Chapter Twenty five

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Temperance never thought she would be this exhausted by kicking someone's ass, but Lisa was really tough. But after what seemed like an eternity, a kick to her stomach and two elbows in her back, followed by another hard kick to the blonde's doubled over form, she collapsed at the floor. Temperance felt her knees get weak. Her legs trembled badly when she hurried up to the sofa. She needed to sit down before she'd faint. Her head started spinning and her legs gave way under her just in time as she reached the couch and she collapsed into the soft cushions.

Temperance knew she wasn't physically strong enough to fight like she'd done. She hadn't had enough sleep and her constant worry and fear of loosing Booth or Parker had just been too much. But she wasn't one to give up and now Lisa was at the floor, badly beaten, and herself still alive and conscious. At least that was better than nothing, and she'd won! The price was a black eye, a split lower lip and several bruises in her face. She was aware of a throbbing pain at the side of her body, but tried to ignore it.

"Bones…" Temperance was barely aware of Booth's hand on her arm. She closed her eyes, too tired to face him.

"Bones, look at me, BONES!" Booth sounded worried and she forced herself to turn her head. Opening her eyes, she looked up at Booth who now was sitting next to her.

"How are you feeling? Do you need to, uh, go to the hospital?"

Temperance shook her head. No way she was going to a hospital.

The silence grew behind them. Booth left the sofa, walked to get something and then walked up to Lisa and turned her so she was on her stomach. He cuffed her hands together before walking back to Temperance.

"I want to have a few words with her when she wakes up…" he said, just to have something to say. Booth looked at Bones. He knew he had to say something, but what? Things were suddenly very awkward.

There was another silence.

Temperance was first to break it. "Booth," her voice was just above a whisper.

"Yeah?"

"It was her, Lisa… she made me do this… I never meant to hurt you; I never wanted to leave you. She…" Temperance's voice trailed off. She knew Booth would be angry and she didn't know if she could handle that right now.

"She… what?"

"She told me that if I told you the truth and if I didn't do as she said, she'd kill Parker," Temperance blurted out.

"Oh god…" Booth mumbled. He looked at Lisa, then back at Temperance. "Why the hell didn't you let me shoot that asshole!" he almost yelled.

"I already told you that."

"Yeah but what she did…she…" Booth cut himself off, shaking his head angrily.

"Hey, I'm sorry…" Temperance whispered.

Booth looked at her; suddenly he realized she looked really pale. "It's not your fault… hey are you really okay? Because you look very…" he was cut off by a loud moan from Temperance, she winced in pain.

"I just hurt my side; it's nothing to worry about…" she muttered. "Booth, I understand if you're mad at me… do you want me to go?"

Booth shook his head. "It's not your fault," he repeated.

"But you look mad."

Booth sighed. "Well yeah I am!" he snapped. When he saw Temperance's hurt look he quickly added "At her," he gestured for Lisa's unconscious form.

Another silence. Temperance didn't know what to say. She wanted Booth to hold her, to make her feel better, but she wasn't sure he wanted to. And she was not going to ask. Maybe Booth was still angry at her, and he just lied about it. He'd have his reasons too… was it possible to just forget about what she'd done when he'd found out why? Could he forgive her? Had he already? There were so many questions, but Temperance didn't know how to start. Instead she looked at Booth, still quiet. She had no idea that the exact same questions were running through Booth's head.

"Was it stupid?" Temperance finally asked. She received a questioning look and a raised eyebrow from Booth.

"That I didn't tell you… I wanted to, Angela told me to but you'd… if she killed Parker you'd never forgive me… I couldn't risk that… Parker is… you love him…" Temperance voice trailed off. She got up on her feet, clutching her side as the pain came back. "I should go," she almost whispered. Quickly she turned and headed for the door.

A hand on her shoulder stopped her before she could open the door. She slowly turned and stood face to face with Booth. Without saying anything he pulled Temperance into a hug. "You did the right thing, and I love you too, Tempe, everything's gonna be alright… it's okay…"

"I'm so sorry…" Temperance repeated.

"Hey, it's okay… now that I know why, it's okay. Let's forget about what happened, all that matters is that we're here… now… it's okay Temperance," Booth tightened his hold of her. Now he understood everything, just as Angela had said he would. And everything Bones had said and done didn't make him angry anymore. She'd only done what she'd thought was right, for both him and his son. Even if he'd wanted to stay angry at her, it was impossible.

Booth led Temperance back to the sofa, but just as they were about to sit down, Lisa began squirming at the floor.

"I need to do this," Booth said, he left Temperance and walked up to the blonde. Booth spun her around so she was facing him.

"It's over Lisa, now tell me everything."

"It'll never be over Seel, you're mine…"

Booth fought the urge to hit her.

A smile appeared on Lisa's bruised face.

Booth snatched his gun from his belt and aimed it at the blonde. "Give me one good reason not to shoot you," he growled.

"Seeley, you wouldn't shoot."

"Really? Well, for starters, you kidnapped me, you…"Booth's voice trailed off. "You had me knocked out and had sex with me, you threatened to kill my son, and you hurt Bones, give me a damn good reason to let you live," Booth couldn't control his anger anymore. Everything he'd been holding back caught up with him.

"Booth, stop!" Temperance called from the sofa. "Don't do anything you'll regret."

Booth didn't listen to her.

"Yeah listen to the Bone Lady, she knows everything," Lisa said with a faked sweetness in her voice.

"Shut up!" Booth almost screamed. He took a deep breath, pushing the gun close to Lisa's throat.

"Please could you un-cuff my hands, I like those with fur better, you know we could have really fun with those if you just..."

Lisa was cut off as Booth screamed at her. Lisa licked her lips, staring at Booth with a wicked grin on her face.

Temperance watched what was going on, she knew Booth was beyond mad and he could easily pull the trigger at any time. There was nothing she wanted more then to get rid of Lisa for good, but she knew Booth would feel bad about killing again, and she didn't want him to hurt even more.

Hesitating only a few seconds, she got up on her feet and ran over too Booth. Her side hurt as hell but she tried to ignore it as she knelt next to Booth. She put a hand on his arm, trying to calm him down.

"BOOTH!" she had to yell to get his attention. "Don't kill her…"

Booth didn't take his eyes off Lisa. His hand trembled as he pushed the gun even closer to her skin. Lisa whimpered, beginning to feel scared.

With a quick movement Temperance snatched the gun out of Booth's hand.

"No, Bones!" Booth tried to get it back. Lisa tried to crawl away. Temperance tried desperately to keep Booth from shooting her…

All of the sudden a gunshot went off, leaving the room in complete silence…

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TBC