This chapter turned out slightly different from what I had planned, sorry for the delay though. I still owe you guys a huge thank you for staying with this one, I know I'm not the most consistent person in the world.
This originally was the last chapter, but what the heck. How 'bout a few more eh?
"The Follow up"
Brennan leant her head back against the wall. Closing her eyes she took a few deep breaths, focusing only on the sound of the rushing air in and out of her lungs. Soon enough the people around her faded out until it was just her and Booth. He was still holding onto her like his life depended on it, and she let him because he had found her. He had done the one thing no one had ever bothered or cared enough to do. Two months she spent down here before and no one had even questioned where she had been. Even her own parents and brother had just left, never once looking back or bothering to find out if she was alright.
No one ever cared, not since Steven had taken her in and had promised to help her. He manipulated her into doing whatever he wanted her to do, but even knowing that she couldn't go against him.
The fact that Booth had come back for her was monumental. Sure he had saved her before, but never in the past had she hurt him so bad beforehand. Never had she gone so far to push him away. If she was being honest, she was rather curious on whether he come back, because she wasn't expecting him too.
He did, and she found that she couldn't take it. She didn't deserve it. She had begged him to stay, knowing that she wouldn't let him. She would have to take it back, or he would feel compelled to stay now when he probably hated her.
She opened her eyes ready to take it back but the words fell short as she saw his concern for her.
"Booth I can't..."
His hand stroked her cheek with such tenderness and love that it broke her heart.
His eyes panicked as he took in the beginning of what she had said.
"Can't what Bones? Oh god, are you okay? Please tell me you're okay"
His hands found where Steven had stabbed her and applied pressure. It was bleeding, but it wasn't life threatening, just enough for her to start feeling the effects of what was most likely multiple concussions.
"Somebody get me an ambulance!" Booth called out.
"I'm okay Booth, it's just..."
He turned back to her instantly, trying to read her but she was being as distant as he had ever seen her.
Booth leant forward to lean his forehead against hers whispering what he hoped she was looking for.
"I promise you Temperance, I'm not going anywhere"
Brennan felt his words constricting her throat more than Steven had earlier.
She wanted to believe that he would be the constant in her life, the thing that never changed, but her thoughts were focused on what Steven had said to her earlier.
"Sooner or later he's going to walk out like everyone else in your life"
She knew he was right. Booth would eventually become sick of her and leave like everyone else, even if he didn't know it yet. A day would come when he would get sick of their bickering, and her outlook on the world, and it would just be too much. He would leave and it would be too much.
It was better to let go of him now so that she didn't lose him later on.
Booth knew something was wrong, but he wasn't about to call her out on it now. He wanted them to sit down, with her in his arms, and talk about everything.
He needed her to know that she couldn't push him away anymore because he was so in love with her it was killing him not to be near her. Sure before this they had been a couple and had told each other how they felt, but now he needed her to know, to really know how he felt. He needed her to see that no matter how far she pushed him away he wouldn't go. He needed her to see that he would always be there for her no matter what. The truth was that he didn't want her right now; he wanted her for the rest of his life.
Before he could say anything of this to her, Angela, Cam, Hodgins, and Zach all came running over to where Brennan was sitting.
Angela instantly grabbed Brennan in a hug.
Brennan winced slightly at the sudden pressure on her dislocated shoulder, but hugged her friend back happy with her other hand, just happy she was safe.
Angela pulled back with tears running down her face.
"Oh thank god your okay Bren, I was worried sick and you locked us out and I just..."
Brennan cut her off, suddenly distracted by her friend's attire that was all too familiar. Seeing Angela in it brought a bad taste into Brennan's mouth and for a moment she thought she was going to be sick.
"Ange... what the hell are you wearing?"
"I don't know but I like it" answered Hodgins grinning as he looked Angela up and down.
Angela and Booth turned around to shoot Hodgins a dirty look.
"After Booth took off after you, me and Lindsay had to sneak back in to look for him so that we could tell him where you were. I had to put these on so we wouldn't get thrown out by those huge guys at the door"
Brennan simply nodded at Angela's explanation, not bothering to ask more than that.
Angela took in her friends injuries and hugged her again, more gently this time.
"Oh Bren, I'm so sorry"
Brennan sighed trying to imagine her life without the beautiful artist in it and couldn't. She needed Angela just like she needed Booth and Zach and Hodgins and even Cam.
As they all stared at her, the people she considered family to her, she realized that they didn't even know how close they had come to danger. It was written in their faces, the only concern they had was for her.
Finally the paramedics came and began to examine her wounds, wrapping a white bandage around her lower half.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Zach leaning from one foot to the next.
"What is it Zach?" she asked wondering what he could possibly be so anxious about.
"The color variation on your left hand Dr. Brennan would suggest a distal radius fracture, most likely due to a fall"
Brennan smiled slightly, realizing that it was Zach's way of telling her he was glad she was safe.
"Dr. Brennan are you sure you're okay?" Cam asked noticing the same thing Booth had.
"I'm fine just a little dizzy"
Cam took in Brennan's swollen lip and the beginning of some bad bruises and suddenly she put the pieces together "Do you have a concussion?"
At the same time, there was a commotion on the other side of the room caused by Steven and two FBI agents.
Steven was struggling to break free and losing. When they were bringing him by the small group, his eyes locked on Brennan's.
For a moment they stayed that way, something unknown seemingly understood between them.
Booth resisted kicking his ass right then and there until he was as badly beaten up as Bones was. He didn't think he hated anyone more at that point. Subconsciously, Booth's hand found Brennan's and he intertwined his fingers with hers, rubbing the top of her hand softly as he too glared at Steven daring him to even take a step closer to them.
Then the moment was gone and Steven instead was looking over Angela appreciatively.
"Seems I was right huh Tempe, she would've fit in fine here"
Before anyone else could react Brennan pushed up against the wall trying to stand up.
"You son of bitch!" she seethed trying to get around Booth. As much as he wanted to let her go, he was more concerned with getting her injuries taken care of.
"Don't worry sweetheart, I'll be out soon. I can't wait to meet all these nice people personally. Of course you'll have to introduce me" he said smirking at her. "Especially you Agent Booth, I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon"
Finally they took him away, and Booth was left holding a shaking Brennan. She clutched his shirt in her hand desperately to keep herself standing.
The rest watched in shock as he was taken away.
"Bones don't worry I..."
Her grip on her shirt let go as she fell backwards. Booth caught her in time before she hit the ground.
"I'm fine Booth I just want to go home"
Booth looked skeptically at the Doctor who smiled slightly.
"She has a mild concussion that will be needed to be watched over night. As for her other injuries, her shoulder has been re-adjusted and her ankle is in a brace but it should heal in a couple weeks. The stabbing didn't seem to hit anything major so we've stitched her up. It's mainly the concussion we're hesitant about and her wrist which seems to have been severely fractured"
Brennan nodded to everything he said agreeing with him. Angela and Cam suppressed a laugh at how eager she was to get out of there.
Booth wasn't leaving though until he was absolutely sure that she was going to be okay. She had almost given him a heart attack when she had fainted before, turning him into a nervous wreck.
"What do you mean you're hesitant about the concussion?"
Brennan groaned softly shaking her head, causing Booth to shoot her a look, and Angela to think that fifty years from now they were going to be the cutest old couple ever.
"Well from what we can tell, Dr. Brennan has sustained numerous concussions over the past years, meaning that it is possible for swelling or even brain damage to occur"
"Brain damage?" Booth managed to choke out. The thought of her brilliant brain with any damage made him sick.
"It's not likely, but possible. For now though I think that it'd be best for her to go home and rest with someone keeping an eye on her" The doctor looked around the group as if he didn't already know who would be staying up with her tonight.
Booth nodded in defeat, but was surprised when Brennan didn't say anything. Normally he would expect her to chide him for not taking her advice on a medical matter that was very clearly her area of expertise, but it never came.
"Alright Booth I think you better get her home and rest after the week you've both had" Cam said nudging him from his thoughts.
Without warning Brennan hoped off the bed, wobbling as she tried to steady herself.
Booth caught her again, glaring intensely at her. "Bones take it easy will you" he said warningly. He was resisting the urge to full out start yelling at her for doing one of the most stupidest things she's done since they began their partnership, only because she had a server concussion.
Brennan rolled her eyes but let him help her into the mandatory wheel chair without a word.
Shaking his head Booth rolled her out of the room and into the hallway with the rest following behind.
As soon as they were out of earshot Cam grabbed Angela's arm pulling her back into the now empty hospital room.
"I think there's something wrong with Dr. Brennan"
Angela looked at her ridiculously "Well yeah being pretty much tortured in the basement of some crazy murderous ex whatever's strip club all because she was trying to keep us away, has that effect"
Cam didn't know exactly what she saw in Brennan that made her feel so... uneasy was probably the best word, but there was something.
"No I think there's something else; she didn't even fight with Booth when he put her in that wheel chair"
"She's tired, she wants to go home; I don't blame her for just going along with it"
Angela was starting to get irritated; it was over, there was no reason for Cam to keep insisting that Brennan was hiding something.
"I know it's just... she seems off or something"
"She's been off since the grave digger case, this didn't help"
Without another word Angela left the room, with Cam following her silently.
When Angela and Cam finally made their way outside, they were met with a standoff between Booth and Cullen, with Booth right in Cullen's face threateningly.
"What the hell?" Angela said coming to stand beside Brennan who looked worried due to her partner's proximity to his boss.
"Agent Booth back down, or I'll take you into custody as well"
Booth was shaking with anger. He had had far past his limit of restraint for one night.
"No you are not taking her anywhere!"
"Booth please stop, he's doing his job!"
Brennan knew she was guilty in the Mason's deaths, and felt that it was only right that she went to prison.
"I don't care what he's doing Bones, I'm not letting you go to jail for something you didn't do!"
"But Booth I..."
Before she could finish Hodgins grabbed her and placed a hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened in shock before she realized who it was and mumbled something incoherently at him while trying to twist out of Jack's arms which were surprisingly strong to her dismay.
"Hodgins whatever you do, do not let her say anything" Booth said over his shoulder. "Sir, until you have evidence that my partner committed any crime she stays with me"
"That's not how this works, you know that Booth, and if you won't cooperate than I'm going to have Agent Collins place you under arrest as well"
The younger Agent stepped out from behind them and walked up to Booth, glancing twice over at Brennan. Booth turned to look at the younger man with something close to amusement.
However blind rage would probably be a better way to describe the way Booth now felt looking at the man who had almost slept with his partner. To Booth, it was one of the worst crimes he had ever seen. She was vulnerable and he took advantage of the situation.
"You're not arresting me"
"Yes, Agent Booth I am"
Both of their hands twitched towards their concealed weapons and at the same time Brennan finally broke free of Hodgin's hold.
Without another word she knowingly grabbed the handcuffs out of Booth's pocket and handed them to Cullen.
"I'd prefer that you put me under arrest before someone else dies because of me if you don't mind" she said holding her one good hand out to Cullen.
Booth was too absorbed with the images flying threw his mind of His Bones and the pathetic excuse of an agent in front of him that he didn't notice Brennan had freed herself from Hodgins or grabbed his handcuffs, until he heard the metal click of the lock.
"Bones what the hell did you do?"
Cullen began moving her back towards his own black SUV.
"You're being unreasonable Booth, I committed a crime and now I have to accept the consequences. It's what we work to do every day, bring in criminals... murderers; you of all people should understand this"
Booth tried to understand why she wasn't putting up a fight, as he walked next to her to the SUV, but really couldn't.
"Bones trust me you are not a murderer okay? So just stop with that because you're anything but like the people we put away. And for god's sake do not say anything else until Carolyn sees you, she's already going to have a field day yelling at you already"
Bones was brought to a stop next to the SUV as Cullen opened the back door. Booth caught up to them and stood in front of her.
"Please just don't say anything until we figure this out" Booth said brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Fine I promise I won't say anything until Carolyn comes, but I'm not going to lie to them"
"Alright" Booth said already trying to think of a plan to get her out of this.
"But if I'm not saying anything, than you have to promise me you'll let them take me into custody and not put up a fight with... the other Agent when I leave"
He was surprised at how she seemed to have perfectly guessed his exact intentions once she left.
"I promise" he said conceding as long as it kept her quiet.
Without another word Cullen helped her into the car carefully minding her injuries.
And then she was gone from Booth once again, out of his reach where he couldn't hold her and tell her it was all going to be okay.
Hearing some kind of scuffle, he turned around to see Angela being led unwillingly in handcuffs to Agent Collin's car.
"What do you think you're doing?" Booth said coming to stand if front of the both of them. Hodgins was trailing behind shaking his head as he went.
"She assaulted a Federal Agent"
Collins spoke through gritted teeth, clearly in pain at whatever injury Angela had given to him.
Booth let him pass looking at Hodgins for an explanation and receiving only a shrug.
"Angela what did you do?" Booth asked but got no reply as she kicked and squirmed trying to resist being arrested.
They watched Agent Collins put her in the back of his car with some difficulty, with neither Booth nor Hodgins offering to help, and head off in the same direction Brennan had just gone moments before. Just before they left, Booth was sure he caught a glimpse of a small smirk of satisfaction on her face.
"She dropped kicked him below the cocky belt buckle if you know what I mean" Hodgins said smirking
"She did what?" Booth thought he had misheard until Hodgins repeated it again through some laughter.
"Why would she do that?"
"I don't know but it looked like it hurt, he was on the ground for a while there before finally getting up. She tried it again as he was putting the cuffs on her"
"Well obviously she did it so she could stay with the good doctor" said cam finally coming up beside them with a shocked Zach just behind.
And in fact that was her main intention when Angela had kicked him without warning; the other reason was for taking advantage of her friend when she was in an agitated state and possibly ruining her relationship with Booth.
Maybe she should've taken those self defense classes with Brennan more often as it seemed to really be doing some good lately.
Once they were in front of the FBI building, Collins parked the car and got Angela out of the backseat careful not to keep him too exposed in front of her.
He led her inside and into the holding cell that Cullen had just put Brennan into. Cullen looked at them strangely before letting them in not exactly wanting to know why.
"Angela what are you doing here?" Brennan asked looking up at her as she walked in.
"You're kidding right? After the day we've had I'm not letting you out of my sight if Booth isn't with you" Angela said sitting down next to Brennan on the small bed.
Brennan sighed in annoyance, wondering when everyone would just leave her alone.
"I don't need a babysitter; I do quite well on my own"
"You're right, you don't need a babysitter, but I was thinking that maybe you needed a friend to sit with you tonight and make sure you don't slip into a coma or something. And you don't have to be on your own anymore Bren, you've got Booth and Cam and Hodgins and Zach and especially Me to help when stuff like this happens"
Brennan smiled slightly leaning her head on Angela's shoulder. "Thanks Ange, for everything"
"I believe I should be the one thanking you, but we're going to have that conversation later, don't you worry" Angela said patting her hand.
"Do I even want to know what you did to get in here?"
Brennan figured she did something outrageous like attack Agent Collins or something.
Angela smirked
"Well that depends"
Brennan looked up slowly staring at Angela like she was trying to read the bones of one of her victims to find out their life story.
"On what exactly?"
"How long do they keep you in here for attacking a Federal Agent?"
Brennan became confused. Why would Angela need to know something like that?
"It depends on the offense of the... Oh"
Angela laughed at her friend's cluelessness. "Well then I think we may be cell mates for a while then huh?"
Brennan nodded leaning her head back down. With everything that had gone wrong this week, in the end her plan had worked. Now she just had to suffer the consequences.
"It was worth it" she said softly to herself, "It was worth it"
Yeah I know, it was a boring chapter and I'm sorry but I'm setting up for the next part. Anyways I uh happened to lose the next chapter, literally lost it. I'll try and get it up early next week though, because it has to be on this computer somewhere... Right?
