Booth awoke to find Cam sitting with him, reading a magazine, and Brennan nowhere in the room. Confused, he looked around the room, hoping to find his fiance exiting the bathroom.
"Hey, you're awake," said Cam softly as she put her magazine down. "Are you alright?"
"Where's Bones?" Booth asked. "And the water?" he added when his throat started hurting.
Cam picked up a cup of water and a straw. She put the straw into the cup and held it up to Booth's mouth. "Brennan's just gone outside. She wanted some air. She'll be back soon."
"Okay." Booth yawned. "Camille?"
"I thought we agreed to not use Camille and Seeley when we talk to each other?" Cam asked jokingly.
"Right... Camille?" asked Booth.
"Is something wrong, Seeley?" Cam asked worriedly. He only ever used her full name to annoy her, or, when they were younger, if something was hurting him.
"Hurts... Can you get a nurse?"
"Sure." Cam stood up and reached behind Booth's head to push the 'call' button. "Do you want me to get you something? Food or more water?"
"Water." Booth had to smile when the water cup appeared in front of his face immediately. "Thanks."
"Anything else?"
"Bones."
"I'll call her..."
"I'm here, Cam," said Bones as she followed a nurse into the room. "What's the matter, Booth?"
"Sore."
"I can fix that," said the nurse kindly as she injected morphine into Booth's IV. "It should work in a moment. Is it okay if I check your wounds before I leave?"
"Okay." Booth looked at Brennan. "Bones?"
"I'm here." Brennan sat on the side of the bed, holding Booth's hand. She could see that he was still confused, and it broke her heart that he had to go through all of this. "Everyone will be here in the morning. Angela will probably bring you something."
"Aubrey?"
"Pretty sure he'll be here." Brennan looked at Cam. "Did anyone tell him about Booth?"
"He was in my office when Angela told us. He's missing Booth," said Cam. "I'll make sure he comes with me in the morning."
"Thank you, Camille," said Booth as he finally felt the morphine working and his eyes started to close again.
After a few minutes, Brennan looked at Cam. "Thank you, Cam. I know that Booth would have appreciated that you were here when he woke up."
"It's not a problem. Booth has been like a little brother to me for so long that I would do anything for him. Did you get enough air?"
"I think it's enough for now. I found it very hard to go far. My thoughts were still here, with Booth."
"That's understandable."
"He's so confused when he's awake. I don't know how to help him."
"He just needs rest. He'll be more alert in the morning." Cam stood. "I'm going. I'll come back in the morning. Do you want me to bring you anything?"
"Just bring Aubrey. Booth wants him."
"I can do that." Cam smiled. "Make sure you get some rest, Dr Brennan."
The next time Booth awoke, sun was shining into his hospital room through the partially open curtains on the window. The room was quiet, the only sound coming from the heart monitor he was still attached to. He was still relatively pain free, though he could feel that his leg was throbbing where the bullet had entered his thigh.
"Bones?" Booth asked as he looked around the room.
"I'm here," said Brennan quietly.
Booth looked in the direction of Brennan's voice and noticed that she was sitting near the window with a book in her hand. "What time is it?"
"Eight thirty. Are you in pain?"
"Not really. I would like to sit up a bit though. Am I allowed to?"
Brennan smiled. "Of course. Let me help you."
Booth watched Brennan's face as she walked to the bed. He could see that something had changed from when he had first called out to her. She seemed more relaxed, or maybe just less sad.
"Booth? Are you listening?" Brennan asked.
Booth blinked his eyes a couple of times. "Sorry. I was just thinking. Are you alright? You look sad."
Brennan sighed. She adjusted the head of Booth's bed and readjusted his blanket, then looked at him. "I am sad."
"Why?"
She sat on the edge of the bed. "Well, I am worried about you. Last night, every time you woke up, you were so confused, it scared me. I didn't know what was going on. Cam said that you are just needing rest, and she's right, but I was still afraid."
"I would be too if our positions were reversed."
"It's not just that... You're really pale, you lost so much blood. You lost more blood in surgery. I know that the doctor is giving you blood transfusions, but I still feel like it's not enough. I don't want to lose you."
Booth took Brennan's hand and held on tightly. "You aren't going to lose me. Thanks to you and Aubrey, I'm alive. I remember you saying sometime yesterday that the surgery was successful. I'll be okay."
"You have such a long recovery ahead, Booth."
"And you'll be there with me every step of the way, I'm sure. That's always how it works with us. Bones, even if it takes me months to recover from this, I will get better. I will get back to work and find criminals and put them in prison, just like always."
Brennan had to smile. She loved how optimistic her fiance was. Even now, when he was clearly uncomfortable and exhausted, he was being optimistic and cheery.
"Now, can I have a kiss before they all decide that they can't wait any longer and come in?" Booth asked, looking at the door to his room.
Brennan grinned. She leaned forward and gently kissed Booth's lips, making sure she didn't rest too much on his body. She still felt worried, but she couldn't deny that Booth was correct about getting better.
