Heyo! I'm back. My apologies for the delay. Life has been crazy, and I knew I had to reread what I've been writing in order to keep the flow going, so that was a bit daunting. I hope you guys are still enjoying this story :)
It was the middle of summer, and Brennan had to admit that for once, she didn't want school to start again too soon. She was spending a lot of time with Booth and Parker, and she couldn't stop smiling. Tonight, it was just the two of them.
"What do you think about going to England?" Booth asked. Brennan choked on her wine, caught off guard.
"What?"
"This case just came in today, and I have to go to London to help them figure it out, so I wondered if you wanted to come with me," he finished.
"I'd love to," she grinned. "When do we leave?" He looked at his watch.
"Three hours?"
"Three...?! Okay," she said, leaping to her feet. She rushed around, throwing stuff into a bag. Booth laughed as he watched. Ripley also watched, worried. He knew that meant Brennan was leaving. He rested his head back onto the floor, snuffling.
"It's all right. Angela will look after you," Brennan promised, bending down to pet him comfortingly.
"How is Angela?" Booth asked. He was thinking about the whole Gary incident.
"She's better. She's been busy painting all summer. I don't think she's gone out very much."
"She won't mind ol' Ripley hanging around?"
"No. She loves him," Brennan answered. "Okay. I'm ready."
"Wha-? Wow," Booth said, staring. "You were less than seven minutes."
"I'm experienced," she winked.
"I'll say," he joked. Ripley stood then and stalked past her, showing how displeased he was. His tail knocked over a picture frame, and it fell to the floor.
"Ripley!" Brennan hollered at him as he scampered into the bedroom without a glance backward. Booth went to help her pick up the glass. He caught sight of the photo. It was of her and a woman.
"Is this your mother?" he asked. She nodded without speaking. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. I can get a new frame," she answered. She picked it up gingerly and carried it to the trash. She returned with a broom and dust pan to clean the floor. Booth was looking at the photo.
"It's a nice picture," he noted.
"It's the last picture I ever had taken with her," Brennan said, not looking at him. She remembered that day vividly.
Flashback
"Graduation day!" Christine said, hooting. "You must be so excited!" She and Matthew were at Brennan's apartment as she got ready to attend the ceremony.
"It definitely has been a long haul," Brennan said. "I admit I am happy to be finally graduating."
"Well, we are so proud of you," Christine went on. "Have you gotten any leads on a job?"
"There is an opening at a public school," Brennan said. "I had an interview two days ago."
"That's fantastic!" Matthew cheered. "Do you think you got it?"
"I hope so. I won't be starting until the fall, though. That's two and a half months from now."
"Summers off, long weekends and all the other breaks," Matthew sighed, reminiscing. "The best perks of being a teacher."
"Oh don't rub it in," Christine laughed, smacking him lightly. Brennan finished with her hair, and Matthew held up the camera.
"Picture time," he grinned.
"Me first," Christine said, pulling Brennan close. They smiled as the camera flashed. Christine took one of Brennan and Matthew next.
"Okay, off we go," Matthew said, putting the camera back in the bag. Brennan felt nervous suddenly. She never liked being the center of attention.
"Where's Russ?" she asked.
"He'll meet us there. He got stuck in traffic," Christine answered. Brennan just nodded. They piled into the car. On the drive, Brennan couldn't help but think about how she got here. After they came out of hiding, she went about her life. She was worried at times about McVicar, but her parents tried to reassure her she was safe. Brennan still didn't believe them. She knew he was out there, prowling. She tugged at her dress, anxious to get this thing over with. She had studied anthropology and forensic anthropology before realizing that teaching was what she really wanted to do, so she got on that train. It was a lot of schooling, but she didn't mind. She wasn't sure what she would ever do with the doctorates, though. She felt like they had helped her get a job interview faster, but she couldn't be sure. It could have been her age too. She was almost 30. Her new friend, Angela, had told her to take it if they offered and to let her know if an art teacher job ever came up. Brennan had promised she would. When they arrived, she parted ways with her parents to go get her gown and cap and stand in line to receive her diploma.
Present
"Sounds like a nice day," Booth pointed out. He wasn't sure what else to say. Brennan had stopped talking and was staring at the wall. Ripley had returned and curled up close to her as though he knew she was upset. Booth saw her spin the dolphin ring on her finger absently.
"You okay?" he asked. She looked at him then.
"I'm fine," she replied. "Should we get going?"
"Uh, yea," he agreed, looking at his watch. He stood. "Let's go."
...
Booth watched her walk Ripley to Angela's door and chat with her. He wondered what had happened. He was dying to know, actually. He could tell she didn't really want to discuss it anymore, though. It made him feel sad for her.
"Ready," she smiled, hopping back into the SUV.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked again.
"Booth, I'm fine," she answered strongly. "I mean it."
"Okay," he nodded. He knew she wasn't fine, though. He wasn't totally blind.
...
Matthew looked out the bus window absently. He wasn't sure where he was going really. Without his Ruthie and his kids, he wasn't really anybody. Just a guy who murdered three people. How sad was that? He sighed, resting his head on his hand. The bumps kept him awake. At least no one was sitting beside him. He wasn't up to being chatty. He looked over and saw a teenage girl by herself and crying. He was intrigued. He noticed her very pregnant belly next.
"Oh boy," he muttered. He looked around. She was alone for sure. She met his gaze, and he looked away. He didn't want her to feel creeped out. The harder she cried, though, the more he couldn't resist.
"Are you okay?" he finally asked. She looked at him again.
"N-n-no," she stuttered.
"You wanna talk about it?"
"No."
"Okay. If you change your mind, I am a good listener," he told her. She just nodded and went back to crying. Looking at her more closely, she looked like his Tempe. He shook his head. He was seeing her everywhere lately, and it troubled him. He just wanted to clear the air, but she wouldn't have it. He hoped that eventually she would call him. He had to keep that hope.
...
Brennan was quiet at the airport. She couldn't help but keep thinking about her mother. The whole thing had been so stupid and senseless. She didn't understand. She knew Booth wanted her to tell him what happened, but she just couldn't. Instead, she went over it again in her mind.
Flashback
It was her turn to get her diploma. The light on the stage was bright, and she squinted for a moment before her eyes adjusted. She heard her mother call out her name, making her smile. She received her diploma, shook hands, and started to walk off the stage. She turned to look at the audience and finally saw her father, mother, and Russ, and her mother was jumping up and down, waving. Then, without warning, she fell. To Brennan, it seemed like it was in slow motion. Her mother's head crashed into the back of a chair before she hit the ground. There was gasping and crying out amongst the crowd.
"RUTH!" her father's voice screamed. He forgot to use her fake name, but it didn't matter. No one knew who they were. Brennan was frozen on the stage. Everything else happened in a blur. Someone calling the paramedics. Her brother running to her and pulling her off the stage. Her father doing CPR on her mother. Her mother's lifeless eyes.
Present
"It was an aneurysm," Brennan said quietly. Booth turned to look at her.
"I'm sorry?" he asked.
"My mother had an aneurysm in her brain. It's what killed her at my graduation."
"Oh God, Temperance. I'm so sorry," he said, grabbing her hand.
"It was supposed to be the best day of my life," she whispered. "And it was the worst day of my life."
"I can't even imagine," he said, pulling her close. She cried then, and it felt so good to cry for her mother. The funny thing was, though, she was also crying for her father.
...
"Oh!" the girl cried out, grabbing her belly.
"What's wrong?" Matthew asked.
"I...I think my baby's coming," she cried. The bus driver whipped his head around fast before focusing back on the road. The bus swerved a little.
"How close to a hospital?" Matthew asked the driver.
"A good hour at least," the driver responded.
"Well, it's a good thing I know what I'm doing," Matthew said.
"What?" the girl asked, scared.
"It's not my first delivery."
"Are you a doctor?"
"No. Just a Dad who had to deliver his son on the side of the road," Matthew answered. "I'm afraid you don't really have a choice. The driver can keep driving to the hospital, but if your baby is coming, it's coming. Is this your first contraction?"
"N-no. I've been in pain all day."
"Okay. I'm thinking we're close then," Matthew said. He removed his jacket and tried to set it flat for her to lie on on the bus floor. There were only two other people on the bus at the back, and one was asleep while the other was focused on their book with headphones on. Matthew set to work. After fifty minutes, a squalling baby was in his arms. Matthew used his knife to cut the cord, wrapped it in a shirt from his bag, and handed the girl her baby.
"It's a girl," she said, amazed. She was exhausted.
"Got a name for her?" he asked. She shook her head.
"My parents didn't want me to have this baby," she said. "Naming her wasn't encouraged."
"That's too bad."
"What's your favorite name for a girl?" she asked.
"Oh, I couldn't," he said.
"I insist. You helped me so much. Just tell me," she urged.
"Ruth," he said. "Ruth is my favorite name for a girl."
"Ruth," she tried it out. "I like it. It suits her." She looked down at her baby. "Hi, Ruth." His heart squeezed a little.
"I'm Matthew," he said.
"I'm Sabrina," she answered. They shook hands.
"Hospital," the driver called. Matthew helped her up and led her off the bus. He slung his bag over his shoulder on the way past his seat. Whatever town this was, it looked like it could be a new home.
I will try to update more often. Just a reminder that Brennan didn't know her father had killed McVicar, so that's why in the flashback she still thinks he's around. Thanks for reading!
