It took less than half a second for the steel door to wrench open and for Hannah to jump out, her arms wrapping around his neck almost too aggressively. His chuckle rumbled through his chest with a wince snaking it's way out when she squeezed too tight. She was whispering things next to his ear, things he didn't necessarily hear all the way through, and things he connected with on a certain level. With as much effort as he was able to muster, he placed his hands at her waist and carefully pulled her from his body to hold her at arms length. They stared at each other, her expression one of awe and thankfulness. He smiled at her and looked down self consciously.
"Holy shit, you're alive. You're moving. I can't believe this…There really is a God."
"I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that, but I can understand it to a point. I am barely moving though. Still in quite a bit of pain."
"I can imagine. The charge nurse said you discharged yourself last night. Whoever picked you up was out of her damn mind. I would have tied you to the bed."
Her remark had not intended to be sexual, but his foggy brain and the way she was staring at him had his skin heating and his jeans becoming uncomfortable.
"I honestly didn't think you'd recognize me…"
"Your injuries were quite unique and significant. I was just, checking in on you to make sure you know, you made it."
"Do you do that with all your patients?"
"Not usually. The kids of course I always check in on them, sometimes bring them a stuffed animal or some candy to help them become more comfortable and not be so scared. But adults, it's rare."
"So I'm special."
"I wouldn't push it that far. I have seen your type of wounds before and those people didn't make it. I wanted to see if you did. Maybe I could have gotten you to talk to someone about them."
"So, like I'm a evidence?"
"Kind of. I don't mean to sound insensitive. Quite the opposite actually. I really did want to make sure you're okay. What about you? Why are you back here?"
"I'd be lying if it was to say to check myself back in. I came looking for whoever scraped me up off the concrete so I could thank them. It's the least I could do. Which was pretty difficult considering all I remembered was blonde hair and a sweet sounding voice. "
"You assume it's me?"
"You're doctor friend pointed me in your direction. The charge nurse also helped a little bit. So, thank you."
"You don't need to thank me. I was just doing my job."
"Yeah well, you went a little beyond your job. I've been in the back of a bus before, the medics don't ever talk to you and when they do it's to try and get your name. You actually talked to me, helping me stay coherent. That was really great, and one of the reasons I feel like I pulled through. So, yes I do owe you a thank you."
"Well, you're welcome then. I'm glad to hear that it helped you. IT's a relief to see that you're still alive."
"I agree with you. Well, I'd better let you go. You have a very good day, save some more lives."
"I will. Thank you. Maybe we should uh, I don't get drinks later?"
"Maybe. I'll let you know."
"How?"
"Well, I could just come around here and ask for you. Seems to have worked so far."
"Okay. What's your name?"
"Seeley Booth. But you can call me Booth if you'd like. And your name?"
"Hannah."
His eyes were a stunning brown, sparkling in a way that she could almost see herself in them. His lips were upturned just slightly nearly masking the still swollen corner of his bottom lip. His voice was smooth other than the slight gravely-ness she assumed was from a lack of water. Her eyes lingered on his face before darting to the forming dots on his shirt.
"Shit! You're bleeding!"
The urge to reach out and pull his shirt was nearly overwhelming and took a surprising amount of control to not give in. Instead, she grasped his arm and pulled him to the back o the ambulance where she flung open the otherwise heavy doors and pulled him down to sit on the bumper.
"It's just a little blood. Nothing serious. I'm sure it'll stop in a few seconds."
"Have you never had stitches before? Those won't stop until the stitches are re-sewn. How long have they been torn? Oh my God, did I do that when I hugged you?"
"No, no. I did it while I was at my partners home. I think I was pulling on my boots."
"Your partner?"
Her tone was more skeptical than she intended and the wince that followed was only a punishment.
"Yeah, been together for almost six years now."
"Wow. That's a long time. Which one doesn't want to get married?"
"Excuse me?"
"Well I mean, if I was with someone for six years I'd be looking in everysock drawer for a ring and wondering why I couldn't find it."
"No, no you got it wrong. I'm sorry, let me clarify. We work together. She's an anthropologist and I'm an FBI agent. We're strictly work partners. No, Bones and I we'd never…No. Never."
"Oh. I'm really sorry. I didn't intend to sound so…assuming. My apologies. The nurses say a woman picked you up. Was that your wife?"
"That was Bones. I'm not married. I'm single. At the moment."
The wink he shot her had heat forming in her cheeks and she turned to look away nearly dropping the supply bag she was struggling to get open. His chuckle ran through her ears and down her spine making her shiver and she didher best to focus on her task when the warmth of his hand touched hers and radiated through her entire body.
"Let me help you. Or should I just go on inside and get help from the doc?"
"Well, I can't sew, so maybe I should escort you in to see her. I don't know what I was thinking. None of this is going to help you."
"It's all right. You were just trying to help. There's nothing wrong with that. Thank you, by the way."
"You've already said thank you. Stop, please. This is my job, I love it very much."
"I can tell. Although, I did notice you walk with quite the limp on your left knee. Does it affect your work or is it just something new?"
The nightmare was quick, but it was there nonetheless and her fingers itched to rub the old injury out of habit. But the fingers curled until the nails bit into her palm and the images fled.
"No. No it's not something new. And no, it doesn't affect my work."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry or sound so…"
"Observant? No, it's fine. Just a sore subject?"
"Let me guess, you probably had a full ride scholarship for some sport, maybe softball? And you slid into home plate and tore the ACL? Or maybe you were running and turned wrong and tore the MCL?"
"Something like that. Come on, lets get you inside. I'm sure Jill will help you out. She's a great sewer and quick too."
"All right."
Hannah led him back into the hospital, her hand grasping his bicep firmly, her leg shaking as she tried to walk without the limp. When the charge nurse met her eyes there was a quick glare passed over and a mouthing for Jill in room four. When Booth sat on the bed he winced, his own knee irritating him. But his fingers didn't refrain from massaging the soreness away. She watched him from the doorway as his handsome features winced and frowned with discomfort. For a second, she considered telling him, for a second her mouth opened and Jill's voice was heard. Her own heart thumping wildly at the thrill of what she was just about to reveal to a complete stranger. A stranger bound to her by the same trauma.