By 8:30 that evening, Michael was happily sleeping in his playpen in Booth's bedroom, and Booth and Brennan had a chance to sit quietly together to contemplate their day. Booth was sitting against the arm of the couch, and Brennan was tucked between his legs, her back pressed against his chest as he gently moved his fingers across her arm. They didn't speak, and the television was off, and the quiet was gently recharging them. Booth bent his neck to gently kiss her temple, and her head tipped back onto his shoulder.

"Mm..." She mumbled, turning slightly in his arms. "I miss the beach." She whispered.

"Yeah?" He said, kissing her head again.

"Yes. It was warm, and safe." She said. "I had you all to myself."

"You have me all to yourself right now." He said, rocking her gently in his arms. He heard a gentle sigh, tried to look into her eyes. "What's on your mind, Bones?"

"Nothing." She shrugged, knowing that he wouldn't let it stay there, but hoping for a few moments of reprieve from his questions. "I don't know." She sighed.

"Did you want to talk about Hannah?" He asked.

"No." She replied.

"Okay." He said, kissing her gently. "Did you want to talk about our argument?"

"No." She said softly.

"Do you want to talk about the case?" He asked.

"Hodgins gave me the name of the doctor that he saw after the Gravedigger. That is who I have an appointment with." She said, cutting right to the chase. She knew that if she didn't offer him something, that the guessing game would go on for a while. "I am extremely uncomfortable discussing myself with someone that I don't know very well."

"Do you want me to go with you?" He asked, rocking her gently, he watched her head turn slightly, and a small smile appear on her lips. "I have no problem talking about you." He said playfully. "I could talk about you for hours." He rolled his eyes exaggeratedly.

"I believe that you and I experience enough couples therapy with Sweets." She said, letting a small smile escape her lips.

"You told Hodgins about your nightmares?" He asked.

"I told Angela. I simply asked Jack if he had gotten help, and he offered up his doctor's information. I am sure that Angela has discussed my nightmares with Hodgins. You know that she is extremely protective of me at times." She said softly.

"I know I pick on him, call him bug boy, and stuff like that, but Hodgins is a really good guy. He really cares about you, Bones." Booth said. "He has a lot of respect for you, and really cares about your well being."

Brennan nodded thoughtfully. "We nearly died together, Booth." She said softly, thinking once again about the gravity of the situation that she and her colleague had been in. "Our technique to save ourselves could have very well gotten us killed." She paused for a moment. "I feel that the connection we share is very unique. Shared trauma has a way of uniting people." She whispered.

"Like soldiers in combat." Booth said thoughtfully. "I understand what you mean, brothers in arms."

"Yes." She replied, her tone quite serious. "That is very similar. We shared that moment, that experience, that trauma. I am often surprised you're not more affected by your detainment on that ship. You were alone." She sighed. "Hodgins and I at least had one another."

"Ah, but I wasn't alone." He shook his head, knowing that if he didn't continue, she'd probably argue about his hallucinations, so he made it very clear what he meant.

"I had you and the squints out there looking for me. I knew you'd find me." He said, chuckling. "Okay, I... I hoped you guys would find me." He laughed nervously. "I'm glad you found me." He whispered. "Thank you for finding me."

"I don't know what I would have done if you had died. I don't think I would have survived if she had won. I don't..." She whispered, feeling the pain in her chest, the lump in her throat, she couldn't continue.

"Don't think about it. I'm here. I'm here, you're here... Hodgins is here, and she's rotting in prison." He said, holding her a little tighter. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you everything that happened in Afghanistan. I figured everything was done, I am home and I'm never going back. There is no reason for me to rehash everything if it's not for a specific purpose. They weren't good memories, and I was alone most of the time. When I'm with you, I don't even think about it." He said. "Since you and I have been together, I have concentrated on us, Bones. I've concentrated on the present, not the past. That's what matters to me." He whispered.

"Then do you believe that I should tell you of all that happened in Maluku?" She asked, lifting an eyebrow a bit suspiciously.

"You can tell me anything you want, Bones. I'll always listen." He said, noticing the thoughtful look in her eyes. "What is it?" He asked, tipping his head.

"I was just thinking about today, about how you showed up and took over when Hodgins and I were simply doing our jobs, observing and researching." She said. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Hodgins is extremely strong, Booth. I would have been perfectly safe if someone were to have approached us."

"Does Hodgins carry a gun?" Booth asked, raising his eyebrows.

"No." She said. "But Angela says he is incredibly fit." She replied.

"Gun goes first, Bones. It'll never be squint goes first. Until we know the motives of this murderer. Until we know why Michael's mother was taken and murdered, we can't take any chances. It could have been random." He shrugged. "So unless Hodgins is packing heat, then I'd prefer that I be the one that goes out into the field with you."

"Perhaps I could carry a gun." She raised an eyebrow.

"Not this again." He huffed, rolling his eyes, a slight smile at the corner of his lips.

"I'm just saying." She shrugged, feeling him pulling his body from behind her.

"Oh, I know what you're 'just saying', Bones." He laughed.

"Where are you going?" She asked, following him with her eyes.

"I was going to get ready for bed." He said, stretching his back. "I didn't get much sleep last night, if you remember, and it has been a very long day." He said, watching her nod in agreement. "I love you." He said, leaning down to kiss her gently.

"I love you." She said, kissing him back gently, taking his t-shirt in her fist she held him for a moment. He tipped his head curiously. "Promise me something." She said, and his eyebrow lifted. "The next time you go out at night on a call, can you please call me before you bring home an infant?" She asked.

"What about three-year old?" He asked, a grin lighting up his face.

"Go to bed." She said, pushing her palm against his chest, he let out a laugh. "Check on Michael before you go to sleep, please."

"You got it." He said, letting out a yawn. "Don't stay up too late." He said, watching her nod before he turned and made his way to the bedroom.