Okay... so this is a NEW story... that I hope to be working on along with Things We Didn't See. But since that one has become difficult to update frequently... I'm adding this story. Hope you like it.

Premise: Takes place after Booth was shot and thought "dead" in season 3. What was Bones going through in that week before she found out Booth was actually alive... and what if Booth found out? I know a lot of stories like this are out there... but I've never actually bothered to read them... so I hope I'm offering something different.

Please review and let me know what you think!

She was aware she had no business being there, but some how that didn't seem to stop her. It had been a little less than twenty four hours since Booth had fallen to the floor in the karaoke bar, and more since she'd had any sleep. Maybe that's why she had shown up there; lack of rest had led to complete loss of rational thought. Somehow, though, she knew she was supposed to be there. Drawn like a moth to a flame, alternative paths were not an option. Brennan could still feel Booth's blood rushing and pouring out through her fingertips. She could still see his eyes dilate at her before turning dark and closing. The memory refused to let go of her despite her best efforts.

It was as if she was fifteen years old again and losing her parents and her spirit all over again. And there was no one to swoop in and save her... because he was gone now too. Everything once again felt like it would never be right. She could feel herself building up walls again. High and thick barriers to protect the fragile little girl she felt inside. She wanted to curse Booth. Curse him for opening her up, treating her with respect, patience, and taking that damn bullet. It was meant for her and she would have taken it; despite her genius, she had a hard time arguing that her life could contain more significance than his. Now his little boy was fatherless...

But she was there now. His apartment.

It didn't look any different from how she normally saw it; a couple dishes in the sink and the couch slightly disheveled. But she'd never seen it like this before, she'd never seen it without him. Why had she come here? What was she looking for? Some sort of closure? She hadn't got to say goodbye to Booth. When the paramedics arrived, he was whisked away and she never saw him again. When the doctors had delivered the news to her and the rest of the squints at the hospital, she had simply turned around and walked out. She didn't cry. She didn't fall apart on the floor. She didn't beg to see him. She just left. And now she was at his apartment for some God forsaken reason.

Brennan looked down at her hands. She'd washed them, but there was still blood in the cracks of her knuckles and under her nail-beds. Her mother's ring was stained and there were still droplets on her jeans.

A shower.

That's what she needed. She stripped herself of the spare top Angela had brought her as she made her way to Booth's bedroom. Discarding it to the floor and quickly letting the rest of her clothes follow. She turned on the shower and watched as steam quickly began filling the bathroom before she entered it, and that's when she lost it. Tears began making her way down her cheeks; so much that they over powered the shower spray.

She loved him.

Oh, God, she did.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

It was late when Charlie finally arrived to pick Booth up at the hospital. They had to wait until all of his visitors had left the premises before the FBI could successfully sneak him out and drive him to his hotel on the other side of town. Booth had been hoping for a nice car service or something, he was "dead" after all, but he got Charlie instead.

"Nice to see you're not dead, Boss," Charlie joked awkwardly as they began to drive.

Booth popped in some of the painkillers he'd been given, every bump in the road made him cringe, "Yeah, me too."

"Your friends were pretty torn up about it, though."

"Oh, yeah?" Originally, Booth had not been looking forward to this car ride with Charlie. No offense to him, but he was a little annoying to Booth. But now his interest was slightly sparked, "How did everyone react when they found out I was dead?"

"Well some of the guys certainly teared up," Charlie began going through the Rolodex in his mind of the people who were at the waiting room. The ones that mostly stood out were the ones from this office since he knew them. "Oh, and that fine black woman and Asian woman from the Jeffersonian... they could not stop crying. They were total messes."

This was interesting to Booth, but there was reaction he was most interested in, as sick as it was. "How did... uh... Bones react?" tried to ask casually.

"Oh yeah!" The memory instantly came back to Charlie, how could he forget that one? "That was the weird one. After the doctor came out and told us you died, she just turned around and left."

"She just left?" Even though he wasn't actually dead, it stung.

"Yep! But, hey man, don't take it hard. You know that she's kind of... you know..." Charlie was making his best attempt at bonding with his boss.

"Kind of what?"

"Well you know, everyone thinks she's a bit of an ice queen..." The moment the words left Charlie's mouth he saw Booth shoot him a deadly glare.

"She's not an ice queen," Booth's words were harsh. If he hadn't just been shot the day before, he would have popped him one. She was not icy... she was just different.

"Sorry, Agent Booth."

Booth sat back and just shook his head. He hated it when people made those sorts of ignorant remarks about her; they had no idea what she was actually like. She was warm and sweet and vulnerable... adorably awkward. Her eyes would light up when she got a joke... chin quivered when she cried. His fingers snapped, "She knows I'm not actually dead! That's why she didn't cry. She's on the list, you know, of people who get to know I'm alive."

"Oh, I'm sure that's it!" Charlie tried to be enthusiastic and hoped that all was forgiven. Jeeze... his boss was incredibly protective of his partner...

"It is! Don't you see? She probably just left quickly like that so she wouldn't give it away that I'm not dead," This made complete sense to Booth. Bones would care if he died... she wouldn't just walk away. "Hey, Charlie. Before you drop me off at the hotel, do you mind if we stop back at my apartment? I need to pick up some clothes and things."

"But, Agent Booth, someone could see you..."

"Sniper training, Charlie. Besides, it's late enough. No one will be around."

Charlie just nodded. Booth was the boss after all... "So... um... are you and Dr. Brennan... are you..."

"Just drive, Charlie."

So Booth and Charlie are running over to Booth's apartment... where Bones is... Ohhh what shall happen?

Please let me know what you think!