A Pain That I'm Used To—Chapter 37
Disclaimer: Yeah, don't own them and odds are I never will.
Author's notes: I appreciate everyone who took the time to review the last chapter. I've had the rest of this story mapped out in my wee little brain for quite awhile but I could never seem to get the words to appear on my computer screen. Lately I've forced myself to sit down and write…however, I don't always end up writing chapters for this story.
A big 'thank you' to all of you who have continued to read and review this story. I know it's frustrating to read a story where the author doesn't update as often they should and I apologize for that. Unfortunately real life and bouts of writer's block (for this fic anyway) have been the culprits for the lack of updates. I noticed the last chapter did not have as many hits or reviews so the interest is obviously waning. I believe this story only has a couple of more chapters left in it anyway. I made a promise to myself to finish this story and I will.
So, for those readers that are still out there, feel free to leave a review to let me know what you think. And Howdylynn, I'll be awaiting your "woo-hoos"!
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The steam from the shower filled the bathroom and wafted around Brennan as she allowed the hot water to beat down on her body, leaving her usually pale skin bright pink. She waited for the water to wash away her exhaustion as she thought about the situation with her brother and her father.
She released a long sigh as she realized that she and Russ were back to square one of their already tenuous relationship. Fifteen years without him in her life had been difficult but she knew that she was the reason for the lack of contact. Russ had tried. Every year he had called on holidays and her birthday and every year she had chosen to ignore the olive branch he had extended.
Then there was the matter of her father. Brennan had a difficult time reconciling the man she had known as a child with Max Keenan—a federal fugitive and probable murderer. However, the man was still her father and she couldn't bear the thought of losing him again. She needed answers though she knew the odds were favorable that the answers would be unsettling.
Her thoughts then turned to Booth. Booth—the man she loved; the man who had been by her side assisting her in her quest for the truth about her family; the man she had pushed away and punished for caring about her.
"Self-centered and cold.'" Booth's words from their earlier argument echoed through her head, slicing through her soul.
She shivered slightly as the water became tepid and quickly shut off the shower. Brennan released another sigh as tears formed in her eyes. Booth was the first person she had allowed into her heart since her parents had disappeared. He was the first man she had truly been intimate with on an emotional level. He had accepted her for who she was including all of her flaws. A few tears fell from her eyes as she silently berated herself for ruining the best relationship she'd ever had.
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Booth moved hastily around the kitchen, pouring two glasses of orange juice and checking on the bagels he was toasting. He knew Brennan would want to leave immediately to check on Russ and her father but he also knew that she had not eaten in two days. Nutrition first, he reasoned as he removed the container of cream cheese from the refrigerator.
He glanced up and saw Brennan slowly entering the room, taking hesitant steps toward the kitchen. She avoided eye contact with him, focusing instead on the glasses of orange juice and two plates sitting on the bar.
"I don't think we have time for breakfast," she informed him.
He shook his head slightly as he placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her through the kitchen and around the bar to one of the bar stools. "You haven't eaten in two days. I'm letting the fact that you also haven't really slept in two days go so the least you can do is take ten minutes to eat a bagel and drink some juice."
The no-nonsense tone of his voice left little room for argument. Brennan nodded as she took a seat at the bar and picked up her glass of juice. She reasoned that she should enjoy his company while she still could.
Booth walked back into the kitchen to grab the bagels and cream cheese before returning to sit next to Brennan. He slathered a generous amount on his bagel before pushing the small container towards her. She shook her head and began tearing a small piece of the bagel.
As he chewed his food, Booth continued to watch her. She was still avoiding eye contact with him and she had said very little.
"So Bones, I figure you probably wanna talk to Russ first; then we'll do what we have to do to get to your father." He took another large bite of his bagel as he continued to watch her.
Brennan nodded as she tore off another piece of the bagel, placing it on her plate next to the other piece that she had not bothered to eat. "Thank you," she said softly. "I appreciate that you're still helping me with this."
His brow creased as he continued to chew his food. "Of course I'm still helping you," he said around a mouthful of bagel. "What else would I be doing?"
"Packing your things and running out the door…," she replied absently as she continued her task of annihilating her breakfast.
Her response caused him to pause. "What? Why would you even think that?"
"'Self-centered and cold'." She threw his words back at him with practically no emotion. There was no anger on her part; just acceptance of what she perceived as the inevitable.
Hearing her utter the words he had used earlier caused Booth to cringe. His heart dropped a little at the realization that Brennan thought he wanted to end their relationship.
"Bones…"
"It's okay Booth," she said, vainly attempting to convince herself of the validity of her statement. "I understand…"
"No, Bones, you don't." He watched as she pursed her lips together and puffed her cheeks slightly. "Look at me Bones."
She refused his request and kept her eyes cast downward on her plate. Booth reached out and placed one finger under her chin to force her eyes towards him. "Temperance, look at me."
Her blue eyes, bright with glistening tears, finally met his and Booth silently chastised himself for hurting her. "Temperance, I am not going anywhere. If I was going to run away I would have done it a year ago after our first argument."
Relief flashed through her eyes and the corner of her lips tilted upward in a small smile. "With that being said," he continued, "I owe you an apology…for what I said. I crossed the line. My intent was to get you to talk to me and I thought if I could make you angry…"
"Mission accomplished."
"Yeah, I was an asshole," he conceded. "I just hope you can forgive me."
Brennan removed his finger from under her chin and grasped his hand as she leaned toward him, placing a kiss on his lips. "I think we're even considering how I've treated you for the past two days."
He smiled and tightened his hold on her hand. "That's still no excuse for what I said…"
She leaned forward and kissed him again. "You're forgiven, okay? Now can we go?"
Booth glanced at her plate and shook his head. "Tearing your food apart does not constitute eating Bones."
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Brennan gazed out the passenger's side window contemplating how to begin the impending conversation with Russ. The affluent neighborhood they were traveling through was lost on her as she mulled over what she wanted to say.
Booth pulled the SUV up to a large gate and rolled down his window.
"What are you doing?" Brennan questioned as she looked up at the mansion and massive estate beyond the gate. "I thought we were going to Hodgins' place…"
He smiled slightly and pressed the button on the intercom system. "This is Hodgins' place, Bones."
Her brow creased as a voice came over the intercom. "May I help you?"
"Uh, yeah, Booth and Brennan…Hodgins is expecting us."
"Yes sir." The gate slowly began to open as Booth shifted the SUV into 'drive'.
"Booth, there's no way Hodgins can afford to live here on his salary." She glanced around at the manicured grounds and colossal statues.
He looked over and grinned at her. "Well, Bones, since we've got a little bit of a drive to the front door, let me tell you about a little organization known as the Cantilever Group…"
"You've got to be kidding me."
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Angela greeted them at the door and quickly gathered her friend into a hug. "Hey," she said softly.
"Hey," Brennan replied just as softly. "Why didn't anyone bother to tell me that my brother was living in the lap of luxury?"
Angela chuckled as she released Brennan and smoothed a stray piece of hair around the anthropologist's face. "Jack doesn't want everyone at the lab to know that…well, basically that he's the reason the Jeffersonian even has a lab."
"Ange, I'm sure that other benefactors provide enough donations…"
"Joke, Bren; it was a joke." The brunette grinned and squeezed her friend's arm. "It's good to have you back."
She nodded and looked past Angela at the grandiose staircase leading to the second floor.
"He's upstairs, sweetie. Take a right at the top of the stairs, fifth door on the left."
"It's good to see that your subtle nature is still in tact," Brennan commented wryly.
Booth leaned over, bringing his face close to hers. "You know Bones, I didn't peg you as a procrastinator," he said before giving her little push with his hand.
"I'm not procrastinating Booth," she argued as she slowly began to ascend the stairs. "I'm just…"
"Procrastinating," he confirmed. She turned around to argue with him and found him pointing his index finger at the top of the staircase. "Talk to him first then we'll argue later."
Releasing a long breath, she turned away from him and made her way up the stairs. "I wasn't going to argue," she mumbled.
"She was so going to argue," Angela said as she stood next to Booth at the bottom of the staircase.
"I know." He glanced over at the artist and grinned. "God, it's good to have her back."
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Russ looked up from his suitcase when he heard a knock at his bedroom door. "Angela, I'm going to Chicago! Don't bother trying to stall me any longer, okay?"
He heard the door open when he turned his back to gather more of his clothing from one of the dresser drawers. "Angela's adept at many things…stalling is one of her best talents."
Brennan watched her brother tense slightly before he continued throwing his belongings into the suitcase that was lying on the bed. The reception was definitely chilly but she decided to forge ahead in hope of salvaging their relationship.
She entered the room and walked to the other side of the bed. "Marco…"
Russ chose to ignore her as she had him earlier at the Hoover Building. He balled up one of his shirts and tossed it at the suitcase, displaying his annoyance with her.
Brennan pursed her lips and glanced around the room. This was not going well at all. He'd been much more receptive when she and Booth had driven down to North Carolina.
"You remember when I told you that sometimes I need people to explain things to me? And you told me that I have to let people talk to me…Booth finally got through to me." She paused to gauge his reaction. He had ceased packing his clothes but he still refused to turn around to look at her.
"Booth made me realize that I…" she sighed as she closed her eyes, "he made me realize that I've been incredibly selfish; that I didn't consider your feelings all those years ago or even two days ago. I'm sorry."
She slowly opened her eyes to find that he had not moved. His shoulders were slumped forward and his head was bowed but he still had not uttered a word. Realizing that her effort to reconnect with her brother was failing, Brennan decided to take her leave. "Just to let you know, I'm going to do everything within my power to keep Dad here, in protective custody."
She had reached the door and placed her hand on the door knob when Russ finally spoke.
"Polo…"
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"So…you think they're okay up there?" Booth paced around the living room near the entrance to the foyer, rubbing his hands together.
"Dude, they're fine," Hodgins said. "Sit down…have a drink."
"I don't want a drink."
"Well, I'll have one for both of us." Hodgins grinned when Angela slapped his arm.
"Booth, please sit down. You're making me dizzy," the artist informed him.
The agent stepped out into the foyer area and looked around before entering the room again. His cell phone began ringing and he quickly slipped it out of his jacket.
"Booth." Angela and Jack watched as Booth's face turned pale and his grip on the small phone tightened. "Do you know anything about his condition, sir? Okay…yes, I understand."
His hand dropped to his side as he stared at the artist and the entomologist.
"Booth?" Angela leaned forward, concern etched in her features.
"That was Cullen….I don't…" He ran a hand over his face and sighed. "Max Keenan collapsed at the airport and was rushed to the hospital. I don't know how I'm gonna tell Bones…"
"You just did," Brennan replied as she and Russ entered the room behind him.
Author's notes: Well, maybe I've finally broken through my writer's block with this chapter, although I'm not really happy with it… Okay, I know it's been awhile since I've updated but maybe if I receive enough reviews….hell, enough hits….for this chapter, I might be inclined to update again this week since I'm on vacation for the first time in a long time. Let me know what you think.