An: Decided I would update this before I head to be for tonight. I'm sorry it took so long to write this. I have an addiction to Assassin's Creed...and obviously, anything that I can connect it to. :)

I will be working more on my other stories. I promise. :)

Twit Shit: twitter(dot)com(slash)alexosaurus

Minutes dissolved into hours, while hours dissolved into days as he sat by her side, listening to the monotone heart monitor. It had been three weeks since his lover had been admitted into the hospital, and each and every day of those three weeks, Booth spent in agony.

He refused to release her hand. He refused to leave her side, and he refused to stop talking to her in hopes that she would get sick of hearing his voice, and would wake up solely to tell him to shut up. Seeing her so pale and broken against the reclined hospital bed made him sick, because the shell of a human before him, wasn't the bright and shining Temperance he loved so much.

He was glad the bastard who did this to her would be facing his verdict soon. He already knew, deep in his heart, the fate of the man who put her in this god forsaken hospital, and he could say truthfully that not one ounce of pity was felt. He deserved to be abused and tortured, just like he did to her. Hell, he deserved it ten times worse.

The soft sound of footsteps jerked his attention from the cold skin of her hand, to an older woman with curly brown hair pulled tightly behind her head. Her face had fallen into valleys of wrinkles, but her green eyes still shined as if two emeralds had melted around her pupil. Her smile was gentle as she looked upon the worried teenager, and as if she read his mind, she extended a cup of pudding in his direction.

"I could practically hear your stomach growling from a mile away," the nurse whispered, smiling at him as she moved to hook another IV bag to her line.

"Thanks Judy," Booth muttered. "I really appreciate you taking care of me while I'm here."

"It's not a problem in the world baby doll," she laughed. "I admire you taking care of your girl here. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so committed to one person that they literally refuse to leave their side for weeks. Though, you might want to, at least for a couple minutes. Not to be rude, but you need a shower."

"Yeah I probably do," he grumbled; reaching up and scratching the short beard that had grown around his chin. "I need to shave too, but it takes too much time. I don't want to be away from her that long."

"Well, when she wakes up and reaches out to caress your cheek, how do you think she'll feel when she realizes you've gotten furry?"

Booth laughed whole heartedly, and glanced to his girlfriend before he shook his head. "I'm not sure. She hasn't seen me with a stubbly beard type deal. She might like it."

"With perfect skin like yours?" Judy asked, as she reattached the line that was driven into Temperance's arm. "No. Smooth skin is best. Besides, whisker burn isn't a fun deal."

"Good point, but, I want her input on the matter."

"Wait too much longer and you'll look like a mountain man," she joked. "Sorry sweetie, but you have a pretty jaw. It shouldn't be covered by hair."

"Thank you, for complementing my cute jaw, but can I ask how she's doing?"

"She's doing well darling," Judy assured. "Her breathing is normal. Her pulse, her blood pressure, it's all within normal limits. Out tests a couple days before showed that her internal bruising is decreasing, so her body has no real reason to stay in this type of coma that it's in. A couple more days by her side, at most, and you'll get to see her shining eyes once again."

The smile that lit up his face touched Judy deeply, and the older woman mused to herself how obviously in love this young man was. Despite her prior thoughts about teenage relationships, she finally got to see an exception, and it was both beautiful, and heartbreaking. She could tell that over the past couple days, his need for her had escalated into a full on addiction. Every minute of the day he was on the edge of his seat, holding her hand, and listening to the beating of her heart in an attempt to try and pinpoint a change in the never-changing beat. People came in and out of her room throughout the day, but it was Booth who remained by her side no matter what. The young woman resting on that bed was lucky to have someone as loving, and caring as Seeley Booth obviously was, and every night Judy prayed to God to awaken the child that was being wrongly held from the life of happiness she knew this young boy could give her.

Hopefully, tonight, her prayers would finally be answered.

~*~*B+B*~*~

It was close to midnight, and his head was rested against the side of her bed as his fingers traced over the back of her hand. He was exhausted, and his back ached, but he couldn't force himself to leave her side. He had noticed that throughout the day some of her color had returned, and into the later hours, he whispered sweet words into her ear as he kissed her cheek, and mused over how much he missed her. He felt lost without her, but now all he felt was the apprehension building within him; knowing that at any minute, her foggy blue grey eyes, would once again meet his.

He could barely tell the first time it happened, but once he took her hand up fully, he was able to feel the gentle twitch of her fingers. His heart stopped as he finally felt her moving, and his eyes became glued to her face, as he silently willed for her to keep fighting against the dark hold her body had over her. He held her hand tightly, and kissed her knuckles; sitting in silence, until he saw her eyes flutter open, and she coughed softly against the dryness of her throat.

"Booth?" she croaked; her words ragged and broken as her unused vocal chords worked to form the words she wanted to say.

"I'm right here," he whispered, standing up and hovering over her with a great smile on his lips. "Oh my god Bones...you're awake."

Her smile was weak, but it was full of the life that her body had drained her of in the past three weeks. Her hands reached up, and she gently brushed her fingers over his jaw; examining and feeling the scratchy hair of his on her finger tips.

"You need to shave," she chuckled, groaning and coughing as her ribs ached under her inflating lungs.

"I'm glad you're awake," he said, completely ignoring her statement, as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "God, you have no idea. How are you feeling baby? Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

"I feel like I got the shit beaten out of me," she stated bluntly. "And I'm thirsty but-"

"Do you want me to get you something to drink?"

"No," she said, weakly pushing herself up and away from him. "I want you to lay down with me. You look worse than I feel, and I'm sure you'll sleep better knowing that I'm here by your side."

"Bones, I don't want to tear out your wires."

"You won't. I promise. Just, crawl in here with me."

"The nurses won't be happy about this," he muttered with a voice that couldn't veil the happiness that was laced within his tone. He was careful as he crawled into the cramped bed, but as he did, he turned on his side to accommodate her ribs, and rested his head on her chest. She smiled softly, and ran her fingers through his hair, as her lips descended to touch his forehead.

"I love you," she whispered into the darkness surrounding her. But her words went unheard, because by the time she spoke her last syllable, he had already fallen asleep to the sound of her alive, and strong heart beat.