A/N: I was going to write and end of season 9 fic and got a few pages into it and muse got stuck, I want to finish it and will at some point. I found this on my I pad and decided to finish the first chapter and post it. This takes place in season 3 and is AU, because that's more fun for me to write lol

I don't know what will get updated next, maybe 'Better Circumstances'

It was a Friday night and Booth was sitting on his couch with a beer channel surfing. It wasn't his weekend with Parker, normally on those weekends he and Brennan would go out for dinner just as partners and maybe a move at his apartment after, but tonight Brennan was on a date with some guy she met on a dating site for intellectual types. Booth was on his second pass through the channels when somebody knocked on his door, he put the beer on the end table and walked to the door pulling it open. Nothing could have prepared him for his partner standing on the other side beaten and bleeding.

"Bones! Come in! What happened?" Booth ignored Brennan's wince as he took her arm and gently lead her to the couch, flipping off the TV and grabbing a handful of tissues on the way. Booth handed Brennan the tissues, she pressed them to her bleeding lip.

"Bones what happened?"

"The date went bad; we exhausted all the things we had in common during appetizers. We stayed through dinner out of politeness we said good bye on the curb. He kissed me I didn't reciprocate; I told him I wasn't going to see him again. He got mad but said he understood. He went to his car and left or so I thought. I took a cab home like always, he followed my cab to my apartment I got out asked him to leave, he didn't. He forced his way in because of course the maintenance man hasn't fixed my lock and the key still sticks and I couldn't get the door open. Anyway I asked him to leave or I was going to call the police, he laughed. I tried to get to my phone, but he grabbed my hands and hit a pressure point in my wrist making me lose function. Then he pushed me up against the door, I was able to knee him then. I must not have did it hard enough because before I knew what was happening he turned me around and hit me so hard the force sent me into my coffee table. I looked up and he was gone. I sat there for a half hour to be sure he was gone then I came here."

"Bones, why didn't you call? I would have came and got you."

"I couldn't find my phone...it must have fallen out of my pocket when I fell into the table."

"Okay. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I've got a few cracked ribs and some bruises, but I'll be fine. My lip doesn't need stitches."

"He didn't?"

"No, Booth he didn't do anything to me other than knock me into the coffee table."

"Okay. Let's go to the E.R. And let them check you out."

"No, Booth! I'm fine I don't need to go to the E.R."

"If you don't want me to take you, I'm sure Angela-"

"No Booth!" Brennan looked back at the door

"Okay, okay calm down, I didn't mean to upset you. Would you let Cam come over and check you out? For my piece of mind..." Brennan nodded slightly; Booth squeezed her hand and went to his room to make the call. Twenty minutes later Cam knocked on Booth's door, he crossed to it to open it

"Camille thanks for coming."

"You're welcome, Seeley. How is she?"

"I think she's okay for the most part. She's got cuts and bruises, the SOB gave her a black eye! She thinks he cracked a couple ribs when he knocked her into the coffee table. I wanted to take her to the E.R., but she's adamant that she not go. You're the compromise."

Cam smiled, "where is she?"

"My room." Booth led cam down the hall to his room; he knocked lightly on the door before sticking his head in. "Bones, Cam's here."

"Okay."

"I'll be in the living room if you need me Bones."

"Okay." Cam smiled at Booth "we'll be fine Seeley..."

"I know. Just try not to hurt her more than she already is."

"I'll be as gentile as I can." Booth nodded and headed for the living room. Thirty minutes later Cam came into the living room.

"Seeley, Brennan's going to be okay, she has three broken ribs on the left side, cuts, and bruises. She's going to have a really good shiner and be really sore in the morning …."

"Does she need the E.R.? "

"No, her lungs are clear, she's breathing normally. No concussion. She's being really stubborn and won't let me write her a script for pain killers; she won't let me wrap her ribs either."

Booth chuckled, "Can you write it anyway and get it filled? She's going to be in a lot of pain once her adrenaline crashes. "

"Yeah, I'll call it in to the pharmacy that still has 24 hour delivery service."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. Try and keep her home next week, she really needs two or more off from the lab, but I'll be happy with one week."

"I'll try. I'm going to see if she'll agree to work via video link from the couch, that way she can rest and work at the same time."

"That'll work. If she has trouble breathing later, she shouldn't, get her to the E.R. Pronto."

"I will. I'm going to go see if she'll let me wrap her ribs, it'll help her feel better."

"I take it you know how..."

"Yep, old pro at it."

Cam smiled and handed Booth an ace bandage."Brennan will be fine Seeley."

"I know. I just hate to see her like this, she doesn't deserve it."

"Go take care of her, and then when she feels better give her what she deserves."

"I can't ... She'd never..."

"You can and she would if you asked her... She wants to, but she's afraid to go for it."

"Maybe...I'm gonna go see if I can help her out..."

Cam chuckled and called the pharmacy. "I'm gonna go get her meds, it'll be faster."

"Okay, I'll leave the door unlocked, put it on the table."

"Will do."

Booth nodded and headed for his bedroom, he knocked on the door.

"Bones, can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Booth opened the door and looked at Brennan sitting on the edge of his bed still in her dress pants and green shirt. The bruises seemed worse than they had a half hour before. "Oh Bones."

Brennan looked up, "I'm fine..."

"I know. Do you want to change clothes?"

"I don't have anything but jeans in my spare bag in the SUV. I don't think they'd be comfortable with my ribs the way they are."

"You can barrow a sweatshirt and pajama pants from me, they'll be big on you, but that's what you need right now."

"I don't think I can change everything by myself. I can't bend over or raise my arms above my head..."

"I can help you or I can call Angela or Cam..."

"You can help me..."

Booth grinned a little and walked to his dresser, grabbing an FBI sweatshirt and Sponge Bob Square Pants pajama pants. Turning toward the bed he went to Brennan's side. "Bones, you should really let me wrap you ribs, it'll help. It'll hurt while it's being done, but it'll be better later."

Brennan chewed her bottom lip, "okay."

"I'll be gentle."

Brennan nodded and let Booth unbutton and carefully peel off her shirt.

"Sorry." Brennan shook her head, "it's okay. Where did you learn how to do this?"

"Just something I learned how to do after going to the E.R. a lot to get it done myself."

"Your dad?"

"And hockey and a fight or two in the Army. After a while it was just easier to do it myself or talk somebody through how to do it." Brennan nodded as Booth finished with the wrap." Now the really painful part, changing your shirt." Booth hoped that Brennan didn't hear the front door open."I'm just going to do it going slow doesn't help that much, but I'll be careful."

"Okay."

Booth pickled up the sweatshirt and slipped it over her head. "now for the not so fun part-" Booth gently lifted Brennan's arm just enough to put it in the sleeve of the sweatshirt. "Sorry." Brennan tried to hide the pain, but Booth noticed. "Bones, I wish you'd let Cam give you something for the pain-"

"I'm fine..."

"Okay." Booth smiled a little and gently put Brennan's other arm in the sleeve and pulled the shirt down.

"Thanks Booth."

"You're welcome, Bones. Do you need anything else?"

"No, I'm going to try to go to bed."

"Okay, I'll be in Parker's room if you need me. There's a new toothbrush in the right hand drawer. The towels are clean, I washed them last night. Wash clothes are in the closet behind the door."

"Thanks Booth." Brennan slowly stood up hiding a grimace and headed toward the bathroom. Booth appeared at her side and gently took her elbow, "Lean on me as much as you need to, Bones." Brennan nodded and they both slowly made their way to the bathroom. Booth stopped at the door, "I'll be here when you're done, Bones." Brennan nodded and went inside. Thirty minutes later Booth took Brennan's arm and helped her into bed and propped her up with pillows. "Are you all set Bones?"

"Yes, I think so. Thank you for letting me stay here and helping me. I don't want to be at my apartment right now. I don't think he'll come back, but I still don't want to be there."

"You're welcome, Bones. You can stay here as look as you need too."

"Thanks."

Booth nodded and left the room, only to return a few minutes later with an icepack in a towel. "It's just ice, Bones, it'll help a little. "He gently placed the ice on Brennan's left side. "I'll be back in twenty minutes."

Twenty minutes later Booth took the icepack back to the freezer and hoped Brennan would sleep for a little while. Booth had been lying in bed for close to an hour when he heard Brennan gasp. He got up and got the bottle of pain pills and a glass of water before going to his room, he flipped on the hallway light before walking over to the bed."What's wrong Bones?"

"I must have dozed off and moved in my sleep, but I'm okay." Brennan was trying unsuccessfully to hide the pain she was in.

Booth shook his head and opened the pill bottle, shaking one into his hand," here, take this, it'll help. I had Cam write you a script and get it filled. I know you don't want to take anything and that you're okay, but you need to relax and rest so you can get better. You can be mad at me later."

"The only reason I'm not very upset with you and Cam right now is that the pain is unbearable." Brennan held out her hand for the pill, Booth turned his palm over and let the pill fall into Brennan's

"Aw Bones." Booth held the glass of water with a straw in it while Brennan drank.

Booth sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed circles on the back of Brennan's hand with his thumb. When the pill had a chance to take effect and Brennan was beginning to relax Booth said, "Bones, why don't you try sleeping in my recliner? You won't be able to move that much and you'll stay propped up better."

"Okay." Booth stood and pulled the blankets back, bent down and gently picked Brennan up.

"BOOTH!"

"Humor me just once, Bones." Brennan nodded and let Booth carry her into the living room. Once Brennan was sitting in the recliner Booth went back for pillows and blankets, when he had Brennan covered up and pillow behind her head he asked, "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes, as much as I can be with broken ribs. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Bones. Try and get some sleep, okay?"

"Okay." Booth smiled and gently kissed Brennan's forehead before taking the rest of the blankets and pillows and laying them on the couch.

"Booth, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to sleep in here in case you need something."

"You don't need to do that, I'm feeling better now that I've taken the pain killer and am sitting up some. I'll be fine."

Booth ginned, "I'm glad you're feeling better Bones, but I'm still staying here for the night"

"Your back... I can't adjust it if it goes out from sleeping on the couch."

"My back will be fine for one night, Bones." Booth finished making his bed on the couch and lay down. "Goodnight Bones."

"Goodnight Booth."

For the rest of the night Booth got up every few hours to place the ice pack on Brennan's ribs and get her a pain pill with applesauce in hopes it wouldn't upset her stomach, whenever she needed one. It was just after ten the next morning when Brennan stirred. Booth was in the kitchen, he went over to the recliner. "Good morning Bones. How are you feeling?"

"Good morning, Booth. I feel okay; I'm a little stiff and sore though." Booth nodded and came back with a glass of water, a cup of applesauce, and her pain medication. "Eat the apple sauce and take your pill, let it start working, and then get up and come into the kitchen for the rest of your breakfast."

"Okay." Brennan took the cup of applesauce from Booth then he sat the chair upright. Once the medication had a chance to work a little Brennan got up slowly and headed to the bathroom before joining Booth in the kitchen for pancakes. She carefully sat down in the chair, "I'm fine, Booth."

Booth chuckled and flipped a pancake, "I know, Bones."

Brennan glanced at the microwave and saw the time, "I need to call Angela we were going to meet at 11 for lunch and shopping. Plus she wanted to know how…"

Booth put the spatula down and went over to Brennan, handing her his phone, "Ange is speed dial 5. You're 2. The FBI is 1."

"Thanks Booth." Booth nodded and went back to the stove, half listening as Brennan told Angela why she couldn't go shopping and to lunch today. Then try and calm her enraged best friend down. After a few minutes Booth detected a slight hint of frustration in Brennan's voice and decided to go over to the table with the plates of pancakes, so Brennan would have a reason to hang up. Brennan looked up at Booth and grinned as he sat a plate with three pancakes in front of her. "Ange, I have to go, Booth has breakfast done."

"Yes, I'll call you later."

"No, Booth can go for me in case he came back…"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Okay."

"Bye Ange." Brennan put Booth's phone close to his plate, "thanks Booth, Angela was asking too many questions, I really don't feel like talking to anyone right now. She offered to let me stay at her place…but I'd like to stay here…"

"Bones you can stay here as long as you want."

"Thanks Booth. These pancakes are delicious."

"You're welcome Bones, thanks."

Brennan ate a few more bites and laid down her fork. "Um Booth, Angela offered to go to my apartment and get whatever I needed, but I told her you'd go for me. I'd feel better if you went…in case he's there or something…"

"Sure Bones, I'll go for you, just make a list of what you want and it's location in your apartment if it isn't obvious."

'Thanks Booth."

"You're welcome Bones. Now eat some more of your pancakes." Brennan smiled a little and went back to her breakfast. An hour later Brennan was sitting in Booth's recliner making a list of what she wanted from her apartment.

Booth came out of Parker's room and headed into the living room. "Bones, why don't you call Angela and have she come over? I need to go to the store, and drop of Parker's basketball shoes at Rebecca's then go to your apartment. She could bring lunch, you hardly ate and you need to with the pills you're on. Watch a movie, I get free pay-per-view this weekend."

"She'll want to talk and I don't want to… at least not right now." Brennan handed Booth the list, he put it in his pocket.

"Tell her you'll talk to her about it, but not right now. She's your best friend, she'll understand." Booth handed Brennan his phone. Booth left thirty mutes later with Brennan telling Angela a few more details.

Almost an hour later Angela's phone buzzed with a text, she looked at it then at Brennan. "Booth found your phone, the screen is cracked."

"Ask if he'll get me a new one, he knows my account info." Angela nodded and typed the reply.

"The same one?"

"Yeah, I just got it."

"He said he'll go as soon as he gets your stuff."

"Okay. Tell him thanks." Angela nodded and typed the message.

"Booth says you're welcome." Brennan nodded and handed Angela the remote. "Booth says he gets free pay-per-view this weekend. You can choose the movie; I wouldn't know what's good."

Three hours later Booth found Angela sitting at the kitchen table reading a book. "Bren's sleeping. I ordered lunch from that deli she likes, she ate most of her salad and took a pain pill and went to sleep. We watched a movie and a half before she was out."

"Good that's what she needs. Did she ice her ribs?'

"No. her eye looks horrible…"

"Her ribs are worse… Do you know who it was?"

"No she just said she was going on a date with someone she met through a dating service. I was really happy; Bren never goes on a date on her own. Apparently that was a good thing… "

"Ange she'll be okay in a few weeks. Cam wants her to stay home for at least a week."

"Good luck with that. Is her number the same?"

"Yeah."

"Tell Bren I'll call her later."

"Will do."

Angela got her stuff and left the apartment.

Monday morning Booth stood over a defiant Brennan, "no Bones you aren't going to work!"

"I'm fine, Booth!"

"You can't stand up for more than five minutes without being in pain. You can't bend or stretch or lift anything heavier than a milk jug and that's pushing it."

"I'll sit on my couch all day…."

"Bones you're on pain killers every four hours….you're drowsy…. you don't need to go to work…."

Brennan started to say something then stopped.

Booth's tone softened, "you can work from home with a video link and I'll go to the lab and get whatever files you need."

"Okay." Brennan looked at Booth and noticed he was in jeans and a button down shirt, "You're not going to work?"

"No…"

"Booth, you don't need to stay home, I'll be okay."

"I have 7 weeks of vacation saved and Rebecca only lets me have Parker for a week if I'm lucky. I'm taking days to get caught up on paperwork and hang out with you."

"Okay. Can we maybe go out for lunch or something later this week? I'm going to be bored sitting here for a week…"

"Sure. Make me a list of what files and stuff you want from the lab."

"Okay, thanks."

"You're welcome, Bones." Ten minutes later Booth was on his way to the lab to get the stack of files on Brennan's desk and her notebook of ideas and outlines for her next book.