The water was warm, welcoming; just the kind of place Seeley Booth wanted to be. A rich amber color was all around him, beams of brilliant light broke through the darkness. There was silence, a peaceful silence. He felt safe here. Soon, a soft voice broke through to him. It was a sad, desperate voice. "Grace" it whispered,"remember Grace" . This sad mantra voiced over and over again. "Grace" it sobbed. He began to panic. What grace? Where was he? Who was calling to him? Who was begging him to remember this grace?
He grasped for a clear thought. He listened. "Grace, Booth. Remember Grace." It was Bones. BONES! Why was she crying? Where was she? He called out to her. He was spinning in his own perfect world.
He stopped for a moment and stilled. Grace? What did the word mean? Beauty, peace, hope? What was she telling him? He willed himself to think. Think as hard as the fog would allow.
He was at home. Their home. She was lying in their bed. Beautiful and still. He got up, dressed. He was in the car. A squeel of tires, the busting of glass. Then what. He couldn't recall. He was desperate for an answer.
The chanting got worse. He heard other voices. Max? Pops? It was an older man. He was trying to calm Bones' voice. Whispering words of reassurance. Begging her to leave. NO! Please, don't make her leave. Booth wanted to go home.
The male voice whispered Grace again. Begging him to remember grace. Why? Why?
Blackness engulfed him. He tried to fight it, but gave up. Grace was his last thought.
He woke again in the amber fog. Again to a voice. One begging him to come home. He was trying. They too spoke of grace and Bones.
He then heard a heartbeat, this one fast and strong. It was beautiful, like a song. "it's Grace" a voice spoke.
He was so tired. No pain, but tired, he wanted to calm the voices. He wanted to rest. The voices became louder. Angrier. It was Angela Hodgins. Of this much he was sure. She was calling him a coward, a quiter. Why? What was he quiting? She too metioned grace. He was giving up on grace. He heard the heartbeat again.
Booth used this bit of knoweldge to the best of his abilities. grace. Grace. The most graceful person he knew was Bones. Tall, lean, graceful. Was she hurt? Could he find her?
He then heard a voice. Pops. It had to be. Who else called him Shrimp? It told him to walk away from that light. To go towards the pain. He had to. She's counting on you shrimp. Grace is counting on you. They both are.
GRACE! Oh GOD! Booth swam in circles away from the peace and warmth. Towards the cold and the pain. I'm coming! Booth felt his body scream in pain. It begged him to go back. Go back to that peaceful place.
He pressed on. Deeper into the pain. Deeper into the darkness. He felt like he was going to die. So much pain.
Finally he could see. He was still suffering, but it wasn't as bad. He opened his eyes. He was lying in a bed. He tried to lift he head but found this task to be too much. He wiggled his fingers instead.
He heard a strangled cry. "Booth". It was Bones. She was slowly standing. She was aided by Pops who was holding her hand as they both rushed to his bedside.
"Grace" Booth whispered. Brennan began to cry at this statement. Deep, heaving sobs. He was here. He had heard.
She lifted her eyes to his and took his hand. "Grace" she said as she placed his hand onto her swollen abdomen. He felt the baby kick in response.
