As she watched him approaching the gate, her heart broke all over again. His walk once so confident and strong, now more of an unsure shuffle, pulling at her emotions. His strong shoulders getting closer as his right hand controlled the cane, back and forth, back and forth. She wanted to run to him, throw her arms around him, breathe in his scent, but she just stood there. She didn't know how she was going to tell him the news, or if she even wanted too. His world was already so upside down, he didn't need anything else to tear him up. Finally as he got closer she called his name.
"Booth..." she said nervously, watching a smile spread across his face.
"Bones?" He asked his left hand outstretched to find her.
"Did you find the gate okay? Where's Parker?" She asked, pulling him in for a quick hug.
"He's with Jack and Ange...I didn't have any trouble." He lied, he'd stopped three times for help.
"Oh. Good..." She stammered.
"Do you need to get your bags? I really missed you Bones..." He blurted as he reached for the small of her back with his free hand.
"Yes, I have two bags..." She said not reciprocating, but tensing at the feel of his hand on her.
"Bones, what's wrong?" he asked as her body tensed.
"I'm just tired from the flight...Let's go get my bags." She said.
He didn't force the issue, knowing that it sometimes made things worse with her, but the way she tensed when he touched her almost made him cry out it had hurt so badly. They walked, his hands around her arm to the baggage claim in silence until finally she blurted out "I uh... can you manage to lift this off for me?"
"Sure Bones. I can get it." He answered, lifting the bag from the trolley to the floor.
"I have the other one too." She said shyly, hoping he wouldn't question why she wasn't just lifting them herself.
"Since when do you let me do things for you?" He said only half teasing.
"Booth, I'm tired and sore from the flight is all."She answered nervously wringing her hands together, thankful for once, that he couldn't see to read her.
He cocked his head to the side, almost like he heard her thought, his face got serious "Well then we better get you home so you can rest." And he turned from her, "Lead the way Bones."
The cab ride to her apartment was filled with talk about the current case Luke was working with the squints and a few tidbits from her trip. The air was thick with tension as they exited and grew even more so as they boarded her elevator. He felt like he couldn't breathe, and she felt like all the air had been knocked out of her.
Finally as she unlocked the door and led him inside she stopped, letting him almost crash into her, "Booth..." she breathed out as she slid her arms around his waist her resolve breaking down.
"I'm here Bones, it's okay." He stroked her hair as she cried into his chest, "What's the matter, what happened?" he asked softly wrapping her in his arms.
"I... I... I just couldn't wait to feel your arms around me..." She finally got out, knowing that there was so much more to say.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Bones." he apologized, wishing he could change the way he acted before she left.
"Why? What do you have to be sorry for Seeley?" She asked pulling back some.
"I didn't love you the way I should have, I let you down. I wanted to be with you for years, and when I finally got you, I couldn't let myself be happy, even though I had everything I'd always wanted right in front of me." he breathed out.
"No. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard, I should have let you find your own pace, your own rhythms. At the first chance to bail on you I did. I shouldn't have left, I should have trusted that you could be right, and I didn't." she sobbed.
"Bones..." He said, his hands finding her cheeks.
He wiped the tears from her face and began leading them into the living room, counting the steps but not breaking his hold on her until they were seated. "Temperance, so many things went wrong before, this is a chance to start again..." he half asked half told her.
"Booth...I...I'm...I..." she stammered.
"Bones it's okay, we were both wrong, we're together now, shhh, I'm not going anywhere, I'll always be here for you." He whispered to her, soothing her.
They stayed in that position for a good while until they had to meet up with Parker and the squints. She just couldn't bring herself to tell him the news, hell, even she couldn't believe it. He knew there was something up with her, her body was still tense, like she was holding something back.
"Bones!" he heard his son's voice squeal as they approached the table in the diner.
"Parker, why aren't you in school young man." She asked taking him into her arms.
"I got in trouble..." He said sheepishly.
"It's okay Parky..." She eased him.
Next up for the hugs were Angela and Jack. After all the welcome home formalities were through, they sat down for their meal. She ate and laughed, and talked, but the information she had to tell him nagged at the back of her mind. At one point in the meal Angela had looked at her with a hint of curiosity, as though she knew something was up with her best friend.
I sat listening to them, my friends, my son, and the woman I loved, and I felt happy for the first time since she had gone away. Even though I knew she was still holding something back from me, it didn't matter, I was just thankful to have her here with me. I silently said a prayer as we all sat laughing and talking that I could make her happy, even with my limitations, that I could let myself stay happy. My thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ring indicating that it was Luke calling me.
"Booth." I answered.
"Hey Booth, I need your help." He said sounding tired.
"What's up, did you get a lead?" I asked, knowing that he was getting closer from our meeting this morning.
"I have a suspect... but I'd rather not interrogate him myself... I don't know if I'll be able to get anything out of him, I know you will." He answered.
"I can be there in a half hour, but your coming in there with me. I can't hold your hand forever kid." I joked.
"I know Booth, I know." he said slyly before hanging up.
"Ange, can you take Parker for a little while, I just need to run in and help Luke for an interrogation, it shouldn't take long?" I asked.
"Booth I can take him back to your apartment if you like, we can work on his homework..." Bones offered sounding unsure of herself.
"Uh, if you don't mind Bones. Parker you have to be good for Bones, listen and get your work done...no craziness..." I kidded him.
"Daddy, why would I get crazy, Bones is cool, I love her and I'll be very good for her." he said a hint of mischief in his voice.
I smiled my charm smile at her, hoping that would ease some of the tension in the air as I stood to leave. "Bones, you know the number if he gets out of hand, and his assignments are all outlined on the coffee table. Give your old man a hug." I added to Parker.
His little arms wrapped around me after I heard his chair slide away from the table. "Daddy can we watch a movie when you get home? With Bones?" he asked pulling away from me.
"We'll see." I answered turning towards the door.
Before I got in the car I felt her hand on my shoulder. "Booth, we all just got called in too. Ange is going to take Parker to Jack's, and we can pick him up later. I was asked to come to the hoover with you, I don't know what for, but we can ride together." she stated.
Of all the things that I learned after becoming blind, interrogation wasn't one of them, and it's the one thing that I kept her from seeing me do. As uncomfortable as I still am in that room with a suspect, I have to do it. I can't tell the bureau no. My mind was racing on our way into my office, where I kept an extra set of clothes for just this occasion. When I was finished changing, she straightened my tie, and I almost attacked her right then, her shampoo filling my nostrils as her delicate hands moved over my chest. She was so close to me, I could feel her breath on my face. "Bones" I breathed.
"It's not like I've never done that before Booth... I..." She said, refusing to finish her sentence.
"What were you going to say Bones...?" I asked her.
"I missed doing that... I didn't realize how happy doing something as simple as straightening your tie, made me. Booth..." She said before disappearing from my grip.
"What, I know there's something you're not telling me, did something happen while you were away, or is it because of the way I treated you...something is wrong Bones, I know it what aren't you telling me?" I said, feeling like I'd failed her all over again.
For a long while I waited for her to speak, to tell me what was going on, and every second was too long. If only I could see her, I'd know how to handle her... "Okay Bones, if you don't want to talk to me, then I need to go interrogate this jerk... will you be here when I get back?" I said kind of snappy.
When she didn't answer me, she just shifted in my chair I turned to leave. Just before I shut the door I heard her whisper "I'm pregnant..." it was more of a cry than a statement. I threw the door open, rushing to her, to be by her side.
"What you just said Bones, is it true? Is it mine?" I said finding it hard not to smile just a little.
"It's yours... I'm sorry... I know this is the worst timing to tell you but I couldn't keep it in any longer. I've not even told Angela yet." she whimpered.
"What are you sorry for Bones, this is the best news I've heard in months. We're going to have a baby..." I said happily, wondering why she was still crying.
"I'm not going to be a good mother Booth. I can't even take care of you..." She sobbed.
"Bones, Tempe, listen, you will be an excellent mother, and if it weren't for you I would be drunk on my couch right now... not back at work, I'd be without the only person I've ever truly loved." I tried to soothe her.
"I pushed you too hard, and now I feel like you resent me for it. What if you end up resenting the baby?" She said as I reached to pull her into me.
"I do not resent you, and I could never resent our child... I was stubborn and pigheaded, to worried about being the alpha male for you, to see that you were only doing what was best for me." I said slowly realizing that I may never see my child's face, a face that would bear both of our features.
"Go, interrogate your suspect Booth, I'll be here when you get done." She said calming a little as she pushed me towards the door.
"We are going to celebrate tonight...my girl comes home and we're pregnant all in one day... Bones I couldn't be any happier than I am right now." I said flashing her a thousand watt smile after I kissed her.
I know he was uncomfortable, I watched as he stopped before he entered the interrogation room, to gather his thoughts perhaps. I'd just dropped a huge bit of information on him, and yet he still loved me. I stayed quiet until he entered the room, then I continued on my way into the viewing room. I wanted to see that he was back, that he was really okay. Sweets was there, feeding into his earpiece, and he smiled at me when I entered.
"How's it going Sweets?" I asked as he clicked the mic off.
"Dr. Brennan, I didn't know you were back yet." He said getting up to hug me.
"Just got in this afternoon." I answered keeping it short, because I was trying to focus on Booth.
"He's really doing great Dr. Brennan. He has the occasional frustrations, but he's done really well adjusting to his limitations." Sweets added watching me watch Booth.
I stayed quiet, listening to him go through his round of questions, Luke interjecting here and there until finally Sweets piped in "Agent Booth, why don't you guys come out and take a break, Dr. Brennan might be able to give you some insight on what we just heard."
Booth's head whipped towards the window so fast, his expression full of fury. He then got up to leave, his strong hands gripping the table's edge as the suspect's smug smile grew into one of realization that the agent interrogating him was in fact blind. "Agent Booth, is it hard to do your job in total darkness?" he smirked.
"What?" Booth asked turning towards him as Luke went through the door, only the suspect had moved to his left, so silently that Booth didn't hear him.
"Is the FBI that desperate? A blind FBI agent, one who would obviously not carry a gun, who couldn't even get certified for one..." he trailed off, as he lunged at Booth, well past him to the door.
"Grant..." Booth mumbled as he turned toward the clicking door, no the suspect wasn't leaving he was locking the door.
"Agent Booth, it will take at least five minutes for them to get into this room. You don't think I'm that daft do you... I've played my part quite well don't you think? All you had to do was finish your interrogation and I'd have been on my way. But with that kid leaving you in here all alone, I've got the upper hand now. Pretty soon you'll be praying that you'd just finished what you started." he seethed.
Booth didn't say a word, just braced himself as Sweets and I watched in horror as the two men squared off. "Where's Luke?" I asked frantically.
I could hear the pounding on the door, as Booth stepped forward into the suspects punch. What was he doing, he should be able to tell where the guy is, I thought. Two more punches to Booth's face and his glasses were off and broken on the floor, his body swaying to the right. He was losing his bearings. With another hard hit to his temple Booth went down as the door was opened and the suspect pulled off of him. I ran to the room, to assess the damage done to his face and body.
I knelt down, gently running my hand over his cheek, that was already turning purple, "Bones...argh." he growled, moving to sit up.
"Stay down Booth, you're going to need to get checked." I said gently trying to push him back to the floor.
"What happened? How did that just happen..." He said angrily.
"Booth, I don't know the door should have opened from the outside, I couldn't get in...I'm sorry." Luke blurted out.
"Let me up Bones." Booth said forcefully, pushing against my hands.
Agent Grant, Sweets and I watched as he stood, only to teeter back and forth until I steadied him with my body. "Booth sit, please..." I begged, watching the anger flash across his face.
"I'm fine Bones...where are my glasses?" He asked blankly.
"Booth, you are not fine, you may require stitches." I said reaching for his face before he grabbed my hand and pushed it aside, turning from me.
"Agent Booth, sit down." Hacker said firmly, placing his hand on Booth's shoulder. "The medics are on their way, what happened?"
"We were stepping out, I thought agent Booth was right behind me, next thing I knew the door was closed and he wasn't with me, I turned to open the door and it was jammed, or locked, I don't know..." Luke stated.
"He goaded me, and then got past me to the door, I heard him lock it, and then I... I lost track of him, I lost my bearings, and he came after me." Booth explained, reaching up to his face and wincing.
"I'm having the team come up to look at the lock. Booth, I expect you to do as the medics say when they get here...by the look of your face he got in a few good shots...I'll be reviewing the tape in my office and I'll see you tomorrow. Temperance it's good to see you." Hacker said before he turned to leave.
When the medics arrived, they insisted that Booth be taken to the hospital, even though he insisted he was fine.
"Agent Booth, please just lie down, we could get fired if we pull up and you're just hanging out in the back of the ambulance." The paramedic instructed as we pulled away.
"I really don't need to go by ambulance, Bones this is outrageous." he hissed in my direction.
"Booth you heard Hacker, and besides the gash on your temple is not going to heal unless you get it taken care of." I told him.
"She's right ya know." The paramedic said.
Three hours later in the cab back to Hodgins house, we were both quiet, as we had been the whole time we were at the hospital. I didn't know what to say to ease him after his tussle, and his pride was getting in the way.
"Maybe I should just head home after we pick up Parker..." I finally said.
"If...if that's what you want Bones..." He said, no expression on his face.
"It's not what I want, I want to be with you and Parker, but Booth, I can't read your mind... I can't guess what you are feeling. I thought we'd were starting over...that we would express our feelings this time around, as apposed to holding it all inside." I stated blankly, fighting back tears.
"What do you want me to say Bones? That I enjoyed getting my ass handed to me in there, that it was a ball of laughs to have you watching as it happened? Sure I'm bruised on the outside, but inside, I'm tight, I'm full of rage and hurt, I'm embarrassed Bones." He said, his voice ending at nearly a whisper.
"Is there anything I can do to make it better?" I asked, because in reality I didn't know how he felt.
"I don't know, maybe just not talking about it will let it fade away, or maybe talking about it tomorrow. I just think about how I can't protect you or Parker or our Baby like this..." He said, placing his hand on my abdomen.
"I feel differently about that, I believe that if it came to us, you'd be quite capable of defending us. This, what happened today, was a fluke. Instead of depending on yourself, you let yourself be lead by Agent Grant. Your still adjusting, and that's okay." I tried.
"Maybe this time you're right Bones." He conceded.
"I am smarter than you..." I answered without thinking.
"Bones! Way to kick a guy when he's down." He replied.
"I don't know what that means..." I said puzzled.
"It just means that here I am feeling bad and you tell me you're smarter... You could have phrased it differently is all." He answered, entwining his fingers with mine.
"I'm sorry Booth. I didn't mean it like that." I said.
"It's okay Bones, I know what you meant." he said, bringing my hand to his lips and kissing my knuckles. "We're having a baby..." he whispered, turning to me with the biggest charm smile.