Disclaimer: Bones and its affiliated characters do not belong to me. I mean no copyright infringement.

Spoilers: Seasons 5 & 6

Rating: T +

Author's Notes: Here's a fluffy and hot chapter. Please notice the rating for this chapter. I thought it was necessary to see the strength of their friendship and the foundation it gives to their sexual relationship especially after being away from each other for seven months.

What Could Have Been

Chapter 14: The Center Must Hold

Sweets approached Brennan's office quietly. He wasn't going to stay. He just needed to make contact. One minute was all he needed. The door was propped open slightly. He took out his white handkerchief and waved it through the door. About a minute later, Booth saw it.

"Sweets, get lost! I can't take any shrinky stuff right now."

"I come in peace."

Brennan rolled her eyes. "You have one minute Sweets." Booth glared at her.

"That's perfect." He was calmer than usual, playing off the mood of his favorite team. I only have three things I want to say and then I'll magically disappear. Don't say it Dr. Brennan." She saw a hint of a smile on Booth's lips.

"Booth." Booth growled at him. "All I want to say is, don't shut her out. She needs you as much as you need her. Dr. Brennan, don't push him but don't let him push you away either. And lastly, all of the squints have been ordered to leave you alone, Booth. It may seem harsh, but it's not forever. You need to be able to come to work without wondering if someone will ask you any annoying questions." He could visibly see Booth's shoulders begin to relax.

"What about you, Sweets? Does the rule apply to you?" His voice was still a bit rough.

"Yes and No."

"I don't know what that means," replied Brennan.

"It means I won't be bothering you while we are working. But when you are having your normal session, I have to be able to talk. Sound fair?"

Brennan looked to Booth. They were apart for a several months without contact and they could still read each other's eyes. Sweets was still truly amazed at the couple before him.

"We find that acceptable," answered Brennan.

"Alright then, I'll be leaving. If you have any questions, you know where to find me." And quick as lightening, he was gone leaving the partners to wonder if they just heard him right.

"Maybe he's sick," stated Brennan. Booth chuckled. She grabbed his hands to help pull him off of the couch.

"Do you want to drive?" Brennan's jaw dropped and she was speechless. It took a few moments for her to recover. "Offer's only open for 10 more seconds." She grabbed the keys and ran for the doors. He let out a belly laugh that would have eased the minds of their friends if they had still been there. "I'm right behind you, Bones!" he yelled.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"I'm too tired for a shower, but I know it would make me feel better."

He kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry I'm making this case harder for you."

"This isn't your fault. Your past isn't your fault anymore than the actions of a murderer. Please don't think that it is." She caressed her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck. "And you're not the one making it harder. Some parts of the case are making it harder for you so naturally it will be harder for me as well. What affects you affects me."

"How did I get so lucky to have you in my life, Temperance Brennan?"

"You're the one who believes in fate, Booth. You should already have the answer."

He laughed. "How about I help you with that shower?" he smiled seductively. "I can keep you from falling asleep standing up and possibly drowning."

She rolled her eyes at him for thinking she could actually drown in a shower. He led her to the bathroom with great enthusiasm before she could change her mind. "Wait," she whispered as she stilled his hands. He pouted. "I'm going to ignore that pout since you've had a rough day. Now be good and let me undress you."

His smile returned. "You expect me to say "no" to you?"

"That's the ticket!" she announced proudly. He chuckled.

"I want you to listen to me as I undress you."

"Are you going to get all shrinky on me, Bones?"

"I wouldn't do that. We just got Sweets to back off. Why would I invite nonsense?" He just smiled as he tried to hold back a laugh.

She slowly started to unbutton his shirt. "We're the center. And the center must hold." He wondered where she would go with this. "Sweets mentioned that the team won't be distracting you with questions and advice, but he didn't mention me. I'm going to politely refrain from all of that, as well." She didn't look up, yet. "We're in this together, Booth. And we'll get through this together." She slid his denim shirt off his shoulders. "They're depending on us." She ran her hands seductively across chest and abdomen and peppered him with gentle kisses where her hands had been. "It will be easier for me to comfort and support you if they aren't trying to help you through me. And I think they will be less distracted if they aren't trying to fix something they can't fix. Would you agree?" She finally looked in his eyes again. His eyes were getting darker and she wondered if he was processing anything she said. But he finally whispered that he agreed and she knew that he understood her.

She started working on getting the bottom half of Booth freed from his clothes. "You're amazing. Do you know that?" he asked.

She slid the belt from his jeans and then kissed him passionately. She moaned. "You're the amazing one, Booth. I'm going to need your direction in letting me know if I'm smothering you." She carefully unzipped him. "I don't know if I'll ever get enough of you." She caressed him before removing his pants completely. "I love the way you feel under my hands, under my lips, and against my bare body." He matched the increasing intensity of her moans.

"Oh, Baby, I feel the same way. You feel so incredibly smooth and sensual." She removed the final pieces of clothing and he pulled her tightly to him, kissing her and rocking himself against her. "Every time I see a metaphorical wall come down, I'm just overwhelmed that you're letting me in… me, Seeley Booth." He pulled back to look at her adoringly. "It's my turn," he whispered. He started by lifting her sweater over her head slowly. "You make me feel special. You make me feel wanted and loved." He caressed her from the shoulders and down her arms. "I will be here for you, too, and guide you when you need it, but don't feel inadequate, Bones." He took a break to spread kisses along her neck and enjoy the sounds she was making. "You're capable of loving and so much more. I have faith in us." He began caressing her breasts and she was finding it hard to talk, but she pressed on. She wanted and needed to finish this conversation.

"So, I think what you're saying is that we're actually supporting each other to help you get through this hard time with this case… Oh, that feels good… Don't stop." He slid her bra away giving him full access for his hands and mouth. "We're back to where I started. We're the center. And the center must hold." Her hands began to roam again as she discontinued talking.

"Yes. We're the center, Bones. You and me. Together."

"I love you, Booth."

"Oh Bones, I think I love you more everyday. If I wake up and find this is all a dream again, I don't think I'd be able to recover." He began to work on removing her slacks. "This is so much more intense than the coma dream."

"Maybe that's because it's real."

"In more ways than one."

"I don't know what that means."

He finally had her completely undressed and they stood in a loving embrace. "The second way that it's real is from not having this physical intimacy for so many years. We had all that time to develop a strong love for each other. I believe the intimacy is more meaningful, more intense, and more ready for making love and breaking the law of physics because it's founded on love rather than the other way around."

"I need you, Booth. I need those intense feelings."

"I need you, too, Baby." Hands and mouths were everywhere.

"Bed now. Shower later."

"I concur." He turned her towards the bed.

"Vehemently?"

"Oh yeah, Baby. Definitely."

He gently laid her down on the bed. "Watch me, Bones. Keep your eyes open for me, Baby. I want to see your eyes when I make you come." He didn't think he would ever get over the connection they shared while watching each other fall apart. Several minutes later, they relaxed in each other's arms, savoring the release from their love making.

"We're going to get through this, Bones."

"We're the center," she answered.

"And the center must hold," he finished. He kissed the top of her head. "Go to sleep, Baby. Sweet dreams."

Author's Notes: Reviews have gone down a bit. Since I'm relatively new here, I'm going to guess it's because the new season started and the hiatis is done. Anyway, this was an intense chapter to write. Please let me know what you think... the good, the bad, and the ugly *_^