(After 'The Hole in the Heart')

I don't own Bones.

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"Dr. Athena Aetos has contacted me and wishes me to join her on a dig in Crete." Brennan had found the invitation interesting and couldn't make up her mind whether she should accept the offer or not. "Several spelunkers were exploring a cave that was small and apparently unattractive to other spelunkers . . . I'm not sure what makes a cave unattractive, but I suppose that doesn't matter. The group had explored several of the famous caves on the island and they wanted to explore a cave not visited by most tourists . . . Anyway, while they were exploring the cave they found a section that appeared to have a collapsed wall leading into a tunnel. It's assumed the wall tumbled down during a recent earthquake and the cave explorers decided to finish moving the rocks out of the way of the entrance and entered the tunnel. They found some clay coffins that appeared to be secondary burials along with glazed pots containing remnants of food, wine and olive oil. They informed the Crete government of their find and the government chose Dr. Aetos to examine the new find. The tunnel contains several coffins and Dr. Aetos would like me to examine the bones of the deceased."

Booth could tell that Brennan was excited about the find and the invitation. "How long would you be gone?" Finished with lunch, he moved his coffee cup to the side and placed his arms on the table.

"Dr. Aetos would like me to stay for at least a month." Her excitement growing, Brennan placed the letter down and stared at her partner. "I have never examined remains from the Minoan civilizations before and it would be great experience for me."

Since Brennan was so excited and this was just the thing she was trained for, Booth felt she should accept the offer. "You know that does sound pretty exciting. Maybe you should take the offer and go and check it out."

Surprised, Brennan stared at her partner for a moment. "Normally you don't care for me to go on digs."

"Look, just because we're together doesn't mean I think you should give up doing stuff you like to do." Booth smiled at Brennan, reached out his hand and placed it over her hand. "You're the best forensic anthropologist in the world and people are always asking you to help them with old bones and that's okay. I'm not going to stand in your way if something like this Minoan thing comes up especially if you've never seen stuff from that culture before. It's just for a month . . . I'm so proud of you, Bones. You're the best and everyone knows that . . . that is so cool . . . If you want to go then go, if you don't want to go then don't go. You know you're going to have a baby in a few months and you're not going to be able to do your thing then, so do it now while still you can."

Still uncertain why Booth was encouraging her to go, Brennan frowned at her partner. "I may be gone for more than a month. It would depend upon if any more bodies are found. Dr. Aetos plans to explore the caves further just to make sure there aren't anymore coffins to be found . . . If I do go, you would have to partner up with Dr. Edison during that time and he isn't as experienced as I am."

"No one is as experienced as you are, but I can deal with that." Booth was puzzled. Why was Brennan balking about going? "Bones, I made a promise to myself when we got together. I don't want you to change for me. You're a world class scientist . . . you're the smartest person I know and the stuff you know is amazing. Short digs shouldn't be a problem and let's face it, once the baby is here, well . . . you probably won't want to go on digs at all while our kid is a baby or even a toddler . . . I'm not saying you have to go, I'm just saying go if you want to. If you really don't want to go then don't . . . Um, you know if you go I'll miss you and I'll probably worry about you, but you'll probably be working on the bodies at some federal building or university, so you'll be near hospitals in case you need one . . . Um . . . yeah." He knew he was going to worry about her the whole time she was gone, but she was two months pregnant and it's not like she was going to be in the caves doing anything dangerous. "It's okay, Bones. Really."

"Let me think about it today. I need to check with Cam to see if there is anything pressing coming up that might keep me from going. I'll make up my mind by this afternoon and I'll let you know what my decision is." Brennan felt that Booth was being too accommodating. She hoped he wasn't regretting being in a relationship with her. The baby wasn't planned and now he was acting oddly as far as she was concerned.

Patting her hand, Booth nodded his head. "If you go we can talk everyday on the phone and who knows, you may not need a month to do the job. You are the best in the world." He didn't know what else to say. He didn't want her to miss this opportunity, but he wasn't about to push her to go if she didn't want to go.

"Yes, I am."

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Not sure why Booth was being so encouraging about a dig in Crete when in the past he had shown displeasure when she went on digs, Brennan decided to talk to Angela about it. Entering her friend's office, she noticed Angela typing on her keyboard, a look of concentration on her face. "May I speak to you?"

Startled, Angela looked up, saw the sad look on Brennan's face and knew something was wrong. "Of course you can." Closing her file, she stood up and walked over to the couch and sat down. "Come and sit with me." Once Brennan was settled beside her, she smiled. "Okay, what's wrong?"

"Why does something have to be wrong, just because I want to talk to you?" Brennan felt that Angela's ability to read body language was just as good as Booth's ability and sometimes that was very annoying.

Placing her hand on Brennan's knee, Angela squeezed it gently. "Nothing has to be wrong, but something is bothering you, Bren . . . What's going on?"

Since the feline was out of the sack, Brennan knew she might as well come to the point. "I've been invited to go on a dig in Crete. It might last a month or so . . . Booth is encouraging me to go . . . It's out of character. He normally hates for me to go on digs and is upfront about his annoyance . . . I think he may be regretting being in a relationship with me and wants to sever it."

Shocked, Angela gripped Brennan's knee. "Bren, no way. No . . . Booth loves you and you know that. You have to know that. Everyone can see how much he adores you. He is not regretting anything, Sweetie. He loves you so much . . . You know, I think he's okay with you going on a dig because he loves you and what you do for a living and well, let's face it, he loves how smart you are and that you're the top in your field . . . Also, he's secure enough in his relationship with you that he can stand for you to be away from him for a few weeks because he knows you're coming back to him . . . Really, if you think about it, it's kind of romantic."

She hadn't understood what Booth's motives were and it was possible that Angela was right. "He did say he will miss me and he's certain I will be working in a safe environment near hospitals in case I need one . . . I'm not sure I want to be away from Booth for a month. I'd miss him."

"Of course you would, but if it's just for a month . . . that doesn't sound like a long time." Angela could see that Brennan wasn't as sad as she had been when she entered her office. "It's up to you. If you don't want to go then don't. The decision is yours to make and whatever you decide to do will be right for you and Booth."

Feeling a little better about the situation, Brennan stood up. "I don't really understand motives in people, but I do know Booth and I trust him. I do."

"Good for you." Angela smiled at her friend. "He'll be fine with whatever you decide. Don't worry about it. He's just letting you spread your proverbial wings."

"Yes, I can see that now." Brennan exhaled then let it out slowly. "Thanks Angela."

Pleased she could help her friend, Angela stood up and walked over to her PC. "You can count on me, Bren. Come to me anytime and we'll talk about whatever you need to talk about. That's what friends are for."

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"I've decided to join Dr. Aetos' team in Crete, Booth." Brennan had thought it over and knew she would regret it if she didn't go to Crete. "This is an important find and it would be foolish to turn down the opportunity being presented to me."

Though he hated the idea of her being gone for a month, Booth knew this was important for Brennan. "Okay, then. Sounds like a plan . . . When do you plan on leaving?"

"In four days." Brennan knew that was short notice, but the coffins and bodies were already waiting for her.

Booth tried to smile, but his chest felt tight and he couldn't force one. Moving closer so he could hug her, he placed his arms around her and held her against his body. "I am going to miss you so much, don't doubt that for one minute." Kissing her, he tried to assure her that she was making the right decision for her.

Returning his kiss, Brennan knew that she was going to miss her mate. "It will just be for four weeks five at the most."

"That's fine, Bones. Maybe you'll end up in a book or at least in some write up in an archaeology journal. That would be cool." Booth kissed her once more. "If that happens we have to buy a copy for me and for Parker . . . probably Pops too."

Amused, Brennan laughed. "I've been in archaeology journals before."

"Yeah, that's true, but still, it would be cool." Booth knew that Brennan was the best and he liked it when her peers acknowledged it. He didn't think they did it often enough. "I know you're going to be busy for the next few weeks, but I want you to think about something . . . I think raising a kid in an apartment isn't really a good idea. Our kid is going to need a backyard to play in and maybe a treehouse and a pool would be nice and well, I want to buy a house. Your apartment in nice, but kids need a yard they can call their own . . . will you think about it?"

Surprised, Brennan stared at Booth for a moment and sighed. "I like my apartment." She really didn't want to move since her apartment was so close to work.

"I know, but will you at least think about it?" Booth knew that his partner hated change and she was comfortable where she was. "We can look for a house in a neighborhood that has good schools, near emergency care and a hospital and a fire station and well, I have a list, but it's kind of important to choose a house that isn't isolated or too far from emergency services . . . it doesn't have to be perfect. I'm pretty good with a hammer and a paint brush . . . would you think about it?"

"I will, Booth but I really do like my apartment. It's close to the Jeffersonian and where you work." Brennan felt that Booth wasn't considering the implications of moving further from work. "If we were to move it would have to be to Virginia or Maryland because I know you, Booth. You would want to help pay for the house and housing is very expensive if you live close to D.C."

Annoyed, Booth sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Of course, I want to help pay for our house . . . I'm not a loser. I'm not my Dad. He was . . . Look, I know you don't like the idea of moving, I really do, but we're going to be parents and do you really want to raise our daughter or son in an apartment? I just think we could give our kid a better life if she could have a house to live in . . . just think about it . . . please?"

"You do know that millions of people live in apartments and their children are fine." Brennan didn't want to move and she just didn't see any value in living in a house.

Not sure how he was supposed to get around Brennan's love of her apartment, Booth rubbed the back of his head. "Um . . . I have a headache. I had to work on paper work all day and Caroline was on a tear about the Swartz case . . . I'm going to take a shower and go to bed."

"But we haven't eaten dinner yet . . . let me at least heat up some soup for you." Brennan knew that Booth was probably angry and this was his way of stopping their argument.

"No, my head hurts and I'm not hungry." Moving over to the bedroom, Booth stopped and looked back. "Just because I'm not hungry doesn't mean you should skip dinner . . . I just have a headache that's all." Nothing else to say, he moved into the bedroom and prepared to take a hot shower. He really did have a headache and he hoped the shower would help the situation.

She knew that Booth was probably upset with her, but she didn't think moving was necessary just because she was going to have a baby. I'll talk to him again and try to make him see that moving isn't really necessary, at least not right now.

Hungry, she made a salad and ate a cup of yogurt. Maybe a trip to Crete is what I need. Yes, it is definitely what I need to do. I need to think about what Booth wants and see if it is something I can agree with. Separating would allow me to think about it without pressure from Booth.

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