I am so so so so sorry for ignoring you for so long! *cries* I've just been having some bad time right now. Beginning to hate certain people right now but yes I will not leave it so long next time.

'Booth, I'm… I'm… sorry.' She stepped back and stroked his face gently, keeping her gaze fixed on his as he touched her hand.

'What for?' She dropped her gaze and he placed a finger under her chin, lifting her head up slightly.

'For being so weak.' She flushed a little, a spot of color rising from her cheeks to her cheekbones and under her eyes.

'Bones, for what's happened to you, you're being so strong.' He kissed her softly. 'You're my inspiration.' She felt her eyes welling up, and rapidly blinked the tears away, squeezing the top of Booth's arm gently.

'Thanks.' Brennan sniffed and then looked down at the piece of paper in her hand. 'We have an address.' She told him, the surprise leaping into her voice as she read it out, Booth jotting it down in his little black notebook. He peered over her shoulder, looking at the information printed in black and white.

'And Angela is sure about this?'

'When have you ever known her to be wrong?' Booth conceded that she was right and touched her shoulder gently as she buttoned her jacket, something she seldom did.

'How are you feeling?'

'Scared out of my mind.' She admitted, her hand trembling so much she had to shove it into her pocket to hide it.

'That makes two of us.' Booth told her, fingers trailing over her hand and closing over it as she shivered beside him.

'Why are you scared?' She asked him, biting down and forcing herself into rigidity.

'For you. I'm scared for you.' He told her gently, making sure that he wasn't being too tender, because that just wasn't him. Kind, yes. Caring, yes. Good in bed, yes. He scolded himself for thinking of the last one, but couldn't help dwelling on the fact that Brennan was standing right by him, vulnerable and in need of someone. He just hoped he could hold onto her. He gently pushed a lock of hair out of her face and left his hand lingering there for a few moments before dropping to his side.

'Ready?' Brennan looked fearfully at the floor.

'Maybe… maybe we should take Sweets with us.' She whispered, hardly daring to say it.

'But Bones, you hate psychology.' Booth stared at his partner, hardly believing she'd asked for help from Sweets.

'But, I think… we need someone to determine how dangerous this person is.' Booth touched her cheek slightly with his fingertips and nodded so that she could see.

'Okay, I'll talk to Sweets, and we'll go and get him on the way, okay?' Brennan touched his arm lightly with her fingers and thanked him quietly. 'Are you sure you'll be ok?' He checked with her, his fingers gently tracing a line down her arm.

'I'll be fine, Booth.' She told him sharply, the earlier moment of intimacy shoved aside as she snapped back into her rational persona without a pause.

'So… do you want Sweets or not?' She placed her shaking hands in her pockets.

'I do.' He nodded and led the way out of the office, towards the underground car park where his FBI issue SUV was waiting.

oOo

Sweet was sat in his office with his feet up on the desk, unconsciously twiddling a pen between his fingers. As per usual, they were late. Not even a phone call. He was fuming, completely and utterly exasperated with Booth and Brennan, every time they were late. There was a tremulous knock on the door and Sweets looked up, all thoughts of dismembering both of them rapidly disintegrating as soon as Brennan walked in, looking out of breath and as if she'd been crying.

'Doctor Brennan?' He enquired, getting briskly to his feet and moving towards her. Booth was by her side before he could move, almost as if he'd appeared by magic from the corridor.

'Bones, are you sure about this?' He asked her, his hand resting on the small of her back. Sweets arched an eyebrow.

'Yes.' She replied evenly, touching his hand lightly.

'Is what a good idea?' Sweets tried to think of a situation where what Brennan said was wrong. He couldn't.

'So what's wrong?' Sweets asked her, still wondering why he was not receiving an apology for them being so late, even though he hardly expected one.

'Sweets, despite my hatred of psychology, I need you to come with us in questioning a suspect.' Brennan drew in a breath, knowing exactly what was coming next.

'In which investigation, I was not aware you had one ongoing.' Booth stole a glance at Brennan, who was still touching his hand, but she was looking at Sweets, her gaze fixed on him.

'A rape.' Sweets still looked puzzled.

'But Doctor Brennan, Agent Booth, don't you only do bones and almost completely decomposed bodies? In which you can't tell a sexual assault?'

'This is true.' Brennan informed him, keeping herself anchored in the place with Booth's hand tightly on hers.

'So… why?'

'It's me.' She whispered, Booth squeezing down further on her hand and feeling his blood boil as Sweets stared at her.

'You?' He asked her, his eyes nearly out on stalks.

'Yes. Me. Is that a problem, Sweets?' Sweets had the decency to look a little abashed.

'No, no I'm just surprised you asked me along with you.'

'Sweets, for the first time, I need a psychologist's input. I need to know… please.' For the first time in her life, she actually started pleading with him. Sweets nodded slowly, noting in his mind every touch Booth and Brennan made, every look they exchanged.

'Ok, when?' Booth moved the hand from the small of Brennan's back to her hip and saw how Brennan's face flushed a slight pink.

'Now.' Booth told him tersely, already out of the door, still holding Brennan's hand in his own as they left. Sweets watched them absently for a second before realizing that they were leaving him behind.

'Wait for me!' He shrugged his jacket on and slammed the door of his office on his way out, the noise causing him to freeze for a second before following them after ensuring that nothing was broken. They kept walking. He hurried to catch up with them, falling slightly short behind them as Booth casually snaked an arm around her waist. She rested her head against his shoulder and Booth sighed softly. Sweets though it over and drew one conclusion.

They're together… finally.

oOo

Sweets was talking non stop in the back, and Brennan just wanted to scream at him to shut up, even though she knew he would tell that something was wrong. She just kept staring forwards, not even noticing when they reached the turn off and Booth touched her hand gently. With Sweets wittering on behind her and Booth driving, cursing almost fluently at worse and slower drivers, she zoned out. It was when they came to a sudden stop that she zoned back in again, looking at the car in front of them that wasn't moving.

'Damn driver.' Booth muttered, earning Brennan's attention and she looked at him.

'What?'

'He's not moving.'

'Use your siren.' She suggested tiredly, shifting slightly in her seat. Booth nodded, smiling at her. He put the siren on and simultaneously; both Sweets and Brennan covered their ears. There was no response from the car. Brennan opened her door and felt Booth's hand close around her wrist.

'No.'

'What?' Booth shook his head and closed his grip even tighter on her wrist.

'Call it a gut feeling.' Brennan shook her head.

'You and your gut again? Booth…' She closed her eyes.

'Trust me, Bones.' He let go of her wrist and stepped out himself, watching her before turning away. Sweets reached forwards and placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped.

'Sweets, how can I help you?' Her rational persona was back. Sweets took his hand away and she turned to face him, her face pale from lack of sleep and the fear of the past few days.

'Are you and Agent Booth…?' Brennan glared at him for a moment, before relenting, her mental resolve already weakened, and she was unable to fix him with the steely, unflinching glare of before for more than a couple of seconds before she was confessing all.

'Yes, Sweets. I know it shouldn't be but… my God yes…' She sniffed, unaware until that moment that she had been crying. She stemmed her tears on her sleeve and nodded that answers to all his unspoken questions.

'Doctor Brennan that's… that's fantastic! I mean, my conclusions were correct.'

'Is that all it is to you? A hypothesis?' She wanted to shout, to scream and break down, but, with effort, she forced down the rush of emotions that was building inside her. Sweets, oblivious to her inside struggle, continued to smile happily as she stared out of the windshield, her eyes rapidly welling up with tears she was frightened to shed. Booth waved a hand and she looked up, the jolt causing a couple of tears to roll down her cheeks and land on her trousers. He was shouting.

'Bones?' She lifted her head, and finally snapped fully back into reality. She waved a hand at him.

Coming

'Bones, you need to see this.' She nodded and stepped from the car, already feeling fragile and worried about what he was going to show her.

'What do I need to see Booth?' He didn't speak, just motioned for her to come closer, a myriad of thoughts running through his brain. But predominantly…

What if it is him? What happens then?

Brennan inched closer, the expression on Booth's face a warning to her without words, hearing the quiet thud as Sweets stepped out of the car too. She stepped forwards again, the minutes stretching on as she hardly dared to venture any further, Booth's eyes flashing a warning. She took the final step and peered into the window, her limbs quaking as she tried to keep herself still. A gasp escaped her slightly parted lips, and Booth, knowing the warning signs, stepped forwards and enfolded her in his arms.

'Is it him?' He whispered in her ear as she trembled. 'Did he do this to you?' She nodded slowly.

'Is he…?' She started, already knowing the answer, but wanting to be sure. The question hung in the air until Booth answered, his mouth next to her ear.

'He's dead baby.' She felt a small squeak of happiness escape her and he kissed her neck gently. 'It's over.'

oOo

Cam handed Angela a mug of coffee and they sat in the break area, watching the lab from the walkway. Angela took a sip and glanced over at the boss she had come to like and regard as a friend.

'You make the best coffee, Cam.' Cam looked up, startled out of her partial reverie by Angela.

'I do?' Angela nodded seriously and took a sip of it, once again shivering as the warm liquid rushed through her cold and tired limbs. Cam continued staring, still confused about what she had seen earlier.

'Yes. Cam? What's bothering you?' Angela and her uncanny knack of knowing things had hit the nail on the head. Cam shook her head and tried to clear it for a moment, dwelling on it.

'I… never mind.' Angela glared at her.

'No, Cam, I mean it, what's wrong?' Cam stared out over the lab again.

'Booth and Brennan…'

'Oh tell me about it! They're being so secretive and hiding and not telling me things when I'm working on an investigation for them…' Cam smiled, shaking her head.

'That's not it.' Angela choked a little on her coffee.

'Slow down there, what do you mean? There isn't anything else.' Angela peered over the lip of the cup and stared at Cam as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 'Is there?' Cam smiled sweetly back at her.

'Ask Brennan.'

'No, Cam, I'm asking you.' Angela pointed out, still staring at her boss.

'Okay… okay… I caught them making out outside her office.' Angela snorted into her coffee.

'Get you Cam! Since when did you use the term "making out" to describe co-workers… or, well, anything?' Cam laughed.

'I'm not that old Angela, and, you know, teenage daughter does help that little bit more.' Angela did a theatrical facepalm.

'I know, sorry.' She smiled. 'So, Brennan and Booth are… most definitely… a couple?' Cam nodded and Angela clapped her hands excitedly, taking another swallow of her now lukewarm coffee.

'Good right?' Angela nodded, looking morosely down into her empty coffee mug and looking over at the lab. They both stared at the door. It didn't open, no one came in, and nothing changed.

oOo

Booth gently touched her cheek, wiping away the tears gently.

'I'm sorry Bones.' Sweets was just quietly observing them as Booth gingerly kissed her neck. She ignored him and just let Booth hold her, smiling as his lips brushed hers. She suddenly froze.

'Booth…'

'Yes?' He whispered, his lips still a few millimeters from hers.

'What do we do now?'

Love you all so much for sticking by me! I will update soon.

Reviews make me so happy (: