(no subject)

[dr_temperance]

Brennan is putting pieces together.

Not bones, this evening. Or facts of a case. She’s restricted from working on open cases for the time being. Her father’s trial is officially beginning and, as Booth, Angela and the others are witnesses for the prosecution, they are officially not allowed to work together for the duration. Even casual socializing is being frowned upon.

Brennan had anticipated the social discomfort of being on the opposite side of a trial from her friends and colleagues. What she had not anticipated was the feeling of isolation. Or the boredom.

There is plenty of work she could be doing on her own; bones from Limbo, writing and reviewing articles, grading papers, drafting chapter eleven of the new novel. But her usually well-developed ability to compartmentalize and focus on work also seems to have been adversely affected.

So instead Brennan is studying the pieces of a large jigsaw puzzle, laid out on the table in front of her. She’s already gotten the edges together, and patches of Van Gogh’s Starry Night are floating in the center. There’s a lot left to put together, though.

She wouldn’t mind making the project a collaborative effort.

Comments

[argyle_princess]

"Hey."

Hannah slides into the indicated seat.

"How are you doing?"

[dr_temperance]

"I'm fine."

Brennan is answering that question a lot lately.

"I find myself with an excessive amount of time to fill, though. I had not expected that. Since I can't take part in open cases during the trial, I've found myself at loose ends."

"It's mildly disconcerting."

[argyle_princess]

"Sounds on the boring side, too."

Hannah picks up and discards three pieces of the puzzle.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

[dr_temperance]

"It is."

And it leaves Brennan with far too much time to dwell on things she'd rather not dwell on.

She studies the puzzle.

"Well, I don't have much of the mountains or townscape put together at all yet."

[argyle_princess]

"Okay," says Hannah.

"I was thinking more, you know, big picture helping, but townscapes work, too, I guess."

[dr_temperance]

"Your being here helps. With the big picture," Brennan says simply.

"It's just....I knew that I was not going to be able to work with Angela and Booth and the others while the trial is in progress. I had failed to anticipate that I would be largely restricted from having non-work-related contact with them as well."

And even if she had anticipated it, she would probably not have anticipated exactly how lonely that would leave her.

Brennan is very grateful now, for a new reason, that Hannah is going to college in DC.

[argyle_princess]

"Yeah," Hannah says. "Being cut off from everything you're used to is kind of a bitch."

Especially when it happens because of something your father did, not something you did.

"That kind of makes no sense, you know? Because it's not you couldn't have tried to influence them by now, if you were going to."

[dr_temperance]

"I agree," Brennan says. "I tried to tell that to Caroline, but she and her office won't listen."

Brennan is very good at compartmentalization.

"Hodgins even insisted on asking for my express permission to testify. Though I'm sure he knew what my answer would be."

That answer being, I want you to do your job for the prosecution to the best of your ability.

"I'm spending a good deal of time with my father and my brother. But--"

It's not the same as being able to talk to her friends.

[argyle_princess]

"Yeah," Hannah says, nodding. "Disruptive stuff."

She picks up a piece, tries all four sides without out success, and returns it to the table.

"What did you tell him?"

[dr_temperance]

Brennan picks up a light piece that looks like it probably belongs in the vicinity of the moon.

"Hodgins? I told him to testify, of course."

[argyle_princess]

"Yeah, that's what I would have guessed."

Hannah gives up on the puzzle for a moment.

"Do we need ice cream?"

[dr_temperance]

Brennan contemplates a very oddly-shaped piece for a moment before putting it down with a sigh.

"I think ice cream my be a necessity," she admits. "I think chocolate ice cream may be a necessity."

An added layer of endorphins couldn't hurt.

[argyle_princess]

"I think chocolate ice cream on top of brownies," says Hannah.

"With whipped cream.

"And possibly hot fudge.

"I'll get them."

[dr_temperance]

Clearly, Hannah is going to lay those layers on with a trowel.

And Brennan laughs.

"Does my psychological state seem that low?" she asks.

[argyle_princess]

"No, not really," says Hannah.

"But I have PMS."

[dr_temperance]

"A valid reason."

Hormonal fluctuations are not pleasant.

[argyle_princess]

"Right. Be right back."

Hannah returns a moment later with very elaborate and very chocolate brownie sundaes.

[dr_temperance]

Brennan smiles gratefully.

"I'm very glad you decided on GW," she says.

[argyle_princess]

"Yeah, me, too.

"Classes are going well, too.

"I really like it."

[dr_temperance]

"Good."

Brennan scoops up a chunk of brownie.

"How's Professor Lowell working out?"

[argyle_princess]

"Good. I mean, she's tough, but so long as you pay attention and do your work, she's great. She just doesn't take any crap.

"I like her."

[dr_temperance]

"I thought you might." Brennan nods in satisfaction.

"She's a very effective teacher."

[argyle_princess]

"Yeah.

"She really knows her stuff."

[dr_temperance]

Brennan nods.

"I'm sorry to have to put off that case I wanted to show you. But with the restrictions I'm under in regards to open cases.... I hope it won't adversely affect your assignment."

It's an interesting one, too. Very unusual striations on the bones.

"I suppose I could ask Zach to show you." Brennan's brow furrows. "Assuming I can ask him personally. I might have to pass the request through a third party."

[argyle_princess]

"It won't affect the assignment."

Generally speaking, freshman are not expected to have access to actual bones.

"I can just wait till you can show me."