K, I get really bored in class when I have songs stuck in my head or the little wench next to me won't shut up. So, I decided to do something similar to "Listen to Your Heart", but I'm taking it one step further. This is gonna be a long one and I hope you're all in for the long haul. Let's get started.

A/N: Set after season five premiere. I don't own Bones, but it'd be awesome if I did.

Chapter One:

Booth sat at his desk, just as miserable as he had been when Brennan took off to Guatemala. He'd been contemplating everything that had happened over the last several weeks since he'd woken from his coma. His crazy socks had taken their spot back on his feet, his cocky belt buckle resurrected from his drawer, and poker chip was back in his pocket. All back to normal…except for the nagging thought that he was in love with Bones.

He found himself no longer caring what the hell Dr. Psycho-Junior had to say anymore, but thinking about the advice Cam had given him in the bar a few days back.

"Be sure about your feelings because if you crack that shell and you change your mind, she'll die of loneliness before she'll trust anyone ever again."

This sentence had been haunting every night and day since that pivotal moment. It was the statement that made him doubt, worry, and wonder all simultaneously.

Booth knew deep down in the farthest recesses of his heart that this wasn't just some fluke brought on by his coma. It was, in fact, the real deal. All his coma did for him was drag his love kicking and screaming out into the light. The dreams were always there, the extra-long touches, sideways glances, guy hugs, and flirty insinuations never faltered or meant anything to either one of them. Now, all he could think about was that kiss they shared at Christmastime almost two years ago.

Nothing, he remembered vividly, had ever felt so damn good or…right…in his entire existence. Booth couldn't deny that he'd had numerous dreams after that immortalized moment, some less graphic than others. It was something he'd lived with for all that time. All that time when he could've simply said something. Of course, per usual, he was too big a pussy to do anything about it.

So here he sat, mulling his state of insanity and throwing his foam ball against the wall, only to have it bounce back again. He didn't even notice when the premature psychologist materialized at his door.

"Agent Booth?" Sweets asked as he stood in front of his desk.

Booth spun around in his chair and looked at the young doctor with a forced smile on his face. Overall, Sweets was a good guy, he was just annoying when he pried into his thoughts. "Hey, Sweets. What's new?" He asked as he propped his crazy-socked feet up onto the table.

"I was just wondering how you're coming along. You know, after all the craziness that's been going on with you lately." he asked his one of his favorite patients.

"Fine, fine." Booth knew he didn't sound convincing, but he couldn't summon up the clear-cut tone when his thoughts were elsewhere.

"You're lying. Blind Martians could see that. You're still thinking that you're in love with Dr. Brennan." There was no question in Sweets voice as he told Booth what he was feeling.

Booth leaned into his chair and thought about his answer. "You said that these feelings would fade after awhile. They haven't."

"It's only been a week, Booth. You need to give it some more time." he reasoned.

"That's the point. I don't have all the time in the world to wait for something that might happen or never happen. What if this is the real thing?" Booth asked louder than necessary. He wasn't really agitated with Sweets in particular, but he'd never felt this way before and it scared him.

"I'd suggest that you wait some more to see if you have any inconsistencies with your feelings for Dr. Brennan." Sweets stated clearly and semi-coldly.

"I've never had that. You're stupid CAT scan can say whatever it wants, but Avalon was right; you don't know anything about my heart." Booth grabbed his jacket and stormed out of his office. He had a plan worked up in his head that would require some squint help.

* * *

Brennan buzzed around her office to put the correct files in the correct places. She didn't know so much would pile up while she was in Guatemala. What was necessary was to pick a new grad assistant soon. This was too much, even for her.

"Bren?" Angela knocked on the doorframe of her friend's office. Reading the look on Brennan's face as 'overwhelmed', she took the files from her and set them down on her desk. "What's up?"

She sighed, "I've got to file these," she gestured to the stack, "confirm these," pointed to another stack of files, "and examine about thirteen new specimens for the museum. That is what is up, Angela." Brennan went back to pick up the files again, but the artist stopped her.

"Sorry Bren, I'm being forced to stop you by someone bigger than us." she looked at her friend apologetically.

She laughed, "Ange, what are you talking about?"

"I'm kidnapping you." she said with too much of a smile to be taken seriously.

"Alright, Angela, I get it, I'll go bar-hopping with you soon. As soon as I get caught up with everything, we'll go. Maybe in a week or so." Brennan still chuckled.

"It's not that kind of thing, Sweetie." she reached under her lab coat to the silver restraints she was entrusted with by a certain F.B.I. agent.

Brennan's eyes widened as she took in the sight. "Angela, those don't belong to you. They're not pink or fuzzy." she recalled some of the things she'd found in her friend's office when she had to go looking for files.

"Yep. I can either drag you out of here in these, or come with me nice and easily." Angela tried her best cop-talk, which wasn't great.

"Angela, going to bars and meeting guys just isn't high on my priority list right now. You don't need to make it violent." Brennan's voice edged sarcasm, not thinking her friend was serious.

"I'll take that as a 'no, and hard way' choice." she stripped off her lab coat, grabbed Brennan's street one, and walked over to the anthropologist with intent in her eyes.

Brennan tried to fight her off, but found it next to impossible with her arms full of folders again. Sooner than later, she was being dragged out of her own office, hands behind her back, and being led out by Angela's grip on her ear.

Cam and Hodgins had been watching the scene unfold from the forensic platform, already knowing what was taking place. Brennan's wall to wall windows had made all of that possible as they quietly laughed to themselves. As they walked passed the platform, Brennan looked at them pleadingly, silently begging for some sort of help. Instead of assisting her, they grabbed tissues and waved a farewell to them.

"Bye, Dr. B." Hodgins called out as the doors to the lab whisked open and then shut again as the pair disappeared down the corridor.

"What do you think's gonna happen?" Cam turned back to the body they'd been studying.

"You're guess is just as good as mine." he said and turned back to his bugs.

* * *

Angela was driving for a few seconds before pulling out her cell phone. "Ange, that's not safe." Brennan chirped, but she only smiled and hit speed-dial.

"We're en route." she spoke into the receiver. She'd been given very specific instructions not to leave it on speakerphone. "Got it. Hope you know what you're doing." she hung up just as quickly as she dialed.

"Who was that? Angela, you're really starting to scare me." Brennan shifted, miserably fighting the metal cuffs.

"Can't say, Sweetie. All I can tell you is that you don't have to be scared." she smiled as she looked out the windshield into the rain that was lightly falling into the D.C. streets.

Brennan sat quiet for the rest of the ride. She had no reason to doubt Angela (well, maybe one now), but still trusted her friend not to leave her out in the middle of nowhere to die or anything. When they pulled up in front of her own apartment building, Brennan was beyond confused, her least favorite feeling.

"Angela, just tell me what the hell's going on!?" she tried another futile attempt at some clarity at the situation.

"Nope. That's for him to tell." she let it slip on purpose.

"Who's him? Booth? Sweets?" she started taking wild guesses as to who was behind Angela kidnapping her.

"That's for me to know and you to find out really quick." she started the tread up the stairs with a squirming Brennan desperate to rid herself of the handcuffs. The quick ascent to Brennan's fifth floor apartment was quiet after that.

"Are you gonna take these off yet?" Brennan asked.

"Can't. Don't have the keys." she took her friends house key and opened the door for her. They were both in shock at the beauty that her apartment had been transformed into.

Candles were strategically spread out around every surface imaginable. Red, white, and pink roses were in places where candles wouldn't be safe. Everything was just where it should've been.

"This is as far as I can go, but I want every detail in the morning. Have a good night, Sweetie." Angela gave her the gentle nudge inside.

"Why would I have a good night?" Brennan asked, but it was already too late. Angela was long gone before she even turned around. She sighed and entered her transformed apartment. A familiar melody she recognized as Aaron Neville played quietly in the background.

"Bones." It was the simple nickname that never seemed to fail at making her breath hitch. A lone, silent tear made it's way down her pale cheek. She didn't know why she was crying or how it started, and it made her feel helpless.

She felt the calloused hands remove the cold metal chains from her wrists. Brennan didn't turn when she once she had her two limbs back. She couldn't bring herself to meet those dark brown eyes, so full of something she could only identify as passion and desire.

"Would you please look at me Bones?" he begged quietly.

She turned to him, not bothering to cover the track that lone tear left. Her eyes had glazed over with the strong emotion that she hadn't felt since she'd deleted the book she was writing by his bedside.

"Why did you do all of this Booth?" Brennan figured her one advantage in all of this was to, for once, be dumb. The room's temperature had risen several hundred degrees in the last few seconds.

"I think you know what this is about." Booth guided her over to the couch and sat her down, picking up on the vibe that she needed to stabilize herself. He, however, was to nervous to sit. Booth ran his hand through his hair as he thought about what he'd say next.

"Bones, I don't know why I didn't see it before." he mumbled, knowing she'd hear him.

"Booth, what the hell are you talking about. Just say it." her voice was strained through her tears.

He sat down next to her and held her chin lightly, holding her eyes to his. "I love you."

Brennan knew it was coming, but it didn't stop her stomach from tying into knots, her throat constrict, and her heart raise to a dangerously fast pace. She buried her face in her hands and breathed deeply.

Booth rested his hand against her hunched over back. "I'm not pressuring you to say anything, and I don't expect it. You just needed to know how I feel." he said quietly.

Brennan looked up, the salty water on her cheeks glistening in the candlelight. "Where along the way did you think I didn't feel the same way?" she whispered.

"Do you?" he asked without getting his hopes up.

"Could you answer my question first?" she retorted.

Booth inhaled and exhaled. "I don't know. I just…never thought that it'd be possible for you to…you know…"

"Feel?" she asked coldly.

"Open yourself up to potential pain." he clarified his thoughts.

She nodded, "Fair enough." she sniffled.

"Now could you answer mine?" Booth asked again.

Brennan looked down at her shoes, thinking about what she could say to convey whatever this tightening in her chest.

"There is a long list of things I feel around you, Booth." she started. "I feel…safe, important, cared for." Brennan swallowed hard. "And whenever I'm with you…my heart starts beating really hard and I don't know why." the dam broke and more tears spilled out from her mysterious eyes.

Booth wrapped an arm around her while she spoke. "I think this is what you mean, right? This is what love feels like."

"Like you're spinning around in circles and dizzy." Booth stated.

She nodded, "That's it."

"All I can say is what I feel is like the song." Booth rubbed soothing strokes up and down her back.

"What?" Brennan hadn't even been listening to the quiet music that played in the background. She chuckled as she thought about the lyrics.

I don't know much,

But I know I love you

And that may be all I need to know

"I know that I'm not the smartest person in the world, and I'm not perfect, but I love you more than I could ever tell you. After four years, you need to know that." Booth whispered. There wasn't any reason to raise his voice.

Brennan wrapped her arms around him and rested her forehead in the crook of his neck. "You're all I could ask for, Booth."

The deal was sealed when Booth moved his lips down to meet hers in their first real kiss. And it was just as perfect as either could've dreamt.

And this is only the beginning. Coilerfan35 suggested some Secondhand Serenade, and I'll work it in after a little bit. You can probably expect next chapter after a few days, next weekend by the latest. Your friend, -B47