Booth supposed the evidence has been there all along. Bones loves him. He loved her. They loved each other. Maybe they didn't see it at first, but it's damn well obvious now. It's been building for a while, and they were just the last to see it. How could they fall in love with each other? She's queen of the squints! But then again…isn't that why he loved her? Didn't he love her inability to say the culturally correct thing but the guarantee that one word from her lips on a dark night would brighten up everything instantly? Didn't he love her rationalized rants, even if they were contradictory to his beliefs?
He knew she'd come around. He knew that deep down, somewhere in there, was a woman who wanted to be loved. There was something within her that wanted the big wedding, the love story, something that wanted him. With logic forming her seemingly impenetrable walls, she suppressed those desires. She'd thought that no one could love her, so why hope. He broke down those walls. He broke down the ever sensible Temperance Brennan and made her come to terms with reality. You can't hide forever, because soon you'll run out of places to hide.
"You don't have to hide, Temperance" Booth said as he held her that night after the most awful argument they'd ever had. That night that was both the worst and the best night for them. And what a pivotal night that was! The walls were gone, their line obliterated as her salty tears stained his t shirt.
"Booth. You don't know! You don't know the truth! Everyone thinks I'm so cold and unfeeling, but I have a heart Booth! I feel things. I feel pain. Everyone thinks I need to be told how truly messed up I am! That something's not right with me, like I'm some kind of misplaced bolt in the machine… You think I don't know? I know that I don't fit in. I know I overanalyze to compensate for the nothingness that I possess! All this! Look at all the great things I've done, best selling author, forensic anthropologist…none of it means ANYTHING!" She screamed as she picked up a framed certificate and threw it on the ground watching the glass shatter.
He stepped back and looked seriously into her eyes to let her know it was okay to let go. She continued softly. "No accolade, no praise, nothing. It's all meaningless in the long run. I love my work, don't misunderstand me…but if you think that I'm not aware that my work doesn't make up for the gaping hole within me, then you're wrong. I just want to be normal. I want to be loved. As a person. I'm tired of being alone. I've been alone my entire life, when's it my turn to be happy?"
She looked down at the glass but made no move to clean it up. "I'm queen of an empty castle."
She turned to walk away and that's when he grabbed her wrist. He pulled her back gently, wiping the tears from her face. He brushed his fingers over her skin and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She looked down, avoiding meeting his soft gaze. He rested his hand on her shoulder and lifted her chin with his other. His lips softly touched to hers. She was unresponsive, except for the small tear that ran down her cheek and touched his face in the process.
He kissed her just once more. "You are so beautiful, Tempe. And I promise…you'll be okay."
"I love you, Seeley." That was all she said. That was all she needed to say. Their lips met again with the same tenderness as before.
"I love you too, Temperance."
Booth looked at the clock on the wall in his office. Then his eyes drifted down to the pile of paperwork on his desk. He had to get it done, but he simply could not stop thinking about how it all happened. The walls were down. He saw the real Temperance Brennan and she saw the real Seeley Booth. He loved every bit of her too. He loved her logic, he loved her lack thereof. How could such a wonderful person feel so worthless? She was worth everything to him.
He thought of the events before her breakdown. He thought of the gruesome case, that ruthless woman, their argument, and easily the worst thing to have ever left his lips. He'd never forgive himself those words, even if they brought him to where he was now.
Hey, so this just kind of came to me...I really like it. :) I hope you do as well, review and let me know. I already have chapter two written...Review and I may post it today. Next chapter starts with the beginning of said case. Oh and in case I forgot-review:)
-Lacey