The following chapter is entitled 'Old Habits Die Hard'... The title is in reference to a Rolling Stones song of that name. If you get a chance, please listen to it, the lyrics are beautiful, and the message is heartfelt and heartbreaking... and I think it would prepare you for the words that I, myself have written. Thank you and enjoy the chapter!
When he stepped into the lecture hall, he looked around immediately to see if there was anyone around that would recognize him. He was grateful that Hodgins or Angela weren't there, for they would surely ruin the surprise of his arrival, and he certainly didn't want that. He looked at the room, crowded with people from all walks of life. There were educators and students, citizens and even children who were crowding into the seats, most of which speaking French, naturally, a language of which he could understand slightly, but not speak well at all.
He shifted down one of the rows closer to the back, looking down at the darkened stage area where the podium sit alight with a projected presentation in the background. He could feel the anticipation rolling in his belly, though it may be hunger as well, for he hadn't found anything about French cuisine that he could stomach. He sat among several students, their voices hushed in excitement, and Booth couldn't help but feel a swell of pride in his chest for the energy in the room was settling right on his partner's shoulders, and she was the reason for the electricity in the room.
He noticed that a couple of students had copies of her book, and laughed to himself knowing how irritated she would get when people would ask her to sign them when she was working on a different project. She would get that little pout in her lip, her eyes widen as her jaw clicked, and he knew that she was just one straw closer to snapping at them. She was always polite, and never actually snapped at them, but she always knew she was close.
He leaned back in the seat, watching that podium with a childlike excitement, though it wasn't necessarily the speech he was waiting for, but the speaker itself. He couldn't wait to see that radiant woman step up to the podium, to see her eyes sparkling at the excitement of the find, the same excitement that he could feel in each and every one of her letters, e-mails and phone calls. He reached his hand into his pocket, pulling out the object that he held secreted inside. He pulled the long, golden chain from his pocket, and felt the weight of its charm in his fingertips as he brought it to his hands and gently ran his fingers over the finish of the object as it gently clinked against the St. Christopher medal.
He had been lying on his side for a while now, his arms embracing her fully as he buried his nose in her neck, listening to a delicate sigh leave her lips as her head turned to face him. She lifted her hand to his cheek, tenderly running her fingertips over the rough surface of his five o'clock shadow. He lifted his hand to hers, capturing it in his own, he entangled his fingers with hers, wrapping his arm around her, keeping their fingers together, his fingertip rolled over the ring on her finger again and again, twisting it over her tender flesh.
She laughed a throaty laugh, as his forefinger just continued to roll over the ring, twisting and twisting again as his voice resounded a hum that was out of tune and playful. "What are you doing?" She whispered.
"Being with you." He whispered back. "For as long as I can."
"You're half dressed." She said softly, knowing that he had at least slipped his pants back on, she still held his belt buckle in her other hand.
"Or am I half naked?" He whispered into her neck as she laughed, pulling her hand from his, she heard a growl from behind her, and knew that he wasn't happy with the change in position, until she turned completely around in his arms and curled against his chest, holding the buckle in both hands, she twisted the ring on her finger as he kissed her head, letting her look up at him after a moment, he watched her hold a fist to him, obviously holding something in her hand. "What is this?" He asked, his voice husky and soft, tender as could be as she just watched him with wide eyes for a moment, hoping that he'd just simply get the hint, and not force her to explain herself. He held his hand to her, and she slipped the ring into his hand, holding his fist tightly over it, his eyes locked on hers. "Bones, I can't take your mother's ring." He whispered.
"Yes you can." She whispered. "And it's not my mother's ring. It's my ring. It was passed on to me, so that I had something with me that would remind me of her. I want you to have something with you, that reminds you of me."
"Bones…" He said, his voice was filled with warmth and heart, and for a moment he was speechless. "You don't… believe in things like this. You don't do things like this. Things are just things to you."
"Do you believe that?" She asked him sincerely, their eyes never wavering for a moment, not even to blink.
"Do I believe that things are just things? No. I gave you my belt buckle."
"You said you gave it to me to hold onto… so that you wouldn't be a hero, so you wouldn't be arrogant. You said you gave it to me because it wouldn't go well with your fatigues."
"Do you believe that to be true?" He asked.
"Well, I don't think it would go well with your fatigues Booth. I don't believe the army would let you wear it."
"And where would it see better use?" He whispered. "In the bottom of a bag, or in the center of your hand where you can hold it, look at it, and smile… knowing that I'm not being an arrogant ass to someone." He smiled, and his eyes smiled too.
"Take the ring, Booth." She whispered sincerely.
"Bones."
"Why won't you take the ring?" She whispered, feeling tears springing to her eyes. "Please, Booth… just take the ring… Here." She said, reaching down, she found his suit pocket and reached her hand down into it, pushing her body against his, he could feel her hand digging deeply into his pocket, and then pull out from it, he instantly noticed that she had pulled his St. Christopher medal from his pocket.
"Bones." He said, trying to calm her down, her fingers fumbling with the latch on the chain, he reached his hands out and steadied them, catching her eyes with his own, he carefully unhooked the latch on the chain. He then held his hand out, her eyes steady on his, she tenderly placed the ring on his palm and watched as he brought it to his fingertips, and gave her a pointed look. "I will take your ring." He said softly, sliding it down the chain slowly, he listened to the gentle clink of the two metal charms hitting one another. "But I'm giving it back to you when I see you again."
"And I'll give this back… when I see you again." She whispered, giving him a smile as he reached his hands behind his neck and carefully clasped the necklace, letting the two charms sit in his palm.
"Your ring is in very good company." He said softly.
"And it's fitting that the rest against your sternum." She whispered, placing her hand against his bare chest, she watched his smile as he lifted his hand to tuck her hair behind her ear.
"You were already in my heart, baby." He said, leaning down to kiss her tenderly, as the charms clinked together on his neck.
He was suddenly pulled into reality when they began the introduction of the lecturers. They were giving a list of Brennan's accolades and discussing the Maluku exhibition, and how she was leading new strides into some evolutionary… he didn't care, he just wanted to see Brennan, and as the man finished his speech, the crowd of scholars clapped and cheered to welcome her onto the stage, and when she didn't appear, Booth sat up a little straighter in his chair. The people on the small stage appeared to be confused, and one went back behind the small curtain, and hushed whispers could be heard, Booth felt his fingertips moving faster and faster over the pendant and ring in his hand, when someone appeared from the corner of the stage and approached the podium.
He must have gasped out loud at the sight of her, because several students around him stared at him for a moment as she approached the stage. She looked so absolutely frail as she approached the podium, her posture was off, and she had obviously lost a few pounds, her eyes were sunken in a bit, and she looked like she felt absolutely awful. She appeared to be sweating, her hands trembling as she touched the microphone, sending the sound of feedback through the lecture hall, she visibly shuddered.
"Good Afternoon Everyone." She said with a polite smile, but he could hear in her voice the pain, and he needed desperately to know what was wrong, for this wasn't his Bones standing before them, this was a woman in obviously excruciating pain.
He watched her trying to control her pain, from where, he wasn't sure, but he could see she was wearing an excessive amount of makeup, possibly trying to hide the pale of her skin from onlookers. She looked as if she were sweating, so she possibly had a fever, her posture hunched, so possibly a stomachache, and the hand that constantly moved to her temple told him that she had an extremely bad headache.
He watched from afar for as long as he could, knowing that he needed to get closer to her. He watched her click through several slides, moving from the podium for a moment or two, she used a laser pointer to show the audience a few points from her slide as she cleared her throat again and again, her voice not strong at all, and her words were slurring a bit, a cough and a sip of water, she seemed to be clearing things up until she moved to the podium, her hand hit the microphone again, and she stumbled a bit.
It was then that Booth was on his feet, moving quickly and unapologetically down the row, he seemed to be causing a stir with his quick exit, but the attention wasn't brought to the top of the lecture hall for Brennan, her eyes were closed for the moment, steadying herself on the podium.
When he reached the fourth row, he settled in the end seat, just as their eyes met, and he swore that he saw her gasp. He was positive that she knew he was there, and her speech paused for a moment as she stared at him blankly, her expression changing to one of fear, and disappointment, and Booth had absolutely no idea what to do. She was obviously confused, and with another moment, she turned her attention from him and focused on the audience.
It was then that he noticed from his vantage point, that she was rubbing her nose a bit with the back of her hand, and without noticing, she had left a crimson red mark on her hand. He stood up immediately, her focus now on her cards as she noticed the drops of blood that were spattering from her nose onto the cards. He tried to get to her, and was pulled by the other academics as he called to her, but she seemed completely out of it. He broke free from the men holding him back and reached for her. "Bones!" He exclaimed, reaching for her just as her body tumbled backwards just as he broke free from the arms of the other people on the stage, her body landing completely against his, the blood flowing down her face, he held her in his arms.
"Bones, come on, baby… come on, baby, look at me!" He exclaimed, her eyes opening, she stared at him as if she were frightened, her eyes showing fear and disappointment, sadness, her eyes staring straight into him, straight into his soul as he called to her again and again, hoping to jar her into reality. He could feel how wet she was from her sweat, how hot her skin was to the touch, how the sweat glistened on her face and neck and he barked at everyone around him to give her space. "Bones, please, baby…Bones… don't fade on me." He said, seeing her eyes. "Bones, don't fade on me, stay with me, Bones… Please." He said, as suddenly her eyes closed, and her body fell limp against him, her hand once holding his tightly, had gone loose, as suddenly he felt the arms of law enforcement pulling him away from her, and even against his protests, they took her from him in such haste, that he didn't even get a chance to kiss her lips before she was taken from his grasp. They whisked backstage as he struggled and fought against the hands of law enforcement to get to her, just so that he could assure himself that she was breathing, and that he hadn't held her until her last breath, that haunting look in her eyes turning his soul to ice.
