Just a little ditty I threw together when I got bored today. Sorry if it sucks. P.S song at the end is Bright Lights by Matchbox Twenty
GONE
Temperance Brennan stares at the phone she is still holding. This is an offer to do something she's wanted to do for a long time and something that could impact immensley on her career, not to mention the histoical impact of their findings. A huge part of her wants to jump on the first plane out and a year ago she probably would have done so without a second thought. But not now. Now she has people she cares about. There are other factors to think about before makes this decision. And one of them she has been avoiding confronting because of how it might turn out.
For a long time now Brennan has been developing feelings for her sparring partner, Agent Seely Booth. At first he did nothing but annoy her. She found him arrogant, self obsessed and quite irritating. He constantly tried to assert dominance over her because she is a strong woman and stands up for herself. She figures Booth saw that as a threat to his own manliness hence his alpha male behaviour.
But he soon started to grow on her. Putting aside how God Damn Sexy he is, he seems to care about her. She has stopped seeing him telling her to 'hang back' as asserting dominance but rather him making sure she doesn't get hurt. His charming smile wins her over ever time. She's lost count of the number of times he's said he's sorry. Every time it happens she can never stay mad at him. She also confides in Booth a lot. Well, a lot for her. No man has ever had that kind of effect on her before.
It was only when Brennan had that trouble with Agent Kenton that she realised just how much she loved Booth. When he got injured she felt like her insides were being ripped out. Then when she was about to die her last thoughts were of Booth and what she'd be losing because she didn't tell him how she felt. After that she decided she would have to confront these feelings but as usual, she pushed it to the back of her mind, afraid of the consequences.
But she can't hide from it any longer. She needs to know how he feels before she can make a decision. That's why she finds herself in her car driving over to his house at eleven at night.
Booth is lying on his couch watching a football game when his doorbell rings. He sits up, surprised, because no one ever calls round his house this late. Muting the TV he pads over to the door, yawning as he opens it. His eyes widen when he sees Brennan on his doorstep.
"Bones?" he says with surprise.
"Hi." She replies. They stare at each other for a moment until Booth gathers his senses and invites her in. She steps in cautiously and folds her arms across her chest, protectively, he thinks.
"What's going on?" he asks as he walks back to the lounge.
"Nothing." Brennan replies. She remains standing as Booth sits down on the couch.
"It can't be nothing." Booth smiles and Brennan feels her knees weaken. That smile does things to her no man has ever been able to before.
"I got a phone call today." She states. Booth looks at her expectantly. "I've been invited on a research project in South America. Career and history making stuff." She studies Booth's face for any kind of sign but all she gets is raised eyebrows of surprise.
"Wow." He says. "South America."
"Yes." Brennan replies. "I need to decide by tomorrow if I'm going. The plane leaves Friday morning."
"So soon?" Booth asks.
"Their lead researcher pulled out with pneumonia. They need a replacement." Brennan explains.
"You haven't made a decision?" Booth asks curiously. He wonders why she came here to talk to him.
"No." she replies. Booth watches her pace back and forth across his floor.
"Bones, is there something else?" he asks.
"Hypothetically." She starts. "You're given an opportunity you can't refuse but it means giving up something you don't exactly have right now but the potential to have it is there if both parties involved agree." She can't look at him. Booth stares at her intently. He has a good idea what she's talking about now and why she came to him. She wants to know if he's interested in her and if she should give up this trip to try a relationship with him. He's been feeling something like this might be coming on, ever since the Kenton incident.
"And this something you don't have. Is it something you really want?" Booth asks.
"More than anything." Brennan replies.
"And you think it might be worth giving up this opportunity?" he probes. Brennan nods. "When there are no guarantees it will be successful." Booth adds. Again Brennan nods. Booth rises to his feet and walks over to her.
"What do you think?" she asks, finally meeting his eyes.
"I think you need to look out for yourself Bones." Booth says. "This is an opportunity you can't turn down." He places his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe this something else will still be there when you get back." He tries to meet her eyes but she looks away.
"What if I don't want to risk it not being there?" she asks. Booth realises Brennan is seriously thinking about not taking this opportunity because of him. He can't let her do that. She's regret it for the rest of her life, especially if things didn't work out. He knows what he has to do and it hurts but one day she might forgive him.
"I think you need to accept that this thing you want isn't going to happen." Booth says. Brennan snaps her head up in surprise. "If it were, it would have happened already." He continues. "Don't give up this opportunity for something you won't get."
"That's your advice?" Brennan asks, her voice a little shaky.
"That's my advice Bones." He steps back. "Go to South America." Brennan sighs and steps away from Booth.
"And you're sure about this?" she asks. She can feel tears burning behind her eyes. Booth is rejecting her. He knows exactly what she's talking about and he's telling her he doesn't feel the same way.
"Positive." Booth replies.
"Then I guess my decision is made." Brennan takes another step away from Booth. "I should go. There's a lot to do." She heads for the door.
"Bones, you're making the right decision." Booth tells her as she leaves. Brennan feigns a smile and heads down the path to her car feeling like her heart has been crushed. Booth has basically told her he sees no future for them as a couple. As Booth watches her go his heart aches. He has been in love with her for months and when he finally sees a chance to tell her, he can't because if he does she'll be giving up the opportunity of a lifetime. As she drives off he hopes he hasn't made a big mistake.
Next afternoon, Booth receives an unexpected phone call from Angela.
"What did you say to her?" Angela demands as soon as he answers.
"What?" Booth asks.
"Brennan, what did you tell her?" Angela asks.
"I told her she shouldn't give up this opportunity." Booth says. "She was going to say no because of…" he can't finish the sentence.
"Because of you." Angela finishes it for him. "Booth, she's in love with you."
"I know."
"And you told her you didn't feel the same."
"I didn't exactly say that."
"What exactly did you say?"
"That doesn't matter Angela. She's going, that's the important thing here."
"But she's going believing you don't love her and I think we both know that isn't true." Booth's silence answers any questions Angela had about his feelings. "You can't let her think you don't feel the same way Booth." Angela tells him firmly. "She has a right to know."
"She also can't turn down this project." Booth says. "I can see how important it is to her."
"Maybe so but Booth…"
"Angela, my mind is made up okay." Booth states firmly. "Drop it."
Friday morning comes and Booth wakes with a sinking feeling in his stomach. Brennan is leaving in a few hours and he's not going to see or speak to her for a long time. For the next half hour as he showers, shaves and gets dressed he tries to convince himself he's done the right thing. As he drives to work he rationalises his decision. But when he sees the turning for the airport he quickly changes lanes. He can't let her go without telling her the truth.
Booth sprints through the airport. He has to reach the gate before Brennan boards that plane. He can't let her leave thinking he doesn't feel the same way as her. He needs to tell her he's been in love with her for the longest time. What she does with that information is her choice. She has to have the choice.
Having purchased a ticket so he can get to the gate, Booth searches for Brennan. He spots her in the line heading towards the doors leading down to the plane. He calls out to her. She doesn't seem to hear him so he keeps running, brushing past other passengers.
"Bones!" he calls out. "Bones!" The woman next to Brennan nudges her having seen where Booth directs his calls.
"Is he calling you?" she asks. Brennan takes off her earphones and looks around. She sees Booth standing at the far end of the room, looking out of breath.
"Booth." She gasps quietly. She steps out of line and takes a few steps forward. Booth hurries over. He doesn't say anything; he just gathers her in his arms and presses his lips to hers in a passionate 'I feel for you what you feel for me' kiss. Brennan finds herself melting in his arms, all her defences falling as he deepens the kiss. Her hands run through his hair as the passengers around them smile and clap at what they see as an incredibly romantic moment.
Booth finally pulls back from the kiss but he keeps his arms locked tightly around Brennan.
"I couldn't let you go without telling you how I really feel." He looks deep into her eyes. Brennan is still a little shocked by the kiss.
"How is that?" she asks.
"I love you." He says. "I always have, I just didn't want to admit it because I didn't think you felt the same way." He explains.
"But yesterday…"
"Bones, you wanted to give up this trip to be with me. I couldn't let you do that. I'm not worth giving up this opportunity."
"You're worth it Booth." Brennan whispers.
"I want you to go. I want you to find whatever you're looking for, whatever you need. I promise you I'll be waiting when you get back."
"You'll wait for me?" Brennan asks.
"I've waited this long, what's a few more months." He grins. The tanoy plays a message advising it is the last boarding call for Brennan's flight. "You have a flight to catch." He says as he loosens his arms around her. He leans down and gives her a passionate kiss she will never forget.
"That's what's waiting for you." He smiles and releases her. Brennan takes his hand and links her fingers with his. They stand a moment, gazing into each others eyes before Brennan steps back, slowing removing her hand from his. She backs towards the gate entrance as Booth watches her go. His heart is pounding so hard in his chest. He finally got her but now he's letting her go with no guarantee she'll come back. As she walks through the door she sends Booth a look. He sees a mixture of pain, happiness and a little fear. He waves as she disappears into the tunnel. She's gone.
Baby, baby, baby, when all your love is gone
Who will save me from all I'm up against out in this world?
And maybe, maybe, maybe you'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come on home
I got a hole in me now
I got a scar I can talk about
She keeps a picture of me
In her apartment in the city
Some things in this world, they don't make sense
Some things you don't need until they leave you
They're the things that you miss
Baby, baby, baby, when all your love is gone
Who will save me from all I'm up against out in this world?
And maybe, maybe, maybe you'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come on home