Brennan tucked her feet underneath her body, nervously gripping a throw pillow to her chest. She sighed, no longer crying. It was embarrassing really, all the crying that she had been doing lately. She didn't know what had come over her.

Maybe it was the fact that she'd been brutally attacked by a serial killer twice in one week. As strong as she usually she was, she had to admit that was pretty scary, even for her.

She looked up, immediately meeting Booth's warm eyes. They had been sitting there for about 5 minutes, and still she hadn't said a word. She was afraid and she hated herself for it.

"Bones."

Biting down on her bottom lip in a way that drove Booth crazy, she looked at him unsurely. Her eyes looked sad, and Booth could hardly look at her. Every single time he looked at her, he felt even guiltier.

He hadn't been there for her. He hadn't protected her. This was his fault.

"Ok, I'm going to tell you, but you can't yell at me anymore. Promise."

"I promise."

"Last week, after the case, about the little boy,"

"Charlie McMiller."

"Yes, I was in the parking lot, and then he came up behind me…"

Brennan stopped reluctantly; she looked at him pleadingly, as if she wished he wouldn't care so much.

I can't do this. I don't want to remember it anymore.

Booth slipped his hand gently over hers, squeezing it reassuringly.

"Go on Bones."

"He came up behind me…and I tried to run away, but he slammed my head against my car."

"That's why you had the bruises."

She nodded, continuing in close to a whisper.

"He told me that he wasn't going to kill me, but if I told anyone, he'd kill me. That he wouldn't think twice. Then he cut my other arm, and he disappeared."

"Did you see his face?"

She shook her head.

"No, but there's something else I have to tell you."

"What?"

"You know the bodies, the one's we found."

"The serial killer?"

"It's him Booth. And I'm afraid that when Angela does the reconstructions, they're all going to look like me. I'm afraid that he's going to kill me."

"Are you sure it's him Bones?"

Great. Not only was she attacked, but I let her become a victim of a serial killer. This is my fault. I should have seen what was happening.

"I'm positive. He told me."

Booth frowned.

"What do you mean he told you?"

"Yesterday, after we got back from the scene, he called me. Asking me if I'd found the bodies, and then he hung up. And he left a photo in my desk."

"Of what?"

She swallowed, breathing in deeply, trying to regain her composure before she started crying again. Booth would probably never look at her the same way.

"You and me. On the back he wrote, 'don't say a word'. Booth, if he finds out that I told you, he's going to kill me."

"You're not going to die Bones, I promise."

She looked down, concentrating hard on the complicated pattern on the throw pillow she was still clutching, trying to focus anywhere except on Booth's eyes.

"Booth, I don't want you to have to worry about me. I'm not your responsibility."

He smiled at her. "You're my partner Bones, so technically, you are."

"If you start an investigation on my attacks, he's going to know that you know. He probably already knows. You can't do anything out of the ordinary."

Would me kissing you be out of the ordinary? Jeez, where did that come from? This is Bones I'm thinking about, and we're talking about her being attacked by a serial killer. I really need to get my priorities straight.

"I promise you this, that once we find this bastard, I am going to personally kick his ass for doing this to you."

She smiled, trying not to think about the fact that she would have to go back to her own apartment in a matter of time. Booth was probably dieing to get rid of her.

"Thanks, I think."

He flashed her a wide grin that was hard to resist. She smiled back at him, feeling a hell of a lot better then she had been feeling lately. She hadn't ever felt more alone this past week.

"Bones, I don't know why you didn't tell me."

"I couldn't Booth. It's hard to understand."

"You know that I'll always be there for you Bones."

I know, that's the worst part. You care too much. That's why it felt so horrible lying to you.

She nodded, biting down on her lip again. Why did Booth always have to say the right thing, and she never had anything to say. It was the most frustrating feeling in the world.

"Anyways, you're going to be staying here with me and Parker, until we find whoever this asshole is."

She raised her eyebrows; a teasing smiled dancing across her lips.

"Isn't that my decision?"

"In this situation? No. I'll do what needs to be done to keep you safe Bones."

"Are you sure? You aren't going to get tired of having me around all the time?"

He playfully shook her shoulders.

"Bones, who could get tired of you?"

"I'm pretty sure you're making fun of me, and it's not very nice."

"Do you wanna go to the zoo Dr. Bones?"

Brennan turned to see Parker tapping her knee fervently, a big grin spread across his face.

"What?"

"The zoo, where all the animals goes. Daddy said he'd take me, so now you can go too!"

I feel horrible, taking Booth's time with Parker. I shouldn't interfere with their relationship, I'll probably just screw it up like I do with every relationship.

Booth still had his arm around her shoulders, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Brennan. She turned to face him, question on her face.

"Is that ok? I don't want to take up you're time with Parker."

She's so sweet and she doesn't even know it.

"Are you kidding? He loves you Bones."

"When are we going to the zoo Parker?"

His small hands grabbed her knees as he bounced up in down in celebration.

"Hooray!! Dr. Bones you're coming! We can see the koalas, and the polars bears, and the parrots, and the seals, and the tigers, and everythings!"

"Buddy why don't you go and get dressed, and then we can all go."

"Ok Daddy."

Parker skipped across the apartment, singing something along the lines of "polars bears and koalas are my favorite".

Brennan smiled at the little boy, who was so much like his father, it was incredible.

"I hope that's ok Bones. I promised him we'd go."

"I really don't have any choice do I?"

"I guess not."

"I do love the zoo though."

"So do I."

He smiled at her, both of them suddenly very aware of how close their faces were. It felt right as they leaned closer, Booth tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, making her smile. For a second, it felt like they were the only ones that existed…