I don't own Gray's Anatomy, ABC, or any affiliated entity.

-Chapter 10-

She lowered her head down to rest on his chest. He kept his arm around her, holding her as tightly as he could without hurting her to much. It hurt both of them so much to be in the position they were, but they needed this, they needed each other.

Booth closed his eyes. Partly from pain, partly to hide his eyes welling with tears of joy at seeing her alive. Alive! She's Alive! He was giddy with joy. He decided that he had to tell her. That if he didn't he might not ever be able to. Like's short, who knows what could happen?

"Temperance?" He said weakly, the pain was getting to him. She looked into his eyes. Feeling her gaze he opened them. His eyes were full of emotion and tears were welling up in them.

"Yes Seeley?" She asked, her voice was shaky, at the brink of crying.

"I mean this. Don't push away because I would never leave you." He emphasized the 'never'. "Temperance, I… I love you." Booth watched her for a reaction.

Her face scrunched up in concentration. Her eyes clouded. He started to panic. She was going to push him away, turn him down. Great Seeley! You just ruined your partnership. But she said she liked my CD, was she joking or did she mean it. Argh! I'm such a moron, why did I tell her! I couldn't have kept it to my self for much longer. Besides, you were going to tell her, or show her your feelings. The CD, was that only yesterday? Wow.

Brennan's mind, and stomach, wheeled. He… He loves me? No. He probably just needs the release of endorphins from sex. No. No one loves me and everyone leaves me. He's just lying or confused. It's probably just the drugs… No it's not, and you know it. He cares about you, a lot. Just think when has he NOT been there for you? How many times WAS he there for you? Kenton, New Orleans, my mother, my father and brother, the Gravedigger… He's always been there for you, and probably all ways will. No, he'll leave just like everyone else. He wouldn't. But do I love him? She pondered this, unaware of the look of panic on Booth's face. She decided.

"I love you too Seeley." Booth's heart rate increased, by a lot. He couldn't believe it. She loves me too! He felt like a teenager. Alright, Booth. Tone it down a bit.

They were so engrossed with each other they didn't notice the surgeon enter the room. Dr. Miranda Bailey stood waiting, at first impatiently, but eventually patiently for the two patients to let go of each other.

"Uhum…" She interrupted Brennan picked her had up from Booth's chest and looked behind her. A short, black, doctor in surgical scrubs stood in the back of the room by the door.

"Thank you. Now, Mr. Booth and…" She tried to remember the person he had been roaring about the night before… Brennan. Dr. Brennan. "… Dr. Brennan?" The woman nodded.

"Alright; we removed the bullet from both of your wounds and repaired the muscle in your stomach. However, we didn't do anything but remove the bullet from your shoulder. The muscles and tendons in the area of the wound are extremely important to arm movement so we let them be for now. However, you'll want to see our resident orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Torre… Dr. O'Malley who will be doing the re-constructive surgery to the muscles." Booth and Brennan nodded.

"Oh, and Agent? Don't try getting up and walking around again." Booth mumbled and broke eye contact. That was one intimidating doctor… Bailey left, leaving them alone.

"When did you try getting up and walking?" Brennan asked, disbelief that he'd try something like that obvious in her voice.

"A… A nurse came in earlier this morning and mistakenly told me that… that you'd d… died in surgery last night." He finished, stopping himself from crying. "I had to see, because… I couldn't imagine my life without you." He was crying. She was able to pull herself up to sit on the edge of the hospital bed. She laid her head down on his good shoulder, careful not to touch his bandaged abdomen. Speaking of abdomen… She had just really noticed Booth's muscular torso. She rested her head on his shoulder. His arm wrapped tightly around her.