A/N: Hey, guys! So we just started the final season of our beloved show, huh? Don't even get me started. I'm totally in denial. Anyway, I decided to challenge myself (I'm not writing much later so it is a challenge, trust me) and write one chapter for each episode that airs. I'll post them right after the episodes, probably on Fridays or Saturdays. This is the first one and I really hope you guys enjoy it. Let me know, alright?

A special thanks to Thaís Christ, my amazing beta reader. Thank you for being in this Bones journey with me almost from the beginning. I love you, girl!

Tag for episode 12x01. This chapter takes place after the end of the episode.

Chapter 1: The Hope in the Horror

Booth would never get tired of the rare moments he could just stop and watch his partner working. Whenever she was this concentrated on something, she took longer than usual to notice his presence and he took advantage of every single second he got to take her in.

She was currently sitting on the floor of her office, her back to the door and a manila folder in her left hand. She was reading something from a document - it was most likely related to the apprentice case - and jolting notes on a notepad above the coffee table.

He felt an ache in his chest at the sight of her. Days ago, when she went missing, he was terrified he would never get to see her again, hold her again. One wrong turn and the real killer, instead of Zach, could have taken away his entire world. He was perfectly aware of how blessed he was to stand there and get to see her alive and well and squinting.

Shaking these dark thoughts from his head, he finally cleared his throat, entering her office with a box filled with documents and two bags of take outs on its top. Brennan lifter her head, a smile instantly appearing on her lips as her eyes found his.

"Hi, Booth."

"Hey." – He dropped everything on the couch and instead of joining her on the floor, he extended a hand to her. – "Come up here for a sec."

She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, dropping her pen and accepting his help to get up. She was barely on her feet when he pulled her to him, his strong arms going around her and keeping her against his body.

"For someone who doesn't like hugs," - She murmured, her tone playful. – "You do seem to hug me a lot."

He chuckled, holding her tighter. After getting her back, he wished she was never out of his sight, out of his arms, ever again. The need to touch her was almost unbearable and he didn't miss an opportunity to hug her or kiss her or make love to her.

"You are the only person I love to hug." – And Christine. And Hank. Booth thought she'd get his point.

"I know."

They stayed locked in their embrace for a couple more minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Brennan was the first to pull away slightly, only enough so she could see his face.

Booth was alarmed to see how sad she looked.

"What is it, Bones?"

"I wish I had visited Zach more often." – She sighed, feeling terribly guilty about it for the thousandth time since reuniting with her former student. – "Do you think it would have made a difference? Do you think he would have told us sooner about not being a murderer?"

"I don't know, Bones." – He knew the moment they heard Zach talking about how he spied on their emails so he could keep-up-to-date with his friends, that Brennan would blame herself for not paying more attention to him.

"Perhaps if I had visited him more, like Sweets did, he would be out of there by now. Dr. Roshan would never have been able to try to frame him for murder. Zach wouldn't have injured himself. Perhaps,"

"Bones." – Booth interrupted her, taking one side of her face in his hand. He hated the desperate look she had in her baby blue eyes. – "Aren't you the one always saying we shouldn't dwell on what-ifs?" – He said gently, stroking her cheek.

"I am, Booth. I know conjecturing about the past won't change it. But I just…" – She sighed, her eyes slowly filling with tears. - "I just feel like I failed him. Again."

Booth brushed the first tear away, his heart breaking for his partner.

"You never failed him, Bones. Not ten years ago, not now." – His confident tone kept her quiet. She was curious to see where he was going with his argument. Hoping he could convince her head that she was not to blame. – "Zach is a brilliant scientist. He knew the consequences of his actions. He knew that confessing to murder would mean him being locked up in an institution, away from all of you. He did it anyway. He had years to come clean, to get in touch with any one of us and tell us the truth. He didn't. He is well aware of everything he did, Bones. And he doesn't hold you accountable for any of them."

She nodded, telling her husband without words that she was listening. He smiled a little at her, seeing she was carefully processing his words, her eyes regaining a new light.

"In his own way, he saved you. He risked getting shot, possibly killed by me to save you. And then he only wanted to talk to you, to work with you. That kid loves you, Bones. He doesn't blame you and you shouldn't blame yourself, ok?"

He leaned forward, kissing the trails left by her tears. Brennan felt as if a burden was just lifted from her shoulders and she had no one to thank for but Booth. Since day one, he always knew exactly what to say to make her feel better and this time, it wasn't any different. How she loved this man.

She would show Zach that not only Booth was a friend but also the best man that she could have possibly found to spend the rest of her life with.

"I love you, Booth."

"I love you too, Bones." – He whispered against her lips, his forehead resting against hers. – "We can't go back and change the past but we sure as hell can help him now."

"We will. Together, we will." – She agreed, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. She forgot the lab, the people who could be watching them, and lost herself in everything that was Booth. His smell, the way his hands found its way to her hair, his solid body against hers. He was the only one who could make her ignore and silence the world around her and she welcomed the chance to step away from reality for the minutes his mouth was on hers.

The past few days had been hard and the following ones would be challenging but together, she was sure they could do this. They would break this case apart, reexamine all the evidence and find a way to prove Zach's innocence.

According to Booth, she hadn't failed her former intern and Brennan wasn't about to start now.