First of all: A BIG THANK YOU to all my reviewers...
Special thanks to Dolphindreamer and EternalConfusion for correcting me... Feel free to do so at anytime, after all that's how we learn, right? (In case you wondered: I used the word milt and meant spleen ;) I did not know which word was the common one in english... in german it would be Milz, so that lured me into using milt ;) )
And Special thanks to Alphie13 too, for pointing out, that Booth would need protection after that explosion... I used that idea, as you will see...
Okay, here we go...
Chapter 7
Temperance Brennan closed the door to the hospital room behind her, leaving her partner and the sound of beeping behind her. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly, trying to gather enough strength to walk steadily, when her thoughts were interrupted by a stranger's voice saying her name: "Dr. Brennan?"
Her eyes snapped open and she saw, that two men were standing in front of her, obviously they had been waiting for her in the hallway.
"Yes." She answered and looked at them curiously. The elder one smiled at her and the feeling of recognition stirred inside her. "I know you. You are with the FBI, right?" She asked.
The man nodded and extended his right hand "Special Agent Freeman. This is Agent Sanchez." He motioned for the younger agent to greet her as well. She shook hands with both agents, wondering what they wanted from her.
"Dr. Brennan... Deputy Director Cullen instructed us to meet you here. Since that bomb has to be interpreted as an attempt on Special Agent Booth's and your life, the FBI has decided to provide protection for you both. Agent Sanchez is going to stay here, to ensure Booth's safety and I am going to drive you to the headquarters. Cullen would like to hear your report on the incident, if you are up to it." Agent Freeman told her.
"But..." Brennan spotted her best friend Angela on the far end of the hallway, where a glass door with the letters "ICU" on it locked her out. She raised her hand and waved to show Angela, that she was alright, then she turned towards the agents again. "That's my friend waiting over there. She can drive me to meet Cullen, Special Agent Freeman."
"Dr. Brennan, with all due respect, but Deputy Director Cullen did not ask me to escort you, it was an order. And I take orders seriously. Cullen does not want me to be your driver, he wants to ensure your safety. Please take this seriously, Dr. Brennan." Freeman's voice was firm, but Brennan – though weak and tired – did not want to give in that easily.
"But I don't need..." she started, but Agent Sanchez' soft voice interrupted her. "From what I heard I gather that the only reason why you are not injured is because Booth managed to protect you. What would he say if you take unnecessary risks now and land yourself in hospital too?"
Brennan's eyes widened at his words and she bit her bottom lip. She was not sure if Sanchez had deliberately implied that Booth got hurt only because he had wanted to shield her, protect her, but it sure as hell made had made her feel guilty.
"Alright." She finally murmured. "But I want to talk to my friend first."
"That won't be a problem, Dr. Brennan." Freeman said, then he turned towards Sanchez and said: "Saunders will come in 8 hours to take the next shift."
Sanchez nodded and they said their goodbyes. Brennan felt as if sleep-walking, her mind circling around the same thought over and over again: 'Is he only injured because of me? Is that what everybody will think? That it is my fault... If he had not tried to shield me...'
Only when Angela pulled her into a tight embrace, she was able to take in her surroundings again. She was now standing on the outside of the glass door, with Agent Freeman beside her and Angela holding her tight, asking "Did he wake up, Sweetie?"
She nodded and after a moment she managed to add: "His reactions are good and he understood everything the doctor explained to him. He can't talk yet, but he remembers... everything, Ange."
"Everything... you mean... " Angela pulled back a little and saw the warning look Brennan gave her. "Oh, about the explosion, right?" She added lamely.
"Yes. Everything that happened afterwards until he lost consciousness." Brennan smiled wryly.
"Ange, thank you for waiting here for me, but I have been summoned to Cullen... and Agent Freeman here insists on driving me to play my bodyguard." Her voice oozed with sarcasm.
She saw Freeman's eyebrows rise slightly and he said: "No need for sarcasm, Dr. Brennan. I am only following my orders."
"The last time Booth was in hospital – because of a bomb, by the way, it seems there are a lot of parallels - and another FBI agent was supposed to protect me, I ended up in a warehouse where said FBI agent tried to kill me. Forgive me for being sarcastic, it's the best I can do!" Brennan snapped impatiently.
Freeman's eyes widened a bit and after a short moment, he answered seriously: "I am sorry that this happened to you Dr. Brennan, and I apology for being tactless, but I can ensure you I am not like Kenton! He brought shame upon the FBI."
"Whatever." Brennan snapped, but after another moment she steadied her breathing and looked at him apologetically. "I am sorry, Agent Freeman. I did not want to imply anything... It's been a long day. Maybe we should go and meet Cullen now." The agent nodded at her words and Brennan turned towards her best friend.
"Ange, I have to leave. You'll tell Cam and the others what happened and that it looks like Booth will be okay? I'll call Rebecca and his parents." Brennan asked.
"No problem, Sweetie, but as far as I know his parents should be on a plane right now. Cullen knows when and where they'll arrive. Come, let's at least walk to the car together, I have to drive back to the Jeffersonian... and take care of yourself, Sweetie, okay? Call me before you go home, I can come over and keep you company if you want, okay?" Angela gave her a worried look, while they started to walk towards the elevator.
"I guess I will have company, Angela." Brennan said with a meaningful glance at the FBI-agent beside her.
"I was talking about best-friend-company, not bodyguard-company, Sweetie. An Ice-cream session maybe? And girl's talk, yeah? Just call, Sweetie!" Angela explained and Brennan gave in.
"Okay, I'll call you."
The elevator door slid open and Brennan wanted to step in, but Freeman held her back.
"You'll stay behind me from now. I'll enter every room first and check if everything's okay."
Angela saw Brennan roll her eyes and waited for her to say something like "Who should be hiding in an obviously empty elevator?" but she did not complain and Angela gave her another worried look.
Normally she would have freaked out on being treated like a child.
'Maybe she is just too exhausted to put up a fight.' Angela thought and stepped into the elevator behind her.
Silence settled over them, until they entered their parking level.
"The car is over there." Freeman said and motioned for Brennan to follow him, his eyes darting all over the place. Brennan noticed, that his car was parked near the entrance, at a well-lit area. 'At least he knows what he's doing.' She thought.
"Mine is over there, Sweetie. See you later. Don't even think of not calling me, or I'll hunt you down." Angela hugged her quickly and gave her a short peck on the cheek.
With a stern look she turned towards the agent and said: "Look after her. And she needs to rest, so
Cullen cant question her for too long. Tell him, Angela Montenegro said that, got that?"
Freeman raised an eyebrow at her bossiness, but answered. "Yes, ma'm" and steered Brennan towards his car.
The clatter of Angela's heels faded away somewhere behind Brennan and she followed her "new" bodyguard towards his car. Freeman held the door open for her and she climbed onto the passenger seat of the black SUV that seemed to be a clone of Booth's car.
She sighed once again and buckled up her seat belt, stubbornly staring out of her window.
As if in mutual agreement neither of them said a word until they pulled up in front of the FBI building.
As you can see Alphie13, I used you idea. I already had thought of an agent driving Brennan to Cullen before, but now Booth has his own bodyguard too...
I don't know when I will be able to update, it might take until next week, so please be patient :)
And reviews make me very, very, very happy!!!! ;)