Grilled Cheese

Booth's heart literally stopped beating as he ran to her room. That wasn't an angry scream or a surprised scream; that was a pure terror scream. Where the hell was the agent assigned to her door? He knocked over a supply cart as he turned the corner into her room, not that he even noticed. Blind panic was engulfing him. On instinct and adrenaline alone he grabbed the man standing at the foot of her bed by the scruff of his neck and threw him against the wall. The sheer force of the blow put a spider crack in the plaster wall.

"Wait Booth. Stop." It was a miracle how her few whispered words were capable of penetrating his rage. Another indication of how in tune he had always been to her. The full force of his rage was bearing down on the man's larynx as he spun around to face her.

"Put him down, he isn't going to hurt me. I was….wrong." It was the first time he had heard her voice since that horrible night. He was so stunned that he nearly forgot he was still holding some innocent man in a chokehold. As the moment returned he released his grip and the man dropped to the floor gasping for breath. Booth rushed to her side, not noticing the rest of their friends' entrance or the hospital staff checking on his hapless victim. Honestly in that moment he didn't care. He put his shaking hand to her face. "What happened? Are you all right? I heard you scream. I came as fast as I could. Please talk to me. Did he hurt you?"

Inside the bathroom a man with red hair and an FBI issued ID waited. That damn nurse had ruined everything. But it was clear that she remembered him, that everything that had occurred since that night had not damaged her memory. She knew him; she knew his face, or more apparently his hair. That was good, very good. This was information that could be helpful. If only that damn gun toting Neanderthal hadn't bust into his perfect opportunity. Once again he lamented toying with the agent instead of killing him on the spot. It was in fact his greatest regret. A mistake he wouldn't make twice. Now the woman, the woman would be a treasure he would enjoy keeping for a while. For now, once again he was forced to lay in wait. To imagine an hundred ways to make all his dreams come true.

Booth had hoped that somehow this incident would bring back the Bones he knew and loved. He had been wrong. She was still lying on the bed, barely moving, she actually looked grey. It didn't seem like she was going to answer any of his questions, instead she started to cry. At least that was an emotion he could help with, he hated that he was almost glad to see her tears. He gathered her in his arms and she nested into the familiar spot on his chest. His heart broke at how frail she had become, how much she had changed in three days. Angela was right, this place was killing her. She didn't pull away instead seemed drawn to him like a magnet, the force gave him hope. He held her and whispered into her ear. "Let's get you out of here."

Moving away from him, she met his gaze. Although they were dull and listless and lost the intensity of the blue was unchanged. "Can we leave now?" She wanted him to take her away. Progress. Healing. In that moment he knew he could never deny her anything. Everything in his power was hers. Yet he knew there was still work to do.

"Well" he spoke slowly, deliberately "There is a catch. You need to eat something so the doctors will take you off the IV. Once they remove them we can go. So you see it is up to you." A soft smile crossed his face as he desperately hoped she would say something, anything because he was unsure what he was supposed to do next. Instead something amazing happened.

"Grilled Cheese, I will eat grilled cheese." In that moment Booth would have taken her to any restaurant in the world for grilled cheese. A flight to Paris would be in order. Did they even eat grilled cheese in Paris? She was coming back to him. Without letting go he reached around to page the nurse's desk. They were going to need discharge papers.

Booth was might not be a genius but he was no idiot either, he wanted her to ENJOY her first meal. Instead of calling the hospital cafeteria he called Sarah at the diner. At their diner. She promised to have of the bus boys bring over a dozen grilled cheese sandwiches, fries, salad, and chocolate milk shakes. The rest of her team was due back within the hour. They were going to have an impromptu "release" party before packing up and heading to the shore.

"Okay" thought Booth, "maybe I am an idiot." In all of his excitement at the mere mention of grilled cheese it never dawned on him that a huge display of friendship and drama could be too hard for her. Fortunately, Sweets was the first to meet Booth in Brennan's room and circumvented the rest of the hoopla before it could get started. Preventing what would inevitably be a monumental disaster and set-back. The new plan had Booth and Brennan eating a quiet grilled cheese while the rest waited for them. Not that the food or celebratory attitude would go to waste.

The lobby had taken on a very jovial feel. Nurses and doctors stopped by. The lunch order had grown and the delivery kid made several trips back and forth to the diner. Burgers, fries, shakes, salads, sandwiches all continually arrived as did the hospital staff. Everyone was eager to share in this little group's happiness, some non-hospital food and a final glimpse of their own private soap opera. Anyone who had a hand in the case knew that this little family was something special, especially the woman upstairs. Everyone should be loved like this.

Angela's cell phone rang. It was Booth. The news was positive. She had eaten less half a sandwich two small forks of salad and a sip of shake. Not nearly enough to repair the damage days of not eating had caused, but enough to get the doctors to sign the final release. She was on her way down the elevator now. The party was instantly cleaned up and most of the guests pretended to return to their duties. There were still many people milling about, some having nothing to do with the waiting for Dr. Brennan. This was a working hospital after all.

They waited patiently near the exit, anxious to see her outside that room. The elevator doors opened, and for a moment they were shocked. The bright light of the sun emphasized the bruise-like shadows under her eyes. Sitting up they could see how thin and frail she had become, how her once lustrous hair now appeared stringy and dark. Booth didn't look much better, it was clear that her condition weighed heavily on them both. They desperately needed this vacation.

The little group cautiously went up to greet her, knowing that she might shut down if she became overly anxious. She was surrounded by kind faces and well wishes as the nurse pushed her wheel chair toward the door. She didn't really acknowledge their presence but she didn't turn away either. They would have to be satisfied with indifference for the time being.

They had two SUVs fully packed and ready to head out for the highway. Booth, Brennan, Angela and Max would drive in one, while Hodgins, Cam and Sweets would follow. Not sure if the front or back seat was best, Booth finally decided to he wanted her up front with him, like the good days. He leaned down, slipping his right arm under her knees and supported her back with his left. She weighed nothing as he gathered her out of the chair. Hodgins immediately collapsed her wheels and stashed it in the back of the SUV.

As Booth swung her around preparing to situate her into the vehicle, he saw him. Driving past in a green sedan without plates. The red hair flashed in the sunlight an arrogant grin across his face. He was watching them. For a moment Booth thought about dropping Brennan in the car and chasing the bastard down. But cooler heads prevailed, the maniac was already gone and attempting to follow the ghost would only cause her pain. He wasn't the agent on the case, she was his only priority.