A/N – I'll keep this short and get right to the chapter! Thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews! I think I'm going to be nearing the end soon-ish with this story. I've had another story come to mind and I don't want this one dragging on too long.

Chapter 25:

Max stared at his cup of tea, having finished recounting what had happened to the FBI agent sitting next to him. Booth, on the other hand, kept glancing around, most often towards the couch where his partner was still lying, asleep.

"You should have called me earlier." He said quietly. Max looked up at the distraught agent, who glared at him right in the eye. "She needs medical attention. I'm not a doctor but I know she needs help. She probably has pneumonia or some other infection."

"I didn't think it would get this serious so quickly. She wanted to disappear. She didn't want anyone to find her and that included you." Max saw Booth physically wince at his harsh tone.

"She didn't seem particularly pleased to find out who you were. Look at what you let happen to her. If you just would have kept your mouth shut about being her father...If you would have just contacted one of us when you found her..." Booth shot back. Max sighed. "Look Max. We're both on the same side here. We both want what's best for Temperance..." He was interrupted by the sound of intense coughing coming from the couch. Booth got up from his chair and made his way over towards the couch.

"Bones..." He whispered quietly, gently stroking her forehead. Temperance's eyes hazily opened and Booth tried to give her a reassuring smile. He reached over and grabbed the cup of water next to her bed and helped her take a sip. "Hey Bones. It's alright. I'm here." Booth noticed out of the corner of his eye Max entering one of the bedrooms off the dining room, where he assumed he was going to take a rest after the long night before.

"Booth..." she whispered hoarsely.

"Hey...How are you feeling?" He could see tears gathering in the corner of her eyes.

"I'm sorry Booth. I'm sorry..." Booth moved to wipe away her tears. She closed her eyes, relishing in the warmth of his touch. "I wish you were here." She whispered. Booth looked at her quizzically.

"Bones – I'm right here. Hey – it's alright. I'm right here." He looked at her, confused. She was looking right at him, but yet, Booth got the distinct feeling she didn't believe he was there. He felt her squeeze his hand.

"I'm sorry." She whispered again.

-----

Max sat up in his bed and looked at the clock on his bedside table. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but the exhaustion must have overtaken him, having spent most of the night at his daughter's side. Only an hour had passed, but even that small amount of time had rejuvenated him.

He had called Russ before he had taken his little nap, informing him that Booth was there with them, hoping it would reduce his son's anxiousness. The overall conversation hadn't gone as well as Max would have liked, however. Russ knew that he wasn't getting the whole story. He wanted to speak with his sister himself, but Max told him that she was sleeping.

The older man sighed as he sat on the edge of his bed. He knew that he should let Booth take her to the hospital. Deep down, he knew he should have hours ago. But there was a part of him that wanted her to stay; a part that believed she would get better and they would have a chance to re-establish their relationship. If he didn't fix things with her now, he worried he'd never get a chance to explain himself.

-----

The late afternoon was descending on the isolated cabin as Temperance continued to sleep on, her partner at her side. Booth had only been there a few hours, but knew from watching her, that he needed to get medical help for Bones as soon as possible. Not only was her fever and coughing raging on, she would fitfully mumble, often saying his name, or that of Zack, Hodgins or Angela.

Her reaction to seeing him earlier had left him confused as well. She had clearly recognized him, and to his relief, had also appeared relieved to see him. On the other hand, however, it was as if she was looking right through him, in disbelief that he was even there. Stroking her hair gently as she slept, Booth contemplated everything he knew. She had been having hallucinations before. Max had described a few incidents that made that conclusion clear.

Booth looked up as Max emerged from his bedroom. He immediately leapt to his feet, and moved towards the older man.

"Is she doing any better?" Max asked the exhausted looking agent. Booth shook his head.

"I need to get her to the hospital. Her fever is still way too high, and I do not like the sound of her cough either." Max reluctantly nodded, as Booth sighed. "I think she's still hallucinating."

"Why do you think that is? From the fever?" Booth's brow furrowed.

"You were saying that you thought she was hallucinating before she went out in the rain. The fever might be making it worse, but she wasn't right before she even left DC."

Booth started moving around the small cabin, gathering his things, as well as Temperance's. While Booth prepared to leave, Max made his way over to where his daughter was still lying in the same position she had been for a day now. He watched her as she slept, holding her hand, all the while ignoring the bustling agent as he went back and forth from his vehicle and the cabin. She started to stir, and Max found himself mustering the most reassuring smile he could.

"Hey Sweetie... It's alright, I'm here. Everything is going to be alright..." She squeezed his hand gently, in acknowledgement that she heard him. "Honey – you've got to go to the hospital. You're sick and not getting better. They're going to take good care of you, I promise. I can't come with you, but I want you to know how much I love you and that I'm going to fight for you. I'm going to make things right with you again." He paused, hoping that some of it was getting through to her. She didn't respond at all. "Sweetheart?" Max asked gently. She looked at him with hazy eyes.

"Booth will find me. Booth will find me." Max attempted another smile, while helping her take some more pain medication.

"That's right honey. Booth will find you. He's going to take good care of you." She nodded and drifted off again. "You're going to be alright..." He whispered, more to himself than anyone else.