A/N: How can we thank you for the kind reviews we received? Well, by updating quickly, we guess. Special thanks to our first reviewer, RedRoses18, who made us grin with pride, and a huge hug to everyone who took time to leave us a little word, it was greatly appreciated. By the way, Ice Cube1, we did take your comment into consideration, for some next chapters. So guys, please feel free to tell us what you'd like to see if something comes to your mind, and we'll do it if we are able to, if it fits the story and of course if it brings something to the story.

And now hold your breath because we offer you some more angst in this chapter!

Chapter 2 – Hand in hand

She looked at him with an alarmed expression.

"Tell me you're not joking."

"I'm not! Seriously, Bones, I can't feel my legs," Booth replied, slightly starting to panic.

"Okay," Brennan nodded her head and despite her fatigue thought hard. The solution came to her easily.

"Keep the car straight," she told him and he obeyed with a shaky sigh as he gripped the wheel tighter. The sensation of nothingness below his waist scared him. He realised he preferred pain over paralysis. By far.

"It must have been the blow," Brennan started her lecture as she unbuckled her seatbelt and shifted closer to her partner, leaning her arm on his upper leg as she bent forward and lowered her other arm to push his feet off the pedals. "I think you have a swelling that's pressing on your nerves."

A short intake of breath reminded her of her bruised ribs. Fortunately Booth hadn't heard it, for he would get all alpha-male on her and wouldn't allow her to move another inch. So she clenched her teeth and continued what she was doing without uttering a word or a moan of pain.

"Uhm, Bones. Maybe you could, you know, hurry up a little down there. I don't want to get pulled over for ehm… hazardous driving, if you know what I mean," he suggested as he glanced down at the woman lying in his lap. God, he did not want to know what this would have looked like to other people.

"You know," Brennan started irritably as she pushed herself up, "I don't think that's what you need to worry about now. Besides, we could explain that you can't feel your legs so I had to take over the driving."

"What do you mean 'take over the driving'?"

A small, reassuring smile spread across her chapped lips and he thought she looked like hell; no offence. Yet her natural beauty—was it true then, that this came from within?—was still evident.

"Don't worry, Booth. You'll be okay," she told him softly and placed her hand on his arm soothingly for an instant before she stood up, pressing her hands against the driver's window for support and shifting her weight onto her partner's lap.

For a moment he didn't know what to say or do. Had she just told him not to worry? Had she just assured him he'd be fine? He could do nothing but admire this woman's mental strength. If anyone needed reassuring it was her. Kept hostage and abused for two weeks, barely able to support her own weight when the adrenaline had worn off; in this crisis-situation she still had all the answers.

So he said nothing, but helped her onto his lap. However, as soon as his hands applied pressure to her waist, she gasped and jerked away. It lasted merely a second, then she pulled herself together and settled in his lap, gripping the steering wheel with both hands and squeezing it until her knuckles turned white. The pain subsided quickly.

"Bones, what—"

"Bruised ribs," she cut him, murmuring an explanation.

"I'm sorry," he said softly and wanted to put his hands on her shoulders in a soothing manner, but rejected the urge. After all, he hadn't been able to tell from the photographs that the bastard had bruised her ribs, and he wondered what else the pictures hadn't shown.

Bastard. BASTARD.

"I think I can pull up over there," her voice interrupted his building rage and he tried to look past her. He saw an empty area beside the road that looked like it would suffice.

She smoothly turned the car onto the sand and halted it, a sigh of relief escaping her before she turned off the ignition and opened the door. Once outside, she nearly fell to the ground for her knees buckled under her weight. Luckily, she was able to grab the passenger door just in time.

"Bones!" Booth exclaimed and reached out a hand to catch her, but she shook her head wearily.

"I can't drive anymore. I'm sorry. My head… do you- have any water in the car?" she asked as she pressed her hand to her forehead and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out her pounding headache. She'd been okay when she was tied in the room, but now after all this moving and stressing she recognised the symptoms of five per cent fluid loss.

"There are a few bottles in the back. I'd get them out for you-"

"It's okay, Booth. And- and salt? Sodium, potassium?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"Salty foods?" she asked hopeful as her heart beating inside her chest hurt and she was cold although her body temperature had increased.

He couldn't bear to say 'no' or 'I'm sorry' to her again so he merely sadly shook his head.

"I can't drink too much without electrolytes. But- I guess a- a sip wouldn't- hurt." Using all of her energy to stay on her feet, she leaned against the car for support as she slowly walked towards the back, where she retrieved a bottle of water from the trunk and sank to the ground, wanting to empty the bottle in a few gulps but realising she might kill herself by what is called water intoxication. It took a lot of will power to only take a few sips from the clear liquid that had never tasted as good as it did then and it relieved her dry mouth and throat a little.

"Bones?" Booth called from inside the car. Gathering her strength, Brennan got to her feet and walked back to the door.

"We have to get you to the hospital, Booth."

"Just me? You look like you could use one yourself," he attempted at a joke –why, he didn't know. Perhaps it was simply his nature to do so.

"I'll get concerned about myself when I start vomiting or seizing. Give me your cell phone."

"You save your energy. I'll call."

There was silence for a moment during which they looked intently at each other, both trying to see if the other was still hiding something. Pain or other.

"I'll just be in the- you know," Brennan gestured towards the back seat.

"Wait," Booth interrupted her actions. "Come here for a second. I need to know you're really here."

She did as he asked, too weak to think or protest, and collapsed on the ground close to him, leaning the back of her head against his leg. Reassured, he called 911, doing his best to explain where the hell they were. When he disconnected the call, he turned his gaze back to Brennan and repressed the urge to put his hand on her head and stroke her hair.

"Bones—"

She slowly tilted her head to the left to look up at him.

"Just know that I'm proud of you, okay? We all are."

She had endured two weeks of abuse and hadn't shown weakness, yet these simple words seemed to resolve her façade and she felt like breaking down in sobs against his strong chest, to use it as a shield and have her moment of weakness when no one would be able to see it. No one but him, at any rate, because she needed him to comfort her. She'd suppressed the need to be comforted by anyone other than herself since the day her parents had disappeared, but the truth was she did like to be worried about, especially by her friends.

"There's nothing to be proud of, but thank you."

Her voice was so weak and full of tears that it broke his heart. When she closed her eyes, obviously too exhausted to fight and keep them open, he couldn't resist the urge any longer and placed his palm on her cheek to guide her head so that she could rest it against him. As the skin of his hand met the dry skin of her face, he realised that she was burning hot. He wondered how long it would take until the ambulance arrived. He knew enough about dehydration to understand that she needed medical attention quickly or would slip into unconsciousness soon. Muffling a moan of pain, he managed to bend down far enough to grab the bottle of water she was still holding in her hands. He wet his fingers with a few drops of water and gently moistened her forehead. He grew anxious when he noted she didn't react to his touch. Torn between a deep concern and the slightly disturbing feeling of brushing her face with his fingers, he repeated his gesture on her temples, her cheeks and her neck.

"Bones, you hear me?"

When she didn't answer, he softly shook her, causing her to whimper.

"Bones, stay with me."

She moaned and slightly moved her head, but kept her eyes closed.

"I need you to stay awake, okay?"

"I'm awake," she said in a faint, barely audible voice.

He wished he could do more for her. His back was throbbing, as if a thousand needles were stuck in his spine, but the pain was not what was bothering him. He didn't remember having ever been so powerless in his life, and frustration was undermining him. What if he wouldn't be able to walk anymore? What if he couldn't do his job anymore? What if he had to care about paperwork for the rest of his career? What if he couldn't work with Bones again? How would he be able to protect her?

He rubbed his face in a nervous gesture. And what the hell was the damn ambulance taking so long? Were they having tea or something?

He silently scolded himself for it wasn't the moment to get worked up. Bones needed him, and even if he couldn't do much, he would do as much as he could. He smoothly stroked her hair and noticed her heavy breathing.

"Bones, you should take another sip of water," he recommended quietly, opening the bottle of water and handing it to her. "Bones?"

When she replied with a moan that didn't seem to be a 'yes' or a 'no' but didn't move, he thought that the ambulance had better hurry up. He twisted his back as much as he could and steadied her head in order to carefully pour a trickle of liquid between her lips. She swallowed and coughed slightly, opening her eyes.

"How are your legs?" she asked in a low voice.

Man… She was barely conscious, her head had to hurt like hell and she was still worrying about him.

"The same," he replied truthfully, unwilling to lie to her.

"I'm sorry Booth. It's entirely my fault," she said in a hoarse voice.

"What? No, don't say that Bones; it's not true."

"I should have spotted him and warned you in time."

She found the strength to turn her head to him and look into his eyes.

"Bones, listen to me. I'm gonna be fine, okay? We're gonna be fine. The both of us. We're partners, remember? We'll get through this together. We always do."

He saw a mix of gratitude and doubt in her eyes, and he was surprised, yet thankful, to see her searching for his hand. He took her thin one and squeezed it in a soothing manner, before rubbing it softly with his thumb. How good it felt to have her back. How relieved he was to have found her alive. But he wasn't completely reassured, not yet. She was hurt and had gone through a traumatic experience. They'd have to deal with that. If he wanted his Bones back they'd have to deal with that.

She hadn't expected to need the feel of her hand in his. Yet it couldn't be ignored. If only he would hold her she'd feel safe; nobody could separate them. Normally she wouldn't have sought comfort in physical contact, or any sort of contact for that matter, but when he or Angela initiated it she found herself consoled, reassured. Having someone close, sharing her pain also took some weight off her shoulders. Ever since she'd become a foster child she seemed to have carried the weight of the world.

And as if to prove Booth was right, the siren of the ambulances was heard and soon paramedics rushed towards them. They quickly examined Brennan, who was still only half-conscious, and evacuated her quickly. As doctors bustled around him, inspecting his back, Booth never let his eyes off of her. He refused to answer any questions before being informed about his partner's condition and protested so much that he managed to piss off the paramedics, but obtained the piece of information he wanted: They had arrived in time and she most likely wouldn't suffer any permanent damage linked to her dehydration. Besides, they assured him that she hadn't suffered any fractures, meaning that she would probably recover within two or three days. Slightly reassured, Booth began to relax and, at last, let the doctors do their jobs, though not without fighting with them to be sure he and Bones would be brought to the same hospital, into the same room.

A/N: Yeah, I know what you think. We damaged Booth. But hey, it's always Brennan who's injured, we thought we'd bring little change. And don't worry, because we promise you some fluff in next chapter. So, deal?

Anyway, have a wonderful New Year's Eve.

Catherine & Magali