Booth saw the man lying on the ground in the middle of the road. He ran up to him, trying to see if he was okay, and to find out if his attacker was still around. When he saw no one else, he cursed under his breath and dropped down next to the man.
"Hey buddy, you okay?" He rolled the man onto his back, relieved that his groan didn't sound laced with pain. "Are you hurt?"
"I think I startled the poor fellow is all," the man said as he sat up and began to dust off his clothes. "It's not often that one sees someone literally drop in on them."
"Well next time you should be more careful, this isn't exactly the safest area of town." Booth offered the man a hand and pulled him to his feet. He was curious about where he'd come from because of the unusual accent he seemed to have. It sounded somewhat like a Spanish accent, but there was something different about it.
"Is that why you chose that bridge to jump?" Booth looked at the man, somewhat alarmed.
"What are you talking about?"
"You were planning to jump and didn't want it to look like a suicide. That's why you chose this particular bridge, isn't it?" The man looked at Booth calmly as the FBI agent tried to come up with something to say. How in the hell could this stranger know what he was planning to do? The thought had only formed in his mind a few hours earlier, and it wasn't like he discussed it with anyone at all, so how would a perfect stranger know anything about the suicidal thoughts?
"Look, I don't know what your deal is buddy, but I think you need to get out of here."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that Seeley."
"Okay, now you're freaking me out here so stop with the '2001: A Space Odyssey' act." Booth watched as the other man frowned, wearing an expression he'd only ever saw on his own partner's face one too many times.
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean. I think you'll find that modern references are lost on me. I was sent here to help you, because throwing away God's greatest gift isn't the answer. Life is too precious to throw away," the man said as he kept his eyes on Booth. Seeley didn't quite know what to think of the rather odd Mediterranean featured man as they continued their stare off. Finally Booth shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck.
"You know, you're probably right. It would probably be better if I'd never been born at all. The odd man raised an eyebrow at Booth and crossed his arms.
"Are you sure about that? Do you really think that would be a better option?"
"Sure, I mean that way I wouldn't have been a disappointment to anyone, and this whole situation would never have occurred." Booth watched as the man shook his head and sighed. He looked heavenward for a moment as if he was praying for some sort of patience or something and finally returned his gaze to Booth.
"Well, this isn't something that we normally would do, but if you honestly think that this world would be better off if you'd never been born so be it. You, Seeley Booth have never existed." A gust of wind blew over the road, swirling the snow up around both of the men. Booth frowned as the throbbing in his face from where he was punched seemed to disappear completely. He reached up to touch the bruised skin, but found that it didn't hurt at all.
"Huh, that's odd."
"What's odd?"
"My eye doesn't hurt anymore."
"That's because you weren't punched in the face." The man and Booth once again held each other's gazes and finally Booth sighed. He was worried about the guy, and while he didn't think the man was crazy, he did think that maybe he needed some help.
"Okay fine, I don't have a black eye anymore. Look, I think I could use a stiff drink, and I'm thinking that maybe you do to. Why don't you come with me and I'll buy you something."
"Oh, I don't drink alcohol, but I'm sure that the facility would have something to refresh me," he smiled as the two men began the walk away from the bridge. Something about the man bothered Booth, but he wasn't quite sure what it was. It wasn't anything bad at all, it was more that as strange as it was that the man knew who he was and why he was on the bridge, he managed to comfort at the same time.
"You never said what your name was. I mean obviously you know who I am, but you didn't give your name."
"Most know me as Anthony."
"Well Anthony, I think you'll like Wong Foo's. I know the owner, Sid and he'll be able to get you just what you need."
"That sounds wonderful, thank you."
The pair walked in silence for a while, Booth wondering why he was so trusting of this man that knew so much about what he was thinking or feeling. He could tell the man was relatively young, maybe forty at the oldest, and there was just something so peaceful about him. Anthony had a truly comforting presence about him and he put Booth at ease with no real effort on his part.
"So Anthony, I'm guessing you're not from around here." Booth looked over at his companion, noting that the man smiled, though he didn't look in Booth's direction.
"No. I hail originally from Lisbon."
"So you are European. I was wondering about the accent."
"You're a perceptive man Seeley, and always have been. I wonder then how it is that you perceive that you've done harm to those in your life."
"At this point I don't see how I've done any real good. I mean I did so much harm in the Army to others that I'm just trying to make up for my sins now."
"Ah, I see. Even you should know that killing in the course of serving your country isn't considered a sin in the eyes of the Lord. You did not take it upon yourself to end the life of another individual because of rage or jealousy. You've always done so to protect others, and that is not a sin, far from it."
"Yeah well regardless, people have died under my watch and that is my fault. I should have protected them better."
"Do you truly believe that, or are you just using it as a means to torture yourself? God is great in his wisdom and knows that you've done the best that you could. You yourself have said that He only gives you what you can handle. It is up to you how you face those challenges." Booth glanced over at Anthony as they continued their walk. The traffic was getting heavier and he was glad to know they were nearing the restaurant and bar of his friend. The sooner he could be sure that Anthony was somewhere safe and warm instead of unconscious in the middle of a street, then the better off he would be.
"How is it that you seem to know so much about me?" Anthony smiled and finally glanced over at Booth.
"I think you'll find I know everything about you Agent Booth. I was sent here to help you find your way back. It's a sad thing when someone loses their path in life or their will to live. There are a lot of people who care about you and want to see you safe."
"Yeah? I can't imagine who would feel that way. All I manage to do is disappoint everyone around me." Booth let out a sigh and opened the door to Wong Foo's, letting Anthony in first. He was relieved to be somewhere familiar to him so the weirdness of the evening could be evened out a bit.
"Oh don't be ridiculous. There are plenty of people who love you and care about you. How could you think that they don't? I think you'd be surprised to know the number of lives you've touched."
"Yeah and not for the better I think," Booth said as he sat down at the bar, Anthony taking the seat next to him.
"Never have I met a man more negative about himself than you. You led a wonderful life; I just don't think you realized how good it was." Anthony glanced over at the bartender who had approached them in the middle of the conversation. He seemed to be scrutinizing Booth for a long moment before starting to speak.
"You look like someone who's lost his way a bit, but I think I know just the thing to cheer you up, and you," the bartender turned to look at Anthony, his eyes widening a bit in awe of the rather simple looking fellow. "I'll get you a little something to warm you up. It's a cold night out tonight."
"Thanks Sid," Booth said, earning the attention of the man behind the counter.
"How the heck do you know my name when I don't know you from Adam?"
"What are you talking about? I'm in here with Bones all the time."
"Who the hell is Bones?" Booth opened his mouth to answer, obviously confused about why Sid didn't recognize him.
"My partner, Temperance Brennan."
"Look man, I don't know who you are, or who this Bones person is, but I want you to listen closely. I'll get your drinks, but you finish them and get out. I'm not going to have some weirdo in here stirring up trouble for my other patrons." With that, Sid walked away. Booth glanced at Anthony, not sure what the heck was going on.
"I don't get it. I've known Sid for almost ten years. Why the hell wouldn't he know who I am?"
"It's because you don't exist. You said yourself that you wished that you'd never been born, and Seeley Booth never was. You are no longer him, and have never met Sid before tonight."
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it? Is it also ridiculous that your black eye has gone away?" Booth growled in the back of his throat. He'd been pretty accommodating up to that point but now this stranger was really beginning to get on his nerves.
"I have had just about enough of this whole mystical act. I got you here, and you're out of danger, so I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me alone and get back to wherever the hell it is that you came from."
"Oh? And where is it that you plan to go?"
"Where I plan to go is none of your business." Booth pulled out his wallet and threw down a few bills on the bar to cover the cost of any drinks brought out and left the bar in a huff. Whatever Anthony's deal was, it was driving him crazy and he just wanted to get back home and try to pretend this whole day hadn't happened.
He jammed his hands into his pockets and began walking. He really wished that he hadn't left his SUV over at Bone's place because he could use it right about now, what with the cold wind and all. Changing his destination, he decided instead to make it over to Rebecca's house. Maybe his ex would give him a chance to better explain the circumstances and not take away his visitations with Parker.
It took him about forty five minutes to get there, but when he did, he frowned. The house was no longer decorated with Christmas lights, and the overly happy elf wasn't on the front porch. He brushed off the feeling of wrongness invading his gut and made his way to the front porch. After knocking, it took a moment for the door to be opened, but the woman answering the door certainly wasn't his ex.
"Yes, can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Rebecca Stinson, is she in?" The woman smiled at him in a pitying sort of way.
"I'm sorry, but there's no one here by that name. You must have the wrong address." Booth looked at the numbers on the house, but it was indeed the correct house.
"Oh, okay, well thanks ma'am."
"Of course. Merry Christmas young man." She smiled again at him and shut the door. Booth turned away from the door and nearly jumped out of his skin as he saw Anthony standing there.
"If you'd told me where you were going then I could have saved you the trip. Rebecca doesn't live her and never has. As a matter of fact, she never had Parker because she never met you."
"Don't you dare say that! How could my son not exist?"
"He doesn't exist because you don't. When are you going to realize that you are more important than you think you are?"