Chapter 14: Homeward Bound
A/N: The final chapter guys. It's extremely long, longer than I had planned. Hope you like it.
Disclaimer: The last time I will have to say it on this story, I don't own Bones (sadly), the characters in this belong to Fox (except sheriff dude and ) but the story's all mine mwoahahaha (sorry couldn't help it.)
XxX
Chapter 14: Homeward Bound
After Brennan and Booths extremely long kissing session in the water had finished they clambered back onto the bank. The earth below them was warm and they lay down side by side. They chatted like normal, bickering and laughing with each other. Soon the glowing hot, afternoon sun dried them off. They changed into their dry clothes and headed back to where Bullseye was stood under the shade of the tree that he was tied to.
With bright moods they untied Bullseye's reigns from the tree and hopped on his back. Booth decided to take the reigns and waited for the argument that was about to escape Brennan's mouth.
"What are you doing?" She spoke quickly her head snapped up to look him in the eyes.
Cute, predictable Bones, and if you can hear these thoughts, please don't kill me.
He turned to answer her.
"I'm riding the horse, Bones. What does it look like I'm doing?" He replied simply.
"I know that Booth. I do have eyes you know." She retorted.
Ah, how fun it is to wind her up. I've found my purpose in life and it couldn't be more blissful!
"I was just wondering why, I presumed it was my turn. And also why are you grinning like an idiot?" Brennan asked curiously, after noticing the look in his eyes as he gazed at her.
Booth shook his head to rid the thoughts of how much he enjoyed teasing Bones and answered her question.
"I thought you might like a break, you know, relax. You do know how to do that right Bones? Don't you?" The last part was said with a tinge of sarcasm to his voice.
Brennan hit him playfully on his right shoulder blade.
"Yes, Booth. I do know how to relax. What do you think I've been doing the past couple of days?"
How much more relaxed does he want me to be? Geez!
"Doesn't matter Bones. I just thought if I took the reigns for a while then you can relax a little bit more. You look kinda exhausted." He shrugged.
I look exhausted!? Why are there no mirrors in the mountains of Texas!!! Oh my God (not that I have one)! When did I become so...vain? I don't care what I look like, and neither does Booth so why am I having an Angela panic over my appearance? That man does funny things to my brain.
"I'm fine Booth." She assured him but then added a quiet "thank you" as she leant her head against his back and circled her arms around his waist. Booth felt Brennan put her front flush against his back and reveled in how comfortable and perfect it felt to have her there.
"Looks like its homeward bound, Bones." Brennan detected a hint of sadness and couldn't help feeling the same way.
She wanted to go home, yes. She wanted se her friends again, yes, but the one thing she wasn't sure of was how they would react to the new development of her and Booths relationship. Her thoughts went like this;
Angela Ecstatic
Hodgins Happy
Zach Happy but wary
Cam possibly happy, but she couldn't complain because her and Booth had a previous working relationship
Cullen/ Dr Goodman didn't even want to know. Brennan didn't want to think about that because she knew that in the worst case scenario that they could be split up as partners and that thought tortured her.
Brennan sighed softly against Booths back and tried to chase her thoughts away. Booth sensed something was wrong and pulled Bullseye to a halt and turned in the saddle to face her. With the bottom part of his body still facing forward he found it difficult to twist around to look at her properly but he succeeded, even if he was extremely uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?" He asked softly.
"Hmmm?" She looked up into his concerned brown eyes and looked down again.
"Bones, hey, tell me." He said with a tiny essence of force to his quiet voice.
"I just…" She looked up and let out a somewhat exasperated sigh. She continued,
"I just keep thinking, what if we get back and things change. What if it's just the atmosphere? You know, being in a new place, the adventure? The sunshine? You know?" She searched his eyes for understanding but seemed to see disbelief instead.
Oh no, tell me I haven't just offended him and ruined everything? He needs to understand, I need to understand whether this is just a holiday sort of fling.
"Booth?" She asked after he stayed silent for a long moment and just looked at her.
"Booth, are you mad at me?" She asked, not believing the weakness in her voice.
"No, no." He shook his head.
"Bones, I was just wondering how on earth could you think this is not gonna mean the same when we get home. Sure, the climate will change, the scenery will, and there will be more people, more lab equipment, more crimes." He stopped for a second and looked at her intensely.
"But nothing, I swear, nothing, will change the way I feel about you. Temperance, I love you, and it doesn't matter where the hell I am, I could be at the edge of the universe and I would still love you, no matter what."
Liquid formed at the corner of her eyes and Booth wiped away a stray tear that was rolling down her cheek.
"I promise." He smiled softly. She returned the smile and Booth kissed her forehead and pulled her into his chest, holding her close.
He placed another kiss into her hair and assured her that she had nothing to worry about as long as they were together.
"I'm sorry." He heard her murmur into his chest.
"I'm sorry for doubting us." She took a deep breath.
"For doubting you." She clarified, ashamed of ever doubting the man she loved more than anything.
"Don't apologize Bones." She heard the smile in his voice as he spoke her nickname.
"It's okay to be scared; I just want you to know that you don't have to be, not with me."
She looked up at him and smiled, wiping her tear stained cheeks with the back of her hand.
"What did I do to deserve you?" She asked slightly bewildered.
"Everything." He replied sincerely.
She leant up and kissed him softly. Her lips parted as she pulled back by the smallest amount and leant her forehead against Booths.
"Homeward Bound." She mumbled against his lips, causing them to tingle with the vibration. They pulled back more and smiled widely at each other.
Confident that Bones was feeling better, he returned to his previous position and continued to ride down the mountain at a leisurely pace.
How can she think that this was only a holiday thing?
Booth shook his head lightly with a grin on his face.
Sometimes she's just ridiculous.
Brennan was lost in her own thoughts again, except this time they were in a much happier place.
Everything's perfect, Booth loves me, and I've never felt this complete in my entire life. Texas really is a place of wonderful things; maybe we could come back here for our anniversary…ANNIVERSARY!!! What the hell? I don't believe in marriage! Just because Booth does, doesn't mean I have to, although…I would do anything for him…No, no, marriage is an archaic institution created merely to handicap a woman's rights and make her become property of the man she weds. I don't believe it. But Booth…In a church, a tux, me in a long white dress, Ange as my maid of honor…Okay, this is stopping right now! No more marriage thoughts at all. Parkers cute, I wonder what Booths other kids would look like…Oh great, now I'm thinking about kids! Shut up brain! Shut up right now!
Booth began humming, oblivious to Brennan's thoughts of their future together. She was just glad to find the salvation of hearing something other than her own thoughts.
Surprisingly to Booth she joined in, humming along with the familiar tune. She had heard it before but couldn't quite place it and she didn't really care.
The trek down the mountain continued and soon they found themselves watching wave at them from the distance. Suddenly Bullseye reared up and galloped towards her. Booth and Bones sat on the back stunned and trying to cling on to the horse so they didn't fall off.
They reached Mary-Jay at a lightning speed and the horse halted suddenly and nuzzled its face into her welcoming hand.
"Looks like someone's missed you." Booth smiled, a little out of breath from what had just happened.
"Yeah, sorry bout that folks. He gets a lil over excited when he ain't seen me for a while." Booth and Brennan were exhausted and they felt relaxed by the familiar, smooth Texan accent.
The group laughed lightly together and Booth looked to his right just in time to see the sheriff arriving.
Oh great, not again.
They shared a look and realized that they were both thinking the exact same thing.
As the sheriff neared, Booth took Brennan's hand in his. Brennan noticed and leant up to whisper in his ear.
"Marking your territory Agent Booth?" Her voice sent shivers down his spine and he replied by sending her a charm smile that made her heart skip a beat.
Brennan wasn't the only one that noticed Booths hand had been placed into her own, Mary-Jay gave them a huge smile and a quite congratulations but the sheriff just glared at the sight.
Mary-Jay quickly decided that conversation was in need to defuse the situation.
"So, you looked after Bullseye? He wasn't too much to handle was he?" She asked brightly.
"No trouble at all. And don't worry, you won't need to get your cowboys after Booth, I promise." Brennan replied with a warm smile.
"That's good to hear. Wouldn't want to waste a handsome man like yourself." She smiled at Booth and he returned her friendly smile.
"So, you two 'get it on' up that mountain then?" She asked.
She's as blunt as Bones! There's something I never thought was possible.
Brennan laughed and replied.
"Let's just say the environment has very positive effects."
The sheriff's expression was priceless and the trio tried desperately to hide their amusement.
"You taught handsome here to ride then?" She questioned.
"Yeah, he's a good student."
"How long did it take?" Obviously curious, considering the first time she saw Booth ride Bullseye.
Brennan laughed.
"A while…" Booth tried to look hurt but couldn't when he saw Bones laugh.
"Aww, sorry baby, did I hurt your manly pride?" She joked.
Booth nodded and pouted like a little boy, he added the puppy dog eyes for extra effect.
Brennan laughed again and reached up to kiss him lightly on the lips.
"Better?"
"Mmmm, almost." He said with a shrug and pulled her in for a deeper kiss.
The jealous sheriff interrupted them as usual.
"You folks headin' back soon?"
"Yeah, we're gonna leave when we get the bags and after a long hot shower." Booth sent a meaningful look towards Brennan as he said 'shower' and his intentions behind the look were pretty obvious.
Booth and a long, hot shower. How can this get any better?
"Well, uh, we better go then." Brennan said quickly, wanting nothing more than to jump in that shower that very moment.
They collected their bags off of Bullseye's back and turned to Mary-Jay.
"Anytime you're in DC give us a call, okay? We'll go for lunch or something." Brennan smiled.
"Sure thing, Hun." Mary-Jay tilted her hat at the pair.
Brennan and Booth both nodded politely at the sheriff as they passed and asked him where the rental car was. He pointed them in the right direction and they left to walk towards the silver SUV. They turned to wave goodbye and then carried on walking.
Brennan turned to Booth and smiled.
"Come on cowboy, let's go home." Booth noticed the look in Brennan's eye but before he could question her she had playfully slapped his and stolen his hat. He watched as she laughed and ran towards the SUV.
Booth chased after her with a grin the size of the Cheshire cat's.
"Now you've asked for it lil lady!" He called after her.
"Did you just call me lil lady? You know that's not safe don't you" She shouted back at him over her shoulder.
She soon reached the SUV and could hear Booth footsteps quickly catching up to her position at the truck. He came up behind her and grabbed her waist. Booth tickled her mercilessly until she was pinned up against the SUV door and facing him. She caught her breath and soon lost it again as Booths lips crashed down on to her own. They stood together with their mouths locked on to each until they both felt like they would faint due to lack of oxygen. Brennan unwillingly pulled away and gasped for air.
When they caught their breaths they looked at each other and grinned.
"Gotta love Texas." Booth smiled. Brennan laughed and repeated his words.
The End
XxX
Ahhh, it's over! I'll miss this story. Hope the ending wasn't a let down and thank you SO much to everyone that has read this and especially those who reviewed it. And please review for the last time. :D smiles all round.
Bye for now
Love Jenny XxX