It had been almost a month since Brennan had returned to work. Booth's memory had been improving gradually, but was still not quite like it used to be. He could remember the big things—his job, where he lived, and who his parents were, but he would forget little things, like where he kept his shaving cream, or the name of Parker's daycare.
In an effort to help him remember, Brennan dragged him to every familiar place she knew of. They re-visited several crime scenes, including the old warehouse in which Brennan had once been bound and gagged. Booth hovered over her protectively the entire time they were there, and was all too happy to leave, although he wasn't entirely sure why until she explained. They resumed their casual habit of eating out at the diner, although Booth didn't seem to remember that he liked the pie there.
Today they were at the cemetery, visiting Teddy Parker's grave. They'd brought a picnic lunch, and were simply enjoying each other's company. They lay down, gazing at the sky as Booth tried to explain the concept of cloud-watching to Brennan. "You stare at the cloud Bones, and see what kind of shapes you recognize." He explained.
"That's illogical. Clouds are nothing more than masses of particles, suspended at a considerable altitude, and they are incapable of forming specific recognizable shapes…"
"Bones, look, it's a femur! Look there—at the long skinny cloud. You do know what a femur is, don't you?" he grinned.
"Of course I do." She said indignantly. But a femur exhibits curvature at the proximal end…" she began.
"Bones, can you see how it looks similar to a femur? Shapes in the clouds aren't exact replicas. It takes a little imagination."
He sighed. "Bones, this is why I love you." He said smiling.
"You love me because I'm intelligent?" she asked.
"No Bones, you are brilliant, but it's your quirks that are endearing. How you may be able to understand quantum mechanics, but you can't get a rhinoceros from looking at the clouds up there. Things like that." He explained.
"I'm not sure I understand." She said thoughtfully.
"You don't have to. Love doesn't make sense." He said. "Wow, that was corny." Thought Booth.
"I'm not sure there is such a thing as love, Booth. There's lust, mutual satisfaction, but love?
He pulled her closer.
"How did you feel in the hospital, when you had to consider the possibility that I wouldn't make it through the surgery? How did you feel when you thought I'd been fatally shot? When I was kidnapped by the gravedigger?" he asked, praying that he hadn't gone too far.
He could see the horror in her eyes as she relived the moments in her mind. No, that was stupid, now she's upset. I'll fix it, I'll…"
Before he could think about what he was doing, he leaned down and captured her lips in a soft, tender kiss.
He broke away, afraid of what was coming. Instead, she asked thoughtfully, "How did you feel when you knew I'd been kidnapped, and then you found me, tied up in that warehouse?"
"Bones, I was terrified. I had to find you. I was imagining all the horrible things they were probably doing to you, and I wanted to get there as fast as I could. It was painful to think of losing you. It would have killed me." He finished, breathless.
She sat up, putting her hands on his face, and looking deep into his eyes. This time, she kissed him. It was slow, almost hesitant, and gentle, as if she were seeking affirmation. She whispered in his ear, "Techically, Booth, it wouldn't have killed…"
He cut her off. "Yes, Bones, truly it would have." And with that, his lips once again found hers. This time, she didn't argue.
