This case was tough, tougher than usual. When dealing with death and murderers, it's never easy, but when you add viruses and personal relationships in the mix, it almost becomes unbearable.

Booth and Brennan have been together for two years now and Booth couldn't believe sometimes how truly lucky he was. The doctor from CDC mentioned it today and Booth couldn't agree more. He had a pinch of jealousy, though, Dr Jacobs clearly admired Bones and he certainly did notice not only her professional qualities, but personal as well. Not that Booth was worried that Bones was interested in that doctor, but sometimes he was concerned, that if she ever leaves him, it would be for someone like Dr Jacobs, her intellectual equal, or almost equal, because of course she was smarter. He wondered if someday Bones would wake up and realize that she was way out of Booth's league. He always had these worries, way before they became an actual couple, it was one of millions of reasons it took him ages to admit his own feelings for her. But now, when they were sitting in their favorite bar, having drinks after this hard day, he couldn't put a finger on why it mattered. She told him she loved him, she clearly wanted him in her life and Booth learned a long time ago, sometimes in a very hard way, that Bones would never be swayed to do something she doesn't want to.

They were laughing and talking and Bones looked at him with the same piercing eyes when she was thinking about something important. It was the same look she had when she saved his life or when she said she loved him for the very first time or, when today, she injected that jerk with a fake virus in order to save Arastoo's life. He found her irresistible during those times, she was beautiful and fierce, like a hurricane and God, during those moments he wanted her more than usual. He remembered the very first time she was like this, when she punched that judge during their first case, he called her hot that day, but it was an understatement. During their previous case she was worried that if she wasn't a nice person, Booth would leave her, which was, of course, impossible. Maybe she wasn't nice in a conventional way, but she was the bravest, most genuine, kind and loyal person he ever met and she was with him. He was indeed, the luckiest.

'What's on your mind, Bones?' he asked breaking her from her thoughts.

'The case, it was a close call today,' she said sipping on her beer.

'Yeah, well, at least it wasn't terrorism, just a regular son of a bitch case,' he shrugged.

'That's not what I meant, I mean, obviously, I am happy it is wasn't a terrorism and that nobody else got hurt, but I meant…Mr Vaziri. I am very happy that we found a way to help him.'

'You did, Bones. You did incredible back there,' he took her hand, smiling proudly at her, but she still had something on her mind. 'Hey, are you all right?'

'Yes. I am just…I know there is no point thinking about "what ifs", especially since everything is resolved. But I just can't help but thinking what if we were too late, Booth…I can't lose another intern, I just can't. Even though, obviously, it's not purely in my power, but I never wish to experience the same feeling I did when we lost Zack or Mr Nigel-Murray.'

He knew that, he knew that, even though she would never admit it, but Bones felt personal responsibility for Zack's condition and for English kid's death. They talked about it many times and he understood it very well, survival's guilt that what Sweets called it. He had the same thing with Teddy Parker and other people he was responsible for during his military times, hell he felt responsible for Vincent too, after all, it was Booth who Broadsky was targeting, everybody else were just caught in the middle.

'Hey, everything is good, Bones. Arastoo is with Cam and he will be fine soon.'

'I suppose you are correct,' she glanced at him, something else was clearly bothering her, but Booth didn't push her, he learned a long time ago that sometimes Bones needed a bit of time to tell what was on her mind. 'Booth, can I ask you a question?'

'Of course,' he smiled. 'Since when are you afraid asking me anything?'

'This topic is a bit controversial.'

'Bones, it's me, whatever it is I am happy to help!'

'Why didn't you ask me to marry you?'

'Excuse me?' whatever it was Booth did not expect this question. Here goes again, Bones knocked him off completely. Her face was calm and he didn't see any signs of anxiety he surely was showing.

'Well, I was just thinking,' she continued as if they were discussing the weather, while Booth felt hot and cold at the same time, was it really happening? Will she actually ask him to…No, Bones, is against marriage, she made it clear plenty of times, there has to be something else behind this question. 'You asked Rebecca to marry you, then you asked Hannah, but you never asked me, even though, I believe, we have what people call a serious relationship. I mean, I fully recollect that you want me to ask you, but I was just wondering why?'

'Do you want me to ask you to marry me?' he asked very carefully. He was feeling as he was on a very dangerous territory. One wrong move and Bones will take Christine and flee to Columbia or something.

'No, don't be absurd, you know that I don't believe in marriage, but I know you do and you asked other women, so I was wondering why not me?'

OK, Booth, you need to calm down and not fall on one knee and not to propose. This is Bones, she has to come to you, remember, otherwise, it will go to hell. And you can not screw up this relationship, not this one, it will literally kill you.

'Well, because, you said, plenty of times that you don't want to get married and I guess I accepted it. Where this all coming from, Bones?'

'I was just thinking back about our conversation in the jewelry store, that's it,' she shrugged and took another bite of her food. He could swear there was a faint blush on her cheeks. No, he was probably imagining things. 'As far as I know, Hannah was also against marriage and you asked her anyway.'

'Bones,' he sighed. It wasn't that they never talked about their previous relationships and it wasn't that Booth regretted that Hannah said no, especially now, because it was clearly a a mistake, but he didn't know how to make Bones understand without scaring her away. 'I asked her, because I never actually listened to what she wanted, as I told you before, our relationship…It was supposed to be a rebound, but I desperately tried to make it something it wasn't. With you…honestly, I am just happy to be with you and if you never want to get married it's completely fine, I promise. It's not because I don't want to…It's because I don't want to scare you away by pushing you too hard. I know you, I know that you love me and that us moving in together was a huge step for you and I am completely OK with it.'

'Good,' she smiled at him and then changed the subject just as abruptly as she started this one. He nodded and applauded to himself that he managed to navigate this touchy subject without any damage. If she is ever going to be ready, she will ask him, if not…well, he wasn't lying, he would never trade their life together for anything.