Phyllis (yeah would have been nice to see them on a vacation like this), RobinAngelena, 554Laura, Vmf447 (yeah theirs is the ideal relationship), GalaxieGurl, FaithinBones, LoveShipper, mphs95, ZinaR, Annarita, jsboneslover (yeah I think there was), mendenbar and guests. Thank you for taking the time to review.
Not sure if someone has done this before but this idea came to me while I was re-watching "The Secrets in the Proposal".
A Good Friend
In the distance, lightning flashed and thunder clapped as an approaching storm blew towards the Booth residence. The four inhabitants of said residence were all soundly asleep until a particularly bright flash of lightning, followed almost simultaneously by a booming thunder clap reverberated though the house.
Booth's eyes snapped open. His senses slowly awakening, he soon realised it was the storm that had woke him. He turned, reaching over to the woman who has shared a bed with him for so many years now. He loved that he could now simply roll over and throw an arm over her waist. He knew she wasn't much of a cuddler when she slept but she didn't mind them too much. The scent of her hair and the gentle rise and fall of her back pressed against his chest was about to lull him back to sleep when the thunder clapped again.
Three-year-old Hank's distinct cry could be heard coming from across the hall. In his arms, Brennan immediately woke.
"The storm must've scared him." Booth said softly. "Go back to sleep. I'll go."
"Thanks." He heard her mumble as he climbed out of bed. His feet ached and his joints protested as he walked softly but quickly across the hall, reminding him of the amount of abuse his body had taken, as a child, as a soldier and as an FBI Agent.
"What's wrong Tiger?" Booth asked as he entered Hank's room.
"I got scared." Hank replied, his head peeking out from under the covers.
"Was it the thunder?" He asked as he sat down next to Hank on his bed.
The boy nodded.
"It's okay buddy. Go back to sleep. I'll stay here till you fall back asleep."
Seemingly pacified by this father's promise, Hank shut his eyes. Booth smoothed a hand across his little boy's head and waited. Soon Hank's breathing settled into a regular rhythm and Booth slowly got up from Hank's bed. He pressed a kiss to his son's head then pulled the covers high over him before exiting the room, keeping the door slightly ajar. Suddenly remembering the thoughts he had been having throughout the day, Booth didn't feel sleepy anymore. Not wanting to disturb Brennan, he headed for the family room. He made his way to the front windows, watching the trees sway in the wind as the rain continued to fall.
Brennan woke to find herself alone in bed. She wasn't sure how much time had passed since Hank had woke up crying for them but she was sure some time had passed. She surmised that Booth might have fallen asleep on Hank's bed. Knowing that it would not be good for his back, Brennan climbed out of bed, intending to bring him back to their bed. She pulled on her robe and made her way across the hall. Hank was soundly asleep but Booth wasn't there. She next checked on Christine who was likewise soundly asleep despite the storm outside. Walking down the hall to the family room, she saw his silhouette against the house's large front windows. Slowly, she walked up to him.
"You know you can't sneak up on me right? You forgot that I'm a sniper?" Booth said as he turned from the window to face her.
"I wasn't trying to sneak up on you." She placed a hand on his arm. "Why didn't you come back to bed?"
"I didn't think I'd be able to fall asleep again."
"Something on your mind?"
Booth nodded as he took her hand, leading her to the couch. They couple sank down onto it, Brennan leaning into his broad chest. She reached for the throw draped over the couch and pulled it over them.
"It's Aldo isn't it?" Brennan asked.
After a moment of silence, Booth spoke into the darkness of the room. "How'd you know?"
"Today is the one-year anniversary of his death. You have been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the day."
"Yeah, I've been thinking about him, alot."
"He was a good friend." Brennan patted his thigh.
"He was… I should've checked in on him more you know? He was always there for me. When I was in the Army and when Pelant blackmailed me into turning down your marriage proposal. Everyone was mad at me and he was the only one I could turn to."
"It is fitting then that he was the one who married us."
"Yeah it is."
"It's not your fault he died. You didn't kill him."
"I know. Still, I should've checked in on him. You never know when what you did as a solider catches up on you. He was always there for me. I owe him."
The couple sat in companionable silence, each deep in their own thoughts. Outside it continued to rain.
"I owe him too."
"For marrying us?"
"For more than that.'
"Yeah?"
"You know when you changed your mind about getting married and you couldn't tell me why? Those months… I was miserable."
"I'm sorry. You know I was miserable too right?"
"I didn't really think of it at the time until Cam reminded me. I was sad and confused. I thought perhaps you had lost interest in me. I thought you didn't love me anymore."
"No way Bones. I could never stop loving you."
"I know now, but not back then. Every week there would be nights when you didn't come home, we were hardly having sex. I was contemplating breaking up with you."
"I didn't come home cause I was workin', trying to find Pelant. I figured you were so mad at me that you didn't want to have sex with me anymore. I didn't wanna force you to do something you didn't want."
"I didn't know that at the time. Plus, I found these cards for Aldo's bar in your jacket pocket."
"I forgot about those! He put them there, asked me to pass 'em out to guys I knew who'd go to his bar for a drink."
"Paradise Lost. I thought you were visiting a strip club. Perhaps getting your biological urges satisfied elsewhere with someone else."
"You kiddin' me? I would never."
"I made up my mind to visit the establishment. If it was really what I envisioned it to be, it would confirm my hypothesis that you no longer had any interest in me and help me make up my mind to leave you."
"I didn't know you went there."
"I met Aldo there. He helped me realise that you turned me down because you had a very good reason to. He convinced me that I should have faith in you. It was what Aldo said, not Cam or Angela, that helped me make up my mind not to give up on you, on us."
"You never told me that."
"It didn't cross my mind to, not till now."
"Now I feel even worse for not checking in on him. Looks like I really owe him."
"Aldo was a good man, just like you. He gave his life to protect us because he valued you as a friend. I'm sure he knew you would do the same for him."
"You're right. I would."
"We can honor his memory by telling Hank and Christine about him. And tomorrow, we can visit his grave."
"That's a great idea Bones."
Brennan yawned before turning in his arms to press a kiss to his lips.
"Do you think you can fall asleep now?"
"Yeah I think I can. Wanna just fall asleep here?"
"It's tempting but we both know you'll wake up with a backache." Brennan threw the blanket off them before rising slowly. She took his hand.
"Thanks for telling me about what he did for us." Booth said as they slowly made their way back to the bedroom. "I'll make sure I remember to thank him tomorrow when we visit his grave."
Aldo was a really good friend, especially to Booth. Just like Max, I wish the show didn't kill him off like that. He deserved better.
