A/N: I quite obviously do not own Bones, or its characters. I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort stories and was never quite satisfied by how this scene played out. Or rather, how it was cut short. This was something I wrote about a year ago, never intending to post on-line. However, now that I have an account, I went back and reconsidered.
Booth was still tied to the chair and lay quietly on his side
Booth was still tied to the chair and lay quietly on his side. He looked beaten and worn and was definitely worse for the wear. Brennan watched her partner; worry creasing her brow. He had been missing for over twenty-four hours; what had they done to him in that time? Brennan swiftly gave him a once-over, taking in his shallow breathing and a large crimson stain still wet and sticky with dark blood above his abdomen. She quickly pulled up his shirt to reveal a deep laceration and dark bruises purpling his torso. There was a sharp intake of breath and Booth shied away from her hands.
"Booth, are you alright? You're going to need stitches and it looks like you may have re-fractured you ribs." Brennan asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Definitely feels like I re-fractured my ribs," he echoed her. "I'll be fine Bones, don't worry 'bout me" he replied weakly.
She set about unbinding his wrists and legs, the former, which once free, were pulled close to his sides so as to protectively cradle his torso. Brennan rolled him over to look at him better, noticing his pained expression as she did so. Something brushed his inner leg and Booth swore loudly. Bones further ripped the tear in his black pants and saw ugly blackened flesh surrounding an angry stab wound.
"Booth…"
"Yea Bones?"
"What did they…do to you exactly?" Brennan questioned while gazing transfixed at his leg.
"It's nothing Bones."
Except Brennan didn't believe him. "You've been burned…badly.."
Just then the paramedics arrived and began examining Booth and checking his vitals. Booth, clearly exhausted, closed his eyes.
"I'll be right here Booth. I won't leave you." She told him.
"I know Bones" was his last reply before he slipped into unconsciousness.
Brennan helped the paramedics as best she could. They placed Booth onto a backboard and lifted him onto a stretcher. Brennan, realizing that she lacked both keys and a car requested a lift from the ambulance to the hospital with Booth. They reluctantly agreed and just as she was turning to leave the hangar, she spotted a blowtorch lying a few feet away. Remembering the screwdriver poking out of Lightner's chest, Brennan put two and two together and suddenly understood how Booth sustained the injury to his leg.
Share the love. Review.