Brennan felt tears welling in her eyes as she watched an FBI agent wrap Booth in a warm blanket. She didn't know what to do for her fiance and it was hurting her to see him injured.
"Ma'am, I need you to move so I can examine him," said a kind paramedic. "We need to get his injuries stabilised so we can take him to the hospital."
"He's lost a lot of blood," said Brennan.
"Which is why we need to work fast. You can come with us in the ambulance if you like."
Brennan nodded. She took a small step backwards, but her eyes never left Booth while the paramedics worked and got the bleeding from his leg and stomach under control. She watched them cut Booth's tie and shirt to dry him before they attached a heart monitor, and tears started to burn her eyes again. She hated seeing him injured, but his injuries usually weren't life threatening. It was scary.
"Dr Brennan? Did you hear what I said?" asked the doctor that had taken over Booth's care once they had arrived at the hospital. "Agent Booth is asking for you."
"He's awake," Brennan said once the doctor had led her to where Booth was being examined.
"He is. I need to operate on him to stop the bleeding, though. I need your permission for that."
"Fine. Do what you need to do, but I want to speak to him first."
"Of course." The doctor smiled and stepped aside so that Brennan could get a little closer to Booth.
"Bones," Booth whispered tiredly.
"Hey... I missed you," said Brennan just as quietly.
"Doctor... he says... I need surgery."
"Yeah, I heard. I told him to do it."
"No."
"Too late. I can't lose you, Booth. I can't."
"I don't want..."
"Yeah, I know you don't. You need it to stay alive. You've already lost too much blood."
"Stay?"
"I'll be right here, I promise." Brennan took Booth's hand in her own and gave it a squeeze. "Just relax and let the doctor help you."
Booth nodded. He closed his eyes, but never once let go of Brennan's hand.
11 Hours Later
"How are you feeling?" Brennan asked Booth softly after giving him a gentle kiss on his cheek. She had just been allowed back in Booth's room. His surgery had been successful, and he had just been moved into the ICU.
"Tired," replied Booth. "Thank you for finding me."
"I always find you, Booth."
"This time... I wasn't sure you would. Not in time, anyway."
"That would never have happened." Brennan smiled, though she knew that Booth's fear was a very real one. She had thought the same thing at one point. "You should get some rest. The doctor said that the surgery went well, but you have a long recovery ahead." She adjusted the blanket to make sure it was covering her fiance.
Brennan gave Booth's nasal cannula a slight adjustment to make sure that it was sitting properly inside his nose. She checked that the cords for his heart monitor were straight and not stuck underneath Booth's body, ensured that the pulse oximeter and the blood pressure cuff were on correctly so that Booth would be comfortable as he slept, then gave him a smile.
"I'll be here when you wake up again." Brennan sat down in a chair and pulled it close to the bed. "I promise."
"I love you," whispered Booth as he succumbed to the much needed sleep and darkness.
Brennan waited until Booth was asleep, then stood up and stepped over to the window, phone in hand. She dialed the familiar number and waited a moment for the call to connect.
"Sweetie? Are you still at the hospital?"
"I am, Angela. Listen, Booth just came out of recovery and is resting. His surgery was successful, but he's still got a long road ahead. Is there any chance you can tell everyone? I don't want to leave him yet." Brennan glanced over at her fiance.
"Of course I can. We'll all come up in the morning. Text me his room number."
"Thanks, Ange," said Brennan gratefully. She ended the call and stared out of the window for a few minutes, seeing nothing as she let herself get lost in her thoughts.
"Guys!" shouted Angela as she ran from her office and into Cam's. "I have news!"
"Tell me it's good," said Aubrey. He had been a nervous wreck ever since finding Booth and not being able to help his friend.
"Brennan called. Booth's out of surgery and the doctor says he'll be okay. He's going to be in hospital for a while, I think, but it's going to be okay," said Angela.
"Thank god," breathed Cam as she dropped into her desk chair. "I don't think any of us would be able to cope without Booth."
"Can we see him?" asked Hodgins after hugging Angela.
"In the morning. Brennan wants some time with him first," answered Angela.
"Of course. We'll go there as soon as visiting hours start tomorrow." Hodgins looked at Cam. "Can we leave early today?"
"Yes, of course. Go home, do something. I'm going to finish up a report and then go and check on Dr Brennan. I'll see you all tomorrow."
"Dr Brennan? Can I come in?" asked Cam as she stood in the doorway of Booth's hospital room.
"Sure... Angela told you about Booth?" Brennan asked without looking.
"She did. We're all going to be here in the morning, but I wanted to check on you. Have you eaten yet?"
"Yeah." Brennan stood up from her chair. "Booth didn't want his dinner. I ate some of it, but I think I'll be bringing him food when he's up to it."
"He likes the puddings here, I heard."
"He does. I told that to the nurses and they've said that they will make sure he has plenty of them."
"That was nice of them. How's Booth doing?"
Brennan sighed. "The doctor checked on him an hour ago and said that he's doing okay considering his injuries. I just think that something's off, and I don't know what it is."
"Has Booth spoken yet?"
"Little bits. He's exhausted and doesn't seem to be able to stay awake for more than ten minutes at a time. He's letting the nurses and doctor administer pain medication, which is worrying. He hates taking medication."
"I'm sure that it's just for now. He'll start refusing them once he's more awake."
Brennan nodded and walked over to the window again. She stared out at the traffic for a moment before talking again. "Do you think you could stay with Booth for a while, Cam? I need to get some air."
"Of course I can," said Cam, nodding. "Are you okay?"
"No. I just need to think, and I find that it's hard for me to do that in here. I almost lost him, and then, when we did find him again, I was so afraid of what I would see that I didn't let myself think about anything. I need to think about it now."
"I understand. Go, take as much time as you need. I'll be here until you get back." Cam hugged Brennan for a moment, then pulled back and sat on the chair that Brennan had vacated. "What should I tell him if he wakes up?"
"Tell him I'm coming back. He'll probably know where I am anyway."
"Okay." Cam watched Brennan leave. "Call me if you need me to come."
"Thank you, Cam."
