A Reader's Review

Daisy Wick swiped her access card through the electronic reader and dashed up onto the platform where Brennan was examining a new crime victim's mortal remains.

"Good morning, Dr. Bre-"

"Ms. Wick, please observe some modicum of decorum when entering the lab. Your running up the steps could result in a fall against one of our exam tables, possibly compromising a set of remains, or one of Dr. Hodgins' specimens," Brennan chided her over-eager intern.

"Sorry, Dr. Brennan! I read your most recent X-Files fan fiction story this morning, and it was just superb! Your plot development is really creative and original; unlike any episodes of the show, or other stories I've read there."

"You must have arisen quite early, that composition is rather lengthy. You are on time for work, early in fact, so you must've been speed-reading, or begun it before dawn."

"Well, I do speed read quite well, but I awoke this morning at 5 am when a garbage truck's automated crane malfunctioned and dropped my neighbor's trash bin as it was being lifted for emptying. The crash resounded impressively and woke the whole street!" Daisy explained.

"I couldn't go back to sleep since the noise woke baby Seeley, so I made some tea, logged onto my laptop, and nursed him while I read your story. Of course, Seeley went back to sleep and I was able to finish all 36 chapters. It was really great!"

"You got so many excellent reviews! The readers like your plots better than many established X-Files authors! I created a reader profile under the name of 'DCDaisiekin'!"

"Not particularly original, but fitting, nonetheless," Brennan observed. "I look forward to perusing your comments, Ms. Wick, and appreciate your developing a reader profile. I become aggravated with readers who don't take that step before posting reviews. I try to respond to each person who leaves me a review; letting them know I appreciate their taking time to leave feedback. I find it quite frustrating when I can't share an idea or reaction to their comments because they post anonymously as a 'Guest'."

"Ms. Wick, why are you crying?"

"That was Lance's pet name for me, Dr. Brennan. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by missing him so much, and the sudden strong feeling hits me so unexpectedly, I burst into tears. I'm sorry I lost my composure at work. It's not professional, and I'll try to insure it won't happen again," Daisy stuttered, as she wiped her eyes on her lab coat sleeve.

"Ms. Wick, Daisy, crying is perfectly normal when you've lost a loved one like Sweets; your son's father, your closest friend. Our work environment here is not so sterile that we can't take time to comfort one another. While I do encourage decorum like walking rather than running to safeguard the integrity of our work here, that does not preclude acknowledging the very human emotions we feel; especially grief and sadness. I know I am socially awkward, and Booth is much better at reading people and comforting them, but I assure you; you are a colleague I hold in high esteem, and moreover, a close friend. Your sadness at remembering Sweets is not something I take lightly. If you need a break to compose yourself, or a cup of coffee, by all means take 15 minutes and regroup emotionally. We all feel his loss deeply, but not nearly so sharply as you must."

"Dr. Brennan, that's one of the kindest things anyone has said to me since Lance was killed. I'm fine now, but I appreciate your empathy more than I can say."

"Ms. Wick, our work here deals with crime and violence, and can become emotionally draining at times. Even the most rational scientists can have trouble distancing themselves from the trauma and tragedy we witness here. At one time, I maintained this wasn't true, but Booth and Angela have shown me otherwise. And yes, even Sweets and Gordon Gordon had a hand in making me realize that acknowledging and dealing with our emotions is far healthier than denying them. Certainly there are times when compartmentalizing our feelings is necessary to accomplish our difficult tasks, but we must work through them once the work is complete."

Daisy Wick stared at her boss and mentor in amazement. She realized how much Brennan had changed. Booth had transformed the woman before her from a distant, detached individual into one of her most admired friends. Brennan had always felt and cared deeply about people, but her traumatic past prevented her from showing it openly. The vital work achieved in the Jeffersonian's cooperative environment, obtaining justice for crime victims and their families, had simultaneously nurtured and enriched each member of its staff.

A/N: This brief story is not only my first entry in the Summer Bonesology 'Day in the Life' fan fiction challenge, but also an acknowledgment of all the reviews I've received from readers whom I can't properly thank for their comments because they lack a user name and profile on fan fiction. Please know that each review means a great deal to me, and I regret that I can't respond to those left anonymously.