I would really like to take a minute to thank all my wonderful reviewers! It may sound like I'm repeating myself, but I really do love reading your reviews! I can't thank you all enough, and you have no idea how much it pleases me that you are enjoying my story! It's really the reason I write!
"Sweetie!" Angela rushed into the waiting room. "I was so worried!" She pulled Brennan into a hug. "How's Booth?"
Brennan pulled out of her friend's embrace. "He's in surgery. He..he lost a lot of blood."
Angela didn't know what to say. This seemed like a dream. It was impossible. Booth was too strong to die. No, he had to be okay. Bren wouldn't know what to do if he died. She looked at her friend. She looked like she had been through hell. Her clothes were torn and she had some cuts and scrapes, but it was her eyes that sacared Angela the most. Her eyes looked haunted. "I brought you some clothes. Why don't we go and get you cleaned up?"
"I'm fine, Angela. I just.."
"But Sweetie, ...your hands."
Brennan looked down at her hands. They were smeared with dried blood. Booth's blood. She shivered.
Angela looked at her friend. "Come on, Sweetie" she said softly. She took her hand and led her out of the room.
Cullen was waiting for them when they emerged 15 minutes later. "Dr. Brennan, if you're up to it, I want to ask you some questions.
Brennan took a deep breath. "Sure."
Angela listened as her friend described the events. She shivered, not only because of what they had been through, but because of Brennan's voice. It was so emotionless, so detached. She was just in shock, she thought. She would snap out of it. At least she hoped so.
"How are the others? Karen and her son?" Brennan was pacing the floor.
"Still a little shook up, but they'll be fine, thanks to you. She said that you refused to leave, that you made him let them go instead."
Brennan shrugged. "I had to stay."
Cullen looked lost, not knowing what to say. He decided to change the subject. "I called Booth's parents. They will be here in the morning."
Brennnan looked up at him, and Angela finally saw some emotion in her eyes. "Thank you. I called Rebecca. I thought she should know. But I didn't know how to contact his family." She turned and walked to the window, looking out into the night.
Angela watched her for a moment, then turned back to Cullen. "I'm going to stay with her. She shouldn't be alone."
Cullen nodded. "Good." He glanced over at Brennan. "I'm worried about her. She's too...calm." Cullen moved toward the door. "I'll check back later. Let her know that if she needs anything, if there's anything I can do..." He turned and walked out.
Angela walked over to where Brennan stood, staring out into the darkness. "Look, Bren, why don't we get something to eat? It's going to be a long night."
"I'm not hungry, Ang." She turned to face her. "You can go. I'll be okay."
Angela took her hand. "I'm staying. Let me at least get you some coffee, okay?"
"Okay." She turned back to the window. Angela turned to go, saying a silent prayer for her friend, and the man that she loved.
BBB
The waiting room was quiet. Angela had fallen asleep on the faded sofa in the corner of the room. Brennan was again at the window. Her thoughts wandered as she watched the traffic in the parking lot, the occasional flashing lights of an ambulance, bathing the night in an eerie red glow. She thought back to that moment in the diner, before the world started spinning out of control. The moment when their hands had touched. The feelings that had flooded through her, the look in his eyes. He had leaned towards her, had said her name. 'Temperance'. She shivered at the memory of the sound of her name on his lips. She shook the thoughts away, and started pacing. She didn't want to think. She needed to stay busy, but there was nothing to do. Nothing but wait.
BBB
"Dr. Brennan?" The doctor's voice startled her. She had finally given in and called Zack, to ask him to bring her laptop to her. He had tried to argue, but she insisted. She had to keep her mind occupied, otherwise the thoughts threatened to overwhelm her.
She closed the computer, and stood up. Angela stirred beside her. "How is he?" Brennan's voice was steady, but her heart was beating wildly in her chest. Angela stood up and took Brennan's hand.
"He's out of surgery, but he's still in serious condition. We'll have to see how the next 12 hours go."
"I need to see him." Angela had to smile at her friend. Brennan didn't ask, she demanded.
"I don't think.." Angela interupted the doctor. "It's no use arguing with her. You'll find that out soon enough."
He looked into Brennan's eyes, and sighed. He knew when he was beat. "This way."
BBB
Brennan walked over to the bed where Booth lay. The sight of his face, so pale, so still, nearly brought tears to her eyes. She took a deep breath. Strong, she had to be strong. She sat down beside him, and took his hand. "I'm sorry" she whispered. She felt the guilt weighing down on her. He shouldn't have had to save her. She should have been able to do that herself. She had just felt so helpless. She had been afraid. Ever since she was 15 years old, she learned not to rely on anyone, to take care of herself. And until Booth had come along, she had. But she had come to depend on him, to lean on him when she was afraid. But tonight, when she was more afraid than she had ever been, she wasn't able to turn to him, and she had felt lost. She had let him, and herself down. She would never forgive herself if anything happened to him. "You're going to be okay. You have to be." She sat there holding his hand in hers, feeling alone and helpless, wishing for his strong arms to hold her, to tell her that everying would be all right.
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