Author's Note: Lyrics used are "Mercy" by One Republic.

Angel of mercy how did you find me?

Where did you read my story?

Brennan had been unaware of how exhausted she was until she woke in the morning to realize she'd slept the entire night through. In the safety of Booth's arms she'd achieved that deep sleep that hadn't found her in months. He'd given her back the ability to rest and relax. Her shoulders felt lighter. The heavy weight crushing her chest had lifted. It was as if she'd been held underwater and was breaching the surface for the first time. Now she could breathe again.

Booth was gone from the bed. The comforter on his side was rumpled, tossed carelessly away from his pillows. Evidently from what she was able to discern he'd exited the room hours ago. The faint smell of body soap and after shave still lingered in the air. The combination furthered her ultimate sense of security. If there was a way they could have maintained their jobs she would have been more than willing to live in that paradise with him permanently. Who'd of thought a log cabin could be so peaceful? So tranquil?

She rose from the bed. Her feet took her straight into the kitchen where Booth was making breakfast. His back was towards her. He was dressed in no more than a tee shirt and his boxers. Obviously he too, was feeling comfortable around her. She stifled a smile. His look was one she could get used to seeing. "Hi."

"Hey, Bones." He greeted without turning around. "I made you some oatmeal. You might want to heat it up a little bit. I didn't want to wake you and I wasn't sure when you would on your own."

"Thanks. I'm not really all that hungry, though." Actually, a shower sounded more delicious than food. "Perhaps after I shower."

"Okay. I left some soap and stuff for you on the sink."

She thanked him. In the bathroom she turned the taps of the shower to the hottest setting she could tolerate. Then she stripped and stepped into the stream. The aching in her back began to ease. The tension in her muscles dissipated with the warm steam that rose up towards the ceiling. Her last remaining wall came down. Just as before in Booth's apartment the night she'd come to him for help, she let herself cry. Her pent up emotions released. By the time she was finished she didn't just feel lighter, she felt stronger as well.

All I wanted to say

All I wanted to do is fall apart now

All I wanted to feel

I wanted to love, its all my fault now

A tragedy I fear

A half an hour passed by before she was ready to face the world again. She emerged to dress in a pair of sweatpants and a shirt. She too, felt at ease enough to dress down in front of her partner. Her hair she wrapped up in a towel. Just as she was leaving the bathroom she heard her cell phone ring. In confusion she wrinkled her nose. Booth couldn't get cell service. Why was she? She retraced her steps back into the bedroom. From the bottom of her purse she dug out her phone. To her horror she saw it was Collins calling. Down she sat on the bed, setting the phone next to her and watching the caller ID blink until the call was sent to her voice mail. Within moments the device beeped to indicate she had a message. Her heart pounded in her chest while shaking fingers dialed in her security code to listen.

"Where the hell are you? This isn't funny anymore. You think you can just walk away from me? You think you can just disappear. I'll hunt you down. So help me God I'll hunt you down and I'll find you. And you'll be sorry. If you know what's good for you, you better come home before that happens. Don't make me any angrier, Temperance." Chuckle. "Or maybe you won't have a home to come back to."

The trembling in her fingers may have stopped but that was only because it'd transferred over into her entire body. Her stomach churned with sour acid. The phone was forgotten about. She made it to the bathroom just in time to vomit. Just when she thought she was finished her stomach clenched for a second time. No more came out than bile. Her legs attempted to give out on her in her weakened state. Booth caught her as she was slipping down onto the floor. Wordlessly he half carried her back to bed. On the very edge he sat her down. Briefly he left only to return with a paper towel damped with cold water. "You all right?" He questioned as he wiped the sweat from her face.

She didn't answer. Instead she repeated her motions with her phone and thrust it at him. He listened closely to the message, his face reddening with anger. When it ended he let out a slow breath. "He can't find you here. Remember that. And even if he did he'd have to answer to me. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He hugged her. "I promise, Bones. You're safe with me."

Fortress of daylight come in and stand by

Waiting to catch the quickest plane

"Booth what if… what if he burns down my apartment? Or does something just as terrible? I have relics in there. Valuables. My life…" She buried her head in his shoulder.

Booth had no idea what to say. He wasn't familiar enough with the officer to be able to predict his behavior. "When we get back," he decided slowly. "You stay with me. Make me list of everything you want. During the day while he's at work I'll go over and get them."

She gasped a disbelieving chuckle. "There's so much. You couldn't possibly bring it all."

"So I'll make daily trips." He shrugged, undeterred.

"Where would we put it all?"

"We can rent a storage space until we figure out something better."

She couldn't help but to notice his lack of suggestion of finding another apartment for her. Until the coast was safe he had absolutely no intentions of letting her out of his sight. Gratitude couldn't be expressed in words or actions. Tighter she clung to him. Her head felt heavy and she let it fall down onto his shoulder.

"I gotcha, Bones. I promise you." He stroked her hair away from her face. "I won't let him get anywhere near you. I won't think twice about taking care of the bastard myself." Actually, a part of him was hoping Collins would show up at the apartment while he was moving Brennan out. He'd show him what real abuse was.

"Don't do anything foolish." She objected. She knew Booth was difficult to overpower. But she also knew weapons always won over power. Collins was a loose cannon. Knowing of their close relationship, there was no saying he wouldn't shoot Booth on sight.

Booth left the comment unaddressed. "Come on. You really need to eat something. You're not going to convince me otherwise." He helped her up to her feet. A few tear trails still remained on her cheeks. He brushed them away with his thumbs. "I'll protect you," he ensured her one last time.

Flying to nowhere

It's better than somewhere

That's where I've been and nothing's changed

Her emotions were overthrowing her mind. His words were touching all the right spaces within her to fill her with hope, after desolation had taken up residence within her for so long. She kissed him. Closer to his body he held her. The embrace lasted for several minutes before he pulled away. "We shouldn't be doing this."

He was speaking exactly what she was thinking. "I know. But… I don't want to stop."

"Me either," he admitted in a whisper.

But you might, she thought, lowering her eyes. Once you learn the truth.

She choked down what little bit of breakfast she could stomach. Anytime she thought about Collins' phone call the nausea returned in full force. Booth didn't push her. But she noticed he kept a careful eye on her. Watching from a distance. Ready to interact if required.

Upon finishing she laid down on the couch with a book. Booth cleaned up the kitchen alone. She'd offered to help but he'd rebuffed her. "I'm fine, Bones. Go lay down." So she had. He passed by her once on the way to the bedroom. When he walked through again he was completely dressed in a pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt. "You gonna be all right if I go outside for a bit?" He asked.

"I'll be fine." She was rather curious as to what he would be doing. They were miles from any town. The only thing of interest in their environment was a small pond she'd spotted out back. Obviously it was much too cold to be swimming.

He moved about to the door and tugged his coat on. "Do you want me to take your phone in case he calls again?"

She gave him a dark look. He threw up his hands. "All right." Outside he trudged. She smiled at his back.

She became so immersed by the story taking place in her book that at the first audible gunshot she near jumped out of her skin. Two more immediately followed. Then a fourth. "Booth," she whispered, throwing down her book. Only the worst could she think. Collins is outside. He found us. They're having a shoot out. Booth's in danger. I have to help him.

She hurried outside with little regard for herself. The sound of the rounds were coming from the back of the cabin. Her footsteps quickened as she got closer. Only she discovered Booth wasn't in trouble at all. His back was towards her as he fired at targets he'd hung off of tree branches. For a moment she remained to watch him. His talent never ceased to amaze her. Every time his aim was dead on. He never missed. Without being detected she tip toed back into the cabin.

Angel of mercy

How did you find me?

How did you pick me up again?

The rest of the afternoon was passed in literature. When she tired of reading she laid awake staring at the ceiling and thinking. Things were changing between she and Booth, much faster than either of them had ever thought. Sinking into one another felt right. The final puzzle pieces were reuniting and locking together. She didn't want to fight it. But Booth was still partially in the dark. There was one last confession she hadn't shared. She was afraid to, for fear of what he might think of her. Yet if they were continue forward into this peculiar world they'd entered she had to be honest. She had to tell him.

That night just as they were settling in to sleep she took her chance. While they'd shared their dinner they'd been quiet. Booth had seemed to be lost in thought himself. Seeing him so intense only made her nervousness cut deeper. What she had to say would change everything. It was big enough to change both of their lives.

She sat down on the foot of the bed. He peeled off his shirt all the while feeling her eyes on him. "What is it?" He inquired without looking at her.

"I need to speak with you." Her stomach did another flip. She could only try to keep herself from being sick in the middle of their conversation.

Warily he lowered himself besides her. "That doesn't sound good. What is it? Did Collins call you again while I was out?" His arm muscles hardened just thinking about it.

"No. I just, I haven't been completely honest with you. I haven't lied. But there are certain facts of the truth I've omitted. I feel as though now with the changes that are taking place-"

"You're pregnant." He interrupted her. She was shocked into complete silence. Her expression mirrored that of someone who'd placed their finger in a light socket. "How did you…"

He just smiled a sad smile. "Does he know?"

"No. I was trying to tell him the other night. He thought I was trying to end our relationship once again. I never was able to say anything."

His eyes drifted away from hers. She bowed her head in shame. The worst had occurred. She was no better than a discarded piece of trash. Tears blurred her vision. They were threatening to spill over when to her surprise he reached for her hand, and held it.

"Then this is what we're going to do." His voice was as soft as the wind. "We're going to wait a month to tell anyone. And when we do," he gently tilted her chin to look him in his eyes. "We're going to tell them that it's mine."

I'm so lost in you

A tragedy seemed to be over now

A tragedy it seemed to be