(After "Two Bodies in the Lab")

Reviews are appreciated.

I don't own Bones.

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As she entered her apartment, Brennan surveyed the living room and the kitchen beyond and was pleased with what she saw. "You did a very good job, Mr. Riley."

Proud of his work, Timmy Riley pointed towards the kitchen. "It looks just like it did before. No one will ever be able to tell that you had an explosion in here."

After she crossed the room, Brennan entered the kitchen and stopped just inside the doorway. Glancing towards the refrigerator her mind flashed back three weeks to that moment when Booth had opened her refrigerator door and triggered an explosion that almost killed him. The image of her partner, his clothes on fire, the seemingly broken way his limp body lay on the floor flooded her mind and she found it hard to think of anything else.

Riley stepped into the room, walked around Brennan and over to the refrigerator where he rubbed his hand on the exterior panel. "I even found the same brand and model of refrigerator that you had before the . . . uh . . . accident." With a youthful smile, he glanced at Brennan and then back at the refrigerator. "Open sesame." With a flourish he opened it, turned back to see Brennan flinch and realized that his playfulness may have upset her. Embarrassed, he quickly closed the appliance door and cleared his throat. "Did you want the same model of refrigerator that you previously owned? . . . You did say to fix everything like it was before. Was I wrong? Did you want a different model of refrigerator? It's not a problem if you want me to get a different brand."

Her cheeks a light dusty rose, Brennan realized that her reaction may have been over the top and uncalled for. Shaking her head, she smiled at the contractor to tried to show him that everything was fine and that he hadn't done anything wrong. "No that's okay. You did exactly what I told you to do. The refrigerator is fine."

Relieved, Riley walked across the room and handed her his clipboard. "If you'll sign off on this I'll be on my way." Watching her check over the invoice and then sign it, the contractor glanced around the room. "Now don't forget if you find anything wrong or you want to change something you call me and I'll come back and fix it or replace it Dr. Brennan. Don't put up with anything if you don't like it. Just call me."

Handing the clipboard back the contractor, Brennan nodded her head in appreciation. "Thank you, Mr. Riley. I will."

Ooooooooooooo

After returning from the grocery store, Brennan placed the bags filled with food and cleaning supplies on the counter, turned towards the refrigerator and placed her right hand on the door handle. Her heart started to race and unable to open the door, she removed her hand and folded her arms across her breasts. "This is ridiculous." Tapping her foot impatiently on the floor, she glared at the appliance, berating herself for being foolish. "It's not going to blow up again. You're letting your imagination run amok."

The image of Booth's bleeding body lying on the floor across the room returned once more to the forefront of her thoughts causing her bite her lower lip. "He's fine. Booth is out of the hospital and he's fine. This is ridiculous."

Determined to not let the past influence her, she quickly opened the refrigerator door and placed her food on the shelves. Once that was done, she firmly closed the door, folded the now empty bags and placed them in her recycling bin.

Her gaze roaming over the room, she realized that a tear was trailing down her face. Sadly, she reached up, wiped it from her cheek and left the room.

Ooooooooooooooo

Sitting in his partner's living room, Booth placed his notebook down and stretched his lower back and arms. "Let's take a break. Would you mind if I got a drink?"

In need of a break herself, Brennan placed her folder down, typed a few keys on the keyboard of her laptop and closed the file she had open. "No of course not. I have beer in the refrigerator or if you'd prefer I also have Coke, several kinds of juice and bottled water."

Stiff from sitting for so long, Booth stood up, rubbed his healed shoulder and felt the knot disappear. Thirsty, he clapped his hands together and grinned at her offer. "Thanks. Beer sounds great to me. I haven't been allowed to drink beer for the last few weeks because of the meds I was on, but I finished the last of my prescription last night."

Standing, Brennan moved around the coffee table and followed him into the kitchen. "I think I'll join you. Beer sounds like an excellent idea." As she watched her partner closely, she was surprised when Booth placed his hand on the handle of her refrigerator and froze. Not sure what was going on, she noticed the slight tremble in his hand as he remained in front of the closed fridge, unmoving.

Realization hitting her, she crossed the room and placed her hand on his shoulder. Unwilling to mention the explosion, certain that it was that memory that was affecting him, she smiled and pointed at the wine rack on the counter. "I've changed my mind about having beer. I think I'd rather have wine, won't you join me?"

He heard her, but hadn't understood what she had said. Tearing his eyes from the refrigerator door, Booth turned to look at her, his hand still on the fridge door. "Huh? . . . I mean, What?"

Once she released his shoulder, Brennan coolly moved closer to the wine rack and pulled a bottle out of its niche. "I think I'd rather have wine. Would you like some?"

Grateful that he wouldn't have to force himself to open the fridge door, Booth let his hand drop from the handle and stepped closer to Brennan and the wine. "Yeah . . . yeah that sounds great."

Seeing the relief on his face, Brennan knew that she'd interpreted his reticence correctly. "Have I told you that I think I'm going to move? I've been thinking about it and I've decided that I'd like to find an apartment a little closer to the Jeffersonian. I'm going to start looking tomorrow."

His gaze on his partner's slender fingers as she used a corkscrew to remove the cork from the wine bottle, Booth casually leaned against the counter. "I think that's a good idea, Bones. I think you need to move into a place that has better security. You're a famous author now and you need to think about your safety. When you find a place I'll help you move your stuff."

After she poured wine into two glasses, Brennan placed the bottle on the counter. "I think I'll just hire a moving company to move my things. Of course you can help me unpack my possessions once everything is moved to my new apartment. I know I can trust you to be careful with my antiquities."

His gaze back on the refrigerator, Booth rubbed the side of his head, the words he used soft and filled with emotion. "Sometimes I think about what could have happened. What if you'd opened the fridge door? It just rolls around in my mind. I mean . . . what if you had been alone and you'd opened the door. You . . . you could have been killed. I . . . . I . . ." Shaking his head, trying to let go of such dark thoughts, Booth turned his gaze back towards Brennan. "I'm glad it was me, Bones. I'm glad I opened the door and not you."

"Booth, I'm so sorry you were hurt." His words letting her own dark thoughts return, Brennan placed her hand on his arm and responded with a quavering voice. "I . . . I was so afraid when I saw you on the floor. You were so still . . . When I ran into this room, you were so still and your clothes . . . the fire . . ."

Pulling her into his embrace, Booth held her tightly against his chest. "Bones, it's done. I'm okay and so are you." Her chin resting on his shoulder, Booth felt his partner relax in his arms. "I'm glad you're going to move. I don't want you to live here. You . . . I'm glad you're moving."

Secure in his embrace, Brennan exhaled a shuddering breath. "Thank you, Booth. Thank you for being my friend. I don't have very many and I . . . thank you."

Gently moving his hand up and down her back, Booth felt that their friendship was evolving and for the better. "It's not hard to do, Bones. I'll always be your friend."

"I don't believe in absolutes, Booth, but in this case, I hope you're right." Closing her eyes, Brennan felt calmer and more relaxed. "I've never had a friend like you before. I never thought I would."

Booth stared at the refrigerator and knew that fate had almost dealt him a horrific blow. Brennan had become important to him. He wasn't sure when that had happened, but it had and he would protect her and their friendship to the best of his ability. "I am your friend, Bones. Never forget that. I will never walk away from our friendship. I've never had a friend like you either. Fate was kind when she introduced us, very kind."

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Let me know what you think of my little story. Thank you.

A/N: 'Open sesame' is a magical phrase that Ali Baba used to open the mouth of a cave that held treasure.