Disclaimer: I own nothing…
Summary: When Parker ends up in danger, Booth calls Brennan… A call that changes both their lives forever.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: I apologize for the long interval between updates this time… I would have had this chapter up early yesterday, but then I got the news that Kevin Richardson is leaving the Backstreet Boys, and as stupid as it may seem, it's really got me pretty devastated. Right now, I'm not going to make any promises on the next chapter, because frankly, anything I write right now is going to be extremely depressing and I don't really think that would fit appropriately with the story where its at right now. Not sure when this is gonna wear off. I've spent nine years of my life devoted to this band, and having just gotten them back… Well, this is a pretty hard hit to me. So I apologize for any delay in updates.
Also, I have to say thanks to "The Reviewing Phantom"… The whole idea about Brennan telling Ange what Parker said was perfect and it really got me writing… Thanks for the inspiration!
And of course, thanks to everybody who reviewed. You guys are awesome.
Oh, and the song here is Savage Garden's "The Best Thing"… Trust me, it had to happen. I'm pretty sure I'm completely incapable of writing a longer fic without using Savage Garden or Darren Hayes in some form or another…
And, finally, here's the chapter… Enjoy!
The Best Thing:
And I'm beginning to understand
You could be the best thing about me
Only moments after Booth had left the room, Russ had walked in, the look in his eyes one of relief. Temperance smiled warmly at him as he approached, and after a moment of hesitation, he leaned down to hug her carefully. She was still getting used to the whole idea of having her brother back in her life, and it was at that moment that the magnitude of what she had been through finally hit her. After having been separated from him for fifteen years, she had just nearly gotten herself killed, and the thought of almost losing what they had just begun to salvage made her hold on for just a moment longer than was necessary.
When she finally let him go, a few tears streaked down her cheeks, and she gave a short laugh as she wiped them away. "I'm fine, Russ. Just a little emotional, I guess." She informed him in answer to the concern she noted in his eyes.
"Can't blame you… God, Tempe, I got that call and I thought I was never gonna see you again." He shook his head slowly, watching her closely as he took the seat beside her bed. "What in the hell could've possibly convinced you that it was a good idea to go in there!"
He wasn't mad, really, and she knew that. He was simply scared for her, just like everyone else was. Especially Booth, and as she lay there watching Russ, she prayed that her brother didn't blame him for this. Booth was suffering from enough guilt as it was.
"Look, Russ, I know it wasn't the smartest idea I've ever had… But I don't regret it, either." She told him, her eyes locking with his as she tried to convince him that what she had done was necessary. "Booth called me. His son was in danger… What was I supposed to do? Just let him die? I couldn't have done that." She paused for a moment, before smiling just a bit. "Russ, seeing that little boy today, unharmed… I wouldn't have traded that moment for anything."
After watching her for a moment, Russ sighed and nodded. "I get that. And from what Angela told me, you also saved that little boy's mother… You're a hero." He shrugged, and she laughed with a roll of her eyes. "So, I guess I can forgive you this time… Just don't ever scare me like that again."
She smiled lightly as her eyes moved to the blanket that was thrown across her, and she began to play with a loose thread she found at its edge. "That's exactly what Booth said to me." After a moment, she looked up at him again, the corners of her mouth turning up into something that wasn't quite a smile. "He feels really guilty over this whole thing. He hasn't actually said anything to me about it yet, but I know he thinks this is all his fault… I wish I knew how to tell him that it's not… That I'm glad he made that call, because if he had lost Parker… I just don't think I would've been able to handle seeing him in that much pain, you know?"
Russ smiled as watched her. "Have you tried telling him exactly that?"
She shook her head slowly before focusing her eyes on her brother. "I'm not exactly great with words when it comes to things like this… Whatever I say just never seems to be enough."
Russ was silent for a moment, clearly turning her words over in his head as he nodded slowly. After a moment he sighed. "Tempe, I think you should tell him how you feel."
"Russ, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm talking about you and Booth. You've both been tiptoeing around the issue for way too long now. I know you, Tempe, and I know when you're trying to cover up your feelings. You care about him a hell of a lot more than you're willing to admit, and you know what? He feels the same way."
"Since when do you even like Booth?" She was trying to change the subject and she knew he knew it.
He fixed her with a no-nonsense star, daring her to challenge the next words he spoke. "Since I realized that the only reason he was treating me like shit was because he was trying to protect you."
"I don't need to be protected." Temperance defended, her tone a bit harsher than she had intended.
"No." He agreed, locking eyes with her. "You don't need to be protected… But you deserve it."
Sometimes I feel like this is only chemistry
Stuck in a maze searching for a way to
Shut down turn around feel the ground beneath me
You're so close where do you end where do I begin?
"Russ, I'm seeing David." She told him, trying her best to avoid the subject of her feelings for Booth. They may have been separated for fifteen years, but she knew Russ could still see right through her.
"And I get that you like your internet guy, Tempe, but when you really think about it, who do you care about more? David or Booth?"
His eyes were prying, and she looked away quickly, hoping to keep her emotions undercover. "I've known Booth longer. It only stands to reason that I'd care about him more."
"That's not how it works, sis. How long you've known someone doesn't determine how much you care for them, and I think you know that."
Always pushing and pulling
Sometimes sanity takes vacation time on me
I'm in a daze stumbling bewildered
North of gravity head up in the stratosphere
You and I roller coaster riding love
You're the center of adrenaline
And I'm beginning to understand
Her eyes caught his once more, and the look she wore was one of fear and semi acceptance. Russ smiled at her gently, noting exactly how fragile she seemed, and hoping to ease some of her fears… Not to mention eager for her to wipe the scared puppy dog look off her face.
It was then, however, that a soft knock at the door caught their attention, and they both looked up to see Angela poking her head in. "Hey, guys." She greeted, smiling at the two. "You mind if I join you?"
"Of course not." Temperance told her with a smile of her own, gesturing for Angela to enter.
As soon as she had pushed through the door, she was at Brennan's side, catching her in a gentle hug. "God, sweetie, I'm so glad you're okay."
After a moment, Russ stood, drawing the attention of both Temperance and Angela. "I'm gonna get going. Give you two some time alone…" Angela stepped out of the way for him and he moved to Temperance once more, hugging her goodbye. As he moved toward the door, he called over his shoulder, "Just think about what I said, alright, Tempe?"
Walk on broken glass make my way through fire
These are the things I would do for love
Farewell peace of mind kiss goodbye to reason
Up is down the impossible occurs each day
This intoxication thrills me
I only pray it doesn't kill me
"What was that about?" Angela questioned, turning back to Temperance after having watched curiously as Russ left the room.
"Have you been talking to my brother?" Temperance questioned, fixing Angela with a hard stare. "Because if you have, it really needs to stop."
Angela almost laughed out loud at that. "Actually, I haven't been talking to him… At least not about that. I assume you're talking about Booth, right?" When Brennan just continued to stare, she really did laugh. "See. I'm not the only one who sees it. Then again, you'd have to be blind not to."
"I don't see it," was Temperance's matter-of-fact reply as she stared Angela down, crossing her arms over her chest.
Ange returned the stare, fighting to hold back the smile that threatened. "I rest my case."
"Well, that's insulting." Brennan told her, the look she wore suddenly changing to one of indignation.
"Oh, sweetie," Angela said with a laugh, settling herself in the chair next to her best friend. "You care about him too much to let yourself admit your feelings for him. You're afraid it'll destroy what you have, and so you push all those feelings back, out of the way… You bury them someplace deep in your heart, where nobody'll ever find them, because even you won't look there. Because you like head stuff, not heart stuff… But then sometimes, you forget that they're supposed to be buried, and you let him in. You smile, and you flirt, and you give him these looks, and every now and then you stand just a little too close to him and everybody can see how safe it makes you feel… Except you."
"I hate psychology."
"Which is exactly why you can't see it." Ange told her, resting a hand on top of Brennan's. "Sweetie, you need to open yourself up to this…" She paused for a moment, leaning back in her chair with a sigh. "Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there's nothing more than friendship there with you and Booth… But you'll never know if you don't explore your feelings for him… And I don't mean with your head, Bren. I mean with your heart."
Brennan was silent, her fingers once again picking at the hem of her blanket, and her eyes locked on them. Angela was right. She was terrified of the feelings she had been having toward Booth, and so she had been trying her best to ignore them… But she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep pretending…
Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me
After a moment of watching Brennan contemplate her words, Angela stood, giving Brennan's hand a squeeze in the process. "Yeah, so I'm gonna go now, and I'm gonna send Booth back in here, and I want you guys to talk…"
"Angela, I can't." Brennan insisted, fear creeping into her voice as she locked eyes with Angela, her panic reflected in her gaze.
"You can, Bren. I know you can." Angela assured her before turning and moving to leave.
"Ange?" Brennan called, just before she made it to the door. When Angela paused to listen, Brennan continued, "Parker said something earlier… He said that Booth loves me… What does that mean?"
Ange turned to Brennan then, smiling lightly and opening her mouth to speak. Before she could actually get any words out, however, Brennan interrupted her. "I mean, it doesn't actually mean anything, right? He's just a child. Children always say things like that… That doesn't make them true…"
"Look, sweetie, in my experience, children are far more insightful that the adults around them. They pick up on things that sometimes we don't even realize."
"I don't know what that means."
"It means, sweetie, that you should never underestimate a child. Parker's honest. He says what he sees, what he feels… I'd trust hisinstincts if I were you." And then, in an instant, she was gone, leaving Brennan to contemplate everything that had just been said.
And I'm beginning to understand
You could be the best thing about me
What if you're the best thing about me?