Bones fic: A Simple Truth
They walked in silence towards the Metro station, their arms linked until they were forced to separate and swipe their tickets through the turnstiles. From there, the distance between them grew as they made their way further down to the subway platform.
While they waited for the train with a few feet separating them, they threw discreet glances towards each other, but still no words. Hands remained in pockets, chins remained tilted down, eyes otherwise remained upon the paving beneath their feet.
When the train arrived, they boarded as if on autopilot, choosing the first available seats they found in the mostly empty car. Shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, they sat close together, but gave no other indication that they were indeed traveling companions.
He sat by the window, staring out into the blankness as the train moved through the tunnels. She sat beside him, her eyes fixated on the pattern of the carpet under her feet. And still, not a word was uttered.
Minutes and stations passed, until the train began to slow, pulling into the station closest to her apartment. Preparing herself to disembark, she stood, and with a mere glance towards him, she mumbled, "I'll see you later, Booth," then moved towards the doors to wait for them to open.
His eyes were now fixed on her, his mind clearly whirring through the jumble of thoughts. As she stepped out onto the platform, he sprang forth out of his seat and jammed his hand against the door to keep it open while he asked, "Bones! If… if you can't, then why are you so upset?"
She stopped in her tracks, turned, and allowed him to see the tears welling in her eyes once more. And as the doors began to close on the train, ready to carry him away, she said, "Because I wish I could."