A/N - So here it is, the next xhapter. I find myself feeling quite proud of this one and I have no idea why. So please keep the reveiws coming and tell me whatyou think...
Chapter Three – Visit Me In My Dreams
Temperance was not a stupid woman. She knew that in order for them to continue to work at clearing Booth, there were certain things they had to do. Like make sure they weren't followed and that no cell phone calls were made. Even though she knew these things had to be done, she still felt like she was in a really bad action movie. Except this was nowhere near as fun.
"Anything?"
Jerry was ducking in and out of traffic while Temperance was keeping a close eye on the road behind them to make sure that there was no one tailing them to see Gavin Potts. She was sure that the fear that Jerry felt was grounded in truth but she still could not see why things had to be so extreme.
"Nothing. No one is following us Jerry. I have a question for you."
"And that would be?"
"If they think that Booth is guilty, why in the world would they let him go?"
Jerry gave her a quick look.
"You gave him an alibi. I bet they questioned you, right? Thought that you and Booth were getting it on?"
Temperance nodded slightly.
"I know they thought I lied. I am a respected scientist and they thought I would lie just to get Booth out of jail. I really hated that implication."
Jerry smiled slightly and turned left before cutting the engine just outside of a small apartment complex.
"They needed Booth to take the heat. You provided him with an alibi and now he's free. I don't know what they are covering up but it's big enough for them to try and rope in you and Booth. We only have a little time before they come looking for us all."
"And then what? We just suddenly disappear?"
Jerry let out a low whistle.
"A number of things could happen. They make us go on as normal, make us disappear or even take Booth and go. Whatever way it goes down, it is not going to be pretty. We need to find out who did this and take the heat off Booth."
Temperance followed Jerry up the steps and down a hall, coming to stand outside of apartment 210. She had no idea how Jerry had gotten his information but she was very glad to have him on her side. He knocked sharply and they only had to wait a few seconds before the door was pulled open.
"Gavin Potts?"
Gavin nodded and opened the door a little wider. He was not what Temperance had expected. Most of the criminals she had met had this aura about them; something was always slightly off, even if it wasn't in the most obvious way. But with Gavin Potts, she felt a sudden urge to trust him. He was tall, with coffee coloured skin and small white teeth. He wore a simple suit but it was pressed cleanly and he looked like he was ready for a business meeting, not out n bail.
"Can I help you?"
His voice was smooth and cool, his brown eyes going from Jerry to Temperance before drifting back again.
"Do you know Agent Seeley Booth?"
Gavin smiled at Jerry's question, his cheek caving into a small dimple.
"Oh you know I do. Why else would you be here? I read the papers so I know what this is about. Would you like to come in?"
He opened the door wider still and after a moment's hesitation, the pair stepped inside. It was a small, clean space with obviously second hand furniture and stained carpets but it seemed to work for Gavin, who indicated for them to sit before offering them each a glass of water. When they had their drinks and Gavin had settled down across from them, Temperance began on the topic of Gavin's relationship with Booth.
"So you know what happened then? Where were you at the time?"
Gavin laid another smile on them.
"I didn't do anything to Booth. Why would I?"
"You threatened him."
"I was mad. Now I understand why he had to do what he did."
Temperance frowned, confused.
"How does that work? He arrested you and you now forgive him?"
Gavin shrugged.
"What can I say? I guess I learnt to forgive. I would never do anything to harm Booth. A threat is just a threat until you follow through with it."
Temperance let Jerry talk some more before they moved back into their truck, a large sigh escaping her.
"That was a waste of time."
Jerry shook his head as he started the engine.
"It's never a waste of time if you can narrow your suspect list down, even if it is by a little."
Temperance felt a heavy weight settle on her chest and it stayed there, long after they had pulled up back into the abandoned building and only lifted slightly when she saw that Booth was up and about, albeit stiffly.
"What did Potts say?"
"If he did it, then I'm Mother Teresa."
Booth sighed and sat on the edge of the table, Temperance settling herself beside him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Guilty. I should never have dragged you into this."
"And if you didn't, you would still be in prison."
"But you, Angela and Jerry would be safe from the FBI."
Temperance smiled.
"Booth, they're the FBI. Nobody is ever safe. And you needed my help."
"I still feel bad."
"Well don't. I choose what I do and what I don't do."
Booth nodded. He knew that was true. If she didn't want to be here, she would have left a long time ago.
"I'm sorry that this has dragged up all those memories for you."
"So am I. I don't like thinking about that time in my life. I did so many things to so many people."
"And now you're doing good."
"Doesn't erase the past though. I ended so many lives."
"Do you remember how you helped me with my mother?"
Booth nodded. He hated seeing Temperance in so much pain, hated to see the confusion over her mother's death.
"And how you tracked Russ down for me?"
Another nod.
"That was all you. You had no reason to do it, you just did it. And you know why? Because you are a good guy and you care about people. The past is the past and there is nothing that can change that but the future is all yours."
"You sound like a fortune cookie."
Temperance rolled her eyes at him, a small smile on her face.
"It's true though. I don't care what people say about you, you are a good guy."
Booth smiled at her.
"I knew you liked me."
Sleeping in a truck was a pain in the neck. In a very literal way Temperance discovered. Angela was stretched out in the back, sleeping soundly, her coat keeping her warm. Booth was sleeping on the table while Jerry had unrolled a foam mattress; he too was using his coat to keep warm. Everyone was asleep, except her. She had never actually gotten to sleep, could not find a comfortable enough position, even though her body was begging for rest.
"Stop tossing and turning Bones, you'll wake everyone up."
"You try sleeping in a truck and see how you feel."
She heard Booth move, heard the slight grunt as he moved to quickly for his wounded body. She didn't see him until he was almost in her face, the room completely pitch black thanks to the boarded up windows.
"Do you want to go for a bit of a walk? It should be safe."
Temperance nodded, realising how pointless it was in the absolute darkness.
"Sure. I'll just get my coat on. Do you have yours on?"
She heard him grunt softly.
"I do now."
They walked carefully and slowly through the building and into the cold moonlight outside, the fresh air making Temperance's head spin slightly. She felt the steady crunch of stones under their shoes and they fell into a stride with each other, the silence falling easily. She had forgotten just how beautiful the moon could look when it was so fat and round, the clouds drifting over it lazily giving the world an eerie light.
"What are you thinking about Bones?"
"The moon. I forget how pretty it can look away from all the lights of the city."
The silence fell again as the continued to drift away from the building. It didn't seem to take very long before they were at the end of the stony drive and Booth made a move to head back.
"Lets sit for a little while."
Temperance sat on the grass, Booth falling gingerly to her side.
"I'm sorry if I woke you."
Booth shook his head as he twisted some blades of grass together.
"There was no way I was going to be getting any sleep tonight. I just kept seeing their faces in my head."
"I'm sorry they died."
"It's hardly your fault Bones. You didn't put the guns in our hands."
"I know. I'm just sorry you had to go through all of that."
Booth stretched his hands out in front of him, his eyes coming to rest on hers.
"I've been seeing him ever since he died."
"Who?"
"Colin. I see him everywhere I go. At first I thought it was an after effect from the war, you know my mind playing tricks on me. But as the years slipped past I realised that he was haunting me. I know it sounds ridiculous but it's true."
Temperance tried to keep her logical mind out of this conversation, choosing instead the part of her that was more understanding.
"War does odd things to people."
Booth shook his head as a bitter laugh rumbled from his chest, sending a shiver down Temperance's back.
"You have no idea Bones and I hope that you never do."
Temperance could see the slight shine of tears in Booth's eyes and felt her heart break for him. She hated seeing him like this, hated seeing him hurt for something he could not change.
"Maybe in a way Colin was lucky."
"How so?"
"He died."
Temperance felt tears spring in her own eyes and she found Booth's hand, clasping it lightly in hers. She didn't know what else to do to help him, could feel him shaking as tears fell from his eyes and down his cheeks. She said nothing and knew she didn't have to. She was there for him and he knew that all he needed to do was ask.
Booth watched Temperance as she finally fell asleep in the truck, his hands stroking the pictures that they had found in Terry's apartment gently. He couldn't see the pictures but then again he didn't need to, already know every line and crease on every one of the young's boys' faces. The smell of the sweat, gunpowder and blood was seared in his memory and all it took to bring those back was holding his gun, waiting for the fear to die. He didn't like how weak these thoughts made him, hated it even more that he had broken down in front of Bones. He had never done that before in front of anyone. Any tears were left for when he was alone, when he didn't need to worry over who would see them. And even though he had cried himself to sleep enough to know that they always came, he was always surprised by the intensity of them, the burning pain in his chest and the desperate desire to disappear. His eyes watched Temperance's chest slowly rise and fall beneath the blanket, the raising sun shedding a little light through the cracked and damaged walls in the building. When she had held his hand, he had felt his heart break again. He felt like he had failed her as well. He was meant to be the strong one, the one who kept her safe, saved her from the things she didn't know she was meant to fear. And yet here she was beside him facing his scary and horrible memories with him, barely breaking a sweat at the idea of helping him out with the demons. Even if he didn't have feelings for her, ones that went beyond the formally forced partnership, he would still have the deepest respect for her. When something scared her, she didn't crumble and lose it, she fought back with everything she had, more often then not defeating whatever was standing in her way. She was a lot stronger then most of the men that Booth knew, with a few rare exceptions. It felt good to know that even if the rest of the world doubted him, she still believed him, had given him nothing but her trust and faith. So why did he feel like he didn't deserve all that she had to offer?
"A young man like you should not have so many frown lines."
Booth was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Jerry watching him closely, the man's face twisted into a sarcastic smile.
"A young man like me should not be this unhappy either."
Jerry shifted from his position on the floor and came to sit beside Booth on the table that was now his makeshift bed.
"Bad memories huh?"
"Always. I cried in front of Temperance tonight Jerry. I have never done that before."
Jerry chuckled slightly.
"She cares about you Booth, she won't think less of you because of it. I cry in front of the wife all the time with my memories. She hugs me and reminds me of what I have. You have Parker and two beautiful women who care for you enough to put their own lives at risk. You have a lot more then most my friend."
Even Booth had to smile when Jerry put it in such a logical manner.
"So you got me on that one. Jerry can I ask you a question?"
"Fire away."
"Do you see any of the men you saw being killed?"
"In my dreams? Sure."
"No I mean when you're awake. I see Colin everywhere I go. It's been that way for years now and I don't know what to do with it. He's haunting me."
Jerry frowned, his face concerned.
"It's not healthy Booth. Have you ever had professional help for what you saw, what you experienced?"
Booth shook his head hard.
"No and why would I? Whatever I tell them is no different to what I tell you and Temperance. How is talking to a stranger going to be any different?"
Jerry shrugged.
"It's not all that different I suppose. It's just that maybe they could help you understand what's going on in your head. If you're still seeing a friend who's been dead for the last fifteen years, then maybe your mind is trying to tell you something."
"Yeah that I'm loosing it."
Jerry cuffed the younger man lightly in the arm.
"You're not loosing it. You're just reliving a horrible event."
Booth's eyes fell on Temperance again as she turned in her sleep.
"I don't deserve a friend like her Jerry. Or you or Angela for that matter."
"Yes you do. Especially Temperance. She has a definite way about her that seems to keep you out of trouble."
Booth felt a laugh burst from his chest, this one genuine and founded.
"More like she's the one getting me into trouble. She keeps bugging me about giving her a gun."
Jerry laughed, a deep reassuring sound that warmed Booth.
"I didn't think she would be the kind of woman one could refuse."
"I have so far but it's getting harder and harder. She not one to give up easily."
"Why can't she have a gun?"
"She'll shoot people with it. She's not very good at asking questions before she does the shooting. That is the biggest problem. And she knows enough about defending herself without having a gun anyway. She poked a murderer in the eyes once."
Jerry's eyes widened as he gazed at the sleeping anthropologist.
"Why in the world would she do that?"
"He deserved it. He drugged her and killed a guy she was working with, making it look like she did it. Then when the pieces finally fell together, the idiot began to put some sort of voodoo hex on her so she poked him in the eyes. Said that not very many people are scary after you poke them in the eyes."
This time Jerry wasn't chuckling, he was gasping as laughter shook his body and he leaned against Booth to stop from falling off the table. Booth soon joined in and the two men laughed as the sun became high outside and another day began.