Disclaimer: Bones and its affiliated characters do not belong to me. I mean no copyright infringement.
Author's Notes: I had a hard time not laughing and/or crying as I wrote the first paragraph. "What could have been" is a hard thing to deal with and from the perspective of this story; I find it amusing and sad at the same time. It pretty much starts with case work but ends with B&B fluff.
Rating: T
Responses to your reviews are at the end.
A Hero's Sacrifice
Chapter 13: Sweet Dreams
Booth spent his drive home thinking too much. The events that had taken place in the last few weeks felt like his life had become soap opera. But if it meant that he and Bones would end up together, he'd do it all over again. Hannah was so willing to follow him which was the hope of his superiors. He cringed at the thought that he and Hannah could still be together when he returned to the States if she had never been a spy. Bones could be alone and he'd probably still be living in rebound land existing in a relationship because he was impatient and wanted to remember what it was like to be wanted. He should have given Bones time and space to adjust to his declaration of his feelings for her instead of moving on. How long would that shallow relationship with Hannah have lasted? Would Bones have moved on, too, if it took him too long to realize loyalty to Bones was more important than loyalty to the wrong person, especially since Hannah made it quite clear that she was in it just for the fun?
He knew he needed to stop thinking about what could have been and focus on the here and now. So when he stopped at a gas station, he took time to call Hannah. He had a job to do.
"Hello, this is Hannah Burley."
"Hey, Hannah."
"Booth! I'm so glad you called. I was just thinking of you."
"Yeah? It was hard to stop thinking of you with the news repeating their interview with you. Wow, you are one lucky lady having just published that article about the bridge inspections."
"Apparently not lucky enough," Hannah said with a giggle.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You're on the phone and not here in sunny California," she said it as if it should be obvious. He was hoping for information on a future event for an article that had been halted. He should've known what she was implying, but she didn't need to be snarky about it. He wondered what he used to see in her.
"Hey, easy now. I've been quite busy all of a sudden. I might be heading to Detroit in the next couple of days. I've been put in charge of investigating the bridge catastrophes since they occurred almost simultaneously and happened in two separate states. That makes it federal business." He hoped she'd take the bait.
"Really? So you're thinking it's terrorism?"
"You know I can't tell you anything."
"You used to talk about your job. I didn't mean anything by it. I wasn't thinking about the magnitude of this one." Right! "Hey, I'm heading to Chicago."
"What's happening there? Does the president have business in Chicago?"
"I don't really know. I took a few days off to work on some side stories."
"You know, Hannah, most people don't work while they're on vacation." He knew someone else like that and he hoped he could change her mind about that once in awhile.
"I have an interview scheduled, but I could reschedule and go to Detroit. It would be nice to see you again. And you're right, I should relax a little."
"Anything could come up to change that plan, so I'll have to give you a call. Sorry that it would be last minute."
"I'm a reporter and journalist. I run off in a moment's notice. You know that."
Yeah. I know that, now. I was too clouded in lust to see it before.
~BOOTH&BONES~
Brennan had dinner with Agent Lowry. She found her to be quite intelligent and friendly. She reminded her of Cam. Taking a break from the news and information investigating had been wonderful and she planned on reading some anthropology journals she'd been neglecting. She might be able to get some more of her book written before Booth called. Thinking of him brought back happy memories. She thought that maybe she should write an intimate Kathy and Andy scene that night.
~BOOTH&BONES~
Booth grabbed some take-out on the way home. He hoped a shower would revive him so he could eat and talk to Bones while being awake and alert.
Dressing in a pair of boxers after his shower, he was still thinking of Bones and wishing she was there. He could warm up his food so he grabbed his phone and clicked #1 for Bones.
Instead of her usual greeting of 'Brennan', she answered, "Bones."
"Hey, Gorgeous!"
That gave her a few moments to remember from the night before.
"Bones?" he asked wondering if she was thinking the same thing he was.
"Oh, sorry."
Booth chuckled. "I wonder what you were thinking about."
She quietly gasped. "You did that on purpose."
He laughed. "Guilty."
"You never concede."
"Oh, I'm more than willing to concede. I do believe you already found that out." A dreamy look appeared on his face that she unfortunately couldn't see, but she heard the change in his voice.
"Maybe we should talk about something neutral. I must have forgotten to pack my vibrator."
"Bones…" he groaned. He was still the Seeley Booth she knew. "If you must, it better be me you're thinking about."
"Who did you think I was fantasizing about?"
His heart started racing. "Uh, I don't know. Shemar Moore?"
"I don't know who that is."
He chuckled. "I should have known that. He's a T.V. actor the female population at the bureau seems to be attracted to. I guess I thought Angela may talk about him."
"Angela is married, Booth."
"First of all, with your views on monogamy, I'm surprised you would assume that. Second, I was talking about Angela."
"You do make a couple of very valid points."
"But I'm glad to hear that it's me. Uh… How long? You did say something like that to Sweets and me in the diner. And it just about killed me, by the way. You do not play fair."
"Which should I answer to first?" she asked teasingly.
"How long?"
"I haven't kept track of the time."
"That's crap and you know it. Should I guess?"
"That would be amusing."
"I didn't think you would say that." She laughed at him making him nervous. He wasn't sure wy exactly. "What I wish may not be what the truth is. You really want me to guess?"
"I didn't say you had to, Booth. I said it would be amusing."
"Thank, God!"
"I think it would be more appropriate in this situation to thank me."
"It was an expression. But thank you, Bones. So now are you going to tell me?"
"No, I don't think so."
He groaned. "Maybe we should turn this topic to a more neutral one, but I don't want to talk about the case."
"Did you talk to Parker, today?"
That she would think about him right away warmed his heart. "I wish I had, but he was at a friend's house when I called."
"Will Rebecca tell him that you called?"
"I'm sure she will. I asked her to. You know, Bones, he really misses you."
"Did he say that?"
"Yes, he did. And he didn't even ask about your pool."
She laughed. "Maybe we could all do something together the next time he stays the weekend with you."
"There's nothing I'd like better than to spend time with my two favorite people. Well," he reconsidered. "Almost nothing." She chuckled. "I really need to get some sleep. I haven't had much lately. I'm surprised I'm still awake."
"You do have a lot of stamina."
"Oh, my God!" He croaked quietly and she laughed at him again. This time it had a sexy tone to it.
"Sweet dreams, Booth."
"Uh huh. Won't be a problem, Bones. Good night. Sweets dreams to you, too."
Review Responses
Thank you readers and reviewers once again. It's always a thrill and an encouragement to see alerts, favorites, and reviews. To: Cheysma2000, Aching Bones, BBfansavl6, cast14, Julia-loves-Seth-Clearwater, nertooold54, mendenbar, KatBonesCrazy, Boneslover10, Alexsmom, JET1967, and NCISaddict77…
The Case: I'm happy to hear that this is turning out to be a good case. For those of you who were a bit overwhelmed and a little confused, it should become a little clearer in the next chapter when you hear more of Hannah's thoughts and what Booth and Brennan discover.
Missing each other: I thought it was cute, too. I think it's realistic after seeing the last episode with Brennan admitting to Booth that she understood what he was talking about when he said "fate." Very encouraging that she knew she was the one and what that meant to him.
Hannah helping a terrorist: This is another thing that gets addressed in the next chapter. As far as the punishment, I haven't figured that out, yet. I found it interesting that HH would make Booth's love interest a journalist. I find it a bit dangerous for leaking information and ruining a case. It could be just too tempting for a journalist to pass up, IMO.