CHAPTER 12: Breaking Me
AN: First off, I wanted to thank Bellabun for correcting my little mistake, it was past midnight, and I was ridiculously tired. It wasn't his femur that broke; it was his ulna, the larger of the two bones in your forearm. I went back and fixed it, however. So thanks again. Also, I wanted to say that bb-4ever hit the nail on the head when she said that the spider touch had Temperance all wound up. Hence all the swearing, it may be out of character for her, but within the span of a week, all her beliefs were challenged, she and Booth admitted their feelings for each other and on top of that, someone is trying to kill her. I don't know about you, but when I'm on edge, my colorful use of the English language would do a sailor proud.
Temperance had been quiet for most of the ride back to the city, speaking in only one or two word answers, and not initiating further conversation. As he pulled up to a red light, Booth took the opportunity to study her face. She sat very still, looking down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her hair hanging down so that all was obscured except the tip of her nose. He wanted to reach out to her, to speak to her, but he hesitated. She sat so quietly, staring down at her hands. Miles away. He was almost afraid to break into her thoughts. He leaned forward, caught the lemon scent of her hair. Breathed deeply, then cleared his throat.
"Bones?" He said quietly.
Her head jerked up, sending her hair sliding back against her cheeks. Her eyes, wide and startled met his, blinked then focused.
"I'm fine." She answered, before even hearing his question. He couldn't help but smile a little at her.
"I didn't ask anything."
She returned his smile, but her eyes remained distant. "I'm psychic, remember."
"Well that's something I never thought I'd hear coming out of your mouth." He said, chuckling softly.
Despair washed over her face, and he kicked himself. She didn't need anymore reminders of how much her world had changed in the last couple of weeks. Temperance was wound so tightly of the late, that part of him feared for her sanity. He knew men who cracked under less pressure… of course, Bones was stronger than most men.
A horn blared behind them, signaling that the light had gone green. Booth stuck his middle finger out the window, more out of habit than annoyance, and hit the gas pedal.
Temperance chuckled softly, "you really should let me drive sometimes, it might lessen your road anger."
Raising an eyebrow, he said, "Rage, Bones, its road rage."
Her eyes softened as she gazed at him. She knew that he was trying to give her a sense of normalcy, no matter how small, and she was grateful for it. Temperance felt Booth's concern for her, and she wanted to reassure him, she just didn't know how. All her emotions were so frayed lately, and half the time she didn't know if it was her own emotions that she was feeling or someone elses.
Temperance felt herself spinning out of control, and for someone who based their whole life on control... let's just say that the end result would be bad. Very, very bad. She could only hope that Booth was stong enough to keep her grounded.
"I am, Bones." Her head snapped up at his words. Had she spoken that aloud?
"You were projecting your thoughts to me." He asnswered lightly, after seeing her confusion.
Temperance couldn't help but wince. This is going to be interesting, she thought. "Sorry."
Booth pulled into her driveway, and threw the car in park, turning in his seat to look at her with his very intense eyes. "Don't apologize to me, Bones. Not now, not for this." He grabbed her hand, and immediately, their connection was amplified by tenfold. She closed her eyes against the rush of emotions, and for a moment, she was unsure of where her thoughts ended and his began. It was as if they were one person, and for the first time in her life, Temperance felt complete. Something that she didn't understand. She should be running for the mountains--
It's running for the hills, Bones. Don't you ever pay attention. His voice was a like a soft caress within her mind, more intimate then she could ever imagine. Groaning at the sensation, she leaned forward seeking his lips.
I'm scared, Seeley... Her soft admission was like a knife to his gut, and she felt it. It was humbling how much this man cared about her. Part of her screamed that she didn't deserve him, she was a cynical, broken person and it was only going to get worse before it got better. She didn't even know what he saw in her.
All of a sudden, Booth sent her a mental image of herself, through his eyes... and she gasped. Did she really look like that? Tall and slender, with a mane of auburn tresses, falling around her, illuminating the rest of her features. She had never seen herself as beautiful, but through Booth's eyes, she was able.
And the only thing Temperance was could to do was deepen the kiss. What started out as a means for comfort, turned into something entirely different. Her hands snaked up his neck, dwelving into the thickness of his hair, to pull him closer, if that was even possible.
She felt his passion, mingling with her own, heightening it to an almost painful extent. Her lower regions throbbed, begging for attention. Or was that his? At this point, she was unsure.
Temperance's body moved on its own free will, and before she realized it, she was straddling Booth, pressing against herself against his erection, all the while their lips never breaking contact. He pushed her back against the steering wheel, and shoved her shirt up.He tore his lips away from hers to press them against the soft flesh of her stomach. Her head rolled back, gasping, as he nipped at her side.
Cullen marched out of Dr. Brennan's apartment building, looking for Agent's Matthews and Richards. Damn it, why the hell wasn't Booth's phone on?
Earlier in the day, one of his Agent's had intercepted a phone call from one of Temperance's neighbors, to the police department, about a possible break in. Apartment 2b. Dr. Brennan's apartment. He cursed again, how much more of this could that poor girl suffer before she finally snapped? He wondered. Cullen didn't know her well, but even he could see that she was on edge. Shaking his head angrily, he vowed that when they caught the bastard who put a hit out on her, they would suffer a fate far worse then they could possibly fathom. He didn't like when one of his own where targeted. And despite what he ever said against her, Dr. Brennan was one of his.
He had the bomb squad searching her apartment for any possible explosives at the moment, now he was waiting for a security team to come and check for any bugs or hidden cameras.
Where the hell were those damn rookey's? He wondered for the once again, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for the men in question. He sent them out over ten minutes ago to wait for the team.
Finally his eyes landed on the two men, they were standing off to the side of a FBI issued SUV. Checking the licsence plate, he noticed that it was Booth's. What the hell?
Jogging over to the two men, he frowned. They were watching the vehicle with avid interest, "What's going on?" He barked.
Richards started, looking guiltily at his superior. "Um... we um..."
"Spit it out, boy."
Unable to answer, the young man pointed to the SUV. Cullen's eyes shifted to the window and his jaw dropped. Recovering quickly he shooed the Agent's away. "Alright, alright. Move it along. show's over." He found himself very annoyed that the men would just stand their and watch a very special moment between Booth and Temperance.
Blushing slightly, he stepped foward and knocked on the window before they got any further.
Booth dragged his teeth along her ribs, while his hands at her waist were rocking her slowly against his erection. His fingers moved to the button of her jeans, when their was a knock at the window. He felt Temperance stiffen, and they both looked toward the window at the same time, still wrapped in a heated embrace.
Booth met the eyes of a very embarrassed Cullen. Righting her shirt, he rolled down the window and smiled sheepishly at his superior.
"I..ah... was just checking her wound." His eyes turned back to the woman on his lap, "yeah, well, looks good. Should be all healed up in a day or two."
Cullen shook his head. "Really Booth, the front seat of the car? I thought better of you." He turned and walked off, waiting for the them to follow. As Booth helped Temperance out of the car, he felt like a teenager getting caught necking, by his father. A thought that made him smile.
