A/N : Omg! OMG! OMG ! Signs you are a horrible updater...you just forget how fanfiction actually worked XD Yes it really happend, I just sat here in front of my pc trying to figure it out again XD
Sorry for the horrible long haitus, it's ok to hate me...I do it myself. But School is ...crazy. We have giant projects (I'm designing clothes, a book for toddlers and making a skull out of clay...all super fun but I just forget to update.) Don't be worried, it will go faster from now on because...I finally got my own laptop YAY! Well not got...I had to pay it myself. ANyway I promise I'll update another chapter of House of Horrors this night/evening. (If there are good reviews ...and yes I'm blackmailing.)
Bye and enjoy !

Chapter 13 : Worth a shot

I stood in front of my bathroom mirror. My body only wrapped in the thin fabric of a towel. I watched a few droplets that still remained from my shower tickling down my batted skin and disappearing behind the towel.
Slowly I maneuvered the protective cover down from myself, getting used to my fragile and vulnerable form again.

I looked up again and found a pair of ghostly blue eyes staring at me. My eyes.
They now ranked down my exposed body, starting at my face I looked at the stitches that covered the wound there, soon they found the cut on my collarbone that Patrick had made. Trembling I now completely removed the piece of fabric from my body, letting it pool at my feet.

Horrified I took in the image of my own body, batted, bruised and covered with cuts and wounds and I found myself thinking 'How on earth could somebody love someone 'damaged' as me? How could Booth?'

My mind flashed back to the afternoon we'd spent together after we got back from the hospital. How comforting and safe it felt again to be in his arms. But then the moment when he departed seeped back too.

"Get some rest Bones, you need it." He told me, cupping my cheek gently as we stood in the doorway.
"I know." I replied, too tired to argue about his protecting tendencies.
Stepping a little closer I watched as he leaned down to cover my lips with his, only stopping a few inches before we met, giving me some time to retreat.The loud shriek of my cell phone shook me back to the present and I quickly dressed in some undergarments before pulling on a bathrobe and answering the ringing piece of technology that lay on my dining table. Without even bothering to look on the display, I answered it.
"Brennan."
"Hey Brennan!" I was greeted by a joyful artist, "How's Peru?" I could her hear genuine interest sounding through in her words. I furrowed my brows as I thought about all that had happened over the last few days. "I'm not there anymore."
"What?" Angela sounded utterly confused, "Then where are you?" I could hear her concern and confusion in her voice, sighing I rubbed the bridge between my nose, feeling tired. "Listen, Angela, this is really hard to explain over the phone, so maybe you should just come over." Though I was tired, I was sure that a visit of my best friend would help me sort out some things, after all, Angela always has been better at stuff like this than me... and besides, I owed her.

As if my body was on autopilot I found myself leaning in and kissing Booth gently.
Brushing a few strands of my hair aside as we broke apart, he whispered huskily in my ear:
"Let me take you out once, Temperance."
Stunned and a little taken aback by his proposal I stuttered: "W-What?"
" A date," Booth repeated in a low whisper. "To prove I'm worth a shot. That we're worth a shot." Placing one last chaste kiss on my lips he turned to leave, leaving me there with my inner debate.

"Okay, Bren. I'll be there in about ten minutes, okay?" After Angela had ended the call, I got up and quickly put some comfortable clothes on. While I was combing my hair out, the door bell rang. I left the bathroom and walked to my front door. "Hey Ange." She stepped into my apartment and gave me a quick hug.
"Hey sweetie," When she pulled back she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "So, you gonna tell me what's been going on?" I sighed as I quickly pulled my hair into a pony tail. After I had shut the door, we walked to my couch were we sat down. Sighing one last time I started.
"Well, it all begun on the second day I was in Peru…."

After having told Angela the entire story, I sat back, feeling exhausted.
"Oh my god! He kidnapped you? Why wasn't I told! Are you okay? You weren't hurt or anything? You're okay, right?" Smiling slightly at Angela's hyper and overreacting self I answered her questions.
"Yes Angela, like I told you, he drugged me. It was an official FBI case and I was only back from that afternoon, besides the risk that Patrick would also go after my friends was too high. Except for the fact that it was quite a scare, a couple of bruises and cuts I'm fine." I rested my head back against the sofa, trying to relax a little. Angela's words however, snapped me out of a trance. "So, when are you going out on that date with our favorite FBI agent?"

Startled I looked up at my best friend. I could practically feel the blood drain from my face and my eyes widen. With a shaky, unsteady voice and gaze back fixed onto the floor I replied.
"I-I'm not even sure if I'm going to agree to the proposal, Ange."

Without looking up I heard her ask.
"Why not, Brennan? Why on this earth would you throw out a chance on happiness, your last chance maybe even."

Shaking my head I denied, forcing the ghosts out of my head, my shoulders collapsing as I failed. "I'm …scared." I whispered, I felt lost, lost like a 5 year old girl in a giant maze in a theme park. Only I was lost in a giant maze of emotions and lies.
I was too frightened to look around the corner to see if there where more monsters, and more important, I was afraid of facing and fighting them.

Ange approached me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Bren, Booth and Patrick are different. Booth has always protected you, has always listened and respected your opinion. Patrick was nothing like Booth, sweetie. I know that, because of the fact that Patrick was sweet and thoughtful in the beginning in your relationship, that you could be scared. But Bren," She looked into my eyes. "Booth has proved over and over again, that he would never do something to hurt you. You know that, right?"

Brushing the tears that threatened to fall aside away, I nodded.
There was a comfortable moment of silence between us which Angela broke with a soft and quiet voice, almost a whisper.
"You need to give him a chance with this Brennan, and more important allow yourself to give this a chance. It will work out, just be patient, honest and take as long as it gets for you to get comfortable in his arms."

"I already am." My voice a barely audible whisper despite the small smile on my face, and when I looked up I saw my friend with the same gentleness laughing at me.

I watched as Angela got up and walked towards me, pulling me into a gentle hug, minding my injuries. "Get a good night of sleep sweetie. I'll let myself out and inform the team you'll be back in, let's say a week?"
I nodded in approval. Sure, I wanted to go back to catching murderers and criminals but taking both the doctors and Angela's advice into consideration, I would take it slow for another moment.

I sighed softly as I heard the gentle thud of my front door closing. I was utterly exhausted now and got ready for bed and a, hopefully fitful night of sleep without haunting dreams.

Waking up to the lovely surprise of having been able to sleep until 10:17, four hours later then my normal hour, I dragged my body out of the bed, running a quick and warm shower to afterwards get dressed in comfortable clothes.

Feeling pleasantly relaxed, I snipped from my cup of coffee before taking a bite of the bran muffin I had treated myself with after some toast. Normally I didn't have time for this kind of 'luxury' of a expanded breakfast since I had to be on the road early, but this being a free day I made a mental note to let my body and mind slow down back a bit and allowed myself to relax.

I was thrumming a little on my laptop, reading, ordering and answering my e-mail and doing some belayed research for my upcoming book. Ideas drifting and forming in my head as I scribbled them down in a document, in case I forgot or got stuck later.

A little lost in my daydream of seeing the scenes in my book in front of me, I was shaken back by a gentle knock on my door. Moving towards it I opened up to see the joyful and smiling face of my partner, or that was at least what I called him now.
"Hi," he waved sheepishly and signed if he could in.
Allowing him entrance by stepping aside I followed him to the couch, our knees touching.

"You ok, Bo-Temperance?" He took my hand gently in his and combined with him calling my given name that caught my attention.
A little puzzled I looked up at him and replied.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, you didn't come to work today, which is very unusual for you because people sometimes have to drag you from the place let alone that you will stay away voluntary.
I thought …maybe that it had something to do with my offer."

"Oh, you mean our date?"
"Yes, well," I watched Booth nervously running a hand down the back of his neck. "You don't have to feel any pressure to agree, I mean I would understand if you thought this all was to soon or if you're still uncomfortable with the whole idea…or if you want to go out with somebody else." I listened attentively to his slightly rambled sentences, my eyes shooting up and locking with his as he whispered the last one, uncomfortable or upset at the idea, I couldn't quite figure out which one.

The corners of my lips tilted upwards slightly and I saw the movement put him at ease somewhat. "Booth," I spoke to him softly, trying to reassure him. "I can tell you, you're the only man I'm a hundred percent comfortable with right now and that," slightly flustered I looked aside, trying to occupy myself with something as I finished." That I'd like to try and 'give us a shot' as you call it."

Once I had spoken the words I could see his whole face 'light' up, soft wrinkles showing around his eyes as he smiled a true genuine smile.
Placing a chaste kiss on my lips he said: "You're not gonna regret your decision." Before walking out of the door he turned to ask if this evening was to rushed.

Shaking my head negative I replied. "As long as it's nothing overacted, and just you and me, tonight is fine." Booth shot me a gentle smile one last time before pulling the door shut behind him, leaving me to let my thoughts wander to the upcoming evening.

(-End Chapter 13-)

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