I can't believe I'm at the last chapter! I put off posting this for a while just cuz I didn't want this to be over, but all good things must come to an end right? Okay, well, I hope you enjoy this. Total BB, from the flashback to the convo to the...well, I'm not going to tell you the end. But, I hope you've had as much fun as I have and...B-Squared FOREVER!!!
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Bones ::sniff:: thanks for bringing it up.
2007
The soft summer breeze rippled through the park-like setting, pushing Brennan's auburn hair in different directions. She stood quietly next to Booth, watching him out of the corner of her eye.
Booth stared at his father's headstone and made a conscious effort to take deep breaths. Breathing was one of the things he was having to remind himself to do lately.
The trial would be taking place the next day and the gravity of the situation seemed to have hit him all at once. He's suddenly gotten restless and said he needed to leave the hotel. Brennan had accompanied him as they drove aimlessly through the labyrinth of Philadelphia streets, a tense silence thick in the car.
Finally, they'd come to a stop at the cemetery and Booth was glad Brennan didn't question it. She simply exited the car and took his hand as they meandered toward Samuel Booth's grave.
They stood next to each other now, Brennan's hands in her pockets as she tried to be respectful of Booth's need to reconcile once more with his father's death.
"He was a good man, my dad." Booth said softly, Brennan snapped her head toward him; it was the first he'd spoken since they left the hotel.
"Not perfect by any means…but a good man. Took care of his family, worked hard his whole life." He took a deep breath and shifted on his feet, letting his eyes trace over the engraved letters of his father's name.
Brennan nodded and stepped forward, lacing their fingers and squeezing gently.
"I think I would have liked him." She glanced at Booth, the faintest traces of a smile on his lips reassured her, "If he was anything like you I would have been crazy about him."
Nodding, Booth glanced at her before withdrawing his hand and kneeling, crossing himself.
"I only wish someday to be half the man he was."
Brennan bit her bottom lip and stared at the back of Booth's head as he bowed it in prayer.
You already are.
Booth knocked firmly in the center of Brennan's apartment door just below the '2B'. He waited patiently in the quiet hallway for the sound of the doorknob turning.
Brennan was tidying up when she heard a knock at the door. Glancing at the clock, she approached it. It wasn't very late, but she wasn't expecting any visitors.
From the surprised look on her face when she opened the door, Booth guessed she had not checked the peephole first.
"Bones," He said in an exasperated tone, "How many times have I told you to check before you open the door? You never know who could be out here."
Brennan opened her mouth to speak, when nothing came she simply stood aside and allowed Booth to push past her and come inside.
"You're…they let you out."
Booth raised an eyebrow and gave her a cockeyed grin.
"I wasn't in prison Bones, although it did feel like that from time to time." He shrugged, "They gave me some pain meds and sent me on my way."
He glanced around her apartment noting that, as usual, she kept everything orderly and clean. Her boldly colored walls sparsely decorated here and there with paintings or photos that had a very 'Angela' feel to them, along with obviously historical objects scattered around on tables and countertops.
"We got the hit man, by the way." He brought his eyes back to Brennan who had yet to move away from the door, her body still twisted around looking at him while her left hand held the knob.
"Cori's killer?"
Booth nodded, a dark flash moved across his face before he pushed it away.
Not the time.
Brennan nodded back and swallowed, folding her arms across her chest and turning toward him more fully.
"I'm sorry about Cori, Booth."
Booth thanked her quietly and shoved his hands in his pockets while he studied her. She stared hard at the ground, her hair refusing to stay put behind her ears and he didn't miss the fact that her body was so obviously on the defense.
Trying not to get hurt. Booth knew. He felt a heat rise in his stomach.
Why does she think I am going to hurt her?
"I didn't see you at the hospital." He stated, waiting to gauge her reaction.
"Oh, um…" Brennan bit her lip and gestured vaguely with her right hand, "I had a lot of work to get done…reports and things…I've just, um, I never really got around to it."
Booth took a step toward her and was about to respond when she panicked.
"You want something to drink Booth?" She asked quickly, starting off toward her kitchen before he had a chance to say anything. Booth followed her and carefully shed his jacket, his wounds still protesting to too much movement. Brennan rummaged around her kitchen searching for glasses.
"Bones?"
She ignored him and filled two cups with ice water, preferring not to drink alcohol the way she had been the past three nights. She heard him call her again and lifted the first glass to her lips and downed it.
Silence filled the open kitchen as Booth watched Brennan lean over her sink, her head bowed, a million different things, no doubt, running through her mind. He just wished she would, for once, tell him what was going on in that beautiful mind.
Brennan turned to leave the kitchen but stopped dead when her gaze accidentally met Booth's. The depth of emotion he conveyed with just his eyes astounded her and she quickly averted her own.
"Temperance."
The sound of her name bouncing off the empty air sent shivers down her spine and she lifted the other glass of water to her mouth, downing that one as well.
"Look at me." When she did he continued, "Why weren't you there?"
"I already told you Both, I've been busy with…"
"That's bullshit and you know it."
The hairs on the back of her neck bristled; he'd never used that sharp tone with her before. Even though what he said was true, and even though he had every right to be upset with her…that didn't stop Brennan from defending herself.
"You have no right to tell me what I say isn't true." She placed her hands on her hips and stepped toward him challengingly.
"Fine." Booth set his jaw. He was angry. After all they'd been through she was still trying to shut him out, that made him fucking pissed.
"Then that's the truth? You left me on death's door in the hospital so you could finish a report?!"
Brennan's gaze faltered. "Well…no."
Booth tried to reign in his temper, but looking at her, visibly closing in around herself, he failed miserably.
"Then what is it? What are you scared of?!" His voice was rising. He felt helpless when she was like this. He didn't like helpless.
"I'm not scared."
"Yes you are! You always run when you're scared."
Brennan swallowed and turned away so he wouldn't see the tears rolling down her face. But he did see, and he immediately hated himself for yelling.
"Bones…" He reached for her but she jumped out of his grasp, spinning to face him, the fire back in her eyes.
"You want to know what I'm scared of?" She shouted, motioning wide with her arms, not bothering to wipe her cheeks. "I'm scared of losing you! My parents, my brother, everyone I love, I lose so…"
"Dammit Temperance!" Booth cut her off and stepped forward to stand toe-to-toe with her, the way he always did when they argued. "I'm not your father. I'm not Russ. Haven't I proven that to you? Why do you refuse to trust me when you know I would never leave?!"
He stared at her until he saw those clear blue eyes begin to soften.
"You do trust me…don't you Bones?" He asked quietly.
"Of course I do." She said, barely above a whisper.
"Then…then don't do this to me." Booth shrugged helplessly and his eyes pleaded with her. "Don't leave me the way they left you."
Brennan's eyes widened as she realized what she'd almost done.
"You know what it's like to watch someone you love leave you behind Temperance…don't do that to me."
Brennan held her breath and looked away again studying the buttons on his shirt, the look in his eyes was overwhelming. Deafening.
Booth sighed. "Please just look at me."
She hesitated, but slowly lifted her gaze and faced him again, tears now rolling unhindered out of her eyes.
"You are, aside from my son, my only reason for living…please don't take that from me."
Brennan felt her resolve crumble and she unconsciously took a step into him, their faces inches apart.
"I won't." She whispered, her eyes unable to leave his lips, they beckoned her.
"Good." He leaned down to kiss her but she pulled back slightly.
"I…I will always run Booth." She brought her teary gaze to his and waited.
Booth smiled cupping either side of her face so she couldn't move again.
"I know Bones. And I will always chase you."
Brennan smiled and tipped her head up to meet him.
Their lips met. The world stood still. Time stopped marching on and there was only them, alone and lost in each other in this moment. Lost in a love neither of them thought existed. A love that would dodge bullets, survive explosions, solve murders and stand the test of time.
THE END
::tear:: Okay, that was it. I bid you farewell, I hope our paths cross again one day...maybe another fic...another day...