The first time Booth didn't answer his phone, Brennan felt like she was being smothered. The second time her stomach turned with pure sour acid. The third sent her in such a dizzying panic her vision blurred. No. Something was terribly wrong. Collins had struck again. Images of Booth powerless and bleeding to death flashed vividly through her mind. She flew from her desk to her office door, nearly forgetting to grab such vital items as her coat and purse. Rapidly she sought out Angela in the lab and pulled her side. "I need your car keys! I have to borrow your car!"

"What? Why? Brennan, you look like you've seen a ghost."

"Booth's in danger!" Her voice hit a high note. "I have to… I have to get to him! He doesn't understand. Collins wants to kill him, not me! And I can't reach him! He's not answering his phone."

Angela led her best friend back towards her office. "Okay. But shouldn't you be calling the police or the FBI?"

"When he dropped me off he was headed for the bureau. I plan to search for him there. If I am unable to find him I will report to Hacker." Only she hoped it wouldn't come to that. "Keys, Ange! Please!"

Angela withdrew them from her purse. "Be careful, sweetie."

Brennan barely thanked her before she was out the door on her way. Traffic left her feeling frustrated. Her emotions were on the very cusp and ready to spill over at any time. All the while she still attempted to get Booth on the phone. He simply was unreachable. It was a Godsend she reached the bureau without endangering herself or any other motorists.

From floor to floor she rushed until she came across his office. To her relief he was seated at his desk. Sweets was sitting directly in front of him. They appeared to her to be in a deep discussion. And yet she could have cared less. She burst through the door so hard the glass window paneling nearly cracked as it hit the wall. She stood before the two of them exhaling harsh breaths. Then, "why aren't you answering your phone?"

Booth jumped. "The battery died. I have it charging." He pointed to a wall outlet where, sure enough, a power source was attached to his phone. "I figured everyone knew I was in the office so they could just reach me on my office phone if they needed anything." His eyes ran over her. "I'm sorry?" He added in more of a confused voice than an apologetic.

Though her heart settled her fright and sorrow refused. A tear slipped down her cheek as she uncharacteristically attached herself to him, her arms encircling his shoulders. Booth held her close, affectionately stroking her back. "Sweets, why don't give us a moment?"

"Sure." He was just as baffled as his friend. Quietly he slipped from the office.

"Bones? What happened? Hey." He tilted her chin so she'd be forced to look him in the eyes. "Talk to me."

"He's after you, Booth." Her voice was so strained it was difficult for her to speak clearly. Mutely she was able to hand him her phone without loosening her hold. He flipped through the messages himself. "There's nothing in here that's a specific threat to me."

""Little problem?" Booth, he's referring to you."

Booth continued to expertly study the screen. "But there's no proof, Bones. It's not an outright threat to me, or my life. We can't even determine for sure if its him, since he got his information blocked."

She couldn't believe what he was saying. "Booth! It's him!"

"I know that. But if we were to report this, this is the sort of information we need. My name isn't specifically mentioned. There's no mention of violence. A jury could perceive this as being a series of friendly messages. I know we know better but that's just the way it is." He sighed. "Look, we'll take it to Hacker. Maybe the boys down in the bureau lab or Angela can do some sort of hacker magic and get proof that he's responsible for the messages. And then, lets just call it a day, all right?" He kissed her. "Lets just go home."

"Do you think we should get a restraining order?"

He hesitated. "We can. But do you really think a court ordered piece of paper is going to stop him? A guy like him… he'll laugh at that. It may even escalate the situation. He might feel he needs to retaliate. Look, lets just go home and think stuff over."

And so they did, but not before stopping to speak with Hacker. Brennan was irritated to have him make the same points as Booth had. Still, the incident was brought attention to. From there they returned Angela's car to the Jeffersonian. She accepted Brennan's phone with a less than optimistic attitude. "I'll see what I can do," is all she promised.

They journeyed home sharing a defeated attitude. They trumped into his apartment. Booth hung up his coat and assisted her with hers. "I think I'm going to lay down for a bit."

She raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I thought you wanted to talk?"

"I do. But I want to rest and think. I need to get some things straight in my head."

"Okay." She agreed, wanting for all the world to insist he not leave her. It wasn't because of a fear of Collins. She just craved his presence. Instead she watched him retreat into the privacy of his bedroom. Since he remained in view she allowed herself the treat of watching him undress. She felt a stirring inside her in looking over his finely muscled body. Nothing like an abuser to ruin the mood.

She laid herself down on his couch. For a distraction she opened a book and began to read. It wasn't long before she too, fell asleep.

Brennan's voice echoed off the walls. "No! Stop!" She tried to move forward but was restrained by invisible sources. "Don't hurt him!"

Booth was laying on the floor damn near swimming in his own pool of blood. His eyes were hazy. He panted the breaths of a man dying from murder. Collins stood over him still clutching a hunting knife. The same knife that was effectively ending Booth's life.

"Get him help!" She demanded stupidly. As if Collins would do such a thing. "Please. I'll do anything! I'll go with you! Just save him!"

For the first time her former dangerous lover turned to face her. "Anything, huh?" He strode over to her, the sounds of his boots beating a frightening rhythm into her ears. She was feeble as he backed her up against a wall. There he secured her. "Anything," he whispered again to her lips. His open palm stroked her stomach. "You're mine now."

Brennan woke to cheeks stiff from her dried tears. She sat up abruptly. The darkness was unrecognizable to her. Oh no. Had her dream been a reality? Off the couch she stumbled to her feet to see no, she was still in the warmth of Booth's apartment. Only she'd napped straight into the evening. She flicked on a lamp and basked in its glow. Then she paused to listen. The air was too quiet. Where was Booth?

She tip toed into the bedroom to find him still sound asleep. Her dream flashed back to her with startling realism. Down besides him she sat down. "Booth? Are you awake?" When he didn't answer her anxiety grew. "Booth?" She shook him hard, bouncing up and down on the mattress. "Are you awake?"

"I am now! Geez, Bones."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I thought you had slept long enough and I wanted to speak with you. I want to find a new place to live. For the both of us."

Unintelligibly, he muttered, "huh? Look I'm not all that awake yet."

"I. WANT. TO. FIND. A. NEW. PLACE. FOR. THE. BOTH. OF. US. TO. LIVE. IN."

Booth sat up. He turned on the light next to his bed. "But you said you didn't want to. You weren't ready for it." He reminded her.

"I… I only said no because I have been questioning the decision I've made allowing you to take over such responsibility of my life. This is my fault I am in this position, Booth." She lowered her gaze. She just so happened to notice his knife scar. "You were hurt because of me. You nearly lost your life."

"Not because of you." He insisted. "I volunteered, remember? Collins may have come after me regardless since we're partners. You can't let that affect you so much."

She laid a hand on his chest. "But it does. You could have been killed. I'm having a hard time in trying to allow myself to be all right with that knowledge. If anything happens to you-"

"If anything happened to you I'd never forgive myself."

"That's precisely how I feel."

He covered her hand with his, keeping it balanced over his heart. "Bones, I know what we're dealing with. I've seen this more than a few times. I can't not be here. I can't not do what I can to protect you and this child."

"I understand that. But I am struggling with the decision in letting you take responsibility for her. It isn't fair."

"It is fair. I love you. Whether it's my kid or not I can't just walk away. I love you too much for that."

A lump formed in her throat. She did her best to swallow it away. "I love you too, Booth. I wasn't trying to be mean or hurt you. I just want what's best for you. I want you to be safe."

He gave her a lop sided smile. "You can't know what's best for me any more than I can. I'm keeping myself as safe as I can under the circumstances. This is my life. And I'm choosing, okay? Me. I'm choosing to spend it with you."

His words touched a nerve. She couldn't help but to cry. "I don't know why." Through those tears she laughed. "I'm a mess."

"Hormones."

"My terrible decisions have put us in this predicament."

"You couldn't have known. Stop blaming yourself. Come here." He laid down and brought her down besides him. She wrapped an arm around his chest. "I'm so sorry, Booth."

He kissed her apology away. "Stop with that, all right?"

Though he'd pulled away to speak she wasn't willing to end the moment so easily. She kissed him again with the force of passion behind her. Her fingernails lightly traced his skin in a caressing motion. His breath hitched. "You shouldn't be doing that," he whispered. "Unless you want to start trouble."

"I want to start trouble." She promised. Laughing she let him push her onto her back so he could balance himself over her, being sure not to press his weight down against her growing stomach. "You asked for it."

They made love all while being unaware that somehow, someway, their intimate moment was not theirs alone. Someone was watching them.