A/N: I realise that it's been a while. I was at home over the Christmas/New Year break and didn't really spend anytime writing. And since I've been back in Melbourne everything has been hectic trying to get my Uni sorted out for the year (and it's still not done either).
Thank you to everyone who has been patient with this, I'm going to try and work on this a little bit more before Uni goes back and as always to Immy who is always awesome (even if we haven't talked properly in ages).
Finally (and I'm nearly done) this is for my dearest Squishy dog CJay who we had to put to sleep recently, Sleep peacefully Sweetheart and say Hi to Courtney for us. XXOO
Chapter 7
Quickly I follow Booth from the building, despite my cries he shows no obvious sign that he's going to stop. I chase him out to the SUV banging on the window as he fumbles for the right key. Tears streaming down my cheeks I yell apologies through the glass, begging him to come out and allow me to explain. Intent on shutting me out like I did him, he starts the engine and speeds off as I fall to the ground, my body racked with sobs as I half sit, half lie on the filthy asphalt.
A while later a pair of familiar heels stop in front of me and I look up to see Angela standing above me, her hand stretched out toward me. "Sweetie," she says gently as I slide my hand into hers and she pulls me to my feet. My legs, unwilling to be straightened after so long buckle underneath me and I stumble into Angela almost knocking her to the ground as a fresh batch of tears start falling. Those who are passing by stop to stare as Angela attempts to walk me inside, a task made much more difficult with my extra weight leaning on her shoulder. Somehow we make it to her office and she sits me down, handing me a bottle of water. "Bren, what happened?" she asks, even though I'm sure she saw Booth running away earlier and it doesn't take an idiot to realise that something happened with us. I wipe angrily at the tears, trying to suppress a sniffle, "I was working and He came in. He kept saying that it never happened, that I was asking for it." I take a moment to compose myself again. "Booth overheard us fighting…he knows what happened. He left. God he was so angry." I dab a newly acquired tissue against my tearstained cheeks. "Bren, you need to find him. Explain. Fix it, do whatever you need." I nod miserably. I'm not exactly looking forward to the conversation but I knew everything had to be in the open even if that meant rehashing long suppressed memories.
An hour later I gather up enough courage to attempt to find my long disappeared boyfriend. Taking my car I head off in the direction of the Diner hoping that Booth was there trying to calm down. Pulling up a block away I lock my car, the token beep filling the busy city street. Throwing my bag over my shoulder I slowly make my way through the hundreds of people who are currently filling the sidewalk. Once inside I scan the Diner and see the back of Booth's head, slouched over in a booth by the window. I sit beside him, the seat depressing slightly under my added weight. "I think we need to talk," I say quietly.
"I think that we do," he replies, hesitance evident in his voice.
"Not here," I whisper, knowing this isn't a conversation that will be suitable for such a public place. I slide off the seat and gesture for Booth to follow me. Throwing a bill on the table, he follows me outside. "We'll go to my place," I tell him, turning towards my car.
The key turns in the lock, a distinctive 'snap' filling the air as the lock slips back into the door. I push the door slightly and it falls open. I hear footsteps behind me and I turn around to see Booth coming toward me slowly. I reach my hand out to him and he ignores it, stepping inside the apartment behind me. We each take a seat at opposite ends of the couch, "Well…" He said, gesturing for me to begin.
"When I was sixteen, I lived with the O'Daley's. They were ok people. They gave me somewhere to eat and sleep and I was grateful for it…I'd been there for close to a month when I was in my bed one night and he came in," I swiped at the tears that were falling as the memories were uprooted again, "He came over to the bed and climbed on me. As soon as he pinned me down I had a fair idea of what was going to happen." I watched Booth's reaction and his continuing silence convinced me that I was the one who had to the talking in this instance. "I was knocked unconscious and when I came to he was gone and I was covered in blood. I dragged myself to the nearest hospital and they confirmed what I already knew, he'd raped me," more tears fell as I failed to stem the flow. I shake my head, trying to regain some composure. "Charges were laid and I was taken out the house. I can remember Clarice coming into my hospital room and accusing me of initiating it. She was screaming that her husband would never do anything like that that it must've been my fault because I was a foster kid and that is apparently what we do.
"When it finally went to Court I was living with another family, they didn't care about what was happening…they didn't even stay for the trial, they were too busy with their own lives to give a shit about what I went through. When it was all over the Jury found him not guilty. Apparently the fact that he had money and came from a normal family meant more to them than what I was subjected to." Wiping at the tears that were free falling, I was vaguely aware of a hand coming to rest on my own, squeezing it lightly. Slightly comforted, I continued, "I don't talk about it because it's painful and it's no one else's business. It's over now and there isn't anything that is going to change what happened." Silently Booth continued to run his fingers over my hand gently as I attempted to stem the flow of tears. "I'm sorry," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the side of my head, "That you had to go through that alone." He paused, barely managing to choke back his own tears and as I reached up to wipe away the tears that had escaped. Sliding my head behind his head I pulled him closer so our heads were resting against one another.
I'm not sure how long we lay there together but sometime later we were disturbed by a knock at the door. Pulling my arms up above my head I stretch out the kinks that have formed in my back. I shuffle slowly towards the door, turning back to find Booth watching me, an adoring look plastered across his face. I give him a small smile and pull the door open. It's Angela. A large pizza box and a six pack of beer balanced in her arms she smiles brightly. "I bought pizza and beer," she states the obvious and I gesture for her to come inside. She makes her way to the lounge and I follow behind, taking my place back on the couch, Booth's arm sliding back around me. "Hey Booth," Angela greets him, passing a beer over to him, "I see you two have sorted everything out then."
"We've talked," I offer, not elaborating. As much as I love Ange, the conversation Booth and I had earlier is between us, and I'd like to keep it that way. There are some things she just doesn't get to know, things that I want to keep in the past where they belong, where I'll never have to think about them again.
A/N: What did we think?? I'm not to sure about the ending but it does have some meaning in the craziness that is my mind and all will be revealed soon. Thanks for reading.
