As she opens her eyes, the brightness from clock on the nightstand beams into her sight. 6:00am on the nose. Her sight shifts from the clock to the window across the room. The sky is barely lit, there's just a hint of brightness that hangs, just enough to see a cloud or two. She sucks a deep breath in and tries to fall back asleep, when she is reminded of the pressure against her back and around her waist.
Suddenly, she forgets how to breathe. There's heaviness in her heart that's anchoring everything down. Every ounce of sleep is shaken from her system, and she lies perfectly still. Subconscious memories of last night hit her like a freight train.
"Angela, I can't."
"Why, sweetie?"
"I… just can't."
"Please, tell me. You know you can tell me anything."
"I…I don't know, Angela. Please."
"Can you at least spend one more night with me?"
"I've stayed here for almost three weeks, Angela."
Silence.
"Fine."
There's a sudden swelling of tears in Brennan's eyes.
She needs to leave, now.
She gently pushes Angela's arms from around her waist and sits up slowly on the edge of. Her head is spinning, she feels like the walls are going to collapse on her if she stays here any longer.
The weight shift on the bed causes Angela to stir awake slowly.
"You're leaving, aren't you Brennan?"
Brennan's body freezes in place. Her heart is beating faster than it ever has.
"Yes."
Brennan stands up and gathers her clothes from the chair next to the window. She dresses in complete silence. Angela's sitting up on her elbows, watching her the entire time. Brennan dare not make eye contact right now. When she's dressed, she slowly walks over to Angela's side of the bed again and sits down.
Angela begins to sit up fully, her back against the headboard of the bed. She reaches out for Brennan's hand, but Brennan flinches and puts her hand in her lap, intertwining her fingers. Angela can feel the tears start to brim in her eyes.
"I love you, Brennan."
Brennan holds her breath for a moment. She knows going back to sit on the bed was a terrible idea, but Angela deserved the courtesy of a goodbye.
Before she can say anything, her legs are moving to stand up, and she's walking towards Angela's bedroom door. Her fingers turn the knob slowly. As the door opens, she turns around slowly and meets Angela's eyes. The tears have pooled over and spilled all over her cheeks. Brennan wants to look away, to avoid the pain she's causing.
"I don't love you."
I don't want to hurt you anymore
Don't waste your tears on me now pretty girl
When I hate myself for letting you go
You can be the one to say "I told you so"
As if a plane crash were timely
There's no good time for bad news
These four words don't come easy
"I don't love you"
I haven't written anything in forever and idk this song fits perfectly with a headcanon of mine on the ship and I just had this fic sitting in my mind. Song used at the end was These Four Words by The Maine.