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Chapter ten: Joy
The car skidded to a halt and Booth and Russ jumped out. This was the mansion. This was where their Temperance was being held. She was right within their reach now but time was running out.
"Booth!" Russ called.
"Yeah, what?"
"Look what we have here," he said and held up a small object. Booth walked up to him while checking his gun and cast a glance at it.
"She's here alright," Booth stated and slipped it in his pocket. Hold on, Bones, it won't be long now, I promise, he repeated in his head. The adrenaline that rushed through his body caused the pain in Booth's leg to go unnoticed.
"You know anything about how this works?" Booth asked Russ who was loading his gun.
"Maybe even more than you do," he replied and looked like he wasn't kidding as he finished and ran past the abandoned car on the driveway.
Booth followed him to the door. Russ nodded and Booth rose to peek through the small window.
"Fuck! There's a guard and it's not the one from the hotel. I don't know how many could be in this building. Ortez has a lot of men working for him."
"Can you see him?"
"Yeah, he's right there at the other side."
"All right, all right let me think," Russ said as he held his hand to his forehead and leaned against the door.
"Yeah. Yeah, I've got it," he said just a moment later as he recalled his Dad's lessons on how to handle a situation where you're outnumbered. Temperance wasn't the only one with a well-working brain in the family.
"What is your plan?" Booth probed him.
"Surprise element. Draw back after each one we take out. One at the time. Take it easy. Our priority is-"
"Getting Bones out of this hell-hole and bring her home safely," Booth finished his sentence in a voice that was both angry and determined. "Yeah. I know."
"Excellent. I take it you're a good shot."
"Really- I don't want to brag."
"Okay. Now, three... two... one... Go!"
Bang! Slectovencto snapped out of his inside-monologue about how angry he was for not being allowed in the room with doctor Brennan and his master and held his gun at the ready. When he didn't hear any footsteps he carefully headed for the door where his friend was guarding.
"Carlos! Which son of a-" he started to call out at the sight of his friend's limp body on the floor but was taken by surprise as Russ - who had been waiting behind the door- suddenly pushed his gun in Slectovencto's face.
The next thing Slectovencto felt was a punch to his back and he fell to his knees.
"You son of a bitch!" Booth hissed through clenched teeth as he kicked him again. "You like abducting innocent women? Well, you picked the wrong one, you bastard. You picked my partner and I'll make sure you'll never forget it."
After allowing Booth to let out his worst anger on Slectovencto's curling body, Russ decided they should go on and find his sister.
During Booth's attack Slectovencto's gun had fallen to the floor and the latter one was now desperately grabbing for it. Booth attempted to kick it further away but Slectovencto kicked his leg from under his body and made him lose his balance.
That was when the second bang sounded and Booth looked over his shoulder at Russ whose gun was still trained on the now lifeless form before his feet.
"He tried to kill you," Russ shrugged and turned around. Booth followed on his heels, not looking back. Sacrifices had to be made sometimes, he knew.
"Marco!" Russ called out loud. They walked towards the stairwell.
"Temperance!" Booth tried.
Russ stopped dead as he thought he heard a faint response coming from upstairs. Booth had heard it, too and they raced up the flights.
Back in the room where Brennan and Ortez were Brennan had picked up on the sound of her brother's voice.
"Marco! ...Marco! Tempe!" she heard and her heart leapt. They were coming! This would all be over soon. Soon she'd find herself back in the arms of the two men she adored most.
"Russ!" Brennan yelled in surprise, "Polo! Polo!" she called and took a step closer to the door to bang her fists on it so they could hear where she was. Ortez grabbed her ankle, though, and pulled her down. She immediately struggled to her feet as did Ortez. She turned to bang her fists again but he grabbed her upper arms, his fingers thrusting into her flesh and turned her away from the door. In a quick reaction Brennan lifted her knee between his legs and Ortez doubled up in pain.
"Russ! Russ! Booth!" she screamed for dear life as she turned back to the door.
But Ortez had taken out a gun and lifted it, aiming for his target. A sudden pain coursed down Brennan's spine from the back of her head when Ortez bashed the gun in her head. She instantly tensed up then lost control over her body as her muscles relaxed and she fell down to the cold floor.
Right before the black spots grew larger and covered her entire vision and she sank into a fast sleep Brennan thought, this is not fair...
They door was thrown open after the lock was shot to pieces and Russ was the first to enter with Booth following closely behind him.
The sight that greeted them was disgusting to say the least: Ortez bending over Brennan and holding her wrist, probably checking for a pulse.
A lot of thoughts raced through Booth's mind. There were so many things he wanted to do right now... So many ways of getting the pig off of the vulnerable woman lying motionlessly on the floor. Instead he froze and watched Russ do the exact thing he wanted: stalk towards Ortez, grabbing his shoulders and throwing him backwards to the floor, causing him to moan in surprise.
"You bastard!" Russ screamed at the top of his lungs as he aimed his gun at him and wavered with anger. No, not anger. He was infuriated. His blood was boiling. And so was Booth's.
Without hesitating another second he dropped on the floor next to his beautiful Bones and cradled her head in his hand. With the other hand he softly grabbed her wrist and checked for a pulse as he listened for breathing sounds.
Thank God.
"Booth! Is she- Is she-" Russ asked but he couldn't finish his sentence.
"She's alive," Booth replied quickly to ease his nerves.
Russ breathed in short breaths and looked up at the ceiling.
"Oh God... good. Oh my..."
In that moment Ortez tried to move away and Russ immediately shot him in the leg. Ortez grabbed at it and cried out loud.
"You shut up, you fucking-" Russ started to say.
Behind him Booth had carefully put Brennan's head in his lap so he had better acces to the back of her head. His fingers slid under her hair as he felt for injuries.
"He knocked her unconscious with something hard," he concluded when he reached the huge bump. "He bashed her head in. Look if he has a gun on him."
While Russ roughly searched Ortez's hands and pockets and completely ignored his protesting howls, Booth brushed the hair off Brennan's face and noticed the bruise on her jaw. He clenched his teeth as he asked God to do to Ortez all that was painful and nasty.
"What did you do to my sister? You're even less than an animal," Russ hissed.
"Russ!"
He turned around sharply and watched as Booth tenderly placed his sister's head back on the floor and stood up.
"Get him into the car. We have to get her to a hospital- the hotel. Let someone call the police for when we get there."
Russ nodded and Booth threw his handcuffs at him. Being as rough as possible Russ handcuffed Ortez and jerked him to his feet. They left the room with Ortez making a lot of noise, leaving Booth and an unconscious Brennan alone.
"I'm so sorry," Booth whispered as he knelt down beside her. "I'm so sorry," he repeated as he placed his arms under her knees and shoulders and lifted her from the hard, cold floor.
He stood with his Bones in his arms. Her arms hang limply beside her body and her head was tilted backwards. Booth carefully walked towards the door and carried her down the stairs. He was happy to see that Russ had left the doors open for him.
Booth was still holding her motionless form close to his body when he stepped into the car. Russ closed the door behind him and sat behind the wheel. Ortez was seated in the passenger's seat and his chin was resting on his chest. Apparently Russ had had enough of his whining and knocked him out.
"Let's go," Russ said curtly as he glanced at his sister through the mirror and put the car in rear.
The ride had been in silence. The only sound Booth wanted to hear was that of his partner breathing steadily. Finally, finally she was safe. Back in his arms where she belonged. He was sure she would have protested against his concerns for her if she hadn't been unconscious. He cast down his eyes to look at her beautiful face again.
She looked angelic in the soft moonlight that caressed her delicate features. She was totally relaxed. Booth brushed some auburn tendrils of hair out of her face and couldn't help his hand lingering on the soft skin on her cheek as he touched it.
I could never do anything to hurt her, he thought. And he promised her he would make sure she would be safe from now on. He'd be her bodyguard 24/7. Yeah right... Like she'd ever let him do that...
Suddenly Brennan's brow furrowed and she swallowed.
"Booth..." she sighed weakly, her voice a raspy whisper.
"Temperance!"
Russ turned his head sharply.
"Is she awake?" he asked anxiously.
But her eyes only fluttered open for a moment in which she glanced around confusedly.
"Where..."
"In the car, Temperance. Russ is driving. He's here, too," Booth softly answered her unspoken question.
She seemed to want to nod but apparently the throbbing of the back of her skull stopped her. Booth saw her expression harden at the pain and he quickly but gently slid his hand into hers. She wrapped her fingers around it eagerly as if she was grateful for the support and he stroked his thumb soothingly over her skin.
When it came through that she was safe and mostly okay Brennan closed her eyes again and fell asleep as her head rested to Booth's shoulder and he protectively wrapped his arm around her. As if it were a reflex he kissed the top of her head. He really didn't care if she'd noticed it or not. It felt right.
Her free hand travelled up to his face and slid from his cheek to his neck where it stayed as if to hold him near.
Booth closed his eyes briefly at her touch and wished they could sit entangled like that for the rest of their lives.
"She's gone back to sleep," he told Russ and watched the miles go by outside the window.
Booth woke up at the sensation of the car coming to a halt. He quickly opened his eyes and a satisfied feeling came upon him as he found his hand still in hers and her body still pressed against his.
"We're here. We're at the hotel," Russ announced. "I already called the cops. Explained the situation. They're on their way."
"Russ... thank you. Thanks for everything. Without you I don't know what would have-"
"You're welcome, Booth. I'll help you save my sister any time." Russ sighed. "Has she woken up yet?"
"No, she's sound asleep."
"Good. Let's keep it that way for as long as possibe. Her body needs to rest."
Booth noticed the look of sadness in Russ's eyes as he watched his sister comfortably sleeping against another man.
"Russ, if there's anything I can do for you, if there's anything you need," Booth started to say but Russ shook his head dismissively.
"You just make sure she's okay. You're a good man, Booth. Take care of her. Be her family."
"I will, don't worry," Booth answered sincerely. He had come to respect Brennan's brother. Russ Brennan wasn't an idiot anymore.
"I have to go. Tell her I love her and I'll get in touch," Russ said in a small voice as he tried to pull himself together. The last thing he wanted now was to leave his sister. But he had to. The police were on their way. Russ turned around and got out of the car to open Booth's door. Booth scooped Brennan up in his arms and stepped outside.
Russ opened the passenger door and pulled the still unconscious Ortez out. His heavy body fell to the ground with a thud.
"Goodbye, Russ. All the best."
"Goodbye, Booth. Goodbye, sis," Russ said and placed a kiss on her forehead before he turned around and got back into the car. The lights of the police cars loomed up from the darkness and Russ stepped on the gas and sped off.
"Bones," Booth said softly to the sleeping woman beside him on the bed. The ugly bruise on her jaw was in shrill contrast with the classy beauty of the rest of her face.
"Temperance, wake up. I've got something for you," he tried again. She didn't stir. Booth hesitated before he tried again.
"Joy..."
Maybe it was simply because it was the third time he'd made a noise, maybe it was because the sound of this name pierced deeply into her soul, but Brennan's eyes fluttered open. She glanced around and then her gaze met Booth's.
"Hey. Are you all right?" he asked.
She nodded her head slightly and noticed the throbbing of her head had faded.
"Are you?"
Booth smiled.
"I've got you back, haven't I?"
Brennan sighed and placed her hand atop of his. They looked at each other and needn't say anything. The simple gesture of her hand resting on his said enough.
Booth brought his free hand to his pocket and opened his fist as he held his hand with the retrieved object out to her.
"Look what I found," he said and grinned.
Brennan gasped and sat upstraight. She carefully took her mother's little dolphin from his hand and tumbled it between her fingers.
"Booth... Thank you," she said almost in awe.
Suddenly Booth leaned forward and pulled her into a hug.
"Booth!"
"You're welcome," he said in her hair as he tightened his grasp.
Brennan placed the dolphin on the duvet beside her and hugged him back but not as hard.
"Why are you hugging me?" she asked him. Not that she minded, not at all, but there didn't seem to be an obvious reason for his sudden affection.
"I got scared," he replied matter-of-factly, and Brennan remembered one of their car-conversations.
"I wish you wouldn't keep letting me hug you every time I get scared," she'd sighed. "You know what? I get scared, I'll hug you. Call you," Booth had answered and he hadn't been kidding.
A small smile spread across her features and she held him tighter to her as she rested her head on his shoulder.
Booth's hand instinctively travelled up to her head and he stroked her curls lovingly.
"I promise you I'll try not to get kidnapped again," Brennan said as she snuggled up against him some more. She felt wonderfully safe and warm in his arms.
"I might just take you up on that," he smiled. God, she felt so good in his arms. They just fit perfectly.
"You really should."
After a little while Brennan slowly pulled back from his embrace and looked at him intently. Booth awaited her hint as to what she wanted him to do as he drowned in the brilliantly blue mirrors of her soul.
Suddenly she leaned in and kissed him. The moment their lips connected it was as if electricity sprang from their touch and both of them longed for the other to deepen their kiss. But neither of them did.
Just as Booth, being driven by the advice Russ had given him in the car, had gathered the courage to do so she pulled away.
"I'm sorry," she said awkwardly.
"Me too." The most stupidious reply he could have given her.
"Listen, Booth-" she started to apologize but he willed her to stop talking. What have I done, she thought. He'll leave... everyone leaves me.
"No, Temperance. I was out of line. I took advantage of you. I'm sorry," he told her sincerely.
"I don't want to do this unless you're absolutely sure. I know I am, but...," his heart twisted at the sight of the tears in her eyes and he could see straight into her soul. She was afraid, panicked that she'd done something horribly wrong by kissing him. She cursed herself for letting rationality go and act on impulse. She cursed herself for letting him get so close and Booth remembered what Russ had said. This woman had abandonment issues.
"I want this, Booth," she uttered in a small but determined voice.
Booth locked her gaze to see if she was being serious. Her eyes pleaded with him to love her as slowly but steadily all hesitation drained from them. She was willing to give him a chance.
"I won't leave you," he assured her as he cupped her healthy cheek with his hand and caressed her skin with his thumb. Brennan rested her head in his hand but held his gaze.
"That being said, where were we?" Booth grinned. A smile broke through her sad expression and she placed her hands on his strong shoulders. They looked deeply into each other's eyes and it was one of those moments where it seemed so appropriate to kiss each other.
Booth placed his forefinger under her chin, raising her face to his. He felt the softness of her lips brush his and they got used to the feel of one another. Brennan pulled him closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her eyes were closed so she could only feel. Booth buried his hands in her soft curls and moved them to her face, careful not to touch the bruise on her jaw.
When they finally deepened their kiss Booth was sure the emotion that raced through his veins was love. Brennan tilted her head to the side so he could gain better access to her mouth. The love went from his tongue to hers and raced through her veins, as well.
His hands roamed up her waist and back and they kissed passionately.
Through their kiss Booth made clear and Brennan understood that they would protect each other, that they loved each other, that they were family.
Her lips felt as if they were on fire and she couldn't stop kissing him. It was the most liberating, most satisfying thing she'd ever done.
He was making sure he wouldn't miss his chance of kissing the woman he loved. How could he ever describe what he felt? They just worked, they were right, they fit.
The mere proximity of each other was overwhelming and expressed itself through their eager touches.
After awhile they had to pull back to catch their breath but only their mouths disconnected for a second, their foreheads were still touching. A meaningful smile spread across their lips.
"Let's do that again," Booth said with a naughty glimmering in his eyes.
Before he was able to finish his sentence properly, Brennan had swung her arms around his shoulders again and found his lips.
At last she felt completely comfortable, utterly at ease and cared for. She didn't have to shield anything from him anymore. The box around her heart had opened.
At last Booth held his Bones in his arms and kissed her, felt her, connected with her. The only woman he loved, the only woman he truly loved, the one he loved everything about.
He enveloped her in his arms and they were lost in each other, lost in their kiss.
And safe, at last.
The End