A Friend in Need (complete)

"What?" Ang asked incredulously.

"I said, Booth thinks so too."

"Whoa, wait a minute. Stop. Rewind, Bren. Booth thinks so too what?"

"He thinks we should be together, too."

"Did Booth say that?" Angela looked at her in shock.

She sighed, sounding sad, "he said he wanted to give us a shot."

Angela sat down next to Bren, "Sweetie?" she questioned "when was this?"

"A few weeks ago."

Angela shook her head, "Okay, now I'm confused, if Booth said that, why is he dating that woman, and why are you going to coffee with Hacker?"

"Because I told him no."

Angela just stared at her, confusion written across her face, "You did what?" she squeaked out, in shock.

A silent tear slid down her cheek, "I'm not like him, Ang."

Angela stood up, and stalked over to the window, and stood staring out gathering her thoughts.

"Did he say he loved you Bren?" she believed with ever fiber of her being he did.

"No."

"What did he say, exactly Bren?" she turned from the window and stared at her.

Brennan took a deep breath, and leaned back against the cushions, "he wanted to give us a shot, that he knew from the beginning." her hand brushed away the tears.

Angela walked back to her, and sat down, "go on." she urged.

"He said he wanted 30, or 40, or 50 years."

Angela just stared at her. A minute ticked by and then two. Okay Ang, talking to herself inside her head, take a calming breath, in and out, in and out.

"Ang?" Bren questioned her, the silence getting to her.

"I'm so confused here, Bren." she shook her head, trying to make sense of what she heard, "and slightly pissed." baby steps, she thought to herself. "Bren, you know, you are my best friend, right?"

Brennan nodded, "yes, and you are mine, as well." sounding teary.

"So I want you to take what I am about to say, as something one best friend says to another." Brennan nodded her head, waiting. "You are and have been in love with Sealy Booth for years. Whether or not you believe it in your mind, Brennan, you know it to be true in your heart." Brennan opened her mouth to say something, but Angela held up her hand, "Let me finish."

"Do you remember when Booth was shot, and we all thought he was dead?"

"Of course, how could I forget it. It was the worst day, and two weeks of my adult life." she sniffled.

"Why?"

"why what?"

"Why was it the worst day of your adult life , Bren, think about it?"

"because I had just lost my partner..."

"Sweetie," she interrupted, "thats a load of crap." she narrowed her eyes at her. "we both know it."

"Booth knows how much our partnership means to me, Ang, he understood."

"Is that all Booth is to you Bren, your partner?" she would never believe that, not in a milion years.

"Of course not, Ang, he's also one of my best friends."

"Bren, Sweetie, did you tell Booth to date?"

"He said he had to move on."

"So you realize Bren, when Booth moves on, that means he moves on."

"I don't understand what your saying."

"Your dinners you two go to, almost every night," she looked at her, "how many girlfriends do you know, let their men folk hang out every night with their female partners? Your mac and cheese Tuesday, not going to happen anymore Bren. What about your get togethers at the Founding Father's, to celebrate the ending of a case? Gone." she looked at her, "you and Booth, even if you didn't realize it , Bren, have been dating each other for years."

"We both agreed that our partnership is important to us."

"Booth is settleing. He can't have you the way he wants, so he takes what he can get. Booth deserves so much more, and so do you, Bren." she sighed loudly. "Sweetie, you made a mistake. You thought you were protecting your partnership, but, Sweetie, all you did was force a change. Can't you feel it? I noticed something was off a couple of weeks ago, I just didn't know what." Angela was trying to remain calm, "your partnership isn't just about work. I think you know that."

"I don't have Booth's open heart. I don't want to hurt him."

This makes sense, "Sweetie, you may not have Booth's open heart, but you do have a heart, and it belongs to Booth, you won't hurt him Bren, you don't have to protect from something that won't happen."

"What if something goes wrong, and I lose him. I can't lose him, Ang. As his partner, I'll never lose him."

"That's where your wrong." taking a deep breath, "I think you will lose him. Use your scientist skills Bren and observe him. Haven't you noticed the changes in him, the last couple of weeks?" how could she not have noticed.

"I have noticed him being a little restrained."

"You mean sad, melancholy, depressed, sedate, not his usual self?" she continued, "Sweetie, open your eyes, how much are you willing to lose?" Brennan sat up, "because Bren, sweetie, you might lose everything."

"I've got to go back to work, think about it Bren." she gave her a hug. "Call Booth." and she was gone.

Too bad Ang and Brennan never had this conversation on the show! Well done.

You'd think that she'd have gone to Ange about something like this...but I guess not. Thanks.

Don't even get me started DBCrazy..still have not recovered from season finale and Spoilers..LOL. Keep writing so I can escape into my Bones fantasy world!!!

For the upteenth time that day, Angela looked up at Brennan's office. It was absolutely killing her, not to march in there and give her another lecture. Sighing, and shaking her head, she hoped Brennan would come around on her own, but, if she didn't she was prepared for another lecture, and this time, she wouldn't hold back.

"Hey Ang." Hodgins stuck his head in her office. "Why the sad face?"

"The trials and tribulations of Booth and Brennan." she rubbed her eyes, she felt a head ache coming on.

Nodding his understanding, "You'd think they'd have figured it out by now." he reached for her, pulling her into his embrace, "I'm so glad we did."

"Me too. Its hard enough watching those two." she laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm really worried this time, Jack." she closed her eyes, "Something is way off."

"Everybody's noticed, but hey," he tried a positive spin, "its always worked out before, right?"giving her a smile, not quite believeing himself.

"I haven't even seen Dr. Brennan today." he looked at her office, noting the closed shades. "what she doing?"

"Not sure, guess I should go check on her, huh?"

"Might be a good idea, you are her best friend."

"Okay, I'm going in." and stepped out of her office.

"Good luck." Jack called out to her, but she hoped she didn't need it.

Angela marched to her office determined, and prepared for what ever excuses and reasons Brennan was going to throw at her.

She knocked once, waited. She knocked again. Receiving no response, she turned the door knob. It was unlocked, she pushed it open.

"Bren?" she called fromt he open doorway. The lights had been shut off, she couldn't see much from the door.

"Bren?" she called stepping into her office.

Still no answer. She walked thru the office, and tapped on the door to the bathroom.

"Bren?" she pushed the door open. She wasn't here either. Concerned now, she walked over to the light switches, and flipped them on, illuminating the entire office. No Brennan.

She turned her head, surveying the room, not sure what to think. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the piece of paper lying on her desk. It was addressed to her. She picked it up, and unfolded it:

Ang-I have decided to take a few days off.

I heard everything you said, and I need some time. I promise, to call you in a few days. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay. See you soon.

Bren

"Damn it, Brennan." Angela said aloud, wondering what Booth was going to think.

Can't wait for the next posting!

This is completed, and since you asked me so nicely, I'll post another.
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This was her secret place. She came here when she needed to think, and sometimes write. She looked around, enjoying the solitude and the trees. She saw squirrels scurrying, an occasional deer wondered thru, a the myriad of forest creatures her only company.

She sat back in the wicker chair, feet propped up on the matching footstool. Leaning her head forward, she took a sip of her coffee, while she waited. She drained her cup. She stood, and walked into the house. She stepped into the kitchen, walking to the coffee pot, and was refilling her cup when she heard the crunch of gravel.

She turned and walked back to the front door, opening it, leaning against the door frame, and sipped her coffee, and waited.

He could see her propped up in the door, looking somewhat worried. He took a deep breath, wondering what she was thinking. He stared at her for minute, gathering his thoughts. He opened the door and slid out.

Without saying a word, he walked up to the front porch. He looked around, "Bones," he paused a second, "What is all this?"He motioned with his hands.

"It's a house, Booth."

"I can see that Bones." he looked at her, "who's is it?"

"It's mine." he didn't say anything, "I bought it after my first book."

"It's a great house Bones, why keep it a secret?"

"I didn't really keep it a secret, I just never told anybody." she paused, "Dad knows, he comes out here sometimes."

"How often do you come out here?"

"When I write, sometimes, it helps to come out here." He nodded, trying not to feel hurt, that she'd never told him.

"Kind of like an escape from the real world."

"Do you want to sit down ?"as he walked up the steps to the porch. She waved him to a chair, "want some coffee? I just brewed a new pot."

"Maybe later Bones." he sat down. "Why did you tell me to come here?" He looked into her eyes, as she moved away from the door, to come and sit opposite him, in the matching chair.

Inhaling deeply, "Last night I met a friend, an old collegue actually, for dinner."

He interrupted, "Bones, I really don't want to talk about your dates, if that's why you called me here. " he sounded irritated. "I don't want to hear about Hacker, or anyone else for that matter, either."

"Booth," she wrinkled her forehead,"my friend, she was an old college friend, we went to school together."

"Oh, sorry."

"Booth, we had dinner at the Italian Gardens."

"OH." Booth, comprehension dawning on him, he lifted his chin, "I see." he had dinner there last night with Catherine.

She looked down into her coffee cup, he noticed her knuckles turning white, gripping her cup. "I saw you with her." for a minute they were both quiet.

And?

Booth swallowed, loosened his collar. "You knew we were seeing each other."

"I know." her voice sounded sad to him.

"You saw us?" he questioned her.

"Yea."she nodded

"I didn't see you."

"I know." she sat her empty cup down, on the side table. "I didn't want to intrude."

An uncomfortable silence lengthened into a few minutes.

"Bones? I don't understand this? Why did you tell me to come here?"

How to start, she sighed, "When I saw you, with her, I didn't realize...." she stopped.

"What Bones?" he prompted, nudgeing her along.

"I saw you laughing with her, like we used to," a tear slipped down her cheek,"before............"

"Before I told you that I wanted....." a pause, "us." he was looking at her.

"Yes." her blue eyes watery.

"I told you I was moving on," he looked at her, "you didn't believe me?"

"I didn't know it would feel so...." she looked up at him, "I didn't like it, Booth."

He stood up, turning his back to her, looking out into the trees. "What do you think its been like for me, Bones. Sully, Michael, and Hacker, I watched you laugh with them. They had, what I've wanted for years." he turned back to her, "and now, that I'm with Catherine, you get it?"

"I don't know what that means." she looked at him.

"It's called jealousy, Bones. I've been experiencing it for years."

"Jealousy is an irrational emotion." she wasnt' jealous, was she?

"Irrational or not, that's what it is." He looked down at her, "You told me to move on, Bones."

"Yes." she said sadly, "Catherine seems very nice."

"She is."

"She's very pretty, and smart."

"Yes, that too."

"You seemed happy with her," she paused, "last night."

"It was just a dinner." he sighed, "no big deal."

"You like her?" she waited for his answer.

"Yes, she's nice, I guess, except," he stopped talking.

"Except what, Booth?" her heart felt a little broken.

"Doesn't matter anymore, Bones." he looked down at his shoes.

"Last night after I saw you, with her," she paused,"I couldn't sleep, everytime I closed my eyes I saw you, with her. You were eating, laughing, talking just like we used to." she turned her head, wiping a tear away, before he could see it.

"You could have called me, you know." he leaned on the porch railing.

"I didn't want to interrupt anything."

"You wouldn't have, I was home, and alone." he tilted his head at her, watching her closely.

"Angela says that I'm going to lose you." she threw it out there.

Startled, he looked at her, "Bones, there is nothing that could go on between us, that would destroy our friendship. I will always be there for you."

"She said by your moving on, our friendship would change."

"You told her about that, about us?"

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"She told me I had made a mistake, and that I should talk to you."

"She's right." he looked at her, "on both counts."

"You did make a mistake." He looked at her, she looked as sad, as he felt.

"I'm not seeing Hacker anymore."

"Why not?" he asked.

"He isn't you." she just threw it out there, and held her breath waiting.

Booth had turned his back to her, staring out into the trees, "What did you just say?" turning back to her, staring intently into her eyes.

"I said, he isn't you." more firmly this time.

"What are you saying?" he took a step in her direction.

"I am a scientist." taking a breath, "As a scientist, when one makes a mistake, you go back, and try to correct the problem."

"The problem being.........." he waited for her to answer.

"Angela says my problem is........" her voice faltered.

"Yes,.." he urged her on.

"She thinks that I'm in love with you." she figeted in her chair, "just like Sweets, does."

"What do you think, Bones?" his voice was low and very deep.

"I'm not sure." she looked up at him directly in the eye, "Are you in love with me?"

"Yes." a direct answer with no explanation.

"How do you know?"

"There's just some things you know, Bones."
"I've missed you." she looked at him. "Since then, it hasn't been the same between us."

He walked back to the chair and sat down. "I've missed you, too." and he had, immensely.

"I know, I didn't like seeing you with her. At all, it made me feel......,"

"Jealous?" he asked.

"I was going to say uncomfortable."she sighed, taking a breath, "I want to go back Booth."

"No."

"No?"

"No way, Bones. I can't go back, and I don't want to go back. I want to go forward." he stood up and raked his hands thru his hair. "I will always be your friend, Bones, but you have a choice to make." frustration with he was setting in. "I already told you how I feel, and what I want." he stood up. "It's up to you."

"I know what I want." he looked at her, "but do you?"

"I've always known what I wanted, Booth." she turned away from him.

He looked at her, "Now I'm the one who doesn't know what that means."

"Have you ever wondered about that time, on our first case?" she asked him.

"Only a gazillion times, Bones."

"Me too."

"You too?" he'd always thought she'd mentally filed it far away.

"We've never really talked about that night, except that once with Sweets."

She stood up, and walked to the railing, leaning on her elbows. "I wanted you that night, Booth." she was looking out at the trees. Dusk was setting in, a few stars were already visible.

"I remember." he walked to the railing, to stand beside her. "I also remember you running away, leaving me standing in the rain." alone.

"I didn't want to." she turned to him.

"Then why?" he'd never understood her need to flee.

"I'm not good at relationships Booth."

"You say that, Bones." he grasped both of her shoulders turning her to him, "have you ever really tried?" he sighed, "How do you know, if you don't at least try?"

"I don't know how to, Booth." a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Then let me show you." He slowly bent his head, giving her time to pull away. When she didn't move away, he moved in further. His hands reached up, and held her face, his thumb brushing away her tears. "There is nothing to be afraid of." he whispered, the second before his lips touched hers. It was the barest of touches, he brushed his lips across her once softly, and then again. She'd stiffened, but hadn't moved away. He pressed his lips a little more firmly, and slid his hands from her shoulders, down her arms, pulling her in tighter. He placed more pressure on her lips, pushing them apart. She let him slip his tongue in, for a deeper kiss. She moved her lips against his, moving into him. His arms came around her, tipping her head back, his lips left hers, moving to her neck, and coming back again. He slanted his lips over hers one more time, tasting and teasing her with his tongue, before he pulled away.

He took a step back, fighting the urge to continue. They stood there, staring at each other, not touching. "I'm going back, Bones." he turned to go, "you know where you can find me." he had to let her choose.

He walked back to his vehicle, opened the door, and slid in. With one last glance at her, he turned the ignition, reversed to head back down the long driveway. When he reached the bottom of the driveway, out of site of the house, he stopped, gripped the steering wheel in an iron grip, and wondered if he'd made a mistake.

"Seely," Catherine smiled at him, opening the door wide letting him in. "Your early, I wasn't expecting you for," she looked at her watch, "another hour."

"I know, and I'm sorry for dropping in early like this."

"No problem, just let me get my purse, and we can go." she smiled up at him.

"Actually Catherine, I was wondering if we could talk for a few minutes." He gestured to her couch, "can we sit?"

She nodded, her smile dimming, "Sure Seely." she sat, and looked at him expectantly. He sat down beside her.

"Catherine, you know I think your a great girl." she nodded at him, "your beautiful, smart, funny......."

"Sealy," she interrupted him, "what's this about?" she couldn't take the suspense anymore.

"I think I made a mistake Catherine, I'm sorry."

"A mistake?"

"I shouldn't have asked you out, I'm sorry."

"I don't understand, I thought we were having fun together." she drew her brows together, "I did, I thought you were too."

"I enjoyed our dates, Catherine."

"Is this about the other night?" she laid her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry I was so forward." she thought back to how she had basically threw herself at him.

"It's not about that, Catherine."

"It's Dr. Brennan, isn't it." she looked a little sad.

Booth looked up at her, "What makes you say that?" he was curious, they had never once talked about Brennan, other then mentioning that they were long time partners, in a passing conversation.

"You hide a picture of her in your wallet Seely." he looked up, nobody knew that,"I saw you looking at it the other night at the restraunt."

He remembered looking at her picture, but Catherine had gone to the ladies room, he had no idea she saw him.

"I knew there was something there." she looked at him, "Did you have a relationship with her?"

"No, yes, not really." he sighed, "It's complicated."

"You want a relationship with her."

"Yes, I'm so sorry." he reached for her hand, "I don't know what to say."

"There's nothing I can say to change your mind? I really think we could be great together." she squeezed his hand, and pulled him a little towards her, "We could try." she pressed her lips to his. He kissed her gently, and set her back by her shoulders.

"I'm sorry Catherine, I just can't do this."

"I had to try." she sighed wondering if Dr. Brennan had any idea how lucky she was.

"We still have reservations for dinner." Booth looked at her, not wanting to end this on a bad note.

"Thanks Seely, but I think its better if we don't." she stood up.

"I understand." Booth stood up and walked to the door, he felt like he needed to say something else.

"Catherine, I.."

"Seely, it's okay." she opened the door, "we'll talk later." he stepped outside her door.

"Goodbye Catherine." she nodded her head at him, and closed the door softly.