Chapter 2... 'Devastation'

"Just lay down on the couch, Brennan" said Angela as she pushed the door to Brennan's apartment open. Angela rushed into the kitchen and boiled the kettle. She grabbed two pillows from Brennan's bed and handed them to Brennan, who was now curled up on the couch. Angela had been through this many times herself. She handed Brennan a cup of freshly brewed tea, threw a blanket over her and took a seat on a couch opposite her.

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetie, so whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be here."

Brennan hugged the pillows, tears streaming down her face. She said nothing, just lay there, rocking slightly.

Angela knew what had happened. Not in the sense of actually knowing, but she had a pretty good idea. Booth hadn't shown up, or if he did, he had that 'special someone' in his tow. She knew not to say anything, as it would probably just upset Brennan more, and make her shut down completely.

"I just have to call Jack, sweetie. I'll be in the other room." Brennan nodded, and Angela made her way into the bedroom, half closing the door behind her.

"She's almost catatonic, Jack. I've never seen her like this before. I'm gonna stay here with her. I don't want her to be alone, and I don't want her doing anything she'll regret" Angela listened for a moment. "I love you too. Just, whatever you do, don't tell Booth. Don't even try to get in contact with him. Just find out if he did actually arrive, but that's all."

Brennan had heard all of Angela's side of the conversation, and as Angela emerged from the bedroom, she rolled over and sat up.

"You don't really think his flight was delayed, do you?" quizzed Brennan as Angela joined her. Angela sat on the couch in silence, knowing that any answer would result in more tears flowing down Brennan's face.

"Sweetie, just try to get some rest" assured Angela, as she placed the blanket over Brennan.

It was a long night at Brennan's apartment. Angela didn't sleep, and Brennan, when she slept, always woke in fits of screaming. Angela decided the best thing to do was to confront Booth herself, but knew Brennan would protest. If he had something to say about the matter, he should say it to me, not to you. That would be Brennan's argument, followed by an anthropological reason why Angela was acting the way she was about the matter.

"I think I'd like to go to work," requested Brennan, as Angela brought her another cup of hot tea.

"Are you sure, sweetie? Work might not be the best thing for you right now."

"If I stay here, I'll think about Booth. If I go to work, I'll remain distracted for hours, and maybe then I'll be ready to talk."

Angela nodded approvingly, and helped Brennan get ready for work.

The lab was empty. There were only a few security guards around, but other than that, no one else had arrived at work. Brennan unlocked her office. As she took the first step in, she stopped. Feelings and thoughts clouded her head. Memories of times and moments shared with Booth filled her mind. 'I will never make you fall...' The words played over in her head, and Brennan collapsed under the weight of all of the broken promises.

Angela rushed into Brennan's office in time to catch her.

"He lied!" was all that Brennan could say, as she sank her head deep into her hands as the tears flowed. Angela walked out of the office and called Hodgins.

"Did he arrive safely?"... "She needs to know that he did, Jack, she's falling apart without him."

Brennan once again heard the conversation, and when Angela walked back into her office, she commented "You're a lousy whisperer."

Angela sat Brennan down on the couch and held her hand.

"He'll come for you... He..." Angela couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Can I just be alone for a little while?" asked Brennan, and Angela kissed her on the forehead and gracefully walked out.

Brennan immersed herself in her work. Down in Limbo, she pulled out another box of bones and began laying them out on the cold, steel bench. She did this for hours, identifying three soldiers from various wars, as well as missing loved ones that were involved in cold cases.

Brennan was exhausted, but she forced herself to work, and brought down another box.

"Bones!"