Okay, so I know it took me FOREVER to get to this next chapter, but I've just been swamped! My cousin just asked me to be one of her bridesmaids in 2 WEEKS!!! So I've kinda been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, you know? Anyway, I've finally got a night to myself, so hopefully I'll be able to concentrate on making this chapter decent! So, thanks again for all the wonderful reviews, and on with Chapter 4!
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Having basically been unconscious during the trip from her office to the car, Brennan was understandably disoriented when she woke up in the slightly reclined passenger seat of Booth's moving Suburban. Looking out the window at the passing scenery, she quickly realized they were headed in the direction of her apartment. She turned to Booth and opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off before she could make a sound.
"Yes, we're going to your place; yes, I carried you to the car; and no, you're not going back to the lab today. Any other questions will have to wait until we get to your apartment," Booth stated, his eyes never leaving the road.
Brennan stared at him for a moment, wondering why he sounded so tense. She didn't remember doing anything that would make him mad. Then, as she thought more about it, she realized she didn't really remember much about the last few hours, period. Returning her gaze to the window, she guessed it was sometime in the relatively early morning, so she obviously hadn't been out very long. The last thing she remembered taking a shower and then working on the remains from "limbo".
A few minutes later, they pulled up outside her apartment building. As she stepped out of the SUV, Brennan suddenly discovered just how weak she really was. She grabbed the open door to steady herself just as Booth came towards her from around the hood. Silently, he took her arm for light support, and began to lead her into the building. Still confused as to what exactly was going on, Brennan didn't object.
Booth used his key to unlock her door, and then shut it behind him after they entered. Still not saying a word, he led her to the couch and sat her down. She watched as he disappeared down the hall, returning a few moments later with a pillow and blanket from her bedroom, as well as the half-read book from her nightstand. She started to object, but he didn't give her the chance.
"Don't argue with me. Just lay here and relax," he said, placing the pillow behind her and the blanket over her legs as she shifted. He handed her the book and headed into the kitchen.
Booth walked back into the living room 15 minutes later carrying a tray containing a glass of milk, a grilled cheese sandwich, and a bowl of chicken noodle soup just as Brennan closed her book and sat up. He placed the tray on the coffee table in front of her and joined her on the couch.
"Booth, you didn't have to do all of this. I could have just popped in a TV dinner or something," Brennan said as she pulled a small piece off the sandwich and ate it.
Facing her, Booth said sincerely, "Yes, I did. Otherwise, like you just said, you would have just had a TV dinner or something."
Brennan laughed quietly as she took a bite of the soup. After she swallowed, she put the spoon down and looked at Booth. "You want to know what's going on, don't you?"
His eyes were soft and completely focused on her when he asked, "Are you ready to tell me what's going on?"
"Yes and no. I'm ready to end this and get back to my life, but I don't know if I'm ready to say it out loud yet... to you, at least." She looked back down at the food and picked up the sandwich again. Staring at it, she began to break it into smaller pieces, dropping them back onto the plate.
Booth took the sandwich pieces out of her hand and set them down. He touched his hand to her chin and turned her face to look at him. "You know you can tell me anything, no matter what, right?" She nodded. "Then please, Temperance, tell me what's going on with you. I can't help you if you don't. I can't fix the problem if I don't know what the problem is."
Brennan turned her body on the couch to face him. "Do you remember how you felt when you thought Howard Epps had Parker?"
Booth looked slightly confused, but answered. "Yeah... It was beyond any fear I'd ever felt. Gut-wrenching, blinding, paralyzing fear. Why?"
Looking down at her hands, Brennan responded quietly, "That's what I felt when you were kidnapped."
Thinking back, he suddenly remembered. "The Kennedy case? Bones, I'm fine. You and your dad found me in time. No significant or permanent damage done, remember?" He smiled slightly.
Brennan shook her head and looked up at Booth with scared eyes. "But every time I close my eyes, I'm back in that hangar. I have nightmares where all I can see is the blood from your injuries. Sometimes I dream that we were too late... that you were already dead when we got there."
"Bones..."
"It's not just that case, either. When I shot Epps's accomplice, I dream that I shot you instead. Or the Gravedigger got you instead of me and Hodgins. Or the blood in my apart-"
"Temperance!" Booth said firmly, grabbing her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"When I first started having the dreams, I thought they would go away pretty quick. I mean, even after all the things that have happened to me, I've never really had haunting dreams or anything. I figured it was just stress and they wouldn't last long."
"But they didn't go away." Booth looked at her gently.
"No. Actually, they've gotten stronger, more vivid and real. I can hardly stand to close my eyes, Booth."
"That's why you've been burying yourself with your work even more so than usual for the past few weeks." It was more of a statement than a question. He paused for a moment, then asked, "Bones, do you even know what happened this morning?"
Brennan thought for a moment. "Not really. I was thinking about it earlier, and the last thing I remember is working on a case from limbo. Then I woke up in the car. What happened?"
"You were on the platform early this morning. I came in to try to drag you to breakfast, but when I called your name to get your attention, you didn't even hear me. I finally yelled, and when you turned around, you passed out."
Tempe looked surprised. "I passed out?"
Booth nodded somberly. "Luckily I caught you before you hit the ground. I put you on the other empty exam table and checked you over. You know, pulse, breathing, etcetera. Since all of those seemed normal, I took you to your office and laid you on the couch instead of taking you to the hospital." He smiled slightly. "I figured you would have killed me if you had woken up in a hospital bed."
She smiled, knowing he was probably right.
"Anyway, I called Angela and made her come to the lab so I could talk to her. I sat with you until she got there, then we went to talk in her office. She basically told me that she knew the general gist of what was wrong with you, but she wouldn't tell me. She told me it wasn't her place and that it had to come from you. So I went back to your office, picked you up, and carried you to the car. And you woke up halfway here, so you know the rest."
Brennan sat and absorbed Booth's recap for a moment. "Wow, umm... pretty eventful morning, I guess. So, what now?" She looked at him with questioning eyes.
Booth took a good look in her eyes. He could tell she needed a break. "Now, you eat the rest of your food before it gets cold. Then, if you're feeling up to it after that, we'll talk some more. Sound good?"
"Sounds good." Brennan looked down at the tray of food in front of her. "Just one question, though. Why did you make a sandwich and soup so early in the morning?"
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Okay, so there's Chapter 4!!! I know, took me long enough, right? LoL! Anyway, it may be a while for the next chapter. Having a bit of writer's block, unfortunately. But I'll try to get it out as fast as I can! As always, reviews are incredibly appreciated, so please, please, PLEASE hit that little button and tell me what you think! Thanks a bunch, and love you all!!!