Booth knocked anxiously on Brennan's door, bouncing from foot to foot as he waited for her to answer. Today was Steve's trial, and he knew she must be feeling awful. She'd refused to let him stay over at her flat the night before, insisting that it was time that she learnt how to be alone at night again. Booth sighed. There was no need for her to learn that, he never wanted to sleep without her again. And if she'd had anything like the night he had, she wouldn't have slept at all.
"Bones!" he shouted, knocking again slightly louder. It was just like her to run away right when she needed support the most.
Getting no answer a few minutes later, Booth dug out his key that she'd given him a long time ago, and opened her door, straining his ears for any signs of where she was as he shut the door quietly. He sighed as he walked into the living room. She'd sat up all night in a blanket watching the TV he'd talked her into buying, not even attempting to go to sleep. When he'd cleaned up the apartment for her after Steve, he'd hoped that she'd feel more secure there, but obviously not. He cursed himself, knowing he should have stopped by or insisted that she let him stay, but not having wanted to scare her off he hadn't.
"Temperance?" he shouted, a little unsure of himself now.
Wandering through to her bedroom, he knocked softly before pushing the door open. The bed was unmade, just as he'd known that it would be, but there was still no sign of Brennan anywhere. He was about to turn around when a slight sob caught his ears, followed by a pained wretching sound.
Dashing to the bathroom instantly and not bothering to knock, he found his girl cowered on the floor by the toilet, too busy being sick to notice that he'd appeared. Dropping to his knees, he rubbed her back, surprised when she pulled away, a wild look in her eyes before she realised it was him.
He smiled reassuringly, holding out his arms to her. Like lightening, she threw herself on him, wrapping her arms around his waist and sobbing on his shoulder. He rubbing her back soothingly, holding her to him as he kissed her hair, telling her it was going to be alright.
"Oh, Bones, why didn't you tell me you were feeling like this? You know I'd have come straight round!"
She nodded, sniffing. "I know, but I didn't want you to know. I'm so...so ashamed that I feel like this!"
He sighed, moving some hair from her face. "Temperance, you're bound to! It's a horrible thing to have been through, and now you have to relive it all in front of a group of strangers in court and may have to watch him go free. Not that that's going to happen in a million years, but it's hard for anyone! I don't think I could have handled this."
She frowned. "You could. You'd have handled it so much better than me."
He shook his head, rubbing his thumb over her cheek for a moment before he hauled her to her feet, leading her out of the bathroom to the kitchen to make her a drink. She sat and watched him in silence, surprised and revulsed at the same time when he put a piece of toast in front of her.
"You have to eat something, Bones. It'll make you feel better." She opened her mouth to argue, before she saw the concerned look on his face. "Please? For me?"
Sighing, she took a bite of her toast. As soon as he left the room for a few minutes, she threw it in the trash, hoping he wouldn't notice when he came back. Her delicate stomach just couldn't handle digestion at that moment in time, so it'd have to wait until later. Like eating had the day before, and to some extent the day before that.
It had been awful to have questions fired at her. The defence had tried to poke holes in what she was saying, implying that she was weak, that it was her fault, and it all brought back the thoughts and feelings of self-hatred that she'd had before, so that even Brennan started to doubt her statement. Steve smiling and laughing sickeningly had only made it worse.
She'd missed most of Booth's statement by the time she got back from the toilet, seriously surprised that there was still anything left to bring up from her empty stomach. His eyes found hers instantly, reassuring himself that she was alright.
"No, that is not true. Temperance Brennan is the strongest, the nicest, the most amazing woman I know. What that scumbag did to her was worse than just the physical and sexual abuse. He took what made her her – he took her self-confidence and self-belief. He needs to pay for that, for breaking a woman who's only ever worked to make the world a better place."
"Thank you, Agent Booth," Brennan's lawyer said with a smile, having seen the sympathetic looks on the jury's face.
"No further questions, your honour," came the voice of the defence lawyer.
Booth almost sprinted down from the stand, his eyes searching desperately in the crowds that came out of the court. He spotted her instantly, he shoulders hunched as she collapsed in on herself again, letting her mind take over. She was heading away from him, wanting to lose herself somewhere else where nothing could hurt her again.
He ran forwards desperately, stopping in front of her, careful to keep his hands from touching her in case he upset her further. She looked up in surprise, her eyes weary.
"Booth..." she started, her voice cracking despite her efforts to keep it even.
"Don't run, Bones. Stay with me, let me help."
She looked up at him then, seeing how tenderly he cared and fell against him, letting him wrap his arms around her and rest his head on hers. She cried for a while, taking her strength from him. When she calmed a little, he led her to the bench at the side of the hall, away from the rest of the crowds.
"They were mean in there, Bones, but that's their job. Just remember that we know the truth, and none of this was your fault, OK? He's going away for a long time, and he's not going to hurt you anymore."
She nodded, the far away look on her face letting Booth know that she didn't truly believe him.
"Thanks...for what you said in there."
He smiled, brushing her cheek tenderly. "I meant every word. All I did was tell the truth."
She opened her mouth to reply, but they were called back into the court. The sentence was about to be passed. Brennan felt weak when she stood, her legs wobbling. Her whole body was screaming at her to run and not going back in there, but she knew that she needed the closure. Booth noticed her discomfort, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into his side supportively. He was practically carrying her, but to everyone else he looked like a friend giving support just as Bones would want it.
As they sat on the hard chairs looking on at the judge taking his seat, Booth risked a glance at his partner. He was glad they were sitting together for this part, if the white look on her face was anything to go by. Reaching for her hand, he moved it onto his lap where he could support her better, letting her know that he was there with her as they waited to hear their fate. Turning his head slightly, he was grateful to see the rest of the team on the row directly behind them. They were all there together, and they were a force to be reckoned with.
"Will you please rise?" said the judge, his voice serious. Steve still had a smarmy grin on his face, as if he knew that he would get off this charge, that made Booth clench his fists in anger. He softened when he felt Cam's supportive hand on his shoulder, his eyes instantly finding Brennan's, who was looking at him in surprise.
"Sorry," he mumbled, glad that she at least nodded to acknowledge his sentence.
"I have the jury's verdict. On the count of grievous bodily harm towards Dr Temperance Brennan, we find you guilty as charged."
Booth let out a breath he hadn't realised that he had been holding. Rubbing his face wearily, he looked up as the speaking in the court finally quietened.
"On the charge of rape against Dr Temperance Brennan, we find you guilty as charged. As a judge, Mr Holmes, I have often seen horrific cases brought before me. But the way that you have injured this strong, respectable woman fills me with revulsion, and concern that you will only act in a similar manner if released from this court. I thereby have no qualms in using the full weight of the law in this case. I sentence you to ten years imprisonment, with no chance of release for four years."
Booth's face split into a huge grin as the bail struck down, and he caught sight of Steve's gobsmacked face. Looking to his side, he saw Brennan's lip wobbling as she fought to keep the emotions down. Turning, he pulled her into a huge hug, not surprised that she remained stiff in his arms.
"It's OK, Bones, it's all going to be OK now, I promise. You've done so well, I'm so proud of you."
A commotion below caused him to release her from his grasp, Brennan taking that opportunity to escape, only to be stopped by a happy and worried Angela, who held her easily in her arms, rubbing her back soothingly.
"You bitch!" came Steve's voice, clear as he fought against the guards below, the judge himself trying to intervene.
Cam placed her hand soothingly on Booth's shoulder, feeling the anger radiating from him. "Easy, big man. No need to give him the satisfaction, we've won this time."
"I'm gonna kill you! They can't keep me locked up forever, and when I get out, you're first on my list."
Booth shuddered, hating the effect he knew those words would have on Brennan. It was only Cam and Hodgins holding him back that kept him standing in his place, watching coldly as Steve was forced from the room, finally beyond hurting Brennan any further.
"Booth!" came Angela's panicked voice, Booth shooting his head around, his heart almost stopping in the process. Brennan had collapsed, Angela just barely able to hold up both their weights. Racing forwards, he took her gently in his arms, settling her across his knees in his arms as he crouched down.
"Bones," he said, tapping her face gently, and getting no response. Her face was pale, sweat running down her forehead. He sighed as he felt how thin and fragile she felt, feeling as if he hadn't been there for her as much as he'd wanted to be. "It's gonna be OK, Temperance, I promise. Just hold on for me, OK?"
"Booth? Shall I call an ambulance?" Angela asked, her eyes wide with worry as she watched the sadness in Booth's face. He shook his head, standing and lifting Brennan easily in his arms.
"No, I don't think Bones would appreciate waking up in a hospital again. I'll take her home with me. Cam, do you think you could..."
Cam held up her hand to stop him. "No need to ask, Seeley, you know that. I'll drive, you can sit in the back with Dr Brennan."
He nodded, giving Angela a reassuring smile as he left after Cam, holding Brennan securely to his chest and hating the pale and ill look on her face where it nestled unseeing on his shoulder.
"Let me know when you've sorted her out, Booth?" Angela called after him, Booth pausing to smile at her, Hodgins already standing with his arms around his wife.
"I promise, Ang. I'm sure she'll want to see you as soon as she's feeling more like herself."
Pushing aside the worry, knowing that it wouldn't help anything, Booth headed out to his car, willing the brave, strong woman in his arms to just fight a bit longer.