Spoilers/Timeline: 4x26 The End in the Beginning

A/N: Much love to space77 for brainstorming this with me and to SSJL for the lookover.

Disclaimer: Bones does not belong to me. Title from the Trisha Yearwood song Where Your Road Leads

All she could do was wait. And hope. Something so foreign to her had become such a comfort, a lifeline really. Her Booth would appreciate the irony. Perhaps tease her for it before smirking at her. That half charm, completely adoring smile she knew was all hers.

They'd taken him to the lab and to Hoover: mini-field trips from his apartment in hopes to jar his memory. The most that ever came was a foggy "this looks familiar", his shoulders sagging as he leaned against the nearest wall. The unscientific, illogical nature of it left her more frustrated than she ever recalled. More frustrated than when the Gravedigger had him, more frustrated than when he'd died.

She sighed, walking into his apartment, their eyes meeting as he looked up from whatever homework Sweets had left him with.

"Hi." He leaned back in his chair, looking even more frightened than when they'd wheeled him into surgery. "How was work?"

She gulped. It probably wasn't the worst thing he could have said, but it was pretty close. She missed him in the field like she'd miss her left hand if it was suddenly taken from her.

"Productive. How was your session with Dr. Sweets?"

"He seems to think I'm making pro-"

He stopped, staring at her keys lying on the table. She usually shoved them down in her coat or purse when she arrived. There was just something too...intimate...about his key securely nestled next to the lab's. She moved to pick them up, but his hand grabbed them, investigating.

"Booth, what is it?"

"This key ring," He held up the skull. "I.... I found it for you?"

She bit her lip, recalling. It had been early in their partnership. He'd been searching for birthday present for Parker when they'd wandered into a dollar store. His eyes had lit up the minute he'd seen it and he'd badgered her (Bones you have to get it!) until she'd purchased it.

"You did."

"Bones," his hand grasped hers, "I remember. Not...not everything, but I remember you." He closed his eyes, emotion clearly overwhelming him; his 'us' coming out in a mere whisper.

She felt herself sway and grabbed the table before pulling away, moving towards his door.

"Bones?"

"Here," she crossed the room again, settling in the chair next to him as she wrenched the skull off, threading it through her apartment key, which she'd pulled from his end table, "you..." she pressed it into his palm, "yours."

He turned in the chair, their shoulders bumping, as his eyes searched hers. The skull turned over in his hand and he held his breath, images flashing. Kenton. Warehouse. Keys on floor. Kenton. His fault.

"I," he looked down at the skull, still turning it over and over, "he took you. I'm so sor-"

"Booth," she ducked her head, meeting his eyes, "it wasn't your fault." She let her gaze linger, knowing her eyes were just as glassy as his. "It wasn't."

She leaned forward brushing her lips across his, hands tangling in his hair. He hesitated a moment before sighing against her, mouth melding to hers. Their tongues met in a fiery dance, wanting - needing - as his hands pulled her into his lap.

They broke apart, his head resting on her shoulder as her arms wrapped around his waist.

She sighed, relief flooding her as she whispered in his ear. "Yours."