Okay, so not my best chapter a little cliché and possibly OOC, but hey it's only one chapter. Advice, thoughts and comments are appreciated. Thanks for clicking!
Chapter 11
The sun was just coming up as Brennan pulled the car into the Patterson driveway. Though feeling physically as well as mentally exhausted, she was able to get the boys into their beds for a little sleep before the sun rose. She quickly headed down the stairs, hoping that she didn't run into Booth, and locked herself in the bathroom. She looked at her image in the mirror. She saw bags under her eyes and that her face portrayed her fatigue. The left side of her temple bore a large black and blue bruise along with a cut. She ran her fingers over it, just to see if everything that happened was real. Her arm was in a splint and wrapped, immobilizing her left hand completely. The funny thing was that it didn't hurt. Perhaps it was the adrenaline, or something else, but it was like her hand wasn't there.
She removed her clothes and turned on the water in the shower to the hottest she could handle. As the steam clouded the bathroom she wrapped a plastic bag around her bandaged hand before heading in and washing herself thoroughly. Afterward a good twenty minutes she turned off the water and quickly wrapped a towel around her before the cold air could chill her. Next door she heard Booth humming to his own tune and she smiled. Why? She had no clue. She quickly dashed to her room and threw on a t-shirt and a pair of comfortable pants. After brushing her hair she threw it back in a ponytail and made way to the kitchen.
She was hungry; she hadn't eaten since lunch the previous day so she searched the refrigerator for something to eat. She decided on eggs and removed the necessary ingredients from the fridge and cabinets. She prepared enough for her and Booth figuring he was just as hungry as her. Her phone rang as she was watching the yellow goo fall into the pan.
"Hello," she answered tiredly, without looking at the caller id.
"Bren, it's Angela, what the hell is going on over there. There was something on the news and I don't know. Are you okay?"
"Yes Angela." She was in no mood to explain the entire case.
"Sweetie are you okay?"
"No, listen Ange I'll call you back later." Without waiting, she hung up the phone and focused on her eggs.
Booth came down the hallway whistling a jolly tune. He had changed into a pair of sweatpants and a button up shirt that he left open, exposing his wrapped torso. "Bones what are you cooking?" he asked after coming into the dark kitchen. He stood at the entrance and noticed that Brennan was crying. Immediately he was at her side, his hand on her shoulder. "Temperance, are you okay?"
As if being shaken from a dream she wiped at her eyes and started to scramble her eggs. "Um yeah fine." With a suspicious glance, Booth took out plates and poured two glasses of milk. Brennan finished scrambling the eggs and portioned them onto plates. She added pieces of toast to each plate and served them at the table.
They ate in silence, listening only to the sounds of the heater going on and off. Booth finished first and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He then angled his chair so that he could face Brennan. "Bones, I think that we need to talk." She looked away from him and dropped her fork to the plate. "Temperance, please."
She stood up in a way to gain dominance. "Booth, when I saw you get shot I thought that you died and it felt like a part of me died too. The part of me that was happy, that wasn't concerned with death and murder, the part of life that introduced to me. Losing that scares me. Over these past two years you have gotten so close to me. According to Angela you are the only man I'd ever leave the lab for. You know what? It's true. I'd do anything for you and I don't know why." The tears were falling again and this time she didn't try and brush them away.
Booth stood and used his hand to lift up her chin. "Temperance I'd do the same thing for you. I care about you a lot, more than I can show. When I saw that psycho hit you, I lost it. I never want to see you hurt ever again. You've endured more hurt, more pain than any human being should ever have to face and I'm sorry that it happened to you.
"Booth those were things that happened in the past that you couldn't prevent."
"Tempe, the thing is I want to be there for you. Whether it is as friends, partners whatever title you want to give this, I want you to let me in. Please Temperance, let me do that."
She looked up his face, her eyes meeting hers. He saw her eyes full of emotion and he did the only thing he felt was right. He pulled her close and held her tight. "Okay Booth, I will," she whispered in reply. Booth dipped his head and was enveloped with the scent of her shampoo. He rubbed his stubble (he didn't feel like shaving) gently across her hair eliciting a giggle from Brennan. He smiled and she pulled away. "Thank you Booth." She gave him a small peck on the cheek.
The sound of pitter-patter on the stairs pulled the duo apart. In seconds the twins were standing at the doorway, hands clasped behind their backs, each with the most innocent expression on his face. Booth stepped away and took the dirty plates and cups into the kitchen, leaving Brennan to deal with the boys.
"Can I help you?" she asked. Both boys nodded vigorously. "With what?"
"It's time for breakfast," said James.
"Yes and mommy always makes us brownies for breakfast."
"With ice cream on top."
"And rainbow sprinkles."
Brennan looked down at the two boys who were trying so hard not to laugh. "Really. Is that so. Should I call her up and confirm?"
"No," said James quickly as he moved forward. He tried his best sad face and looked up at Brennan. Booth watched the scene with a smile plastered on his face. "Don't you trust me Tempe?"
"Of course not!" she laughed and the boys ran out into the large living room. Tempe brought them to the ground and began tickling them. Children's giggles rang out throughout the house. Booth leaned against the threshold and watched Brennan as she played with the boys. He had never seen her so happy, so carefree ever. She looked younger (is that even possible?) and more beautiful in his eyes then ever. He just simply wondered why this woman would not have kids. Certainly they'd be the happiest and most beautiful children with a mother like that.
"Come on guys, you can have cereal," said Brennan. Booth returned to the kitchen and threw down the towel. "Booth where are you going, I thought you were going to do the dishes!"
"No, I gotta shave it's driving me nuts."
After breakfast everyone remained inside for the rest of the day. Booth challenged the boys in video games, almost always throwing the game and letting he boys win. Brennan on the other hand fell asleep for most of the day getting some well-deserved rest.
Booth was in the middle of boiling pasta for a spaghetti dinner when Brennan finally awoke. She stumbled into the kitchen yawning.
"Hey sleeping beauty, are you okay?" Still groggy from sleep, she nodded in reply.
"Just tired that's all."
"Well then why don't you wash up; dinner will be ready soon."
"Wash up Booth? What am I five?"
He moved away from the stove so that he was standing in front of her. "No Bones, but I saw you drooling a bit and frankly that's just nasty."
"I do not drool!" she replied and smacked him in the arm. He smiled and placed his hands on either shoulder and ushered her from the kitchen. "Wash up now."
Dinner was quiet until dessert time when Jennifer called. She called to say that Mike was okay and was expected to leave by the end of the week. After each boy spoke to his mother for a good ten minutes, good byes were said and the phone was hung up.
"Okay boys, bath time!" said Booth. The boys took off upstairs to avoid the bath and it took Booth and Brennan ten minutes to find them.
"You know, it's easier to find a serial killer than a bunch of little boys," said Booth as they peeked into the third closet.
"I'm beginning to agree." There was a sound of a giggle and Booth held his finger to his lips. They were in Mike and Jennifer's room. Brennan pointed to the bed and Booth nodded. They knelt down, grabbed a side of the ruffle and pulled it up to reveal two giggling boys.
"Aw you found us," said Andy.
"Of course I did," replied Booth. "What kind of former army man do you think I was? Come on munchkins bubby bath time." They followed Booth moaning and groaning about stupid baths.
Booth tended to the young boys in the bath while Brennan laid out their pajamas. One drawer was filled with dinosaur pajamas, the other with various fire trucks and police cars. Booth quietly entered the room, watching as she ran a hand over the children's pajamas. Booth stepped up to behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped slightly but realized it was Booth.
"Bones I thought you didn't like children," said Booth in a teasing manner.
"I don't not like children… it's just that…" her voice trailed off. He looked down at her curiously. He wanted to push her, but he knew he couldn't without hurting her.
"It's okay Temperance," he replied soothingly. "I'll go finish giving the boys…"
"No, I need to tell you this. I'm tired of people assuming I'm a child hating, cold hearted.."
He spun her around so that she was facing him. "Temperance Brennan, no one thinks that of you."
She ignored his comment and continued on. "When I was younger I always wanted kids. I had the dolls and the carriages and everything just like any other normal girl. But after my parents left I threw myself into work and study and I never looked back. After realizing what happened with my parents and the job I had I don't want kids to grow up in a world like this, besides I don't have time for a child or even a boyfriend. Hell I suck at picking them out too!" She took a deep breath. "But playing with James and Andy made me realize that it might not be so bad…"
Booth pulled her close to him and held her tight, "You'd make a great mother Bones. Trust me." She sniffed and stepped back.
"Thank you Booth, you do so much for me and I wouldn't know how to say thank you."
He smiled. "Don't worry Bones, you still owe me a favor."
"No I don't, you used that!"
"No, you moved and therefore it is null and void."
"Yeah to save you."
"Seeley!" shouted the boys in unison from the bathroom. "We're getting cold!"
"I'm coming!" He looked at Brennan. "You owe me." And before she could say anything, he was gone.
The next morning Brennan was up first, just before the sun rose. After finally getting deep sleep she felt totally refreshed. She threw on her jacket and boots and stepped outside. The Patterson backyard was a wide-open space filled with snow-covered children's toys. Brennan could see the sky lighten as the sun began its ascent from the horizon. The sun illuminated the cloudless sky and reflecting off the snow, creating a serene atmosphere. She heard the sliding door open and the crunching of snow and Booth was at her side. They stood together watching the sun's rays touch the earth, the few birds fly and a deer in the distance cross the property. In the moment, Brennan's smaller, colder hand slipped into Booth's. Booth was unsurprised by this action and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"You're a good man Booth," she stated, her breath coming out in a white column. "Don't let you or anyone else say anything to the contrary."
