The Memory in the Amnesia
Chapter Two
Susan H
After his shower, Booth opened the crime folder and his computer and studied the case. Booth jumped when his phone rang. He was unaware of how much time passed.
"Booth"
"Booth, Agent Foster here. I just listened to your message. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I was at the dentist this morning. So you got a live one?"
"It's my partner Foster."
"I'm sorry about the "live one" comment. I do that to distance myself."
"Yeah, I get that. Listen, the database had a file on five women murdered during early morning hours, and left inside their cars. My partner, Temperance Brennan, was picked up by local police at 2 am confused and bloody. All of the blood was her attacker's. Her only injuries were a bump on the forehead, and," Booth laughed, "bruised knuckles. Sergeant Peyton, of the local police, found her empty car parked at a mailbox, engine running, doors open, and the radio on."
"It sounds like it could be the Twilight Killer. We know from DNA, it's a man, but we haven't been able to match it. We think he trolls the streets during the early morning hours looking for women alone doing errands. We found one woman at a Laundromat, in her car. The car was locked and blocking the Laundromat door. Another was found in her car parked in front of an ATM. One found at a dumpster, we think taking her trash out. Another found at a video store. The staff there confirmed she had dropped her rentals in the night deposit. The last one we found at the library night drop, same story as the woman at the video store. All five were strangled, and their cars were parked, turned off, and locked, and always blocking access to the task they had performed. No weapons used, no sexual assault, and no robbery. Your partner's car was running and open, maybe to indicate the job wasn't finished. It wasn't "locked up" so to speak."
"I work with a profiler who knows my partner. I'll run this past him too."
"Has she given a description?"
"No. She has complete amnesia. She doesn't remember the attack, or anything before it. The docs are working on it, but it looks like it's trauma induced. I know she'll remember, and when she does, this guy is toast."
"Alright Booth. Look, I'll contact Peyton and convince him this is FBI jurisdiction and get her case turned over to us. E-mail me anything you have, and I'll keep you updated."
"Great. I won't be in the office. I've taken some personal time to take care of Dr. Brennan. I'll check my emails, and you've got my cell."
Booth's phone rang as soon as he hung up. "Booth" he answered.
"Hi Seeley. Cam left my bag, and I'm dressed."
"Bones, good timing. I'll be there ASAP."
"Seeley, are you staying at my place?"
"Angela might be in from Jamaica this evening, maybe you'd feel more comfortable with her."
"No, I wouldn't. I don't remember her."
Booth thought about his conversation with Foster. Brennan's car was open, as if the case wasn't "locked up". He believed Brennan may still be in danger.
"Okay Bones, just give me a few extra minutes to pack a bag."
"Thank you." Brennan exhaled. "The doctors gave me medicine for anxiety, but I still have a lot."
"I'll watch out for you Bones. We'll get through this. Remember, you're in control. Right?"
"Right," Brennan answered and hung up.
Brennan was sitting in a wheelchair holding her purse and bag when Booth arrived.
"Well look at you. Rearing to go." Booth said
"Yes I am. They filled my prescription at the hospital pharmacy, so I'm ready"
A young aid entered the room, "Hello Dr. Brennan. Are you all set?"
"Yes, I have my prescription, and my going home instructions."
"Good", she turned to Booth. "Sir, you can bring your car to the main entrance, and we'll meet you there."
By the time Booth pulled up to the curb, they were waiting for him. He jumped out and opened the passenger door, and grabbed Brennan's bags. The aid locked the wheels and helped her up. Brennan pressed a palm to her forehead and closed her eyes.
"Whoa."
"Bones, are you okay?"
"I feel woozy."
Booth looked at the aid. "The nurse did warn her that the medicine could make her feel dizzy. That and the bump on her head."
"Is she okay to go home?"
"The doctor said as long as she doesn't have vision problems, or nausea, or other symptoms listed on her going-home form, she should be okay. You can always call us with questions."
"Well then, I can help here." He scooped Brennan up, put her in the SUV, and fastened her seatbelt.
"That should do it" he said to her.
The aid waved as they pulled away.
At Brennan's apartment, Booth opened her door and helped her out. She held onto his left arm, and Booth slung all the bags over his right arm. As Booth started testing keys, Brennan looped both arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Are you okay, are you dizzy again?"
"Just a little bit." She said, and nuzzled his neck with her nose.
"You smell so good Seeley."
Booth shrugged away the shivers and searched harder for the correct key, but Brennan was moving her face to his throat.
"mmmmmm"
"Um Bones, you are making it difficult for me to get the door open."
He dropped the bags and worked faster. By that time, Brennan had moved to the back of his neck and inhaled. And then she exhaled. Booth closed his eyes. She came around the front again, and tugged his shirt away from his chest with her chin, and slipped her face in and just took in his scent.
"Bones," Booths voice cracked, "I don't think you should do that."
She looked up into his face, "Why not? What cologne do you wear? It's intoxicating."
He gently pushed her against the wall to help her keep her balance.
"You stay right there while I find the key in this mess." Brennan slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. The door finally opened.
"Got it!" Booth threw the bags inside and looked down at Brennan. Her eyes were closed.
"Bones?"
She opened her eyes.
"Do you need a hand up?"
She closed her eyes again and slowly nodded her head.
"Okay, here we go," he bent down, slipped his hands under her arms and pulled her to a standing position. She put her arms around his neck again, and Booth backed her into the apartment. Once the door was closed, Brennan started kissing Booth's neck and ear.
Booth tried to pry her hands away from his neck, "Bones no. Please stop."
She pulled away. "What's wrong?"
"We don't do this. We are partners: that's all."
"Well, that's not what it felt like to me!"
"Yeah, well, if you had your memory you would have said that was an involuntary reaction to certain chemicals or hormones or something being released in response to certain stimuli. We shouldn't read too much into it."
"Really?" Brennan answered with a confused look on her face. "I would have said that?
"Yes, really, but it would have sounded more, well, French."
"I need to work on my pillow talk."
"Okay, enough talk about pillows and hormones and intoxicating colognes. You don't look good, you should sit." He led her by the elbow to the couch.
"I have to make some calls and check my e-mail. Do you need anything?"
"Where's the TV?"
"You don't have one. You mostly listen to music and read."
"Do I have a computer?"
"Yeah, let me bring you your laptop."
A few minutes later, Brennan was settled in and Booth was set up at the kitchen table. He dialed his phone.
"Dr. Sweets" Sweets answered
"Sweets, it's Booth. Did you get my e-mail?"
"Agent Booth, how is Dr, Brennan?"
"She's home, I'm here with her. She wants me to stay tonight."
"I think that's a good idea. I looked over the file, and I believe she is in danger. The Twilight Killer may want to finish this job."
"I'll assign two agents to be available 24 hours."
"And, you will be there with her too?"
"Yes, she requested it. Her anxiety is way out there. I've told her she was in control, and could make all the decisions."
"Good. After what she's been through, you are giving her power. Has she remembered anything?"
"No. Well, it's strange. She knows things about me, but says she doesn't really remember. She just knows. She's not acting like herself."
"It's to be expected. She has no memory on which to base her behavior. She is probably acting only on the new things she's learned. Everything else is instinctual."
"Yeah, but Sweets" Booth whispered loudly, "She's kind of hitting on me. I mean, she acts like she thinks we're a couple."
Sweets laughed, "Well Agent Booth, I'm sure she is picking up on that tension that you and she deny, but everyone in the world sees."
"What? Look, I need to know how to handle this. I mean, I don't want to hurt her feelings, and I don't want to take advantage of her. But Sweets, she is making this very hard. Difficult, she's making it difficult."
"Agent Booth, you just need to remain firm, in your resolve that is, but kind. You should bring her in to see me. Can you make it tomorrow at 1:00? We can start working on the memory problem. Hey, how come neither of you ever told me that she lost a whole day? That's the kind of thing a psychologist needs to know."
"When did Brennan ever care about what a psychologist needs to know? We'll be there."
"Great, let's just hope Dr. Brennan doesn't remember her disdain for psychology." The line went dead. Booth called his office and arranged for 2 agents to guard the apartment.
"Hah" Brennan yelled and clapped
"What's going on?" Booth asked and sat next to her on the couch. He looked at her computer screen.
"I have credit cards!"
"Yes, actually I consider you rich."
"Well I just ordered a 58 inch plasma screen TV, and paid for rush delivery. It should be here tomorrow morning. I also ordered cable! They will be here between 8 and noon tomorrow." Brennan smiled.
"Really? That's great Bones. I think you might get irritated when your memory comes back, but this will be great!" Booth clapped his hands and rubbed them together.
"I'm going to order dinner from Wong Fu's. What do you think?" Booth asked.
"I think I'm hungry. Do you know what I like?"
"I do. Would you like me to order for you?"
"Absolutely" Brennan smiled. "Jasper!" She squealed and jumped up. She sat down quickly, "Whoa, still dizzy."
Booth handed her a small ornamental pig. "Here ya go, do you remember him?"
"I remember that his name is Jasper, and I love him." Brennan kissed one of its ears. She cupped the pig to her chest and curled up with her head on Booth's lap. Booth slipped a throw pillow on his lap just in time. He ordered food while cradling her head.
Two hours after dinner arrived and they had eaten, Brennan slept on Booth's lap again. Booth's head was thrown backward on the couch, and his arms were stretched along the back of the couch. They both jumped when Booth's cell rang.
"Booth"
"Booth, it's Angela. I just got in. How is she?"
"Angie, it's good to hear from you." Brennan sat up and nestled against his shoulder.
"She's doing okay. Still no memory. Can you come over and help her get ready for bed. She's still having dizzy spells, and I think someone should be with her."
"I'm on my way big guy" Angela laughed and hung up.
"Well Bones, you're about to meet your best friend Angela" "MMhMM" Brennan murmured and drifted back to sleep.
***
Angela sat in the bathroom as Brennan showered.
"I can't believe you left Jamaica for me."
"Sweetie, I went to jail for you."
"What? How long?"
"Just a day. We can talk about it later. How are things going here?"
"Fine I guess. I mean, I'm here with a gorgeous, strong man who I feel a definite connection with, but he doesn't want me to touch him."
Angela laughed. "I take it you want to touch him?"
"Well look at him. He is so good to me too. I just find him irresistible."
Angela pressed the back of her hand against her smiling mouth.
"Look Sweetie, he is good to you, and extremely decent. You two weren't, well, "touching" before your memory loss. He certainly isn't going to allow something like that to happen when you can't even remember who you are."
Brennan turned off the shower; Angie handed a towel over the doors.
"Are you okay to step out? You're not dizzy or anything are you?"
"I'm fine." She stepped out and put on a robe. "Would you mind if I got dressed alone in my bedroom. I just want to think and take my time."
"Do you promise you aren't feeling dizzy?"
"I promise."
"Okay, I'll go sit with Booth."
Angie found Booth on his laptop reading a file from Agent Foster.
"So, how's it going Mr. Irresistable." She said as she sat next to him.
Booth closed his computer. "Let's just say, I've used a lot of defensive maneuvers tonight."
"Booth, you know it's natural for humans to turn to each other for comfort in traumatic times. I think that's all she's doing. It's not like she doesn't pick up on all that tension just because she doesn't remember it."
"Look, all this tension everyone likes to talk about, that's just how the outside world perceives our working relationship. We have a bond. We trust each other with our lives. We spend most of our waking hours together. Those are things that can be misread by an outsider."
"Okay, sure Booth. That's all that Brennan is picking up on." Angie rolled her eyes. "Anything new in the case?"
"No. Bones' cell phone is missing. Foster is going to send some agents to the crime scene tomorrow to search for it."
"Hey, it's a clue. Let me know how it goes."
"She's been quiet. I'm checking on her." Angela got up and knocked on Brennan's bedroom door. No Answer. She opened it and Brennan lay curled up asleep holding a small pig. Booth looked over Angie's shoulder.
"What do you think Booth? Can I head home, or do you need me here to protect you?"
"I'll have an agent walk you to your car."
After Angela left, Booth checked the windows, patio doors, and the main door. He slipped into Brennan's room and checked her windows. He lay on the couch staring at the ceiling running the case over in his head. Where is her phone, he wondered, and what is the significance.
Brennan's scream woke Booth. "No Kyle. No." she screamed.
Booth jumped up and slammed his shin on a table. Brennan was sitting up and Booth grabbed her shoulders. She punched him square in the jaw, and Booth fell to the floor.
"Ow!" he grimaced.
"Booth, Booth, is that you? I'm sorry, are you okay?"
He sat up holding his face.
"It's okay. It's not the first time. Hey, you called me Booth."
"I'm sorry, I mean Seeley."
"Who's Kyle?"
"Kyle? I don't know. Do I know any Kyles?"
Booth sat on the edge of her bed, "Sort of I guess. It's complicated, and I think it's too late to explain. You're shaking."
He opened her medicine bottle and grabbed the glass of water from her bed stand.
"Here, take this. It will calm you down, and help you sleep. You need your rest. You're getting a TV and cable in the morning."
Brennan obeyed and lay back, clinging to Jasper.
"Please stay with me. I'll be behave. I won't take advantage of you." She said and slid toward the wall.
Booth just sat and stared at her.
"I promise," she said and lifted the blankets. Booth slipped under them, and Brennan laid her head on his chest. Booth turned out the lamp and stared in the dark. He felt Brennan's breathing slow and her body relax. The medicine was helping. He thought about Kyle, and filed it in his brain as another clue.
His shin and jaw ached. His last thought before dozing was that Brennan's hair smelled fresh and fruity.