Bones Drabble: "Brittle"

[farmerliz]

In later years, Booth looks back on this time as just about the worst of his life.  That troubles him, really, because he’s fought in two wars, killed countless (except he counts) men for his country, and conquered an addiction.  So what does it say that watching Bones open herself to him just a little more, reach out to him just a little bit too

Comments

[farmerliz]

Do you think he really sees that she's hurting? Or has he blocked all of that out in his quest to move on?

You know, I think he does see it. Brennan's manic denial is pretty obvious (like when she walked away, slightly hysterical, insisting that Hannah couldn't possibly affect her work), but Booth has some edginess going on, too. He's just better at hiding it, because, let's face it, the end of season 5 was the exception, not the rule. In some ways, he's back to business as usual with a vengeance because he knows that the road he was on late S5, after Brennan's rejection, could only lead to madness. So, yes, he's absolutely acting out of self-preservation, but I think if he didn't see through Brennan to some extant, he wouldn't be Booth.

I think it was you who brought this up in another thread. I totally agree that Booth wins the long-term crappy childhood award, and he learned to compartmentalize, too. He just brings different characteristics to the fore: bravery, duty, love instead of science and rationality. But Brennan's compartmentalization lets her be oblivious when it suits her. I don't think Booth's oblivious; I think think he's just hunkered down and doing what he thinks he has to do for himself now.

[farmerliz]

Also: Thanks for the feedback! :-)