Thanks for your reactions again, we appreciate your words! Here is another Brennan-centred chapter, we hope you enjoy!

Chapter 7

"Russ Brennan," he spoke into his phone, which was pinned between his shoulder and his ear as he continued to refresh the oil in the car which was currently in the shop for a yearly check-up.

"It's me. Can you come? I'm at the clinic. I - I couldn't go through with it," Brennan spoke shakily into her phone. She was dressed in a hospital gown and sitting on the examination table. Five minutes ago, her abortion had been about to take place. It was the logical, rational thing to do. She'd told Angela, Russ, her father; everyone had agreed with her that it was the most practical decision under the circumstances. She'd only just begun her studies, she had barely any income, no father for the baby; it was a big mess. This simple medical procedure could make it all okay. But when she'd stepped into the exam room, it didn't feel that way. It felt like she was going to a funeral. The foetus had been growing and developing inside her for two months. She'd become more healthy; eating enough, wearing a rosy blush on her cheeks, and had a wonderful sense of never being alone. The baby had sort of become her friend, always there, and she couldn't abort her best friend. She just felt that this child had so much to give, so much to become. Removing it was selfish. All arguments aside, she was attached to the baby and she wanted to keep it. Practicality, rationality - none of it mattered. Those arguments were flat words. But her child was alive, flourishing, bringing her joy. No, she couldn't go through with it.

Russ straightened and took the phone in his hand. "I'm coming over. Do you want me to pick you up at the clinic?"

"I'm going to get dressed and get out of here. I'll be waiting outside. Thanks, Russ."

"No worries, Temp. I'll be there as fast as I can." Russ ended the phone call and closed down the shop. He grabbed his car keys and got into his vehicle. The drive wasn't that long, luckily, but it still took him twenty minutes to get there, breaking a few speed limits along the way.

After the phone call, Brennan suddenly felt a serene sense of calm settle over her. Finally, she'd allowed herself to make the right decision. She could breathe again, and she felt relieved. Happy, even, in a very strange way. She got dressed quickly and left the clinic. When after a short wait, she noticed her brother, she smiled and waved at him.

Russ waved back at her and ran over to her. "Are you okay, Temp?" he asked her quietly as his arms wrapped around her and he pulled her into the safety of his embrace. He had been really worried about her ever since she had found out that she was pregnant. That son of a bitch had left her to fend for herself. The bastard didn't deserve to spend any time in his sister's proximity.

Brennan embraced him. "I'm going to be a mother," she told him. "It feels right."

"I'm happy that you made a decision you can support. Come on, let me take you home." Russ guided his sister to his car. "It's Saturday. You can stay over. I don't think you should be alone tonight."

"I actually feel better right now than in the past months. But I'd love to spend the weekend with you, Russ. I'll be twenty years old when I deliver the baby. It sounds a lot better than nineteen, doesn't it?"

"It does," he smiled at his sister, "it really does." They got in the car together and Russ drove off. "So, when are you going to tell everyone? About changing your mind, I mean."

"I think I should call Angela as soon as possible. I don't want to call Dad, though, he sounded so relieved and a little too encouraging when I told him I was having an abortion."

"I think you should give Dad some credit, Temp. He's just really worried about you and he wants you to have the best possible future."

"No, he expects me to have the best possible future, which means there's only room for disappointment," she said bitterly.

"He loves you," Russ told her softly, "You're his daughter." Russ looked at her for a moment. "From a guy's perspective, I can't blame him, okay? That bastard got you pregnant and where is he?"

"He's gone. He's not important. He was nice to me, but that's it. I don't want to think badly of him and I don't want to see him as an interesting, mysterious person. He was there, I was there, it happened and it's in the past. It won't do me any good to blame him."

"You're right." He smiled at her. "You want to know what I think?" he asked her as he continued to drive her home.

"What do you think?"

"That you will be a great mom. And that your kid, whether it's a boy or a girl, will be blessed with you as their mother."

"You really think so? I have no idea how to be a mother. I've barely had a mother in my life."

"That's true. But I know you, little one. You're caring, loving and very responsible. I know you will give your baby whatever he or she may need. Love is what babies need the most and I know that you have more than enough of that."

"I know a lot of people who'd laugh at you for saying that," she told her brother quietly.

"To hell with those people. I'm your brother and I know you. Probably better than anyone else. You will be a great mother. And I have to say... I didn't think you'd go through with it."

She looked at him sharply. "Couldn't you have told me that sooner?"

"No." He shook his head. "Then it wouldn't have been your decision. Not completely. You still would end up doubting yourself. Now you know that you won't."

"Makes sense," she had to admit. They arrived at his apartment and entered. Russ made them a wonderful cup of hot chocolate with mini marshmellows and they got settled on the couch.

"So, since I had been anticipating this, I have a suggestion. How would you feel if I moved closer to your campus? I could find a new apartment. Maybe one that is big enough for three this time?"

"Russ, I - Are you giving up your life for me?"

"No. I'm a mechanic, Temp, I can do that anywhere. And you can't live on campus with a baby, but you can't afford a place for yourself. You can't share a flat with Angela because she doesn't have any money either and we both know that Dad's place is no place to raise a baby."

Brennan frowned. "You're absolutely right. Russ, are you sure?"

"You said two months ago that you didn't have a plan for this, remember? This can be the plan. Let's say for the next five years. While you're pregnant, you can finish this year. Then you can take a year off, to have your baby and learn how to be a mom. At the start of the next year, you can go back to college and finish your education. When you've graduated and are looking for a job, we'll make a new plan for the next five years."

Brennan thought about it for a moment. "It's a more complicated plan than you make it out to be, though. What if you meet someone? What if you want to live with her?"

He chuckled. "It's a flexible plan, we can adapt. But for the time being, I want to share my home with you."

She bit her lip and nodded. "It's the only solution. I'm very grateful for your help, Russ. Really." She placed her hand on top of his and squeezed it.

He turned his hand and squeezed hers. "No need to thank me, Temp. I'm your brother. I will always be here for you when you need me."

"I'm here for you, too. You can always be honest with me. You and Angela are the best things in my life."

Russ looked at her. "Give dad a second chance. I know he hurt you by drinking as much as he did, but he wants to make up for it. He's really worried about you."

"I need to be in a stable mental situation, first. I get weak in his presence, everything he says gets to me."

"You're right. I won't bring him up anymore." He smiled at her. "Now come on! You're pregnant! I'm going to be an uncle! You'll be a mother! This is something to celebrate!"

Brennan smiled. "It feels too weird to celebrate, but then, maybe celebrating will make it less weird. What do you want to do? Eat a cake?"

"That's a good start. I don't have anything special in mind. Just be happy that there is a little one on the way."

She couldn't suppress a smile and looked at him. "You really think I can do this? Be a single mother?"

"Yes," he nodded decisively. "I know you can."

She put her empty cup of hot choco down and wrapped her arms around her brother's neck. "I love you, Russ."

"And I love you, Temp. Your baby, too. You will be just fine." Russ rubbed her back. "I'm here. You won't have to do this alone."

So, was this a good idea? Can she handle a baby by herself or with someone else? Stay tuned to find out ;). Another Booth chapter later this week!