Note To Readers: Since this took long to update again, I am giving you all a longer chapter! I know I am just eeking my way to the drama part of the story. But I can't help but let my writing unfold naturally and this is what came out of my overthinking mind. I know there is a lot of dialogue and I promise to move faster into the Guts of the story. Sorryinadvance if I missed any errors.
To refresh your memory - here is how the previous 'episode' ended: . . . Booth: "Okay Bones – thanks. I just can't think about anything else but this case right now - and I really have to do this while it's still fresh, otherwise I am going to lose momentum and some of the memories that I need to remember, will start to fade. But, you have my word that if I start to feel weak or sick, then I will tell you." he said, though he really had no intention of becomingweak or sick, after all he was the ultimate Alpha Male wasn't he? He could handle a little pain and fatigue!
(Famous last words . . .)
Mistaken Identity - A Gravedigger Story ~ Chapter 3
Jeffersonian - Three Hours Later . . .
Booth had barely moved from his position in Brennan's office on the couch - where he had been sifting through document after document, having spread everything out on a coffee table in front of the couch like a makeshift desk. He had decided not to tell Bones that he had attempted to go into to his own office earlier that morning, before coming to the Jeffersonian. He had gone there so he could begin looking into the case without causing Bones additional worry. He was hoping that something might trigger his memory, as he looked at the Case files and evidence they had on Heather Taffet.
But within seconds after using his Security badge at the main entrance to the main FBI division of the Hoover Building, he hadn't even made it to his desk before his favorite Attorney and friend, Ms.. Caroline Julian – was stepping in front of him in the hallway just as Booth stepped off the elevator.
"Now how the hell do you do that?!" Booth asked her, "What, did you have the Head of Security downstairs call you the second I used my badge to come in?" to which Ms. Caroline replied, "Booth! You know damn well that is what I did. Now listen to me Mr. 'I'm so tough I won't let a traumatic kidnapping and severe injuries slow me down' – You are going to turn right back around and go home, and REST! Do you even know what rest means Sh'-eree?! It means NO - WORK-ING!"
Booth couldn't help but smile as he knew she was only concerned about him and his well being. He had heard she stopped by the Hospital a couple of times to check in on him – but unfortunately both times he had been unconscious or asleep. He knew better than to even try to argue with her – after all, arguing (mainly in court) was her main forte' and there was no one better! So he told her how much he appreciated her concern as he then let her think that he was leaving to do as she had instructed. When instead, he just went back to his SUV and headed to his second 'office' – The Jeffersonian.
He had been so anxious once Brennan left for work that morning. He realized that she kept his mind off things and the minute they were apart, his anxiety and nervous energy would spike. He was completely unable to relax because he knew they had missed something. Something to due with the case, the evidence, the he knew he had to do something to either prove, or disprove his theory one way or another!
He was a little surprised that everyone else whom had been involved with this case, had felt comfortable in believing that everything that the 'Gravedigger' had done, was the work of a sole person – Attorney Heather Taffet. Once they caught her and found to storage unit in her name, Booth felt they had been so eager to finally have enough proof to pin this one someone, that they were too quick to close the case file and never investigated fully to rule out any additional help.
But on the other hand he knew that up to that point, they went by the only evidence they had at the time and that evidence hadn't really depicted any other scenario or accomplice for that matter. But Booth, known for his uncanny 'gut instinct' and ability to sense when things were amiss - he knew there was more to this case than meets they eye.
He knew that it was up to him to find additional evidence if he was going to be able to back up his own suspicions. Until then, no one was going to give his theory a second glance.
*******************
Booth realized that his mind had wandered, thinking about this morning and his reasons for needing to work so soon after his ordeal. He quickly regained his focus and eventually became so engulfed in what he was doing, reading and re-reading through everything, including his own statement, that he hadn't noticed the fine sheen of sweat that had developed on his face, making him appear flush. He did notice that his hands when he would reach for a paper or pen, were now shaking.
He continued to ignore the annoying nuisances, determined to get somewhere with his belief that there were others involved in this. That the Gravedigger was actually a team effort.
He hadn't even noticed the sound of Bones' and Angela's voices – talking to each other as they came back from the platform where they had been working on firming up some of the Gravedigger evidence they had as well, helping to make a solid case against Ms. Taffet so she would be put away for life. "Hey Booth, Brennan yelled out ahead of her just as she was getting to the door of her office, are you hungry? We were discussing either going out to lunch, or having it delivered. What wou- "
She stopped abruptly, mid-sentence once she rounded the couch and saw Booth's altered appearance. She had been worried that he would do this again, go into his workaholic, obsessed mode and push himself too soon. She had learned during the past 5 years of knowing him, that he tended to immerse himself in work more than ever after certain events, she first noticed this after any particularly ultra sensitive case - such as any case where the body of a child had been discovered. Or, one other incident that was fresh in her mind was the time during and after a case involving the brutal murder of a former POW.
That case had caused Booth to have recurring nightmares about his own POW experience, and in each of those instances, she had watched him become more and more obsessed with solving the cases, becoming more and more exhausted in the process, as well as getting thinner and becoming more on edge and moody.
He would work instead of sleeping or eating – simply in an effort to avoid thinking about, or talking about his nightmares and fears. He also got like that after going through any personally traumatic or physically endangering experience such as his torture at the hands of Gallagher and his corrupt Attorney cohort, or after he had been blown up or shot from past cases that went terribly wrong.
Which, in judging by his haggard appearance and the set determination of his tightened jaw muscles, most likely due to the intense clenching of his teeth, was exactly what he was doing now - with this case.
"Booth!" she said as she realized that he hadn't heard a single word she had said. "Booth you look like hell!" she exclaimed while walking faster towards the couch to get a closer view. "Booth I had asked you, very nicely I might add - not to push yourself and now that makes two promises you made to me that you have completely disregarded, and in just one day."
Angela was also concerned as she took in her gorgeous Agent friend's pale appearance, yet she also noticed that his face looked a bit flush as well, like one looks when they are fighting a fever. She immediately noticed that his eyes didn't have anywhere close to the sparkle of brightness and joy that he usually exuded. But she assumed that was probably normal considering all he had been through, so she turned her focus back to what her best friend was saying. She couldn't help but also chuckle to herself at the way her two friends interacted with each other. They really did act like an old married couple at times.
"Bones, I didn't break my promises at all. Like I had told you, I didn't say I would rest at my place – and then as far as stopping to rest if I felt tired or anything, well - I feel fine so, promise #2 also - not broken." he said obviously pleased with himself.
"Yeah well, nice try Booth." it was actually Angela who responded this time. "But you know damn well that Brennan always takes everything literally, exactly as she hears it. We all know she doesn't do well when reading between the lines so, you need to stop trying to be the macho man that we all know you are – and for once you need to let the people who worry and care about you - well . . . worry and care about you!" she added giving him one of her most sincere smiles.
"Whoa there, hold on you two, you don't need to gang up on me. Okay . . . you win. Bones, I'm sorry – I really am, and okay, I guess I did kind of twist my promises around – a little!" he added. Brennan was half listening to him as she reached out to feel his forehead as though you would with a small child.
"Booth you are really warm!" and with that, she basically lost all of her usual composure, taking off on a tangent and releasing all of the pent up feelings she could no longer contain.
"Have you completely forgotten what the Doctor said about infection still posing a potential threat?! Or, are you just choosing to ignore it? Let me refresh your memory – that was a significant amount of water that they had to drain from your lung?! That was bacteria ridden and tainted water that you nearly drownedin Booth! Water that she said had it not been drained immediately, could have led to your death!"
She continued her rant as both Booth and Angela glanced over at each other, knowing that it was most likely coming from a place of fear. Brennan normally was better at compartmentalizing her feelings than anyone they knew, but anyone can crack given enough pressure.
Brennan knew if Sweets were here, he would say that her outburst stemmed simply from seeing him looking ill again, flooding her mind with memories of the fear that took hold of her heart when the Dr. had first explained the seriousness of having any foreign fluid in the lungs – and contaminated water posing an even bigger threat.
Seeing Booth looking just as drawn and pale as he had in the hospital, brought back those feelings of worry and fear that she hadn't begun to face. "Did you not understand how serious the Dr. was?! That fluid Booth, if not removed, I know enough to know that it would have quickly stagnated and would have had serious ramifications if it had."
Booth remained silent, sensing that she wasn't finished just yet, but he knew it was the healthy thing to do so he didn't take it personally . . . "I don't know, maybe you don't remember that part." she continued, "I know you were fading in and out of consciousness when they inserted to tube into your chest to drain your lung. You were still out thankfully, when they did that."
Then turning toward Angela she further explained, "Ang I hadn't mentioned this to any of you but, they had to make a laproscopic incision in Booth's chest in order to insert a tube into his lung that would allow the fluid to drain, or be pumped out if necessary. In fac- " . . .
Brennan was interrupted by a shocked gasp from Angela as she cringed upon the mention of the chest tube. "Eeww yuck!! No wonder you never told us that part, that sounds awful – and sorry but, I don't need to hear anymore, I get it, I get it!" She said as she visibly shuddered at the very thought of the tube being inserted.
"In fact, wait a minute - " Brennan continued, Booth I know the Dr. told you what they had done when you finally did regain consciousness. In fact, you said yourself that when that door was forced open by the weight of the water that came barreling in – that it knocked you back several feet just by the sheer force of it and that you had aspirated so much water that you seriously thought that . . . that you were going to drown right then and there!"
Booth looked uncomfortable at the painful reminder, why did she insist on talking about this right now, he thought.
"Booth," she wasn't quite done yet, "that waswhen you aspirated that toxic fluid into your lungs - and I think you know that!"
She then looked toward Angela again, basically also hoping to refresh Booth's all too convenient memory, "Dr. Nicholas told me that she was surprised that he hadn't developed pneumonia, knowing that is the most common result of having any excessive fluid in the lung for too long of a period."
She turned back to her partner, "Booth you know damn well that she also warned you that if you let yourself get run down - even a little, that you are still very susceptible to many strains of infection such as Staph or Bacterial. That water you ingested was not good Booth! It was not only tainted with bacteria, but upon having Hodgins test a sample that we had sent to him, it was also found to contain minute particles of rust from that old bucket of metal!" she seemed to be getting more agitated the longer she spoke, realizing her own fears and all of the risks that still threatened to bring harm to him, to take him away from her.
Upon finishing, she looked at her partner more closely, taking stock of his overall appearance, then she took in a much needed deep breath – simply frustrated at how lightly he took his own health, yet constantly protecting everyone else's, especially hers.
Booth just listened in silence, actually glad that she had let all of that out because he had a feeling she was keeping her worries and fear for his well being, pent up. But he also felt guilty over how agitated she had become because of him – then, he started to stand. It took him a bit longer than usual to get up from the couch due to the pain in his rib cage and chest.
Realizing as he stood, that he was actually feeling a little weak but still not willing to admit to anything that might cause her additional worry. So he waited in place for her as she walked closer to him and then he reached out, pulling her against his chest into a tight hug. "I know, and you're exactly right Bones." he admitted, as he cupped the back of her head with his hand. "I've been insensitive and selfish and . . . I'm sorry. Really, I am."
Angela watched the interaction with a huge grin on her face.
"Forgive me?" he pleaded, his voice raising a little higher and sporting the childlike innocence that he had perfected so well. Brennan couldn't help but smile, She could never resist that damn charm of his and she had immediately calmed down the second he had placed his strong arms around her showing her that he cared about what she thought.
She then released herself from his hug and leaned back looking into his eyes, "Wow," she said, smiling and almost forgetting what she had been mad about in the first place. Then. once she gathered her senses, she spoke again, "Okay, I will forgive you on one condition."
"Yeah? What's that?" he asked, his voice sounding more quiet than usual.
"That you take what I say about your recovery from now on, seriously! Starting now - and that means no more trying to manipulate me, no more clever little tricks like saying you will rest – then telling me that you didn't say where you'd rest." a smirk appearing on her face. "C'mon Booth, you know that wasn't very nice."
But as quickly as he had made her smile and calm down, her smile just as quickly faded when she felt the shaking in his hands as they rested on her shoulders – his face getting more pale the longer he was standing. Then she noticed that, even though he was trying to be attentive and answer her, his eyes were starting to glaze over as he looked at her, and she noticed he was starting to sway ever so slightly, side to side.
"Booth? Listen to me, I need you to sit back down. Seriously Booth you need to sit down before you fall down!"
Booth was starting to feel nauseous and warm the longer he was standing upright, He noticed that his vision seemed to be wavering a bit as he looked at her – 'why was she moving side to side like that?' he thought through his muddled mind. Then just as his vision was completely beginning to ebb, he felt her hands quickly grabbing onto the top of his shoulders and carefully pushing him back so he was again in a seated position on the couch, reclining back against the cushions.
Brennan roughly pushed aside some of the files laying on the couch next to her partner, so she had room to sit down next to him and make sure he hadn't passed out completely. She reached forward to check underneath his now closed eyelids, when he weakly swatted her hand away before she could check his pupils. Brennan let out a huge sigh of relief upon seeing that she had succeeded in getting him level before he went completely out!
"Angela, will you please go get a wet towel for me from the break room or the lab?!" Then as her friend took off, Brennan watched her partner's face closely. He had broken out into more of a cold sweat from standing up too fast for his still lowered blood pressure. The flush was gone from his face, replaced by more pekid whiteness. His eyes were closed but he hadn't passed out completely, though he had definitely been on the verge.
"Booth?" she quietly called out to him, lightly patting his face on both sides to bring him around more.
"Are you in there?" she asked, being nice since she felt bad for lecturing him for so long.. He cracked one eye open, then the other, as his face broke out into his trademark and adorable half grin. "Yeah Bones," his smile grew wider, "I'm still in here."
Angela came running back in with the wet towel, Cam & Hodgins close on her heels. Giving Brennan the towel they all lined the back of the couch where they watched their genius friend – noting the loving and tender way she gently ran the cloth around the ailing G-man's face. Booth looked up at them and laughed, "Geez, is it a slow day at the lab?" he joked, "Seriously guys, is this the most exciting thing you could find to do, come in here to stare at me like I am one of your lab rats?" he said, still being lighthearted though he was actually touched at how much they all cared. He could tell by the worried looks they all wore on their faces as they gawked at him.
Cam spoke first, "Booth, what the hell are you doing here in the first place?! And Dr. Brennan - how is it that you neglected to tell any of us that Booth was even here - in your office all morning?." she said looking sternly at her most most valued employee.
Brennan explained, "Look everyone, I didn't tell you all because I knew we had deadlines to meet to get that evidence to Agent Perotta, and what's the first thing you all would have done had I told you he was in here? Yeah, that's right," she answered herself since she already knew, "You would have all run in here to check on him to visit and ask more questions. I knew he wasn't up for that! Plus, I was already worried about him enough for all of us."
Booth then jumped in, grateful for all of their concern, but uncomfortable with it at the same time. "Alright folk's, sorry to disappoint you but the show is over." he said as he pushed himself up so he was sitting in more of an upright position again, then he gently removed the towel from Brennan's hands and set it on the table in front of him.
"Thank you all for your concern, really. But I'm fine now, see? I just got a little dizzy because I was . . . because I uh, hadn't eaten anything yet today." he said as he downplayed the near fainting episode. "And, I admit - I may have been a little preoccupied and, maybe a tiny bit - obsessed, about reviewing these files." he admitted, now also downplaying his own stubborn behavior.
"Booth, you should know better than to not take time to eat, we have had this conversation before when you have done that in the past! I should have made you something before I left this morning" Brennan said not thinking. She was too busy staring directly into his brown eyes as if no one else was in the room. But - there were other's in the room - and all of them heard what she had just accidentally announced.
"Ohhh, so it sounds like someone had a little 'sleepover' last night." Angela teased in the sing-song voice of hers. But before anyone could join her, Brennan jumped in to do some immediate damage control. "Wait a minute, I merely felt that Booth's health, having just been released from the hospital, was at a far too precarious stage for him to be left alone. Not to mention, he was still struggling in doing things without assistance with his compromised rib cage and there was also no way he would have been able to change his own dressings and such."
"Ohhh, I see." now it was Hodgins turn to tease, aiming his focus on Booth -"Well, way to go dude! So you used the old, ' I need help getting dressed ' line – I'm surprised, I would have thought you would have been more original being so suave and heroic and all." Hodgins teased while chuckling - knowing full well what Brennan had really meant, but wanting to take advantage of the situation to tease Booth since he never got the chance to otherwise.
Booth glared at him, giving him his most intimidating scowl, "Very funny Hodg!" Booth said knowing his friend hated to be called that, "You know damn well what she meant when she said 'dressings'. "Now, don't you have some dirt or some poop to go play with?" Booth asked him, purposely pointing out the more grotesque aspects of Hodgin's job.
Hodgins turned a light shade of red and smiled uncomfortably, "Touche' my friend, tooou-che'." was all he could muster as he took that as his queue to exit the office.
"Okay everyone, out. I need to take Agent Booth home, so you guys go on to lunch without me. I will pick something up for us on the way to Booth's - and Cam, I will then be working from there, so just call me if you need anything." Brennan announced. They all reached out to tell Booth to get well, get some rest, etc. and then went back to their prospective tasks.
Booth turned to Brennan where they still remained seated on the couch, "Bones, really, I can drive myself home, you don't need to take me there like I am some kind of invalid."
"Booth, you are NOT supposed to even BE driving, period - end of story!" she replied, "You are still on very heavy pain medication, not to mention your head injury and - you know damn well that the Dr. said you should are not to operate any heavy machinery, aka the driv-ing of - a ve-hic-le!" She said, emphasizing her last point.
"Booth you almost passed out just standing up! No, no way am I letting you drive home. Your SUV is safe in our secure parking structure and I can bring you to it – after the Dr. releases you 100% when we go to get the rest of your stitches out. Plus then I will know that you can't leave your place until then!"
"Wow." Booth said, as he just stared at her, in awe of how she had taken such control over the situation, it actually just made him all the more hot for her! "That was so . . . sexy!" Booth said to her as he leaned forward grabbing her by the waist and kissing her on the neck.
"Boo-ooth." she stated caught off her guard and finding herself getting hotter. "Booth really, here?" she said, "Do you really want everyone to know yet, just how close we really are now?"
With that, he quickly backed off, it totally killed the mood for the Agent, who did NOT want other's knowing anything yet. "Okay, no - you're right."
Brennan stood up to get her purse and coat, while Booth piled all of the folders together, planning to take them home to review after they had some lunch and after he rested as he knew she would force him to do. Maybe, just maybe he thought, he could convince her to 'rest' with him by playing on her sensitive side and telling her he was more calm and slept better when she was around, which was actually true.
But then, as they were gathering the files so they could leave . . . Booth heard a male voice coming up behind him.
"Agent Booth! Hey, how are you feeling? - Um, actually, should you even be here? I was told by Cullen that you were on forced, paid leave for another week."
It was Sweets! He was entering Brennan's office, spouting off the countless questions before even reaching the couch. ~ Oh great, thought Booth, just what we need - a over eager adolescent Junior Psychologist to over-analyze the situation!! ~
~ Oh great, thought Brennan, just what we need right now, Sweets, who will be able to practically sniff out the fact that Booth and I have moved past the normal boundaries of partnership. I swear that kid is Psychic at times! ~
Sweets was taken aback when he noticed that no one was verbally responding to him. Both Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan were just staring at him and he had to admit, he felt very intimidated and vulnerable. ~ Why do I let these two get to me so easily? thought the young Doctor, ~ I just know they are doing it in purpose. ~
"Uh, hell-lloo?!" so are you two just going to stare at me all day? Or, are you going to speak eventually?" the Psychologist joked awkwardly.
"Oh, sorry Sweets, uh – yeah I'm doing well . . . thanks. And I am not working as you can tell by my attire (he was wearing black sweats and a Motley Crue T-shirt). We were just about to leave anyway – so what brings you here?"
"Oh I just wanted to check in with everyone here to see if there was anything they needed me to help with, to make sure that Attorney, Heather Taffet, gets everything she has coming to her."
Booth had never seen Sweets so taken aback and showing obvious anger towards someone. He hadn't realized just how much the younger man actually cared about him and the rest of the team.
Brennan answered him, "Well Sweets, that is very nice of you to come and offer your assistance. Is it a slow day at the office or, do you even have other people to analyze besides us?" she said sheerly out of the habit that she and Booth had developed, of constantly berating the younger man in a joking way – solely for their own kicks.
"Um, no actually,QU-ite the opposite I must say! I have numerous patients besides the two of you and I have a very full schedule." Sweets said, with a hint of arrogance that was merely an overcompensation for this true feelings of inadequacy that was only unleashed when he was in the presence of one Forensic Anthropologist and a certain Special Agent. "In fact, I purposely rescheduled one of my appointments simply to allow me the time to come and assist with the final aspects of this case."
"Yeah," Booth joked, "but are you referring to your own appointment? An appointment to talk an Adult Psychologist about puberty or something?" and he then laughed out loud at his own joke which was not a good idea. He stopped laughing as that simple action caused pain that seemed to shoot through his entire ribcage like a bunch of knives.
"Are you okay Agent Booth?" a suddenly concerned Sweets asked.
"He'll be fine," Brennan assured him, "Booth's just experiencing pain due due to the fact that laughing inevitably induces tension on the ligaments and musculature that support his thoracic cavity. When Booth was thrown against the bulkhead of the ship, he suffered multiple rib fractures – that goes hand in hand with a straining of the attached ligaments. His Intercostal muscles were also severely sprained as well."
Booth, still holding his ribs, rolled his eyes at her explanation, "Geez Bo-ones, only you could make simple busted ribs sound like a terminal illness!"
"Okay, well Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan, I will go see if Cam or the others need my help with anything then and please let me know if there is anything either of you need – anything at all." Sweets offered, suddenly feeling really bad for his injured friend.
"Oh wait Sweets!" Brennan yelled just as the man turned towards to door, "Actually, maybe you can help with something." she stated. Booth immediately felt himself getting very nervous, ~ oh no, what is she doing?! ~ he thought.
"Sure anything!" he replied, suddenly enthusiastic again.
"Well, do you have any actual experience involving hypnotherapy? For instance, say if someone was having trouble remembering something, like a traum-" Booth knew he had to cut her off before she said another word - "Uh yeah, Bones we really have to get going now! I really think we need to redo some of my bandages – you wouldn't want me getting infected now would you?" saying 'really' almost every other word just from the panic & anxiety he felt over what he thought she was about to say.
"Oh of course Booth, and you're right – this can wait – whereas keeping those dressings fresh is definitely a priority. Never mind Sweets – go talk to Cam and we'll just see you at our session on Monday." with that Brennan grabbed all of the files out of Booth's hands, giving him a stern look to 'encourage' him not to even try to argue with her about carrying them. Booth got her signal loud and clear.
"Okay well – we'll see ya Sweets- have a good weekend!." he said as he passed the Doc and left the office behind his partner.
Sweets stood there for a few more minutes, pondering what Dr. Brennan had started to ask him. Trying to figure out what the rest of the sentence may have been and which case file, or of whom, she was inquiring about.
"AH-HA!" He shouted aloud, to no one in particular.
To Be Continued . . .
Did Sweets figure out that she was talking about BOOTH?? Or, did he think of another case file or, perhaps even think Brennan was asking for her own lost memories – memories of a childhood shadowed in mystery?? STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT! :-) Please throw some reviews my way!! THANKS