Chapter 17: Surprises

Author's Note: By my count the last chapter ended sometime around mid-March. We are now advancing in time...

May 23, 2011

Brennan sighed as she stood from her desk. Trying not to fidget she walked over to the glass-fronted cabinet of relics and used it as a mirror, smoothing her shirt down and examining her reflection critically.

Booth came up behind her, slipping his arms around her middle and nuzzling her neck. "You look great."

She turned to look at him doubtfully. "You are just saying that. Anthropologically speaking, males find females more attractive when..."

He cut her off with a kiss. "You. Look. Great."

She smiled shyly but then turned serious. "I don't know why I'm nervous. I just don't know what this reporter wants to talk to me about. I don't mind being a consulting contributor. It's just that I usually know what I'm consulting on beforehand."

"Well, your publicist signed off on it. Remember, keeping the buzz going between novels. She'll be here any minute. We'll get this over with and then go see Michael."

"And Angela and Jack also," she admonished. "You can't forget about the parents just because the baby's here now."

Booth turned her around and kissed her. Pulling back, he grinned at her. "Never."

She grinned back and was leaning in toward him to resume their kiss when there was a knock on the door. A young brunette woman was hovering in the doorway. As they looked over, not stepping away from each other, she introduced herself. "I'm Nancy Williams, from The Washington Post."

Brennan nodded. "We were expecting you."

Nancy looked somewhat embarrassed. "I don't want to interrupt. I can just wait outside while you finish up in here."

"Oh, you're fine," Brennan replied as she finally stepped out of Booth's personal spae and resumed her seat behind the desk. "This is Special Agent Seeley Booth and he is staying. We have an important meeting as soon as we're finished here."

"An important..." Nancy giggled uneasily. "Well, I'll try not to keep you."

"That is appreciated. Let's begin."

Somewhat flummoxed by the bluntness of Dr. Brennan, Nancy sat quickly in one of the chairs in front of Brennan's desk and pulled out a recorder which she switched on. Booth relaxed on the couch, prepared to be thoroughly bored by a dry conversation about bones.

"So," the reporter began. "I'm doing a preview article on Hannah Burley's new book and I was hoping you could give me some background to help add some color to the piece."

As soon as he heard Hannah's name, Booth sat up a little straighter. "Book?" Brennan questioned, blankly.

"Oh, you didn't know?" The reporter took in the startled look on Brennan's face and continued. "I assumed she would have told you, as you are mentioned several times. She's written a book on how she cracked the Stilwell drug ring."

Taking a deep breath, Brennan reined in the panicky feeling that was trying to take hold. Sweets had warned her that even though she had moved past the major effects of the trauma, it could still surprise her from time to time. Looking beyond the reporter, she saw Booth sitting there, barely concealed concern radiating, as he waited for her reaction. Catching his eyes with hers, she concentrated on the present reality, on the love and support that shone through those ever-expressive eyes. She had survived and come through the whole ordeal and was happier now than she had ever dreamed of being.

She nodded to him that she was okay and returned her attention to the reporter. "So how can I help you?" she asked.

"Well, I was just hoping to get some background, how it felt to help her as she uncovered such a huge drug ring, unmasking Stilwell, stuff like that."

Booth's face showed his displeasure as he wondered exactly what Hannah had put in this book. Brennan gritted her teeth as unobtrusively as possible and waited for the woman to ask a specific question. The reporter shifted uncomfortably in an unconscious response to the increased tension in the room. "For instance, the incident in the school sounded quite terrifying."

Brennan only nodded. Clearing her throat, the reporter forged ahead. "I mean, that was the first time that she came face to face with Stilwell, right?"

"That is correct."

Facing the same dilemma other reporters had encountered when interviewing the very literal and focused Dr. Brennan, she decided to indulge in some more provoking questions. "She describes the incident as," she checked her notes, "'fraught with tension, but requiring a cool head and keen observation to get out alive.' Is that how you remember it, Dr. Brennnan?"

Brennan couldn't suppress a short burst of laughter. "A cool head?" she repeated. "As in Hannah kept a cool head?"

"Is that not how you remember it?"

"No, I seem to recall more along the lines of screaming and crying, on her part anyway."

The reporter's eyebrows raised as she scribbled on a notepad, to back up her voice recording.

"Well, okay. But that was where you two saw him, right? And were able to provide a description?"

Brennan swallowed, remembering the cold look in his eyes in that room. "Yes, I was able to provide an accurate description for the authorities at a later date based on our meeting there."

"You were?" the reporter verified. "But didn't Hannah see him also?"

"I am not sure of what Hannah saw or didn't see, or what she able to retain from that day. Based on your questions, I have to say that I have serious doubts about the accuracy of her recollections."

Booth smothered a grin. Brennan's blunt assessment had thrown the reporter for a loop. He happened to agree with her, although he might ascribe more self-serving motives to Hannah's telling of the story than simply bad memory. His amusement was short-lived, though, as he realized that this would probably only be the first of many of these types of interviews that Bones would have to endure. Once the book was published, it was sure to come up even in interviews about her own novels.

"Dr. Brennan, you were injured after the publication of the initial article? On Stilwell's orders?"

Brennan nodded shortly. "I was surprised by an attack outside my apartment that morning, yes."

"But surely you must have realized that the article would put both of you in danger?" She glanced back at Booth. "I mean, he works with the FBI. Justice had already started serving warrants. Why weren't you provided with protection?"

Brennan's face was icy. "First, I am fully capable of protecting myself in most situations. Second, I had no idea that the article was being published. And third, the FBI and Justice apparently had no idea that I had been threatened should the facts of the case ever come to light."

The reporter, still young enough to be idealistic, paled as she read between the lines of Brennan's answer. "She didn't tell you?" She looked back toward Booth again and saw his face drawn tight. "She didn't tell either of you?" He shook his head but didn't speak. It wasn't his interview, wasn't his place.

Brennan spoke up instead, in her usual matter-of-fact tone. "No, neither of us were informed. The first Booth knew was when he saw the article in his newspaper that morning. The first I knew was, I suppose technically, when I was shot, although I did not know the reason for the attack until after I woke up at the hospital."

"Oh god," Nancy whispered. "I had no idea. The whole thing read so," she shook her head. "So much like a mystery novel. I should have suspected... Well, life usually isn't so neat as the story I read." She looked down at her notes and then back up at Brennan. "I don't suppose you're going to write a book on your experience with this case?"

Brennan shook her head no. The reporter sighed. "Well, I'm going to have to rethink this article. Dr. Brennan, may I call you again for some follow-up questions? And perhaps you also, Agent Booth?"

Booth waited to reply until he heard Bones' response. He was eager to correct any inaccuracies in Hannah's book, but this was Bones' story, as far as he was concerned, and he wouldn't do anything unless she did. She thought for a minute. It was extremely uncomfortable reliving the experience, even more so having to refute or correct statements that Hannah was apparently making. But this young reporter seemed to have a zeal for the true story, not for trying to fit Brennan's answers into her preconceived framework, or worse, ignoring them altogether. Brennan wanted to reward that type of behavior. She nodded.

"I believe that would be acceptable."

The reporter smiled, relieved. "Thank you so much, Dr. Brennan." With that, she gathered her things up and left, shaking her head at the twist this story was taking. Brennan sat in her chair staring after the girl for a minute. Finally Booth got up and went over to her desk. Perching on the edge, he laid a hand on her shoulder. "We should get going. Angela sounded so excited to see you this morning."

Brennan nodded quietly and stood up to leave. Booth watched her as she gathered her things without a word, wondering what was going on in her head. It had been a long, hard road over the past few months. After lots of hard work on Brennan's part, with the support of all her friends, she was finally resuming what passed for a normal life in their circle. He wondered if there would be any fallout from this little surprise.

She spent the first half of the ride over staring out the window, as she was wont to do when something was on her mind. Booth gave her time to mull it over; there was no point in trying to force her to talk.

Finally she turned to him. "Why did you let me say all those things? She must have a horrible impression of Hannah now."

Booth turned an incredulous face to her. "That's what's bothering you? Her impression of Hannah? Why would I have stopped you?"

"Well, you always tell me that sometimes the truth is not the best thing to say. And I am beginning to think that maybe this was one of those times. It certainly will hurt Hannah if my account of events makes it into the public eye."

Booth sighed. Their running discussion of when honesty is the best policy reared its ugly head again. "Bones, if you had gone to the reporter of your own choosing to say those things about Hannah, that would be over-honest. But you didn't. She came to you. And she came to you because Hannah put her version of events out there for the public. When you share information with the world, you have to expect it will be challenged, like when you publish a paper."

Brennan was listening intently. He continued, "If you published a paper with data you knew was incorrect, would you be surprised that the correct data comes to light?" She shook her head slowly. He shrugged. "Neither should Hannah." He thought for a minute. "Although I don't know what she was thinking to put that stuff out there."

They pulled up in front of the Hodgins' building. He parked and then turned to face her. "I am so sorry that I brought her into our lives and for everything that happened." He leaned toward her, giving her as much of a hug as the front seat would allow.

She rested her head on his shoulder. "You don't have to apologize. After all, some good came out of it." He looked at her. She smiled. "I have no idea if I would have been able to recognize my feelings for you without that time." She laughed ruefully. "Although I could have done without getting shot."

After giving Booth a long, slow kiss with promises of what was to come, she pulled back with an excited grin. "Now, let's go see that baby!"

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Angela opened the door and greeted them with a weary smile and a one-armed hug, while holding baby Michael in the other. "Perfect timing! He just woke up. So did I actually," she admitted, slightly abased.

Booth laughed. "You're supposed to sleep when he does, Angela. Otherwise, you will cease to function."

"I know, it just feels weird," she agreed, laughing softly. "I'm just used to always doing something."

Brennan protested, with great feeling. "But you are. You're providing support and sustenance to your progeny, which I understand takes a great amount of energy, both physical and emotional."

Angela looked at her best friend curiously and then shook her head. "Come on in and sit down. Jack is making up some snacks." They followed her into a casual and comfy family room that was now littered with baby accessories and settled on the couch. No sooner had Brennan seated herself than Angela was handing her the baby with a great big smile. "Here's your Aunt Bren, sweetie."

Brennan looked with wonder at the week-old infant in her arms. Already, he had grown since she had held in the hospital just days ago, yet he was still so small. She smiled up at her friend. "He is so beautiful, Ange." Quickly returning her gaze to the baby, she ran her finger lightly down his cheek and then allowed his tiny fist to grab on to it, relishing in the feeling of that tiny, solid grip.

Angela watched contentedly. This was perfect. She had always known that Brennan was going to be a great aunt. She glanced at Booth sitting on the other end of the couch, watching the two of them with an entranced look. Her eyes narrowed and a mischievous grin played at the corners of her mouth.

"Bren, you just look so perfect with that baby. You should have one of your own." Seeing the blush spread across Brennan's cheeks and Booth shifting uncomfortably, Angela's eyes widened and she looked back and forth between the two sitting on the couch. "Oh my god, you're pregnant?" she asked.

Brennan looked at Booth for guidance, but he just smiled at her, nodding to indicate that her response was entirely up to her. So, she nodded. "Yes, about eight weeks."

Angela squealed as she got up from her seat and scurried over to give Brennan a hug, beaming at Booth on the way. "This is fantastic!"

Drawn by the strange radar that new parents have, Hodgins appeared in the doorway, wearing an apron declaring 'Artists Do It Creatively' and holding a plate of bread. "What's wrong?" he asked anxiously, scanning the room any obvious problems.

Angela looked up from where she crouched next to the couch. "Michael's going to have a cousin!" Hodgins took a second to process his wife's statement, put that together with the slightly embarrassed look on Brennan's face and the barely concealed pride on Booth's and was grinning almost as much as his wife.

Brennan shook her head. "Well, technically, they won't be cousins because..." she trailed off as everyone looked at her with exasperation. She shrugged. "Okay, I'll concede that socially they will be as close as cousins." She laughed as Angela gave her another hug, Michael finally wailing at the continued jostling and Angela's outbursts. Giving him back to his mother, she scooted closer to Booth on the couch.

"I thought we weren't supposed to tell anyone yet," she said quietly.

"It's Angela," he answered. "We were fools if we really thought we could keep it from her much longer." He watched Angela soothing Michael back to a peaceful state, and imagined that in less than a year, Bones would be doing the same thing with their child. Throwing an arm around her, he kissed her hair, silently thanking God for their good fortune.

Hodgins left and came back in a few minutes with several plates of inviting appetizers. The four friends spent the afternoon talking, playing with Michael, and making plans for outings with the kids.

Brennan found herself pondering how rich and full her life seemed now compared to only five months ago. They had grown so far apart, she hadn't thought that they would ever find their way back to this place. She had certainly never imagined that she would be trading morning sickness remedies with Angela as Booth and Hodgins discussed the relative merits of sports versus academic extra-curricular activities. Laughing in joy to herself, she snuggled Michael closer to her and jumped in the guys' conversation, looking forward to years more of this yet to come.

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Author's Note: Thank you, thank you, thank you all for the reviews, alerts, and favorites! I hope that you enjoyed this and that I have left you with a smile :) I do have another Bones fic in the works, along with a couple of Angel fics, so I hope you'll hear from me again soon(ish)!