A/N:

Oneshot set during 4x14 (Hero in the Hold). What should have happened between Brennan rescuing Booth from the ship and the trip to the cemetery. Pretty much AU since there was no allusion to anything like this happening in the story.

Hole in the Heart and Doctor in the Photo had been done so many times. But the episode that really left me wanting more was Hero in the Hold. I felt like there was so much more that should have gone on between Booth and Brennan. There was so much unsaid after she rescued him.

It's rated M for a reason. Smut and Fluff. Because who doesn't love a little smut and fluff with B&B?

Apologies for any typos or horrendous grammar. It's been one of those weeks. Please review for a nervous first time writer.

"Booth," she warned, "You should not be leaving the hospital against the physician's orders. Your body has endured a great deal of stress and you should be resting." Brennan knew this conversation was going nowhere as Booth continued to get dressed without so much as acknowledging her statement.

With a sigh she collected her things—and Booth's since he was obviously in no shape to do so—and followed him out of the hospital.

The ride to Booth's apartment was silent as Brennan contemplated what she could say to convince him to let her stay and keep an eye on him. In the end she decided to just stay and have that argument later.

As they approached Booth's door he wondered if she planned to stay or if he would have to ask her to. Finally admitting to himself that he really didn't want to stay alone in his apartment tonight—the last place he'd been before the Gravedigger incident. He opened the door and sighed as he saw the mess from the his struggle with the Gravedigger.

"Why don't you take a shower and I'll clean some of this up?" Brennan offered.

Cupping a hand to the back of his neck Booth sighed again, "Okay."

Thirty minutes later Booth emerged from the bathroom feeling not much better than when he'd gone in to shower. He found the mess in his apartment cleaned up, but his partner was nowhere to be found. Well I should have known that was going to happen. What exactly were you expecting Seeley? For her to just hang around here all night?

Booth settled into the couch and turned on the television hoping the noise would distract him from the lead ball that seemed to have settled in his gut.

Just as he began to doze off he heard the handle of his front door jiggle and his senses immediately kicked into overdrive. He reached for his gun in a flash and pointed it at the intruder.

"Booth!" Brennan yelled, almost dropping the food in her hands.

Booth relaxed just a bit but kept the gun trained on his partner for just a few seconds more. Finally he lowered it and set it on the table. "Jesus Bones, you scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry Booth," came her reply, "I...I just thought you might like something to eat other than the hospital food you complained about." A half smile crept up and she walked further into Booth's apartment and set the peace offering on his coffee table.

"Thanks Bones. I guess I'm a little on edge after everything." His hand went to his neck as if he were trying to rub away the tension there. "You weren't here when I got out of the shower and I guess I assumed you just went home."

"Well, I looked in your cupboards and couldn't find anything that qualified as nutritious. And since you left the hospital against the advice of your doctor I thought I should at least make sure you ate something that wasn't frozen pizza and cookies." She was smiling now as he relaxed back onto the couch. "I got Thai, I assume you find that acceptable."

"Yeah Bones, that's great. Thanks." He was so exhausted he couldn't make the words he really wanted to say come out of his mouth. Stay with me Bones. Please, just stay with me tonight.

She brought him a plate and they ate in silence. When they were finished, Brennan cleaned up the dishes and loaded the dishwasher. When she finished she sat back down next to Booth on the couch. Longing to touch him. Make sure he was okay. But she didn't . Instead she sat on his couch and watched him as he watched the television distractedly. She knew he wasn't concentrating on what was on the television, but she couldn't bring herself to ask him what was bothering him.

Ask her to stay, Seeley. What's the worst she could say? No? Well yeah, that is the worst she could say, but how bad could it be. Just man up and do it. But he couldn't. It felt like admitting weakness. Admitting defeat. He continued to stare at the television in distracted silence.

Finally, when he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer, Booth decided it was time to go to bed whether Brennan stayed or not. He stood up and turned off the television. "I'm going to bed, Bones. I'm exhausted."

So that's it. He doesn't want you to stay. He's an adult. He can stay in his own apartment by himself, Temperance. "Okay," was all she said as she headed for the door.

Brennan was waiting for the elevator when she heard a door open and soft foot falls coming toward her. She was surprised to see Booth.

"Stay." Was all Booth could get out. "Please."

"Of course, Booth." She answered.

She followed him back into his apartment. When they got back inside she wasn't sure what to do so she waited for him to make a move. It was a strange feeling, not knowing what to do. She was so used to taking charge.

"I'll get some blankets and a pillow. I'll sleep on the couch..."was Booth's eventual response to the stalemate in his living room.

"No Booth. My smaller stature makes the couch a more logical choice for me. Also, your body has experienced a great deal of stress. That combined with your history of lower back problems makes it illogical for you to sleep on the couch." Brennan argued.

"Okay." Booth replied, having no energy to argue.

Booth collected blankets and pillow for Brennan out of his linen closet and began to make up the couch.

"I can make my own bed, Booth" Brennan said, taking the blankets from him.

Booth gave up the bedding and padded toward his bedroom. "Thank you, Bones" he said as he stood watching her from the doorway to his bedroom.

Brennan smiled at Booth as she tucked the sheet into his couch and arranged the pillow and blankets so she could see the door to his bedroom. Just in case. "Good night, Booth."

"Good night, Bones."

He shut his bedroom door wishing he had the balls to ask her to share his bed with him.

3:00 AM

Booth opened the door to his bedroom as quietly as possible.

Tired as he was he just couldn't fall asleep. He had tossed and turned for hours now, anxious. Anxious about his experiences over the last 48 hours. Anxious about the woman sleeping outside his bedroom who had worked tirelessly to find him.

He walked slowly, quietly to the chair that faced his couch. He thought he'd been quiet enough to avoid disturbing his sleeping partner until she bolted upright.

"Booth! Are you okay? Is someone here?" she hissed frantically trying to discern what was going on.

She'd been sleeping, but with everything that had happened in the last 48 hours she was wound tight and her body responded immediately to anything it deemed a threat. When Booth appeared before her she was sure something was terribly wrong. That they'd arrested the wrong person. That the Gravedigger had returned to finish what he or she had started and kill Booth.

"I'm fine, Bones." He rasped, "I couldn't sleep. Too wound up I guess."

Brennan sat back down on the couch and invited her partner to sit next to her. She put a hand on his hand, the size difference never ceasing to amaze her. She traced circles on the back of his hand as her breathing returned to normal and her presence calmed him. He relaxed into the couch knowing she was there.

"I'm right here, Booth." She reassured him. "I won't leave you, not as long as you need me to stay."

His body relaxed further, believing her reassurance. He leaned into her and his breathing slowed and became steadier, less jagged.

Brennan leaned into him, too. Her head found its place in the crook of his shoulder. She fit into him almost like they were meant for one another. She issued a sigh and closed her eyes. "It's okay, Booth. I'm right here." She repeated.

Before she could stop herself, Brennan's body decided to take control of the situation. She placed light kisses at Booth's neck, just above his shoulder.

"Bones...what..." was all he could manage.

Embarrassed, Brennan pulled away, "S...Sorry, Booth. I just..." she couldn't finish.

Brennan started to get up.

"No...Bones...please..." he pleaded as he pulled her closer to him. Taking a chance he pulled her into him and kissed her softly on the lips. This time she didn't pull away. The kisses continued soft and slow until Booth realized he'd forgotten to breathe. He pulled away to catch his breath.

"I just...needed to know that you were here. That you were real. That after everything that's happened that you weren't a figment of my subconscious." Brennan finally admitted.

"I'm here. I'm real and I'm here." Booth replied as he leaned back into her.

The sweet kisses turned into something more desperate. Booth's tongue seeking entrance, Brennan allowing it. Their tongues met and explored. Their breathing became jagged and irregular and they needed to be closer.

God, she tastes so good. How did I go this long without this.

Brennan shifted and Booth worried she would pull away again. Run away. But she didn't. Instead she did something that surprised them both. She moved to straddle Booth. He shifted, embarrassed at his own arousal. Just kissing her had made him impossibly hard. Her hands strayed from their position on his shoulders and inspected every inch of his rock hard torso. When her hands reached his waist she tugged at the hem of his shirt. Without a second thought he pulled the shirt over his head, allowing her fingers to explore his bare chest.

His hands did some exploring of their own. He traced her perfect curves and ran his fingers up and down her spine causing her to shiver with pleasure. Finally his hands found the bottom of her shirt and explored underneath finding her breasts unhindered. She'd taken off her bra before going to sleep. He brushed his thumbs over her nipples eliciting a low moan from her.

"Don't stop," she begged.

Her hands found the waistband of his sweat pants and she slid two fingers between his skin and the elastic band. He's not wearing any underwear. She plunged her hand beneath the fabric and cupped him causing him to jerk up underneath her.

"Bones!" he cried. "Ugh...Bones...we...we...I...can't," he extracted himself from underneath her in one quick motion using every ounce of self control he possessed.

She looked at him, obviously confused. "What?"

"This. We...I can't. It would change everything," he replied. I can't lose you. I'm terrified you'll run if I let this happen. God I want this. So much.

She stared at him in stunned silence. "I want this Booth," was her only reply. The only thing she could make come out of her mouth.

The obvious distress on Booth's face melted away as Brennan walked toward him. Taking his hand she brought him back to the couch. She returned to her position on top of him and cupped his face in her hands.

"I want this," she whispered into his ear.

Thank God. Please don't run...

With renewed intensity his lips crashed into hers. Resuming his place at her breasts she groaned into his mouth causing his erection to spring back to life. She ground herself into him this time causing him to moan with pleasure.

"Need...this," she moaned as she cupped his erection again.

A low growl escaped his throat as he flipped Brennan on her back and lingered over her. He freed her breasts from the t-shirt she was wearing and took one into his mouth. He flicked his tongue over her nipple causing her entire body to shudder.

"Don't...stop...please...don't...stop," she moaned through jagged breaths.

Her hands made it back to his waist and pulled at his sweat pants tugging them down to his knees before he kicked them off. She took Booth into her hands and in one hard stroke reduced him to a moan. "Bones..."

"Inside...please. Now!" she pleaded.

Booth smiled at the tone in voice suggesting so much desire for him. So much need.

"Not yet," he replied breathily.

His hands traveled down her waist and met the elastic of her underwear.

She wasn't wearing any pants? Why didn't I realize that sooner?

One stroke over her underwear told him she was soaked. For him. His fingers finally slipped between the soft cotton and her skin. She shuddered against him. His fingers traced along her folds, liquid pleasure running down his fingers.

"Please. Booth."

And with that he plunged two fingers into her, causing her hips to jerk into him and eliciting a loud moan. He stroke slowly, deliberately as she tried to set a faster pace.

"Faster. Harder." She ordered. But he had his own agenda.

In time his strokes came faster as her hips ground into him. Not sure he could stand it much longer he picked up the pace, twisting his fingers inside her and tracing circles over her clit. Finally he felt her contract all around his fingers and she fell apart in his arms.

"Booth...Booth...Booth." She moaned almost in time to the contractions on his fingers. "Please? Now?" she asked.

This time he was happy to indulge her. He lined himself up at her entrance as he searched her eyes for any indication that this wasn't what wanted, but he found none.

He slid in slowly, moaning with pleasure as he did. She was so hot, so wet for him.

"Oh yeah, Bones. You feel so good. So tight." He growled as he slid home.

She moaned wildly at the sensation of him filling her.

He stroked in and out slowly a few times before finding a rhythm that was right for both of them. God he could slow fuck her all night.

She reached between them cupping his balls softly. Encouraging him to pick up the pace. She wanted to come again and she wanted him to come with her this time.

"Unnhh...Bones... a little warning next time, baby."

He sped up, his strokes a little less controlled.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Fuck yes!" she cried as he sped up. He smiled at the loss of control she displayed.

He felt himself getting closer to the edge.

"Please say you're close, baby. I don't know...how much longer...I can..."he rasped.

"Almost...there. Unnnhhh!" came her reply.

He sped up again, pumping faster than he thought possible. He strokes became jagged and uneven as he pushed closer to the edge and finally over. He took her with him in a wave of pleasure that rocked both of them to the core. She contracted all around him milking him dry. She bit into his bottom lip softly, making his release that much more intense.

He collapsed on her unable to hold his own weight. Their ragged breathing slowing and finally returning to normal.

Realizing he was probably crushing Brennan he shifted his weight and pulled out of her to lay at her side. She moaned at the release of pressure from within. He pulled her close and her head rested on his chest.

"God Bones...that was..."

"Amazing?" she finished. As if there were a question.

"Amazing," he agreed.

They laid in one another's arms for awhile. Booth's breathing became more shallow and his body relaxed. He finally fell asleep. In her arms.

Brennan didn't want to wake him, but she knew letting him sleep on that couch would only make him hurt more in the morning.

She kissed Booth softly on the forehead, causing him to stir.

"Bones," he yawned.

"Come on, Booth. We need to get up."

His body tensed and she understood then that he thought she would leave.

"Booth. I'm not going to leave." His body relaxed. "We need to move into the bedroom. If I let you sleep on this couch we'll both regret it tomorrow."

Finally Booth disentangled himself from Brennan. He took her hand and padded to the bedroom. That fact that neither of them bothered to dress was a small comfort to Booth, confirming that Brennan wouldn't leave. Booth held up the blanket for Brennan to slide under. As soon as they were both situated he pulled her into him and sighed deeply. It took only moments of her in his arms for Booth to relax enough for sleep to finally overcome him.

But before he could completely succumb to his exhaustion Brennan spoke.

"Booth...I...um...I"

Knowing she couldn't make herself say it, "I know. Me too, Bones. Me too..." he replied.

I love you too, Bones.

A/N:

Again, please review. Pretty please?