A/N: I can't thank you enough for all of your reviews and alerts. As requested, a second chapter…
The Morning After
The light from the rising sun filtered through the blinds, softly illuminating the small bedroom. Seeley Booth lay in bed, his eyes open, but unfocused. He stared into nothingness, concentrating on the beat of his heart as it pulsed life through his veins.
It could just as easily have been him. A bullet through the chest, bleeding out, with Bones hunched over, pressing against the wound. The previous day's shooting was eerily reminiscent of the violence he had suffered at the hands of Pam Nunan three years ago. Booth rolled on to his side and tightened his grip on the pillow that supported his neck. In the end, there was only one thing that had separated him from the English squintern.
Luck. It always came down to luck. Living. Dying. Who went to the hospital and who went to the morgue. Luck had been on his side yesterday, and Booth knew he would need even more of it today. Because this was going to be the day that Seeley Booth defeated Jacob Broadsky. He was going to bring that son-of-a-bitch murderer to justice- maybe with a bullet, maybe with a pair of handcuffs. However it went down, Broadsky was going to pay.
Booth rolled back to stare at the ceiling. He slowed his breathing, forcing it to be deep and even. His brain methodically cataloged every nuance of his physical state- The twinge in his lower back. The sting of the scratches along his arms and shoulders. The slight pressure behind his eyes that indicated a lack of sleep. Each pain, each weakness, was acknowledged, felt, and then dismissed. His sniper-trained mind recognized the familiar build of adrenaline, and his focus narrowed. There was no ceiling above him. There was only Broadsky. Only the mission.
"Booth?" A soft voice broke his trance, and he turned his gaze to his companion. Bones was watching him carefully, her hair a tangled mess about her shoulders. There were dark circles under her eyes and lines of worry and grief were etched into the corners of her mouth. He blinked hard.
She was beautiful. So beautiful.
"Are you okay?" she asked, peering closely at his face. "You've been tossing and turning for the past half-hour."
"I'm fine," he replied, his voice impossibly deep. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
"Yes, you did," she answered bluntly. "But I did not mind." She moved under the covers to bring her lush body alongside his. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and buried his face in her hair. Inhaling deeply, he breathed in her warm scent. Booth had often dreamed of waking up beside her, but even his most vivid fantasy paled in comparison to the simple joy of reality. He hugged her small frame, reveling in the shift of their relationship. Only now were they truly partners.
Brennan raised her face to his and kissed him. "Good morning," she greeted softly.
He smiled into her eyes and kissed her back. "Good morning," he replied, low and sensuous.
Brennan gently traced the flaming red marks her nails had carved into his biceps. "Do they hurt very much?"
Booth shook his head and pulled her hands into his. "I'm fine," he assured her.
She murmured an apology and bent to press a soft kiss to the angriest welt. Then she pushed up and touched her lips to his. "Are you?" she asked, searching his eyes. "Your frequent change of position would seem to indicate that something is bothering you." She paused and swallowed hard. "Is it me?" Her breath hitched. "I mean…is it us?"
Booth smiled to reassure her and took her head in his hands. "No, Bones. There is nothing about us that is even remotely disturbing to me." How much he had to teach her about love and trust. He was naked underneath her and enjoying every minute of it. No, there was definitely nothing about them that could possibly bother him right now.
Brennan pulled back and ran her fingers over his forehead, smoothing the lines that marred his brow. "I'm glad." she said, obviously relieved. "But I know you, Booth. I know there is something wrong."
A shadow passed over his face and he looked back toward the ceiling. "Broadsky," he ground out.
Brennan nodded and sat up. He did the same. "You're going to catch him, Booth. I know you will," she declared with absolute certainty.
Booth reached over to tuck a messy curl behind her ear. "First I need to find him," he pointed out. He moved to cradle her smooth cheek in his hand.
"Perhaps I can provide assistance with that," she said, pressing into his palm.
Booth immediately shook his head. "No!" He gripped her chin and forced her to look him squarely in the eye. "No field work on this one, Bones. You're to stay in the lab. Away from any windows."
Brennan pried his hand away without breaking eye contact. "I know that, Booth," she said calmly. "I will be continuing the examination of Matthew Leishenger's bones. Dr. Hodgins has the shell casing and other materials. There is a chance that we will find crucial information in the physical evidence Broadsky left behind. Information that may help you to locate him. That is what I meant by assistance."
Booth nodded and leaned forward to press his lips to her forehead. "Promise me, Bones. Promise me that you'll be careful on the way there, and that you won't leave the lab until I've got Broadsky."
"I promise, Booth," she whispered. Brennan slid into his arms and wrapped herself around his torso. "Cam said that The Jeffersonian was going to significantly increase security for both the interior and exterior of the building. I will endeavor to stay safely within its confines until I hear from you."
Booth squeezed hard, letting the comfort of her touch soothe his worried soul. Over her shoulder, the digital clock rudely pointed out the time. He sighed and nuzzled into her hair. "We'd better get up, Bones. We both need to get to work. I have an interview with Leishenger's boss in thirty minutes."
Brennan pressed one last kiss to his mouth before releasing him. "Then you should take the bathroom first. I'll make us breakfast. Coffee?"
Booth grinned and peeled back the covers. "Yes, please," he said, standing up. "There should be bagels in the bread box if Parker hasn't eaten them all." He stood by the bed, looking down at her, not yet able to break away.
"Go," she insisted, pushing at his bare hip. "You have an appointment, and we both need to shower."
"We could save time if we showered together," Booth suggested smoothly.
Brennan shot him a look. "I do not think that engaging in sexual intercourse would speed the process, Booth."
He leaned down and stole a kiss. "Making love, Bones. It's called making love."
Her lips stretched into a radiant smile. "Yes, it is." She cleared her throat. "Well then, I believe making love in the shower would make us both quite late."
"Very late," he acknowledged, flashing another grin before finally making his way into the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later, he entered the kitchen dressed for the Hoover in a dark suit and black tie. Brennan was seated at his small table, clad in one of his t-shirts. A cup of coffee and a plated bagel lay on the polished wooden surface, clearly intended for him. Booth paused a moment to soak up the domesticity of the scene and said a silent prayer for many more mornings like this one. Forcing himself out of his reverie, he moved forward and scooped up his breakfast. "Thanks, Bones," he said. "I'd better take this to go."
Brennan stood up with a nod. "And I need a shower."
Booth pulled his keys out of his pocket. Shoving the bagel between his teeth, he slipped a key off the ring and placed it on the table. He took the bagel out of his mouth and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Don't forget to lock up when you leave," he murmured into her ear.
Brennan smiled shyly and fingered the shiny silver key. "I won't," she promised.
Booth tilted his head and returned her smile. He gulped his coffee, set the empty mug in the sink, and hooked a thumb in the direction of the door. "I'd better get out of here," he said reluctantly. He wanted desperately to stay with her for another hour. Or two. Or twenty. Unfortunately, there was a job that needed to be done and he was the only one who could do it.
"Stay safe, Booth," she whispered, squeezing his hand.
"You, too," he replied softly. A final kiss and he was out the door, taking care to lock it securely behind him.
Booth walked to his vehicle and started the engine with purpose. Time to get to work. He had a mission to accomplish.
A/N: What did you think? There were so many missing scenes from the last two episodes. Should I write another?