Hospital

She seemed to be floating. No, that wasn't right, not that humans could float of course she reminded herself. She just didn't feel, heavy, weighted down, like she usually did. Opening her eyes she saw the lab. She was standing on the platform, but it was empty. A voice wafted through the silence to her.

Bren, sweetie, please don't die. You're my best friend. If you die, who is going to correct me on the fact that only male peacocks have color? Her watery laugh broke slightly. Please Bren, I, I don't know what I'd do.

Angela's teary voice trailed off and the eerie silence ensued. She heard Hogins' voice next.

Hey Dr. B, I don't know if anyone told you, but the stuff in the glass, you were right about that. Anyways, I just want to tell you that all these years have been great. But, ya know, please don't cop out on us. I don't think the team would recover. Angela wouldn't. Did I tell you we're thinking of giving it another shot? So she needs you to get better so that you can be the Maid of Honor at our next wedding. Please, Dr. B.

She cocked her head, trying to determine where the voices were coming from. They seemed to be everywhere at once and why did they sound so heartbroken? She looked down and saw she was still in her dress from the party. The night's events came rushing back to her. The bodies, the clues, David, Marcus Welby, the room. That's why. She took a seat on the table in front of her to stop her spinning head. Cam's voice drifted in.

Look, Brennan, I know we didn't get off to the best start, but our team needs you. We, I, don't want another funeral. Please.

She tried to process what everyone was saying. Were her injuries that serious? She knew that she probably had some arterial damage, and her stomach, but it couldn't be that bad, could it? Her medical knowledge told her the answer. But certainly it couldn't be bad enough that she would die. She still had things to do, things to say. Panic rose in her throat, though she wasn't sure if even that was real anymore.

Bones, please.

The voice she had been waiting for broke through. It was all he said, but his pain reverberated around the empty lab every time he repeated it. She felt a weight on her right hand, though she was still the lone soul in this limbo of sorts. Someone was holding her hand again. And all she could think was, 'this is nice'.

She felt the twinges of pain first. The image of the lab around her started to dissolve and she found herself lying in a hospital gown, pain ripping through her gut. The airy weightlessness had been replaced with feeling too heavy for her own body. Her hand flexed unconsciously and her partner's head shot up, brought out of his exhausted daze by the slight movement. He looked up at her face which was now turned towards him. It took him a moment to register that her eyes were open before he was suddenly grinning like a mad man, letting out a shout of joy before enveloping her shoulders in a crushing hug. He was careful of her injuries and his own (you can't just slam into doors without any pain he discovered) as he babbled in her ear about everything that had happened since she had passed out.

"Booth," she tried stopping his excited rambling to no avail.

"Bones, we were so worried, you, you wouldn't wake up, and then the doctors said that it would take time, but we didn't know how long and-." She tried again to interrupt him.

"You pulled through, the doctors, they were amazed. I knew you would, but, god Bones, it's just so good to have you back!" With that, he hugged her again, laughter bubbling up in his throat.

"Booth," she said stronger, finally catching his attention. His laughter died when he heard thinly veiled fear in her voice.

"Bones, what is it," he asked, leaning back to look into her panic-stricken eyes.

"I can't feel my legs."

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Hands up for everyone who thought a love declaration was happening! Sorry, love isn't that easy, but we'll get there, I promise! In the meantime, let me know what you think!