Sorry I haven't updated this story in a long time. Life got in the way. I've just seen the season finale and loved it so much. I'm also incredibly happy Bones got picked up for another season. I can't wait to see where the characters and story goes from here. I just hope the good directors at Sky One in the UK decide to show the second season over here. Otherwise I might die!
Anyway, this is the final chapter. I'm not 100 happy with it but I struggled to get an ending and just had to go with what I had. I've been working on some one shots which hopefully I'll get posted soon. I also have a million story ideas in the wings too so if my muses co-operate I'll have a few more stories coming up.
Enjoy!
As the moonlight floods through the window, Booth adjusts his position in the armchair, glancing over at Brennan. She is sleeping soundly, curled up at the far side of the bed with the sheets lying loosely around her waist. Even in the dark the bruising on her neck is visible. He wishes he'd been able to convince her to go to the hospital to be checked over. But Brennan was as stubborn as always and after interrogating Arthur and obtaining a full written confession, Brennan convinced Booth to bring her back to the hotel. But he did manage to persuade her to let him stay in the room with her, to keep an eye on her.
"Come on Bones, I gave in on the hospital thing." Booth had said. "You were hit on the head. What if you deteriorate overnight?"
"It's just a bump Booth." Brennan replied. "I don't need you to look after me."
"What if I want to?" Booth asked, stepping close to her, maybe a little too close. "It's this or I drag you kicking and screaming to the hospital for examinations, x-rays, those awful gowns with the open back…" he smiled and let her see the sparkle in his eyes.
"Fine." Brennan agreed with just a little smile curled at the corner of her lips.
Safe in the knowledge that Brennan is soundly asleep, Booth drifts off to sleep himself, his head leaning backward and resting on the back of the chair. He is only asleep for a couple of hours when a scream snaps him awake. He sits bolt upright to see Brennan sitting up in bed, sweat beading on her forehead and her eyes wide with fear. His heart beats faster with concern for her.
"Bones?" he rises from the chair and crosses the room, sliding onto the bed beside her. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asks. Brennan continues to stare straight ahead, her breathing rapid and raspy. "Did you have a nightmare?" he asks as he tucks a lock of her hair behind her ear. Brennan clamps her eyes shut for a moment and nods her head. Booth moves his hand to the back of her head and guiding her gently, he draws her to his chest, enveloping her in his arms.
"It's okay, it was just a dream." He whispers as he rocks her back and forth. "It's okay, I'm right here." Booth is surprised to realise that he isn't surprised that Brennan doesn't fight him as he holds her. He's known for a while that their relationship has moved past being just partners and even friends. The fact that right now she is letting him hold her so close when a year ago she would have broken his arm if he'd even tried to so much as touch her speaks volumes. She allows him to open doors for her and she's stopped asking him to stop calling her Bones. Allowing him to comfort her is just another step forward towards something neither of them is quite sure of.
After a minute or so, Brennan pulls back but stays in Booth's arms.
"Sorry." She apologises quietly.
"It's fine Bones." Booth smiles and strokes her cheek gently. "You want to tell me about it?" he asks as he leans back and finds her bright blue eyes. Brennan shakes her head and taking Booth off guard, she leans back into him and rests her head on his chest.
"I just want to sleep." She mumbles into the fabric of his wife beater. Booth hugs her closer and leans back against the headboard. Stroking her hair with one hand, Booth rubs Brennan's back with the other, comforting her for something she doesn't want to share. He can only guess that Brennan's nightmare was about Arthur's attack.
It doesn't take long for Brennan to fall asleep. The soft touch of Booth's hands and the rhythmic beating of his heart lull her back into a deep sleep. Booth remains awake the rest of the night thinking. He thinks about everything his partner has been through since he met her and how strong she is for surviving it all. The number of times he's almost lost her haunt him and while part of him wants nothing more than to protect her from everything, another part of him knows she has to be out there doing what she does. Bones is a free spirit. She can't be contained.
The next day, Brennan is in her hotel room packing her stuff. She places her last sweater into her suitcase and closes the lid with a heavy sigh, turning her head when she hears a knock at the door. Seconds later Booth lets himself inside, his face serious.
"You ready to go?" he asks. Brennan turns back to her case, snaps the locks shut and turns around to face him.
"I'm ready but I'm not going back to DC." She states. The disappointment, surprise and confusion are evident on Booth's face.
"What?" he asks.
"I'm continuing my book tour." Brennan waits, expecting Booth to react like normal and launch into an explanation of why she should go back to DC with him, how she nearly died and should be resting.
"Okay." He nods. A quizzical look crosses Brennan's face as she wonders why he isn't doing his usual protective thing."What?" Booth asks when he sees the look on her face.
"Nothing, it's nothing." Brennan shakes her head and turns back to her suitcase. Booth takes a few steps over and hovers behind her. As Brennan hangs her head and fusses with the tag on her case, Booth places his hands gently on her shoulders. Leaning in closer he softens his voice.
"What is it Bones?" he asks. She takes a deep breath before turning to face him. His hands remain on her shoulders, twisting to accommodate her new position.
"I guess I was just expecting you to…I mean..." She shakes her head. "Why aren't you trying to convince me to go back to DC?" she blurts out before hanging her head, unable to look at him. Booth lifts Brennan's chin gently with his fingers.
"Do you want me to?" he asks, searching her eyes for an answer.
"No, I mean, I…I don't know." Brennan replies. "I'm…confused." She admits.
"Confused about what?" Booth asks, knowing Brennan won't be able to explain it.
"I…" Brennan turns her head, releasing herself from Booth's gentle hold and steps to the side. She sighs and starts to walk across the room but Booth grabs her wrist firmly but not hard.
"Don't walk away from this." He says. "We've both been walking away when we should be talking." When Brennan turns to face him, she sees his eyes are pleading with her.
"What is 'this'?" Brennan says rather emotionally. Booth releases her arm and stuffs his hands in his pockets.
"I know how I feel Bones. And I think you feel the same but I can't be sure unless you tell me." Brennan watches him intently, her brow furrowing as she thinks through the mess in her head.
"Booth." She starts. "I…don't know what to say, I really don't."
"How about you just tell me how you feel." Booth says. He is actually surprised he's having this conversation with her. He never meant to but one thing led to another and he doesn't want to ignore what's been going on between them the last few days.
"I don't know how I feel." Brennan's face softens. Booth realises this isn't going anywhere.
"You know what Bones, maybe you should stay on your tour." He sounds frustrated and Brennan picks up on it. Her defensive body language makes in response to his tone of voice then Booth feel guilty and he softens his voice. "It'll give you some time to think."
"I guess." She folds her arms across her stomach and lowers her head.
"But I'll be there when you get back Bones." Booth assures her. "I'm not running from this." He closes the gap between them and cups her face with his hand. Her eyes flutter closed and she feels herself leaning into him, her hands grasping the fabric of his T-shirt. Booth slips an arm around her waist and draws her closer to him. Stroking her cheek, he brings his lips to hers and kisses her softly. When he pulls back she opens her eyes and finds his. "Think about it." He almost whispers before he releases her and steps back, putting a safe distance between them.
TWO WEEKS LATER
Brennan arrives back at her apartment late in the evening. Lugging her suitcase and bags to her apartment she struggles inside. After dumping her luggage just inside the door, she falls onto the couch and hugs a cushion. The last two weeks have been very strange for her. Despite the hectic schedule of her tour, which was carefully kept by her new, non psychotic assistant, Brennan found herself thinking about Booth constantly. He made it perfectly clear to her how he feels and all she's been able to think about is that she feels the same and couldn't tell him. Whether it was because she was too scared to or some other reason, Brennan knows now that she's back she has to face up to it. Maybe after a good night's sleep she'll have the energy to.
Her eyes are only closed for a few minutes when there is a knock at her door. Her heart pounds because she knows exactly who it is. A small part of her is scared to answer but a much bigger part wants to see him, hold him and explain to him in a rational way how she feels. Pulling herself together Brennan crosses the room and opens the door.
"Hey Bones." Booth greets her. Brennan notices he's carrying a big brown paper bag, most likely filled with food from Wong Foo's. "I know you just got back and you're probably tired but I thought maybe you'd be hungry." As he talks, Brennan stares deep into his eyes, everything becoming so clear. "I know how you hate aeroplane food and…" he doesn't get to finish his sentence. Brennan loops her arms around his neck, pulls him closer and kisses him passionately. She doesn't know where it came from or if she's making a huge mistake but she just couldn't help it. When she steps back Booth looks confused.
"Bones, I…"
"Are you coming in?" she grins. Both steps inside but doesn't take his eyes off her. "Bones, does this mean?" he asks.
"What did you get?" she asks him, reaching for the brown bag. He pulls it back playfully.
"Not until you answer my question." He smiles.
"What do you think?" she grins and slips her hand behind his neck, pulling him in for another kiss. She had planned to talk to him about it all first but somehow just seeing him unleashed a passion in her she has been suppressing and all she wants is to hold him and kiss him and be with him.
"Now what did you bring?" she repeats
"The usual." Boot shrugs and walks to the kitchen trying to play it cool. But inside his chest is pounding. She feels the same. She feels exactly the same. Brennan follows him and the pair work together as they pull the packages from the bag.
Half an hour later the food is gone and Brennan and Booth are lying down on the couch. Brennan is positioned with her back pressed into Booth's chest, his chin resting on her shoulder and his arm draped over her waist holding her close to him.
"Are you sure you want me to stay, I mean you must be tired." Booth whispers as he nuzzles at her neck.
"Mmm hmm." Brennan replies sleepily.
"You should go to bed and get some sleep." He says sensibly. Brennan shakes her head and twists her body towards Booth.
"I'm comfortable right here." She whispers. Booth looks down at her and tucks her hair behind her ear.
"Okay, but when you're grumpy in the morning because you're tired, don't blame me." He smiles and kisses her softly. Brennan lowers her head to his chest and closes her eyes. She feels Booth's arms tighten around her and for the first time in a long time she feels safe and loved. Falling asleep she knows that no matter what happens down the line, she's made the right choice. She and Booth are meant to be together.
