"If he isn't going to talk, we'll just have to beat it out of him!"
Booth hardly had the strength to hold his head up. How long had he been in captivity? Hours? Days? Weeks? He couldn't recall the last time he'd had food or water; anything of sustenance for that matter. His captors had taken a sick pleasure in using him to be their human punching bag. Still, not a word would pass his lips. Too many lives were at stake were he to give the information they wanted out of him.
Time slowed to a crawl while he nearly had the life violently beaten out of him. All he could do was shut his eyes and brace his body as well as he could for the repeated onslaught. Just as he was sure the next impact would end his suffering, a voice intervened. "You can quit. The boss wants to see you two."
"Damn. We were just getting started."
"Take a break. You've done enough damage. Besides, we don't want to kill him yet. Now go." Whomever he was, he spoke with authority in his voice.
Footsteps shuffled out of the room. Booth felt a being kneel besides his broken body. "Seeley, Seeley." He clucked his tongue. "What have you gotten yourself into?"
Booth knew he'd heard this voice before. His rattled brain was easily confused. But this was too unmistakable to be anything else. All the strength he had left was poured into the effort of opening just a single eye. His suspicion was confirmed, but still it was difficult to believe who had taken vigil at his side.
A plate of food sat before him. A glass of water off to the side. "This could be yours, Seeley. Just give it up."
"I'd rather die," he finally hissed.
"I wouldn't say that too loud. These men are more than willing to make that happen. You never should have gotten mixed up in this. This world isn't for you, Seeley. You should have known better." His visitor edged the plate of food towards him. "You can't keep this up. You know that. There's a chance they'll let you live if you just-"
"I'd rather die." He reiterated.
A sigh. "I was really afraid you'd say that. They're not playing around anymore." The man backed off. "You did this to yourself."
Fate stepped in before further damage could be inflicted. A black curtain induced his artificial night.
Brennan had no more than her thoughts to keep her company for the next few hours. The hum of the car's engine was like a sweet lullaby to Booth's ears. She'd watched him try to fight it for the first twenty minutes of their journey before he succumbed to his exhaustion. He'd slumped in his seat, and his head had come to rest on the window besides him. Soon she heard his breathing deepen. She'd left him undisturbed ever since.
Which naturally juiced her thoughts. What was to happen to them? What was to become of their family? Heading north was fine plan - for now. But what happened when they reached the Canadian border? If Booth was trying to evade the FBI (as he seemed to be) then how would he be able to leave the country? Both his real name and his alias would be a waving white flag to the organization.
That transitioned into other questions burning up a hole within her. Just why was he hiding from the bureau? Booth was a commendable agent. He had immense respect from his peers and superiors. She couldn't believe that none of them would be willing to aid them now. So what had happened? What had he seen during his abduction that had turned him away from the only people they should have been able to trust? The question had her reeling in fear for him; the fear of the unknown. His entire belief system had been changed. What would that do to his spirit?
They were midway through Colorado when Booth woke from his extended nap. He said little to her, preferring to keep his eyes on the passing scenery. At long last his other eye was beginning to open again. It still was hideous to look at, and she questioned how well he could see. She thought about asking him but knew the effort would be fruitless. He wouldn't admit to anything. And it was his silence that she detested. That morning she was sure she'd broken through his needlessly tough exterior. She'd foolishly thought the two had come to a place of understanding; of compromise. Now she was back to feeling as though they were back on shaky ground. "Booth?"
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
"I would like to stop soon at a rest area. I need a break. I would think by now you need one as well."
He shrugged noncommittally. She tried to stifle her sigh of frustration. There was just no real way of getting through to him, despite what he'd led her to believe. Never before had she seen him lock himself up so tightly. His inner conscious could be rivaled with Fort Knox, and just as difficult to break into. Some things you're better off not knowing. His words came back to her. But what was she better off not knowing? And honestly, for whom did it really benefit?
Given that she wasn't getting any real responses from him she opted not to say anything more. The next rest stop was located in amongst a forest preserve. A stone building stood out against the backdrop of pine trees. The site was mostly abandoned with the exception of an elderly couple walking off their aches and pains. She stopped in the first parking space. She glanced over at Booth to find he'd drifted off again. The amount in which he was sleeping troubled her. His injuries had been expansive, and he'd left the hospital much too soon. That much was true. But had they realized the steep cost of such a brash decision? How would he fare being constantly on the move? Was this game of cat and mouse worth his life?
Before she exited the car she pressed her lips against his cheek. The warmth in his skin surprised her. His doctor at the hospital said he was running a fever. Perhaps later I can persuade him to take some aspirin. As if she didn't have enough to worry about. Resignedly she sighed, and left him alone to rest. There would be plenty of time that afternoon to voice to him her concerns.
Though she couldn't have been gone more than five minutes, it was still enough for Booth to disappear from sight. She stood on the sidewalk glaring at the empty passenger seat in annoyance when his voice floated over to her. She was steadfast in creeping around the grounds to find him. Fortunately, he hadn't gone far. He'd stayed on the path that led around out back of the building. He stood solitary, leaning against the wall with his back to her. A cell phone was pressed up against his ear, which drew her confusion. Why would he not have turned it off? He knows how easily he can be tracked.
He had no idea he was no longer alone. Discreetly she hid herself back around the corner, close enough so she could still hear his one sided conversation, but far enough away that she could make a hasty escape if required.
"I appreciate it, but you can't call me anymore. I'm not alone. I don't want to bring anyone else into this." There was a period of silence before he spoke again. "Yeah. I know. Look, if I uh… if I hand myself over to them, will they leave my family alone?" There was a tremor in his voice.
Brennan inhaled a sharp breath. No, Booth!
"Yeah. Yeah, I know. Look, you're telling me everything I already know. If it will keep them safe then I'm willing. It's worth it."
It seemed even the stranger on the other end knew Booth's intentions were pure suicide. Brennan's heart pounded like a bongo drum. She felt lightheaded, and panicked. I can't let him go. I can't let him do this.
"It's not just me I gotta think about anymore." He abruptly snapped, pulling her away from her anxiety ridden thoughts. "I know they don't know, but I just assume keep it that way. If that's what it takes to protect them then I'll do it. Listen, I gotta get back to the car. Once we get settled tonight I'll call you again. But you can't call me. Don't text me. Let me contact you."
Brennan slunk away. If there was more conversation to be had she couldn't bear to hear it. This wasn't the first time she'd had to face her fear of having a life without Booth in it. Their jobs were dangerous, and she'd always accepted the risk without a backwards glance. She trusted in Booth's ability to take care of himself. And throughout the years he'd never let her down. But now to know he was so willing to die without any good, concrete explanation as to why shattered her steely resolve. She was fighting tears as she placed herself back down in the driver's seat of her car.
When Booth joined her a few moments later she couldn't even bring herself to look at him. She felt him slide into his seat besides her. "Hey, sorry. I decided I wanted to go for a little walk. My muscles were cramping."
"I understand," she said softly. Too softly.
He eyed her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just wish you would have found a way to let me know, or waited until I came back so I could join you. I don't appreciate being led to believe I've been abandoned again." The intensity in her tone shocked even herself. She'd always been a lousy liar, in addition to being a terrible actor. Yet her words came out fluidly. Perhaps it was because she wasn't entirely fibbing.
Booth blinked as though she'd slapped him. "I'm… I'm sorry."
"Lets just move on." Roughly she threw the car into reverse.
"Okay." He slouched down in his seat, tilted his head to the side, and shut his eyes.
Only after she was certain he was asleep did she allow her tears to fall.
"Not so tough now, are ya, fed?"
Booth couldn't stop vomiting. It didn't matter that there was nothing in his stomach to expel. His abdomen still clenched as though he'd consumed a five course meal. Anytime he so much as moved his head he was greeted with a ache that ricocheted through his skull. His right eye had swollen completely shut, making his already compromised vision that much worse.
The floor beneath his head vibrated as someone else entered the room. "Orders came from boss, guys. It's time we take a little drive."
Booth winced. He knew what was coming.
"We goin' shootin'?"
"Yeah," said the person he'd trusted; the one who had promised him protection. "It's time."
"Tempe?"
"Yes, Andrew. Hi. What can I do for you?"
"I just have a quick question for you. You aren't with Booth by any chance, are you?"
Pause. "No. Why do you ask?"
"He checked himself out of the hospital a few days ago without our approval. No one has seen or heard from him since. We're getting concerned, Tempe. This isn't like him."
"I'm aware of that. I went to visit him and was told he had left. I have been unable to locate him, and he hasn't contacted me."
"All right. Well if you hear from him, please let us know. Given our suspicions of his behavior… we just really need to question him."
"I understand. If he contacts me I will let you know."
"Thanks, Tempe."
Brennan set her phone down on the hotel bed underneath her. "He's not the only one who's suspicious," she whispered.
