Hey everybody. I want to apologize for leaving you waiting that long, but I've been sick. The flu kept me in bed for 17 days in total these past three weeks. (I thought I had made it through the whole thing, then I got ill again. sigh). So, I hope you can understand that I was not really in the mood or condition to write. But now, things seem to be getting better again….. So here we are with the next chapter on Coming home.

I want to thank all my reviewers SO MUCH!!! Thanks! Usually I answer every review personally, but this time I think I might have overlooked some… I'm sorry, I hope you can understand.

Coming home…

Chapter 7:

It was nearing 9 am when I finally had parked my car and the elevator headed up to the Jeffersonian's entrance hall. There was a chiming sound as the doors slid open and I stepped out of the car into a unusually busy entrance hall. About a dozen of people hustled around and gave me astonished looks but soon greeted me with "Good morning, Dr. Brennan" or similar.

I wondered briefly, why they seemed so astounded upon seeing me, but then I suddenly realised that the entrance hall was NOT unusually busy. No, I was unusually late and people who worked at the Jeffersonian every day hardly ever saw me enter or leave. Especially these past eight weeks since Booth had left, I had been working very long hours and hardly ever came out of the lab.

Sure, my replacement partner had dragged me out to crime scenes four or five times, but there was a big difference between me rushing out with my team, carrying a lot of gear and me coming in to clearly just start for the day at nine in the morning. This was unusual and that was why people stared at me.

Another realisation hit me when I nodded at two women greeting me. I knew none of them by name. People who worked here day in day out and the only face that seemed familiar to me was that of the security guard, because he sometimes worked night shifts. Somehow shocking.

Since Booth had left I had started to work at six in the morning, sometimes staying until midnight to drive home for a few measly hours of restless sleep, a shower, change of clothes and sometimes a breakfast. Breakfast usually consisted of an energy bar and coffee. I had pushed and pushed myself, trying to keep myself busy enough to be able to ignore that I missed Booth so much it hurt.

I briefly closed my eyes as I entered the lab and familiar scents and sounds engulfed me.

My life had to change. I didn't mind pushing myself, but now I had somebody else to think of. A tiny being was growing in me and I had no right to risk his or her life. It was a simple as that, I realised. I had to look after myself, I had to make sure I ate and slept regularly because I was pregnant and pushing me too hard would be selfish and risky.

I opened my eyes and the familiar sounds and scents were joined by the familiar view of a busy lab. The lab that was more home to me than my own apartment. Angela spotted me and flashed me a big, toothy smile in greeting. "Hey sweetie!!! How are you?"

"Hi. I'm okay, Ange." I answered and resumed walking towards my office to tell her about my meeting with Cullen. There was no need to tell her to follow me, her curiosity made sure of it, I knew that from experience.

In my office, I sank on my chair and let out a deep sigh as Angela closed the door and closed out the sounds of a busy morning in the lab.

"You look better today, Sweetie." She said after giving me a long, assessing look. "Sleeping for more than five hours does wonders for your complexion."

I arched a brow at her questionable and a little sarcastic compliment, knowing that after my trip to the bathroom at the Hoover building and spending ten miserable minutes retching I surely did NOT look good. But she'd last seen me with tear-swollen eyes and a blotchy face, so maybe her standards for good complexion were a little low today.

Angela sat down on my visitor's chair and gave me another long look, then asked. "How did it go with Cullen?"

I sighed and wondered for a moment if I should give her the debriefed or the full version. She saw my hesitation and reached over the desk to grab my hand. "You can tell me, Bren." Her compassionate tone made the decision easier. The full version, it was. I needed someone to talk to, anyway. Who better than my best friend?

So, I went through my meeting with Cullen and smiled at my best friend as she growled angrily upon hearing what Cullen had said in the beginning of the encounter.

"He called it a one night stand? And what he said about Booth! What an ass! I thought he was okay. Damn." She shook her head, a scowl on her face. I patted her hand and explained that he had apologised for it later, but her scowl did not fully vanish. I understood her reaction. After all, Cullen's words had stung and though I had accepted his apology, I would never forget what he had said. We would never become best friends, that was for sure.

But I had a best friend, so what did it matter. A best friend who listened to my recapitulation of my visit at Cullen's office with genuine anger and concern, sadness – when Rebecca's condition came up – and finally disgust and shock when I told her about Booth's assignment. (After she swore to keep silence about it, of course)

"My God." She whispered, her face pale. "Poor Booth. I'm glad he at least gets some good news, he'll need it. This got to be hell for him."

"What good news?" I asked, a little confused.

"Well. You, him, baby." Angela blinked and pointed towards my abdomen.

"Ah, I told Cullen not to inform him." I said.

"What?" Angela's eyes widened in confusion, then concern entered them. "You.. didn't change your mind, did you?"

I shook my head. "No, I didn't change my mind. But Booth is in great danger as it is. He doesn't need another distraction, another thing to worry about. I will go through with this pregnancy on my own. And when he comes back… well, we will see how he reacts." I shrugged, trying to make light of it.

My best friend watched me through narrowed eyes. "I will go with you to your appointments. You'll need somebody to be there for you and as long as Booth can't be the one, I'll try to replace him as good as I can." She stated after a moment.

I was stunned, speechless for a moment. I had thought she'd tell me that it wasn't fair to withhold that kind of information from Booth, but instead she offered to be a shoulder to lean on. I got rid of my surprise in an instant and smiled at Angela. "Thank you, Ange. You're a wonderful friend. It would be great to have you with me…." Only after the words were out I realised that the prospect of having to go through all the appointments and preparations on my own had worried me subconsciously. I should have known that Angela would be there for me.

"That's what friends are for, Sweetie. And maybe you won't need me all that long…. Booth may be coming home in a few weeks, right?" She squeezed my hand and I nodded, though I didn't share her optimism out of pure self protection. I had to prepare for the worst, so that there would be no shattered hopes. It could take Booth many months to come home, but I had no doubt he would come home one day. He had promised to do his best and I trusted him.

Angela interrupted my thoughts with her next question. "So what happened then?"

I cleared my throat. "I asked Cullen to do me a favour. Well, more a favour for Booth."

"And that favour is?" She asked, curiously.

"Parker's birthday is next week. I asked Cullen to make it possible for Booth to call him. Preferably with video. Booth needs to see his son, he needs to see something good. And Parker needs his Dad." I told her.

"Oh, sweetie." Angela gave me a sad smile. "That's really thoughtful of you. Did he say yes?"

I nodded. "He promised he'll do his best to make sure Booth has spare time and access to a suitable computer at a safe location next Wednesday, five pm. No guarantees, though. I'll visit Rebecca and Parker, so we can use my laptop. I would have visited Parker anyway to give him his present."

"So, you'll see Booth too." Angela stated the obvious. I swallowed hard. "Yeah." I breathed. The mere thought of seeing him, hearing his voice made me almost nervous. "But I can't tell Parker or Rebecca. Parker would be disappointed if things change, he wouldn't understand. Cullen told me to keep quiet, take my laptop with me and connect it to the internet. If Booth is able to contact us, he will. If not…" I sighed and suppressed a shudder.

"He'll call, you'll see. And he will be very thankful that you did that for him and Parker." Angela nodded encouragingly.

"I hope so. I really do." I took in a deep breath. "Ah, well…. No use wondering about it now, right? I have work to do. I have to see Cam, too."

"You'll tell her?" Angela asked, a little surprised.

I nodded. "I would have to tell her sooner or later anyway…. But I have to choose one of the students now, train him or her, because I'll have to cut down my working hours, especially in the last weeks of the pregnancy."

"No, Bren…. you'll have to start working like normal, regular people instead of a maniac." Angela grinned.

I rolled my eyes. "I know, I know. Regular meals, enough sleep and no stress."

"I'll make sure of it." Angela said and her voice held the distinct note of threat.

"I know." I smiled at her and rose. "I have to see Cam now." Then I paused before reaching for the door handle. "I have an appointment with my gynaecologist. Friday, five in the afternoon."

"If you want me there, I'll be there, Sweetie." Angela said, just as I knew she would.

"That would be great." I answered. "Thank you."

"You're like a sister to me, Bren. I'll be there whenever you need me." Her tone was sincere and the expression on her face remembered me of my mother when she'd told me she'd always be there for me, because that's what mothers do. One of the few memories I had of my mother was that look and now I saw it mirrored on the face of my best friend. Without thinking twice I grabbed her, hugged her tightly for a brief moment. She didn't say anything, but the moment did not require words. Sometimes, I thought, actions said more than words.

Then I left my office to search for Dr. Saroyan.

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I hope people are still interested in this story.