Angela Montenegro sat quietly on the platform with her sketch pad, watching her best friend examining the set of bones in front of her. Cam had ensured that the lab was fully equipped for Brennan's return a week ago. All of the stairs in the lab had been outfitted with a ramp and the exam tables had been equipped with hydraulic lifts to ensure that they could be set to a lower level for Brennan's new sitting position. It had been tough on Brennan, being limited to a chair, but she was coping and Angela had a sneaking suspicion that Agent Hot stuff was behind it.
Regardless of the fact that Booth spent almost all of his time with Brennan, Angela hadn't seen the man in almost a week due to a dip in crime (which she supposed was good, but in reality, quite boring on her end). In the two weeks since the welcome home party, Booth had been staying at Bren's apartment as the doctor had instructed. He'd driven Brennan to almost every appointment, taken her to her regular sessions with Dr. Young, and tried to make life easier for his partner. Despite all of this, Angela couldn't help but feel that something was off between them, she just didn't have evidence.
"Yo Bones," said agent called and Angela watched as her best friend stiffened. Oh, well there was that.
"How can I help you Booth?" Brennan asked without looking up.
"We have a case," he replied as he stopped next to the table where she worked. Bren finally glanced at him with exasperation.
"I am clearly in the middle of something and I can't very well go traipsing across some crime scene," she disagreed, motioning to her chair and then returning to her reconstruction, "Take Mr. Edison with you, I'm sure he'd enjoy the field work."
Angela saw Booth deflate before he schooled his expression, "But I need you."
Brennan froze momentarily. "I can't Booth," she replied, steel evident in her voice.
"Dr. Brennan, I feel that it would be best for you to assist Booth," Cam broke into the silence that had settled over the platform. Brennan looked up at her boss in shock, realizing Cam wasn't going to back down.
"Fine," she said petulantly as she tore off her gloves and wheeled herself past Booth and down the ramp in irritation. The group silently watched her retreat, not quite sure how to react.
"Fix it Seeley," Cam commanded the Agent after a moment. He gave a discouraged nod and followed his partner to the SUV.
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The car ride was silent as they made their way to the crime scene just outside of Woodbridge, Virginia. Both felt dread at the familiar route they were forced to take, though neither mentioned it.
"Bones, look," Booth started.
"What are the details on the case," she interrupted, continuing to stare at the passing scenery.
Booth paused a moment, feeling overwhelmingly helpless as she rebuffed yet another attempt to talk about what had happened. He knew she wasn't good with emotions but he was going to burst if they didn't at least discuss it. Glancing at the woman curled in the seat next to him, he let the subject drop with a sigh. He launched into an explanation of the limited facts he'd been given and then their silence persisted. Driving on, he reflected for the millionth time over that night two weeks ago.
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Then that box of emotion, so carefully stored away flew open as he finally closed the distance between them.
His lips met hers softly at first, a gentle conveyance of his heart. She responded almost immediately and deepened their kiss with fervor. They continued their heated exploration until air became an absolute necessity and they broke apart with heavy breaths.
"I love you Bones," he said, the honesty of his statement shining though his clouded eyes.
They stared at each other a moment longer before she pressed another impassioned kiss upon his lips. She broke it off moments later, scrambling for the wheelchair sitting next to the couch. He helped her into the seat, trying to gain her attention again. Once in the chair, she backed herself away from him, mumbling a nervous 'goodnight' before wheeling herself quickly towards her room. Booth stood surprised and helpless in the living room, finally bedding down on the couch until they could talk in the morning.
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When morning came, she continued to ignore what had happened between them and his attempts to talk about it. Their awkward limbo continued for the next two weeks and, despite what Cam had demanded, Booth didn't know how to fix it.
They reached the crime scene, a small building near the Potomac Mills Mall ("They have a great hockey outlet," Booth excitedly explained. Brennan just frowned and rolled ahead). The local enforcement lead them into the shop, an empty room covered in plastic and plaster dust.
"We're renovating the space," the shop's owner explained nervously. Bones rolled her way over to the remains, her wheels making tracks in the dirt powdering the floor. Booth let her work for a few minutes, questioning the owner and contractors who had discovered the body behind the wall they had been knocking down. He watched her warily as she made her initial observations, finally getting frustrated when she couldn't quite reach the body in front of her.
"Last time we had a body behind a wall, you were strung out," Booth tried humor once he made his way over to her.
"Male, mid twenties, blunt force trauma to the skull, though that could have been the result of the sledge hammer," she got straight to business, glaring at the offending item to the left of the remains.
"Anything else," Booth prompted.
"Not that I can reach," she replied hotly, "I told you that you should have brought Clark with you." She gripped her wheels tightly and turned herself, rolling away at surprising speed. Gathering his wits after her outburst, Booth jogged to catch up with her as she wheeled out the door and down the walkway.
"Bones! Bones stop!" he yelled as he tried to catch the wheelchair ahead of him. She finally halted her rotations and he reached her, letting him catch his breath.
"What," she demanded, staring straight ahead as she tried to stem her temper.
"That's what I was going to ask," he replied exasperatedly. She scoffed, preparing to roll again before he stepped in front of her, crouching down to her level.
"What's going on with you, Bones," he asked gently and she turned her face away from him, feeling her resolve crack in his presence.
"Is this because of what happened two weeks ago?" he tried again.
"No," she replied unconvincingly, still not facing him.
"Bull shit," Booth said simply and she whipped her head towards him, shock at his curse evident on her face.
"Why can't you understand that I'm here for you, that I'll always be here for you?" he implored, trying to keep the frustration from seeping into his tone.
"You can't know that," she whispered, though her argument lacked its usual conviction.
"Yes, I can," he said, reaching for her hand, "I know that this has been tough on you, that you want to give up. I know that you feel great some days and like screaming the next. That's not going to change," she flinched a little at his declaration, but he pressed on, "But I also know you aren't going to give up, you won't let yourself. You wouldn't be the woman, the Bones, that I know and love if you did," her breath caught in her throat and she looked more stunned than he had anticipated, "I know all of this because I know you. When it gets to be too much, when you feel like giving up, like the world should swallow you up, I want you to lean on me. Let me be there for you like you have been for me."
"I can't ask you to do that," she tried weakly, still stunned from his confession.
"You aren't asking, I'm giving," he assured her, "I'm always here for you, today, tomorrow, next week, next year, forever, Bones. I'm not going anywhere."
"Booth, I can't," she started, her panic evident, "I'm not good enough for you, I'm not whole anymore."
"Bones, yes you can and yes you are. You always have been. Never doubt that. I'm with you all the way," he told her, reaching for her other hand as she started to struggle in the chair.
"Booth—"
He let out a frustrated sigh. She was so fiercely independent sometimes.
"Bones, don't you get it? I love you. I'm not going anywhere because I love you. I've loved you almost since the beginning, and that's nothing's going to change that, not even this," he tapped his knuckles on the aluminum of her chair, "I want to help you because I love you."
He emphasized the last three words slowly, his gaze piercing hers as he tried to get it through her sometimes obstinate brain. It wasn't how he'd envisioned telling her his deepest secret yet again. It was completely non-romantic and after an argument at a crime scene no less, but he did it anyways, he had to get his point across. He watched her brain furiously process this new development as their gazes remained locked. The last cog slipped into place and her stubborn façade finally fell.
"Booth," she tried one last time, her voice infused with hope and something he didn't dare name. He cut off any further protests with a soft kiss, praying this wasn't going to be déjà vu.
She stilled under his lips, her instincts screaming at her to run but her heart leading her in another direction. Let him in Angela's voice resonated again, and she listened, finally falling into her heart's commands. Her arm snaked around his neck, bringing him closer as they surrendered to feeling. They both stopped after a few minutes' pleasure, foreheads connecting. Booth waited for her to run, gripping her other wrist tighter as he felt her start to move. She gave him a reassuring peck, bringing her arm from around his neck to above his heart. When their eyes met once more, he silently asked the question he wasn't sure he was brave enough to voice. The corners of her mouth quirked into a grin as she nodded and he smiled brilliantly before he covered her mouth with his.
They finally pulled apart again, extracting a groan from Bones.
"Do we have to stop?" she asked, chuckling at Booth's now slightly disheveled appearance.
"You, not wanting to look at a body? Wow, this really is the apocalypse," he teased.
"I just, I don't want this to end," she admitted softly, biting her lip as she looked up at him from beneath her lashes.
"We have plenty of time, Bones," he said with equal reverence, "but this guy needs his justice now."
"You're right," she acquiesced as he stood up and started pushing her back towards the crime scene, "but can we go to the diner for lunch? I think I'm finally ready to try pie."
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Yes, an angsty chapter again (I'm actually a very upbeat person in real life), but more BB love! I do know how much you adore that. Let me know what you think! Another chapter asap!
