Page 106 of Bones
“I brought you some food and water.” His voice was quiet, but anger still sparked in his eyes.
“Get me out,” I choked out, apparently not too proud to let Mac see me break down. “Please get me out of here.”
“We’re trying,” he promised.
I couldn’t respond, too busy trying to regain control of myself. He let go of my hand with one of his and reached through the bars to press it against my forehead. Did I have a fever? I didn’t think so. I was just so fucking damp and cold. He frowned.
“Your hands are like ice,” he muttered, his eyes scanning the small cell. “Do you have a blanket?”
I shook my head, and that muscle ticked in his jaw. He started to pull his hand away, and I tightened my grip in panic. He paused, meeting my gaze.
“I’m gonna give you my jacket,” he explained. “I’m not leavin’ yet.”
I released him, and he shrugged off his jacket and pushed it through the bars. My hands shook as I put it on, and he reached through the bars to button it for me. His jacket was still warm from his body heat, and the relief was immediate.
“Here,” he handed me a bottle of water, “drink somethin’.”
My hands shook so hard, I couldn’t hold the bottle still, and water spilled down my chin. He reached through the bars again to put his hands over mine, helping me hold the bottle steady. I drank the whole thing, the cool water like bliss on my dry, chapped throat. He took the bottle back when I finished, then offered his hand through the bars, palm facing up. I clutched it tightly with both of mine again.
“Nemo is pushin’ hard to get you out,” he said. “Madame’s gonna have to make a decision soon if she wants to keep the peace.”
“How’s Sam?” I asked.
“He’s ok.” He squeezed my hands.
“How long has it been?”
His face darkened. “Almost six days.”
“Mac, I can’t—” My voice came out panicked as tears started flowing down my face again. “I can’t do this anymore.”
That muscle ticked in his jaw again. “I know.” He leaned in closer to where I pressed my forehead against the bars. “So let it out, Bones. I can take it. I want you to let it all out now so when she releases you, you can look her in the eye and show her this didn’t break you.”
“I think thisisbreakin’ me.”
“This won’t break you.”
“I’m serious, Mac, I really can’t—” I couldn’t finish, an escaped sob choking me.
“You’re a river, Bones,” he said, squeezing my hands hard to get my attention. “You don’t break, you bend. If someone tries to control you, you find a new way around. People might think you’re just water, might think they have you contained, but you’re strong enough to cut a path through mountain rock and wild enough to wash everythin’ away when you rage.”
I stared at him through the tears streaming down my face, trying to hold my breath to keep the sobs contained. I never would have expected Mac to say something so beautiful.
“This won’t break you, Bones,” he repeated, his eyes flashing. “Let it out.”
As though he opened a doorway, my sobs broke free. He gripped my hands as I sobbed uncontrollably, anchoring me through it. He didn’t say anything else, but whenever I looked up at him, he held my gaze. I thought the well of pain and fear inside me would never end, but eventually, the sobs began to ease, leaving me exhausted. I slumped against the iron bars of the cell, still clinging to him as shaky gasping sobs wracked my body every so often. I watched his thumb slowly stroke the top of my hand, and I had to fight a sudden, insane urge to laugh.
Who the hell are you, and what have you done with the real Mac?I wanted to ask, but I didn’t.
He freed one of his hands so he could pass me a small bundle of food and another bottle of water, and then he said the words I’d been dreading.
“I gotta go back up.”
I forced myself to release his other hand and started to unbutton his jacket, but he caught my wrist, halting me.
“No, you keep it.”
“She’ll know you came down here if I keep it,” I worried.
