Confrontations

"Booth sent you a text?" Cam looked at her, trying to focus on her words.

Brennan nodded her head, "yes." She watched as Angela refilled their glasses.

"Hmmmmmmm." Cam said.

"I also thought it was weird." Brennan swayed against her seat.

"Am I missing something?" Angela asked leaning against Brennan.

"Booth never texts, ever. Specially to Dr. Brennan." Cam explained.

"okay, okay, I get it, go on Bren." Angela looked down her nose at her, causing her eyes to cross slightly.

"Are you okay Ang?"

"I'm fine, fine. Continue Bren." Angela waved her hand at her.

"Well," Brennan began, "it was a normal day and I was in the lab..............................




"Miss Wick, I need you to finish the reconstruction."

"Yes, Dr. Brennan."

"And Hodgins," she looked at him, "when will you have the test results?"

"After lunch, minimum."

"Good."

"If anybody needs me, I will be in my office."

"Sure, Dr. B."

"Sounds like a normal day to me." Angela said.

"It was." Brennan held up her glass and clinked with the other two.

"Down the hatch." Angela said, forgetting about the plan.

Cam just smiled at Angela as she dumped her drink.

"Please continue Dr. Brennan."

"Well, I was back at my desk going over lab results, and answering emails," she took a breath, "when it came."

"Can we meet me at noon instead of one."

Cam looked puzzeled, "that's all it said."

"Yes."

"So, I went to the diner at noon, instead of one. I walked in, went to our booth, and took a seat and waited for Booth."

"Your usual?"

Brennan smiled at the waitress, "Yes please."

"Where's your partner in crime?"

"I'm sorry Sally, but we don't commit crimes, we catch criminals. And if your referring to Booth, he'll be here in a few minutes."

"So you want to wait till he gets here." She smiled at Brennan.

"Yes, I'll wait for him. Just bring me my drink."

"coming right up." and she was gone.

"So your at the diner?"

"That all sounds normal."

"It was." Brennan yawned. "I was looking thru my schedule on my PDA."

"Dr. Brennan." a voice said.

Brennan looked up. It seemed all the air was sucked out of her lungs, and she couldn't breathe for a moment.

"You remember me?"

"Of course.......Tessa." even saying her name was difficult.

Can't wait to see what Tessa has in mind!

Ohhhh

"Oh my God, Tessa?" Angela said in disgust.

"Tessa? Who is Tessa?"

"Booth's former special friend." Angela wagged her brows suggestively, "Before you came to the Jeffersonian."

"Gotcha."

"So Bren, what did the blond bimbo want?"



"I see you received the text I sent."

"You sent? It came from Booth."

"It came from Booth's phone, but I sent it."

She pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.

"Booth didn't mention to you we were working together again?" She looked over at Brennan.

"He did not."

"Hmmmmmmmmmm, that's interesting." Tessa looked her.

"Then why are you here?"

"For Booth of course."

"What about Booth?"

"Let me get to the point here, Dr. Brennan, You don't strike me as the sort of woman who enjoys small talk."

"By all means."

"We both know, your not the type of woman for Booth."

"Booth and I are just partners."

"So you say, but you still have your hooks into him."

"If that is a metaphor for a sexual relationship, then you are mistaken."

"I very rarely make mistakes." she looked down her nose at Brennan. "Booth needs someone who won't embarrass him in front of his colleagues, someone who gets his jokes, basically someone, Dr. Brennan who isn't socially stunted or inept."

Brennan was silent.


"I'm sorry if that was harsh for you to hear, Dr. Brennan." Tessa gave her a pitying look, "but we both know I'm right." she paused, "Last time I was with Sealy, things didn't work out, but now circumstances are different. I want him. I can give him all the things he wants, things he's always wanted. Marriage, a home, even a family."

She bent her head and looked Brennan in the eye, "Did you know Booth has passed on no less than four promotions since he's been partnered with you."

"I did not know that."

"Your holding him back, Dr. Brennan, at work, and in life."

Tessa stood up, "Booth isn't exactly a young rookie agent anymore, you should let him get a life, let him be happy. I can give him that, where you won't."

She turned to go, "think about it Dr. Brennan." and she walked out.

well as much as I hate Tessa, she made points - just because Brennan at this time is not allowing herself to let herself give those things to Booth//cant wait to see what happens when Booth finds out

She looked up to find Cam and Angela staring at her.

"She said that?" Angela asked, "she actually said that?"

"Dr. Brennan, I..."

Brennan interrupted, holding up her hand, "Please, I don't really want to talk about it anymore." she looked down at the bottle, "Let's have another drink?"

"Sure sweetie, I just have one little question."

Taking a tired breath, as she filled up their glasses, "Yes, Ang?"

"Today in the lab, with Booth," Angela focused her eyes on Bren, "you were pushing him away?"

Brennan didn't say anything for a minute.

"After Tessa left, I sat there." she paused looking up, "I remembered a time, when Booth and I were out together, and we were talking about marriage, and how I didn't believe in it." she looked up at them, "But Booth believes in marriage, he told me he would get married someday." a tear tracked down her cheek. She wiped it away, "and he's always wanted to have another child. He's a great father to Parker."

"Oh Sweetie." Angela sniffled, reaching out to her hand.

"I realized Tessa was right. Booth deserves all those things." she looked up at them, her eyes shiney, "I am holding him back."

"So you think pushing Booth away will......."

"I've got to use the ladies room." Brennan interrupted

"sure Sweetie." she slid out and let Brennan out.

She made it to the bathroom and into the stall before she let her tears fall.

"Uhhhhhhh." Angela staggered in the front door of the Jeffersonian. Without saying anything, she walked past the guards and went straight to her office, never taking off her dark sunglasses. She opened the door, without flipping on the lights, went to her desk. Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes, wishing the tylenol would kick in sooner, rather than later.

"Knock knock."

She looked up, "don't you dare turn on the light."

Cam stepped into the room, "I see your still alive."

"Barely."

"I know the feeling." Cam rubbed her temple. "I haven't had a hang over this bad, since college."

"You seen Bren yet?"

"No, she hasn't made it in. Thought about calling and telling her to take the day off."

"She probably wouldn't listen anyway."

"So." Cam stepped in, and sat down at Angela's desk, "We need to do something about this Tessa situation." her voice low.

"We promised we wouldn't say anything to Booth." Angela argued.

"And we won't."

"What do you have in mind?" Angela leaned forward, ignoring the thumping in her head.

"First, we need a plan."

Please tell us immediately what Angela's plan is; I cannot wait!

Ouch! Not cool Tessa. Never liked her anyway.

So, whats the plan?

She'd snuck in the back door of the Jeffersonian. The last thing she wanted was any long conversations.

She made it to her office, and pulled all the blinds closed, without turning on the lights. She made her way over to her desk, laying her head down, hoping to ease the steady thump, pounding in her temples.

Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes, remembering the previous night. She remembered arriving at the Founding Father's, and meeting up with Cam and Ang. She also remembered the very large bottle of Tequila. Shot after shot. The rest of the details of the night were a bit hazy. Oh, no, Tessa, she'd told them about Tessa. She sat up a little too quickly, her stomach gave a odd roll. "I will not be sick, I will not be sick." trying to convince herself by saying it.


Her cell rang. The high pitch reverberating in her head. With a grimace she picked it up, "Brennan."

"Bones," it was Booth, "we have a case." he paused a second, "I'll be there in twenty to get you."

"Just send me the address, I'll meet you there." she said with a flat voice.

"It's no problem to pick you up."

"I would prefer to meet you there."

"I'll send you the address." he click off, disappointed.

Space between them was best. It would help them both in the end.

The redhead slinked her way into the Hoover Building, showing her identification as she passed the guards. Overly large sunglasses perched on her nose, effectively blocking most of her face. The guards smiled at her curiously, but let her pass.

She stepped up to the elevator doors, gum popping. She stretched out her finger and hit the up button, and waited.



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

"Thanks for that profile, Dr. Sweets."

"No problem, Charlie, glad to be of help."

"Your profile was right on the money."

Sweets grinned over at him. "Text book case." he stepped up to the elevator.

"I'll talk to you later, Dr. Sweets, meeting my wife for lunch." he turned toward the big double doors heading outside.

"Later, Charlie." and gave him a little wave, turning back to the elevator.

It was impossible not to see the red head standing by the elevator.

"Hi." he said.

She nodded her head, looking around, avoiding all eye contact.

"Your going up?" prompting a conversation.

She nodded again, without saying a single word.

With a ding the doors slid open. Sweets, ever polite, waved his arm, motioning for her to first. With a slight hesitation, she stepped into the waiting elevator, moving to the back. Sweets stepped on, "what floor?"

"Three, please." a low gravelly voice.

"That's my floor as well." he looked up at the mirrored doors, studying the reflection of the woman behind him. She looked familiar. Her face was mostly hidden by her glasses. They were way over sized, covering most of her face. Her flaming red hair, and ruby red lips captured his attention.

"Do we know each other?" his curiousity captured.

She shook her head no keeping her gaze down. The elevator dinged on the third floor, and slid open.

"Ladies first." Sweet gestured with his arm, watching her move out of the elevator.

"I know I know her." he scratched his head watching her walk down the hallway. Dumbfounded, he turned toward his office.



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

Back at the Jeffersonian, Cam sat in her office, her door closed. "He didn't recognize you?" she adjusted the ear piece a little, as she spoke.

"I don't think so." she said as she slunk around a corner, looking around.

Cam sighed, "Seen her yet?"

"No sign of her."

"Maybe she's not on the third floor." Cam suggested.

"I'm still looking."

If anyone is intersted in finishing this fic, I also post on The Lab. Its much further along that it is here.
Sorry to see the ABY become another casualty of the SO story line.

I cant seem to fin The Lab. Link please?

The Lab #1609.767

Above link didn't work, so here is the address. Lots of great fics over there, also.

[Only admins are allowed to see this link]