Who: Booth and Brennan What: Reunion-chan When: January 9th, Early Evening Where: Field outside of Lawrence and then Booth's car Warnings: Deaths of innocent plane riders, other than that, nothing Status: COMPLETED
The decision to go to Kansas had been rash, especially for someone of Temperance Brennan's disposition of always doing the rational thing. But her heart was broken, a phrase she had never truly understood until that moment in the car with Booth, having poured her heart out to him only for him to crush her one shot. She had wanted to live without regrets, and yet, she still would live with them. Because it took her too long to realize what she had right in front of her. But it took three days for the world to turn right side up again and that was what she was going to give herself. Only, it might take longer than three days... Especially if this case was as bad as the Kansas branch of the FBI had made it out to be.
The plane ride had been a short one, and one that seemed to be going by fine. Except, sometimes, Brennan was certain that the stewardess' eyes were completely dark, black. But that was impossible. Figuring it was just her mind playing tricks on her from exhaustion (after all, she had thought the brilliant doctor had been her... which just was not normal), the brunette closed her eyes and relaxed. Or that was the plan until she felt the plane begin to jostle, jolting her out of her dozing state into a confused state. Looking out the window, Brennan noticed smoke coming from all around the wing, which could only mean one thing, they were going down.
Bracing for impact, Brennan closed her eyes and waited. There was a high probability of dying after all. And while she was upset, she didn't want to die. Life would make sense again. Well, it was supposed to make sense again barring anything like death. Feeling something wrap around her, the forensic anthropologist felt herself jostled around like a ragdoll and ejected from the plane, which went up in flames. Groaning, Brennan stood up and looked around, eyes glazed from the probable concussion she was suffering from. What just happened...? She wanted to go investigate but until the fire was put out, there was nothing she could do but wander aimlessly around the area, uncertain of where she even was in regards to her destination.
Booth was fully back to work the last seven days, but he’d been distracted the last handful of them. There was a big case waiting to be cracked wide open. follow the paper trail, Fed Hardison’s note stated, and then there was the moral dilemma. An epic mental battle of right and wrong. On the Right side, bad guys would be going away for a good long time if he could just get the evidence and links he needed, on the wrong side..Hardison was a thief. He hadn’t earned that case. Then there was that little voice in the back of his mind, that bothersome one that had earned him the white knight complex title. Bad guys needed to be taken off the streets so they couldn’t hurt civilians.
Then ontop of that, there was Bela, and Buffy. Neither of which he was sure how to deal with. In short his mind was a complicated place. Booth was not a fan of complication or drama. Especially when it came to things like relationships. Trouble in the interrogation room he could handle just fine. But romance? So not his department. Angela had shown up, why couldn’t Sweets have tagged along with her? He would never admit it out loud but the kid was actually good at his job. Usually.
When his cell phone rang, Booth very nearly didn’t answer. He’d just gotten off work, and the only phone calls he’d gotten lately were things he really wasn’t sure how to deal with off the top of his head. He hadn’t even pulled out of his spot in the FBI’s parking lot. “What now?” He grumbled in frustration as he caved and picked up the black berry from the passenger seat. “Booth. “ He said into the receiver. His eyes closed as he sat back in his chair on the drivers side and waited for his receptionists voice on the other end. “Plane crash? Doesn’t exactly scream homicide now does it. ..Wait, back up. Black smoke? “ He snapped without meaning to. It’d been a long day, all he wanted was to go home and have a beer. Some of the best hockey games of the season were still on t.v. waiting for him to watch. “Yeah, okay. I get it Okay. Alright- You can stop-. “ The woman continued on and on until finally he was given a direction in which said smoke was given, then he scowled and hung up the phone.
Turning the key in the crossover, the engine came to life and Seeley fought the traffic to the location of said plane crash. His first thoughts weren’t demons, but the closer he got to the location the stranger things looked. Booth put the car in park and got out, police were starting to arrive, and Booth got out of the car when they all crowded around the crash site. “ Oh jeeze..” He breathed and flashed his badge. That was when the brunette walked straight past him as if in a daze, and Seeley almost didn’t recognize her. “Hey wait, you can’t leave yet. “ He called after her.
Hearing the voice, Brennan blinked and paused. That was impossible. She had left D.C. to get away from Booth, yet here he was? How was that even possible? It couldn’t be. There was no way he would leave Hannah behind and follow her to Kansas. He had made that clear to her. Well, there had been no talk of Kansas, of course. But it wasn’t like Booth would look up her assignment and follow her. It just wouldn’t happen.
“Booth?” Turning, the brilliant woman looked to the FBI agent in front of her and blinked. Well, it certainly looked like Booth. Slightly more haggard. Peculiar, “What are you doing here?” After all, Brennan could not think of any logical reason for Booth to be there, acting as if he owned the place, like he worked there when he had been in D.C. that very morning when she had left.
The wreckage had taken him for a bit of a loop, but despite it all it didn’t take more then the first syllable out of the woman’s lips for him to recognize her voice. “Bones?” It took a minute for things to register. The police units backed off as soon as Seeley gave them a silent hand signal, and they didn’t even wait for the smoke to clear before charging onto the scene of the gruesome crash. There were a million different things he wanted to say, but in that minute he couldn’t think of any and immediately hugged her.
“I can’t believe it!” There was excitement written in his features. “I thought I’d never see you again. “ It was still a tragic scene, but he couldn’t control the grin that plastered on his face at the sight of her. Even though she was a little banged up, she was alive and in Kansas. Staring right up at him. “It’s a long story. “ He didn’t want to let go of her, despite the smell of death starting to form around them as the dust began to rise from the site. Smouldering plane parts made it difficult for police to get in to check on the victims. But eventually they would, he had faith they would. “It’s really you.”’
And Booth was hugging her? Why would Booth hug her? Yes, in normal circumstances, Brennan would hug Booth at either a reunion or near death experience. Or if he hugged her. This case was all three reasons and yet, Brennan couldn’t find it in her to really respond. Sure, her arms automatically returned the hug, albeit stiffly, but she did still return the hug, though she pulled back and tilted her head to the side in curiosity.
“Of course it’s me, who else would it be?” It was then that Booth’s other words resonated in her mind and made her question just what was going on. “Why would you never see me again? I know I decided on the Kansas assignment quickly, but it’s not permanent...” Raising her hand to her head, Brennan winced as she touched the head wound but shook her head slightly, which was another bad move, “How did you get here to begin with? You were at the office when I left....”
There was something about the way she was acting with him that was different. Most probably wouldn’t have noticed a change in the forensic anthropologist, but that was his department. He was the one who picked up on emotion and human nature beyond the microscope. But he didn’t say anything. She’d been in a plane crash, and by the looks of things was likely the only survivor. It shook him up just looking. He couldn’t even imagine what it must have been like to be in one.
“I’ll explain everything, just..we should get out of here. Come on. “ Mentally Booth debated taking Bones to a nice hotel instead of the complex and putting her up for the night so he could tell her things slowly, in a way that she would understand. Bones went out on a limb for him before, but asking her to abandon everything she knew in one night to be truth was too much. He couldn’t. So he had to show her. Painful as it might end up being, the faster she adjusted the better. Plus Angela was staying at the complex. He knew they were like sisters, Angela could probably help Bones adjust better then he could any day.
He lead her back toward his car and opened up the passenger door. He was quiet. He didn’t answer her until they were inside, and he could talk to her one on one. “ This is Lawrence Kansas. I’ve been living here for two years, Bones. “ He started the car almost immediately so she didn’t have a change to call him insane and get out. Soon enough they were on the free way toward the complex. “Ever hear a theory about alternate universes? Different worlds parallel to ours?” He was trying science. But he wasn’t sure if that would make things better, or worse at this point.
He kept his eyes on the road, she was banged up and bruised. But she could still walk at least. So that was something. They had a few medics back at the complex that he could ask to take a look at her when they got there.
“Right we should get out of here.” After all, there was no good Brennan could do at the scene. The wreckage was still smouldering, so it wasn’t like she could do much with the bones of the victims and Angela wasn’t there for helping with the identification purposes. Not to mention the plane’s manifesto. There was nothing she could do there, so it was following Booth to the car, unaware of what he had in store for her.
Once situated, Brennan stared out the window or had been until she heard his words. But she had no time to respond to the fact that, two years ago, Booth had gone into surgery for a brain tumor and had since then recovered and went back to work before going to Afghanistan and bringing back Hannah. And the reason he had continued? For a unfounded theory.
“I’ve heard of it, yes. But it’s just that, a theory. There’s no quantitative proof of it. So it’s completely illogical. Are you sure you’re okay? You seem to have a lapse of memory. Do we need to get your head scanned again?” Even if he broke her heart, Brennan would worry about him and she was worried he had another tumor.
“Yeah. There’s a couple options.” Booth said hesitantly. His hands gripping at the wheel slightly with tension. He really wasn’t sure he liked the idea of dropping Bones at the complex, and returning to Lavender’s place. It was likely his short lived vacation was over, and that night he’d be returning to the complex. “A complex. Different private apartments inside-and it’s free, or a hotel. That really won’t be free.” He knew she was used to having money, and having some pull with her title of best forensic anthropologist in the history of ever, but here? That pretty much meant jack. If she chose the hotel, when she wasn’t looking he would pay. And it would break his wallet a little more, but he would understand. If she chose the complex at least he could help get her a little more situated.
For a minute when they pulled off the freeway and stopped at a red light, Booth looked at her with one of those famous expressions that strictly read I wouldn’t lie to you. “How do you explain me being here after seeing you there. “ Being scientific was giving him a headache. How did squints do it every day? “I’m fine Bones. Scan me if you want, but I’ve been taking my medication every day for the last two years. No hallucinations. No Stewie. “ He was trying not to startle or scare her, but he wasn’t sure how well it was working. She was Bones, he honestly was happy with her reaction. Anyone else might have been put out, but to him it was normal and normal was a feeling he hadn’t had in almost the complete two years.
“There are things about this place I need to tell you. First..logic doesn’t always apply. “Pausing for a moment, before he looked over at her seriously. “..Christo. “ A Latin phrase, he wasn’t sure even she would recognize, but he hoped she wouldn’t have any kind of reaction to it what soever. And when she didn’t he continued explaining. “Second, wear this all the time. “ He took off a protection medallion from under his shirt and handed it over. “Third..this place is on the verge of an apocalypse. A biblical apocalypse. “ Booth made a left turn as the light turned green, and a large building came to view. “It’s a lot Bones, but I wanted you to hear it directly from me. “ He let a few moments of silence settle in as he turned off the crossover.
At first, Brennan was certain that Booth had ignored her all together, speaking about places she could stay. And while it would be nice to go to a hotel, all of her belongings had gone up in flames, so she didn’t have her wallet on her to be able to pay and Brennan was too prideful to ask Booth for money to cover her until she could get her affairs in order.
“The complex is fine.” Sighing, Brennan noticed the look and quirked a brow as Booth went into his question about how would she explain him being there after she had seen him in D.C. Mouth opening to respond, the brunette realized she had no response and thus closed her mouth and let her partner continue on. Okay, so she didn’t have a response but she would figure it out. But she felt a bit better knowing that he was taking his medication. Nodding that she would indeed like to get a scan of his brain, she sat back as the ride continued on. She was sore and being rigid in Booth’s presence really didn’t help.
But then he was talking about logic not always applying. She was too shocked by such a statement to really pay attention to the Latin. Something about Christ. No matter. She was prepared to protest that logic always applied as it was a constant, but Booth seemed to move on and was handing her a medallion, which she mechanically took. And now he was mentioning the Biblical Apocalypse.
“Booth, I know you believe... but the Bible isn’t the word of God, there is no God, which means that there is no Biblical Apocalypse. As for logic, it will always apply. It’s what keeps life in motion. It’s constant. For you to say it does not apply is like saying people don’t need to breathe.”
He should have figured Bones would have rather done anything else then take money from him, he would have in normal circumstances felt bad about not being able to help his partner. He would have said something about that’s what partners do when they were needed, but when it came down to it the complex was safe. He was going to feel much better with her staying there then some hotel in the middle of the college town. Not that she couldn’t defend herself, but there were worse things then muggers and rapists in that city and Bones was already denying it. So the best place for her to be was in the complex at that point in time.
His tone was even and serious when he spoke to her, the initial excitement having toned down drastically. He was into the worrying phase. Bones was there. Demons were there. She was going to have to see one first hand to understand. He hoped to god he could get Ruby to do it before anything else, to show her that he wasn’t playing and it wasn’t some weird joke or trick.
“It isn’t happening because of my belief. But it is happening. Here. I know you’re not going to believe me without proof, but tonight what I want you to do is go into the complex and see the doctors. There are Simon Tam, or Martha Jones. They’re both qualified medical doctors. Simon might even give you a run for your money. “ He mused, though he wasn’t sure she’d understand all things considered. “Pick any empty apartment you want. Oh, and Angela is here in apartment 303. I’m in 508. Just give it some time Bones..” He offered her a faint smile. “Get some rest, the kitchen is open and fully stocked. Anythings game as long as nobody else has written their name on it or anything. “
There was a desire to retort that Brennan wasn’t blaming Booth and his archaic beliefs in the Christian God for what was happening. She merely was stating that it wasn’t possible because it didn’t exist. But Booth was talking about her seeing a doctor and while normally she would protest, Brennan knew that it would be for the best.
“All right, I’ll see a doctor...” Though someone who could give her a run for her money sounded interesting. It was rare that the anthropologist found anyone who matched her in intellect, “This, Simon Tam you speak of perhaps.” And then Booth was talking about her picking an apartment and Angela being there.
“Angela’s here as well?” Brennan was both relieved and confused. After all, Angela had been the one to drive her to the airport. But it went back to Booth’s question on how could he be two places at once beyond the parallel universe theory. Something she still didn’t believe in, but Angela might make it make more sense. At least, that was the hope.
“All right.”
“You’d be a good match. He’s said some things that go over my head, but I’m sure you’d understand them.” Doctor Speak was not Booth’s second language. But again, he was happy. People like that made things like this easier for Bones to start to adjust, then that was just fine with him. “Things are a little different here...” He started, unsure really where he was going with that open ended statement. But the car was off at least and they were in front of the complex. So he didn’t have to worry about her getting out, or demanding to be released with direct worrying of where she’d go at least. “But I’m still here. I’ll always be here when you need me. “ He would have given her his phone and let her use it to call the cafe if she needed him, but he needed to run a few tests on it first. Still he did lean over and open the small glove box by her knees and pull out a sticky note pad, where he jotted down a few numbers.
“This is work. And this is my cell. Seriously, call me for anything. We’re partners. That’s what partners do.” He handed her the note, and tossed the pen back into the glove box. “I’ll be back at my apartment here in the complex in just a few days. I’ve got some things to take care of, but I’m only a few blocks away. “ He reassured and unlocked the doors to the crossover on the drivers side of the car, and gave her one of those all too familiar smiles.
“Well so long as we’re a good match.” Having a doctor who was an imbecile really was tiring. So if it would be someone who would talk to her as a person and at her level, well, Brennan would like to meet this person. And then Booth was talking about how things were different here and left it at that. Well, that was an understatement. Brennan hadn’t even mentioned what she had seen because she personally didn’t believe her own eyes at the moment. Not with her emotional state.
As Booth wrote, Brennan remained silent. What was she to say? Her head was pounding and her vision was blurring from the head trauma. Yes, getting to a doctor would be a good thing. She’d contact Angela when she was able to do so.
“Thank you, Booth...” Taking the paper, the brunette felt her heart flutter at the smile and quickly squashed it. He didn’t love her and she had missed her chance. She had to accept that. This was just Booth being Booth... even if he didn’t know what he had done to her. “I’ll let you know the results of my visit...” After all, if the roles were reversed, she’d want to know, “And when you’re back, I’ll do a scan of your brain.” Just to be sure. With that, Brennan undid her seat belt and got out of the car, swaying ever so slightly as she stood on the ground. Once her balance was regained though, the anthropologist started towards the complex before turning to Booth and waving slightly and then it was back to heading into the lit building and searching out the medical bay.
Of course it wasn’t hard for many doctors to say things that Booth didn’t understand, he wasn’t a medical genius after all, but Simon spoke like a squint sometimes. So he figured they’d get along just fine. And he was alright with that. Whatever would help. Even if it was a slight blow to his ego that it couldn’t be him that would make her see.
It hadn’t even hit him that Bones was really there yet, part of him felt like it was some kind of weird dream. He’d had them before, of her showing up in Kansas and them being together again. It sort of felt like that still, and it was all happening so fast that Booth wasn’t sure what to make of it save for panic and worry for her health and well being. How Buffy would react, or anyone for that matter hadn’t quite registered yet. Bones was injured and people were dead. He’d just left a plane crash where people had died, and it didn’t even phase him a little. Bones was there. In that moment, everything was all right in Seeley’s world.
“Whatever you need, Bones. I’m here. “ It was almost like being on cloud nine, watching her get out of the car toward the complex and stopping to look back at him. He waved back and gave her that same reassuring look he’d given her before before turning on the car after she made it inside. The fact that things were going to be a lot more complicated hadn’t even dawned on him, for the time being as the door shut behind her he was just relieved. He buckled himself back in and drove back toward Lavender’s to pick up Parker.