Disclaimer: Bones and its affiliated characters do not belong to me. I mean no copyright infringement.
Spoilers: Season 6 (Includes Promos and spoilers for future episodes)
Author's Notes: You'll see Hannah make an exit here, but she will be back temporarily. After reading this chapter, you'll probably figure out why. Who do you think will end the relationship when she reappears? Booth? Hannah? Is it mutual? It may surprise you.
The consequences of the triangle will remain as everything gradually works out for our beloved couple… hence the name of the fic will continue to apply to the story even when Hannah is gone for good. Don't get too weary. The fluff grows as the relationship is renewed. I love fluff. And the end (of this chapter) is just the beginning.
I left responses to your reviews at the end! (Look carefully for your name, it may be in more than one place. If your name isn't there, it came late and I'll catch you with the next chapter.)
The Trouble in the Triangle
Chapter 9: Time and Space
"Temperance's dad is Grandpa Max?"
"Is there something wrong?"
"Seeley, we need to talk."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Booth didn't have a good feeling about the talk they were about to have. And he was exhausted. He hoped he could manage to get through it without too many consequences.
"I'm tired, Hannah. And in pain. Can we talk later?"
"No Seeley. All you have to do is listen right now." Now Booth knew he was in trouble. A one-sided conversation with Hannah was never good. "Temperance and I talked last night while you were in surgery."
"I know. You shouldn't have told her."
"She was very persistent in knowing why I was ignoring her. Neither one of us knew what you did and didn't tell me. I inadvertently found out more than I bargained for."
Booth was suddenly feeling sick to his stomach. He didn't think the stress could be helping his condition any and was surprised there weren't any monitors beeping. "What do you mean?" He knew he looked guilty. He could read it in her reaction.
"You told me she admitted to having feelings for you beyond friendship. You didn't tell me about her regrets of turning you down. She clammed up when it was obvious I didn't know what she meant. She is very loyal to you. But I insist on hearing from you and I'm not letting it rest."
He was cold and clammy and wishing a nurse would come in and interrupt them. There always seemed to be one when he didn't want to be bothered so, of course, he was out of luck now. He sighed and ran his fingers through his dirty hair. He really needed a shower. It would probably make him feel at least a little better. Hannah raised a brow indicating she was waiting for him to start explaining himself. "Last April, I asked her to give us… a shot at more than friendship."
Hannah didn't know exactly what she was expecting, but this had to be the worst case scenario. Her boyfriend was the initiator of a relationship that didn't develop. She took a deep breath and nodded for him to continue.
"She let me kiss her at first… and then she pushed me away."
"Why?" asked Hannah.
"She said she couldn't change… that she didn't have an open heart."
"Did you fight for her?"
"I thought I did." Now, Booth wasn't so sure he had done enough.
"And then you ran to different parts of the globe and you found me. Ready and more than willing. Why didn't you tell me I was the rebound girl? I had a right to know, Seeley. I feel like a fool."
"No, Hannah. Please. You're not a fool. I love you."
"Are you sure? Or was I just easy when you're heart needed mending?"
"We've been together for nine months." He was annoyed. "How can you say that?"
"I would think it would be pretty obvious. Look, maybe we just need time to make sure of what we're doing with each other is right," explained Hannah.
"Look, I admit that.." He paused unsure of what he was really trying to say and knowing he was probably getting himself into trouble. "I wasn't sure about us when you first came. But our time together, away from war, we have stuck together… made it work."
"Is that all you want, Seeley? Good enough? You're okay with settling for good enough? You never struck me for the kind of person who didn't go for what he wanted with 100% effort. Tell me, Seeley. When Temperance turned you down, was it really a surprise given her history? How long did you fight for her? How long until you had to move on? Did you give her enough time?"
"Why are you asking me these things if… if you think you know the answers… if you think you could be hurt?"
"It's too late for people not to get hurt. So are you ready to face the truth?"
Booth didn't want to answer her questions. He felt safe with Hannah. She was right when she said she was easy. "I think this has all been a shock for you. I think we just need… some time."
"I think you're right. And maybe this wasn't the best time for this. But sometimes, we can't avoid fate's timing." Booth smirked without realizing it. "What's the smirk for?"
"Uh. I was just thinking… how Bones doesn't believe in fate."
Hannah was wondering why it had never bothered her before now about how often he spoke of his partner. How did she not see how unnatural it was? "I think we need more than time."
"What do you mean?"
"I think we need time and space. You're going to be here for probably another 3 or 4 days. I leave for Afghanistan on Tuesday. I was thinking of canceling my trip, but maybe it's for the best if I go. When I get back, we can talk again with clear minds."
"What about until you leave?"
"I'm going to move back into a hotel for now. I need space. I'll call and see how you're feeling. I'm really sorry, Seeley. I feel like I'm being weak and I hate myself for it." There were tears in her eyes and she tried to hide them.
"Come here," he said. She did and he held her to him for several minutes before she walked out of his life for an uncertain amount of time. It scared him immensely, but surprisingly, his heart didn't ache like it did when Bones rejected him.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Booth was asleep when Brennan returned to the hospital in the early evening. She found Angela and Hodgins in the waiting room.
"Sweetie, you look exhausted, but I'm glad you're here."
"I'm glad you're here, too, Dr. B. Booth has been sleeping ever since we got here. I've been trying to get Ange to come home with me. She and the baby need to rest, but she insisted we stay so he didn't wake alone."
Brennan agreed. "Ange, you should get some rest. The stress and extra hours on your feet are not good for you and the baby."
"I'm fine, you two. I'm only 4 months along."
"Stop arguing," demanded Hodgins lovingly.
"I'll probably stay awhile. Is Hannah not here?"
Angela and Hodgins looked at each other as if the other may have the answer. "We don't know where she is Dr. B."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
When Booth woke up, it was dark in his hospital room except for a sliver of light shining through the gap under the door. He felt her before he saw her. From the smell of her shampoo and the touch of her hands, he knew it was Bones. He shifted slightly to look at her. She was holding his good arm so he delicately moved his right arm on the injured side and brushed her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him.
"Hi," he said to her. "You came back."
"I said I would. I was expecting Hannah to be here. Angela and Hodgins didn't see her all evening."
"We're taking a break."
"I don't know what that means."
"Time and space. We need time apart… to make sure we know what we're doing together… to know if it's real and what we want."
"But you're happy together."
"That doesn't mean we're right for each other. It doesn't mean it's fate."
"I don't believe in fate."
"I know."
"You said everything happens eventually. She's what you needed… in Afghanistan and here. She will give you what you want, marriage and a family. She's like you… a perfect fit."
"Maybe that's what it looks like."
"I feel like I hurt you all over again. You wouldn't be questioning this if I hadn't broken down that night. That's why I can't trust emotions. They will always fail me."
"Bones…"
"No, Booth. You found who you needed."
"Did I?"
"Yes. You love her. She isn't a consolation prize."
"I grew to love her. That much is true."
"And you're happy, Booth. I want you to be happy. I wish I had never hurt you, but it turned out for the best. Please forget what I said last week. Please."
"Will you stay?"
"If that's what you want. I'll stay."
He scooted over on the bed. "Here. I made room."
"Booth?"
"Just talk to me."
Against her better judgment, she gently arranged herself next to him on her side. "About what?"
"Anything but the case." He guided her arm to rest on his chest. She was silent for too long. "What's wrong?" asked Booth.
"I don't know what to talk about. We don't talk anymore."
"Well, it's time we fix that, Bones. It's time."
Review Responses
Geraghtyvl & Aching Bones (I remember when I didn't care for Max (S2), now I like him. I think he would be a great one to set Booth straight.) Geraghtyvl (I hope you're right about Hannah. She seems so smug to me and like she pities Brennan.) KlingonGal8489, healingcat, & laurafairlie (Thanks! That's what I needed to know… are there people wanting/needing this as a means to get by rough episodes… and S6 in general.) Boneslover97, CSULBrocks, HouseBonesLove, & Klingon8489 (Yeah… It's Grandpa Max… time to get jealous… long overdue jealousy.) blueskyecloud9 & ScotFree (Yeah, she's seeing that in my story, definitely. Unfortunately, she's not seeing she's not part of the family on the show because it crumbled… IMO anyway.) Tartantrace (LOL Sorry about that. I was thinking more along the lines of catching his breath for a little while. But I'm not a nurse or a doctor. Hopefully, I wasn't so obvious with it this chapter.) Boneslover97 & bones35 (I'm so ready to be rid of her!) JET1967 (I am quite shocked that Angela hasn't confronted Booth especially with the pregnancy hormones. I'm even more shocked that she has given up and told Brennan to move on. It just seems so OOC to me. But maybe the baby has made her more mature? Anyway, she will have a say in things in this story pretty soon. Thanks for the compliment on the line. It's been weighing on me since Hannah's first episode and how shocked Booth looked when he discovered she was staying in D.C. for good.)
~Episode Ratings and Reviews are in my profile near the bottom.~
