The Truth in the Actions

A/N: These are my thoughts on some "missing" scenes from "The Doctor in the Photo." One of the things about that episode that gave me more hope is that Booth was there to save Brennan. But how did that come about? And how did Booth react to the situation after he left Brennan at her place?


Chapter 1: The Intuition about his Partner

Booth got up from his desk in his office at the FBI. He couldn't concentrate on the pile of paperwork waiting for his attention, so he started to pace.

What was going on with Bones? Ever since this case started, something has been off about her. She snapped at Hannah, after Hannah had noticed something was wrong with Bones. Why hadn't I noticed before? Bones said she hadn't been sleeping much… Has she been working nonstop at the lab? When we were talking to that helicopter pilot, she mentioned finding something in the remains that she hadn't told me about first. What is happening? Why do I feel like something is going terribly wrong?

"Because you've been avoiding her instead of taking care of her like you used to, you idiot," he said to himself with exasperation, not realizing he had said it out loud until he noticed Charlie standing in the doorway of his office looking at him strangely.

"Booth?" Charlie asked tentatively. "Is everything OK? It's getting kinda late—maybe you should call it a night." Charlie had noticed many changes in his superior since Booth had returned from Afghanistan. Although he tried not to pry into other people's lives, he was surprised that Dr. Brennan didn't seem to come around much anymore. But, he had also been surprised when Booth returned to town with a girlfriend in tow—a girlfriend that seemed to contradict Charlie's instincts about where the senior agent's affections had seemed to be aimed.

It took Booth a moment to realize Charlie was talking to him and process what the agent had said. "You're right, Charlie. I should head home." But instead of returning to his chair and neatening up his desk, Booth resumed his pacing. "You know, I think I should go check on Bones. She's been working this case pretty hard—she probably needs someone to kick her out of the lab."

Booth still seemed to be talking to himself, but Charlie decided to answer, hoping to spur Booth into real action instead of continued pacing. "Yeah, boss, sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe she has some more information on the case." Booth stared at Charlie again, only partially processing that he must have spoken aloud again and the agent was responding to his internal thoughts.

Charlie waved, and said, "Goodnight, Booth. See you tomorrow." Then he left the office, although he waited nearby to see if Booth did the same. Sure enough, a few second later, Booth hurried out of his office, shrugging into his coat as he impatiently called the elevator. Once Booth disappeared from sight, Charlie glanced into Booth's office and smiled. Booth hadn't bothered to clean up the mess on his desk. Hopefully talking to Dr. Brennan would help calm some of the restlessness Charlie had seen on Booth's face lately.


Booth's sense of foreboding was amplified as he drove toward the Jeffersonian in an ever-increasing rainstorm. I bet she hasn't eaten all day, he thought to himself. How did I get so wrapped up in my own life that I forgot to take care of my partner? What kind of friend have I been to her lately?

As he prepared to turn into the parking structure, Booth saw a familiar figure exit the building and get into a waiting cab. Wait a minute, that's Bones! Why is she taking a cab instead of her car? He decided to follow the cab, just to be sure she was going home to get some rest. Maybe she decided not to drive in today, he guessed, trying to push away the thoughts about how often he used to drive her around—and how long it had been since he had given her a ride.

Booth soon realized that the taxi was not heading towards Bones' apartment. Booth hoped he was wrong in his speculation about the destination, but when the cab pulled over to discharge its passenger in the vicinity of their latest crime scene, Booth knew he had been correct. Why did Bones come out here, this late at night? And she didn't even call me to come with her? Or anyone else? Did she really think I wouldn't help her with the case?

Booth broke out of his reverie as he pulled his car over to the curb and parked, not caring whether he was parked legally or not. His eyes were glued to the outline of his partner, partially obscured by the darkness and the rain. She was wandering into the street, apparently focused on something that he didn't see. She knelt down to examine a point in the middle of the road. He saw the approaching headlights of a car, and he was appalled when she didn't seem to react to the looming threat. His instincts took over as he ran towards her, calling out his name for her as he pulled her out of the path of the car and deposited them on shaky legs by the side of the street.

"Bones! What are you doing here?" Booth shouted above the sound of the rain and his own thundering heart, a mixture of fear and anger in his voice.

"What are you doing here?" Brennan shouted back, angry at herself for getting lost in thought and needing someone to save her again.


A/N: Next chapter, what I think might have happened after Booth returned home from dropping Brennan off at her place.