CHAPTER 6 - NO ONE ELSE BUT YOU
The last time Special Agent Seeley Booth remembered breaking so many traffic laws in such a small amount of time was about six years ago, when Rebecca had called telling him she went into labor. Booth could remember with accuracy every moment by that time, and it still bought a smile in his face, for it was a scaring, yet amazing time. No matter how terrified he was by then, he knew that the result of all that panic would be the most rewarding thing in his life. He was becoming a father. And by the time he had Parker in his arms for the firts time, he knew that very single moment of tension, fear, stress and whatsoever was worth of it. Hr would do the crazy drive all over again, even if that could have resulted on a very serious car accident. Because he had his baby boy.
He've always thought that, if he was ever to do the crazy driving again, it would be for the same reason. His second child, hopefully with his very own wife by his side on that time. But even if he wasn't ready to admit it by now, he knew deep down that something had changed from the very first time he set his eyes on Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan. Somewhere inside, he was aware that this woman had rocked his world in a way he never imagined someone could. And as they time together passed by, he realized more end more that he would do anything for her. He could not afford to loose her. And that was exactly why he was once again in his life infringed every known and unknown driving rule of the American code. His Bones needed him. She would never put that in words, but she did. Booth could tell by just hearing her voice by the phone, and he didn't even want to think about Angela's appeal for him to come. Her voice had told him it all.
Booth parked his SUV into the Jeffersonian parking like tomorrow would never come, not even bothering that he was taking some Phd, MD, Scientist or whatever spot. It was simply the nearest from the entrance. He jogged into the institute without looking nowhere except his goal, clibing up the steps that would lead him to the place he was meant to be. Wherever Bones was, that is. He barely saw with the corner of his eyes Hodgins waving at him, already concentrated on the sound of coughing coming from her office., and with one blink of eyes he was there, bursting at her door. He was met with too pairs of worried eyes, in the faces of Angela Montenegro and Camille Saroyan. Booth nodded briefly at them, before setting eyes on the real thing he was truly interested. His Bones.
She looked suddenly so small and pale, in a way that Booth never thought to find her. Yet, that was the intense fire in her eyes he liked so much, and he could tell she was angry, no matter how bad she could have been feeling. Dear Lord, give me the patience and the strength to persuade this woman. Guide me on dealing with her, and please, please don't let me be unfocused by the current nonsense that is coming out of her mouth.
" What? Are you the ultimate salvation or something? If so, you can as well go back, Booth. I don't need a hero, thank you very much. All I need is peace." Despite the challenging tune his Bones used, he could see she was on the verge of tears. Booth could tell by the way she was biting her bottom lip, an antic he've learnt to interpretate over the years. It only happened when she was extremely upset. She would purse her lips and twist her fingers nervously, and then , if things were really really bad, she would hipcup and massage her temples with trembling fingers. And there it was. All the signs.
" Sweetey, nobody is saying that you need a hero. We know you don't. But you're really being a bit unreasonable here. Honey, Cam is a doctor, and a very good one, you know it. If she says that you need more care than the ones you're receiving from us, then you gotta admit that's true." Angela spoke very gently, watching as her best friend cringed from her spot on the couch.
" Well, I mean no disrespect at Cam's habillities, but I know my body better than anyone. I really appreciate the way you guys are trying to take care of me, but it's not necessary. Booth, will you tell them already?" Her eyes were pleading, and he knew that if he didn't do anything, she would break down.
Cam pulled him fastly aside, and spoke in a very low voice, so that Brennan couldn't hear, while Ange once again tried to talk with her friend.
" Booth, she has been like this all day. Most of times she acts like this and fights against us, but when she thinks that nobody is looking, she lays down on the couch as tight as she can, and I can tell just by that she's feeling pain all over her body. And I don't even want to talk about the fever, because it's simply wont diminish a little. She can barely hod onto a entire speech without starting to cough , and very time it happens, she cringes in pain. I'm guessing that her toracical muscles must be a wreck from the effort, but I'm more worried by the fact that she seems to be having a hard time to breathe more and more, and she winces in pain when trying to inhale hard. That's a possible sign of respiratory infection. That's why I've took a blood sample, to check on her her mood is very affected, as you can see. Just... you are the person she trust her life with. Please try to convince her to go to an hospital and do at least a chest X-rays. She didn't allow me do to so." Booth passed his fingers throught his hair , processing all he was hearing. He let out a long sigh, again praying silently.
" Ok. Ok. I get it. I'll try. Could you two just... give me a moment alone with her? Look, I know Bones. She's on the brink. You and Ange go take a walk or something, and I'll do my best." Cam gave him na encouraging smile, and turned to the two woman measuring forces.
" Dr. Brennan, I'll have to leave you for a moment. I'm expecting some tissues results from our case, and I'm positive that your blood results are done by now. Angela...I think that Hodgins and Clark have some news about the case, and I think we'll need some moves from the Angelator." She gave Ange a significant look, that luckly went missing by Brennan's fuzzed mind.
" Oh.Oh. Well, since Booth is already here, I guess I can leave you alone now, right, sweetey? You know, duty calls and all. I'll be back soon, ok? You just try to behave a little with agent hot stuff here,ok?" Angela squeezed her friends hand slightly, at the same time giving Booth a small slap in the back. " There's some food in her coffee table, if you just convince her to take some of it, some juice at least. I'm trusting at you, studly." She whispered before leaving with Cam, a hopefull look over their faces. Booth waited for them to fall apart, and then closed the door , seating carefully at Bones's couch, dragging her feet gently from the floor and making them rest on his lap. Jeez, her feet are freezing.
" So, Bones. How are you hanging up here? Word has spreaded that you are turning into some king of Godzilla from the lab." He tried to make his voice sound unconcerned, at the same time managing to massage her feet. Booth felt her freeze for a while as if wondering if she should resist to his ministrations,but it was a feeble moment. Instead, she sighed and rested her head on the pillow and closed her eyes.
" I don't know what that means." Her voice was small, and he felt her shudder. Booth let her feet go, instead lifting her a little in a way that now shw was positioned directly over him, her head turning to his shoulder, where he pulled her down slightly, stroking her hair.
" You know, I will never cease to wonder in what kind of world do you live. Seriously, Bones, no Godzilla? It's a very angry and world known monster. And humor has it that you're just behaving like it. Care to share why?" He held his gaze under her angry stare. " Temperance. Look at you. You can barely hold on to your feet. Since I've picked you up this morning you are only getting worse. For a very intelligent woman, you can act really stupid sometimes. Are you planning on becoming suicidal? And giving me a heart attack along?" Be very carefull now, Seeley. You're stepping on very thin ice. Once again, they just stared at each other, until her hand moved to his face, making him almost jump out of the couch and run for his life and heart. Almost.
" You have very beautiful eyes, Booth. I've always liked your eyes. And your mouth. It seems very..." She wondered her fingers lightly over his lips, seeming in deep thought. In his place, all Booth's concentration was in not reacting, for he knew that she wasn't being reasonable. But man, if they continuated that way... he didn't know if he would be able to speak for himself anymore. For some reason. Angela's voice kept repeating in the back of his mind- She lets out many inner desires when she's like this, so... you might wnat to pay attention.- again and again. " I know. Your mouth seems very kisseable. That's it. If there is such word in our vocabulary." I think I was better with Ange and Cam. At least, I wasn't trying to make up new words, specially a very unnapropriated one. What's with my body and Booth when I'm like this? Maybe I have some over release of pherohormons when I'm sick.
" Are you listening to yourself, Temperance? Do you see the way you're acting, so different than your usual self? In this amount of hours, we've both said so many weird to things to each other that I'm starting to wonder if we'll be ever able to be us again when this is over."
" I've told you that I behave strangely when I'm sick, Booth. And I thought we had an agreement about that. None of the things that I say should be reminded or mentionated after this." She suddenly felt very afraid. Was Booth angry with her and her lack of logical manners? It wasn't like she was doing it on purpose! She tried to pull away, but he didn't let her go.that's not fair. My strength is not enough to fight against right now.
" Well, We did had an agreement. And If I remember it well, that included you behaving rationally. I called the cards, remember? We've agrred that, if by any moment I felt that you weren't okay enough, you would retreat and do as I asked. Instead, all I can see is you acting like crazy."
" That was only by when we were at the field!"
" Oho, nonono. I was actually about to take you back home when you asked me to come to the institute instead, and I thought it would be a good idea,'cause, as You've said, I didn't want you alone. So, I was still giving the cards, and you know it. You've promised that you would get some rest here. And then, I come here to see you arguing with your best friend and your boss, not to mention the rest of the team, because they are actually worried about you. And so Am I." This time, it was Booth's hands that traced every inch of her face, feeling the heat that emanated from her skin. Cam wasn't lying about the fever, that was for sure. " Now, what's wrong with accepting some actual care from your friends? Or going to the hospital to have a check up? We all need that now and then, Bones."
" Well, not me. I've always managed to get throught everything by myself ok? That's how I've managed to become who I am, and there's no way in hell I'm going to let things change because of a stupid cold!" And there was it. There was the core of all. His Bones, that unique woman, was afraid to show weakness. Sweets was right. Booth suddenly felt like punching Max, Ruth and Russ Keenan for doing this to his girl, even if uncounciously. They've managed to make her believe that she wasn't supposed to rely on anyone. Ever. And then, his worst fears came to the surface. She broke. His Bones actually started to actually sob into his arms.
Danm you all. Danm you all that hurt my Bones.
TBC... Hey... you know what's going to make me update? If we get to 100 reviews. C'mon you guys... We're so close!