A/N: After seeing last night's episode, this idea popped into my head and wouldn't leave me alone. *Mild spoilers from 8x13 so if you haven't seen it, be cautious*


47 days. 16 hours. 32 minutes. 28 seconds.

That's how long it's been since Brennan's seen Booth's reassuring brown eyes, heard his velvety voice, felt his strong, muscular arms wrapped around her.

She hasn't left his side since he was admitted to the hospital following a gun shot to his chest. She continues to hold his hand, massage his muscles to keep circulation regulated, and pretend that he's still here.

Christine, now ten, sits on the couch, peeking over the edge of the travel DVD player in her lap. Her clear blue eyes are tainted with moisture and tinged red, as she watches her mother attempt but fail to hold back tears of her own, and listens to her father's voice echoing through the adequate speakers on the device:

"Hey there, Christine. It's me, your father. Dad, Dada, Daddy."

Brennan shudders, squeezing Booth's hand, willing him to give her a sign that he's still in there somewhere.

He squeezes back briefly, weakly, as he's been doing for the last two weeks, but the doctor's insist it's only a reflex. He's not going to regain consciousness.

Brennan lets her tears linger on her cheeks, but blinks. She takes in a shaky breath as his voice strangles her:

"I'm the luckiest man in the world because I got to spend time with your mother. And with you."

24 times.

That's how many times she's heard his message to Christine from start to finish and she longs to hear his voice call her name, call out her nickname that she's grown to love almost as much as him, their daughter, and her job. All she has left is that message.

"And I want you to love life. Dive into life. Be courageous. Question things and be happy. And don't forget to laugh. Oh, and one last favor. Help your mom to be happy, because if she's alone, then she's gonna forget. That's it. That's...from me, to you."

Brennan leans over his motionless body, resting her head on his pelvis, tears soaking through the blankets.

The mattress moves beneath her. She feels the slight shift of his body, and hears the rustle of sheets and the squeak and rattle of bedsprings. She lifts her head, turning it towards her partner, her mate, her best friend, her love, and finds herself looking right into his dark, confused, scared eyes. She swallows and sandwiches his hand between both of hers.

A groan escapes his dry, cracked lips, followed by a wisp of air, and then, "Bones."

A nervous laugh comes out, her lips slowly, hesitantly curve upwards into a shy smile, and tears drip down her pale, flush cheeks, as she whispers, "Booth."


Hope you liked it.

Please review and let me what you think.

:)