"Temperance," Jared said as he turned to look at the anthropologist after hearing the words of the doctor. He didn't finish as she held up a single finger, halting the words before they were out of his mouth. Instead he watched her as she squared her shoulders and faced the neurologist.
"You said that after his last surgery his scans showed increased action. What in your opinion could have caused that change?"
"Honestly I'm not sure," Dr. Jursic said as he put the scans back into their folder. "It was a damned odd reaction. Something had to have occurred during his coma to have brought on the reaction, but it could also have been a result of the surgery itself."
"Could you please explain what you mean regarding his coma?"
"Well, I know that many people feel that when someone is in a coma they can still hear what is going on around them. As I recall, Seeley woke up last time thinking that you were his wife." As Dr. Jursic spoke those words, Jared's eyes widened and he turned back to look at Brennan. Her mouth set into an impossibly thin line as she gave a brief nod of her head. "It's possible that whatever caused him to believe that was the same thing that caused the increase in brain activity. It bears further study however."
"I understand. Thank you for your insight Dr. Jursic."
"Of course. If you need anything, or have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask." He shook hands with the three people standing vigil over Booth's bed, then left the room to tend to other patients. Jared turned to look fully at Brennan, waiting for an explanation.
Temperance knew that he was waiting, but needed a moment to gather her thoughts. Had she caused the spike in activity by reading her novel to him? If that was the cause, then maybe he was as cognizant now of her presence as he was then. With a small nod of her head, she made up her mind about what needed to be done before turning her attention to Jared.
"I know you're curious about the doctor's comment regarding Booth's condition after his last surgery." At his nod, she quickly went over the details, watching as his eyebrows raised in surprise at the information.
"So he woke up thinking that you were the Brennan in the story and not his partner?"
"For the most part. He knew who I was; he just didn't know what I was to him. There is that difference."
"If I may offer an opinion," Padme said, drawing their attention to her, "it seems to me that you gave him a reason to live. You offered him what it is that he wants most in life with that story and his want of that life with you is what brought him out of the coma."
"Are you saying then that the love he feels is fake, that I created it for him with my story?" Brennan felt a stab of guilt at the implication. Had she inadvertently created his feelings for her? No, she thought. He said that he knew the moment he saw her that she was "the one". If he truly thought that, then his feelings for her had to be real.
"No, I'm not saying that at all. I think he fell in love with the idea of marriage and a child with you. From what Jared says, Booth's feelings for you are real and certainly haven't changed."
"Then you think that I can draw him out of this coma in the same way?"
"I think that you have to offer him something that he wants. You need to give him a reason to come back to you." Padme pushed away from the dresser that she leaned against and held her hand out to Jared. "Hon, why don't we give Temperance some time alone with your brother. I'm sure you could use the break."
"Sure," he said in reply before turning to Brennan once again. "Do you need anything?"
"No thank you, I'm fine." She offered the pair a smile as they left the room. Once she was alone, she turned back to Booth and squeezed on his hand. Please, she thought, let him still be in there somewhere.
XxXxX
"Bones, you've come back to me. Where have you been?" Booth couldn't take his eyes away from Bones as she reached out to take his hand. He felt her squeeze his, the reassuring motion filling him with comfort.
"I've missed you Booth. All these months that I've been away have made me realize how much of my life involves you."
"Well we're here now. I can't tell you how glad I am to see you." Booth pulled her to him and gave her a hug, loving the way that his arms felt around her. This was where she belonged, right here with him in this moment.
"I find that it's difficult for me to admit how I feel about you, but I don't ever want you to think that I don't love you. I do Booth, and that scares me."
"There's nothing to be scared of, Bones. I wouldn't want you to change. My feelings for you are just that, they're for you. I don't know why you can't see that."
"When I told you that I had to protect you from me, I knew that I would hurt you because it's so difficult for me to express my emotions. They aren't rational and I feel so out of control that I push them away, compartmentalize them until I don't feel. I couldn't do that to you, stay unfeeling around you. You're the reason why I've let myself feel as much as I have over the past few years."
"You've always shown your emotions whether you realize it or not. I knew from the beginning what a passionate woman you are, and it's that passion for life that makes me love you the most, don't you get it?" Booth reached forward and tipped her chin so that he was looking into her eyes. There had to be a way for him to show her that he was serious. He leaned forward, his lips touching hers. His entire body buzzed from the simple contact and it was as though he was on fire. Their mouths moved over each other, both giving, neither one dominating, a perfect union of two people. As the kiss ended, he pulled back breathing heavily from the amazing kiss. She was no better, her lips reddened and cheeks flushed from passion.
"Booth, I need you to make a choice." Bones looked at him, her expression serious for someone who'd been kissed with that much passion.
"What are you talking about? What choice?"
"I know that where you are, you have a wife and a child on the way." Oh shit, that's right. He'd completely forgotten about Bren in his happiness to see Bones. He immediately felt guilty for kissing someone besides his wife. What did that say about him as a man? Hadn't he told Bren that friendship was the only relationship he would have with Bones? "I know that where you are, you have the life that you really want."
"No, that's not true Bones, it's not."
"I don't know that I can ever give you what you want. I don't know that I'll ever be able to agree to marriage, or if we would have a family together, so I need you to choose Booth. Either take me for what I can give you, which is everything that I am capable of, or stay with Bren and have the wife and child that you want. I can't stand this limbo you've put me in. Please Booth, I need you to choose either me or your dream."
Booth looked at her, his mouth gaping in surprise. She wanted him to choose what it was that he really wanted in life? How could she possibly think that it would even be a struggle to choose? As his mind wrapped around his decision, he gasped for breath, suddenly unable to breath. He collapsed to the ground clutching at his heart which felt ready to explode. He'd made his choice and now he was resigned to the decision.
XxXxX
Brennan sat by Booth's side holding his hand before she sighed and closed her eyes. She had something to say to him and now that the words were formed in her head, she had to get them out. She rubbed her thumb gently over his knuckles as she opened her eyes and turned all of her attention onto him.
"I've missed you Booth. All these months that I've been away have made me realize how much of my life involves you. I find that it's difficult for me to admit how I feel about you, but I don't ever want you to think I don't love you. I do Booth, and that scares me. When I told you that I had to protect you from me, I knew that I would hurt you because it's so difficult for me to express emotions. They aren't rational and I feel so out of control that I push them away, compartmentalize them until I don't feel. I couldn't do that to you, stay unfeeling around you. You're the reason why I've let myself feel as much as I have over the last few years." Temperance sighed and blinked back the tears that were forming, refusing to let them out. If she cried it would be as if she were admitting that she was losing Booth. She couldn't cry, but she was going to fight for him.
Leaning down over his sleeping form, she pressed her lips to his and held them for a moment before breaking away and sitting back up in her chair. She tipped her chin up and took a breath, steeling herself for her next words. "Booth, I need you to make a choice. I know that where you are, you have a wife and child on the way. I know that where you are, you have the life that you really want. I don't know that I can ever give you what you want. I don't know that I'll ever be able to agree to marriage, or if we would have a family together, so I need you to choose Booth. Either take me for what I can give you, which is everything that I am capable of, or stay with Bren and have the wife and child that you want. I can't stand this limbo you've put me in. Please Booth, I need you to choose either me or your dream."
With a sigh, Temperance sat back, suddenly exhausted. Between the trip here and the emotional roller coaster she was drained, and this hoping that Booth would emerge from his coma just added to the burden. Please, don't let him linger too long, she thought just as the machines around her started beeping. Her eyes widened and she let out a strangled cry as the steady heartbeat on the monitor flatlined.