I know, I know! Sorry this chapter is so short, but more to come! Love all your reviews! Everyone is so sweet!
This is especially for jerseybones, who called the last chapter, momentous! You are so great!
Brennan glanced over at Booth in the passenger seat. He had been strangely silent ever since they had left the hospital. He hadn't even complained about not being able to drive, not that she would have given in anyway. She hadn't planned on coming alone, but Angela had something come up at the last minute, and Hodgins and Zack were nowhere to be found. But he hadn't asked her anything, and she was relieved. She still hadn't figured out what she was going to say. She didn't want to tell him about the dreams. Dreams that forced her to work until she was so exhausted that she fell into a sleep so deep that the nightmares couldn't follow. Nightmares where she couldn't save him, and he died, and she was again all alone.
This was exactly why she hadn't let anyone get close to her. Until Booth had come along. And now she had to end it. They could be partners, nothing more. She had thought, when he lay near death, that she should have told him how she felt, but now she realized that she couldn't. If she didn't care about anyone, they couldn't hurt her. Not by leaving, not by dying. If she didn't care, emotions couldn't cloud her judgement. She had to put her feelings aside, to forget, to go back to the way she was before she let Booth into her life, into her heart.
Booth stared out the window, lost in thought. He had so much that he wanted to say, so much to tell her, but he knew he had to wait. He knew she was upset that she had had to come alone, but he knew that was the only way he could get her to open up to him, to let him in. If there was one thing he had learned through the years, it was that you couldn't keep everything bottled up inside you, or it would explode. He knew it was hard for her to lean on someone. He just had to get her to see that she couldn't go through this alone. He closed his eyes, and leaned his head back, thinking of her.
Brennan stopped the car in front of Booth's apartment building. She turned to him. His eyes were closed. She watched his face for a moment, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him. This was going to be a lot harder than she thought. She had to do it, though. For his sake as well as for hers. But not today if she could help it. She would get him up to his apartment, get him settled, and then leave. She took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "Booth, we're here." When he didn't answer, she reached out and touched his shoulder.
Booth's eyes flew open at her touch. He looked into her eyes. He wasn't sure what he saw there, and that was unusual, because he could usually read her pretty well.
"We're here" she repeated. She pulled back from him, and got out of the car. She went over to his side, but he was already out. "Booth, you should really let me help you. You're still not up to full strength."
"I'm fine, Bones. I don't need your help to get to my apartment." He smiled. "If you notice, I didn't need a wheelchair to leave the hospital, either."
"Only because you used your charm smile on the nurse. She would have let you do just about anything."
Booth shrugged. "Hey, whatever works. I'm not an invalid." Booth walked up the steps into the building. He was trying to put up a good front, but he would definately have to take the elevator. He was in no shape to tackle the stairs, even to show her up.
Brennan followed him into the elevator. He was trying to put on a good show, but she knew he was still in a lot of pain. It hurt her to see him like this. She tried to tell herself that it wasn't her fault that he got shot, but the truth was, he would have been more alert to the danger if they hadn't been so caught up in each other. Just another reason that this couldn't work.
The elevator doors opened, and she followed him out into the hallway. He opened his apartment door, and walked inside. She took a deep breath, and followed him in.
Sorry to leave it like that, but...okay maybe I'm not! lol! Come on, review! You know you want to, and if you do, maybe there'll be another chapter later tonight!