Chapter 16 : Breaking Point
By the time I got home it was almost 9 pm. Frustrated and not wanting to face my partner again, I had pulled myself of to limbo, spending the rest of the day accompanied by the dead and quickly losing my track of time while I worked.
Sighing I dropped my bag onto the ground and removed my trench coat and shoes before moving towards the kitchen, but as soon as I reached the fridge I realized I wasn't really in the mood for cooking nor hungry due the late lunch Angela had dragged me off to when she had found me. Pouring myself a glass of wine instead I turned on the CD-player and settled myself on the couch, my foot popped on the coffee table and my laptop nestled on my lap as I sifted through my e-mails. 31 mails, not bad for haven't looked for two days.
Luckily most of them where just spam asking me to donate to some unpronounceable and unexciting cause. One of a professor in Oxford asking to do another reading on anthropology, I politely declined. A few from some old colleagues and friends I met on digs or various other occasions , I kept them to answer later. The last mail came from my publisher, asking or rather demanding where I had been and when I would finally sent her the last new chapters of my novel. Hitting the reply button I answered I had been busy with a case, which wasn't a lie. I had been busy with a case, the case of not getting killed by my murderous ex-lover. Satisfied with that answer I exchanged my mail for the novel and took a sip of wine before starting. So lost in the banter between my own anthropologist and her partner I was very startled why a knock sounded through my apartment. Looking through the peephole I noticed it was my very own partner standing in the hallway. Despite our argument I opened the door and invited him in.
"Thought you might be hungry." He said with a sheepish grin as he pointed towards the plastic bag which I could already smell, contained delicious Thai food.
"I'm not." I replied curt , to stubborn to forget our fight and just forgive him. But as soon as I had spoken the words my stomach decided to rumble rather loudly.
I heard him snicker softly and I was surprised when it easily brought an own small smile on my lips. But the smile disappeared as soon as it had appeared and we were left standing somewhat awkward in the living room.
"I got the eggrolls you like." Booth offered and he seemed glad when I got the hint and took place on the couch, shoving my laptop aside to create some space for him. Taking place at the outer end of the couch I clasped the cardboard box between my hands and dug in slowly, pushing my food from side to side. My partner seemed to have noticed the hesitation because suddenly I felt a roughened hand over mine and startled I looked up, straight into his concerned brown eyes.
"Temperance, I'm so sorry about this morning." Booth's voice was soft and tender and it made me wonder whether I should crawl so close to him I almost disappeared and let my tears flow or be frightened at the overly gentle way he is speaking to me. But just before I was about to speak up I remembered that this is Booth, my partner, my friend he has always been caring and understanding, it is just his nature. All of the sudden I remembered a piece of advice Angela had given me once and now it seemed like a perfect time to act on that advice.
"Booth," I spoke slowly, uncertain if I was ready for this. If we both were. "I want you to know what really happened when I was with Patrick. Everything."
(-End Chapter 16-)
A/N: I know it's a reaaaaally short one this time but I promise if you all be nice and review I will update the next chapter before the weekend ;) Greets Liesa