The response to this fic so far has been so wonderful! I have about 80 pages written in a word document just waiting to be proofed and posted. I don't want to upload a bunch at once, but I figured I could give you guys a little more today since I had the time to proof it. Enjoy.

They both breathed a sigh of relief exiting the room where they just told the parents about their son. "Bones, the dad. He just doesn't seem surprised. The mother's reaction was also disturbing. She was upset, but he...he just didn't do what parents normally do when they are told about their child. Sweets thinks we are going to have to being them back in separately, but for now let's just let them have their peace."

"Can we go to the lab; I need to at least look at the bones. It isn't that I don't trust Wendell, but I would feel better knowing that I actually looked at the bones myself."

"I figured that is where we would go now. I know you are worried about the killer walking on this one. I know you would not exactly leave me alone unless we at least stop by there."

B&B

"Good afternoon Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth. Hey, I thought you were sick? I figured it must have been pretty bad for you to not come in. Cam and Angela both said that you just don't call in sick."

"She's fine, Wendell. It was just a little bit of stress. This case has us all a little unraveled."

Brennan walked up to the lab table slipping on some rubber gloves. "Wendell, what do you have so far? I only know of the bruising and fractures indicating abuse. Is there anything indicating cause of death? Let me take a look."

"No, nothing yet, Dr. Brennan. I did find a strange ridge in the femur that would indicate a stab wound, but it showed re-calcification. I have not found anything recent and definitely nothing fatal, yet."

"Was the stab wound recent or is there any indication of it being old like some of the bruises and fractures?"

"Dr. Brennan, I just said..." He paused as he noted the look on Booth's face. Not even Booth could believe the lack of attention that Brennan was giving her intern as he explained his findings. He continued with caution. "The stab wound appears to be old, but there is something else. We didn't see it before because of the battered state of the..."

Brennan didn't get a chance to hear what Wendell was saying because she quickly found this situation very nauseating and so much so that she ran to the nearest trashcan, and knelt beside it as she knew she wouldn't have time to make it to the lavatories. Some of it was just dry heaving, but the nausea was clearly evident. A wave of dizziness came over her, and she felt very near the edge of passing out from the mind spinning waves of dizziness.

Booth saw it as she tried to fight the urge as hard as she could, and he saw the moment she realized that she could no longer hold it back. He rushed to her side. "Bones!" He wanted so much for her to feel better that she could hear it in his tender voice as he knelt next to her and whispered in her ear soothing words to calm her nerves, again rubbing soothing circles on her lower back. The intimate nature of Booth's contact with Brennan did not escape Wendell's attention, but it was not completely obvious if Booth was being the caring gentleman he everyone knew him to be or if it was because something had changed between the partners. It simply could just be an act of consolation. Whether or not people knew they were together they did know they were more than just partner; they knew the two were best friends.

Booth whispered in her ear as he knelt next to her. "It's okay baby. Just try to breathe deep. Enough of this I am taking you home, and this time you are staying."

"Fine," she reluctantly let go of her pride and was willing to admit that she did need some time to get better.

B&B

"Booth?"

From across the house he yelled back, "What?"

"What are you doing?"

He walked in the room with two mugs. "I made you some citrus green tea, and me some coffee."

"You don't need coffee, it is bedtime."

"I do, if I am going to stay up and watch over you."

"You don't—"

"Yes. I do. I love you. I am going to sit here, and make sure you have everything you need. Okay, baby?"

"Lay by me?" she asked.

Of all the things that he knew about her, he was fairly certain that almost none of that information surprised him more than the fact that his Bones was a cuddler.

"What? Lay by you? And catch whatever it is you've got? I don't think so, Bones."

"But, you make me feel better, and you love me. Lay by me." she pleaded in a playfully helpless tone.

"Bones, you are sick. Go to sleep, and get some rest."

"I can't sleep without you holding me. You said you would make sure I have everything I need. I need you to lay by me." She tried to guilt him into laying by her. Since they had been together neither of them have stayed at their own place alone unless Booth had Parker for the weekend.

"Okay. Fine, but if you get me sick, I just don't know that I will be able to..." his voice trailed off as he noticed that she was already half asleep. He decided it would be best to honor his word and lay by her even if she really did not need him holding her to go to sleep. He took off his shirt and changed into his old army sweatpants and climbed into bed next to her, making sure to snuggle up close behind her just to keep her nice and warm.

B&B

The next sound Booth heard was a heavy purging sound coming from the bathroom at 7 am the next morning. He would have much rather been woke up by an annoying alarm clock rather than his Bones spewing her guts out. She must be really sick. She isn't going anywhere today. He thought to himself. Getting up to go check on her he noticed the time and realized that he only had about an hour before he had the be in Hacker's office to discuss how to proceed with the case.

"Bones, are you okay?" He didn't receive a response. "I have a meeting in an hour, I am going to go shower in your other bathroom and get ready. Let me know if you need anything. The door will be unlocked."

He heard a very faint, "okay," and cringed at the breathlessness of her single word response.

After a few minutes of being in the shower Booth heard the door to the bathroom door open. "Bones?"

"I think I need you to hold me." She opened the curtain and steps into the shower with Booth.

"Bones, I need to get ready for work."

"I know, but I need a shower, too. I feel gross. Will you just hold me for a minute?"

"Yeah, baby. I can do that. Don't get any bright ideas though. You are sick, and I need to go to work." He reached his arms around her and hugged her tight to comfort her.

"What makes you think I am in the mood for sex?" She pulled back slightly to look into his eyes.

"I know you're not. I wasn't implying that you were. I was saying that more for myself than for you. Do you have any idea how hard it is to have you naked in my arms and not do anything about it?" He pulled away from her as she leaned in to kiss him. "Nuh-uh, Bones. I am not going to catch what you have." Before she could take his actions as being repulsed by her illness he took her cheeks in the palms of his hands and titled her head down and he leaned in to kiss her forehead gently. "Okay, Bones. I need to get out. I have to get dressed. Do you want me to make you anything for breakfast?"

"I think I just want a glass of orange juice. I am not hungry. I am afraid of throwing up the orange juice as it is. Can you call the lab, and let them know I won't be in?"

Wow, I didn't even have to bring up the fact that I think she should stay home. This must be really bad. I thought I would have to fight her much harder to stay home today.

"Yeah, I can, but I think after your little display in the lab yesterday they probably already know that you won't be in today. Okay, getting out. Relax, I am going to get dressed and will see you in the kitchen."

"Okay."

It took her several minutes before she felt like she could raise her arms above her head to wash her hair, and throughout most of the shower she leaned heavily on the wall. There were various body washes in her guest bathroom, but she always made sure to stock up on Booth's particular brand. She decided since they were going to spend the day apart she could at least be comforted by having his scent on her all day. It was a really comforting manly scent, but not the strong overwhelming scent of some of the products that the younger generation tends to drench themselves in, such as Axe.

B&B

Walking into the kitchen, she sat in her chair and was greeted by her glass of orange juice and a bowl of oatmeal. He knew she wouldn't feel like touching it, but it made her feel comforted knowing that he went through the trouble knowing that she wouldn't.

"I said I wasn't hungry." she teased.

"I know, but just in case you changed your mind I decided it would be nice to have something ready." He leaned down to her to give her a hug and a kiss on the head.

"Thanks. I love you, Seeley Booth. You are way too good to me." She gave him a shy little smile.

"I love you, too, baby. Hey, I hate this, but I gotta run, or Hacker is gonna have my ass served on a platter to the Bureau."

With that he left her knowing how much she hated to be cooped up when there was so much work to get done, especially since they had an open case. She had gone about her morning deciding it best to take it easy, and just lay in bed with her laptop to make some headway on a few chapters of her next book. Around 10:30 there was a knock at her door, and much to her surprise it was the florist delivering a dozen daffodils with a card.

Temperance,

Bones, my baby, I am sorry you are so sick. Please take it easy today. I know how you hate to sit at home when we have cases to solve and bad guys to lock up, but please just rest. Those dishes better still be in the sink when I come home! Don't go anywhere, and I will be home as soon as I can. I couldn't help but notice when I hugged you before I left this morning that you smelled like my body wash. I can't tell you how hot that makes me. Get better soon, because I am not sure how much longer I can keep my distance from you. I love you.

Love,

Seeley Booth

xoxoxoxo

P.S.—I know you're wondering about the x's and the o's. It means hugs and kisses.

The flowers were the perfect thing to cheer her up. The card was perfect. She was so fortunate to have Booth. She could not help but wonder everyday what she did to deserve a man like him. Her family life was horrible starting from the time her parents abandoned her, then Russ left, her foster parents were horrible, and she was under constant scrutiny from her classmates at school because of her social awkwardness. She pretty much distanced herself from ever becoming close enough to anyone so that she didn't have to go through the heartbreak of them hurting or leaving her, until she met Seeley Booth.

Review.

XOXO,
CrayonClown