AN: The song for this chapter is from Josh Groban and it's "You Raise Me Up."

Chapter 25 You Raise Me Up

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be

Booth had yet to answer Bones' question. He simply waited for her to hear the song. She kept her eyes trained on the road, pushing the Mustang closer to home. In the back of her mind she cataloged the many trials and troubles which had come their way during the partnership. How, she asked herself, did we survive all that? Gang threats, finding my Mom, Howard Epps, the Gravedigger, finding Russ and Dad, Sully... Cam...

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

"This is why, Temperance. Why no matter what, I will be there with you. Loving you." Temperance fought to restrain herself, to keep still in the face of this confession which she knew, without a doubt, to be true. She'd experienced his love, all this time and with all they'd been through, he loved her. She knew how strong Booth was, she'd seen it with her own eyes time and time again. She had faith in his strength.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up... to more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders

"Do you really think we could handle what we deal with every day without each other? I know I could do this job without you, Bones, and I wouldn't want to." The dots were connecting and puzzle pieces sliding into place. He was strong, strong for her and because of her, she realized. Booth watched her with the smallest of smiles on his face, she knows.

"I want you as a partner too, Booth." Her voice was small and she seemed to hesitate. "It just scares me how much I've come to rely on you, more than working these cases, for everything. I don't want to lose you as a partner or a friend."

"You won't Temperance. I promise." She smiled weakly and tried to believe him.

You raise me up... to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas

"It's going to take me some time, Booth. I just can't…"

"I know and I'm okay with that."

And I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up... to more than I can be.
You raise me up... to more than I can be.

As the full weight of Booth's confession sunk into Temperance's overactive mind, she wondered how? How can we make this work? Do we move in together? Become 'partners with benefits' or whatever Angela called it? Can we still be partners and have more? Similiary, Booth was contemplating the dilemma before them, asking himself if they could move quickly enough to satisfy his growing need for Bones but slow enough not to push her away.

They rode in silence for almost thirty minutes before Temperance reached for her iPod, plugged it in and selected a song. Her worry and apprehension was apparent in her choice.

All of your ways and all your thunder
Get me in a haze running for cover

AN: Alright, we're nearing the end, I hope y'all can handle this last little stretch with me. Another chapter and another song await.