Booth parked just outside of the diner and slowly walked in. He sat up at the counter, feeling as if he could only sit at their table when she was there. Sitting at the table alone wouldn't be right. Life without her wasn't right. In frustration he placed a carry-out order. Booth turned and looked at the table and smiled…
Ugly and Beautiful
Booth and Brennan quietly drove from the hospital in silence. No words had been spoken since they had left the ER.
Booth shifted uncomfortably in his seat and tried to glance at his partner.
Brennan kept her head completely turned towards the passenger window. She could not look at any body right now.
Hours earlier, Booth was looking for Brennan in the Jeffersonian. He walked into her office, having no luck, and went towards her desk. He noticed that she had left her newest chapter for her book on the screen in front of him.
It couldn't hurt to just peek, Booth thought as he sat down cautiously at her desk.
He had been reading for a while when Brennan walked into her office. She was outraged that her partner was in her office, in her chair, reading her book.
Brennan stormed over to her desk and began to shout.
"BOOTH! WHAT DO YOU- OUCH!"
Booth was so involved in the book, the shouting startled him and he threw the coffee mug he was holding into the air.
The mug flew over Booth's shoulder and hit Brennan square on the nose. She immediately dropped to the floor.
Booth jumped up and immediately picked up his partner. She was yelling as the blood poured down her face.
"Booth! You had no right going through my private things! Reading my book, breaking my nose, how could you, I can't even, AAAAHHHH!" Brennan huffed while holding her hand up to her face.
"I am so sorry Bones!" Booth tried to remove her hand from her face, but Brennan scowled and turned the other way.
"Just, leave me alone Booth!" Brennan walked and got tissue and her keys to her car.
"Where are you going?" Booth went over to her.
"Obviously, I have a broken nose and I need to go to the hospital." Brennan said as tears rolled down her face.
"It might not be broken-"
"OF COURSE IT'S BROKEN YOU PHILLISTEIN! I am a forensic anthropologist. I think I would know." Brennan ran in a huff out of her office.
Booth blew air through his lips and followed Brennan closely behind.
He followed her out to her car where he found her just standing. She had her forehead against the car and was still holding her nose and bloody tissues.
Booth walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. Brennan didn't move and kept her eyes closed.
"Bones, I am so sorry. I know you can take care of yourself, but please, letme take you to the hospital." Booth moved his hand down her shoulder to her lower back.
Brennan didn't say anything, but just walked over to Booth's SUV. She knew she should not drive in her condition and Booth would want to take his own car. She didn't feel like arguing.
They drove in silence to the hospital.
They sat in silence in the waiting room.
They spoke only to other nurses and doctors the four hours they were at the hospital.
So here they were driving to Brennan's apartment, again in silence.
Booth pulled the SUV into the diner's parking lot.
Brennan hopped out before Booth had the car in park.
He found her sitting in at their table, with a menu held up to her face.
Booth sat down across from her and stared at the menu in front of him. Brennan never took the barrier down.
The waitress came over with their waters and coffee and set them in their usual places and took orders.
Booth waited for Brennan to put down the menu but she kept it right in front of her face. Booth tried to talk to her.
"How is your nose feeling Bones?" He stirred his coffee.
"How do you think it feels?" Said a quiet voice from behind the menu.
"Bones, will you please put the menu down?" Booth placed one finger on the top of it and tilted it down.
Brennan's face was puffy and swollen. The large white gauze covered her broken nose. Her right eye had a nice shiner forming and both eyes were bloodshot filled with crocodile tears.
Booth grabbed her hands and stroked them gently with his thumbs. Brennan sat there, not knowing what to think or say.
"Hey, I cannot apologize enough for what happened today." Booth pulled her hands closer. "Please forgive me for reading you book before I should have and for breaking your trust." Booth smiled a half smile. "And your nose."
Brennan let a tear slide down her face. She knew her partner meant no harm and that it was an accident. When she looked up and saw the large, brown apologetic eyes, she could not help but smile.
Brennan grabbed a napkin out of the dispenser and caught a reflection of her new face. She frowned at the sight in front of her.
"Ugh, well aren't I the most attractive sight for painful eyes." Brennan sighed and slumped down in her seat.
Booth came around the table and sat directly next to her.
"Sight for sore eyes, Bones, sore eyes." Booth reached around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "And no matter what you think you look like, you will always be beautiful."
Booth leaned in and gave her a gentle peck on the cheek, similar to the one he received from Brennan a year earlier. Booth got up and went back to his seat.
The food arrived and Brennan didn't eat at first, swimming in the words her partner had just spoken.
He thinks I'm beautiful.
Brennan smiled and grabbed a fry off her partner's plate.
Booth smiled and knew that everything was going to be alright.