She awoke with a start, her forehead beaded with sweat and her breath coming in short, terrified gasps. It was the third time that week she'd had the same dream--she and Booth, walking towards his SUV... someone calling her, beating her, and Booth unable to help. She put her head back onto the pillow, wiping her eyes in frustration. "Hey..." Seeley Booth stirred next to her, his face now an inch from her own. "It's three in the morning--what's going on?"

She sighed, placing her hand on his cheek, "Another bad dream, that's all..."

He propped himself up onto his elbow, and she took a second to look at his amazing chest before looking into his eyes again. "Want to talk about it?"

She shook her head--she couldn't tell him that the dream was always the same, that he was always so close, but couldn't do a thing to save her. "No, really, it's not that big of a deal," she whispered, leaning up to kiss his cheek, "Goodnight."

She seemed so determined to sleep again that he let it go. He could ask in the morning, over coffee before her physical therapy. He sighed, lowering himself beside her, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep. He waited for her breathing to become steady, and when he knew she was truly asleep, he moved in closer. With his arm draped gently over her waist, and his face buried in her sweet smelling hair, he drifted off into an unexpected slumber.


Her phone rang persistently, and slowly she blinked open her eyes. The bed beside her felt cold, empty, and she knew he was already up and running. She squinted into the sunlight, attempting to find her alarm clock for the time--9:17. She slowly pushed her recently un-cast legs over the edge of the bed, moving herself to stand. Gently, using her bedside table for support, she placed her body weight on her rather weak legs. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

She turned her head to smile at him, "Knitting--what does it look like I'm doing?"

He was tempted to laugh at her sarcasm, but that would break his composure-- "The doctor said you're still too weak to stand outside of physical therapy or without assistance..."

"That's why I'm using the table, Seeley..." She interjected, her left arm pulling her chair beside her. He watched her let go of the table, and slowly lower herself into the chair. "See, it's fine. Did you make breakfast?"

He smiled, "Of course. We've got scrambled eggs, toast with jam, some bacon, milk and o.j." He looked at her overwhelmed face, "I know it seems like a lot compared to what you've been having, but the doctor said you need to eat more before physical therapy so you can have more energy. So I'm just following doctors orders..."

"Sure--you're just trying to fatten me up. What is it with guys?" She tried to keep a straight face when he stared at her blankly, "They get you to admit you're crazy about them, and then they worm their way into a serious relationship, and out of nowhere they want you to become this chubby, unattractive woman. I thought you'd be different, Seeley, I really did..." She clucked disapprovingly and shook her head, fighting off a smile.

"Well, I'm not. If you're chubby, you won't leave me..." He smiled at her, kissing her. "See, I can take a joke!" He led the way to the kitchen, where breakfast was waiting. Lately, she'd tried to get him to loosen up, but he was always so busy worrying about her he couldn't. She'd crack jokes, most of them not making much sense to him until he snuck off to call Zack and Hodgins to decode her squint-speak. But their friends knew it wasn't the best sign in the world if Brennan had to crack jokes to cheer him up. Something must be bothering him, she thought as she spread the strawberry jam over a piece of toast.

"It was great, Seeley... Thank you!"

"It's not a big deal, Tempe. I do it every morning..." He gathered their plates and began washing them, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

She knew something was going on, but for the life of her, she couldn't imagine what. After nearly three months living with him, she was still stunned at the amount of things he could keep secret. "Well, I'm going to take a quick shower before we have to leave for therapy..."

"Okay, see you in a few..." He said, waiting until he heard the water start to rush into the bedroom. He picked up his cell and called Angela.

"Angela Montenegro..."

"Hey, Ang, it's me!"

She squealed in excitement, "How's it going?"

"So far, it's not..."

"I don't understand..." He could practically see her frown now, in front of the Angelator, confused.

"She's in the shower now, then we've got therapy. I'm going to need your help with this, Ang..."

"You know I'll do anything for you, especially when it comes to this," She said, "so what do you need?"

"Okay, therapy is at 11, and lasts until 12. I want you to call her, just before eleven, and ask her to go to lunch with you. She'll tell me to drop her off, and the two of you will do... I don't know, whatever. Just keep her busy... and then I'll call you when it's all done, okay?"

"Absolutely. Did you know you're like, the best boyfriend ever, Seeley Booth?" He smiled at her compliment, and laughed as he heard a muffled, sad 'Hey!' exclaimed by Jack. "Shit--I've got to go kiss ass now--thanks for that, by the way!"

"Talk to you in a bit!" He hung up, laughing. It looked like his plan was going to go off without a hitch...


Her phone ringing brought her back to life. "Hey Ang, what's up?" She smiled into the phone. Booth looked at her curiously as he drove to therapy. "Um, let me see if he'd mind..." She covered the reciever and looked at him, her eyes dancing-- "Ang and Hodgins want to take me out to lunch. Do you think you can drop me off after therapy, Booth?"

He tried to keep his face as non-chalant as possible, "Sure. I'm sure I can occupy myself for a little while. No problem..."

"Oh, maybe you can call Rebecca and see if you can pick up Parker? I haven't seen him in a while..."

He smiled at her, "I'll try," but his inside he was screaming his plans.

"It's a date! Oh I'm glad too, it's been too long since we just went out together! In another month or so I should be able to come back to work..." She continued her conversation, and Booth just stared ahead. This was going to be easier than he thought-- Brennan was so detatched from the Jeffersonian, she'd pump Ang and Jack for all the things they'd been doing without her. Maybe even make them take her to the lab and show her things. He'd have more than enough time to do everything he planned. It was almost too perfect...