Disclaimer-still not mine

Here With Me

Brennan sat on her sofa. She was glad to be home, however much she had wanted to head straight back to the Jeffersonian. Booth was on the phone ordering take out. She smiled at the domesticity of it all. A few years ago she would never of dreamed of having Booth on her apartment ordering food. She heard him end the call as she rested her head against the sofa.

"Bones, I ordered the usual. Is that ok?" He returned to the living room to see Brennan dozing lightly. Her head rested on the back of the sofa, allowing him to take a good look at the bruises on her neck. She was oblivious to his stares as she quietly dozed. He sucked in a lung full of air as he saw the edge of the cut along her neck and the bruising that wasn't quite covered by the dressing. He had never hated Taffet more than he did in that moment. Sighing he set the phone back on the coffee table in front of Brennan as she stirred.

"Did you order take out?" Brennan stretched and immediately regretted it.

"Yeah" He sat next to her, careful not to crowd her.

"Booth" Brennan was now fully awake. "What is it?" She knew him well enough to know when he was worried. She rested her hand on top of his as he sighed.

"Cam called." She nodded as he spoke "Caroline has been to the Jeffersonian. She says Taffet got shot during her transfer from the prison vehicle to the actual prison"

Brennan held his gaze. She was unsure why she felt tearful. She certainly had no sympathy for the woman that had caused her and her friends so much pain and fear. She turned so she was facing Booth, pleased that he was now holding her hand.

"What else Booth?" She held his gaze. She knew there was more to be said. Booth nodded. He looked down at her hand now enveloped in his larger hand.

"Caroline thinks the gun man was Angela's father" Brennan wasn't surprised by the revelation and was about to say so when the doorbell rang. Booth stood announcing that he was paying for take out as Brennan watched him jump of the sofa to retrieve their food. She wondered why she missed the contact, she knew she was being irrational. But then she reasoned it wasn't everyday that she was almost murdered and her friend ended up in the ICU. She smiled as Booth returned with the take out.

"I didn't get any beer. Not a good idea with the pain killers and antibiotics you had from the ER" He began sorting the food out as she left the sofa to help him divide the food up between the plates.

"That's ok" She smiled slightly "I have coffee in the cupboard or juice in the fridge" She noticed how Booth eyed up her refridgerator. The explosion in her apartment seemed a lifetime ago. Around the time she realised she was in love with him. He returned his attention to dividing up the meal as Brennan looked for glasses and cutlery.

"I think it's a fair assumption. It is likely that he shot her" Brennan stated as she waited for the coffee to be ready.

"Why?" Booth was interested to know why she thought the guitarist would try to kill Taffet.

"He loves Angela" She answered simply "She's his only child. Anyone who hurts her is putting themselves in the firing line. This time literally" She poured the coffee as he carried the plates in to the lounge. "I mean I could see you acting in the same way if it was Parker" Booth clenched his jaw as she spoke. He knew he would have a hard time if his son was in danger but he also knew he almost wished it had been him that pulled the trigger. The thought of Bones lying on the floor clutching her throat.

"Not just for Parker" He placed his fork on the plate in front of him, suddenly no longer hungry. Brennan nodded, she held his gaze suddenly understanding what he was saying without words.

Cam was in her office going through various pieces of paperwork when Jack walked in unannounced. Cam looked up and smiled, setting the folder on her desk to the side.

"Hi. How's Angela?" Cam asked as jack reached her desk.

"Hi, she's doing good. They are going to move her from the ICU later today" He smiled. It really had been a close call.

"That's great Dr Hodgins" Cam smiled. She had been really worried about the forensic artist. Jack leant against the sofa opposite her desk.

"Yeah" He smiled slightly "I just wanted to say thanks. Um, I know Caroline thinks Taffet was shot by Ang's dad but there's no way. I mean there is no way he would risk going to prison. Ending up on Death Row. Not now" He smiled. He knew he was a terrible liar but he had to put the seed of doubt in to people's heads.

Cam nodded "Ok" She smiled as a thought occurred to her "Why not now? You said there was no way he'd risk it. Not now." She smiled. She knew she had Jack on the run. "Oh my, Angela's not pregnant? Is she?"

Jack smiled and shook his head "No, well not yet" He pushed himself away from the sofa. "But Dr. Saroyan I'd appreciate if you kept that piece of information to yourself for now" He watched as she nodded. He was still smiling as he left the office and headed out of the Jeffersonian. He pulled out his cell phone and called Angela.

"Honey? Yeah I think she bought it. Don't worry." He paused, watching the traffic speed past him as he reached the road.

"Look, your Dad is back on the plane to Texas as we speak. Just concentrate on getting well." He smiled. "Yeah Ang. I love you too" He put the cell phone back in his pocket as he crossed the road.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Angela's father looked at the ticket in his hand. He had to get back to Texas, the band had a gig. He knew the guys in the band wouldn't mind if he wasn't there in the circumstances but Angela had insisted he went. He decided he would play the gig and return to Washington. He knew the police and the FBI would want to talk to him. He was the logical suspect. Max Keenan had a watertight alibi. He didn't. Shaking his head he put the ticket back in his pocket. He turned and walked back to the cab rank where his beloved Harley Davidson was parked illegally.

"I dun run away from nothing" He muttered to himself as he got on the bike and road off in the direction of the Jeffersonian.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Brennan was exhausted. The plates were cleared away and she was sure Booth would rather go home than stay with her. She sighed as she wiped her hands on a towel.

"Booth" She folded her arms across her chest as she spoke. Booth put the last plates back in her cupboard before turning to her.

"Before you say anything" Booth closed the gap between them as she stared at a spot on his white shirt. "I'm staying here tonight. I promised I wont leave. I keep my promises Bones" He touched her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

"You don't have to. I'll be fine if you go" She held his gaze. Suddenly very aware that he was only inches away from her.

"Yeah, I think you will" He smiled slightly "But I don't think I would be" Brennan could feel his breath on her face as he spoke. She knew she just had to stand slightly on her toes to close the gap. Booth could feel his heart practically beating out of his chest as he realised the same thing. She smiled slightly as she reached up and kissed him. Booth pulled away.

"Bones" He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. Bones had just kissed him. His Bones had kissed him. He couldn't really believe it. His arms found his way to her waist. "I'll stay Bones, but you need to know I'm not expecting anything. Nothing has to happen" He had to make her know that he would never intentionally hurt her. Brennan smiled.

"I know. I just need to know you're here with me" Brennan smiled as he nodded before drawing her closer to him and burying his head in her neck whispering "Always Bones, always"

authors note - just one more chapter left - the epilogue. Please let me know what you think.