About seven months later, Brennan was close to finished with the project. They had found a few things that normally would have made her feel ecstatic, but she felt nothing. Her heart and mind was back in DC with Booth.
After 2 months of daily calls. She stopped. She had all but given up hope that he would recover. Part of her had died inside. She now knew of everything her and Booth had argued over through their partnership to be true. He was right.
She scheduled her flight home the day before the anniversary of the incident. She felt the need to be there for Booth that day. She was still riddled with guilt. She never listened to him, she was wrong.
As she walked the terminal searching for Angela, she thought back to the day booth had had her ambushed in the airport. She couldn't help but smile a little. She was so distracted she didn't notice the man in front of her until she collided with him.
His crutches crashed to the ground and she grabbed him as he stumbled to stop him from falling. She was mortified that she may have caused injury to an innocent bystander due to her daydreaming.
Mumbling apologies to the man she helped him stabilize his balance and scrambled to gather up his crutches. Face crimson she handed them to him and for the first time actually looked at him.
"Thanky you." Was all he said.
Brennan's eyes grew wide and jaw dropped. She couldn't speak; she just stared at the man. She began to doubt her own sanity. She had finally lost it completely. Tears flooded her eyes and she began to back away.
"I thought you would be happy to see me Bones." H said with his same old charming smile.
She didn't know what to think. She couldn't believe it was real. She didn't know if she wanted to run, kiss him or punch him in the face.
"How? What?" She couldn't complete a thought.
He hobbled towards her opened his arms and held her in a deep embrace. Her tears fell like a waterfall soaking his shirt.
"We have a lot to talk about. How about we find a quiet place to sit, I tire a bit easy these days." He said.
She clung to his side as they walked towards the airport coffee shop. She was somehow afraid he would disappear if she let him go.
"I'm sorry" he finally said. "I asked that no one told you when I woke up. It's been a rough couple months and your work is important to you. I didn't want you to feel you had to leave. I was a bit out of it. Couldn't remember much, couldn't talk. Could hardly move. They thought it was paralysis at first because of the broken back and neck, turned out it was just my muscles quitting on me. I have been doing extensive physical therapy. Doc says in a month or 2 I won't need these things anymore."
All she could think to say: "Is this really happening? Am I dreaming? If I am I never want to wake up."
"It's real, I promise. I am here. I'm doing great. In a while I'll be back at work and we will do our thing again, assuming you still want to."
"I love you!" she blurted out "I love you. I'm in love with you. I'm sorry I read your letters, but I am so glad that I did. I was a coward. You gave me strength."
"I love you too Bones. I always have. Angela read me your letter after I woke up. I didn't remember much, but I remembered you. I knew you were there. I knew. I'm not mad, I could never be mad at you. They were for you anyway."
She leaned in and he followed. Their lips met and they melted into each other. When they finally parted they both smiled. They knew at that moment that they were throwing their fears to the wind and that they were going to be with each other.
Who knew that a few pieces of paper could do what years of partnership couldn't?
Authors Note:
Ok so this is the end of this part of the story. When I finish my other story (Cave Grave) I will start on the sequel to this one. I already have plans running around my head. I haven't decided on a title yet. I hope you all have enjoyed this. Thank you to all who read and especially to those who have taken the time to review.