Disclaimer: I do not own them, but, if I find them on ebay, I will so outbid you.
Author's Note: I know I haven't updated this in over a month-I can explain...kinda. I was up at my dad's in Virginia, so the first few weeks were spent visiting family and pretending I could stand them. Then I got a laptop for my birthday (grandparents rock) and spent quite a bit of time getting it set up just how I like it. By the time I had free time to myself again, it had been so long since they'd aired a new episode that I had no inspiration, and couldn't seem to slip into character. Well, lucky for me, this latest ep had that scene at the end where Booth is talking about how you can't get emotionally involved when you work in a high-risk situation, and you just know he's talking about Bones and himself, so I was able to finally finish this chapter. Give me some credit-I have bronchitis and I still wrote this for you-so if anything doesn't make any sense, just blame it on the fever of 102.4.
Bones POV
It was several weeks later that I received a most unpleasant visit.
I was heading to my car and was no more than ten yards from the employee entrance to the Jeffersonian, when I heard someone call my name. Naturally, I turned around. My spine stiffened, and I felt my sympathetic nervous system "jump into hyper-drive," (as I've heard Hodgins say) spewing epinephrine (commonly known as adrenaline) into my bloodstream.
Will was approaching me, a look of desperate hunger on his face. I stood straight and gave no ground.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded.
"I need to talk to you." He almost begged, but I had no sympathy for a fratricidal maniac.
"There's nothing to talk about. Besides, it's unethical for me to speak to you when you're on trial." My voice was harsh and rigid; Booth would be proud.
"No it's not!" Will exclaimed. "You're not a witness for the prosecution, because that would be unethical."
He was right. I'd just finished an argument with Booth over that very subject. I couldn't testify because I'd dated him. That has nothing to do with the incontrovertible proof that Will had murdered his younger brother. In fact, I was of the opinion that the fact that I'd dated him, been attracted to him, would strengthen the fact that I was accusing him of murder, but apparently that doesn't matter. The argument had ended with me escaping the lab to think about how this mistake was still managing to adversely affect my life. Booth had tried to chase after me but had been held back by Angela.
I knew that Booth was just the messenger and that I was taking my frustrations out on him, but I needed to be the one who brought this creep to justice. I also kind of wished Ange had let Booth follow me; I really needed his comfort...and his gun.
"You have to believe me," Will continued, "Only you can help me. You know me, Tempe. I'd never have hurt him if the witch hadn't made me." I glared at him.
"You kill your brother, and you need to be saved?!" I exploded. "I will never help you, and if you ever contact me again, I will make you regret it." I snapped.
And then, Will Hastings pulled a gun on me.
Why is it, the bad guys always have a gun and I don't?
"Don't make me do this," Will pleaded as though I were the one brandishing a firearm.
"FBI! Drop your weapon!" Booth's voice rang out through the parking structure, and relief flooded through me.
Will spun to face this new threat, but his gun still pointed at me.
"You don't understand!" Will screamed; his hand started to jerk with each word, and I felt considerably more threatened, afraid that, whether or not he would mean to, he could pull the trigger with the force of his shaking. "She has to help me!"
On the word "me" a shot echoed through the concrete structure, and Will was knocked to the ground. Booth ran forward, gun still aimed at Will, and kicked the gun which had so recently menaced me away. He then called for a paramedic, while I applied pressure to the painful but not life-threatening shoulder wound.
"I did you a favor." Booth informed Will as the stretcher was loaded into the ambulance. "You've obviously never seen what she can do when she's mad."
Booth's POV-20 minutes earlier
"Look, Angela, Bones has had ample time to leave, by now. I don't know where she's gone, and I wouldn't follow her if I did. I have Parker tonight, and I need to five-year-old proof my apartment. May I please go now?"
Angela regarded me curiously.
"You don't keep the apartment kid-proof? Doesn't that make every time he comes over a hassle?"
"It's really only a matter of locking a few cabinets and plugging in his night-light, but I'd like to have time to make my outfit Parker-proof." I replied. Angela grinned and made shooing motions.
"You may go."
I opened the door to the parking structure and heard Bones' voice.
"You kill your brother and you need to be saved?!" she demanded. I immediately dropped into a crouch, thankful for the SUV parked next to the door which hid me from their view. I peeked around the back of the vehicle to gauge the situation. Hastings has pulled a gun on Brennan. I saw her eyes widen in shock and fear. I drew my own weapon silently as he begs her not to make him do this.
I was cold with fear: the gun is aiming at Bones. I was hot with anger: how dare he threaten my partner? I decided to make my presence known, and I hoped to draw the gun towards me. I would much rather be shot than have Temperance injured. I stepped out from behind the SUV.
"FBI!" I identified myself. "Drop your weapon!" Hastings whirled towards me, but his gun remained trained on Bones.
"You don't understand!" Actually, it was him who didn't understand. He was threatening Bones. Every bone in my body screamed for his death. Now Hastings was brandishing the gun with every nonsensical word he uttered. I now could fire with the justification of protecting a civilian. I knew better than to shoot to kill, though I considered it.
The shot pierced his shoulder and lodged against his scapula: to high to be dangerous, but painful enough to incapacitate him. I made sure he was no longer a threat and called for an ambulance. I wanted to kill him; I wanted to seize Bones and crush her to me; I wanted to assure myself she was okay. But I knew better. Brennan would not appreciate such alpha-male behavior.
And so, I watched her carefully as she applied pressure to Hastings's wound until the paramedics arrived. She was, as always, strong, confident, and assured a very scared Angela that she was fine. I watched her shoo everyone home.
I watched her collapse, sobbing, in the middle of the garage.
I knelt next to her and wrapped my arms around her. She buried her face in my shoulder.
"I was so scared." She whispered.
"I know." I tightened my grip around her. "You're staying with me tonight."
"What?" Bones' voice was confused and shaky.
"I don't want that bastard coming near you again. You're staying with me tonight and until he's behind bars for good."
Bones' POV
There are certain aspects of our legal system which I detest. One is the fact that Zack, who was so recently my grad student, must testify in my stead. The other is that Will Hastings got out on bail, and, until the trial is over and that bastard is in jail, I won't feel safe.
I tell myself not to get scared, get angry. And I am angry. I'm livid. It just so happens that I'm also terrified.
Booth escorted me to my apartment and hovered while I packed. Though I would never tell him, his presence lent a warmth and security to my suddenly frigid and ominous apartment. I crammed a duffel bag with necessary clothes and toiletries.
"What about Parker?" I asked him, trying to relieve the silence so that my heart would stop pounding in my ears.
"I called Rebecca, and we'll pick him up on our way to my apartment. "Don't worry, he'll love you." I doubted that somehow.
Rebecca met us at the door with a smile. She and I had reached an understanding since I had confronted her about telling Booth her reasons for not marrying him. Momentarily, Parker came bounding up, and Booth stooped, his arms outstretched to scoop up his son in a loving embrace.
"Hey, Bub." He greeted, his voice softened in his son's presence. I saw Rebecca's happiness, and realized that I, too, was smiling at the obvious love Booth displayed for his son. I felt privileged to be allowed to witness it, and guilty to intrude upon it due to some madman's delusions.
I carried Parker's bag, and Booth carried Parker, fielding questions the whole time.
"Who's she?" Parker asked.
"She's Dr. Brennan, you met her last Christmas, you remember?"
"Oh, the Bones lady?" Parker's voice was full of child like innocence. The look Booth shot me was abashed and apologetic. I merely raised an eyebrow at him.
"Why is she coming with us?" the next logical inquiry arose.
"Well, umm…" Booth was obviously uncomfortable with this subject. A delusional murderer is hardly appropriate conversation material for a five-year-old. I smiled at the child, and let Booth off the hook.
"There are bugs in my apartment, and until the exterminator can get rid of them, I'm staying with your dad." Parker's face screwed up.
"What kind of bugs?"
"Big black ones with long antennas." Hey, Hodgins is the bug guy. Besides Parker seemed satisfied. And so, off we went to a late dinner. We knew better than to order, and Sid soon brought out comfort food for Booth and me. Chicken fried steak for Booth; pot roast for me. Parker dined on five-star macaroni and cheese.
My mom was never a cook. We often had grilled cheese for dinner. However, something about the meal, or, maybe, the company, felt like home. I almost felt like I could relax. If it hadn't been for Will I would have relaxed.
Booth's POV
After some time had passed, and my charming (now where did he get that?) son had worked his magic, it seemed that Bones had reverted to her normal self--except that there was this stiffness in her shoulders and a slight hesitation in her speech, as though she were perpetually preoccupied. A few times, I swear I caught her scanning the dinner crowd: looking for a threat. I thought that was what my job was. But when I do it, it's because I was trained to. My chest tightens for the fear that induces this behavior in Bones.
Parker fell asleep within minutes of his 8:30 bedtime. I rejoined Brennan in my living-room. She sat staring at nothing, thinking. A slight shiver ran down her spine. I unlocked my liquor cabinet which housed several unopened bottles and a few rarely opened ones. I poured two squat glasses half full of amber liquid and handed one to Bones. She looked at me questioningly.
"It'll help you relax. It'll help you sleep." I told her. She downed the drink in two gulps. "Whoa, easy there, Bones. I don't think I can handle you drunk." She almost smiled, which was more than I'd really hoped for.
Neither of us drank more than that first glass, and when bedtime came, Brennan said she wanted to sleep on my couch, and I didn't question it. Most likely, she needed some space to try and process this.
After setting up my couch as a bed, I left her for my dark, cold bedroom and pretended that I didn't wish that she was curled up next to me. It was hard to relax, I was afraid that I would wake up and she'd be gone, that Hastings had shot her, and I had broken down, that her safety was a dream that would be shattered if I allowed myself to sleep.
It was nearly midnight when I heard my bedroom door ease open. I raised my arm from where I had thrown it over my face in a futile attempt at sleep to see an incredible, breathtaking sight. All right, so it was just Temperance in her pajamas, but she looked so soft and homey and (dare I say it) defenseless that my heart melted and my breath caught.
"Bones? Are you okay?" My voice was soft, but not a whisper. The tone was raspy from hours of disuse. She nodded and my chest relaxed, which is when I realized that I had been tense with worry for her well-being.
"Could I-" She stopped, I assumed she was embarrassed. I remained silent, encouraging her to continue at her own pace. "Could I sleep in here?" She didn't meet my gaze.
"Of course." I tried to hide my own jubilation that I would no longer be alone this night, that I would have proof of her safety in my arms until morning. I scooted to the far side of the bed, and held up the blankets, inviting her to join me. The bed dipped slightly when Brennan climbed into it, and she snuggled down in the exact spot I had just warmed. I think I heard a small sigh. I hope it was of contentment.
We both lay on our sides, facing each other. I pulled the blankets securely around us both, allowing myself to caress the skin of her arms. She grabbed my hand and pulled my closer so that I my arm easily encased her. I smiled.
"I heard your neighbors walking past…I kept thinking that it was Will, coming back to try to convince me again." She whispered, her breath tickled the hairs along my neck.
"Don't worry, you're safe here." I assured her, slightly tightening my hold on her.
"I know." She relaxed in my arms, and we were both asleep within minutes.