Author's note: Okay, well I wasn't gonna continue this, as it was just a teaser for the Vegas episode, but this scene was begging me to be written afterwards, so there it is. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Oh believe me, if I owned them, this scene would have been in Wednesday's episode.
Booth shifted onto his side, then thought better of the position as he winced at the shooting pain. He rolled onto his other side and instantly regretted it as a spurt of fire ran up his spine.
He shuffled around, turning slowly onto his back, grunting with each muscle movement.
Brennan, who was lying on the other side of the invisible line across the bed, let out an exasperated sigh.
Booth paused in his motions. "I didn't wake you, did I, Bones?" he asked guiltily.
"No, that would imply that I was able to fall asleep in the first place," she answered testily.
"Sorry, but I got this slight pain in my…everything…." he let his words drift off.
She turned over and faced him, eyeing him critically. Finally, she said, "Where does it hurt?"
He raised his eyebrows. "What, specifically?"
"Mm-hm," she answered.
"Uh…" he did a short visual scan of himself and went through a mental checklist. "Everywhere."
She rolled her eyes. "Turn over."
He paused a moment before replying, "Do I have to?"
"I could turn you over," she threatened.
He held up his hands placatingly and mumbled, "Turning, turning."
Many grunts and groans and creaking bones later, he was lying face-down on the bed.
"Hrz eht?" he said into the pillow.
"What?"
He turned his head and repeated, "How's that?"
"It's fine," she answered, lifting up his shirt and running her fingers along his spine.
"What are you doing?" he asked, craning his neck to look, instantly regretting it. "Argh."
"Stay still," she admonished, continuing to gently prod his back.
"Bones, I gotta tell ya, as great as you are with Bones, you're a lousy masseuse."
"I'm not massaging your back," she said, suddenly pausing at a spot along his spine. "This is gonna hurt."
"What?!"
With one twist of her wrist, the heel of her hand in that spot, there was a loud popping noise followed immediately by Booth yelling out in pain.
"Ah! Sonofa…mother…" he mumbled incoherently into the pillow.
"I told you it was gonna hurt," she said unapologetically.
"Yeah, like a second before you did it. That's not enough time!"
"It wouldn't have hurt any less if you were prepared," she argued rationally.
Booth had turned onto his side to better face his attacker. "But I would rather…" he furrowed his brow in sudden confusion.
Brennan raised her eyebrows in an "I-told-you-so" gesture as Booth became aware that she had considerably lessened the pain in his back.
"Nevermind," he said, dropping his argument and turning to face away from Brennan. She followed suit, turning towards the window.
After a few minutes of silence, Booth ventured a quiet, "Bones?"
There was a pause, and then, "Yes, Booth?"
"I have this slight pang in my shoulder…" he started.
"Goodnight, Booth."
"Yeah, okay," he said. "G'night, Bones."
END (for real this time)
Just a short response to what I felt was missing from the episode. Let me know what you think.