Author Note: I want to say "I'm sorry" for the long delay in this update. As usual, life gets busy & I just didn't have to time work on it. Hopefully, now that things have calmed down some... I will be able to update more regularly. I want to thank all of the people who've taken the time to read & review my story. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

As always, I do not own Bones or any of the characters from the show & I make absolutely no money doing this!

It was that moment that he heard a sound behind him, he turned around & saw Brennan standing in the doorway.

"Morning Bones!" Booth greeted.

"Hi Booth" Brennan said, quietly.

"Come, sit down, I'm making us some breakfast." Booth said with a smile.

Brennan walked into the kitchen, slowly sitting down. Every inch of her body was aching, but she was trying hard to hide that fact. Still feeling very uncomfortable looking Booth in the eye, her gaze immediately went to her hands that she'd let drop into her lap.

Booth sat down across from Brennan, gently placing a plate of food down for both of them. He couldn't help but wince when he saw her flinch as the plate connected with the table.

There was a few moments of awkward silence between them, neither knowing quite what to say. Brennan was still incredibly ashamed. She didn't even know why, for logically, she knew that the events of the past few months were not her fault. Not really. Yet, she felt as though they were. If only she had been more careful, paid more attention...

"So... I have to go to the Bureau for a little while around noon today. I asked Angela to come stay with you until I get back." Booth said, breaking the silence.

"No!" Brennan said, a little to quickly. "I am fine, Booth. I do not need Angela or anyone to inconvenience themselves any further for me."

"Bones, we already talked about this..." Booth started. "It's not an inconvenience & until this guy is caught, I am NOT leaving you here alone."

"I'm not a child, Booth." Brennan said, stubbornly.

Booth smiled, just a little. It appeared that Bones was beginning to feel more herself. Stubborn as ever. However, there was still no way in hell that he was leaving her alone after everything that had just happened. Images of the night before flashed through Booth's mind. Despite how strong Bones sounded, right now, Booth knew that she was really far from being "fine".

"I know, Bones..." Booth said, softly. "This will all be over soon, but... for right now, I will be feel much better knowing you're not alone. I won't be gone long."

Brennan sighed, defeatedly. She was far too exhausted to argue with Booth & although she didn't want to admit it, deep down, she felt better, safer... with Booth there. She knew though, that Booth could not stay there & babysit her forever. He had a home, a son, a girlfriend... a life of his own. He had made it very clear, the night of her abduction... in the car after they had solved the Eames Case, that he had no intention of giving up anything for her. He had a life with Hannah. Which, Brennan understood. As much as it hurt, she understood. She felt so foolish for telling Booth how she felt that night. Yes, it was true that she didn't want to have any regrets. However, Booth was with someone now & she had absolutely no right to even say those things to him, not at that point in time... it was already too late, she had missed her chance.

Booth watched Brennan intently, he could see the sadness in her eyes. It just killed him to see his partner, his friend... hurting this way. He felt so helpless, so unsure of what he could do to help fix this. Brennan was always such a complicated person. Booth had always struggled to help her deal with her emotions. This time, things were going to be so much more difficult than anything they had experienced in the past.

"I do not wish to see Angela." Brennan said, matter of factly.

Booth looked at her, both surprised & confused. "Why?" he asked.

Brennan looked down at her lap, refusing to let her eyes meet Booth's. Hot tears had once again found their way to her eyes, threatening to fall. "I... I don't want her to see me this way." she replied, finally... fighting to maintain her composure.

"Bones..." Booth said, quietly. He reached across the table, gently placing his hand on her arm.

Brennan took in a deep, ragged breath... eyes still fixed on her lap.

"Bones, look at me..." Booth pleaded.

Brennan shook her head, the tears that had been threatening to fall... now, freely falling down her cheeks.

"Look at me... please?" Booth said again, trying desperately to get through to his partner.

Finally, Brennan looked up, her sad eyes meeting Booth's concerned gaze. The pain in her eyes so immense, it was absolutely heartbreaking.

"Bones, Angela... she's your friend. She's your best friend." Booth started. "I know this is hard for you, but Angela & all of your friends... we've all been worried sick about you. Angela, she needs to see you. She needs to be here for you... because that's what friends do. She needs to be here, she needs be here & know you're "okay", to know you're safe. She's not going to judge you or think any less of you, Bones. None of this, it's not your fault."

Brennan shook her head, tears still falling. "I... I can't, Booth." she cried. "I don't know how to do this. I just... I really, I want to me alone. I need to be alone."

"No Bones... you don't need to be alone. You're trying to push away everyone who cares about you. I won't let you do that! You've been through hell, Bones, you have. You've been through hell & you're going to need your friends to help get you through this. You don't need to do this alone. I won't let you. Ang, she won't let you either." Booth tried to explain.

Brennan didn't know quite what to say, nor did she have the strength to fight Booth at this moment. She knew, deep down, that it was a losing battle anyway. There was no way Booth was going to leave her alone, right now. She knew that. If anything, Brennan rationalized, she should allow Angela to come stay with her. That way, Booth could return home to Hannah. Where he belonged.

"It's going to be okay, Bones." Booth said, softly... not sure if he was saying it more to convince Brennan or himself.

"I know... I know none of this is rational, the way I'm feeling mentally. Physically, I am feeling as is to be expected given the extent of my injuries but... I will heal & I will be fine." Brennan said.

"It is rational, Bones... the way you're feeling, you know, up here." Booth said, pointing his finger at his own head. "You've been through a lot, it's going to take time but that's okay. You know, that's normal. Maybe you should talk to Sweets or another Therapist..."

"I hate Psychology." Brennan said, cutting Booth off.

"I know, Bones, but I think it might help." Booth said.

"No Booth!" Brennan shot back. "I do not need a therapist, What I need, is to be alone."

"Booth shook his head. "Look Bones, if you're not ready to talk to someone about this... then you're not ready. I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do, BUT... I am NOT leaving you alone. That's not happening, Bones. Not until... not until I know for sure you're safe."

"I know Booth." Brennan said, her voice softening at the sound of genuine concern that bled through to Booth's words.

There were a few moments of silence between the two. Booth finished his breakfast, still watching his partner closely. Brennan stared at her plate, pushing the food around with her fork. Booth took notice that Brennan had hardly eaten anything.

"You need to eat, Bones." Booth said. "If you don't like my cooking, I can make something else or order in."

"It's not that... it's just..." Brennan started, but trailed off.

Booth nodded in understand. Brennan had been through so much during the past 3 months that she had been held captive, but the truth was... Booth knew very little about what had actually happened there. Even when speaking to the FBI Agents in Las Vegas, Brennan had been very vague about her description of the events that took place. She said just enough that the Agents got what they needed, but she didn't give very much detail. Booth knew, there was a lot she hadn't said, she was holding back a lot. He knew that what she really needed was to talk about what happened, instead of bottling it all inside, but that wasn't Bones. She always tried to keep everything inside, spoke little about her past traumas, & kept everyone she cared about at arms length. Especially when it came to personal matters that she was dealing with. Her demons, they were her own. At least, that's how she felt about it. Regardless, after the emotional outburst the night before... Booth didn't want to push her.

"If there's anything I can do... if there's anything you want to tell me, I'm here for you Bones." Booth said, softly. "I'm not going anywhere."

Brennan looked at up at Booth, their eyes met. "Thank You, Booth." she said, so quiet is was almost a whisper. Booth reach over, gently taking her hand in his own, giving it a small, comforting squeeze. Much to his surprise, Bones didn't pull away or flinch. Both their hearts were pounding. Booth's mind was whirling, as he thought about how he had almost lost his partner. He thought he'd never see her again. Yet, here they were. Together in her apartment. Far from unscathed, but together none the less. Deep down, he knew they would be "okay".

Booth fought back the strong urge to lean over & kiss her. He wanted to, so badly. He wanted to kiss her, pull her into his arms, hold her tight, & tell her just how much she meant to him. How scared he was when he went to her apartment that day & found her gone, only a stain of blood remaining. He wanted to tell her how much he hurt, not knowing where she was or how to find her. He wanted to tell her how he'd Prayed that she would be found safe, how thankful he was just to have her back. However, he couldn't do that. Especially not now. That's not what she needed,... what she needed was for him to just be there. That's what he would do.

Slowly, Booth pulled his hand back. Brennan looked at him, then dropped her gaze back to her lap. She was struggling. Struggling to find the right words to say, struggling for what to do... just struggling. She really, truly, just wanted to be alone. She did not want anyone to see her like this. She was so emotional & it was nothing like her normal self. She didn't know how to deal with all these emotions that were overwhelming her. So, she did the only thing she knew how to do...

"I find that I'm not hungry." Brennan said. "I think I'm going to take a shower."

Booth shot her a concerned look.

Brennan tilted her head, giving him that look. "It's just a shower, Booth. I'll be fine. I will be out shortly,"

With that, she got up from the table & slowly made her way to the bathroom.

Booth sighed. It was killing him to watch his partner go through all this. He felt so helpless, not knowing what to do or say to make this better. The only thing he knew for sure, was that he needed to be there for her. He could not allow her to push him away & he knew that's exactly what she would try to do. The other thing he knew for certain, was that if he ever got his hands on the bastard that did this to her... he would kill him.

TBC...