A/N: Thanks to those of you who replied to my request for info about TBI, especially psychosnicket!

When Melissa returned, Brennan's hand was still firmly clasped in Booth's.

She cleared her throat and hesitantly asked, "Are we ready to continue?"

Bones nodded.

Melissa spent the next forty-five minutes doing range of motion and strengthening exercises. Booth squeezed his eyes shut every time that Bones winced in pain.

"It's just from the surgery," Bones whispered to him.

Booth nodded and attempted his smile. It saddened him to think that it would most likely get more painful from here on out. When Melissa's hour was complete, Bones looked exhausted – and despondent. Booth was wondering if she was remember how she used to run regular and – how had she put it – possessed a great deal of natural athletic ability.

"One day at a time, Bones. One day at a time."

Bones nodded soberly.

"I have to go back to work tomorrow," Booth said sadly.

Booth had considered using his vacation days to spend with Bones in the hospital, but he knew Parker would be disappointed if they didn't spend their usual long weekend at the New Jersey shore this summer. He also figured that Bones would need help when she was finally released from the rehab.

Bones, "Of course, you've already missed several days of work."

"Just three," he said, "But, I will be here every day for lunch, and after work, I will bring dinner and hang out for a while. This weekend, I have Parker, so I can bring him in to visit."

"That would be nice, but you don't have to feel obligated to spend so much time with me."

"I don't feel obligated, Bones," Booth said firmly, "friends visit one another when they're in hospital; that's what friends do."

Bones nodded, conceding to Booth's expertise on the subject. In her adult life, she'd only had the opportunity to visit two people in the hospital: Booth and Hannah. When Booth had been in a coma, she'd spent every waking minute at his bedside, until, of course, he woke up and thought she was his wife.

Not surprisingly, Booth was true to his word and arrived at noon to bring lunch and at six, occasionally later, with dinner. Each night he reluctantly went home around nine, leaving Bones with the capable nurses.

When he arrived with dinner on Thursday, Max was at Bones' bedside. Booth smiled to see that she was sitting up in bed and looking more like his Bones, thanks, in part, to his daily milk shake deliveries.

"Hey, Max," Booth greeted cheerfully, "I didn't know you'd be here, or I'd have brought you some dinner."

Max smiled. When she was feeling better, he would have to have a conversation with his daughter about her relationship with Booth – what it is and what it ought to be.

"Oh, I was just on my way out," Max said as he leaned to give his daughter a kiss,

"I will see you tomorrow before the move."

"Move?" Booth asked.

"Tempe is being transferred to the rehab tomorrow," Max announced.

Bones flashed her father an admonishing look, intimating that she was capable of speaking for herself.

"Wow, that's great, Bones! Movin' up in the world. I can go into work late and help you pack and move your stuff."

"Dad can do that; there's no need for you to take off from work."

"Max'll need help moving all this stuff, right, Max?" Booth asked.

During her week in the hospital, Booth had filled Bones' room with flowers and balloons.

"The more the merrier," Max replied nervously.

Booth flashed Max an appreciative grin, while Bones simply rolled her eyes.

"I don't think that two able bodied men are needed to move some balloons and flowers, but if you insist."

"Bye, sweetheart, sleep well. Don't let Booth keep you up too late," he joked.

As the sound of Max's footsteps grew softer, Bones turned her attention back to Booth.

"I brought Thai," he said in a sing songy voice.

"Thanks," Bones said before adding, "for everything you've done."

"It's the least I could do," Booth said.

"I never understood that saying," Bones replied, "The least you can do is always nothing."

Booth chuckled and pushed the bag of takeout in Bones' direction, "Let's eat."

Two days later

Bones sat up in bed, aimlessly flipping through the channels when she heard a familiar voice echoing down the hallway.

"Slow down, Parker!"

A moment later, the blonde haired boy came bounding into Brennan's room, the gift bag he carried bouncing against his leg.

"Hey, Bones!" he said cheerfully, "This place is pretty cool. If I break my arm, you think I could stay here too?"

Bones chuckled, "No, Parker. I don't think so."

"Hey, Bones. Parks, did you give Bones her present?"

"Oh," Parker said thrusting the gift bag in Brennan's direction.

Brennan pushed away the tissue paper and lifted a smiling stuffed pig out of the bag.

"Dad said you could call him Jasper," Parker piped up.

Bones looked in Booth's direction, and he smiled as he saw recognition of the shared memory flash across her face.

"Thank you," Bones said letting the fluffy stuffed pig rest on her lap.

"How are you feelin' Bones?"

"Significantly better than a week ago," Bones said with a playful smile, "Thank you for coming to visit me Parker."

"And thank you for my gift," Bones added, looking at Parker's father rather than Parker.

"You're welcome," both Booths said in unison.

"Do you need anything, Bones? Water? Ice?" Booth asked before taking a seat.

"Water would be great, actually. Thank you."

"No problem. Wanna come with me, bub?" Booth asked Parker.

"No," he replied resolutely, "I was to stay with Bones."

Parker looked over a Bones for permission, which she granted with a nod.

"Okay, keep an eye on her, Parks."

Bones was about to protest when Booth winked at her. She merely shook her head.

As soon as Booth exited, Parker asked, "Can I sit on the bed with you?"

He eyes shone brightly as he eagerly asked his question.

"Sure," Bones replied, and Parker immediately scrambled into the bed beside her.

"Dad and Hannah broke up," Parker said nonchalantly.

"Yes, I know. I'm sure you miss her."

Parker shrugged, "She was nice, but I think I like things better without her."

"Do you think your dad is sad that she's gone?" Bones probed.

"Maybe a little. He isn't even close to as sad as he was when you and him broke up," Parker pronounced.

"Oh!" a startled Bones exclaimed, "Parker, your father and I were never a couple – just really good friends,"

Parker looked at her with narrowed eyes, considering her statement.

"I thought you broke up with my dad before he went to Afghanistan."

Bones shook her head.

"If you weren't dating, then why did I only get to see you a couple of times when Dad was dating Hannah?"

Bones sighed, "Your dad was spending a lot of time with Hannah, because they were in a new relationship."

"Yeah, I guess, but I didn't even meet Hannah until they'd been living together for a long time."

"I don't know, Parker. I am sure your dad had his reasons for waiting to introduce you to Hannah."

"Yeah, maybe. Now that Dad isn't dating Hannah, I think that you and Dad should date. You're already real good friends and spend a lot of time together," Parker said, smiling broadly at the idea.

"Yes, we do, but your dad just broke up with Hannah. I am sure he needs some time."

"After he's had some time, then you could date," Parker amended.

"Yeah, maybe," Bones replied her lips curling up in a small smile.

"I'd like that," Parker said, snuggling against her closely.

Very softly, Bones added, "Me too."