(After The Woman in the Whirlpool)
I don't own Bones.
Ooooooooooooooooooo
He'd finally admitted to himself that he'd slipped and it had been bad, so he'd spent the last few weeks trying to get himself under control. He was doing it to save what he had. It had taken him years to get what he'd wanted and to just risk it all for gambling was probably the craziest thing he'd ever done. The fact that Brennan was supporting him was the key to his recovery and he knew it. She had thrown him out of the house to remind him that he had a lot to lose and she'd encouraged him to get the help he needed.
Booth knew to outsiders that it might have appeared a cold thing to do on her part, but he knew his Bones and he knew that she had reasoned out all of the ramifications of her actions before she did them. She had chosen the path that would force him to get his addiction under control and to do it the right way. He was grateful to her and he defended her actions to anyone that tried to question them. He was weak and she was his strength. He knew that even if no one else did. She had been the reason he'd given up gambling in the first place and she was the reason he had to quit again.
He had just moved back home again and he was being careful. He had to prove to his wife that letting him come back home was the right thing to do and that meant he had to avoid situations that tempted him to gamble. Booth loved Brennan and he had no intention of losing her or his daughter.
The text message surprised him. We had an appointment and it lasted a lot longer than I expected.
Not sure what Brennan meant, Booth sent a return message: We had an appointment for something?
A message popped up on his phone: You wanted to let him down gently. We told our story.
Confused, Booth sent off a reply: Are we playing Hide and Seek?
No message came back and Booth shrugged his shoulders. "Okay."
An hour later, he received another message. I didn't mean to cause you any pain. I was afraid. I didn't want to lose your friendship.
That message disturbed Booth: Bones, you did what you had to do. I'm the one who's sorry. This was my fault.
I was impervious. I'm not impervious any more.
My happiness is contingent upon your happiness.
I accept that now.
Booth was hoping that Brennan was playing Hide and Seek with him, because her messages were scaring him: Bones, tell me where you are.
Nothing happens unless first a dream.
I'm on my way Bones. I'm coming right now.
Oooooooooooooooooooo
She was sitting on the bench near the steps leading up to the building. Booth was relieved that she appeared to be alright, but still those messages . . . "Bones, I'm here." As he sat down beside her, he noticed the sad look on her face. "Are you alright?"
Looping her arm around his arm, Brennan leaned against him. "I was just having a bad day. I'm not sure why. Pregnancy hormones perhaps . . . You're home and we're a family again, but . . . I was afraid Booth. It may not have appeared like it, but I was. I was afraid I'd made a mistake forcing you out of the house and now I'm afraid I've made a mistake letting you come back too soon . . . No, Booth, I'm sorry. That isn't true. I'm glad you're back, it's just . . ."
He knew she was worried about his gambling and who could blame her? "Bones you did everything right. You know me and you know what makes me tick. Making me leave forced me to get my act together. You made the right decision and I'm not going to mess this second chance up. I know you're worried and I guess you should be, but I'm doing everything to make sure I don't screw up again. And guess what? My happiness is contingent on your happiness too. We're together because we were meant to be together. You and me . . . we're in this thing for life. I love you."
His words made her feel better and that is what she had counted on. She knew if she saw him that he would do that for her. He always did. "I love you too, Booth."
Oooooooooooooooooooo
Let me know what you think of my story. Thank you.
A/N: The clues were from "The Parts in the Sum of the Whole".