Cross Roads (complete)

"I'm so sorry."

"What are you talking about?" He looked at Cam.

"She's dead."

"No she's not."

"I know, Sealy." Cam stepped forward, putting her hands on his back, "I didn't believe it either."

Max struggleing under his knee, "Get the hell off me." yelling.

Angela had pulled her head from Hodgins shoulder, "I know Sweetie," tears coursing down her face, "she's gone."

Booth," Sweets stepped forward, leaving Daisy behind, "it's true. You need to accept this. I know its hard, shocking at first." he sighed, "If there's anything you need..." he paused, clearing his throat, trying hard not to get choked up. "I'm there for you, personally, and professionally."

"Dude, I'm so sorry." Jack looked over at him, his big blue eyes sad. "anything you need, man, anything at all, just ask, I'm there for you."

"I'm here too, Agent Booth." Daisy stepped up, "Dr. Brennan meant the world....."she paused trying to maintain her demeanor, without much luck, "to me, she told me I was her most brilliant student." and promptly burst into tears.

Sweets stepped back, putting his arm around her, "deep breath in, blow it out, in, out. Good, your doing good."

"Look, I don't know what you are all talking about but Bones is not dead."

"Cherie, I'm so sorry." Caroline stepped forward, "I know this is difficult, but you have all of your friends to lean on." she nodded her head sadly, "and me, Sealy Booth, I'm here for you as well."

"Booth, sweetie, I know how hard it is to accept, I didn't at first either." Angela paused walking over to him, "she was my best friend, I'm going to miss her so much." and started crying anew.

"Its true Booth, Tempe is gone." Russ said from behind the crowd. He stepped up, "it's true." nodding his head for emphasis. His eyes big and sad, looking down at him.

"I'm telling you people, she is not dead."

Caroline turned to Cam, "poor poor dear in denial."

"It's okay Booth, take all the time you need to accept this." Cam bent and gave him a hug, "we're all here for you big man."

"Get the hell off me, its your fault she's dead." Max bucked under Booth, surging with new energy.

Cam turned to Sweets, who was busy comforting Daisy "I'm glad your here, Dr. Sweets, he may need your professional services after all."

She heard a giant crash, and the sound of shattering glass. She walked back to the door, and presssed her ear against. Her dad was yelling at Booth, she couldn't distinguish the words, but the tone was unmistakeable. They were definately argueing.

She pulled away from the door, and went back to his dresser grabbing the first shirt on top, pulling it over her head. She glanced up in the mirror, FBI was stamped across her chest, and it hung to her knees. Now for pants. She began pulling random drawers out, looking for soemthing that would fit. Finally she found a pair of sweat pants that had a draw string. She stepped into them one leg at a time, pulling them up, and pulling the string tight, around her waist.

*******************************************************************

"Let him up, Booth." Cam had her hand on his shoulder.

Booth's knee was firmly planted in his back, as he finished snapping the hands cuffs around Max's wrist.

"Booth." Sweets stepped away from Daisy, her breathing under control again. "There's several steps to grieving. The hardest one is acceptance. You've just had a great shock, denial is normal. We all probably felt it." he looked around, "right guys?" everyone nodded their heads simultaneously, except Max.

Booth stood up, leaving Max on the floor in cuffs. On floor level, Max caught sight of a scrap of white lace wedged against the foot of his couch.

"Bones is not dead, there's been a mistake."

Max rolled over, and using the couch as leverage, got to his feet. "The only mistake here, Booth, was yours, when you didn't stop my daughter from getting on that plane." and shoved against him with his shoulder. "And you, here doing some....some..."

"Careful Max." Booth warned him.

Max squinted his eyes at him, his rage apparent to everyone. With the toe of his boot, he drug out a silk pair of panties, and with a little kick sent them flying towards Booth. They sailed thru the air towards Booth, who reached up and caught them. "Enough!" Booth yelled getting all of their attention. "Bones. is. not. dead." He repeated it slowly.

"Sweets." Cam called, she needed back up.

"Booth its going to take time." Sweets sighed.

Max chomping at the bit, charged Booth, propelling both of them over the back of his couch, knocking the wind out of them both. Angela began to cry all over, Daisy breathing in and out, Cam and Carolyn watching open mouthed as the couch tipped over. Jack reaching for Angela, trying to skirt around Max and Booth, who were now rolling on the floor, got his foot caught up, and went down flat on his face. Angela gasped, and began to cry even harder.

Daisy across the room, back to the door was the first to see the bedroom door open, eveyone else's attention diverted to the three in the floor. With a squeal, she began to breath faster, in and out, her nose flaring, and closing with each breath, her hands began moving frantically up and down, her eyes wide staring across the room. In, out, in, out, faster and faster.

Cam glanced at Daisy, "Miss Wick your hyperventilating, slow down, or your going to pass out." Cam stepped towards her. Daisy rapid breaths only increase, her eyes bugged out. "Daisy, slow it down." Cam was in her face, when Daisy's eyes crossed, and fell backwards into a dead faint, landing on the floor with a loud thud.

"OH, my God, Daisy!" they all rushed over to where Daisy was lying on the floor, spreadeagled, and unconscience.

Cam bent and checked her pulse, Sweets moved around behind her, lifting her head onto his lap.

"She's going to be okay?"

"Miss Wick." Cam was talking to her, shaking her shoulders gently. Angela waved her hand in front of her face, "she's out." with a sniffle.

Miss Julian bent, leaning over Daisy, "Never seen anything like that either, Cherie."

"She hit her head pretty hard, but I think she'll be okay."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well, I'm glad to hear it."

"Oh, hi, honey." Max said, as he swung at Booth. Letting his fist fly, before he understood who he was talking to.

"Dad, quit hitting Booth."

Angela jerked her head up from Daisy, and let loose a squeal, and launched herself across the room, "Sweetieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!" Throwing her arms around Brennan, knocking her off her feet.

"Dr. Brennen?" in shock, Sweets stood up, letting Daisy's head thud against the floor.

"Sweet Jesus!" Miss Julian declared, hand over her heart.

"Dr. B." Hodgins exclaimed laughing, as he picked himself up off the floor.

"Tempe." Russ called out to her, from across the room, a big smile on his face.

"Dr. Brennan." Cam stood up in amazement, Daisy forgotten. "Your alive?"

"Of course I'm alive."

"I told you all that." Booth said, shoving Max off of him.

Max rolled to side, and managed to get to his feet, "Honey, we all thought you were dead." he walked to her, "I'd give you a hug, but I'm sort of tied up." giving Booth a look.

Daisy made a weird noise behind them, they all turned and looked at her, she'd managed to prop herself up on her elbows, looking up at Sweets, "I'm sorry Lance, I thought I saw Dr. Brennan." she followed his finger, caught sight of Brennan, once more her eyes crossed and she fell back with a thud.

"Ang?"

"Bren?" she choked out, her arms wrapped about Brennan as they sat on the floor.

"I need oxygen."

"Oh, sorry." letting her grip on her best friend loosen, without letting go. "I just feel so lucky right now." tears dripped down her cheek. "I lost you, now I have you back." prompting Brennan to hug her again.

Brennan looked around from her vantage point on the floor. Everyone was still staring at her.

"As you can all see, I am very much alive."

"I told them that Bones," he looked at Max, "but some people don't listen."

"Well if you'd been listening to me, Booth, none of this would have ever happened."

Brennan patted Angela's hand, and stood up, "Maybe someone can lay Miss Wick on the couch." she suggested, "I'm sure she would be more comfortable."

"Tempe." Russ stepped forward and eveloped her in a bear hug. "We saw it on the news this morning, you were dead."

"That's where Daisy and I heard it from." Sweets said hovering over Daisy's shoulder. "A little help here guys?" as he scooped her up under her arms, Booth grabbed her feet, and they placed her on the couch.

"Not us, Hodgins found out."

"Cantiliver group is cosponsoring the dig, so I got a call first thing."

"Well, I got my misinformation from Dr. Saroyan." Miss Julian stated, slanting an annoyed look at Cam.

"Hodgins called me, so I assumed he knew what he was talking about." Cam defended herself.

"And you owe me bail, missy, don't think I've forgotten about it."

"Bail?" Hodgins asked grinning at Cam.

"Long story, a huge misunderstanding."

"Did they cuff you?" he asked.

"Don't want to talk about it, Dr. Hodgins." he smirked at her answer.

"They did, wish I could have seen that." he laughed.

"Do I need to remind you, I'm your boss, Dr. Hodgins." making him laugh some more.

"Can I ask how I died?"

Hodgins stepped up, "well," he began, "you were supposed to be on a little twin engine plane taking you to the dig site." he paused, "your name was on the manifest, Dr. Brennan." he paused again, "along with Michael Stires."

Brennan looked at Hodgins, "Michael is dead?" shocked.

He nodded his head, "it would seem so."

"You okay Bones?" Booth was watching her.

"I'm fine, I just don't know what to feel right now." she was reeling, "Michael is dead?"

Angela came up next to her, "why aren't you dead Bren, you were supposed to be on that flight?"

"I did get on the plane." she looked over at Booth, "then I realized I'd made a mistake." she paused, "so I got off."

"You got off?" she asked.

"Yes."

"That was a whole day ago, Bren, you didn't tell anyone?"

"I'm sorry, Ang, I should have called."

"Yes, you should have."

Daisy gave a low moan from the couch, drawing everybody's attention.

"Daisy?" Sweets asked, crouched by her head.

"Lance?" she raised her hand to her head, "What happened?"

"You fainted."

"I saw Dr. Brennan." Daisy looked at him, "Didn't I?"

"Yes, Daisy, she's alive."

"Hello Miss Wick."

"Dr. Brennan!" Daisy sat up with a grimace. "I'm so glad your alive."

"How's your head?" Sweets asked.

"It hurts, Lance."

"Booth, perhaps you can find Miss Wick some pain reliever?"

"I don't understand, Dr. Brennan, we thought you were dead, they said so on the news."

"Odviously they were wrong, Miss Wick."

"Yes, I'm glad they were Dr. Brennan." she figeted on the couch, trying to get comfortable. "I'm sorry Lance." she paused looking up at him, "when I saw Dr. Brennan, I forgot about breathing."

"It's okay Daisy, it was a shock for all of us." He sat down next to her, getting comfortable.

Booth appeared by Daisy's side, handing her a glass of water, and a couple of pills, "Here you go Daisy."

"Thanks Agent Booth." she took them, and drank the water Booth handed her.

"There's something in your couch, " she said wiggleing her rear trying to get comfortable, "a big lump, right here." she stuck her hand in between the cushions.

Daisy reached deep into the crevice of the couch. Slowly she pulled it out. Unwinding like a ball of string, a blue sleeve appeared. As she pulled it out, a shirt materialized.

"Isn't this your shirt Dr. Brennan?" Daisy asked looking at her. Everyone was staring at the shirt, wrinkled but clearly recognizeable. Everybody's heads slowly turned at looked at Brennan.

Sweets had an odd smirk on his face, Cams's eyes got bit, and Miss Julian muttered under her breath,"about damn time."

Angela hand reached out and grabbed Brennan's hand and squeezed it, silently communicating with her.

Booth looked over at Brennan, she looked ready to bolt.

"This party is over, time to leave." trying to divert everybody's attention away from Brennan. Clearing his throat, he looked at Cam getting her attention, his eyes conveying a silent message, his head gave an almost inperceptable nod at the door. Cam smiled at Booth before turning to the others, she clapped her hands twice, "Okay people, time to clear out."

Booth walked across the room and opened the door, waiting, Cam walked over to the door, and turned back, "Miss Julian, your my ride."

"Of course, Cherie." she walked to the door and turned back to Booth, "take good care of that lady doctor." she smiled at him, "not that you haven't already." and walked out.

"Booth," Cam looked at him, from the door way, "should I say congratulations?"

"I'll let you know, Cam."

"I'm sure you will, Sealy."

"Don't call me Sealy, Camille."

She smiled at him, "you owe me, you know that don't you?" she went to leave, but turned back, "I'm happy for you big guy." and sailed out.

Booth shut the door, two down, six to go

Cam followed Miss Julian down the stairs. They exited the building and walked the block to Miss Julian's car. She unlocked her door, and climbed in, reaching across and pulling the lock up for Cam. They hadn't said a word to each other, since they'd left Booth's apartment.

Cam opened the door and sat down, closing it behind her. She turned and looked at Miss Julian. Miss Julian turned and looked at her, and they both burst out laughing. They laughed and laughed.

Finally, after a few minutes, "Cherie," she held up her hand, trying to maintain, "I need to breath."

Cam smiled, "Well," she paused, "that was unexpected."

They both looked at each other and burst out laughing again.

this is a wonderful read so far

He turned from the door to find Sweets smiling at him.

"Can you not do that Sweets?"

"What, Agent Booth?"

"Look at me like that." he paused, "it's starting to weird me out"

"Like what?"

"Look Sweets," Booth pulled him to the side, "can you take Daisy and go, Dr. Brennan and I have alot to deal with right now." he looked over his Sweet's shoulder.

He smiled at Booth, "Of course Agent Booth."

"And quit doing that."

"I"m sorry," he tried to change the expression on his face, without much luck. "I'm just feel so validated, everything I wrote about you two is true."

"Oh, so your smiling like a idiot, cause you think you've been proven right?" sounding annoyed.

"No, I'm happy that, yes, I was right, but I'm smiling cause I'm happy for you two." they both looked over at Brennan. "I don't know of any two people who deserve it more, Booth."

Booth looked at Sweets, "Thank you, I think."

"No problem, Agent Booth." smiling again.

"Your doing it again."

"Oh, sorry." trying without much success to not smile.

Daisy moaned from the couch, "Maybe you should take Daisy home?" he sounded hopeful, "or the emergency room." when she moaned again.

"Daisy?" Sweets asked walking to the couch, "We should go, do you think you can walk?"

"Of course, Lance." she stood up, and turned, "Dr. Brennan, I'm glad your not dead."

"Thank you Miss Wick." she looked at Sweets, "You should keep her awake for the next 24 hours." as Sweets took her arm and slowly led her to the door.

"I will Dr. Brennan." Sweets ushered Daisy to the door, where Booth was holding it open for him, "we'll have to schedule a new session on..." Booth closed the door on him, as he walked out. Sweets nodded to himself, "Monday." he finished his sentence in the hallway.

"Huh?" Daisy asked.

"Nothing, let's get you home."

1420.512 in reply to 1420.511



"Weren't you guys going to Monte Carlo for a couple of days?" Brennan looked at Angela.

"We were, before you died." Hodgins answered, "sorta changed our plans."

"It was on the news, and everything, Tempe." Russ said walking up to her.

"Yea honey, quite the eulogy they gave you." Max walked over to her.

"You okay Ang?" she looked over at her best friend.

Ang nodded her head, "I'm just so glad to see you."

"Given what you thought, I'm glad to see you too." she smiled at Angela, giving her another hug.

"You said you changed your mind?" Max sat down on the arm of the chair, hands still cuffed behind him. "about going to South America?" he slanted a glance at Booth.

"Yea, I was on the plane, ready to go."

"What changed your mind?"

Booth standing by the door looked up at her, wondering for himself why she changed her mind.

"I made a mistake."

"A mistake?" Max probed.

"Yea." she paused, "I thought it was what I wanted."

"You love anthropology." Angela answered with a small smile.

"There will be another dig." Brennan answered her. An odd silence, she looked up at and they were all looking at her.

"what?"

Booth was watching from the door, "Okay, that's enough with the interrogation." he walked over to the group. "she doesn't have to spell it out for you."

"Okay then Booth, why don't you spell it out for us." Max stood up and turned to him, hands still behind his back.

"Angela can I see you for a minute?"

"Sure sweetie." Angela gave Hodgins a wide eyed look as she got to her feet.

Brennan turned and walked to Booth's bedroom door, waiting for Angela.

She opened the door and walked in followed by Angela. She pushed the door closed.

"Details, give me details." Angela demanded the second she heard the door click closed.

"Ang." Brennan began, "I don't know where to start."

"From the beginning Bren." she advised her. "From the beginning, and don't leave anything out."

"I was on the plane, ready to go." Angela nodded at her.

"Michael was there."

"You saw him yesterday?"

Brennan nodded. "Its so weird to think he's gone, dead, I mean."

"I know sweetie." she'd never really liked Michael.

"We said goodbye."

"You and Booth?"

"Yes, I got on the plane." she paused, "I was ready to go."


"And then?"

"I don't know what happened, I was just sitting there, and I knew it was wrong."

"Like a gut feeling?"

Brennan slanted her a glance, "I don't believe in gut feelings, Ang."

"It just wasn't right, I can't explain it."

"Sweetie, thats a gut feeling." Angela looked at her, "and then?"

"I looked up and Booth was there?"

"He was there? Where? On the plane?"

Bren nodded her head, "Oh my God, Bren, that is so romantic." she clapped her hands in excitement, "like Richard Gere and Debra Winger."

"Who?"

"Never mind Sweetie, go on."

"Then we got off the plane."

"And.........." Angela prompted.

"We came here." she really didn't want to expand her answer.

Angela smiled at her, "I'm guessing from your state of dress, or should I stay undress, that you've had a turning point in your relationship?"

"You could say that."

Angela smiled at her, "You don't have to give me the nitty gritty details, Bren, just tell me your together."

Brennan looked at her, "We still have alot ot talk about, "she paused and looked at Angela, "but yes, we are together."

"Together, together?"

Brennan nodded. "Ahhhh, Sweeetie, I'm so happy." she gave her a hug, "I'm guessing from your glow it was as good as I thought it would be."

Brennan nodded her head, "Better." she looked at her, "much better."

Angela gave a little squeal, and pulled her into her embrace, "Listen, I'll take Hodgins and go, so you and Booth can have some time." she turned back, "but, we'll talk soon."

"I promise, Ang." Angela turned to go, "Ang," Angela turned back, "thank you for trying all these years," a tear ran down Brennan's cheek, "you've been such a wonderful friend."

"Sweetie," she looked at her, "I just want you to be happy." she'd always believed Booth could do that for her.

"I think I am."

Angela sniffled, and hugged her one more time, "I'm going to get Hodgins, and leave." and walked out of Booth's bedroom.

With a last look back, Angela walked out the door, leaving Brennan alone.

She took a deep breath, glancing over at Booth's bed. Rumpled, and unmade, her thoughts turned to last night. Closing her eyes, she saw herself lying with Booth, moving under him, her hands fisting in the sheets, his mouth moving over her, against her. His hands and fingers expertly touching and teasing her.........

She shook her head, trying to redirect her thoughts, her Dad was in the very next room. She looked at herself in the mirror. She reached out, trying smooth her hair back into to place doing little good. Even to her, she looked like someone who been having sex all night. Her lips were rosy, and slightly swollen, little red marks graced her neck, and not to mention the fact that she was wearing his clothes. And she smelled like him. His cologne, his aftershave, his shampoo, all very distinctively Booth.

Drawing in a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders, time to go deal with Max.

*****************************************************************

She walked into Booth's living room, finding her Dad giving Booth a stare down.

"Oh, hi, Honey." Max said turning his gaze to her, "maybe you can get Booth here to uncuff me."

"Booth." she looked over at him, "please?"

He looked at her, and reached for his keys, "Sure, Bones, but Max the next time you hit me.."

"There won't be a next time, right Dad?" Brennan looked at her dad.

Max rolled his eyes at Russ, "sure honey."

"Dad, I'm serious, you just go around hitting Booth all the time."

"It's not all the time, honey." he sighed, turning his back to Booth, letting him unlock the cuffs.

Finally free from restraints, Max walked over to Brennan, "I'm so glad your safe, Tempe." and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight against him.

"I know Dad."

"I thought I'd lost you." he said softly, hugging her even harder not letting her go.

"I'm here Dad." she pulled out of hug, noticing he was a little teary, and hugged him again.

"You know I love you, right Tempe." he said. "I know I don't say it, but I do." he paused, "I always have." he whispered.

"I know dad." giving him a little smile. She grasped his hand, and pulled him into the far corner of the room.

"Dad I need you to listen to me." he nodded at her, waiting. "I need you and Russ to go."

"honey..."

"Booth and I are, uh," she looked at her dad feeling uncomfortable.

"together." Max supplied for her.

"yes," she smiled at him, "we are."

"Look Tempe, I'm not the average old fogey here, I get it. But, I'm still your father." he looked at her, and glanced at Booth who was talking to Russ.

"your mother would have loved Booth."

"You think so?" she looked at him surprised.

He nodded at her, "I know so." he looked at her, pulling her close, "don't tell Booth, but he reminds me of me."

Brennan smiled at him, "really." Booth would love to hear that.

"yea, except one thing."


"except what?"

"He's kinda slow."

"Booth is not slow dad."

"He is honey. The first time I laid eyes on your mother, I knew she was the one." he looked at her, "I knew I wanted to spend the next thirty or forty or fifty years together." He looked at her, "and by my calculations, it took Booth 6 years to figure that out."Brennan was staring at him. "Look honey, I didn't get my fifty years," his voice sad, he looked at her, "but you have that chance, don't waste it." He let go of her, and stepped back.

"Dad?"

Max looked up at her, "you said you knew Mom was the one?" he nodded at her.

"Love at first sight." he smiled at her.

"Did mom?" she paused, "I mean, did she know at first too?"

He looked at her, "Are you kidding me? She was the most hard headed woman to convince. So stubborn."

Brennan smiled at him, "did everything I could to get her attention."

"What finally worked?" she was curious.

"I think I wore her down." he leaned in, "when I decide I want something Tempe, no one can stop me." he sighed, "and I wanted your mother."

Brennan turned at looked to Booth, he was watching her from across the room. Max followed her gaze, "I'm glad for you Tempe." she looked back at her dad. "he's a good man, that's all I ever wanted for you." he bent and kissed her cheek, "I'll call you in a few days."

"Russ, you ready?" he called walking across the room. "Booth."

"Max."

"Be grateful I'm not twenty years younger Booth, I would have really kicked your ass then." he squinted his eyes menacingly at Booth. He jerked his eyes towards Brennan, "Remember that." giving him a silent warning.

"Honey." he looked back at Brennan one more time, as he opened the front door. He gave her a smile, "Russ." he called, "let's go."

Russ walked over to his sister and gave her a big bear hug, "we'll talk soon." he walked back to the door.

"Booth."

"Russ."

"Take care of her." he looked at Booth, giving him the eye, "I'm still her big brother."

With one last look slanted at Booth, Max pulled the door behind them, and they were gone.l

"You like him."



"Of course I do." he glanced at his son. "but more importantly Tempe likes him."



"I think he's good for her."



"I've thought that since the first day I met him."



"You mean when he arrested you?"



"Which time? He's arrested me several."



He smiled, "I knew the first time I ever talked to him, he was in love with Tempe."



Russ looked at him, "I doubt that dad."



"It was there, you just had to see it."



"I never saw it."



"You weren't looking." he paused, "I was."



"Tempes pretty tough dad, she doesn't need you looking out for her."



"It's my job, Russ." he looked at his son, "don't ever forget that, there is nothing I wouldn't do to protect you and your sister."



"Well she doesn't need protecting from Booth, Dad."



"I think your right son." he smiled, "have I ever told you Booth reminds me of my younger self."

She glanced at her dad, as he backed out the door. He looked up one last time, and gave her a wink and he was gone leaving her staring at a closed door.

She turned away from the door, and looked around the room, avoiding eye contact with Booth. "I'll just gather my things." she bent and picked up a shoe.

"Don't do that Bones." in a flash he appeared before her.

"Don't do what Booth." looking around for the other shoe.

"That. Compartamentalizing."

"I'm not Booth, I'm looking for my shoe."

"Than look at me."

She looked at him, "what?"

"Remember who you are talking to here, Bones. I know you better than anybody." he reached out, and grasped her upper arm, pulling her to him.

"I won't let you avoid me."

"I'm not avoiding anything, Booth."

He slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer, "I like you in my t shirt. It's very sexy." he gave her a little grin.

"you think everything is sexy Booth."

"only on you, Dr. Brennan." and he pulled her onto his lap, as he sat down on his couch.

"It's getting kinda late, I should probably call my agent, my editor, and publisher." she paused, "they all think I'm dead."

"You can call them later, I have something else in mind."