arms.
Brennan held her friend tight and let her cry. She knew what it felt like to feel helpless. She felt it at fifteen when she was forced into foster care, when Michael Shires eviscerated her on the stand years ago, and she knew now from her experiences with Christopher Pelant. Not know what else to do, she stayed silent with her own thoughts of anger and frustration as Angela began to purge herself of hers.
Max arrived back at Booth's office about an hour later. When he got to the door, he saw that Booth was still engrossed in what he was doing.
Getting closer, he saw that he was writing in the same notebook he was using a few weeks ago when Max stayed over. He left Christine by the end table, made sure an item was within easy reach in the diaper bag, and then walked over. When he got to Booth's desk, he put the diaper bag down with a loud thud, startling Booth.
"Max, what the hell?" Booth saw the clock.
"Had to get your attention somehow." Noting the location of the notebook, he watched for a moment. "Hey, guess who wanted to see her daddy."
Booth lit up as he saw his daughter. Getting up to greet her, he left from behind his desk. When Booth's back was turned, Max quickly switch Booth's book with a similar looking one, placing the needed book in the diaper bag. He barely got the book in the bag when Booth turned around holding Christine.
"Max what are you up to?" It was then he saw the clock. "What took you so long anyway?"
Damn, Booth was quick. As much as it annoyed him, he couldn't help but admire that trait in the man his daughter loved. "What are you talking about?"
"Why are you at my desk like that?"
Max was quick on his feet like always. "Geez, Booth, get a grip. I was just adjusting the diaper bag while I was making sure I don't leave anything here. I would have been here sooner but I ran back to your house before taking Christine to the park. I hit traffic. I can't help it if traffic in this town sucks."
Realizing he needs to redirect Booth, he continued. "Besides, you're the one who called me here, remember? You asked me to take Michael while you meet with Angela's geek."
"His name is Hodgins, Max" Before he could finish, the man in question arrived in the office holding a toddler. Both men couldn't help but notice his paleness and the redness of his eyes.
"Wow, Bug man, what the hell's your problem?"
"Can it, Max." Booth said before turning to Hodgins and saw the misery in the other man's eyes. "Come on Hodgins, let's get out of here."
Hodgins turned to his son before letting go. "Michael you're going to hang out with Max and Christine for a while, okay?"
The toddler ran to Max, who was also smiling. Children were his favorite type of people. You couldn't bullshit them and you saw what you got.
Knowing he was on borrowed time with Booth's book, he went to make a quick getaway. "Sorry gentlemen, times a wasting on this beautiful day. The park is calling our names."
Max took Christine's stroller with one hand and Michael's hand with the other as the three walked out of the office and down to the elevator. When the doors closed, Max let go long enough to text a quick message.
I need help with Tempe and Booth. R u available? I need help without Pelant finding out.
After a short while, he got a response.
I have company at the moment. When I can bk free I will txt u. What do u have in mind?
At that moment, the elevator opened. He put his phone away and walked down the block to a nearby park. Guiding the children out to a nearby bench outside, he went back to his phone.
I have items of both Tempe & Booth. Need help to decipher so I can use them 2 help rid of Pelant.
Max let Christine out of her seat and pointed out the playground to the kids. "Okay you two, go play there but stay where I can see you."
As he let the children go across the path, he felt a buzz. Picking up the phone, he read the message.
When I am free I can meet u. Family is gone 4 a while.
Max texted back. Fine, we r at the playgd by Booth's office.
Max knew he had to play this close to the vest. What he was doing was violating the privacy of two people he cared about. He knew that the kids needed to work out their issues and be together for their sakes, Christine and Parker's sakes, and for the sake of defeating that little worm Pelant.
After several minutes, he got another text. I'm on my way shortly after company leaves. Which bench?
Max texted back. The one with the sandboxes by the dinosaur see saws.
B there ASAP
Max smiled. Pelant's ass was going down.