Title: What is Locked Inside (I'm open to suggestions)

Rating: As a whole this story is M.

Disclaimer: Fox owns them, I'm just showing them a good time. Oh, Naveh's mine. You can borrow her if you like, she's a fun kid.

Summary: "I feel so lost, it's like I've woken up in this totally different life and I don't know how to handle it. I'm scared Booth."

Author's Note: Just something that's been tumbling around in my head. Review, PLEASE! I love suggestions. Many, many, many thanks to my pal, and favourite critiquer, Pereybere. You're a gem, honestly.

(Naveh pronounced 'na' as in native, 'veh' as in very)

Doctor Temperance Brennan opened her eyes slowly and squinted to let her pupils adjust to the harsh white light surrounding her.

"Bones," She heard someone say. "Tempe?" Her right hand was surrounded by a comforting warmth and she realised someone was gently holding the hand. Brennan turned her head towards the voice and the source of the warmth but her eyes simply weren't focusing. All she could make out was a shadow against the whiteness.

"Temperance, can you hear me? Oh please," The voice whispered the last part. Brennan tried to speak but all that came out was some sort of groan. Brennan felt her hand being squeezed. "Please."

The voice didn't sound familiar but Brennan tried to analyse what she heard so as to fit the voice to someone she knew. It was female, soft, kind and gentle but not Angela. The voice belonged to someone younger than Angela. From the timbre and the slight accents placed on certain vowels and the drawing out of others Brennan knew she was being address by a girl in her mid to late teens, someone who had lived, but not entirely grown up, somewhere in the south. She couldn't think of anyone she knew who fit that description.

"Are you still with me Tempe?" The voice asked. Brennan squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before opening them. Her vision was beginning to sharpen. She was in a hospital. Why? She closed her eyes again briefly and when she opened them she was looking into a pair of deep, pale grey eyes. Taking in more of the girls face Brennan saw flawless pale skin spotted with a few light freckles and pink pouting lips. The girls face was framed by dark auburn hair. The girl looked tired. A smile stretched her lips and she squeezed Brennan's hand again. Brennan tried to sit.

"Just relax," The girl said. She pressed a button on the railing beside Brennan and the back of the bed slowly started to rise. Once Brennan was in a reclined sitting position the girl adjusted the pillows around her to make her more comfortable.

Brennan's mouth was dry. "Water," She managed. The girl nodded and lifted a cup and straw from the bedside table. She held the straw to Brennan's lips and let her take a few small sips. She nodded, signalling she was finished, and the girl put the cup back on the table.

"Stay with me Tempe," She said. "Just hold on." She turned away from the bed and ran to the door across the room. "Seeley, Angela, she's awake, she's awake." The girl called grabbing the door frame and leaning out into the hallway. Angela and Booth entered the room almost immediately and took a position either side of the bed. Angela on her left and Booth, with the girl behind him, on her right. Both her hands were now being held.

"Sweetie, we were so worried." Angela said. Brennan turned her head towards her friend. Brennan tried to speak, stopped, cleared her throat and tried again.

"What happened?" She whispered, her voice was slightly scratchy.

"You're in the hospital." Angela said.

"I know that Ange, why?" Brennan asked, her voice becoming stronger.

"The doctor said you might not remember." Angela said. "You hit your head pretty hard. You and Booth were out in the field. You had a suspect in custody and in handcuffs. He crash tackled you. You hit your head on a lump of concrete."

"How long have I been here?"

"Five days," Booth said. Brennan turned towards him. "You've been in a sort of coma for five days. I was so scared I'd lose you." He said raising her hand and kissing it gently. Brennan frowned at the unusual display of outward affection. "But you're stubborn, and you're strong, I should've known you'd fight it." He smiled. "I'm so sorry Tempe, this is all my fault."

"I'm sure whatever happened," Brennan began, "You aren't entirely to blame. I'm sure you did all you could to prevent it."

"What's the last thing you remember?" Angela asked. Brennan thought for a moment.

"I was at my desk," Brennan said. "I was writing my final report for the Davis case. I think I fell asleep."

"Brendan Davis?" Booth said. "The guy who buried those kids in his backyard?"

"That's right," Brennan said turning towards him. The girl placed a hand gently on Booth's shoulder. Without turning around he raised his free hand and grasped her fingers. Brennan was unsettled by the look of concern on his face. When she looked back to Angela she saw the same concern. "What? What's wrong?"

"Oh Sweetie, we closed the Brendan Davis case in August."

"Yes," Brennan nodded slowly. "So?"

"Honey, it's April, that was eight months ago." Angela said.

"Eight months?" Brennan almost shrieked. "That's impossible how do I not remember the last eight months?" She turned back to Booth but he was no longer looking at her. He was now looking up behind him at the girl. Her face was pale, her lips almost white, her eyes seemed to have lost some of their intensity and the expression that she wore almost broke Brennan's heart. The girl looked as if her own heart had just been broken. Tears fell from the girl's eyes as she looked at Booth.

Without saying a word Booth guided the girl around to stand in front of him. She sat down carefully on his lap and curled into his chest. Booth's free arm wrapped around her automatically.

"What's wrong with her?" Brennan asked. There was no emotion in her voice. The girl's shoulders started to shake as she let go and cried.

"She wasn't here eight months ago." Booth said rubbing the girls back gently.

"Oh Honey," Angela said. Brennan turned towards her and saw the realisation in Angela's features.

"So?" Brennan prompted looking back to Booth. "Who is she?" She asked. The girl in Booth's lap sobbed audibly now and cried harder. Booth and Angela looked at each other. "Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?"

"Her name is Naveh." Angela said. Brennan paled noticeably and swallowed hard. She recognised the name. "She's your daughter Temperance."

"That, she, I can't," Brennan stuttered. "How?" She finally asked.

"She's been bounced around foster homes her whole life." Angela started. "When she turned sixteen in June last year, she as good as aged out of the system. Child Services couldn't find a family willing to take in a sixteen year old and no orphanage would take her for more than eight weeks. There was a series of court proceedings and eventually, after six weeks the name of her birth mother was released to her."

"But she's not supposed to have access to that until she's eighteen." Brennan said.

"That's why she went to court. When she was born, when you," Angela paused and glanced at Booth and Naveh before continuing. "Gave her up, you nominated that your details could be released to her. You said that you had no objection to her finding you one day."

"How do you know all this?" Brennan asked. "I've never told anyone about her, no one. Russ doesn't even know."

"You told us when the DNA test came back positive." Booth said.

"DNA test?" Brennan asked.

"Zach and Hodgins did it." Booth said. "Took a sample from both of you and cross matched it, or whatever."

"Everyone already knew what the result would be." Angela said. "She looks just like you Bren."

"You refused to see it of course," Booth smiled. "Until you had hard scientific proof."

"This is insanity." Brennan said squeezing her eyes shut. "I fall asleep at my desk and when I wake up I've lost eight months of my life and I have a daughter?"

"It's alright Sweetie." Booth said squeezing her hand. "We'll get through this."

"Sweetie?" She said looking back to him. "Did you just call me Sweetie?"

"Well, yes." Booth said. He looked pleadingly towards Angela.

"Oh Bren," Angela sighed. "A lot has changed in eight months." She said and held up Brennan's left hand. Brennan saw a princess cut diamond ring glittering on a very important finger. Beside the diamond ring there was a simple gold band. When she looked back to Booth he was holding his left hand up for her to see. He wore a similar ring on the same finger.

"We're married?" Brennan said indignantly.

"It was a simple ceremony at City Hall. You and me, Naveh, Angela, Zach and Hodgins and a JP." Booth said.

"Married?" Brennan said studying the ring again. "How long?"

"Four months." Booth said. They all turned when someone else entered the room. It was a doctor.

"It's good to see you Temperance." He said walking across to the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, just a little confused."

"Doctor, she's lost quite a bit of time." Booth said. "Eight months of her memory."

"That can sometimes happen with this kind of head injury. The memories will all come back." He smiled kindly. He took a penlight from his pocket and ran it across Brennan's eyes. "Excellent." He smiled again. "I'd like to keep you here for the rest of today. Barring any complications I'll send you home tomorrow morning if you promise you'll take it easy. Take the rest of this week off and start work again on Monday if you feel up to it. Carrying on with your normal everyday routine will help bring the memories to the surface. There's no easy fix I'm afraid but being in a familiar environment surrounded by familiar things will trigger the memories you've lost."

"Thank you." Brennan sighed.

"That's good news Sweetie." Angela said after the doctor had left the room.

"I guess so." Brennan nodded. "Do I still live in the same apartment?" She asked moving her hand from Booth's grasp. He moved his arm to surround Naveh

"No," Booth shook his head. "We've got a house in Pine Meadows." He smiled.

"Wow, middle class suburbia."

"Jeez Bones, nothing about our neighbourhood is middle class. You insisted on finding the best neighbourhood with the least amount of crime. Then we found our house and you just had to have it."

"It's beautiful Bren, and huge." Angela said. "Seven bedrooms."

"Seven? Why do we need seven bedrooms?"

"I asked you exactly the same thing." Booth said. "Only four of them are set up as bedrooms. Ours, of course, then Naveh has her own room and there are two guest rooms."

"What about the rest?"

"We both have our own office and there's a library slash television room." Booth said. They all jumped when Booth's cell phone started ringing. He took the phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. "Booth," He said and paused to hear what was being said to him. "Yes sir, but I," He was cut off by an insistent voice on the other end. "Yes sir, I'll be there as soon as I can." He sighed and hung up.

"I thought they'd given you time off." Angela said.

"So did I." Booth said putting the phone back in his pocket. "I have to go Tempe, I'm sorry."

"I need time to get my head around all of this anyway." Brennan said.

"Ok," Booth nodded and stood up, lifting Naveh with him. The girl was still and taking slow, even breaths. She had fallen asleep. Booth walked around the bed to Angela. She opened her arms and let Booth place the girl in her lap. Angela held the girl securely. Booth bent forward and kissed Naveh on the top of the head. "Sleep tight Bri." He whispered before turning to Brennan. "I'll see you tomorrow morning." Booth said. "I'll bring some clothes up for you." He smiled and kissed her chastely on the lips before leaving the room.

Brennan raised one of her hands and touched her lips gently. Angela smiled. "I knew it all along, didn't I." She said.

"What?"

"Oh come on Bren, you and Booth?" Angela smiled. Brennan returned the smile.

"Alright, you were right Ange." Brennan nodded and admitted defeat. "This is all so strange to me." Brennan sighed. "Me and Booth? I mean I won't deny that it's something I've secretly thought about."

"I know Sweetie, it must be tough for you. Going from all that flirting, innuendo and awkward touches to this but I know you'll find a way to deal with it. You and Booth, you're so perfect for each other. It was just meant to be."

"I don't know what sexual relationship with Booth is like, and I can't pretend that I do."

"You've only got your fantasies right?"

"Ange," Brennan said shocked.

"You guys had that one night," Angela said.

"That was different, there was a lot of alcohol involved. The point is that he knows and I'm scared that he won't realise that I don't."

"He's a sweet guy Hon. He's always been extremely sensitive towards you and your feelings. I don't think you'll have anything to worry about."

"Are we happy?" Brennan asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Delirious." Angela smiled. "I mean you argue, you always have though, haven't you. It's part of what makes you such a great team."

"Why did we get married so quickly? How did we finally end up together?"

"It's a long story." Angela said. "You should ask him, he knows all the details better than me."

"I don't believe that for a second Angela Montenegro." Brennan said. "Your own Soap Opera coming together before your eyes, I'll bet you know every detail."

"Just ask him Hon, it's something he should tell you. It was complicated."

"Ok," Brennan nodded looking suspiciously at Angela. A woman walked into the room carrying a tray of food. She smiled and Brennan before leaving the room.

"I should get a move on," Angela said. "Hopefully, now that you're awake, Naveh will eat something without putting up a fight."

"She stopped eating."

"She stopped everything." Angela said. "She didn't eat, wouldn't sleep and hardly spoke. She was like a ghost, just the shell of who she was before your accident. Booth had to practically drag her kicking and screaming out of here these last few nights. She loves you Bren, it killed her seeing you lying here."

"I can't believe she found me." Brennan said. "I can't believe I have a daughter."

"You should be proud of her." Angela said. "She really is just like you, not just in looks, but in everything. Booth calls her another one of your squints." Angela smiled. "She likes hanging out at the lab. Everyone there likes her, even Goodman. She listens to everything people say and sucks it all in, nothing much gets past her. She'll even sit through one of Hodgins crazy conspiracy theories just in case she might learn something. Plus she likes him and she's very patient. Goodman's letting her do an internship during the summer break."

"What about us, her and I. Do we get on?"

"Like a house on fire." Angela nodded. "It was awkward in the beginning, she was shy and nervous and you didn't know what to say to her. You got over it though. God, you should see her Bren, she has this look." Angela smiled and giggled slightly. "This sceptical, unbelieving glare that she does. Just like yours. It drives Booth and I crazy."

"And she learnt it from me?" Brennan asked.

"No," Angela shook her head. "That's the worst part about it, she's always done it. She did it the first day we met her. You wait until you see her when she does it to Booth, it's hilarious. She's also got that look of Booth's down to a fine art."

"The puppy dog eyed pout?"

"That's the one." Angela nodded.

"How did she manage that?" Brennan asked.

"She learnt it from watching the two of you together. He pulls that face on you all the time."

"Far more often than is fair." Brennan agreed.

"You'll melt when she does it. She's so cute. I just want to eat her sometimes." Angela wrinkled her nose and smiled.

"You better take her home." Brennan said.

"Will you be ok by yourself? I can come back and keep you company later if you like."

"I'll be fine, thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Ok Sweetie." Angela nodded. She sighed and looked down at Naveh. "I wish I didn't have to wake her, but I can't carry her all the way to my car."

"She'll understand." Brennan said. Angela curled forward slightly so she could speak directly into Naveh's ear.

"Naveh Gabrielle Brennan-Booth," She whispered. "Time to go home Jellybean."

"Ange?" The girl said sleepily lifting her head. "Where's Dad?" She asked.

"He had to work." Angela said brushing some of the hair from Naveh's face. "Come on, we'll go home and have some dinner."

"I want to stay here."

"You can't," Angela said. "I won't have this argument with you again Naveh. Your Mom needs her sleep."

"Mom?" Naveh said turning to look at Brennan as though forgetting she was there. Angela stood up helping Naveh to her feet at the same time.

"See you tomorrow Sweetie." Angela stood kissing Brennan on the cheek before shuffling the still sleepy teenager out of the room.