Brennan's mind was awash of thoughts as she drove through the New Mexico deserts at speeds exceeding the limit of what was considered safe. She'd come to learn that the closest hospital was located near twenty miles away. Considering his state she'd been horrified to learn the distance that sat between them and medical attention. To both see and hear Booth struggling for his life besides her crushed her heart, and filled her to the brim with immense guilt. No matter what the consequences she should have sought out help for him sooner rather than later. Why had she believed that Jared would turn himself in? Or that she could treat Booth until he did? Caring for his needs was one thing. But trying to play doctor was a different matter entirely. Having a somewhat adequate medical background didn't qualify her to administer treatment to someone was injured as he was.
He isn't going to make it. She fought the urge to cry. Practically down to the floor did she jam the accelerator. No. I won't let him. I'll get him there. But then what? No doubt he'll be admitted. I'm sure the hospital will alert the FBI. We have to remain off the grid until we can summon a new plan. But what were their options? Suddenly she recalled what Jared had said to her. I suppose once his whereabouts are revealed agents will arrest me on site just for being in his presence. This is all so preposterous. I have to protect him. But what use will I be to him if I am hauled off to jail? There must be some solution to all this beyond Jared.
Her thoughts were broken by Booth's weakened whispering besides her. Though she could only hear fragments she recognized enough to know he was repeating the foreign phrase that the group had beat into his head. She gasped half a breath. "No, Booth. Stop. You're safe with me, remember? We're on our way to the hospital. I'm going to see to it that you receive treatment. I just need you to hold on. We're almost there."
Since taking to the road his condition had only worsened in its severity. His entire body had become involved in his labored attempts at breathing. His sides contracted. Various muscles twitched. His lips had begun to take on a violet hue, informing her that he still wasn't getting adequate oxygen no matter how hard he tried. She happened to glance in his direction just in time to see his eyes open. He held her gaze for a mere moment before he winced his eyes shut again. His muscles stiffened. His spine elongated as he sat up higher in his seat.
Having her focus solely on him had her nearly missing the sound of her jingling cell phone. She thought better than to answer it. Yet whenever the caller reached her voice mail, they would end the call only to call again right away. At last she reached behind her to fish through her purse for her phone. Amazingly her eyes never left the road. When finally her fingertips brushed against the rectangular device she yanked it out and answered. "Brennan." The irritation in her voice was thick.
"Tempe, sweetie. You gotta get somewhere safe. You gotta get out of sight immediately."
It was rare she heard such panic in her father's voice. "What? Why?"
"Someone is tailing me and Christine. We're in the car. I'm leading them away. But this has to mean-"
Her blood ran cold. "That members of the group are still alive. And they are on the hunt for Booth and Jared."
"It also means they know who you are. They've gotten access to all of his information. You're in danger." He paused. "You sound like you're already in the car. Where are you?"
"After Booth went missing I tracked the two of them down to Las Cruces. But Booth is… he's…" Anxiety produced tears and closed off her throat. "He's so hurt, dad. He shouldn't have tried to go off on his own. I tried to provide first aid to his injuries, but by this morning he'd only gotten worse. He's gone into shock. I'm taking him to the hospital. There's no avoiding it. He'll die without medical intervention."
"But won't that bastard Hacker arrest the two of you?"
"I suppose so, but I haven't been able to procure another plan." And she needed to. Rapidly were they approaching their destination.
"I have one. But you aren't going to like it. You're going to have to separate yourself from Booth."
She inhaled sharply. "What? You must be joking."
"You're going to drop him off at the hospital anonymously. Don't tell them your name, or his. Say he's a drifter you found on the side of the road-"
Tears were already spilling down her cheeks. "Dad-"
"Then call me. We'll agree on a location and meet up."
"No. No! I can't leave him!" I can't not know how he is, or whether he's survived his injuries or not.
"Tempe, if you love him and this baby I have in the backseat here, you will. It's your only choice. It's not forever, sweetie. It's just until we can shake this group. And I promise you, we will. But right now this is the only way I can keep all of us, including him, safe. Is he lucid? Can you speak to him? Tell him the plan?"
Booth had passed out cold. She inhaled deeply, trying to turn herself into cold, hard metal. "No. He's… I don't know if he's going to survive this."
Max was sympathetic. "It's the only way, sweetie. I'm sorry. I know what this is going to do to you."
No, you don't. She thought with disgust. The call ended. Her grief was becoming harder and harder to contain. I can't do this. How can dad expect me to do this? I can't just abandon him. He'll wake up, and see I'm not there. He'll be hurt. He'll be devastated. Another thought occurred to her, one that melted her resolve. Or what if he doesn't wake up at all? What if I have to live my life unaware of what's happened to him? What if Christine never knows her father? She looked to his limp form again. But what if the group hunts and kills us all? "I have to separate us for a while," she burst out into the silence. "I detest it. I can't stand the thought of being away from you. But the group is after us. All of us. You can't possibly go on the run, Booth. And you don't have the strength to fight. You can't even protect yourself right now. That's why for your sake I have to do this. But I'm coming back for you. Just as soon as I am able I will find you, and we'll all be together again. I love you, and I'm so sorry that I don't have another answer."
He was too still. Sporadically he'd inhale the smallest of breaths, which was only determinable by his slight chest movement. She shook her head. "I'm so sorry."
The hospital came into view. She wound around the parking lot to the emergency room entrance. Paramedics waited just inside the front doors ready to assist anyone whom happened to show up needing help. Before Brennan could give him away she kissed his cool lips one last time. "I'm coming back for you," she whispered in his ear. "Just stay strong." Then she took the final plunge by pulling the car forward into the technicians' line of view. She hopped out and flagged them down with her hands. The story her father had suggested poured out. "I found this man laying by the side of the road! He's gravely injured! He's having a hard time breathing."
A stretcher was brought down to them immediately. Booth was eased onto the top of it and covered with a blanket. Two of the men rushed him inside while a third remained behind to gather information. "You just helped a man lying on the side of the road?" He asked skeptically. "So then you don't know who he is."
"No. Not at all." Her voice sounded braver than she felt.
"All right. How about you? What's your name?"
She thought on her toes. "I prefer not to leave my car idling. Allow me to park it, and I will come back and answer any questions you may have." She tumbled back inside and slammed the door shut before he could inquire any further. Then she drove away without looking back. So hard did she cry that she had trouble seeing the road in front of her. I'm so sorry, Booth. Please forgive me. She mentally begged. As soon as it's safe I will be back.
But she worried over how long it would take, and what was to become of him in the meantime. All she had were her trust and faith in him. Hopefully it would pull them through.