A/N: Hey y'all. If you have read Sunsetdreamer's latest piece, (which you must do because if you don't have her on author alert, we can't be friends anymore) you will be under the impression that I'm about to jump the Bones fandom ship. This is an erroneous lie fueled by her raging paranoia. I have never said that I'm leaving the fandom. I have never even suggested that I'mthinkingabout leaving the fandom. In fact, I plan on going down with this ship, lack of readers, and all. However, don't tell her this because it seems to have ignited some sort of panicked rage that has her muse all a flutter and we are ALL better off for it. So, I am willing to take one for the entire international fanfic community and be the poster child for the massive fandom exodus if it means I get more fic from her. That's a fair trade in anyone's book. Now go play her new game and bring some life back to the fic world!

That being said: my world is about to turn upside down. In the next month, I am flying to interview for a job, taking my final exams, graduating from grad school, turning 25, and moving across the country. Needless to say, there may be a lull in my updating. This lull is disastrously timed with Sunsetdreamer's riot (or maybe she planned it this way from the start) but I don't want people associating the two. So I repeat: I AM NOT LEAVING! And y'all can't make me. End of story.

OOOOO

When Brennan woke up, it was with extreme reluctance. The alarm was beeping behind her and she felt Booth stirring to turn it off. However, he immediately returned his arms to her waist, holding her tightly against his chest. She very distinctly remembered going to sleep on opposite sides of the bed. Booth laid flat on his back and she preferred to lie on her side facing the wall. Sometime in the night, his arms had reached out and pulled her closer to him. They were now intertwined in the best way, but Brennan was aware that there was still a barrier between them, one last wall she didn't quite know how to tear down.

"We gotta get up, Bones." He whispered drowsily against her hair.

"Mmm, you first." She mumbled. Booth let out a small rumble of laughter at her bossiness and she felt his warm chest vibrating against her back. The bed that had seemed so hostile towards her the night before was now a place of warm comfort and she didn't want to move. She knew exactly what, or rather who, was to blame for the change in the environment but the quick transition of her feelings was still surprising to her. It wasn't like her to change her opinion so suddenly.

"The coffee should be ready by now. I'll go pour us some." He said as he sat up and stretched, a series of cracks and groans emanating from his body. She turned onto her back and stared at him. "What?" He asked.

"Is your body always this stiff in the morning?" She inquired, her inner scientist refusing to be contained.

"After spending the night with a gorgeous woman like you? Yes." Booth replied cockily and Brennan rolled her eyes at her unintentional double entendre.

"I meant your bones. Do they always crack like that? Are your muscles sore?" She sat up and awaited his responses but he only groaned.

"How did we go from morning sex jokes to me being a set of ancient remains for you to analyze?" He wanted to know.

"I was just curious."

"Yeah, Bones. I'm old. I've put my body through hell and it feels like it some days. Not every day, but some days." He defended himself. "Why?"

"Remind me to show you Thai massage later." She requested.

"You're not going to stick any needles in me, are you?" He asked, seriously concerned.

"Why would I do that?"

"Just checking. You can rub your hands all over me, but I draw the line at jabbing me with needles."

"Noted." She said. She watched as he hobbled to the kitchen to get their coffee and she got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She took a deep breath as she examined her reflection. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were still a bit red from all of the crying she had done the night before. She changed back into her own clothes, washed her face and combed her hair. When she had done damage control, she made her way out to the kitchen.

"Here you go." Booth smiled as he handed her a cup of coffee.

"Thanks." She replied as she took a long sip. She closed her eyes and hummed in delight as the caffeine hit her bloodstream. When she opened them again, Booth was watching her. "What?" She said, stealing his question and tone from earlier.

"You're adorable." He shrugged as he brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. She frowned, clearly disagreeing with his assessment of her current state.

"Drink more of your coffee." She instructed. He shook his head, knowing he was right. Brennan was surprised by his confidence. For the first time in years, she believed in what he was saying. "I'm taking this to go." She informed him. "I'll return the cup later."

"For our Thai massage lesson, right?"

"Sure." She answered. "Are you stopping by the lab today?" She asked as she packed up her stuff.

"Yeah, Angela should have the prints identified by now so I'm sure I'll be around sometime." Booth answered. "Why?"

"I was thinking we could get lunch on the Mall, maybe talk." Booth's face turned grave almost instantly, as if he had completely forgotten their fight.

"Yeah." He said. "Just text me and let me know what time to pick you up."

"I think one will work, but I'll double check when I get to the lab." She said. He nodded. She wasn't quite sure how to say goodbye without the awkward tension that was quickly enveloping them so she leaned in and kissed the top of his head, burying her kiss in his messy morning hair. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." The cute, little boy smile that was gracing his lips told her that she had chosen correctly and she left his apartment feeling a bit cocky herself.

OOOOO

Booth went about his morning as professionally as he could, but his looming lunch date with Brennan was occupying over ninety percent of his attention. He had covered all of their conversation the night before and the way she looked and acted this morning. He had created a list in his mind of all the reasons he shouldn't worry.

1. She stayed the night

Yes, she could have been too tired or maybe she didn't want to take the blame for leaving and she was just slow-playing him, but he really believed that meant something.

2. She hadn't wanted to get out of bed this morning.

Let's be honest, neither had he. It felt so secure, so content, to be wrapped up in blankets and each other. Once again, she might have just been tired, but he hoped that he was right about her reasoning behind this one.

3. She had made plans.

Well, okay, maybe returning a coffee mug wasn't 'a plan' per say, but it did require them meeting again. Of course, they did work together, so she saw him almost every day anyway. But she had also talked about Thai massage. That definitely counted as a future plan. If she were planning on leaving, she wouldn't be volunteering to give him a massage later, right?

4. She had kissed him goodbye.

This was the kicker. The simple action had been heartfelt and sweet and it still made his heart stop hours later. He made up his mind. All of her actions pointed towards one final decision.

She was going to stay.

Now he just had to wait for her confirmation.

The closer the clock got to one, the more glances he gave his phone. Finally at 12:30, he had enough. He picked up the phone to call her.

"Brennan." She barked into her phone.

"Hey Bones, it's me."

"Oh, Booth. Hi." Her voice instantly softened but he could tell that she was stressed.

"Bad day?" He asked.

"Something like that. You're calling about lunch, aren't you?"

"Yes." He said as he heard her correcting someone sternly. "But you sound busy so we can just reschedule if you want."

"Oh, are you sure? I could probably...No, not there!" Booth chuckled in sympathy for the poor intern.

"Bones. It's fine. Call me when you get a chance."

"Are you sure?" Her reluctance to cancel made Booth even more certain of his decision.

"Yes. Go teach. And remember to try and be patient on the poor soul. It's not their fault they aren't a genius like you." Booth was certain he heard her smile.

"I'll try. Thanks, Booth." She added.

"Take care."

OOOOO

When they finally met later that evening, Booth's nerves hadn't left him at all. But he showed up on her doorstep, ready for anything. After all, what other choice did he have?

"Hi." She greeted him with a smile. "What's wrong, you look….something." She said as he walked in.

"I'm just wondering how this is going to go." He said honestly.

"You're worried." She stated as she finally catalogued his emotion as fear. His silence spoke for him. "You shouldn't be." He stopped and stared at her, his eyes raking hers for some sign that she meant it.

"Booth, I know your medical history, I've examined your x-rays, I know your bones and muscles better than you do. And if all of that science doesn't convince you, remember your belief that I have magic knuckles." Booth had to chuckle. She knew him alright. "Now go lay down on your back over there." She said as she pointed to a yoga mat she had prepared. He did as he was told and she knelt down beside him.

"So how does this work?" He asked as he stared at her ceiling.

"Pressure points." She said as she adjusted everything to make sure that he was comfortable. "Put your calf on my shoulder."

"What?"

"Booth." She groaned at his uncooperative nature.

"Fine." He said as he raised his leg. He watched in interest as her squinty face appeared. She looked so serious as she felt her way down his calf to his knee that he nearly started laughing. When her cursory examination was over, she began massaging his thigh. Booth wondered what rubbing his thigh was going to do for his back but almost instantly, he felt his muscles beginning to loosen. "Huh." He said as he relaxed.

"Feel that?" She asked.

"Mmhm." He said. Her hands moved lower down his thigh.

"Your skeletal system has been damaged so the muscles aren't going to stay where they are supposed to for very long but this should assist in the pain for a while." When she finished with his thigh, she moved to the next. Sure enough, the other half of his back melted into the floor.

"Magic." He muttered, half asleep.

"Science." She replied, unable to resist correcting him. "I'm going to take off your socks and work on your feet now." Booth's relaxed state immediately disappeared at her statement. Pressure points on his feet? That wasn't happening.

"Bones, you don't have to do that. That, that back stuff was more than enough." Brennan stared at him, mentally debating if she should fight him on this or not. He hoped that she would give him this one.

"It's okay. I know." She informed him, her tone comforting and understanding. "I'll be careful. Just relax." She reassured him, never mentioning the reason his feet were so delicate. He looked unsure for a moment but her next words sealed his fate. "I would never do anything that I thought might hurt you, Booth." This time, he was certain she meant for the sentence to have a double meaning. Booth took a deep breath.

God certainly knew how to test a man.

But Booth knew that if he wanted to rebuild the trust between them, this was the first step. He nodded once and Brennan moved so that she sat perpendicular to him. He watched as she laid his feet carefully in her lap but then he had to close his eyes. He waited for the inevitable pain that he had come to associate with his damaged feet.

Her touch started softly as she ran the pad of her finger over the skin on the top and bottom of his feet. He realized what she was doing almost immediately but he still couldn't believe it. He opened one eye.

"Are you x-raying my feet with your fingers?" He asked, only half-surprised with the notion that she could even do such a thing.

"I'm not x-raying anything, but yes, I suppose the idea is correct in theory. I'm feeling what I'm working with and forming a visual in my mind." She answered.

It was official: he was never going to stop being surprised by her talents.

She began applying pressure slowly: gingerly in certain areas, harder in others and Booth kept waiting for her to hit the rough patch that would send him flying in pain.

It never came.

In fact, it felt good.

Reallygood.

When he finally let himself relax and enjoy what she was doing, he found that it was over too quickly. She lowered his feet back to the floor and smiled as he opened his eyes.

"How do you feel?" She asked.

"Like I just had the best sex of my life." He said languidly as he looked up at her. "Where did you learn to do that?"

"I have a doctorate in Kinesiology." She reminded him. "While doing my research, I studied with a variety of rehabilitation clinics." Booth sat up in awe. No wonder he had never gotten over her; she truly was one of a kind in every way.

"You are, without a doubt, the most remarkable person I have ever met." He said, meaning every word. He watched as she glanced down at the floor, uncomfortable with the statement. "I'm serious, Bones. You're amazing. In every way." He added.

"You are too." She complimented him. "Except maybe in the sciences." She smiled, lightening the heavy feeling in the room.

"Did you just tell a joke?" He smiled.

"Well, I amamazing in every way." She reminded him.

"Hey, if we're pointing out flaws, you're not real good with the cultural references." He said, taking his statement back.

"I have three doctorates and knuckles with supposed supernatural capabilities and you're upset that I don't know when you're quoting a movie?"

"I'm just saying that you're deprived."

"Mm, maybe, but that's why I have you to teach me. You'll find that I'm an excellent student." She said. Her words affected him in a way he wasn't expecting. The smartest woman in the world was sitting next to him asking him to teach her.

She was amazing.

"Come here." Booth smiled as he motioned her closer with his head. Brennan happily moved closer, anticipating why he wanted her near. He kissed her softly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She replied. She looked at him for a moment, a serious look encroaching in her eyes.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I meant what I said earlier." She told him. Booth furrowed his eyebrows, unsure of what she was saying. "I would never intentionally hurt you." He sighed and nodded.

"I know. Me either." He told her. "But it's the unintentional part that gets us in trouble."

"I think I have a solution." She said quietly. He read the hesitance on her face and wasn't sure if he wanted to know the idea. "I function well on honesty. I like knowing where we stand, even if it hurts." Booth nodded, his heart squeezing a bit at just the memory of knowing where he stood with her before. "I want to know how you feel, what you're thinking, if I've done something that upsets you. I want to know where I stand with you." She said simply. "That's how I will know that I trust you again. I need honesty."

"Okay." Booth said, willing to do that for her.

"What do you need from me?" She asked, that rare, quiet, unsure voice of hers appearing once again. Booth thought seriously about her question, wanting to give the right answer.

"I need to know that you aren't going to push me away again." He started. "I don't want a relationship at arm's distance, Bones. I need to know that you aren't going to throw up your walls every time something gets hard." She mulled over what he had asked of her.

"I will make a sincere effort to try." She replied. "For a very long time, I was the only one taking care of me. I need time alone to process things, especially important things. I can't guarantee that that will change."

"Time alone is fine, Bones." He assured her. "Everyone needs that. You just have to let me know that the time and space is temporary. It scares me when you shut down. I don't know what you're thinking or what you're feeling."

"You don't know where you stand." She summed up, a look of understanding breaking through her features.

"Exactly." He said, relief washing over him.

Did they just finally find a way to meet each other halfway?

If he were completely honest with himself, he wasn't sure that he had ever really thought that was a possibility for them. He had always assumed that a relationship with her would be a constant battle with some really great moments sprinkled over the top. Suddenly, an entire universe of possibility was opening up.

They might actually be able to make this work.

"I know." Brennan smiled as Booth realized he had spoken the words out loud. "It's a strange thought."

"Really strange, but nice." He smiled.

"What about the FBI?" She asked, bringing their high moment back down to reality. Booth had considered the FBI thousands of times. He had consulted every manual, laid out the rules, and he had yet to find anything that could stop them from separating the pair.

Except for one thing.

"We'll have to go to them first so they don't think we're hiding anything." He said. "The only evidence we really have to persuade them is our solve rate. We're a good team, Bones. It would be in their best interest to keep us together."

"But it's in the rules." She said. "Why would the FBI make an exception for us?" She asked.

"Because we have a secret weapon." He said, a sly smile creeping onto his features.

"What's that?" She asked, not believing him for a second.

"Caroline." He grinned.