Dear readers,

As a writer, I love me some juicy cliffhangers. As a reader... not so much.

So without further blah, blah, blah, let's go!

Joy entered her room and sat down on the bed. She was feeling off center and thoroughly confused. Why would her dad do something like this to her? She sat down on the bed and reached for the duvet, crawling underneath it, tucking herself in. What else had he not told her? Well, for starters, he hadn't told her what kind of danger she was in. He also hadn't told her who this friend was and why this person now knew that she was alive. What was the reason that this person had been told? Why had this person been told in the first place that she was dead? Her mind was spinning and she closed her eyes, clutching her pillow to herself. The moment she did, he appeared before her. It was the same kind, brown-eyed, dark-haired man who had come to her in her dreams for the last few months. What if it was him? What if he wasn't a dream? What if he was her friend? But he didn't feel like a friend. He - he felt like a lover. A forbidden lover even. She took a deep breath. This was ridiculous. He was a dream. He wasn't real. She started to recite the periodic table of elements, backward. It was one of the tricks Dr. Sweets had shown her to focus her mind if she got overwhelmed with information. It worked and several minutes later, she was calmer and tried to really digest the information she'd been given.

They were finally closing in on the cabin and Sweets cleared his throat. He was going to make an announcement that could send them back and undo all of the progress they had made. Then again, if he didn't and Booth found out about this from Dr. Brennan - or worse Max - then he would lose all of the credit he had. "Booth, there is one thing you have to know before you go in. Ever since her accident, I've been treating her. I've been trying to help her regain her memory and to adjust to her new life. My - my prognosis," he continued when Booth remained quiet, "isn't good. It's likely that she won't recover her memory."

A lengthy silence followed Sweets' statement as Booth tried to reconcile with the information he had just learned. "I don't know what you want me to do with that information Sweets. Even if she didn't recognize you, I'm grateful that there was at least someone that had her best interest at heart. Nevertheless, you have to understand that trust is something I don't really have for you. Not right now."

Sweets relaxed slightly. At least he was being honest. "I get that, Booth. I do. Is there anything else you want to know before we get there?"

He turned to the younger man, whom he had started to consider a brother over the years that they had worked together. "Yes. Can I trust you? Cause if not, then I don't need you in there."

Sweets hesitated, "Define trust, Booth."

Booth sighed. "I need to know that you have my back in there. That you will do whatever is best for her. I," he swallowed, "I realize I might come on too strong and I need you to make sure I don't overwhelm her too badly."

Sweets relaxed. "Yeah, I can do that, Booth. I have your back. I'll make sure this doesn't trigger a setback for Dr. Brennan."

"Good, that's all I need to know. Are we there yet?"

Sweets nodded. "Five more minutes."

The lights of the car were the first thing Max noticed and he grumbled underneath his breath. "Damn it, Booth. You should know better son." Well, at least this told him the kind of mindset he was in. Not wanting to let him anywhere near his daughter in that state of mind, he got up from the couch and went to stand outside to wait for him. The car stopped and when he saw that Sweets got out from the driver's side, he cursed again. "Damn, son. You should know better. Why is he even here? This isn't good for her."

"Max, I'm here because this is what she needs and you know it. I've told you this, again and again, she needs people around her who know her."

Booth got out of the car and looked at the cabin. There was a soft light shining through a crack in the curtains and it was surreal to think that Bones was in there. But he wasn't ready yet to deal with her. There was still too much rage, too much anger, distrust and betrayal there. And Max was not only a perfect but far more important, a worthy target for it.

"I am here, Max because some asshole made me believe that the woman I love, is dead! I know you think that you have special rights to here because you are her father. But we both know the truth," he told Max as he approached him. "The only reason you are here with her instead of me is because of her amnesia. If she understood what was going on, she wouldn't agree to it." He stopped in front of Max. "He knows it," he pointed to Sweets, "I know it. And you damn well know it too," he poked the other man's chest. "Now move."

Max looked up and said one word. "No."

Booth's knees felt weak when he finally heard her voice again. "What's going on out here?" Oh dear God, it truly was her voice. He felt his heart skip a beat as he slowly turned to face her.

"I said, what's going on out here?" she asked a little bit louder. She could see Dr. Sweets still standing beside the car. Her dad was standing in front of him and next to him was... Oh God, it was the man from her dreams. When he turned their eyes met and the pain that radiated from him, slammed into her. She could see he was unsteady on his feet and moved towards him. "Sir? Are you okay?"

It was all so wrong and yet, nothing could have felt better. "Bones," he breathed, "it's really you."

She turned to her father. "Him? You've been keeping him away from me? Why? I told you about him. He is the Mac 'n Cheese guy, isn't he?" Worried about the other man, who looked ready to collapse, she approached him and gently steadied him by putting her hands on his arms. "I'm sorry I don't remember you." She searched his eyes, hoping desperately for a hint of something, able to trigger her memory. "I didn't know about the lies they were telling. I didn't agree with that. I don't know your name, but I - I know you, don't I?"

She touched him and it was nearly impossible for him not to reach out. When she didn't give of any vibes of distrust or discomfort, he slowly leaned in.

He leaned in for a hug and without understanding it, without having a reason, she hugged him back. Her arms wrapped around him and she felt home. It was the strangest feeling of her life. And just like that, a name came to mind. "You're Booth." She whispered. "My Booth. And I'm your Bones."

A step in the right direction, dear readers!

I hope you enjoyed both the updates for today!

WHAK (with hugs and kisses)