Bones Fanfic: Stuck In A Moment (15/27)
Title: Stuck In A Moment
Author: biba79
Disclaimer: Characters aren’t mine, they belong to Hart Hanson.
Pairings/Characters: Booth/Brennan
Rating: T
Summary: An event tests Booth and Brennan's relationship. Booth kept telling himself that it would take time, and he needed to be patient. Will they be able to get through it? Future Fic! B/B!
Word Count: 2,885
Spoiler: None
Preview Chapters: One - Two - Three - Four - Five - Six - Seven - Eight - Nine - Ten - Eleven - Twelve - Thirteen - Fourteen
A/N:
Song “Not Out” by Greg Laswell
I’m not gonna fall down today,
Instead I will buckle my knees and sway
Against sweet memories
Against memories
I’ve gotta get outta here today, today
There is too much room in this bed where I lay
The street buzzes for me, below, buzzes for me
And if the breeze blows me down
I’ll take my time to come around,
But I’m not out, oh, I’m not out
Wish I could pull you down today,
From that storm high up that’s taking you away
What would you say to me?
And I’m sure that I am tangled up in things you said out loud to me
So recklessly, and it’s easier to sing the things I wanna say to you,
So I’ll sing, you’re losing me my love,
You’re losing me my love,
Are you losing me my love?
Chapter 15
After the tire fiasco, he stopped making excuses as to why he couldn’t see her, and he started to call her three and four times a week. They would see each other at least twice a week in person. Sometimes, late at night when he couldn’t sleep, he would reach for the phone, tempted to call her again when he had just finished talking to her. He knew if he called again, she wouldn’t mind. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like without her. He didn’t allow himself to think about what it had been like without Brennan. He couldn’t go there, couldn’t dwell on it, or he would succumb to the deep depression that went with it.
He found that he was more eager to see Emma every time. She was the only one he felt accepted by. Other people had expectations; he felt the pressure of their belief that he would reconcile with Brennan eventually. It just served to drive the wounds deeper, knowing he may not fulfill everyone’s dearest wish; that he might not be able to salvage the ruins this time. It made him like he was letting everyone down.
It was like now they wanted him to bounce right back, where before if he would suffer some trauma and go about his normal business the next day, they would all look on him disapprovingly. Strange how he finally did what they expected and they didn’t like it. He couldn’t pretend it was all okay, or that he was okay now. He couldn’t do it anymore, and he had no idea if he would ever get back with Brennan again.
He had never really been okay before; he had only pretended he was okay. He was too tired to act anymore; he was too spent to fight. They would never settle for that, and they would never leave him alone if they knew how ready to give up he was. Brennan might never come back to their marriage, and he was beginning to believe her office would stay empty forever too. His heart couldn’t stand the thought of such incredible, excruciating loneliness.
Emma was like a lifeline for him. She was rooting for his marriage and his well being, but not in a demanding or expectant way. She was just there. And she made it all better. She was a wonderful listener, and he felt so comfortable confiding in her. He needed desperately to trust in someone, and maybe because she was a woman and a mother, he felt a little less lonely when he was with her. Lately he had been with her a lot, and he had been expressing some of his feelings. He felt freer, but not absolved. There was only one person who would ever be able to give him that, and she was not interested in giving him the time of day. He stopped the meandering thoughts as he saw Emma approaching the table.
“Hey Seeley. How is everything?” She smiled as she greeted him at the restaurant; it was a Saturday breakfast. He figured he at least wanted to buy her a meal. Eating out all the time sucked, but eating alone was worse and doing this in the day time for a change felt so good. He was not as exhausted as he normally was, so maybe he could give her a nice morning. She surely deserved a nice morning after everything she was doing for him.
“Hey, Emma. Thanks for coming.”
“Sure. Are you okay?” She asked, concerned.
“Yeah. No. Let’s eat, then maybe we can walk outside. I don’t really want to talk about it in here.” Booth wasn’t sure he would ever have the nerve to tell her. He would miss their talks so much, and if he told her, she might decide he wasn’t worth helping. “If that works okay for you?” He was always mindful of her son.
“Okay… yeah, it’s fine. Nick was at a friend’s house overnight so I don’t have to pick him up until noon.” Emma seemed a little less animated than usual, but Booth didn’t question it. Everyone had an off day once in a while.
“That’s lucky for me…” Booth grinned appreciatively. He wondered if this was why Brennan called the office leaving a message that Cooper couldn’t be with him until late Saturday.
“Yeah. Me too. It’s good to see you.” Emma said it softly, realizing how much she was growing to depend on these meetings. Her eyes wandered off, and t Booth watched, wondering why suddenly her face had gone so pale.
He started to ask if she was okay, but the waiter came to take their order. She asked for more time, and the waiter walked off to do something else. Booth noticed she hadn’t even opened the menu. He was about to ask her what was wrong when she spoke quietly. “It was three years ago today… the accident.”
Booth’s mouth fell open, he hadn’t had a clue. How selfish could he be, expecting her to listen to him when she was the one suffering. “Oh my god. Emma. I had no idea. I’m so sorry. How insensitive of me.”
“Seeley, you couldn’t have known. It’s okay really.” She tried to reassure him, but she was fighting back throat-closing tears.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Booth offered.
She looked away battling the wild emotions welling inside. “No… I’m okay. It’s just some of these days - anniversaries, birthdays - it’s hard, and I saw the tray the waiter carried…” She sniffed her sorrow back quietly.
“Of course it isn’t okay.” Booth’s hand went over hers, comfortingly. He caressed it gently as she forced the tears away.
“I’m okay.” She assured him.
“No, you are not… and I bet you are not hungry either.”
She shook her head, barely holding onto her composure. Booth threw some bills on the table and quickly ushered her out, his arm protectively around her shoulders. She inhaled deeply, getting a hold of the outpouring emotions.
Booth grabbed her hand, leading her to a nearby bench. They sat quietly, still holding hands, as she cried for a few minutes.
“God, some help I am.” She exclaimed, berating herself.
He took her into his arms tenderly, letting her cry on his shoulder. He knew her pain, and he had some inclination of her loneliness. He wiped away the stray tears with a tissue she produced, her hands shaking too much to do it herself. He administered the care - loving the chance to be needed, to feel necessary to someone - and he let her take the time she needed to experience the sorrow and to get past the agonizing memories.
She closed her eyes as she leaned her head on his shoulders; it had been so long since she felt that masculine security. She missed it too. She missed Jeff so much… and she felt guilty being with Booth. She wouldn’t admit to herself how happy she was to hear his voice on the phone inviting her to go to breakfast. She’d almost refused because it was three years today, but something stopped her, something needy she had been ignoring for so long. And now here she was in his arms. He was married and he was hurting too. She had no right to be here.
She slipped out of his arms, straightening her shirt and clearing her throat. “I’m sorry Seeley, this wasn’t fair to you… you weren’t expecting to be my shoulder… you shouldn’t have to be… you have your own…”
“Hey… don’t worry about fair… I’m fine with this. I’m happy I can be here for you for a change… you have helped me how many times now?” He asked, his eyes soft and caring.
“I’m not sure I have been any help, though.” Emma shook her head.
“You are more help than you know,” Booth told her honestly.
“Seeley… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come today. I thought I was fine… it’s so silly. I saw the pancakes with the clown faces being delivered to that table, and I lost it. Ben loved those, and Jeff always made them on Saturday mornings…I haven’t ever made them for Nick since… I tried once, but I ended up crying so hard I burnt them, and then he cried too.” Emma laughed sadly.
Booth let her talk. He liked hearing about her life and what she lost, because it gave him a more complete picture, and he understood the shattering pain she had fought for three years. He admired her strength and her honesty; he wished he could be as forthcoming, but he wasn’t about to burden her today. He gave her a quick hug and he kissed her lightly on the cheek - a friendly, understanding kiss. Nothing more. She felt his lips on her cheek, and her heart zinged insanely. This couldn’t be happening, she wouldn’t let it happen, she wasn’t ready, and she knew he wasn’t available. Why him, of all people? She regretted ever walking up to him at the parent’s night. But there was a part of her that was indescribably happy she had.
“You feel up to a walk now?” He asked.
“Yeah, good idea,” she agreed, and they strolled towards the park.
“Did you get to say goodbye?” Booth wanted to know more.
“No.” She looked at him, her eyes were moist and reddening a bit more. “It was instant… no pain.” He heard the catch in her voice. “I wish I had gotten to tell them… it was really hard not having that chance.”
No pain, who the hell were they kidding when they said that. Booth’s eyes teared up. He remained silent. If they knew how much pain it caused when they said that. Sure they did it to spare you, but it was so untrue, there had to be pain, just the pain of separation was torturous enough. He wondered how Liz felt when she woke up in heaven without Mommy and Daddy or Parker and Cooper. He wondered if she cried the way they all had.
“I have gone over in my mind a thousand times what I would say to them, if I had one more day, one more hour, or even a minute.”
“What would you say?” Booth felt the need to be her sounding board, and maybe if she said it to him, it would help her let it go.
“I would thank them for being the best part of my life, for loving me the way they did and for being with me, even if it was for too short a time, because I can’t imagine my life without them at all. And I would tell them how deeply I still and always will love them.” Her eyes were watery pools as she looked into his. He opened his arms to her again, and they both sobbed like lost little children who didn’t know the way home.
Booth felt deeply for this poor woman who had so much heartache. “Bones didn’t get to say goodbye to Liz either.” He couldn’t get the words out without stammering.
“Ah… that is a big part of the anger and the denial… when you don’t have the closure. How is Temperance doing now?”
“I wish I knew,” Booth whispered.
“And Cooper?”
“He’s okay. He seems okay with not going to school; I imagine there aren’t many kids who wouldn’t be happy about that.” He grinned, but his heart ached because he knew Cooper was putting up a brave front.
“Well, he’s a good boy, and he has a great Dad.” Emma knew Booth wasn’t opening up as much because he was worried about her. “A really great Dad.” She said it again. “Who isn’t telling me why we almost had breakfast this morning.”
“Aw, it’s not important. Not today. Emma you need time to cherish your memories and share if you feel like it, whenever you feel like it. I would like to return the favor anytime.”
“You already have Seeley. I’m glad to have a friend like you.” Emma wouldn’t let him see she had felt things she never thought she would feel again, and she wouldn’t let them flourish, because the man was so in love with his wife and because he was vulnerable and so very lonely. But she couldn’t turn her back on him either; something in her knew he was experiencing an untold amount of suffering inside, and she hoped he could express it to someone. She really liked him, and she prayed with all her heart he could get his life back. “Things will get better Seeley… for both of us.” Emma smiled hopefully.
“Well, they can’t get too much worse now, can they?” Booth said teasingly. He wanted to lighten her day and bring more of those smiles to her face. She really was a lovely woman. She deserved some happiness too.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Brennan answered the phone; after leaving it to ring a few times, she realized whoever was calling wouldn’t be giving up anytime soon. She hoped it wasn’t Daisy.
“Hello,” she said guardedly.
“Temperance? It’s Payton Perotta… How are you doing?” Brennan’s eyes widened then rolled. Sure they had gotten closer over the years, but they weren’t best friends, and Brennan knew that Perotta must have a reason to be calling. Brennan couldn’t forget that Perotta loved to gossip. Just what she needed. She would have never answered the phone if she’d known it was her.
“I’m fine.” Brennan hoped her curt tone would end the call soon.
“Oh, Temperance, you don’t need to keep up that brave front. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. It hasn’t been a year yet… and he’s already… well, you know.”
“Who’s already what?” Brennan’s head throbbed just trying to follow the insinuations.
“Well, I wouldn’t have believed it myself, but I saw it with my own eyes… I know the two of you are separated, but really, flaunting it the way he is. Men.” Brennan’s eyes turned glassy as she heard the subject of the gossip. She held the phone tighter as she ignored her heart’s little lurching twinges.
“I don’t really know what you are referring to…” Brennan didn’t want to hear this, she wanted to hang up, but a morbid, almost masochistic, curiosity got the better of her.
“Booth and Cooper’s music teacher… well, former music teacher. It’s a good thing you took him out when you did... oh my, did you already know? Of course, that’s why. Surely you must have known.”
Brennan mind warped into all different scenarios. She told herself she couldn’t care, she didn’t care, and she wouldn’t care.
“I really don’t have the time…” Brennan’s mind went crazy, and she resisted the urge to cry. It was just a knee jerk reaction, not real emotions she was feeling. She didn’t give a damn about him.
“We saw them at the restaurant having breakfast, but I guess they weren’t hungry because they left before they even ate. He was holding her hand, and then we saw them outside the window. They were embracing and carrying on like nobody’s business. You must be livid. I mean, I thought I should call you and see how you were doing. I can’t imagine how hard… I mean after losing Liz and all… maybe it was just his grief, and you know men. I’m sure it’s temporary… it will pass. You can’t take it to heart, and after all you are separated, so maybe he’s just having a fling.”
“I really can’t talk right now…” Brennan fought the dizzy sensation. It was not because she cared; it was because of no food in her stomach. Booth’s breakfast with Emma meant he could have been with her the night before. No, she didn’t give a damn. She wouldn’t even think about it. She wouldn’t worry about him anymore.
“Listen, I won’t tell another soul Temperance, but I thought you should know, and I’m sure she’s just using him.”
“I’m sure.” Brennan said absently as she slowly put the phone back down.
She waited for a moment and when the phone rang again, she quickly picked it up and set it down off to the side, letting the chattering gossip talk to the desk drawer as she moved towards her office, slamming the door.
Author: biba79
Disclaimer: Characters aren’t mine, they belong to Hart Hanson.
Pairings/Characters: Booth/Brennan
Rating: T
Summary: An event tests Booth and Brennan's relationship. Booth kept telling himself that it would take time, and he needed to be patient. Will they be able to get through it? Future Fic! B/B!
Word Count: 2,885
Spoiler: None
Preview Chapters: One - Two - Three - Four - Five - Six - Seven - Eight - Nine - Ten - Eleven - Twelve - Thirteen - Fourteen
A/N:
Song “Not Out” by Greg Laswell
I’m not gonna fall down today,
Instead I will buckle my knees and sway
Against sweet memories
Against memories
I’ve gotta get outta here today, today
There is too much room in this bed where I lay
The street buzzes for me, below, buzzes for me
And if the breeze blows me down
I’ll take my time to come around,
But I’m not out, oh, I’m not out
Wish I could pull you down today,
From that storm high up that’s taking you away
What would you say to me?
And I’m sure that I am tangled up in things you said out loud to me
So recklessly, and it’s easier to sing the things I wanna say to you,
So I’ll sing, you’re losing me my love,
You’re losing me my love,
Are you losing me my love?
Chapter 15
After the tire fiasco, he stopped making excuses as to why he couldn’t see her, and he started to call her three and four times a week. They would see each other at least twice a week in person. Sometimes, late at night when he couldn’t sleep, he would reach for the phone, tempted to call her again when he had just finished talking to her. He knew if he called again, she wouldn’t mind. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like without her. He didn’t allow himself to think about what it had been like without Brennan. He couldn’t go there, couldn’t dwell on it, or he would succumb to the deep depression that went with it.
He found that he was more eager to see Emma every time. She was the only one he felt accepted by. Other people had expectations; he felt the pressure of their belief that he would reconcile with Brennan eventually. It just served to drive the wounds deeper, knowing he may not fulfill everyone’s dearest wish; that he might not be able to salvage the ruins this time. It made him like he was letting everyone down.
It was like now they wanted him to bounce right back, where before if he would suffer some trauma and go about his normal business the next day, they would all look on him disapprovingly. Strange how he finally did what they expected and they didn’t like it. He couldn’t pretend it was all okay, or that he was okay now. He couldn’t do it anymore, and he had no idea if he would ever get back with Brennan again.
He had never really been okay before; he had only pretended he was okay. He was too tired to act anymore; he was too spent to fight. They would never settle for that, and they would never leave him alone if they knew how ready to give up he was. Brennan might never come back to their marriage, and he was beginning to believe her office would stay empty forever too. His heart couldn’t stand the thought of such incredible, excruciating loneliness.
Emma was like a lifeline for him. She was rooting for his marriage and his well being, but not in a demanding or expectant way. She was just there. And she made it all better. She was a wonderful listener, and he felt so comfortable confiding in her. He needed desperately to trust in someone, and maybe because she was a woman and a mother, he felt a little less lonely when he was with her. Lately he had been with her a lot, and he had been expressing some of his feelings. He felt freer, but not absolved. There was only one person who would ever be able to give him that, and she was not interested in giving him the time of day. He stopped the meandering thoughts as he saw Emma approaching the table.
“Hey Seeley. How is everything?” She smiled as she greeted him at the restaurant; it was a Saturday breakfast. He figured he at least wanted to buy her a meal. Eating out all the time sucked, but eating alone was worse and doing this in the day time for a change felt so good. He was not as exhausted as he normally was, so maybe he could give her a nice morning. She surely deserved a nice morning after everything she was doing for him.
“Hey, Emma. Thanks for coming.”
“Sure. Are you okay?” She asked, concerned.
“Yeah. No. Let’s eat, then maybe we can walk outside. I don’t really want to talk about it in here.” Booth wasn’t sure he would ever have the nerve to tell her. He would miss their talks so much, and if he told her, she might decide he wasn’t worth helping. “If that works okay for you?” He was always mindful of her son.
“Okay… yeah, it’s fine. Nick was at a friend’s house overnight so I don’t have to pick him up until noon.” Emma seemed a little less animated than usual, but Booth didn’t question it. Everyone had an off day once in a while.
“That’s lucky for me…” Booth grinned appreciatively. He wondered if this was why Brennan called the office leaving a message that Cooper couldn’t be with him until late Saturday.
“Yeah. Me too. It’s good to see you.” Emma said it softly, realizing how much she was growing to depend on these meetings. Her eyes wandered off, and t Booth watched, wondering why suddenly her face had gone so pale.
He started to ask if she was okay, but the waiter came to take their order. She asked for more time, and the waiter walked off to do something else. Booth noticed she hadn’t even opened the menu. He was about to ask her what was wrong when she spoke quietly. “It was three years ago today… the accident.”
Booth’s mouth fell open, he hadn’t had a clue. How selfish could he be, expecting her to listen to him when she was the one suffering. “Oh my god. Emma. I had no idea. I’m so sorry. How insensitive of me.”
“Seeley, you couldn’t have known. It’s okay really.” She tried to reassure him, but she was fighting back throat-closing tears.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Booth offered.
She looked away battling the wild emotions welling inside. “No… I’m okay. It’s just some of these days - anniversaries, birthdays - it’s hard, and I saw the tray the waiter carried…” She sniffed her sorrow back quietly.
“Of course it isn’t okay.” Booth’s hand went over hers, comfortingly. He caressed it gently as she forced the tears away.
“I’m okay.” She assured him.
“No, you are not… and I bet you are not hungry either.”
She shook her head, barely holding onto her composure. Booth threw some bills on the table and quickly ushered her out, his arm protectively around her shoulders. She inhaled deeply, getting a hold of the outpouring emotions.
Booth grabbed her hand, leading her to a nearby bench. They sat quietly, still holding hands, as she cried for a few minutes.
“God, some help I am.” She exclaimed, berating herself.
He took her into his arms tenderly, letting her cry on his shoulder. He knew her pain, and he had some inclination of her loneliness. He wiped away the stray tears with a tissue she produced, her hands shaking too much to do it herself. He administered the care - loving the chance to be needed, to feel necessary to someone - and he let her take the time she needed to experience the sorrow and to get past the agonizing memories.
She closed her eyes as she leaned her head on his shoulders; it had been so long since she felt that masculine security. She missed it too. She missed Jeff so much… and she felt guilty being with Booth. She wouldn’t admit to herself how happy she was to hear his voice on the phone inviting her to go to breakfast. She’d almost refused because it was three years today, but something stopped her, something needy she had been ignoring for so long. And now here she was in his arms. He was married and he was hurting too. She had no right to be here.
She slipped out of his arms, straightening her shirt and clearing her throat. “I’m sorry Seeley, this wasn’t fair to you… you weren’t expecting to be my shoulder… you shouldn’t have to be… you have your own…”
“Hey… don’t worry about fair… I’m fine with this. I’m happy I can be here for you for a change… you have helped me how many times now?” He asked, his eyes soft and caring.
“I’m not sure I have been any help, though.” Emma shook her head.
“You are more help than you know,” Booth told her honestly.
“Seeley… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come today. I thought I was fine… it’s so silly. I saw the pancakes with the clown faces being delivered to that table, and I lost it. Ben loved those, and Jeff always made them on Saturday mornings…I haven’t ever made them for Nick since… I tried once, but I ended up crying so hard I burnt them, and then he cried too.” Emma laughed sadly.
Booth let her talk. He liked hearing about her life and what she lost, because it gave him a more complete picture, and he understood the shattering pain she had fought for three years. He admired her strength and her honesty; he wished he could be as forthcoming, but he wasn’t about to burden her today. He gave her a quick hug and he kissed her lightly on the cheek - a friendly, understanding kiss. Nothing more. She felt his lips on her cheek, and her heart zinged insanely. This couldn’t be happening, she wouldn’t let it happen, she wasn’t ready, and she knew he wasn’t available. Why him, of all people? She regretted ever walking up to him at the parent’s night. But there was a part of her that was indescribably happy she had.
“You feel up to a walk now?” He asked.
“Yeah, good idea,” she agreed, and they strolled towards the park.
“Did you get to say goodbye?” Booth wanted to know more.
“No.” She looked at him, her eyes were moist and reddening a bit more. “It was instant… no pain.” He heard the catch in her voice. “I wish I had gotten to tell them… it was really hard not having that chance.”
No pain, who the hell were they kidding when they said that. Booth’s eyes teared up. He remained silent. If they knew how much pain it caused when they said that. Sure they did it to spare you, but it was so untrue, there had to be pain, just the pain of separation was torturous enough. He wondered how Liz felt when she woke up in heaven without Mommy and Daddy or Parker and Cooper. He wondered if she cried the way they all had.
“I have gone over in my mind a thousand times what I would say to them, if I had one more day, one more hour, or even a minute.”
“What would you say?” Booth felt the need to be her sounding board, and maybe if she said it to him, it would help her let it go.
“I would thank them for being the best part of my life, for loving me the way they did and for being with me, even if it was for too short a time, because I can’t imagine my life without them at all. And I would tell them how deeply I still and always will love them.” Her eyes were watery pools as she looked into his. He opened his arms to her again, and they both sobbed like lost little children who didn’t know the way home.
Booth felt deeply for this poor woman who had so much heartache. “Bones didn’t get to say goodbye to Liz either.” He couldn’t get the words out without stammering.
“Ah… that is a big part of the anger and the denial… when you don’t have the closure. How is Temperance doing now?”
“I wish I knew,” Booth whispered.
“And Cooper?”
“He’s okay. He seems okay with not going to school; I imagine there aren’t many kids who wouldn’t be happy about that.” He grinned, but his heart ached because he knew Cooper was putting up a brave front.
“Well, he’s a good boy, and he has a great Dad.” Emma knew Booth wasn’t opening up as much because he was worried about her. “A really great Dad.” She said it again. “Who isn’t telling me why we almost had breakfast this morning.”
“Aw, it’s not important. Not today. Emma you need time to cherish your memories and share if you feel like it, whenever you feel like it. I would like to return the favor anytime.”
“You already have Seeley. I’m glad to have a friend like you.” Emma wouldn’t let him see she had felt things she never thought she would feel again, and she wouldn’t let them flourish, because the man was so in love with his wife and because he was vulnerable and so very lonely. But she couldn’t turn her back on him either; something in her knew he was experiencing an untold amount of suffering inside, and she hoped he could express it to someone. She really liked him, and she prayed with all her heart he could get his life back. “Things will get better Seeley… for both of us.” Emma smiled hopefully.
“Well, they can’t get too much worse now, can they?” Booth said teasingly. He wanted to lighten her day and bring more of those smiles to her face. She really was a lovely woman. She deserved some happiness too.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Brennan answered the phone; after leaving it to ring a few times, she realized whoever was calling wouldn’t be giving up anytime soon. She hoped it wasn’t Daisy.
“Hello,” she said guardedly.
“Temperance? It’s Payton Perotta… How are you doing?” Brennan’s eyes widened then rolled. Sure they had gotten closer over the years, but they weren’t best friends, and Brennan knew that Perotta must have a reason to be calling. Brennan couldn’t forget that Perotta loved to gossip. Just what she needed. She would have never answered the phone if she’d known it was her.
“I’m fine.” Brennan hoped her curt tone would end the call soon.
“Oh, Temperance, you don’t need to keep up that brave front. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. It hasn’t been a year yet… and he’s already… well, you know.”
“Who’s already what?” Brennan’s head throbbed just trying to follow the insinuations.
“Well, I wouldn’t have believed it myself, but I saw it with my own eyes… I know the two of you are separated, but really, flaunting it the way he is. Men.” Brennan’s eyes turned glassy as she heard the subject of the gossip. She held the phone tighter as she ignored her heart’s little lurching twinges.
“I don’t really know what you are referring to…” Brennan didn’t want to hear this, she wanted to hang up, but a morbid, almost masochistic, curiosity got the better of her.
“Booth and Cooper’s music teacher… well, former music teacher. It’s a good thing you took him out when you did... oh my, did you already know? Of course, that’s why. Surely you must have known.”
Brennan mind warped into all different scenarios. She told herself she couldn’t care, she didn’t care, and she wouldn’t care.
“I really don’t have the time…” Brennan’s mind went crazy, and she resisted the urge to cry. It was just a knee jerk reaction, not real emotions she was feeling. She didn’t give a damn about him.
“We saw them at the restaurant having breakfast, but I guess they weren’t hungry because they left before they even ate. He was holding her hand, and then we saw them outside the window. They were embracing and carrying on like nobody’s business. You must be livid. I mean, I thought I should call you and see how you were doing. I can’t imagine how hard… I mean after losing Liz and all… maybe it was just his grief, and you know men. I’m sure it’s temporary… it will pass. You can’t take it to heart, and after all you are separated, so maybe he’s just having a fling.”
“I really can’t talk right now…” Brennan fought the dizzy sensation. It was not because she cared; it was because of no food in her stomach. Booth’s breakfast with Emma meant he could have been with her the night before. No, she didn’t give a damn. She wouldn’t even think about it. She wouldn’t worry about him anymore.
“Listen, I won’t tell another soul Temperance, but I thought you should know, and I’m sure she’s just using him.”
“I’m sure.” Brennan said absently as she slowly put the phone back down.
She waited for a moment and when the phone rang again, she quickly picked it up and set it down off to the side, letting the chattering gossip talk to the desk drawer as she moved towards her office, slamming the door.