Brennan felt crushed. She saw the emptiness in Booth's eyes. She could see that the seizure wiped everything away. She couldn't help but feel that the kiss caused too much stimulation and was the cause of the seizure. Again she caused him to lose everything. She was unaware of the number and severity of the seizures he had already.
She went back to her apartment and locked herself into her room and cried. Her father arrived a few hours later and knocked on the door. He could hear his daughter trying to stifle her sobs, but she refused to allow him entry. He sat outside the door and tried to get her to talk but was only greeted by her sobs.
He was sure he would be able to get her to talk once she calmed down. It was probably just the surprise of Booth's memory returning that had her upset. She would have to face him without being able to hide. He had always seen the attraction between them. A man would have to be blind deaf and mute to not notice. He was surprised it took them this long to finally admit it to each other.
"I will be out here when you decide to talk, Honey. You know I am always here for you." He said through the door.
Booth felt like he was hit by a large truck. He saw an angel when the fog clear but she had run away in tears. The next thing he saw was a nurse checking him over. He was in a hospital, but he couldn't remember why. His head was pounding and his vision blurred.
"Go to sleep my son. You will feel better when you wake." Said a soft voice.
Booth recognized his mother's voice. He couldn't understand how he was hearing her, she died so long ago. He listened to what she said and closed his eyes and became absorbed in his dreams.
He drifted back to a home; he had spent years trying to forget. He wandered over to a mirror and gasped at what he saw. There he stood as a small child. If his memory served correct he was maybe 6 years old. He surveyed the room and saw Jared around age one pulling up on the coffee table and begin toddling across the room.
He walked over and grasped his brother's hand. "I am here little brother." He could hear heavy coughing coming from his parent's room. He picked Jared up and walked into the room.
The scene before him made his heart ache. His mother's skin was ashen. The towel she coughed into was covered in blood. The bandana that covered her bald head had slipped to the side. Booth put Jared down and walked over and straightened the bandana. He rubbed his hand across her face and she smiled.
"Hey, baby." She said weakly rubbing her own frail hand across the bruise on his cheek. A tear slipped down her cheek."He wasn't always this way. He just doesn't know how to handle all this." She explained.
"It's ok Mommy. I am a big boy." The small boy said puffing out his chest a bit.
"I know. You take such good care of me and Jared. You make me so proud. I know you will always be the protector of those you care about. You have a big heart and I never want you to lose that. I want you to promise me you will never change. You make sure that Jared grows up to be a good man, like I know that you will be. Take care of him; he is so young, he won't remember. I will always be with you when you need me most."
"I promise, Mommy. I promise that I will never let you down." Said the boy.
Young Booth jumped as he heard the front door slam. The noise startled Baby Jared and he fell down behind him, pulling the runner on the table, the contents on the table crashed to the floor. Booth's father stormed into the room reeking of alcohol. Young Booth stepped in between his brother and father and began apologizing.
The older man grabbed the boy by the collar of his shirt and through him across the room towards the door. The young boy crumbled to the floor. Booth's father then went to the boy and grabbed his hand and drug him from the room, never noticing the baby on the floor.
Tears fell from the sick woman's eyes. She had no strength to help her son. Her husband had not taken her illness well. He had begun drinking and took all his frustrations out on Seeley. She could hear the sound of her husband's hands striking the boy, but he never cried out. He never begged for mercy. He took the beatings in silence until his father grew tired and left him alone.
The house grew silent after several minutes. The sound of the door opening and closing was heard. Not long after young Booth returned to the room. He looked worse than he ever had before. He walked with a limp and favored his right side. He held his arm around his ribs and blood trickled from his nose and mouth. Her heart ached for the boy. She didn't have much time left and she knew it. She could only hope that when the burden she imposed was lifted that her husband would once again be the loving man he once was.
The boy picked up his brother and left the room. She could hear the children's bedroom door close and then sound coming from the kitchen. Soon after she could smell the scent of food as her son prepared the families dinner.
A short while later he entered the room dragging his brother's high chair behind him. He retrieved the younger child and secured him in the chair. On his tray he placed a plate of vegetables and fried eggs. To his mother he brought a bowl of soup and then returned with his own plate same has his brother's. They ate together in silence until his mother dropped the spoon from her weakness. He set his plate on the floor and stood next to his mother. He grasped the spoon and began feeding her the broth.
When they finished he cleared all the dishes and returned with a wet cloth to wipe his mother's face and hands. He then went to run a bath for his brother. He bathed his brother and put him to bed, then started the dishes. He finished cleaning up and returned to his mother's side.
"I am sorry Seeley, I am so sorry I can't help you." She cried weakly.
"It's ok Mommy, I am a big boy. I can take care of everything. I promised you I would and I will. I know Daddy doesn't mean it. He is sad. I won't let him hurt Jared, he is still little. Someone always has to help people who need it."
"Seeley I can't do much now, but when I go to heaven I will be strong. Whenever you need me I will be there for you. Put your faith in God. Live your life well. When you feel weak I will be your strength. Be the protector you are. That is what God wants from you. Life's choices won't always be easy. Due what is always expected and follow your heart, it will never lead you wrong." She opened her arms and he curled up into her.
He stayed there in her arms until he heard her breathing become slow and regular. He went about cleaning the house, and then took a shower and went to his own bed. He knew his father would be back soon and hoped he would be happy about the condition of his home and wouldn't come looking for him.
He stared at the ceiling imagining his future. He would join the army or be a cop someday. That way he could be what his mom wanted. He would dedicate his life to helping protect people. He would just start with Jared for now. He could help little kids at school at the end of the summer. He would be everything his mom wanted.
The child slipped into sleep and the dream shifted to another day
Young Booth rose from his bed and tiptoed to his door to peer out of his room. Jared sat giggling in his crib playing with a toy. All seemed quiet and the boy opened the door and crept out of the room. He peeked into his mother's room and saw she was alone.
He walked into the kitchen and prepared oatmeal for the three of them. He went and pulled Jared from the crib and changed his diaper. He pulled the high chair to his mother's room and secured his brother. He went and retrieved the food and poured each of them a glass of orange juice.
He lightly tapped his mother's shoulder to wake her for breakfast. Her skin felt cold to the touch and she didn't move. He tried to tap her again and still nothing. Tears entered the boys eyes and he frantically shook his mother.
"Mommy! Wake up Mommy!" He cried.
He curled up with his mother's still body and cried. He knew she was gone. He didn't know what to do. He wasn't allowed to leave the house, or use the telephone. He would have to wait until 'he' came home.
He didn't notice the bright light that filled the room. He just laid there and cried.
"Seeley, don't be so sad." The voice said.
He lifted his head and looked around. He squinted at the brightness of the light.
"Mommy?"
"I'm sorry I had to leave you Seeley, but I am in a better place. I don't feel the pain anymore. I will always watch over you. I will be there whenever you need me. I know you are a strong boy and you will one day be an even stronger man. Watch over your brother always. He will need you. I love you, my sweet boy."
With that he felt a graze across his cheek and the light disappeared.
"Mommy? Mommy? I love you too."
He dried his tears, and began his daily routine of taking care of his brother and their home. Daddy wouldn't be happy when he got home.
Booths eyes fluttered open. Tears had slipped down his face while he slept.
"I am here for you Seeley. You have become everything I knew you would. You need my help and I am here." Her voice whispered in his ear.
He took a deep breath and searched the room. His eyes fell on a board and he studied it. He also did his best to flip through the spiral bound notebook on his lap. According to the information he read, he had been what his mom had said she wanted.
"You will get it all back, my son. It will just take some time."
He looked to the ceiling and began reciting the information he had read. He wouldn't let his mother down. He had promised her when she died. He didn't break promises.