Booth wasn't sure what had woken him. Maybe it had been the quiet words of the commercials still flickering across the television in the dark. Maybe it had been a nurse silently walking past his hospital room. Maybe it had been a slight movement of the small, delicate hand still clasped in his own hand. Or, maybe, it had been another nightmare, but he didn't remember a nightmare. Then Booth heard the faint sound which had woken him and felt the grip on his hand tighten slightly. Booth's gaze shifted down to the auburn haired woman holding his hand as she whimpered in her sleep again. He frowned; Dr Temperance Brennan having nightmares? Well, after what they'd just gone through, nightmares were practically required.

Carefully, rather regretfully, Booth let go of her hand and awkwardly reached out to stroke her hair in a manner of comfort he remembered from when he was a child. His fingers gingerly brushed against her silky hair and his voice was hoarse and faint as he tried to whisper soothing words through the darkness,

"Hey, Bones, it's alright. It's all over now. You're safe, Kenton's locked away, and I'm fine. Bones, Bones, Bones. You're safe. You're here with me. Everything's alright." Her whimpering slowly faded into nothing. Booth half smiled to himself as best he could with the bruises on his face. She looked so peaceful lying there, albeit, uncomfortable in her awkward position. In the dark, he couldn't see her eyes slowly slide open and glaze up at him. He didn't know she was listening as he quietly mused aloud to himself,

"You look so peaceful when you sleep, you know that Bones? And almost more beautiful than when you're awake," Booth grinned to himself as he continued his one-sided conversation, "'cause you're not mad or ticked at me cause of something stupid I've done." Booth lapsed into silence for a little while, continuing to stroke Bones's hair. She waited patiently to say if Booth would say anything else. Her wait was not in vain,

"Gods, I can't believe Kenton- that he would- After all we'd been through- but I should've- All the evident pointed- Gods, Bones! I don't know what I'd do without you! I just don't know…." His voice trailed off into the darkness as Booth suddenly realized that he'd voiced his thoughts. He felt a shutter run through Bones's body and he stared down at the Forensic Anthropologist in concern. She wasn't having another nightmare was she?

"Hey, Bones, no more nightmares," he whispered.

"No, no more nightmares, Booth," whispered Bones in response, raising herself onto her elbows and staring at Seeley right in the eye. Booth started, instinctively jerking back his hand, letting out a restrained moan as he jarred his broken ribs and shoulder.

"Sorry," apologized Bones reaching out to take his hand again. "I didn't mean to startle you." Booth stared at her mutely. What had she heard? He should have known not to assume she was asleep!

"Booth, hey Booth!" she said quietly, waving a hand in front of his eyes. "I need to tell you something." Booth bit his lip and words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them,

"Listen, Bones, I'm sorry. I know we're partners and should have no kind of feelings that might get in the way of a case and I'll-" Booth stopped as Bones placed a hand firmly over his mouth. He stared at her in amazement. What was going on? His jaw would have dropped if she hadn't been holding it tightly and gently shut.

"That's not what I meant," she hesitated, "Seeley."

No, this isn't real, thought Booth. I'm dreaming. I'm dreaming and I'm going to be very disappointed when I wake up. Bones continued to stared at him steadily,

"Today, I finally realized that I can't just always put off my life until later because, today, there nearly wasn't a later and I finally got some of my priorities straitened out. Thank you." She leaned forward and that was when Booth decided it wasn't a dream; it was too real. He felt a warmth suddenly start to spread throughout his entire being.

"I don't know what I'd do without you either, Seeley," Bones whispered next to his ear, then gently stretched down and kissed him.

The End

A/N: Review, review, review! It is your reviews upon which I thrive and am inspired to write more stories! Unfortunately, this is the end of this story, but there are others yet to come!

I am still taking requests for other fics people would like to see me write! If you have a request, please let me know!

Yours faithfully and always,

Agent Malkere