AN: Sorry this one's taken so long it's a bit longer than usual, but i promise a few things happen... anyway read, enjoy and don't forget to review.

Chapter 7

When Temperance Brennan awoke the next morning she felt, in one word: awful. She'd become accustomed to the groggy early morning rush to towards the toilet bowl along with the stomach churning nausea that prevented her from eating or drinking anything other than water before work. On this morning though her whole body felt heavy, like it was composed entirely of mercury rather than mostly water. She didn't need to look at the clock to know it was five thirty in the morning, her body or rather her baby had decided that was when she would wake up for over a week. Brennan just hoped it was a symptom that like the morning sickness would not follow her into the second trimester of her pregnancy. After all Temperance Brennan was not fond of early mornings unless they involved breakfast in bed and or an early morning roll between the sheets, not that she felt up to either in her current condition.

Brennan couldn't remember ever having to exert so much effort to simply get out of bed. She barely reached the bathroom in time before vomiting into the white porcelain toilet bowl, glad that she had clipped her hair back the night before having learnt that while uncomfortable for sleeping it was preferable to spending her morning rinsing regurgitated fluids from her hair. She let herself collapse against the cold tiles not even able to hold up her own body weight. She knew she should call Cam and tell her she wouldn't be in that day, but she had no assistant for the week having finally run out of interns to trial. So instead Brennan dragged herself off the floor using the hand basin and wobbled into the shower. She told herself that her decision to go to work had nothing to do with the fact that Booth had promised to meet her for lunch, instead she told herself that she was going to work because she had no assistant to manage her duties and because it was only a bit of morning sickness, it couldn't last all day.

There were no new cases that morning when Brennan got to the Jeffersonian and for that she was thankful, she wasn't sure she could stomach the smell of rotting flesh that day. Instead she dragged out one of the many World War One veterans she was charged with identifying and got to work. Angela appeared in the lab she was working in slightly after ten.

"Hey Bren, how was your weekend, do anything exciting?" Angela asked wiggling her eyebrows suggestively as she did every Monday morning when she asked Brennan about her weekend.

"I went to the zoo with Booth and Parker yesterday" she told her friend circling the table that her remains were spread over.

"Oh, that must have been fun, that maternal instinct kicking in yet?" she asked leaning against the table comfortably.

"Parker isn't my child Ange" Brennan replied shortly leaning on the table for support as another wave of nausea hit.

"I know, but don't you feel a twinge of affection for the kid" Brennan smiled weakly, he was a good kid.

"Yeah I guess" Brennan admitted trying to fight the growing waves of nausea "Um Ange, I think I need to sit down a minute" she told her friend backing to the edge of the room and searching for a seat which she fell gratefully into.

"Uh Sweetie, you don't look so good, are you sure you're okay, maybe you should go home get some sleep, this isn't good for you and the baby, you need to take care of yourself." Angela worried coming over to her friend whose head was dipped between her knees in a desperate attempt to keep from vomiting.

"I'm fine Ange" Brennan argued, though her voice was barely a whisper.

"No you're not, I'm taking you home now and you're going to get some rest" Angela told her matter of factly.

"Fine" Brennan accepted easily and Angela knew that meant something was really wrong.

"And Sweetie, I think you should go to the doctor, I don't think this is normal" Angela told her gesturing to her friend's unnaturally pale features.

"I have an appointment for later in the week Ange, I'll talk to her about it then" Brennan promised standing dizzily from the seat and allowing herself to be led back to her lab and then out of the building by Angela.

BB-BB-BB-BB-BB

"Hey Cam, where's Bones?" Booth asked having run into his ex-girlfriend while looking for his partner at the Jeffersonian.

"Oh does this mean there's a case?" she asked a grin gracing her features, and it occurred to Booth that all squints were alike, just in it for the science. Sometimes he wondered if they realised that someone had lost their life so that they could have some work to do, but then his partner would say something and he'd realise that they felt each loss just as much as he did, sometimes even more.

"Nope, no case I just told Bones I'd meet her for lunch" Booth admitted knowing Cam would make him regret his words later.

"Oh?" she grinned, raising her eyebrows waiting for an explanation from him.

"She's my partner" Booth reminded, impatiently waiting for her to answer his own question.

"Whatever Seeley, Angela said she wasn't feeling well dropped her home a couple of hours ago" Cam explained looking down to the report in her hands.

"Oh right... well maybe I'll go check on her" Booth decided wandering away from Cam who had already forgotten about his presence in the lab. He tried not to worry as he drove the familiar route to Brennan's apartment. But what if something was wrong with the baby? Cam didn't know about the pregnancy yet only he and Angela knew of her condition so Cam wouldn't have known if Brennan's sudden illness had anything to do with the child she carried.

It took Brennan so long to answer the door that Booth was considering pulling out the key she'd given him to use in case of an emergency. When she finally opened the door the first thing Booth noticed was that she was certainly not wearing her usual work clothes in fact she was wearing grey sweatpants and a worn Midwestern hoodie that dwarfed her small frame. Her hair had been pulled back off her face but several chunks seemed to have fallen from their restraints.

"Booth" she said surprised "What are you doing here?" he was already inside and heading towards the living room when Brennan figured out who was at her door.

"Well I told you I'd come see you at lunch, you know make sure you were eating and it's a damn good thing I did otherwise I never would have known you were sick." Booth admonished as his partner collapsed next to him on the couch. "We're partners Bones, you're supposed to tell me when you get sick" Booth told her, his voice gentle but lecturing as if he was explaining to his son why it was rude to point fingers at people.

"Why?" Brennan asked weakly tilting her head back trying to fight yet another wave of nausea.

"So I can be here for you. Especially now Bones, you need to take care of yourself... and your baby" Booth reminded, as if she could actually forget.

"It's just a little nausea Booth, nothing to worry about, it's completely normal" Brennan defended, though she fiddled with the hem of her sweatshirt and refused to meet his eyes.

"If it was nothing you'd be at work right now" Booth argued, before Brennan had time to form a response she felt the bile rising in her throat and jumped from the couch rushing for the bathroom once again. Booth trailed slower behind her finding her on her knees grasping the toilet bowl. He knew she would hate him seeing her that way yet the urge to go to her and do what he could for her. IN two easy steps he was by her side kneeling beside her and although she turned to glare at him she didn't push him away. His hand rubbed her back soothingly while he used the other to pull her hair back from her face where it had fallen from her ponytail.

When Brennan was sure there was nothing left in her stomach she leant heavily against Booth suddenly unable to hold herself up any more. He leant back against the wall and pulled her onto his lap feeling her tense against him for a few moments before relaxing in to his embrace. He kept his hand on her back rubbing soothing circles into her heated skin. When her breathing seemed to return to normal he made to get up hoping to get a damp towel to press against her forehead but her fingers twisted into his shirt so he pulled her closer instead.

"Okay Bones, let's get you up" Booth finally whispered breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen over them. She nodded but made no effort to move off of his lap "Up you get" Booth prompted his hands wrapping around her waist and pushing her up to her feet before pulling himself of the ground.

"You're lying down" he told her steering her back towards the couch, he knew she would object to being in bed in the middle of the day. Once she was lying down a couple of pillows under her head and a rug pulled over her Booth disappeared to the kitchen returning a few moments later with a glass of water and after making sure she'd had at least a couple of sips he disappeared back to the kitchen returning again with two pieces of dry brown toast. Brennan grimaced when he set them down on the coffee table.

"Just a little bit Bones" he begged giving her his charm smile and she caved easily picking up the least burnt of the two pieces. When the first piece and half of the second piece was gone she turned to Booth with pleading eyes and he gave her a slight nod, she'd already managed more than he'd expected. She finished off the glass of water and Booth crossed the room gently pulling the tie from her hair smoothing out the silky hair with his fingers.

"Get some sleep Bones, you look like you could use it"

"That's real nice Booth, kick a person when they're down" Booth grinned, she'd actually got the phrase right.

"You got it right" Booth told her surprised and she nodded cheekily and Booth wondered if she'd been practising. He shook his head, that woman was full of surprises. She snuggled down into the sofa cushions looking curiously to Booth.

"I'm not going anywhere" he said answering her unspoken question.

"Thanks Booth" she told him smiling weakly her arms hugging the blanket to her as if it were a teddy, and a part of Booth wished it was him she was cuddling into.

While she slept Booth called Cullen to tell him he wouldn't be back at work that afternoon and set about tidying up Brennan's apartment which although mostly clean was not up to its usual standard of perfection. Finally he filled up a new glass of water for her and settled down on the chair opposite her watching her calm face and the slight rise and fall of her chest. She'd kicked the blanket away and Booth didn't worry about pulling it back over her, the apartment was quite warm. Her hands clutched her stomach and drew Booth's eyes towards it. He wondered if her body was showing any visible signs of pregnancy yet, he certainly hadn't noticed any, though she would probably hurt him if she realised he was examining her so closely. He itched to press his hand against her stomach hoping to feel the kick of her child though he knew that would not happen for a long time. She looked peaceful and Booth wondered what she was dreaming about, surely it wasn't bones and murderers like his dreams so often were. He hoped her dreams weren't as horrible as his, hoped that his presence in her life didn't cause her pain in sleep too.

When her house phone rang suddenly he was glad he'd bought the cordless into the room and sat it on the table so that he could quickly accept the call and hopefully prevent his partner waking up prematurely.

"Hey how are you feeling? Do you want me to come over?" The voce on the other end of the phone asked before Booth had even spoken.

"Hey Ange" Booth said taking a glance at Brennan who was thankfully still asleep and heading down the hall away from her.

"Booth?" she asked and he could tell she was grinning, her mind concocting all sorts of reasons for Booth's presents at Brennan's place.

"Yeah" he agreed.

"How's Bren?"

"Sleeping" he informed the young artist in a whisper.

"Good, you want me to come over and stay with her a while?" Angela offered.

"Nah, go see Roxie, Bones will be fine. I'll call you after she wakes up and tell you how she's doing" Booth promised knowing that Angela would want to know the updated condition of her friend.

"Yeah okay, thanks Booth... and Booth I'm glad you're there, she's going to need you" Booth knew she was right.

"She's going to need both of us" Booth corrected

"Yeah you're right" Angela agreed smiling wondering if Brennan knew how lucky she was to have Booth or if she even realised she had him.

"Let me take this one, no sense both of us being tired tomorrow" Angela wondered if Booth was spending too much time with Brennan he was starting to sound just a little too logical.

"Not that I need to tell you, but take good care of her"

"Always" Booth agreed before hanging up knowing he would pay for that comment later but not particularly caring.

When Booth returned to the living room Brennan was sitting up the water glass in her hand she immediately noticed the phone in his hand.

"Did someone call?" she asked gesturing to the phone in his hand.

"Yeah Angela, she wanted to know how you are, if you wanted her to come over" he told her sitting next to her on the couch.

"Oh, what did you tell her?" she asked curious.

"Go see Roxie" he summarised, feeling himself redden at the thought of the rest of their conversation.

"Good" she agreed.

"You're feeling better" Booth noticed and although it wasn't a question Brennan nodded.

"You up for some real food?" he asked tapping her shoulder lightly with his hand.

She was silent for a moment as if assessing her condition silently "Yeah, that sounds good, nothing too heavy though"

"What some salad and maybe some grilled chicken?" he suggested.

"Sure, just give me a minute to wake up and I'll get started" Brennan told him.

"I don't think so" Booth argued laughing "I'm cooking tonight"

"I didn't know you could cook" Brennan told him surprised. Booth grinned but didn't elaborate on his cooking skills which were actually quite basic. He disappeared back to the kitchen and opened the fridge glad when it didn't explode and glad when he was able to find all the things he would need inside. When he'd spread everything out on the counter Brennan appeared sitting easily at the breakfast bar and watching each of his actions with wonder. She watched happily as he chopped and sliced lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado and capsicum. She noted that he remembered the way she liked her salad and adhered to the ratios she liked and although she usually liked fetta in her salad she was neither surprised nor disappointed when he didn't add any. She managed to eat all of her salad and most of her chicken and Booth was pleased by her effort because it had occurred to him that afternoon that Brennan was probably not going to have an easy pregnancy but that was okay he'd be there and so would Angela.

"You can go home Booth, I'll be all right" Brennan insisted when they'd finished eating, but Booth was already heading to the sink to do the dishes for her.

"I'm not leaving Bones" he said it with such conviction that she didn't argue, it was nice having him there.

"Fine, do what you like. I think I'm going to go have a bath" she told him accepting his presence without too much argument. Booth nodded glad her stubbornness had not made an appearance.

She stripped easily and poured bubble bath into the warm water letting the vanilla and coconut scent envelop the whole room and steam up the mirror before she climbed into the water. She couldn't remember the last time she'd done so little in a day and it felt nice, but it was really the presence of Booth that had her smiling when as she relaxed into the water. When the bubbles disappeared and the water cooled and she began to shiver she decided it was time to get out noticing when she pulled the plug that she had no towel or even a robe. She considered throwing her clothes back on or drying herself with a face washer or hand towel, but that was just ridiculous. She could just walk out the bathroom and grab a towel from the linen closet and maybe Booth wouldn't see but she'd drip water on the carpet.

"Booth" she called out "Could you bring me a towel?" she asked climbing out of the tub and shivering on the bath mat. She waited a few moments hearing shuffling outside "Booth?" she called again.

"Coming" he called back, and it was true he was standing just outside the door a white fluffy towel in his hand. Was there any way he could avoid going in there? He doubted it, so he gulped in a huge breath and pushed the door open. He exhaled all at once, trying not to stare but the expanse of creamy skin proved too much of a temptation. Brennan laughed seemingly unfazed by her nakedness.

"Geez Bones" he breathed averting his eyes and pressing the towel towards her trying not to think about her hard pink nipples and long toned legs.

She took the towel from him but didn't wrap it immediately around herself " I don't understand why you're so uptight about me being naked, it's not like I haven't seen you" Brennan said rubbing the towel over her legs and up to her stomach.

"It's not that Bones, it's just... wow" he trailed off his eyes wandering over her body as if they had a mind of their own.

"Are you trying to say that you find my body sexually attractive" Brennan asked her hips rolling towards him though he thought it was probably an unconscious movement.

"Yes, yes Bones you are a very attractive woman" he admitted pulling his eyes away from her again though he suddenly caught sight of her back reflected in the mirror. He couldn't help but look for a moment enjoying the sight of the gentle curve of her spine, finally seeing the skin he had touched so many times through the material of her clothes.

"Thankyou" she accepted grinning "You're quite attractive too"

"Yes well, do you think we could continue this conversation once you're dressed" he asked suddenly looking everywhere but at her. Finally she wrapped the towel around her tucking it in at the front and in the slightly primal part of his mind Booth imagined ripping the towel straight back off of her. Brennan must have seen a glint of his thoughts reflected in his eyes because suddenly her body was pressed against his her lips assaulting his with such force that he was pushed against the wall. He wanted to push her away, to tell her it was wrong but his body and his heart protested loudly, so he wrapped one arm around her waist pulling her even closer his tongue slipping into her mouth and his fingers twisting into her hair. He body was slightly damp from her bath and she smelt strongly of the vanilla and coconut bubble bath and then too soon she was pulling away.

The look of horror on her face told him it was all a huge mistake and he knew she was probably right yet he couldn't fight the feeling that kissing her was right, being with her was right.

"I – um, I shouldn't have done that" she admitted brushing past him into the hallway.

"Bones – Temperance, wait, we should talk about this"

"No, I can't Booth... not now" then she was gone, her bedroom door shut behind her. He stood in the hallway not sure what to do. Should he leave? He didn't want to, he didn't want to leave her alone, not in her state, maybe he should call Angela. He settled for sitting on the couch, at the very least he'd wait for her to get dressed, he couldn't leave things the way they were. When she reappeared she was in pyjamas pausing in the doorway.

"Do you think you could go Booth" she said it quietly her eyes not meeting his.

"We really should talk Temperance" he argued, though his voice was gentle.

"I just can't... not now" her shoulders slumped and Booth knew she needed this time.

"Okay Bones, but we do need to talk about this... soon" she nodded not sure what to tell him "And Bones, if you need anything you know you can call, me or Angela" Brennan nodded again suddenly approaching him.

"I'm sorry Booth" she pressed a hand to his shoulder the touch making him jump but he didn't flinch away.

"I know" he let his eyes say what he couldn't, they were strong, they would hold no matter what.

"I'll talk to you in the morning" he told her pulling himself off the couch and heading towards the door. He wanted to stay, he wanted to be there for her to help her figure things out but he knew he had to leave, to let her figure it out on her own. She wasn't impulsive, and he wouldn't change that otherwise she wouldn't be Bones, but he knew one thing they would be okay, nothing could change between them. They would still be there for one another, because they were partners.