I'm WICKED sorry that this story hasn't been updated and that I haven't been answering back the messages to get moving. I've been so busy that I can't even describe my crazy schedule. In fact I should be writing an English paper right now but this story is longgg overdue, and I never meant to keep the suspense up this long, so here it is. It may just be my favorite chapter to date.
WHERE SHE STANDS
"...She found an unconscious Booth lying in front of the door. There was some blood on the side of his head, making Brennan's knees grow weak.
Everything stopped moving all at once. There was no sound but her own heart beating fast in her chest.
"Booth! Wake up! Please wake up"
Temperance Brennan was not aware of the tears that were rapidly falling down her face or that she had subconsciously dialed 911.
The only thing that mattered now was the man lying bloody in front of her, and that if he died she would too."
...................
"If I could just see you everything would be alright. If I could see you, this darkness would turn to bright." –"Storm" Lifehouse
She pulled her jacket closer around her as the wind picked up. The sun was just setting, casting an orange glow on everything.
She walked slowly, dreading where she was going but not knowing how to make her legs stop from moving her forward. It was taking everything just to keep from braking down.
Temperance Brennan was considered by most to be extremely observant and a very strong individual. However these were the two qualities of hers that had abandoned her when she had needed them the most.
For instance she hadn't noticed when she had fallen to her knees next to him. She hadn't noticed when the ambulance had shown up, or when the paramedics had pulled her away. She hadn't been strong enough to hold herself up, hadn't been able to explain what had happened to the police, and she certainly wasn't strong enough to ride with him to the hospital.
Everything, everything had slipped away from her.
"Brennan! Brennan! Look at me, everything's going to be okay, Booth will be okay, but he needs you there with him"
The haze surrounding her had faded and suddenly she was looking into Angela's face, tears streaming down her eyes even as she tried to look strong.
Angela helped pull her up onto her feet and began leading her to Jack's car.
"It's all my fault" Brennan whispered softly
"What?" Angela asked once they were both in the backseat.
"This is all my fault. Booth is hurt because of me"
Angela wanted to cry at how broken her best friend looked at that moment, believing this really was her fault. It was then that Angela knew more than ever something was very wrong with Temperance Brennan.
"It's not your fault, okay Bren, it's not. You didn't shoot Booth. It's not your fault"
Angela said as tears rolled down her face.
Brennan wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and turned away from Angela silent as Angela leant her head on Brennan's shoulder.
She didn't even believe in visiting head stones and yet here she was, yet again.
It could almost be peaceful in the cemetery if it wasn't for the struggle going on inside her head.
What had happened to her? How had she gone from a strong, rational, anthropologist to this? Standing in a graveyard crying once again and fighting with herself.
She stopped walking once she had reached the now familiar head stone. Brennan didn't know what sort of comfort she had expected to find here, a piece of marble couldn't help her get back on track. On some level though she knew she was here to hide from her troubles not fix them.
She let out a long breath that was instantly lost in the wind as it blew her hair across her face.
If she had been the same observant anthropologist she was well known to be a month ago, then she would have realized that someone had been watching her the whole time.
She would have sensed that that person was now slowly making his way to her now, and she would not have jumped into the air when he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Dr. Temperance Brennan?"
Brennan looked up to see Booth's doctor looking at his clip board. She took a deep breath, smoothing out her clothes as she stood.
"Is he going to be okay?" her voice sounded strange even to her own ears.
"He's lost a lot of blood and suffered a mild concussion, but he should be fine within a week or two. His arm will probably be sore for a while though. You can go in and see him if you want.
Brennan nodded and followed the doctor down the hall. It took every last once of strength she had to go into his room.
"Booth" the word escaped her lips before she could stop herself. He didn't seem to wake so she hesitantly sat on the bed beside him.
Her hand shook as she reached for his. Tears reached her eyes, her throat constricting as she pressed his hand to her lips ever so softly.
"I'm so sorry Booth, I promise I'll stay as far away from you as I can"
She closed her eyes, listening to the steady beat of his heart monitor. It felt wrong saying goodbye to him like this, but it was for the best.
"Forgive me"
Slowly she opened her eyes half expecting to see his warm brown ones staring back at her. She went to stand, but suddenly his grip tightened.
"Stay"
Brennan stopped moving at once realizing that he was awake.
"What..."
"You heard me. Stay"
His eyes were piercing through her so intensely that she wanted to look away but was too mesmerized to do so.
"I can't"
"Why not?"
"I..."
She didn't have a reason, not one she could tell him anyway.
"Stay, with me"
Brennan bit her lip, wanting more than anything to do as he said.
"I've hurt you enough Booth, I... I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry. This is the last time I'll put you in danger like this I promise"
Brennan left his room quickly without looking back.
"Bones wait!"
She couldn't leave yet she realized, Steven's men would still be after him. She would have to stay for now.
"Booth!"
"I'm sorry Bones, I didn't mean to startle you" He looked truly sorry, as though he expected for her to see him coming and never once realized that she hadn't.
Brennan was still shocked to see him as a thousand questions ran through her mind. Her eyes were wide with surprise as well as the pain of hearing him apologize to her.
"Please Booth, don't apologize"
Booth looked deep into her eyes questionably but let it go. They were both silent for a while, each trying to find the right words to say.
"How did you find me Booth? And why aren't you still in the hospital? The doctors said that you would need a few more days to heal"
Booth tried to smile but it didn't quite reach his eyes "I cut my hospital stay short and followed your car out here. Is this where you keep escaping to?"
Brennan's jaw tightened half in anger and half from trying not to break down crying in front of him.
"I don't know what you're talking about" she said turning away from him.
Booth stared at her back for a moment trying to think of something to say that would keep her from retreating further into herself.
He had been in the hospital for only two days. Two days for a gunshot wound to the shoulder and a concussion.
Two days was short compared to the week he was supposed to be staying, but long considering his partner had not been to see him since he had woken up.
It was torture laying there in that bed, not knowing where she was. So he decided his hospital stay would have to be cut short.
As hard as it was for him to stay there, it was even harder for Brennan to stay away.
In fact she had never left the hospital until this morning when she was sure that no one else was coming after Booth, for now.
"Temperance" Booth said putting a hand on her shoulder. When she didn't turn to face him, he moved to stand in front of her.
"Bones... Look at me"
Slowly her eyes found his, and he could see behind her defenses how tired she was.
"Hey... It's okay, it's okay Bones"
"It's not"
His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb catching a few stray tears.
"Right now it is, now that I know your safe"
Brennan turned her back on him again.
"It's not okay Booth! You were almost killed because of me, and I WONT let that happen again" she said fiercely. "I care for you too much Booth... I love you too much, and I need a whole hell of a lot more than I should"
Hearing nothing she turned once more to see his reaction. As soon as she did, he reached for her and she let him.
He kissed her, tangling his fingers through her soft auburn hair, and wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her even closer. She responded to him, pulling him closer by his jacket. Their lips were locked in a fiery passion as their tongues met enveloping them in each other.
It had been far too long since they were joined together like this.
Brennan pulled away first, sighing in contentment. This felt right, for the first time in weeks, she felt like a weight was lifted from her chest.
"I've missed you Bones" Booth whispered kissing her forehead softly.
"I haven't gone anywhere Booth" Brennan asked confusedly.
Booth smiled this time, a genuine smile that made his eyes twinkle.
Brennan realized what he was talking about and looked down at his tie.
"I'm tired Booth, I just want things to go back to normal"
"Me too Bones"
Brennan looked up at him. It was time to end this, before it was too late and she lost everything.
She pulled away and began to walk away from him.
"Bones wait, where are you going?"
"There's something I need to do"
He ran to catch up with her long strides.
"Okay I'll come with you. You don't have to do this alone"
"Please... Let me do this my way, just this once"
"No you've been doing things your way all along, let me help you"
"Booth can you just trust me on this one?"
It was against everything his gut was telling him but he nodded anyway. His heart couldn't bear to fight anymore with her.
"Okay just... just promise me you'll be careful"
She kissed him on the cheek one last time.
"I promise"
Booth watched as she walked away from him, his heart screaming at him to bring her back, to never let her leave his sight again.
He looked away from her to where she was standing when he found her. It was all he could do not to run after her.
Walking forward to read the name off the gravestone in front of him, he stopped short.
Suddenly some of the pieces fell together.
"It's this case, there's something about it that reaches Dr. Brennan on a personal level"
"There's a connection between the three of them, we're missing something here"
"What could Bones possibly have in common with our victim?"
"Lindsay Richards' sister was murdered about ten years ago. She worked as a dancer at this club down the street from that apartment"
"The night club is called the Roxy; it has a bad reputation for drugs and violence, as well as prostitution. The owner is Steven McCoy... huh"
"She tried to help a friend; she tried to do the right thing, and no matter what I'll always be proud of her because of that"
Reaching for his phone he dialed a number and let it ring.
"Angela its Booth, I think I know the connection between Bones and Mandy Richards. You're not going to like it"
I hope this clears some things up. If not next chapter is going to reveal everything if it's still not clear.
Oh and if you get a chance, I re-wrote chapter one. I think it makes more sense now.
REVIEW (even if it is to yell about how I took so long to update, I'll take anything. =)
