Disclaimer: All major characters are the property of Fox, and the very creative writers:) not me :(
"You can leave me here. I'll buzz you if I need anything." Brennan dismissed the nurse, and then turned. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"No problem Dr. Brennan. Stay as long as you like. We know where to find you if we need to check on you for anything. Talk to him. Patients can hear you when they are unconscious. He might respond to you." With that, the nurse headed out of the room.
Brennan rolled herself to the bedside. The man lying there was pale. A catheter in his left arm dripped slowly, as only the mechanical pump would allow. His eyes were closed, hiding those intense brown orbs. Monitors were charting his heart rate, respirations, and brainwaves. Everything that she had been enduring just an hour or so before.
He was pale, vulnerable. A person could not tell with him just lying there how strong he was. How vibrant and alive he could be.
They had taken away the fun tie and his colorful socks.
Fresh flowers and bright pictures that Parker had drawn surrounded him. The pictures were of the zoo, the park, even the Jeffersonian where he loved to see the dinosaurs.
A tear escaped her smoky eyes that had filled the minute she saw him. She tentatively touched his hand.
"Oh Booth. I am so sorry about all of this. I never should have involved you with searching for my past. This is all my fault."
Like a dam had broken, she started talking. Saying more than she had ever said before. Things she had never told anyone. Feeling safe in the thought that he could not hear her. He would not remember when he came back to her.
"You made me remember a good memory from my childhood. Before they left us. Every night, Russ and I would go to sleep, my parents would check on us. I remember they would touch my face and whisper 'Sweet dreams Temperance'. I felt safe then. Loved even. I haven't had that feeling since then. Not with anyone, until... You just had to stay at my apartment. I felt you... checking on me. After you thought I was asleep. You stayed by the door, but I could feel you. And I felt safe again. Complete trust, I knew nothing would get me.
"How do you get into my head that way? I don't know if I should be upset, or if I should like the way you make me feel... Sometimes I can feel you looking at me. I want to blush... Why? We are partners Booth..."
She was working herself up, venting all her frustrations. Everything that had confused her about him for the past two years. Poured all of that into the ears of her helpless partner. Who was in no way able to defend himself. She finally tired herself out, softly finishing her rant with a mere whisper.
"We are partners Booth, but sometimes... Sometimes I think I want more."
It was like swimming; heading toward muffled noises, floating freely with the current. Slowly, things were becoming more focused. More distinct.
His eyes felt like they were taped shut. His arms and legs, like they were weighted down, buried, and he was not strong enough to free himself. He felt numb all over, nothing could sink in.
Then, all of a sudden, feathers touch on his hand. There it was on his forehead. A caress, maybe. Or a kiss...
He had heard voices before now. Thought he had heard Cam for awhile, but there was no strength, or desire to respond. He remembered maybe Angela... he would have tuned her out, except one word had him fighting for the power to return.
"Brennan."
~Where was Brennan? Did I get her out of the way? Did that creepy scumbag stop and fin... finish her off after hitting me? ~
These thoughts cycled through his mind, no way to shut them off. Not able to control his body to distract himself.
Parker invaded his thoughts too. He knew he had heard his little boy. His pride and joy. One of the very best parts of his life. Even Parker could bring Brennan to Booth's thoughts though. Something about "Dr. Bren is still sleeping."
Then it seemed Cam was back. But where was Bones; she would be there for him if she was safe... Cam was talking about their good times together. Pleading with him to come back to that, to her.
It felt all wrong. Something was missing. Someone with gray-blue eyes and a superior grin on her face.
There... that soft touch. Just his hand, and hesitant; but he knew that touch. His consciousness started fighting. He had to know, had to see her, had to come back to her.
She was talking, it sounded private. She must need him to hear it. There was some sniffling, was she crying? Did she hurt? He was slowly winning his internal war. He could see lights right in front of his eyelids.
Then she turned frustrated, he knew that change in tone. Something about being confused; about him...
~What are you getting at Bones? Is it what I think? ~
Her wonderful voice dropped to a whisper... And he could have sworn her heard her whisper about wanting more... maybe more.
~Oh God, please let me remember that one. ~
That thought was ricocheting through his brain. Why couldn't he make his eyes work?
~Bones could explain that to me, I'm sure about that. ~
With that thought, he felt the next caress. An angel soft touch across his brow, down his cheek. His right hand was lifted up, he felt a burning; tingling contact with his face. There was a wet feeling; Bones was crying over him. A faint touch of her lips grazed his knuckles, and then his forehead. He could hear, could feel her breathing; and then a whisper for his ears alone...
"I am watching over you now Booth. But please come back to me."
He could not take it anymore. He had to fight, to take himself back. Focusing what will power he had, he poured himself mentally into reaching out toward his partner, the only one who mattered.
She felt it... She knew she did. Booth seemed warmer, more like Booth. Then... a squeeze. He was holding her hand!
"Come back Booth," still holding him, she went on chuckling through her tears. "Come toward the light."
Brennan watched as his eyes fluttered open for the first time since he pushed her. A quick open and close, taking in her face, seeing the bruises.... seeing she was safe.
His eyes were soft, a little unfocused, and he slurred his first raspy words in three days. "I always told you I'd come when you called me. And it's 'stay away from the light.' Not come towards it."
