Homecoming: Holding On
ooo
The drive home from Morehead City feels interminable.
Booth hadn't thought anything could weigh as heavy as the drive there.
Brennan looks into the back seat for the hundredth time. She'd planned to sit with Christine until Parker insisted on coming along for his little sister. Pride in the young man Parker is now overwhelms the constant ache he has felt looking at his children these past days.
His mind is still spinning.
The whirlwind of phone calls, emergency plans, Brennan flying ahead, hope-filled prayers to St. Hugh. Then a 3:30 am call that put an end to the hopes and changed the prayers to ones to the Blessed Mother, who understood. The clenching of his stomach as he woke Parker and broke the news, as he picked up and clutched Christine to him and breathed in her scent.
Three days later, that seems a lifetime ago and he feels aged by the new lines in Russ's face, the extra gray in Max's hair, by the way Parker stuck close to Emma and Christine, by the number of times Brennan slipped her hand into his and held on tight. Aged by the perfect bow in Hayley's hair and Amy's sobs as they left the graveside service.
The headlights do little to cut through the darkness and they head home. His children are holding hands, asleep in the back seat. Brennan is silent, still stiff. She'll come apart later, alone.
He slips his hand into hers and holds on tight.
~end~