A/N: Once again, thank you to all my faithful reviewers. If it weren't for you, I couldn't go on.
Secret No More
Chapter 7
Angela slipped into Brennan's room as quietly as possible. As expected, Booth was in a chair next to the bed. His hands were folded with one of Brennan's between them and his head was bowed as his lips moved in a silent prayer. Angela smiled at him through a mist of tears.
"Hey, Booth. You know, if she was awake and knew you were praying over her, she'd give you hell.," she teased gently.
He looked up, blinking away tears, smiling a bit. "Yeah, well, what she doesn't know won't hurt me," he quipped. He looked back at Brennan. "I was scared, Angela. Really terrified. I don't even wanna think about going on without her," he admitted hoarsely.
Angela moved to stand beside him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know, Booth. She feels the same way about you."
He stroked the soft skin of Brennan's hand. "I can't go on like this, Angela. I have to convince Cullen to reassign me to the Jeffersonian. Any ideas?" He looked at her hopefully and her heart went out to him at the pain in his face.
"Nobody can keep her safe like you can, Booth. All you have to do is convince Cullen of that," she said as though it were the simplest thing in the world.
He looked back at Brennan. "I don't know about that. Since she started working with me, she's been kidnapped, shot at and threatened by gang leaders." He paused and turned his head to fix a steady look on Angela. "Did I ever tell you why I was late to the Duarte funeral that day?" he asked suddenly. She lifted her brows in query. "I found out that gang leader, I don't even remember the asshole's name, put out a contract on her. I tracked him down and I put a gun in his mouth and I told him if anything happened to her I was going to kill him. Do you know what Cullen would do if he ever found out?" He went on without waiting for an answer. "I'd probably be done with the Bureau, and I knew that, but I didn't care. And that was before I'd realized what she meant to me."
Angela sighed wistfully. That was so romantic in a kind of twisted, violent way. She realized Booth was looking at her expectantly. "I wish I had some amazingly profound advice to give you, but I don't really know Cullen as well as you do. I don't know what would change his mind. But you can't go wrong speaking from the heart."
'That's because you're a heart person," Brennan said weakly. They both turned to look at her.
"Sweetie!" Angela said softly, smiling down at her friend and moving closer. "How do you feel?"
"Headache," she said hoarsely. She licked her cracked lips. "Water?" she asked.
Booth grabbed a cup off the small table by the bed and held the straw for her. She drank deeply then laid back, closing her eyes. She opened them again, fixing her gaze on Booth. "How long?" she asked, sounding a little stronger.
"You've been out for about seven hours. Do you remember what happened?"
Brennan smiled a bit guiltily. "I went down the hall. Then shots. Should have waited for Phillips, but you know me," she said wryly.
Booth squeezed her hand. "We'll talk about that later. For now, you need to rest so you can get well enough to go home."
Brennan frowned, shaking her head. "It wasn't Phillips fault. Booth, make sure Cullen knows, it wasn't his fault. It was mine," she finished weakly.
Angela tapped Brennan's leg. "Don't worry about Phillips, Bren. I'm sure Cullen's not going to fire him or anything," she said reassuringly.
"Better not, or he'll have to deal with me," Brennan threatened with a hint of her usual spirit. "When can I go home?"
Booth shot a glance at Angela then looked down at Brennan. "Doctor said a couple days. You're lucky to be alive," he reminded her with a catch in his voice. Every time he thought of how close it had been, his heart skipped a beat.
"I know," she said. "Not the first time," she reminded him.
He blinked tears back. "That doesn't make it any easier to handle," he said softly as her grip on his hand slackened and sleep claimed her once more.
Angela squeezed his shoulder. "I'm gonna go now, okay? I'll come by tomorrow to see how she's doing. Don't let her get up before the doctor says its okay no matter what. You know how stubborn she can be."
"I know. I'm staying the night. See ya tomorrow."
He didn't look up as she walked to the door and turned to glance back at him. He was straightening the covers with unsteady hands and her heart went out to him. In spite of the circumstances her heart lifted. Brennan had finally found a keeper.
Brennan went home three days later to find that Booth had completely moved in. He spent the next four days waiting on her tirelessly, to the point she wanted him to go back to work so she could have some peace. He agreed reluctantly after she promised to call him immediately if she needed him. Phillips came to see her the day Booth returned to work.
He sat stiffly in the chair she offered, completely at a loss for words. He was happy to see there was color in her face and she seemed to be recovering well.
"Cullen reassigned me," he told her regretfully.
Brennan sighed. "I thought he would. Are you okay with that?" she asked, concerned that her actions might have harmed his career in some way.
He smiled wryly. "Yeah, it's okay. I've been reassigned to Homeland Security. Not as exciting as homicide, but at least I don't have to deal with dead bodies any more."
"Sounds boring," she said, only halfway teasing. "Do you work alone or do you have a partner?"
"For now I'm training under Agent Connors. When he cuts me loose I'll be on my own." His eyes searched hers for a long moment. "I'm sorry you were hurt. I keep thinking there was something I could have done to prevent—"
Brennan sighed impatiently. "How many times do I have to have this conversation? You did nothing wrong. Ask Booth, I'm far too impulsive for my own good. Now, please, don't waste any more time thinking about it." He looked somewhat relieved.
"Do you know who your new liaison is?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Not yet. I'll probably return to work next week and Cullen will let me know then." She sighed. "I wish he'd let me have Booth," she said wistfully.
Looking down at his folded hands, he searched desperately for something positive to say. "I'm sure he'll send a very capable agent," was all he could come up with.
"But you don't think it'll be Booth," she said sadly.
He looked up to find her watching him steadily. "No," he said bluntly. Her lips thinned and he felt sorry for her. Booth really was the best man for the job, but Cullen didn't agree. Phillips just hoped Cullen realized he was wrong before something really bad happened. Mumbling about getting to work, he took his leave.
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