A/N: The fanfic bunnies demanded a B/B scene with fluffy angst. Who am I to argue with the fanfic bunnies?

Disclaimer: Not mine. Probably better that way.

Dark Reflections:

Brennan shook her head as she dabbed an alcohol swab on her partner's knuckles. "Booth, you might have fractured the bones! Hitting a metal column –"

"I pulled the punch, okay, Bones?" Booth snapped. "Would you have liked it better if I'd hit Hodgins? Because I'm sure that then the only bones that would be fractured would be his!"

She sighed as she reached into the open first aid kit on her desk. Pulling out some gauze she studied Booth's hand again, simply to reassure herself that there were no severe injuries. "I understand that at times a physical release is necessary when one is experiencing strong emotions. Hodgins' unfair comments combined with your recent lack of sleep no doubt caused you to lose some control."

When Booth didn't say anything Brennan glanced up from wrapping his hand. His eyes appeared black and shadowed, and he seemed to be staring at something that wasn't there.

"Booth?" she asked, placing a timid hand on his arm. "Did I say something wrong?"

He shook his head, his mouth a hard line. "No Bones, you didn't. And neither did Hodgins. I wish he was wrong."

She shook her head. "Booth, you were affected by your captivity. We both know that."

"I'm not talking about that," Booth said. His jaw tightened, and the next words came out as a mutter. "I'm talking about being an unfeeling soldier."

"But you're not!" Brennan said, shocked and worried. She wasn't used to seeing her partner in such a black mood. "You're always using your emotions – you keep telling me about using my heart!"

"Bones, you think you know me…but you didn't know me when I was a soldier," Booth said, pulling his damaged hand away from her. "When I was a sniper…when I killed those people…I didn't see them as people. They were…they were targets, things to be disposed of. Not human beings."

"I don't believe you," she gasped. "I know you – I know how much your days as a sniper haunt you. You're not heartless."

"You think you're the only one who can compartmentalize?" he said with a bark of a laugh. "Yeah, I feel guilty and have nightmares. That doesn't even begin to cover what I deserve for what I've done."

Booth's laugh often caused Brennan to have to fight a smile or a laugh of her own. This laugh – dark and bitter, with not a shred of light in it – it made her want to wrap her arms around herself and shudder.

"I dreamed about them last night," he said, his voice low. "I was on the ship again. Swimming in that water, trying to get high enough so I could escape before I drowned…"

He sank down on the couch, as if his legs couldn't support him any more. "I saw that Serb general's little boy on the catwalk…he pushed me under the water…"

"Booth," she breathed, sitting next to him and putting a hand on his arm, "it was a nightmare…"

"Then they were all there," Booth continued as if he hadn't heard her, "all the people I've killed, pulling me deeper into the water, into the darkness…" He gulped. "Sometimes I wonder if it would have been better if I'd never come back."

"No!" Brennan put her hands on his cheeks forcing him to look at her. "You did what you had to do, you saved lives! You dying over there…it would have been a terrible thing. Parker needs you! I need you!"

He bit his lip, his eyes bright with tears. "Bones…you don't need me."

"That's not true!" she said, not letting him look away. "Booth, I'm a better person because of you. You're the best friend I've ever had next to Angela. You're a good man, and – and I need you to be alive!"

He blinked back the wetness in his eyes. Reaching up, Booth gently pulled her hands off his face. "I – wow, Bones, that's a lot of heart, there."

She smiled at him, feeling the crisis pass. "I have a good teacher." She broke eye contact to pick up his injured hand again. "Now let me finish binding this up before you hurt yourself again."

"Yeah," Booth said, his voice slightly hoarse. "Hey Bones?"

"Yes Booth?" she asked as she brought the first aid kit back to the couch.

"Thanks," he said, a small smile chasing away some of the shadows in his eyes.

She nodded and smiled back at him, her smile a little brighter than his for a change. "You're welcome."

AN2: Yes, I love Boothangst. *shrug*

By the way, I'm on staff of a new community: Boothcentric H/C stories. Thanks to BnBFanatic for setting it up and letting me play there! Got any good Boothcentric H/C stories? Let me or her know and we'll add them! A fan of Booth H/C stories? Come see what we've got!