A Pain That I'm Used To—Chapter 13
Disclaimer: See chapters 1 through 12.
Author's notes: Thanks for reading and once again, special thanks for reviewing. Perhaps I should dare people to review my stories more often….I really appreciate all of the nice comments and observations.
(Quickly throws a ton of chocolate at WOATCAPIITON) Seriously, ouch!
And elliot02uk—I know, I know you said to rest between chapters but this is my last day (of two) that I have off before starting day shift tomorrow. And I just have so many ideas that I can't help myself! I must write! Thanks again for the peaceful thoughts.
Hope everyone enjoys this chapter! Once again, feel free to push the button and tell me what you think.
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Booth's eyes opened to find sunlight streaming through the windows of Brennan's bedroom, its harshness minimized by soft white wispy curtains. His eyes traveled down to find Brennan's sleeping face tilted up toward his. He smiled at her relaxed features, taking in her beautiful face.
Lifting his arm slowly so as not to disturb Brennan, Booth glanced at his watch finding the hour to be 7 am. He sighed softly as he continued to listen to her breathing. His left hand gently caressed her back and traveled up to her arm before making its way to her face. Booth used his fingertip to softly follow the outline of her jaw to her chin then up to her lips. He had often wondered what those lips would feel like on his.
Brennan shifted slightly in her sleep, causing Booth to move his hand back to her waist so that she didn't move away from him. Suddenly he felt her arm, which was draped across his waist, pull him closer to her as she nestled even further into his warmth. Booth smiled at the realization that Temperance Brennan was, secretly, a snuggler.
As much as he wanted to lie in bed with her all day, Booth knew the Willow Lake case would not wait. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, he shook her slightly. "Temperance," he whispered.
"Hmmm." She moved slightly, burying her face into his neck, her lips making contact with his skin. Booth inhaled sharply at the contact, wishing that the circumstances of their being in bed together had been different.
"Bones, wake up." He caressed her face lightly allowing his hand to then travel through her long hair. "Come on, we've got a case to work on."
Brennan felt the fog lifting as she slowly opened her eyes. She didn't really want to leave the warm cocoon her partner had provided during their slumber. Staring up at Booth, she saw that his usually well coifed hair was sticking up in several places and there was stubble on his face. She had never seen someone look so good first thing in the morning.
"Hi there," he said softly.
"Hi," she whispered back.
"Unfortunately we have to get up, you know? So, I'm going to use your bathroom, throw some cold water on my face and get dressed." He watched as a disappointed look crossed her face. Smiling at her, he placed another kiss on her forehead and then moved to untangle himself from her grasp. "You can start getting ready while I get breakfast."
She grabbed the material of his white undershirt as he tried to move away from her. "Seeley…thank you."
The sound of his given name rolling off her tongue sent a warm jolt through Booth's body. He lifted her hand from his shirt to his lips and placed a small kiss on the inside of her hand. "This is another one of those things you never have to thank me for, Temperance."
Releasing her hand with great reluctance, Booth lifted himself off the bed and made his way to her bathroom. Brennan instantly missed his warmth and wrapped the blanket tighter around her body as she snuggled into the spot Booth had occupied, inhaling the scent of his cologne.
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Feeling better than she had in days, maybe even months, Brennan ambled down her hallway toward the kitchen and the smell of food. She found Booth standing at her stove, his shirt sleeves rolled up, cooking hash browns. He turned to her and smiled, pointing to a stool at the bar where he had placed their plates.
"Have a seat Bones. Everything will be ready in just a few minutes." He continued his task as Brennan watched. She couldn't stop the smile that tugged at her lips at the sight of Booth in her kitchen…after having spent the night in her bed. While Brennan had slept with men before, she had never experienced the intimacy she'd had with Booth last night. Michael, Pete and the laundry list of others she had shared her bed with had never held her the way Booth did.
"And boyfriend here, well…after a couple of more rides he'll take off too." McVicar's words came back to her.
"You're thinking about McVicar," Booth stated as he placed the food on their plates. He moved around to take a seat beside her.
"You were right, it was a bad idea." She stared at the scrambled eggs and hash browns he had piled on her plate.
"No, not really. I mean we know without a doubt that McVicar recognized 'Jacob Curry'." Brennan's questioning stare told Booth that she did not have her full faculties while they had been speaking with McVicar. "He wanted to know where we found him, remember?" He waved a piece of toast around as he continued speaking. "That tells me that McVicar had been searching for him at some point…probably hired by whatever syndicate he worked for to kill 'Mr. Curry'."
Brennan nodded as she pushed her plate away and picked up a glass of orange juice. "But we still don't know his real identity and his connection to my parents." She looked around the counter and over at her coffee maker. "Why didn't you brew any coffee?"
"Caffeine is not the best thing to have in your system if you're suffering from panic attacks." He took a bite of his toast and studied her, noting how she averted her gaze from him. "You never answered my question—why didn't you tell me?"
She sighed heavily before swiveling her chair to face him. "I…I don't really know. I guess because I knew you would worry…and…"
"And it was just easier to push me away because that's what you always do," he finished her thought in a gentle tone. "You should know by now that I'm not that easy to get rid of." He grinned at her, sending her heart into a flutter.
"I'm…I'm sorry. I thought that I could handle the attacks and they would eventually go away and no one would have to know." She reached out and placed her hand on his. Touching him and reaching out to him was quickly becoming a habit that Brennan didn't seem to mind. And neither did Booth. "I know that I've been using you as a 'verbal punching bag' and…and that wasn't fair."
"Hmmm… 'Verbal punching bag'? Just a guess here but Angela?"
Brennan sipped her orange juice before answering. "Yeah, Angela." Her voice was soft and thoughtful at the mention of her best friend. She knew that she had treated Angela harshly as well.
"You know that you need to talk to her too….do this whole apology thing again. She loves you Bones. You're like a sister to her."
"How many times can one person say 'I'm sorry' in a day?" she pondered.
Booth pushed her plate back to her. "I don't know but I'd say to find out you're going to need sustenance."
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Brennan entered the lab around 9 am after Booth had dropped her off to go home to shower and change his clothes. They had agreed to leave for Willow Lake around noon after he had a chance to check in at the Hoover Building and pick up the warrant they intended to serve.
Deviating from her usual routine of going straight to her office, Brennan walked down the hall to Angela's. She found her best friend working on a sketch, sitting in her chair with her feet propped on the desk. She knocked on the door startling Angela slightly.
"Hi Ange." Her voice was soft and almost child-like. "Can I come in?"
Angela studied the anthropologist standing in her doorway. Something was different about her. She couldn't pinpoint what it was but Angela knew it was good. Brennan seemed better. "Sweetie you know that you don't have to ask if you can come in."
She stepped into the office and took a seat across from Angela. She sighed, unsure how to begin her apology.
"Bren, is everything okay?" Angela placed her sketch pad on the desk. She was going to follow Booth's advice and not push her friend and she sure as hell had no intention of mentioning the word 'therapy'.
"I…I'm….sorry." Brennan took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Angela."
Angela dropped her feet to the floor and leaned forward. "For what?"
"You know…for my attitude towards you the last couple of days. You were only trying to help. And I would completely understand if you don't want to be friends anymore…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop right there, Temperance Brennan!" Angela moved from behind her desk and took a seat next to her friend. "You are my best friend sweetie and you always will be….regardless of whether we're having a good time or you're being a complete 'beeyotch'. I just want you to be okay. I want you to come and talk to me when you need to. And I want you to know that I will always be here for you no matter what."
She gathered Brennan into a tight hug. "By the way, you're forgiven in case you were wondering."
Brennan chuckled slightly as she pulled out of the embrace. "I figured that out." She paused for a moment and tilted her head slightly as she looked at Angela.
"It's the same thing as 'bitch', sweetie…only more ghetto," Angela said.
"Oh, okay. Good to know."
Angela grinned at her as she leaned back in her chair, still clasping Brennan's hand in hers. "So Hodgins told me that the DNA profile was a bust and that you and Booth left to pursue another idea. What was it?"
"We went to speak to McVicar."
Angela's jaw dropped at the revelation. "Oh my god…did he tell you anything?"
"We still don't know who 'Jacob Curry' really was but McVicar seemed to recognize his face." Brennan shivered slightly at the thought of her mother's killer. "The visit was relatively short…."
"He didn't try anything did he?"
"No, he just said a lot of things…to hurt me and piss off Booth."
Angela shook her head. "Oh boy. Pissing off Booth—very bad idea."
Brennan looked at her friend, debating whether to share everything that happened yesterday. "The reason the visit was so short…Ange, I've been having panic attacks lately."
Her eyes growing wide, Angela's hold on Brennan's hand tightened. "Sweetie! How long has this been going on? Does Booth know?"
"Since we recovered the remains at Willow Lake. And yes, he does now. He helped me yesterday when I suffered one after leaving McVicar."
"Oh heroic, comforting Booth—very good idea," she said with a wink.
Brennan rolled her eyes at the artist. She decided against telling her matchmaking friend about the amount of comfort she had received from Booth last night. Brennan wasn't sure where their relationship was going but she knew that could no longer deny her feelings for the man who was becoming much more than a friend.