Breathe Again

Seeley Booth was irritated as hell. Even though Christmas was three days ago, he always felt like the holiday season didn't really end until after New Years. And now, the irascible Dr. Temperance Brennan was trying her hardest to get on his last nerve and completely ruin what was already shaping up to be one of the worst Christmases of his life. And considering his childhood, that was saying something.

"Bones, I am serious about this. Just because you've sat in on a few interrogations doesn't mean that you are qualified to run one all by yourself. Besides, it would be irresponsible of me to leave you in there alone with a potential killer."

"Seriously, Booth? That's what your problem is? I know you are fully aware that I am trained in three types of martial arts, and could probably defend myself better than most of your precious FBI agents ever could! Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Brennan crossed her arms over her chest and dug in her heels for the fight.

Blowing an irritated breath out his nostrils, Booth leaned into her slightly. "I know that you are more than capable of taking care of yourself. However, you are not an FBI agent, and you are not authorized to conduct an interrogation without supervision. I am also aware that the idea you have to talk to Jenkins will only work if you are there alone, but I cannot and will not allow it. End of discussion."

Brennan regarded Booth darkly. Even someone as clueless at reading people as she could see that Booth was not going to bend on this one. "Fine." She huffed. "But I need you to keep quiet and let me speak. Just sit there and look pretty, I can handle the rest."

Rolling his eyes, Booth opened the door to the observation room. "Whatever you say, Sweet Cheeks."

Two hours later, as they sat side by side on the hospital gurney, Brennan refused to look at Booth directly. Some of that reticence was by necessity, partially because she couldn't turn her head more than a few centimeters due to the immensely painful bruising on her delicate neck. She wanted to tell Booth that he had been right, that she was completely out of her depth when it came to questioning witnesses, but her enormous pride kept her mouth shut.

For his part, Booth was brooding as well, but for completely different reasons. He had desperately wanted to be wrong about Brennan in the interrogation room, despite what she believed. He wanted her to succeed, if only to see those beautiful eyes of hers sparkle in triumph. He knew that she was sitting there next to him, trying to find a way to acknowledge that he had been right all along, but he found that he needed no part of that validation. Remembering the look on Jenkins's face when he grabbed her around the neck and threw her to the ground, the way he refused to let her go, even when Booth held his gun to the man's head, until he finally hit the guy with the butt of his weapon…all of it ran in a loop through his head like it was stuck on repeat.

They both decided to break the standoff at the same time.

"Booth."

"Bones."

Chuckling a little, they both turned towards their partner, unspoken apologies and acceptances in their eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Booth asked, taking her hand and rubbing the knuckles with his thumb.

"Better." She rasped, trying not to strain her sore throat. "Thanks. For everything."

"Partners, Bones. That's what we're there for."

"I am just now realizing that. What a partnership really is all about." Brennan sighed and slid a little closer to Booth on the bed. "And I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you."

"Not as sorry as I am, about the whole thing. Really. Let's just forget it and move on."

Brennan nodded slightly, suddenly feeling very hungry. "Hey. Want to go get something to eat when they let me go?"

Booth grinned, finally relaxing for the first time in hours. "Absolutely. I could eat."