A Pain That I'm Used To—Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters associated with BONES.
Author's notes: Thanks again for reading and again special thanks to those of you who are reviewing. It's always great to read your comments and observations. Enjoy this next chapter.
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Brennan and her team entered the Jeffersonian around midnight with Booth in tow. Each one of them was exhausted and dirty, especially Brennan and Zach. Booth's sable gaze followed the group as Brennan instructed Zach and Hodgins to take the boxes containing the two separate remains to the platform area. His gaze continued to follow Brennan as she walked to her office.
Angela stood beside him, also watching her friend. "Maybe you should take her off this case Booth." She had managed to keep that opinion to herself on the ride back from the crime scene though it had been difficult. Angela knew that telling Brennan that she couldn't do something was the best possible way to ensure that she would tackle the task, regardless of the consequences.
"Yeah, cause she would be so understanding about that…"
"Booth, I'm serious. With everything that's happened in the last few months, I'm not sure that this is the type of case Bren needs to be working on." The sadness and concern in Angela's eyes were not lost on Booth.
"I understand Ange, but maybe this case is the push she needs to finally deal with everything." He looked away from Angela, his gaze returning to Brennan's office. "I do know one thing…it's damn late, I'm tired, she's tired and so is everyone else. As soon as frick and frack finish placing the remains on the platform, we're all leaving."
As if she had planned to rebel against Booth, Brennan came walking out of her office with her lab coat on, searching for a pair of gloves in one of the pockets. She quickly made up way up the stairs to the platform after swiping her id card. Angela shook her head at Booth as the agent watched his partner.
"Yeah, good luck getting her to leave. She'll stay at least another two hours before she heads home." Angela started toward her office to retrieve a few items before going home. "Goodnight sweetie!" she threw over her shoulder to Brennan as she walked away.
Hodgins was taking the soil samples out of his canvass bag, placing them on the table near the boxes containing the remains while Zach leaned heavily against one of the computer terminals, attempting to keep his heavy eyelids open.
"Hey Zach, hang in there for a few more minutes. If you fall asleep there I am not carrying you out to the car." Hodgins smirked at the young protégé.
"I'm not asleep," Zach mumbled as his eyelids shut firmly.
"Zach, Hodgins, go home and get some rest," Brennan said as she approached them. Zach's eyes flew open and he saw his mentor open one of the boxes of remains.
"Oh Dr. Brennan, I can stay and help…" he began.
"Go home Zach. You worked hard today and you need some rest." Brennan pulled a glove over her hand and was reaching into the box when Booth placed his hand firmly on her forearm.
"Bones what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"It's a little something I like to call work." She glanced down at his hand, noting that Booth was not loosening his grip.
"You know that thing that you and the rest of your team did earlier today? That was work too. I think you've worked enough for today." He reached across and closed the lid of the box with his free hand. "The bones will be here for you to play with tomorrow. Home…now."
Brennan pulled her arm from his grasp and locked her icy stare with his. "I'm staying to work on this case for a few more hours Booth."
Hodgins pulled Zach away from the terminal and pushed him past Booth. "As much as I would like to stay and watch her beat you down man, we're gone," Hodgins grinned as he walked past the couple.
"Bones you're not staying. Come back in the morning after you've had a few hours rest. Come on, I'll even drive you home." Providing her with his best charm smile, Booth motioned for her to follow him.
Rolling her eyes, she relented. As much as she hated to admit it, Booth was right—she did need a few hours of sleep. "Fine, I'll go home but I'm driving myself."
"Okay, drive yourself, but I'm calling your home phone in 30 minutes and if you don't pick up, I'm driving back to this lab and dragging you out of here." Booth pulled her lab coat from her form as she walked past him.
"You try dragging me out of here and you'll walk funny for the rest of your life," Brennan scoffed, causing Booth to laugh.
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After several more minutes in the parking structure, promising Booth that she would not return to the lab until 7 am and convincing him that he didn't need to call and check on her, Brennan was finally making her way home.
As she drove, Brennan searched the radio for a station with decent music. Regardless of how loud she turned the volume, Sheriff Fife's voice kept echoing in her head. They went missing two years ago…left behind two kids…no one had a clue what happened to them. Left behind two kids…no clue…missing…
Memories of the last moments she saw her parents drive away flooded Brennan's mind and mingled with the skeletons she and Zach had unearthed earlier.
Brennan's breathing became erratic and short as she felt her chest tighten. She pulled off the main road and sat for a moment hoping the sensation would cease. Two kids…no clue…missing. She found herself gasping for breath and the heaviness settling in her chest was not easing. Brennan made a quick decision and pointed her car in the direction of the hospital. She could barely breathe so she knew that she wouldn't be able to call for help.
Ten painful, fearful minutes later, Brennan pulled in front of the emergency room. Her breathing was better and the pain in her chest had eased slightly, but she knew that she needed to see a physician. She slowly made her way inside the emergency room and was greeted with the sight of a huddled mass of the sickly and the bloody. Brennan walked up to window where a rotund older woman sat behind a glass partition chomping on a piece of gum ignoring the entire waiting room.
"Be with you in a moment," the woman snapped.
Brennan didn't know if she had a moment. She slapped the glass partition with her hand startling the older woman. "Chest pain," she managed to croak out before the room began spinning around her and darkness enveloped her.
"Oh crap," the woman said as she watched Brennan collapse. "We're gonna need a gurney…possible heart attack!"
Author's notes: Sorry it was a short chapter….I'll try to update soon but I want to have a few more chapters written before I do so. (crosses fingers) Here's hoping I don't suffer a severe case of writer's block in the next few days.