A/N: Written for livejournal community 100(underscore)situations. Prompt: Graveyard.
Inspired by spoilers, but it's only June and only God knows what'll make it into season two. Just beware, just in case.
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"I don't see why you bought flowers." Brennan glanced over at the small bouquet of flowers resting on the back seat.
Booth maneuvered the car through the cemetery gates. "It's what people do, Bones."
"But it's not like she can see them."
The car pulled to a stop.
"You can see them. Isn't that what matters?"
Brennan sighed. They really were beautiful flowers. The pair exited the car and made their way across the hallowed grass. Brennan gripped the flowers' stems tightly with her right fist. Booth, spotting her whitening knuckles, noticed her death grip on the bouquet. Glancing upward, he spotted the anxious glint in her usually bright eyes.
She was scared.
Temperance Brennan's career was death, yes. But she wasn't in the graveyard to exhume a body. This wasn't work. No, this was personal. And he knew that.
Slowly, carefully, he reached out and wordlessly grasped her free hand with his own as they walked. They reached the headstone and Booth stood back respectfully, letting go of her hand as Brennan hesitantly approached the grave marker. Ignoring the moisture on the grass and the inevitable green stains that were sure to appear on the khaki material, Temperance kneeled down beside the headstone. She reverently lowered the flowers onto the ground, and with her right hand empty, she traced her slender fingers across the Christine Brennan etched into the marble.
After a moment, Brennan let out a trembling breath and stood, giving the marker one last long look before turning back to Booth. She walked towards him, arms folded tightly across her chest. No, she couldn't cry.
Temperance Brennan didn't cry.
Her partner, however, noticed her welling eyes and shaky exhalations. He reached out and pulled her close to him. Brennan buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in the sweet smell of his cologne as the tears slipped free.
Neither could really comprehend how long they stood there. But eventually Temperance pulled away, hands swiping at her now slightly reddened eyes.
"I'm sorry," she offered, giving a halfhearted gesture in the direction of the wet spot on the shoulder of his jacket.
Booth shook his head. "Don't worry about it." He paused a moment. "I'll take you home."
They retreated to the vehicle, walking side-by-side. Booth chivalrously opened and shut her door for her, and for once she did not protest. And the entire ride back was spent in silence, Booth focused on the road and his partner focused on the passing buildings.
He pulled in front of her building and parked the car. Brennan, though, remained in her seat, staring out the window. After a moment, she turned to him, her eyes still bearing the evidence of her earlier emotions. "I should really pay you back for the flowers."
"You don't have to do that. It was no problem."
She nodded before exiting the car. Booth followed her lead, walking her to her door. Brennan placed the key in the lock before hesitating and turning back to him. "Thank you… for today."
"My pleasure." Booth hesitated a moment before continuing. "If you ever want to, you know, go again…" he trailed off.
"I'll give you a call." Brennan turned the key and pushed open her door as Booth made his way back to the car. And she stared at his retreating form for a moment before shutting the door softly.
She knew she would definitely be taking him up on that offer.
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End