Booth stayed in Parker's room hoping the boy would fall asleep, as it would be less painful if Booth was just gone in the morning than having to say goodbye. But Parker was too excited to sleep, so at 12.30, when Rebecca was looking concerned and gesturing to Booth that Parker really shouldn't be awake, Booth gave his kid a hug and told him to watch lots more microwave videos to tell him about next time. This pleased the 11-year-old enough that Booth was able to give him a quick kiss and hug, say 'I'll see you later, Parks, I love you,' and slip outside without Parker becoming upset.
Booth shook hands with Alf Banks and kissed Rebecca and Ellen Banks on the cheek, asking them to tell Lacey from him it was a pleasure to meet her and thank her for being a friend to Parker. Rebecca escorted him to the door where they exchanged quick goodbyes and the agent on duty chauffeured Booth to his SUV.
He didn't feel tired anymore, probably because of the two days he'd spent in bed, and he found himself driving to Brennan's apartment. He didn't really know why he went there, but he took the elevator rather than the stairs this time and let himself in with his emergency key.
The apartment looked well-kept. He noticed a few dishes he'd seen on the bench the night they searched for her were washed up and put away. Her bin had been taken out, and when he went to get a drink, all the perishable items had been cleaned out of the fridge. Booth figured it was either Hodgins or Angela who'd come around, probably Angela as she was the one with the other spare key. He couldn't help but walk into her bedroom and ensuite, where there had been so much blood. Her bed was made and the skirt and high heels from the floor were put away. The bathroom had been cleaned so that not a trace of blood was left, and Booth checked the balcony to see that it had been cleaned down, too.
Bones' handbag was still on the coffee table, and Booth went over and picked it up, just wanting to hold something of hers. He took out her phone, which now had 27 missed calls, and found himself sitting on the couch going through her bag. A part of him wondered if it was wrong to do this, but he wasn't trying to be nosy. Handling these objects- the bag she carried everyday, touching the smooth leather of her wallet (a pink one, which made him smile), toying with the little plastic skull on her keychain… It felt right to hold these things, and also horrible to know that she was separated from them. That she couldn't just whip out a credit card to pay for something, or call someone, or show her driver's licence to prove her identity.
Booth got up from the couch and wandered over to her bookshelves. He ran the tips of his fingers along the spines, starting at 'Anthropology from Antiquity', by the American Anthropology Council all the way to Brennan, Temperance, at the far end. He started to pull out the last volume, knowing that all of them were dedicated to him, but at the last moment pushed it back onto the shelf. He turned to her music shelf, and popped open the cd player, to see a Tibetan Throat Singers recording staring up at him. He smiled, and ran a finger along the cds, noticing the new jazz albums she had. In the middle of the shelf, he saw one album in particular. She still had it.
It was too much. Booth felt his eyes filling, and blinked furiously, staring at the ceiling. He slipped out the front door, testing the handle twice to make sure it was properly locked, and made his way to the swimming pool she'd given him and Parker a key to.
The pool was empty of course, being 2.30 in the morning, and the gently rippling water was lit from beneath, casting dancing reflections on the wall and roof. Booth stripped down to his boxers and waded in, plunging his head under so his tears dispersed into the salt water. He held his breath and swam two laps along the bottom of the pool, then floated on his back, watching the bright patterns cast above him.
How he wanted her to be with him. Wearing some sensible one-piece swimsuit that she made look stunning, playing games and trying to splash him without getting caught. Forcing him, of course, to tackle her and hold her, laughing and squirming in his arms. Eventually she'd stop trying to escape and would wrap her arms and legs around him, rest her head on his shoulder and just let him sway and carry her around the pool.
Booth plunged back under the water again before his fantasy went any further. This wasn't helping. He was only torturing himself. Stop thinking, he told himself. Swim.
He slowly warmed up as he swam lap after lap. He swam freestyle until he lost count of the laps, did a few laps of breaststroke and some spins under water. The constant motion distracted him from his thoughts and gave him something to focus on, even just the breaths and strokes. Finally he pulled himself out and picked up his clothes, drying himself off on his t-shirt and just putting on his jeans and jacket.
Sleep finally beginning to catch up with him, he made his way down the corridor, deliberately stopping himself from returning to Brennan's apartment, and took the lift to the carpark. The doorman nodded to him as he exited into the crisp night air.
He was glad he'd taken Cam's advice and had a… mental health day, he supposed. He drove back to his apartment and took the stairs up, unlocked his door and went straight to his room, stripping off and falling into bed.
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The next chapter is possibly my favourite so far (it's also a long one), I'll post soon…. Let me know if you liked Booth's night at Brennan's!