'Where's Temperance Brennan? What's her condition?' Booth demanded of the receptionist as soon as he got to the hospital. The paramedics had refused him a spot in the ambulance, and no amount of flashing his badge or yelling out threats to arrest them would convince or scare them.

'Are you family, Sir?'

No, but-'

'Then I'm sorry, Sir, but I can't divulge any information unless you are immediate family'.

'I'm her fiancé!' Booth lied, 'Does that count as family to you?'

'Yes, of course. She's in a stable but critical condition. She has severe lung trauma due to smoke inhalation. When she was brought in she was complaining of a headache and was vomiting, which indicates she has carbon monoxide poisoning. She is resting in room 208, if you would like to go see her.'

Without saying a word, Booth stalked off towards room 208. He was still reeling from the fact that he could have lost her today, from a fire of all things. With all the dangers that faced them out in the field chasing after criminals, he thought at home she would at least be safe. He had also realised the suppressed feelings he had secretly had for his partner would have to come out in the open. He was tired of dancing around their feelings for one another, and he knew she had feelings for him too. She would just have to stop being so afraid and trust him that he wouldn't ever leave her.

Booth opened the door to room 208, and expected to find Bones in bed, either resting like the receptionist had said, or scaring the nurses demanding she be released immediately. Thinking the nurse had told him the wrong room number, he was about to turn around and give the receptionist a taste of what Special Agent Seeley Booth could be like, when he heard the unmistakable sounds of someone vomiting and crying. Curiously, he opened the bathroom door slowly, only to find Bones, hunched over the toilet bowl. Without so much as hesitating, Booth raced over to her, pulled her hair back and whispered words of comfort to her, while rubbing her back reassuringly.

'Sorry Booth,' Bones apologised hoarsely, 'It is irrational for me to be so upset when I'm only experiencing the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.' She said as she tried to erase all signs she had been crying.

'Temperance, don't be silly. It is perfectly understandable for you cry after what you have been through. Now, let's get you back to your bed so you can rest. Can you walk?'

'Well I got to the bathroom by myself, didn't I?' She answered back, almost sounding like her usual self.

'Just humour me, Bones. Let me help you out'.

Bones was too tired to argue so she allowed Booth to hold her arm to steady her as she walked back to her bed.

'What happened today, Booth? All I remember is there was a fire in my building and the rest is blank' She asked, once she was able to make herself comfortable in the hospital bed.

'When I found out you were in that building with the fire, I went in to find you. I ran into an older lady who said you were still on your way down, checking people's apartments as you were going down, making sure everyone had got out. I found you lying on the ground unconscious, so I picked you up and carried you out to the ambulance. I thought I was too late and wouldn't get to tell you…' Booth paused; wandering if now was the best time to get into this conversation.

'Tell me what, Booth?'

Booth sighed heavily and blurted out, 'To tell you I love you, Bones.' He waited to see the look on her face before he continued. She had her mouth hanging wide open, eyes that looked like they were about to pop out of her head, and he could see fear in them.
'I've always loved you, Bones. I drew that line thinking it would help keep you safe, but I realised that no matter where we go or what we do, there is danger everywhere, and drawing a line to protect the both of us isn't doing anything but keeping us apart. I know you're scared, and you're going to try to rationalise why we shouldn't be together, but I know you feel something too. You just have to trust me, trust us. I'm just as scared as you are, but we can do this, Bones, I know we can.'

Bones shook her head, her eyes filled with unshed tears, 'No, Booth. I'm not what you want. You say you love me now, but once you realise that I'm not going to change my mind about wanting kids or marriage, you're not going to want me anymore. I'm too cold and rational and socially awkward, we don't belong together. You're heart, and I'm brain, they don't mix. And once you figure that out, your going to abandon me, just like everyone else does.'

'Bones, don't you get it? I have you all figured out, but it's you who doesn't realise the woman you've become. You've grown into the most amazing woman since I've met you, and you think more with your heart than you know. You have such a generous heart, Bones, and I don't care if you don't want marriage or kids, I have Parker, and as long as I get to be with you that's all I want. I would never abandon you, Bones.' He said seriously, looking her in the eyes.

'What about our partnership, Booth? The bureau won't allow us to be together, and even if they did, I don't want to ruin what we have if it doesn't work out. I don't want to lose you.' Bones said quietly, as a tear slid slowly down her cheek.

Instead of convincing her with words, Booth decided to risk everything he had. He slowly leaned in and lightly pressed his lips to hers. When she didn't pull back, Booth put all his feelings for her into that kiss, giving her the opportunity to pull back if she wished. She tasted just like he remembered when they kissed under the mistletoe.

Finally, he pulled back, 'Just give us a chance, Bones, that's all I'm asking.'

Bones nodded, still in a daze from the kiss Booth had given her.

'Thank you, Bones. Lets just take this one step at a time, ok? Now I should let you get some sleep, we'll talk more about this tomorrow, ok? You've been through a lot today and you should rest.' Booth leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

'Booth?' Bones called out, just as he was about to leave her room, 'Could you maybe stay with me tonight?'

Booth looked surprised by her request but nodded without hesitation, 'Of course, Bones.'

As Booth slid under the sheets with her, Bones turned onto her side and Booth automatically placed his arm around her waist, holding her closely.

'I love you Bones.'

'I love you too, Booth.' She whispered as she fell asleep in the arms of the man she loved.

A/N: Ok, so I know it's been absolutely AGES since I've updated, but here it is. I'm sorry to say this is how it ends. When I started this story I had all these ideas, but never got around to writing them into more chapters. I recently got inspired by one of my readers, Caren67, to finish this story, and we had all these ideas on how this story could go, but I have to end it here as I have no time to extend this story any further. Thank you all for reading and let me know how you liked this chapter.