Work Text:
Brennan sits on the passenger seat of Booth's car. Christine is sleeping in the backseat, she has always been good at sleeping in a car. Booth is driving as they are on their way to Palmer River, going fishing. Even though she still knows that rationally, Christine is too young to really remember any of this. But she knows she needs to stop being quite so rational. Christine won't remember this, but she has parents that will tell her all about it.
Brennan gently touches the spot where she was shot a month ago. The past month has been odd. The gunshot doesn't hurt anymore and it barely scarred. But Booth has looked at her with a new kind of worry in his eyes and she doesn't know how to deal with it. And then there's the assumption. She's not sure whether he thinks she has changed. She hasn't. But they haven't talked about it.
She eyes a truck stop. "Could we stop for a bit, Booth?"
The drive has been pretty silent. They are letting Christine sleep, and maybe both of them are worried about the situation.
"Sure. I could use a coffee."
He parks the car and goes to take Christine and her car seat. Brennan finds them a table and waits as Booth goes to get them some pastries and coffee for him and tea for her.
While waiting, Brennan looks at their still sleeping daughter. She doesn't regret her life. She's glad she changed her mind about this.
"Here you go," Booth puts down tray and kisses the top of first her head then Christine's before sitting down.
"Did you want to talk about something?"
"Yes. About what happened during my near death experince."
"You saw your mother." Booth takes a sip of his coffee, nonchalant.
"My brain did create a world for me where I spent time with my mother, yes. But I need you to know that it didn't change me."
"What do you mean?"
Brennan can't quite interpret his tone, so she just continues.
"I still don't believe in god. I'm still an atheist. A near death experience doesn't change that."
"Oh," Booth says, now she can read his tone. There's at least relief in there.
"I was worried you changed your mind about this trip."
"No, I do now see how doing this makes sense. Just because Christine won't consciously remember this, we will tell her later. And positive experiences matter, even if the memories don't stick."
Booth takes he hand, "Have you been worried about this? About me thinking you changed your mind about God?"
"Both you and Max were adamant that what I saw and experience was *real*. That my mother or I couldn't possible figure out that Max, a thief, stole a gift. Maybe my mother did tell it to me at some point. Maybe I figured it out. Maybe this was my brain giving me closure with my mother. That doesn't mean it was real. I do appreciate it. But it didn't change the way I view the world."
"I figured." Booth pauses, trying to figure out how to say what he wants to next."I don't want you to change. I love you for you. My faith is important to me and I want you to respect it. And I try to respect your lack of it. I know neither one of us has been perfect about that, but we try. I didn't think you gained faith because of that experience. You would have talked to me about it sooner if you had. But I hope it's OK for you that I do see what happened through my faith. I think aspects of what happened was a miracle and you did see your mother in heaven. But I also know, especially now, that you don't. I think we can leave it at that, for now."
"I can deal with that," Brennan smiles, relieved. She was shaken after her experience, both physically and mentally. She's glad her brain let her gain closure with her mother, even if it's not real. Psychology must be rubbing off on her.
It's not a new thing for them to disagree about things and events. She's glad Booth doesn't view her differently now, doesn't want her to be different. She still doesn't have faith in god. But she has a renewed faith in them.
Just then, Christine wakes up, crying just a bit. She's been stationary too long and she's probably hungry. Brennan digs out her food and Booth is right by her side to take it and ask to heat it up. Brennan takes Christine in her lap and comforts her. She calms down quickly though Brennan can tell her hunger will get the better of her soon.
"Don't worry Christine. You will be alright. You will get food soon and you will have a fun weekend fishing. And if you don't, you won't remember it." She smiles, letting Christine know she's joking.
Soon enough, Christine is fed and they continue on their way to the cabin in Palmer River. The weekend ends up being memorable.