Chapter 28
Tuesday
6:30 PM
Booth put his car into park and turned off the engine. Brennan was staring out the passenger side window at her apartment building. Booth quickly opened his door, went around the car, and opened her door before Brennan could even reach for the handle.
"I can open my own door, Booth," Brennan said.
"Are we going to argue about this again?"
He put out his hand and Brennan put her right hand in his. He looked at the brace that was still wrapped around her wrist. Seeing it tugged at his heart. He helped her out of the car. He noticed her squeeze her eyes shut momentarily as her feet landed on the ground. He had to remember that she wasn't completely healed yet. Her ribs were still broken and she was still recovering from the surgery of having her lung repaired. When looking at her, it was easy to forget what she had gone through. She had been so strong through the entire ordeal.
"Booth? You can let go of my hand now."
He hadn't realized he was holding her hand so tightly. He immediately let her go.
"Oh, sorry," he mumbled. "I'll get your bags."
"I'm also capable of getting my bag," Brennan stated.
"The doctor said no heavy lifting," Booth replied as he went to the back of the car. He was finally glad that he had an excuse to do something nice for her without having to defend his actions. Booth opened the back door to the car and took out her two bags. Angela had packed them for her after they realized she would be in the hospital for longer than she wanted.
With Booth carrying her bags, they walked up to Brennan's apartment in silence. She was slightly slower than usual so Booth slowed down his pace. As they approached the door, they both stopped and stood in silence. Booth looked at Brennan, wondering what she was waiting for.
"Aren't you going to open the door?" Booth asked.
"I don't…have my keys," she realized.
"Right."
Booth put one of the suitcases down and reached into his pocket. He pulled out his key ring and sifted through his keys. When he found the one to Brennan's apartment, he put it in the lock and turned it, opening the door. He picked up the suitcase he had dropped. He let her walk in first and he stayed outside for a minute. He wanted to give her the time to feel like she was home.
"Aren't you going to come in?" Brennan asked.
Booth nodded and walked in, carrying her suitcases with him. He put them down right beside the door. He took the keys out of the lock and he took her key off his key ring. He held it out to her.
"Here's your key back," he said. "I was holding on to it until you got home."
Brennan stepped towards him and put her hand on his. She pushed his fingers so they were curled around her key.
"Keep it," she said. "Just in case. I have a spare."
Booth couldn't help but smile. He had waited a long time to get a key to her apartment. He knew it didn't mean what it usually meant in a relationship, but it was a start. Booth put the key back on his key ring and pocketed it. He closed the door and watched as Brennan walked around, as if making sure that everything was exactly as she had left it.
"Are you hungry?" Booth asked.
Brennan shrugged. "I guess."
"When was the last time you ate?"
"Are you interrogating me, Booth?"
"If I have to."
She smiled. "I would like to eat. As long as it's not hospital food."
"Got it. So…Thai?"
"As long as you order extra dumplings."
"Extra dumplings it is."
"I'm going to go take a shower."
She turned to walk towards her bathroom.
"Do you need help?" He asked before he even knew what he was asking.
She turned back around.
"In the shower?"
"Well…you know with…undressing," he stuttered.
He knew it was an awkward comment to make. It was also the least sexiest comment he could make. He wanted to take their relationship to the next level and talking about helping her undress was not helping. He needed to take it slow. He didn't want her to run.
"I think I'll be fine," she said. He noticed a small smirk on her face. He wondered if she was trying to flirt with him. "But I do need a bag."
"A bag?"
"I can take this brace off," she said, holding up her right wrist. The brace that was on it was just one that she could unvelcro and take off temporarily. "But I shouldn't get this one wet." This time she held up her left wrist. It had a hard cast on it from her second surgery.
"Right. A bag."
"I keep some spare plastic bags in the closet."
Booth walked over to her closet and opened it. A plastic bag with a few balled up bags was hanging on the hook on the door. Booth reached in and took out one of the bags. He shook it out and brought it over to Brennan.
"Could you…"
She didn't have to finish her sentence as Booth gently wrapped the bag around her wrist. He got an elastic out of a kitchen drawer and put the elastic around the bag where the cast ended just under her elbow. Knowing she was still in pain, he worked with her very delicately. He checked the bag to make sure he had sealed it with the elastic.
"There you go. Now you're officially waterproof."
"Thank you."
She looked down at her right wrist, which was still encased in the removable brace.
"Here, let me," Booth offered.
Booth undid the Velcro and gently took the brace off her hand. She flexed her fingers, testing how much her wrist could withstand. Booth realized just how close they were standing. If he wanted, all he had to do was dip his head down and his lips would be close enough to hers to kiss her. Instead, he took a step back, never taking his eyes off her. He continued watching her until he watched her disappear behind the bathroom door. Booth had to take a deep breath, reminding himself that it was not ok to be thinking about his partner behind that closed door. He was there to help her, not try to be with her. Booth flopped down on her couch, took out his phone, and speed dialed the Thai restaurant.
In the bathroom, Brennan struggled with undoing the buttons of her shirt with her one free hand. She thought about asking Booth to help her. She knew she could be out of her clothes and into her shower faster if Booth just undid her shirt, but she didn't call out to him. It certainly wouldn't have been the first time he would have seen her in a state of undress. He had, of course, helped her button up the shirt, but it wasn't about being modest. She didn't want him to help her because she needed to prove to herself that she could do it. She needed to prove to herself that Collin Brown hadn't taken everything from her like she felt like he had.
Wincing, she undid the last button and slowly slid the shirt off her shoulders. She let it fall to the floor as she began to work on her pants. Those were slightly easier as there was only one button to worry about. She stepped out of them and then looked down at herself. Although she had originally been self-conscious about, she was glad she had forgone the bra. It would have been very difficult to get the bra off without assistance and she wasn't sure if she was ready for Booth to go that far.
Brennan turned on the water in the shower and waited for it to warm up. She slid off her underwear and stood in front of the full length mirror. She took a good look at herself. She had always known she had a good physique. From an anthropological standpoint, she had a good shape including pronounced hips and good sized breasts. She knew her features made her a desirable mate because she was all but built for procreation. She had many men who told her she was beautiful and sexy and all those words that women longed to hear so she knew she was attractive. But she didn't feel attractive anymore.
Her bruises had faded, but some of them still held on. She had an incredibly stubborn one that had turned almost completely black right over her ribs. Her surgical scar was just beginning to dull over her chest. She knew she would never completely get rid of all the marks that Collin Brown had put on her. For the first time, she felt self-conscious about her body. Wiping a tear from her eye, Brennan stepped over to the shower. She checked the water to make sure it was the right temperature. She turned it hotter. She knew the hot spray would be rough on her skin, but that's what she wanted. She had been bathed in the hospital, but she still felt like she had to scrub Collin Brown off of her. She stepped into the shower and reached for her bathing sponge. She poured more body soap than necessary on the sponge and began scrubbing her body from head to toe. She didn't care that the water was too hot or that with every movement, she felt pain. She just wanted to forget about what happened and scrubbing the memory off of her was the only was she knew how.
Twenty minutes later, Booth was paying the Thai delivery guy as Brennan stepped out of the bathroom. Booth turned around from the front door and looked at her. Her hair was wet and falling down over her shoulders. She wore only a bright blue robe that matched her beautiful eyes. The robe was tied tightly around her belt, but it still left an opening that made a V shape right above her breasts.
"Feel better?" Booth asked. He didn't know how he managed to get the words out without squeaking. Seeing her like that made him feel like a teenage boy going through puberty all over again.
"Yes," she answered. "Is that dinner?"
"I've been slaving all day," he joked. She looked at him perplexed. "It's just a joke, Bones."
"I don't understand."
"Never mind."
Booth put the bag of food containers down on the living room table. He went into the kitchen and took two waters out of the refrigerator. He would have preferred a beer, but since Brennan couldn't drink, he didn't think it was very fair if he did.
"Did you get extra dumplings?" She asked as he returned to the living room with their waters.
"Didn't I say I'd get extra dumplings?"
"Yes, but I wanted to make sure you remembered. After all, you're the one who eats them all."
"I don't eat them all. You're the one who eats three at a time."
"I do not!"
They dug into the food and began eating. Brennan settled on one side, leaning against the arm of the couch. Booth settled on the other. He ate his food, but made sure she ate hers as well. He needed to make sure she kept her strength up. Thai food probably wasn't the most nutritious, but at least she was getting something.
"What?" She asked.
"What what?"
"Why are you staring at me?"
"I'm not starting at you."
"Do I have food on my face or something?"
"I'm not staring at you," he repeated.
Now that she mentioned it, though, he realized that he had been staring at her and it wasn't just because of the front of her robe. He couldn't help but notice how pink her skin was. He knew the only way her skin could be so pink was if she scrubbed herself clean. He didn't have to guess why she scrubbed her skin so much. He knew she was trying to cleanse herself. He wondered if he should try to get her to talk about it.
"Did you finish your report?" She asked.
"I was wondering when you were going to bring that up."
"Did you finish?"
"Yes, mom, I finished."
"I'm not your mother," she said seriously.
"I know, Bones. It's a saying."
"Well, it doesn't make any sense."
She stabbed a dumpling with her fork and went to bring it to her mouth. She gasped as a shot of pain ran through her right wrist and dropped the dumpling and fork.
"Bones…" Booth said, seeing the pain on her face. No matter how much she tried to hide it, he could see how much she was hurting.
"I'm fine. Dr. London said it would be painful for a while."
"You should put your brace back on."
He picked up the brace from where he had left it and held it out so that she just had to slide her hand inside. She slowly lifted her hand and he wrapped the brace around it, velcroing it together. She attempted to move her hand away from his hands, but he laced his fingers with hers. With his free hand, Booth took his fork and pierced a dumpling with it. He brought the dumpling to Brennan's mouth. She opened her mouth as he put it close enough for her to bite. She bit it in half. Juice dribbled down her chin as she chewed the dumpling. Booth put the fork down and grabbed a napkin. He dabbed the juice away. Their eyes locked.
"I'm capable of feeding myself," Brennan said quietly.
"I know."
"Then why do you insist on doing things I'm capable of doing?"
He finally tore his eyes away and shrugged. "Because it's…fun, Bones." He could have said intimate. He could have said sexy. He could have chosen any word, but he chose fun. If he were alone, he would have slapped himself in the forehead for being so stupid.
"How is that fun?" Brennan questioned, finally taking her hand out of his. She immediately recoiled to her corner of the couch. Booth hoped that didn't mean anything.
"It just is, Bones."
"That logic doesn't make any sense."
"That's because it's not logical."
"Now you're not making any sense."
She stifled a yawn and put her fork down.
"You're tired," he observed.
"The hospital isn't exactly the best place to get some sleep."
"You should sleep."
"I think I will."
Brennan stood up and bent to pick up one of the empty takeout containers. Booth put his hand on hers.
"I'll take care of it," Booth offered.
"I can clean up."
"I know you can. I'm just saying you don't have to."
"But…"
"Are we going to have an argument about this, too?"
She shook her head. "No."
"Good, now get some sleep."
"Thanks, Booth." She paused. "For everything you've done. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Goodnight, Bones."
She was about to walk away when she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him loosely. It took him a second to react. He hadn't expected the hug. He put his arms around her carefully. He knew not to hold her too tightly. Her body was still incredibly sore.
"Do you want me to stay?" He asked in a whisper.
Brennan stepped back from him. "What?"
He panicked, not sure what to do or say. He couldn't exactly take back what he had said, especially since he didn't want to take it back. He wanted to stay.
"I could sleep here…if you wanted me to."
"You've already done so much for me, Booth."
"I don't mind. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay home alone on your first night home from the hospital."
"Dr. London didn't mention anything about not being alone."
"I know, but…it just seems like a good idea. What if you need something?"
"Then I'll get it."
"I'd just feel better if I stayed. But it's up to you."
She thought about it. She wanted him to stay. She wanted to repeat the night where he climbed into bed with her. She wanted to feel his arms around her.
"I'm fine, Booth," she said. "I don't need you to stay."
She didn't know why she said it. She had never been good at reading people, but she thought she could see the hurt in his face. And he was hurt. Booth was trying to come up with any excuse he could use to stay even if he knew it meant just staying on the couch. He didn't want to leave her, but he knew he wasn't going to have a choice. Brennan always got what she wanted.
"Ok. Well, if you need anything, call me. Anytime, Bones. I'll be here."
"I know you will."
"I'll stop by tomorrow after work."
"I have the nurse coming in tomorrow so you don't have to stop by if you don't want to."
"I want to," he assured her.
She nodded. "Ok."
"Ok." He headed for the door. She followed him. He opened it, but turned back to her. "Goodnight, Bones."
He leaned over and kissed her forehead before walking out the door.
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading! I know a lot of you have been waiting for Brennan to go home, so there you go. I hope you liked it! Don't forget to review!
