Comfort
"Was it horrible?"
The long-ignored question, spoken softly in an otherwise quiet bedroom, caused him to shift slightly, uncomfortably. They had avoided the topic for far too long, he knew, but eventually it would have to be discussed and the looming darkness of their room made it seem a bit easier.
"Yes."
Her grieved sigh made him start to rethink the conversation, until she continued. "I didn't ask about the cuts and bruises. I'm sorry about that."
She heard, rather than saw, him shake his head. "It's okay. What would I have said? 'Yeah, being a cop in lock-up tends to make you a pretty attractive target.'? I didn't want to talk about it then anyway, Bones."
She rolled her body closer to his, close enough that he could feel her warm breath on his chest. "Do…do you want to talk about it now?"
"No." He tucked her head under his chin and kissed her hair, lingering on the fresh scent of her and the comfort and safety she gave him every day. "But I think maybe I have to."
She nodded against him and her arms wrapped around him tightly as he told her of nightly beatings from fellow inmates and the lack of protection from the deputies who believed he was a cop killer. Of the loneliness that enveloped him as he lay on the threadbare mattress in his stark, uncomfortable bunk, thinking of his wife and daughter. Of his son. Of his friends, who were working tirelessly to free him. Of the case that had put him there in the first place.
He explained how his foes had promised rewards of shortened sentences and unimagined privileges to whomever did the most damage, up to and including his death. His only saving grace was when word finally got around about the identity of his father-in-law. Apparently Max Keenan's influence had a reach their opponents and even Brennan was unaware of, but for the first time, instead of being angry she only felt grateful.
"I'm sorry." She said, voice thick with tears and regret. "I wish we could have gotten you out of there sooner."
He pulled her even tighter. "I know you all did everything you could. It's okay. And hey…it's over now, right?"
"Right." Leaning up to kiss him, she slid her hand down his chest and torso, reaching her destination and drawing a ragged gasp from him.
"Right." He mumbled around her questing lips, finally, completely relaxing in the only place that had ever truly felt like home to him. "I love you, Bones."
"I love you, too Booth."