Digging Your Own Grave
Chapter 2: How this whole mess started
He had her in his arms.
She was alive.
Booth tried to catch his breath as the reality of the situation sank in.
Hodgins was coughing, Zach and Angela hovering above him. The last Booth saw was of Angela planting one on Hodgins. Then Booth turned his attention to Bones.
They shared a shaky smile before he pulled her to him. She didn't fight him, but gratefully allowed herself to be engulfed in his warmth.
Over Bones' head Booth's eyes locked onto Cam. She looked relieved, exhausted and frantic all at once. He realised then just how much Cam cared for her Squints. He felt his heart twinge as another realisation hit him. He shared that emotion.
He drew in a deep breath, inhaling the smell of sweat and dirt and smoke from Bones' hair.
He could have lost her today.
His eyes caught Cam's and she gave a slight nod. Booth was about to question what she meant when understanding came to him. It was over between them. It had never really been. But Cam could see something in Booth's eyes that made her realise it was time to move on.
Brennan was shaking in his arms. He pulled back to look at her, expecting tears. Instead, her face was almost grey, her eyes glazed. She was shivering, although the air wasn't cold. Booth frowned, concerned. She was going into shock.
"Hey, Bones?" He gave her a nudge. She looked up at him. "Once we get out of here we'll go get some Wong Fu's and I'll explain the second base rule again for you."
When she didn't smile he held her tighter. "Ok. Then you can do that thing you do."
"What thing?" She asked, her eyes still on him. Success! He thought.
"You know. That thing! Where you show me how much smarter than me you are. You love that." He gave her his charm smile, pleased that at least she was engaging with him. Behind them, he could hear the sirens of the approaching ambulances.
"I don't do that, Booth," she frowned. "You're a lot smarter than you act. I think you just don't want people to know."
Booth gave her a lopsided grin as paramedics ran up. Hodgins was loaded onto a stretcher and led to an ambulance. Angela and Zach were told that they were not allowed in the ambulance. Another paramedic came towards Booth and Bones.
Booth felt Bones' hands grasp his shirt tighter as the paramedic started to prepare the stretcher.
"Booth," she pleased, her eyes huge. Booth had never seen her so shaken before.
"I need for you to hop on the stretcher if you can," the paramedic spoke calmly. Bones clutched Booth tighter.
"Shh," he hushed, easing her from her death grip. When it was apparent that she wasn't going to move, Booth looked at the paramedic. The young man shrugged and moved to call for the other paramedic.
Before he could, Booth swept Bones into his arms and carried her to the stretcher. He placed her on it gently.
"Wait!" She cried, completely out of character. Booth settled her back on the stretcher before taking her hand. The paramedic took the opportunity to strap Bones down.
"We'll take her now," he said as he prepped the stretcher. The other paramedic came over to assist. "You can come and see her at the hospital." He was all business now.
Booth caught the terrified look on Bones' face.
"I'll come with you," he said firmly. His eyes held Bones' gaze but his words were aimed at the paramedics.
"Sir, that's actually not procedure."
Booth gave the young man a hard look.
"FBI buddy. Dr Brennan works for the FBI. Therefore she goes nowhere without me." He held his badge up threateningly. The young man nodded and shot into action.
Booth walked alongside the stretcher as it was led into the ambulance. He climbed in and sat next to Bones. He took her hand in his larger one and held it as the paramedics sedated her.
Bones fought sleep for as long as she could. She tried to stop them sedating her. But Booth had held her hand and hushed her. She faded into darkness with Booth's reassuring smile filling her gaze.