Another mash up from Season 2 episodes. Some of the dialog is borrowed from Judas on the Pole.

If you have time to review, I'd appreciate it. Laura

The huge puddle of blood in the middle of Brennan's apartment would have been enough to rattle anyone. The fact that the blood might belong to her brother, Russ, made the situation even more frightening.

"That's too much blood…nobody could have survived that much blood loss", she'd stammered as she clung to Booth. As afraid as Brennan was, there was something about being in Booth's arms that made always her feel safe. If anyone could find out what had happened in her living room, she knew it would be him...her friend and her partner.

A few minutes later, they were in her car, speeding through the darkness,as they tried to figure out their next move. "It's against the law...us not calling in a murder…", she said softly.

"It wasn't a murder.." Booth focused his attention on the road ahead. "It was a blood stain."

Brennan was unconvinced by his attempt at logic. "With that much blood, it was definitely a murder."

Booth shook his head at her. "If we call that in, the next thing you know we'll find ourselves under arrest. You got a sample of the blood, right?" He paused as she nodded. "We'll check the DNA at the lab, okay? Anyway, who's always the one who says we shouldn't jump to conclusions?"

"You're right. Thanks." She nodded in agreement, blindly staring out the passenger window as the buildings seemed to fly by. "I wish you wouldn't let me keep hugging you when I get scared."

Booth couldn't help but grin. "I tell you what...when I get scared, you can hug me, okay?"

Silence ensued for a few minutes before Brennan coughed slightly. "Please don't tell anyone that I was scared and needed comforting while we were at my apartment this evening. Blood doesn't usually affect me that way. I'm normally quite capable of handling such things at a crime scene."

"Hey, you should know I'm not the kind of guy who hugs and tells." He chuckled softly before realizing she had missed his little joke. "Yeah, of course I'll keep that little bit of information under my hat. What's ours is ours, right?" Shrugging at her, he reached over to pat her hand. "Listen, Bones...it's perfectly normal to be upset when you see a big puddle of blood that may belong to someone you love, okay? And besides, I think needing a hug is normal, too."

"I don't understand. Why would getting a hug at a crime scene be normal?", Brennan asked innocently.

Hesitating for a few seconds, Booth glanced at his partner. "Well, I've been in some tight spots, right? I mean, there's been times when a suspect has shot at me...and when I was in the Army, there were some bad firefights, okay? But afterwards...after the fighting was over...me and the guys who were on my side would stand around and talk, and we'd shake hands, or high five, or slap each other on the back. I guess we were sort of celebrating that we were still alive. I think it's kind of like when we go for a drink after we solve a case…we need that human contact."

"Oh...you mean bonding time. Yes, as humans, most of us want to bond with our pack or our team after stressful situations, and physical contact assists in that endeavor." Smiling at her partner, Brennan arched an eyebrow at him. "Good job using anthropology, Booth. However, several weeks ago, when we found out that Will Hastings had killed his brother in that remote forest, I wasn't scared when you saw me in my office later that evening and you still gave me a hug. Why?"

Booth made a face, indicating that she'd asked a silly question. "Yeah, I did, but that was a different kind of hug, remember? That was a 'guy' hug and you got it because you were upset. Two totally different things. You just gotta know the context."

Tilting her head to one side, Brennan studied her partner. "What about when we went to talk to Vince McVicker? He made me cry, and you embraced me. What kind of hug was that?"

"That was an 'I need to grab Bones so I don't beat the shit out that guy' hug, obviously. I was ready to pound that guy." As they pulled into the lab's parking garage, Booth grinned. "There's all kinds of hugs, alright? Like when we pulled you out of that gravel pit where the Grave Digger had buried you, and I gave you that little squeeze? That was an 'I'm so glad to see you' hug, okay? That's just the way it is with people...different people mean different things when they hug someone. So the rule is, when someone offers a hug, just take it, okay? It's easier that way."

"I suppose...but it seems like I still owe you some hugs. You've given me far more than I've given you."

Rolling his eyes, Booth chuckled as he got out of the car. Only his partner would keep track of how many times who had hugged who…"Don't worry about it, Bones. You'll catch up some day."

"I hope so. I don't like being indebted to someone."

Booth smiled to himself as they walked into the lab. In spite of how terrible things were at the moment, there was at least a tiny light at the end of the tunnel. Bones wanted to give him hugs, and he was looking forward to that.

Oooooooooo

The partners were sitting in the diner a few months later, rehashing what had happened when Brennan had rescued Booth from Melvin Gallagher. He was banged up and there was an awful burn on his leg, but he would recover, thanks to his partner's quick thinking.

Noticing his partner's smirk, Booth raised an eyebrow as he picked up a bite of pie with his fork. "What?"

"I gave you a hug when I rescued you because I assumed you were frightened."

She was so pleased with herself, and it was adorable. "Ha...that you did." Booth pretended to be nervous. You're not gonna tell everyone about me being scared, are ya?"

"No, of course not, although I'm sure most people would certainly understand." Hesitating, she sipped her tea. "I was afraid for you...afraid that Max and I wouldn't find you. I think I needed that hug as much as you did."

"Well, I was sure you'd come for me, and see? I was right." He ate another bite of pie. "So, anyway, I guess now we're even in the hug department, right?"

"No, we most certainly are not." She grimaced at him, obviously thinking he was a silly man. "You gave me a hug when Sully left, remember? You put your arm around my shoulders, and then you teased me about getting sick at a crime scene and we went to breakfast at the pier."

"Oh...yeah." Putting his fork down, he took a long sip of his coffee. "Well...you see...that was a 'I'm scared' hug…"

"But I wasn't scared. I was annoyed...and my feelings were hurt…but I wasn't afraid of what would happen if he left me behind…"

Staring at the table, Booth shook his head. "Nah...you don't understand. I was the one who was scared...I was afraid you were gonna leave me and go off to sail the Caribbean with Sully, and then what would I do?" Seeing the surprise in her eyes, he cleared his throat. "I'd have to train a new partner, you know?"

"Yes, I can see how that might present a problem."

The partners were silent for a few minutes as they both contemplated Sully's effect on their partnership. Finally Brennan shook her head, giving her partner a teasing grin. "Booth, do you think anyone else knows about all the different kinds of hugs there are in the world?"

He laughed softly. "I doubt it. Most people aren't as excited to break things down into so many categories like you do." Seeing her slight frown, he reached over to pat her hand. "Nobody else needs to know what we know about hugs, Bones. What's ours is ours, okay? That's all that matters."

"You're right, Booth. What we have between us is all that's important."

They smiled at each other, both of them happy and relieved that they'd get to share many more hugs together.