Hey there, how are all the Aussies out there enjoying the long weekend? :) I'm heading home from my cousin's engagement party. I'm tired. High on coffee and ginger beer. And having loads of fun. I'm in the mood to write :P

Thanks hugely to EverythingEventually027 and nertooold54. The reviews are awesome. Keep letting me know how I'm doing guys! ;D

By the way… my birthday is this Tuesday! I think by now that's tomorrow so… I might be a bit busy hiding from everyone so expect a chapter in a few days.

The shock was still settling deep in Brennan's bones. She was pretty sure she just gave her partner whom she loved a huge whack to the head. Did she?

She had to drag herself out of her bathroom and out of the fear that had her frozen. She didn't know why she was afraid. It was probably the lasting adrenaline or the fact that she was lost for what to do next. What would she do now? Did she go out there and help her partner up off the floor, then escort him out of her apartment? Or should she let him stay? Should she be a coward and lock herself in her own bathroom, until he got up and left?

No. Doctor Brennan knew she was not a coward. She had done so many things that were considered courageous, usually with Booth by her side or just to help Booth. But this would help Booth.

She had to help the man in her kitchen, but would she let him stay? What would be the extent of her "helping him"? She contemplated that.

Brennan let the lukewarm water run over her body. If only she could relax. But the burning sensation on her skin had escaped her. She shivered. Then turned off the taps and quickly towel dried her still clothed body. She cautiously exited the bathroom.

Her wet feet plopped down the small hallway. She froze and drew in a sharp breath. Her ears attuned to the sound once again. A groan. And it was coming from her kitchen floor. She heard it once more after some deep, raspy breaths.

"Bones?"

He was calling for her! She wasn't sure if he was mad at her or seeking help. Or a combination of both.

But she couldn't stop the overwhelming sensation that she had to go help him. She had done this to him. She had hurt him!

Brennan crouched down beside her partner and checked his breathing. It was there, she didn't imagine the groaning. And she knew that it was real. He huffed and his eyes fluttered open.

"Hey, Booth. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I apologize for my foolishness and lack of proper judgment." Brennan lent down as best she could to hug him. But it was not easily possible. Booth tried to get himself up, but he was disoriented and in shock.

"Wha… what am I doing on your floor Bones!" he started to panic. Then his body slumped again and he looked confused. "I'm… on your floor? I have… um, yes… I think I have a headache…"

It looked like her partner had sustained concussion. He couldn't stay lying down; he would be in danger of falling asleep. Bones couldn't let that happen.

"Here, let me help you. Come to the couch with me, hey? You'll be fine."

It took all of Bones' strength to get him sitting up. She needed to get frozen peas for his head.

When she returned from the freezer Booth was halfway to lying down.

Brennan sat on the couch next to him and shoved with all her might to get him sitting up next to her.

Booth tried to speak. "Bones… my Bones… do you think… I think… I think I'm getting… um, thirsty?" The peas swayed as he was tiring.

Brennan. "Sure. Do you want me to keep making that coffee? Sorry I interrupted you. You frightened me."

Booth nodded. Brennan rose and in record time she was picking up the kettle - it was O.K. after all; the crack had not actually gone right through – and resumed making the coffee. She returned with two hot beverages and sat down, handing one of them to her partner.

"You're sure that it's okay? I'm sorry Booth, I should have contemplated the fact that you would come for me. I hope you didn't hit the injured are of you parietal, another brain tumor would not be very good for you again. Are you in any pain?" Brennan was concerned, and she had to admit she had no idea what to do.

"Hey Bones I'm alright. It's okay, no need to be sorry, I shouldn't have scared you. All this clothing I'm wearing helped to soften the fall, my back doesn't hurt that much." Booth was only concerned for his partner, he would be alright. His back was aching like a bitch but he didn't want her to worry.

She gave him a half-hearted smile and sipped her coffee. "I still feel responsible Booth."

Booth knew that, in a way, she was responsible for hitting him over the head with her gun. She did in fact do it, but Booth really thought he was at fault. He scared her, and he remembered a lifetime ago when they were arguing in the Hoover building, he grabbed her and she struck him. But that wasn't her fault either. He thought that was what Bones does, she retaliates. She doesn't have a sanctuary in her life, a safe place with someone safe to go there with. She has told him that she believes that everyone special in her life leaves, but that's not her fault. That's not even true. Booth thought with a frown. His mind was going haywire, he sounded like a psychologist. But he knew that however silly his thoughts sounded, he wanted to be that person Bones could go to a safe place with. To be happy with. He wanted to be in her life forever.

"- so I really appreciate you coming in to see how I am Booth, but how is it you know I was home at this hour? And what brings you here?" Bones started to question him, casually drinking down her coffee.

Booth was unsure where this conversation was going. "Um, Bones. I… uh, I'd rather not talk about it. I think there are some things that don't include me, this is for you and Angela to sort out. I'm sorry."

Brennan's face was overcome with sadness and regret. "I'm sorry that you had to hear about that. Is that why you came to see me? To get my side of it? Because you're right. I don't want to talk about it."

"Bones, I'm sorry that you guys had an argument, but you can talk to me. Your opinion is your business, and I respect that. But I'm here for you."

Bones sat quietly for a bit, Booth watched her thinking. He thought she looked so beautiful, even now when she was in a wreck. He listened intently when she started to talk, to trust him. Her walls were down at the moment, she was not being as rational as usual. But his Bones is unpredictable.

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder when her eyes glistened with tears, and one ran down her cheek. As she kept talking, he snaked his arm around her shoulders. She seemed comforted by his protecting presence. He tried to input appropriately, supporting his best friend and consoling her. To be truthful he hated it when Brennan and Angela had a fight, but he had to be there for his partner until he made up. He didn't want to take sides at all, but his partner needed his support.

When she was finished explaining what happened to her, and she had told him how sad she was that she felt like no one would ever be there for her forever that she could trust, Booth would have told her that he could be that person.

He just couldn't find the words.

Booth put his other arm around his partner and embraced her in a hug. It was then that Bones pulled away uncomfortably.

She turned away ashamed, Booth was confused.

"What's wrong Bones?"

Brennan let the tears fall.

"I don't think it's right for you to care about me, Booth, to help me. I don't think I deserve this, I don't deserve you. The way we used to be, how we used to be so happy, it's not that simple anymore. I don't think you should try and do this, I don't deserve to be in your arms."

Booths heart broke at her words. He placed a finger to her lips to silence her.

"Bones, you got to stop thinking stuff like that. There's no way, no way in the world, that you wouldn't deserve me. You are in many ways better than me, and don't try to argue with that. I know the real you, who you are behind these walls, and you amaze me. You're so intelligent and beautiful and so much more." He could swear he saw her cheeks darken in color. He was going to give her a hug, but she stopped his arms from enveloping her in joy.

"I just can't hug you, Booth. I'm sorry."

"Why?"

"It's just… I can't. It makes me feel like… well, look at it this way, you have someone. You have Hannah. And I don't have anyone. You're not mine to hold so I don't see why you should hold me."

"Are you serious? You think Hannah could have obstructed our guy hugs? Bones, some things are between us and that's okay."

"Could have…?"

"Um, yeah, that. She is no longer in my life. At all. It was a decision between us and she has gone back to Afghanistan. It didn't feel right with her anyway. I'm just here to support you."

"Oh. So you really broke up with her? Well, where does that leave you, how are you feeling? I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. In a way I feel… sort of… better. It's easier now."

The next part was so quiet that Booth could have missed it.

"Where does that leave us?"

Booth smiled. "Fate, Bones. Fate is what got us to where we are today and it is what lies ahead. You may not believe it, but I do. If you just want to sit here, that's okay."

So there it is :) sorry it took so long, I started this chapter Saturday and it is now Wednesday. I've been pretty busy, but at least it's finished :D

WOOOOO! I'm the big 1-5! Hehe … p.s., if you didn't get that, it was my birthday yesterday.

-rach :) Xoxoxo