By the time Booth arrived with someone from the Metro police, Antonia was nearly despondent. Hodgins had told her repeatedly to head back to the house, but she refused, sitting on the bench with Melody in her lap, her eyes focused on the fountain and nothing else as Sam sit on the ground, his knees drawn up, a pitifully defeated look on his face. Any time he tried to speak, Hodgins would slam the head of the shovel into the ground and glower at him, shutting him up immediately.
Booth stepped into the garden with a police officer following him, and quickly made his way to Antonia. He crouched in front of her breaking the spell with the falling water. "What happened?" He asked, looking into her eyes. He glanced over at Hodgins, who was explaining to the officer what he walked in on as Nichols sat with his head down holding his hand to his head. "Antonia, talk to me."
"There's nothing to say." She said, looking into her father's eyes. "I don't have anything to say about it." She said, holding Melody close, the little girl cuddled with Antonia. Booth could see that she looked dazed, perhaps in shock. She was acting completely different than she had on the phone when he talked to her, and he assumed that her adrenaline had simply worn off.
"Are you okay? What happened? Why did Hodgins hit Nichols with a shovel?" He asked, looking over at the police officer who was talking to Hodgins, who was pointing at the man on the ground speaking extremely emphatically. "I need you to talk to me, Toni."
"I was here, and he showed up. I asked him to leave, and he refused. He refused, and he grabbed me. I sent Melody for Hodgins." She said softly, more to the fountain than to her father. Her eyes moved to his face and she tried to control her trembling voice. "I just want him to leave. I just want him to leave and I never want to see him again." She said, her voice low and serious. Suddenly, Aiden came through the gate, his stride was long and purposeful. When she saw him, she looked away from her father and rested her face in her hand for a moment, closing her eyes tightly, she shook her head into her hand, rocking Melody gently in her arms.
"What the hell happened?" Aiden asked, indicating the lights on the police car, and the scene in the garden. He surveyed the scene as Hodgins looked up, poised to step over to Aiden when Booth stood up and indicated that he didn't need to say anything. Booth watched Aiden crouch in front of Antonia, right where he had been. She moved her hands into his, her eyes focusing directly on him as Melody turned in her arms and watched him carefully.
The sky was quickly darkening, but the twinkle lights in the garden were illuminating them, sending strange shadows through the garden as the reds and oranges of the sky seemed to make everything glow. Booth walked toward Hodgins, who was explaining what he had witnessed, glancing back to his daughter as he watched her focus completely on the younger man. "Tex." He said, watching her eyes focus on him, and not move, as if she were trying to decode something in his eyes. "Tex, what happened?" He asked, noticing immediately the red marks on her wrists, he rubbed them gently and glanced back to where the officer was helping Nichols from the ground, preparing to take him in for questioning. He felt a deep, strong anger bubbling in his chest as he moved to stand up. Instantly her hands were gripping his tighter, stopping him immediately.
"No." She said, looking into his eyes, he could see that she was serious, she was in pain, and she needed him to remain calm. "No." She shook her head slightly.
"What did he do to you?" He asked, softly rubbing her wrists with his fingertips. His jaw was set, his eyes dark and full of contained rage. She knew he wanted to react, she could see it in his eyes, but he knew that there was already far too much testosterone being tossed around, and right now what she needed was peace and quiet.
"He wanted to talk to me. I didn't want to talk, and I told him to leave, and he… He had my hands, he…he held me against that tree over there." She said, watching his teeth grate together, his jaw tightening harder. "I'm okay, Aiden." She said softly, gripping his hands tighter when she felt him trying to pull away.
"Why didn't you call me?" He asked, his voice still soft, but his eyes still holding a blind anger. He glanced over to the officer as he started to escort Nichols away.
"I left my phone at the house. Melody and I were just coming here to see the garden, to watch the sunset. I think he knew you weren't here." She said softly, hugging Melody to her. He could see that she was contemplating continuing, and his reaction was what he expected when she spoke. "I told Melody to get help, and he grabbed her, and…"
"He touched her?" He asked, trying to stand up, she held fast to his hands, he remained at her level, watching the defiance in her eyes returning.
"She got away from him and ran for Hodgins. That's when he grabbed me and he had pushed me against that tree over there, and… and was saying such awful things. I just… I don't know what came over me. I couldn't move. I could have easily taken him down, but something was… Maybe it was what he was saying, maybe it was just… I don't know, I couldn't move. I couldn't defend myself." She whispered, shaking her head. Her entire body was trembling.
"You shouldn't have had to defend yourself. You were in a place that you felt safe." He said, his voice filled with contempt for the other man as he watched her eyes close tightly.
"Toni, what the hell was Nichols even doing here?" Booth snapped as he walked over to her, standing over them as he tried to figure out what was going on. "Why was he here? What did he want from you? Grace mentioned that you and Nichols were involved or something at some point. When was that? Why didn't I know about this?" He asked, frustrated that she wasn't answering. "Antonia, what the hell is going on?"
"Booth, not now." Aiden said, closing his eyes as he held Antonia's hands, gently rubbing her wrists as he tried to calm her, she rubbed his hands back, letting him know that she appreciated his support.
"I want some damn answers! I want to know why Nichols was here, and why I have squints hitting my agents over the head with shovels. Now give me some damn answers!"
"Not now, Booth." Aiden said, a little stronger this time.
"No, now. Now. I want answers now. Why am I getting distress calls in the middle of my evening about my agent going after you, Antonia? What did he want from you? Why was he here?"
"Booth, I said, not now! Stop interrogating her! Leave her alone!" Aiden snapped, standing up toward Booth, he took a step toward him, and immediately saw the anger in Booth's eyes.
"Where the hell were you, Fitzgerald? You're supposed to be here protecting her! Where the hell were you when this was going on?" Booth said, taking a step toward the younger man.
"I don't have to run everything that I do by you, Booth. Antonia's not a child, she's an adult! She is at a damn safe house! Nichols had the code because he's on this case! She wouldn't have been in danger if you could keep track of your goddamned agents!" Aiden shouted.
"You mean like agents that go sneaking around behind my back and get my daughter pregnant? You mean like those agents?" Booth shouted, his face turning red with anger as they stood face to face, eyes blazing.
"Hey!" Hodgins exclaimed, finally getting their attention as he stood beside them, holding the shovel in his hand. "Do I have to knock you two out too?" He asked with a snip of anger. "If you guys don't shut up, you're both next!" He exclaimed angrily.
"Hodgins." Booth growled.
"Booth. She's fine now. I'm sorry I called you out, okay? I can stay with her while the officer gets her statement. Aiden, why don't you take Melody back to the house, give Ant a little time to herself." He said, watching the younger agent take a step back, the anger quickly draining from his face as he looked to Antonia.
"Being by herself is what got her into this situation." Booth said angrily, swinging his arm in her direction. She had her head in her hand, looking down, rubbing her forehead. "Toni?" He said softly.
"Just go, Dad." She sighed, looking up at him desperately, her eyes were filled with tears. She sighed heavily. "Just go. Go talk to Ace. Tell him that I told you to ask him about Sam, okay? Tell him I said it's okay."
"Ace? What the hell does he have to do with this?" Booth asked, confusion across his face as he looked into his daughter's eyes. "Antonia." He said, sternly.
"Dad, please. Talk to Ace. And don't get mad at him, he was there when I needed someone to talk to." She said with a gentle sigh. "He is always there. It's okay. Thank you for coming to check on me."
"I love you, Toni." He said, leaning down to kiss the top of her head, he looked toward Aiden and glared at him angrily. "You and I are not done with this argument." He said, poking Aiden hard in the chest, he turned toward the gate angrily.
"Yes we are." Aiden muttered to himself as he looked down to see Antonia looking up at him, a sparkle in her eye. He crouched down to look into her eyes and took her hands in his again. "Are you feeling better?" He whispered.
"I think so." She said softly with a sniffle, running her thumbs across his hand as she watched him for a moment. "Thank you for staying calm. Thank you for being here for me, and not flying off the handle."
"Flipping out and getting a cheap shot in isn't going to erase what happened. I'd rather let you know that I'm glad you're alright." He said. "I… am sorry about earlier." He said, watching as she tipped her head slightly and smiled at him just slightly. "I made it up to her though. I told her about the baby, about Melody, and about the engagement."
"How did she take it?" Antonia asked, watching his eyes sparkle.
"It was a little rough at first, knowing she was going to have a new Aunt, and some new cousins… but I think she'll get through." He chuckled, listening to her laugh. "She flipped out. She was so excited."
"Good." Antonia said softly. "I look forward to her excitement the next time I see her." She sighed. "I do want to talk to you about some things though, about Anna."
"We'll talk." He nodded. "I brought you a peace offering."
"A peace offering?" She asked, tipping her head, she smiled.
"Royal Diner pie." He said, watching her eyes light up.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his ear, sure that Melody couldn't read them. "If I didn't have her on my lap right now, I would jump you right here in this garden." She growled, giving his ear lobe a nip, he jumped and she laughed, sitting back to look into his eyes. The concern had disappeared, and was replaced with a shameless love for this woman before him. "I think I'm okay now." She said, looking up as Hodgins walked back into the gate, he hovered a bit, but let them have their privacy.
"I'm going to take Shadow with me back to the house." He said, reaching for the little girl, who came willingly to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly as he patted her back. "I'll get her ready for bed, and we'll wait for you for story time."
"Okay." She said with a slight smile. She could see the worry starting to appear in his eyes and she leaned forward and took his face in her hands. "I'll be okay. I'll give my statement so the police can go, and Uncle Bugs can walk me to the house."
"As long as he's carrying his trusty shovel." Aiden said, standing up, he let out a grunt as he hefted Melody a bit and looked to Hodgins as he walked in their direction.
"He's lucky the axe wasn't out here." Hodgins said with a sigh, watching as Aiden helped Antonia stand.
"Thank you for looking out for her." Aiden said, holding his hand out to Hodgins, who gripped it tightly, and nodded his head.
"I saw the code come in on my phone, and thought it was weird for Nichols to be on the property without Booth. I was already on my way over here when Melody came down the path." Hodgins said, glancing to Antonia. "You better press charges. If you don't, I'll have him for trespassing."
"He's probably going to lose his job." Antonia said.
"Good." Hodgins said, looking between Aiden and Antonia. Aiden looked satisfied, but Antonia had a lost look in her eyes. "Don't you dare feel sorry for him for one minute." Hodgins said quickly, watching Antonia's eyes flick to his, and she watched him for a moment, and a slight smile rose on her lips.
"I don't feel sorry for him." She said, shaking her head. "I just hope that this means he'll get the hint and won't come back." She sighed, glancing to Aiden, who nodded knowingly. "I've moved on. I'm happy now." She said, glancing to the officer who was walking in the gate of the garden. "I'll see you in a little while." She said, tugging at Aiden's arm, he leaned down and kissed her softly. "I love you." She said, looking into his eyes.
"I love you." He whispered, stood up and nodded toward Hodgins and the officer, as he signed to Melody to wave goodbye. She did as she was asked, and they walked out of the garden together.