IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'M BAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hi, people!! Missed everyone like CRAZY. Anyway…didn't get as much writing in as I hoped but I'll make up for it fast…enjoy this madness that filled up the plane ride home between Meet the Robinsons and The Last Mimzy.
Chapter 9
Temperance stood in the doorway transfixed. She'd heard what the young woman had said despite the weakness in her voice and she could see confusion and pain flit across Booth's face. It didn't make any sense. She'd seen the picture of Schuyler's family and Booth looked nothing like her father. She'd been hitting on him since the moment they'd met. How could she confuse the two men?
"She's lost in the nightmare, Bones…"
She focused on Booth once more and saw all the sadness in his face…and the sympathy. He looked up at her and sighed.
"I've been there a few times myself…it's so bad that reality stops existing. Anything can become a prop bent to the will of the fear."
Her heart broke for her partner and she watched determination settle on his face as he turned back to the terrified girl.
Seeley looked back at Schuyler. Her eyes were still wide and tearful…as well as glassy and unfocused. He knew from experience that, unless it played out, the nightmare would keep coming back.
He reached out slowly and brushed the loose hair back from her face.
"I'm here, sweetie…"
"Daddy, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"
"It's not you fault, Schuyler."
She started to sob once more before launching herself into his arms.
"It is, Daddy. I shouldn't have done it…I should've killed him…I should've done it…"
"No…no, sweetie…"
"Yes…I should've…but I couldn't…I was scared, Daddy…I didn't want to die…"
He felt the tears building behind his eyes. He forced them down and hugged her.
"I know…I know you didn't…"
She sniffled and whimpered.
"It's blue today, Daddy…"
He turned to look at Brennan who was looking just as confused.
"What was that?"
She looked up at him, her broken heart in her eyes.
"Schuy is blue today, Daddy…"
Tears finally broke free from his eyes and he hugged her tightly again as the realization of her words filled him. It must've been something between them…her and her father.
"I know, sweetheart…but it'll be OK…it'll all be OK…"
"You'll make it better? Like you do with everything?"
The innocence in her voice shone through the sadness.
He wanted so badly to say 'yes'…but if he did it would keep coming back to her that her father really hadn't made it better…
"No…no, Schuy, I can't…"
"Why?"
Her eyes were sad again and tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Why can't you fix it?"
He stroked her hair and dried her tears.
"I'm not here, baby. Not anymore. And I know you know that…but someone's gonna help you…"
"No one helps me…no one ever helped me…not once…"
"Someone is this time, Schuy…I need you to trust them…they'll help you make this better…"
"I don't know if I can…"
"You go slow, sweetie…take your time…you can trust them though…they won't hurt you…"
She sighed softly through her tears before resting her head on his chest and curling into his arms like a sleepy child.
"Promise," she asked tiredly.
"I promise, Schuy."
"K, Daddy…love you, Daddy…"
He kissed the top of her head like a true father.
"Love you too, baby girl."
No one in the room moved until Seeley felt her breathing even out and her body relax. He stood slowly and turned to the bed to see Brennan holding the blankets back for him. Her face was turned from him. He put her down and pulled the blankets back over her before they both left the room, Brennan walking ahead of him.
When they reached the living room he went to the couch and sank onto it, sighing. He couldn't help himself anymore…the exhaustion and sadness washed over him for everything that poor girl had suffered. Just as the tears leaked from his eyes he heard the second sound that night that made his heart stop.
A woman…fully grown…fighting sobs.
A/N: Well we all know who that is…emotionally charged BB up next people!!!!
