Bones Drabble: Peace Offering

[only_more_love]

Written for tidbit2008 for this drabble meme.  Click the link if you'd like to leave a prompt.

Title: Peace Offering
Fandom: Bones
Character: Brennan, Booth
Rating: PG or K
Word Count: 100
Spoilers: For The Pain in the Heart.
Timeline: Set after The Pain in the Heart.
Feedback is treasured. Thank you.
Prompt: Brennan. Some days, it is possible to see over the top of her walls.
Author's Note:  Many thanks to those who read and commented on the previous drabble; it's particularly special to me because I lived in NY from 1999 - 2004.  I will always love NY, and Sept. 11, 2001 and its aftermath are forever etched in my memory.   I remember walking to work in Midtown that morning and seeing the clouds of smoke rise into the air downtown.  I remember the shock that rippled through the office as the news reports surfaced.  I remember the streets teeming with frightened people as companies throughout the city sent their employees home.  I remember the smell that haunted the city for many months afterward.   

My husband was scheduled to go to the WTC later that day; it's pure chance that he wasn't there during the attacks.  Several of his friends/coworkers were not that fortunate.

Anyway, since we know Cam worked in NY before, I thought it was both plausible and likely that she'd been there in 2001. 

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Peace Offering

“I’m sorry,” Booth said, fingers tweaking a fry, and Brennan glanced up to catch the deepening lines in his forehead. 

Part of her wanted to ask, “About what?” but a more voluble part insisted the two words he’d uttered were all she’d waited to hear after learning he was alive.

Sometimes one could choose to be gracious.  So instead of asking a false question for the sake of her pride, she said, “I know.” 

“Oh.”  A thoughtful nod, then, “Want a bite of my pie?”

Cocking her head, she eyed the plate he’d pushed toward her.  “All right.”

Booth smiled.

Comments

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree there wouldn't be a lot of discussion or recriminations, just wordless understanding and acceptance.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Hi there. Hope the "bushwhacking" is going well. *g*

Booth and Brennan are funny; they talk (and bicker) a lot, but a lot of their most important bits of communication are wordless.

Thank you for commenting.

[makd.livejournal.com]

ITA: their communication with each other is often tacit.

I think, for all that many of us are annoyed by Sweets, he and Gordon-Gordon have done their work well to help Booth's guilt lessen and Brennan's walls more "scalable".

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

I agree that Gordon Wyatt added something and brought about some self-awareness for Booth and Brennan. As for Sweets, I heartily disagree. I don't have any use for him. I think he behaves like an unprofessional and unethical moron, and the show is bloated because of his continued presence. I think Booth, Brennan, and their partnership would have continued to evolve just fine without his intrusive presence.

And that's how I feel about that. *g*

As always, I'm thankful that you read and commented on this wee drabble. :) I appreciate your taking the time to do that.

[makd.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree completely about Sweets' unprofessional, immature, and unethical behavior. I don't have much use for the character.

At the same time, I do think his main use has been prodding Brennan to deal with her emotions. (Even the worst cook can produce something edible.)

I just wish that they'd conceived a character more appropriate for such a task.

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

Very nice. I like how clearly you show her conscious decision to make it easier for him, to make it easier for them both, in just accepting, in not making it about her pride. And having her accept a bit of the pie...such a lovely moment (and fun in reference to Sweets' "could be seen as a kind of seduction" comment) for her to accept what he's offering not because she particularly wants it, but because he offered, because it will help them connect. Very nice.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

You nailed it. Brennan made a conscious decision to quietly accept Booth's apology (and his pie ;) ) without first making him grovel or wheedle.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

[her-lovelyheart.livejournal.com]

Like I commented @ FF.net, I love this one dearly. It's so simple but it says so much. Gosh. I miss Bones and Booth!

Thanks for sharing with us! ♥!

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Asra. I'm happy you liked this one so much.

I miss Bones and Booth!

They'll be back before you know it. :)

[forareason83.livejournal.com]

Heard Booth very clearly! Great job! I love how she finally accepted his offering/seduction. ;-p

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Hi there. :) Thank you, A.! I'm happy you enjoyed this one.

I love how she finally accepted his offering/seduction. ;-p

haha Yes, she did. ;)

[shipperatheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing your vantage point of 9/11. I think the personal impact of that event on people's lives is something that we on the other side of the pond have never fully appreciated. I'm sure it gives one a profound sense of the fragility (and value!) of life, especially having experienced how little can make the difference.

That said, I can move on to saying how much I liked this drabble. *sigh* I adore their unspoken communication (much like that other favorite pairing of yore, M&S). And I’m inordinately proud of Brennan for every self-conquering little babystep she makes (one small step for mankind…). And darned if Booth doesn’t recognize and appreciate it, too. Plus, the reference to Sweets’ seduction metaphore is just...precious.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

I would say that 9/11/01 was one of the defining moments of my life. It truly brought home the fact that safety is a beautiful illusion. Anything can happen anytime.

Lots of people have told me that Booth and Brennan are reminiscent of Mulder and Scully. In the past, I saw a few eps of The X-Files here and there, but that's about it. Perhaps someday I'll go back and watch from the beginning. :)

It takes courage to reach out, to do things that aren't instinctive for us. Brennan is brave, and Booth knows it.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments; I appreciate them very much.

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

This is fab. Simply and beautfully done, as SO needed post Pain.

I can't possibly imagine what it was like to be in NY for 9/11. I was working for British Telecom at the time, in a tower block in Cardiff City Centre. Almost the entire call centre gathered in the tea room to watch it in disbelief on the tiny TV in the corner. We worked directory enquiries - finding phone numbers for people - and when we returned to work, every other call was for the emergency hotline numbers. When we had the bombs on the underground in 2005, I had serious fears for friends who live and work in London, and it really brought home how terrifying 9/11 must have been, and on such a unbelievably bigger scale. I'm so sorry to hear that you know people who died. That makes me incredibly sad.

*hugs*

[pinktealeaves.livejournal.com]

I was in Llandudno and heading to Cardiff about to fly back home in August 2006, when that attempt to attack in Heathrow, and all the airports in the UK closed for a few days. It was time of shock and crazyness of 'I don't even know what's happening', but we were lucky and our flight only was delayed.

I didn't know you lived in Wales, I loved it all.

[tempertemper77.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry you got caught up in that - but that is so cool that you've been to Wales.. I haven't even been to Llandudno! Yeah I have lived in and around Cardiff since I came here for uni in '95 :)

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

*hugs you back* Thanks, honey.

Events like those that occurred on 9/11/01 are a sad fact of life in this world, and they're shocking no matter where they happen. Beyond the actual death toll, I think what's hardest for the human psyche to accept is the knowledge of what an illusion the idea of safety is. I think it's just a matter of time before we're hit again.

[tidbit2008.livejournal.com]

I LOVE it :D Wonderful writing, per usual. Thanks :)

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks, A. ♥

[mistletoe54.livejournal.com]

A very honest moment between them. Just enough connection for followers to understand what the sub-text is to the few words they actually say to each other.

As to 9/11, your words are like anyone else's who had personal reasons for remembering that horrific day. Having been to NY in April it was very sombre to see what has happened to the site in recent times. Both of our walk on guides had personal connections; one with one of the fire crews that answered the call and never came back...

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Sara. Yes, a lot of their communication is unspoken. :)

Re: 9/11, events like that change people. I'm glad NY has recovered the way it has.

[lostakasha.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's been said in the comments you've already gotten, but in my mind this is exactly how it would have come down between them: Booth knowing there's are no words, and Brennan growing just a little more, and choosing grace.

Lovely, as always.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly what you said. :)

Thank you, as always.

[pinktealeaves.livejournal.com]

I LOVE their unspoken words. You write them so beautifully. I can imagine this scene so clearly. Nice work.

9/11 was shocking all around the world, but I can't imagine how it was for the people who witnessed it. *hugs* March 11th, 2004 something similar happened in Madrid and despite not living there I have a lot of friends there, and was all nervous and in shock at work listening the news and trying to locate everyone of my friends there. Luckily they were all okay, but I was still in shock after knowing it.

There are things that we'll never understand. :(

I found your previous drabble nice and warm, wanted to comment before, but real life is such a bitch.

Have a great weekend.

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Terrorist attacks, no matter where or when they happen, are shocking and horrific. :(

I LOVE their unspoken words.

*smiles* Yes, there is a lot that goes unspoken between Booth and Brennan.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments!

[buffyangellvr23.livejournal.com]

Nice work :)

[lerdo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[michellemtsu.livejournal.com]

You just epitomized the reason I love them so much. Great job!

[aynohyeb.livejournal.com]

love it! This thing about Booth offering Brennan a "piece of his pie" had always a sexual connotation for me. The pie seems to be something like the forbidden fruit, because they share food usually very easily. I remember Brennan eating from Booth's plate in Titan/Tracks even during an interrogation. I have the impression you gave the "pie" back its innocence. Although I am not sure, what to think about that smile in the end ;) and if it's so innocent!