Disclaimer: I don't own Bones. I don't own the English language, either. So basically none of it's mine, I just rearranged some words to form coherent sentences. (Hopefully they're coherent XD)
Author's Notes: This one is sad:p It had to be. I couldn't do 'Sacrifice' and make it all fluffy and about birds and flowers.
Also, an important note: I write kind of abstractly. Like, it starts out in the middle of all the action, and you kind of have no idea what the heck is going on until you read it later in the story. Like in this one, for instance. Let me just say that the story isn't about why this sacrifice has to happen, it's about the fact that it has to happen. Do you get it? XD
I also apologize for the painfully obvious 24, BtVS, and Angel references. My apologies to Joel Surnow and Joss Whedon for stealing their beautiful quotes.
SACRIFICE
"No," said Brennan firmly. She shook her head. "I can't let you do that," she said, more quietly this time. Booth looked at her sadly.
"Bones, I don't have a choice."
"Yes!" Brennan shouted, slamming her hand on the table and ignoring the pain that shot through it as it connected with the hard wood. "You do have a choice, Booth. It's you or it's me. I can't let you do this for me. For your son." She stared him in the eye, daring him to defy her. Had it been any other situation, Booth would probably have backed down. But he knew now what he had to do.
"I knew I couldn't make it right," he said softly. She looked up at him, unsure of what she had just heard him say.
"What?" He turned back to face her.
"Remember when I told you that I wanted to make up for all the people I killed by catching murderers?" Brennan nodded, knowing that she would never forget that day. It was when they had first become partners. Booth took a deep breath. "The balance sheet…it's not exactly in my favor. But you never know until you've been tested. I get that now." Brennan stared at him, unable to grasp what was happening.
"Booth…"
"It doesn't matter how many murderers I catch. There's one thing left to do, and it's going to make it okay."
"No, it's not!" Brennan insisted. "Booth, you have done so much good in this world. Why would you want to take yourself out of it?" He shook his head.
"I don't want to. I have to." Booth glanced at his watch. "Bones, he has my son. In 30 minutes he wants either me or you there, or Parker—" He paused, finding it hard to say the word. "—dies," he finished. "He's my son, Bones. I have to do this."
"He's gonna kill you," said Brennan. "Booth, this is stupid. If you go, Parker will be alone. He won't have you. I won't have you." She shook her head. "Don't do it."
"Yeah? Then what am I supposed to do? I can't let my son die, Bones. I call for backup, they kill him. I come armed, they kill him. They want either you or me for him." His chocolate brown eyes shone with unshed tears. "I've never made a choice like this before. So tell me. What am I supposed to do?"
"You're supposed to let me go. I'll be gone, but—but Parker can still have a dad." Booth looked down. "It's better that way," she said, more quietly.
"No, it's not!" said Booth, his voice raising slightly. "Do you understand the difference between dying for something and dying for nothing? Today…I can die for something. My choice. My way. This is what I have to do to set the balance equal."
"Booth, let me go. Please," she begged. "I just want you to have your son. It's what you deserve."
"And if he kills you both?" Brennan hadn't thought of that. She bit her lip. "I can't deal with losing two of the most important people in my life, Bones," continued Booth. The most important people. Brennan looked up, and Booth made a sad attempt to smile. "Bones, you'll find someone else. Someone who'll take care of you, who'll love you, who'll be there for you. You'll be happy. I promise."
"No, I won't. There's…there's no one like you, Booth. Who's going to take me out to dinner and force me to eat? Who's going to teach me stuff that I don't know about? Who's going to—" She paused, the reality of the situation hitting her full-force. "—Who's gonna call me Bones?" The tears that she had previously been trying to keep in check began to fall. Booth reached out a hand, gently brushing the tears away.
"I have to leave now," he whispered.
"Booth…" she pleaded.
"Bones, I have to." She started to cry again, and he gently wrapped his arms around her. She hugged him tighter than she had ever hugged him before, her face buried in the crook of his neck. He rubbed her back gently, whispering soothing words into her ear. His eyes brimmed with his own tears, realizing that he would probably never see her again. After about thirty seconds they pulled apart, but Booth moved his hand to rest on the side of her cheek.
"Please." Brennan realized she could only manage to say monosyllabic words, the tears running down her face made it too hard for her to say anything else.
"Bones, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. But this is the work that I have to do. I've finally figured it out. Bones, please. Don't give up. Be brave. Live. For me." Brennan nodded, finding it both physically and mentally difficult to say anything. He tilted her head downwards and placed a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes, savoring his touch, burning it into her memory.
And then he was gone.
Awww.
Reviews, maybe? Ideas, more importantly? XD I think I have an idea for the next chapter, but if anyone has any ideas for a few more plots, please let me know! Thanks guys ;)
