A/N: To my anonymous reviewer Mimi2020: Thanks for your explanation on "Mortality Rate". I should have done my homework thoroughly. Thanks for your review and to everyone else who reviewed anonymously. My apologizes to anyone if I missed thanking you individually. This is the most reviews I've ever received on one chapter. Thank you so much!

Booth has never held her hand before. If he had, he does not recall. He interlocked his fingers with hers, only there is no movement on her part. What he felt for Bones was a lot deeper and stronger than he let out. She was someone he could have spent his whole life with, to grow old together, to love until the end of time. On several occasions, he denied what he felt for her as she constantly popped into his head for no reason at all.

There were several things he wished he had done. He wished he had taken the courage to have pulled her into his arms and told her he loved her. He wished he had taken that one extra step, extra ten seconds to have admitted what he felt for her to her. There were so many things he regretted and he would indeed have jumped at the chance of having their destiny changed. But, he was afraid that fate had already taken her away from him.

He cleared his throat. "Temp, it's me. I'm here. Squeeze my hand if you can hear me."

Nothing. He lowered his head on the bed rail and cried silently. After several minutes, Booth raised his head, got up and pushed his chair back. Gently as if not to awaken her, he lowered the rail, sat on her bed, bent down and gave her a hug.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her ears. "I'm so sorry you're the one that's laid up here and not me. I'm sorry I didn't protect you. If I could trade places with you, I'd do so in a heartbeat. I wish I could take all of your pain away. I've loved you for so long. I've wasted a lot of time," he told her painfully, as he kissed her lightly on the lips. As he leaned back, a single tear fell from the left corner of her eye.

Bone's Thoughts

This is it, huh? Booth, I-I'm so tired and it hurts. So, this is goodbye. Remember me. I'm so glad you came into my life. You were the one person I was born to love. I wanted us to have built memories together. I love you, Booth. Don't cry for me. I may be leaving, but my love for you will be here to stay. I'll be around, only you won't be able to see me anymore."

Booth? Why can't you hear me? Booth?

End Of Thoughts

"You're not leaving me. You're not going anywhere. Bones, I can't imagine my life without you. I can't remember life without you."

Zack and Angela stood at the doorway and witnessed the whole scenario. They never expected to see this side of Special Agent Seely Booth, the side of him which showed his heart broken into a million tiny pieces before their very eyes.

Zack stood on one side of the bed and Angela stood next to Booth. He looked at the young man across of him. "I just can't go on without her." He then turned to Angela. "I can't."

"I know, we know," Angela whispered as she lightly rubbed his shoulders.

Booth and Bones were so afraid of emotions and feelings. They were both petrified of what was happening silently between them. Neither one could admit what they felt for each other. So, they worked side by side and kept their feelings to themselves. There were moments when they knew nothing mattered in their life but each other. They had no control over their emotions of their hearts. But, no one said a thing.

The three watched her as she laid still. Her screams could not be heard. No one knew the mountain of tears she's shed inside. If only they heard what was going through her head.

Bone's Thoughts

"I feel all of you by my side. Zack, Angela. Booth, I can't touch you. I can't stop crying over you. I'll miss the love I never got a chance to feel. Bones, teeth and sometimes cartilage...cause of death... asphyxiation, gunshot wound, stabbing, bludgeoned to death...I'd like to put my arms around you, comfort you and tell you everything will be alright. I love you. I wish you could hear me. I can't move. Help me find my way back. Back to you...manner of death...homicide, suicide, accidental, natural...Booth? I want you to hold me and never let me go. I seem to be drifting away...Booth?"

End Of Bone's Thoughts

He hung on to both of her hands tightly, didn't want to let go. If he did, he feared she will die. He felt sadness in his heart of a life that would never be, heartache for what could have been.

"I'll be by your side no matter how long it'll take for you to come to me. I'll be here, waiting for you."

Booth has never cried in front of anyone before. He doesn't care. Zack turned and walked out of the room with Angela not far behind as water leaked out from both of their eyes, also. He was consumed with anger. She did not deserve to have her life end like this. He wanted to keep her safe and sound, away from harm, but he couldn't and he didn't. He hated himself at that very moment for what she had gone through.

It rained hard that night. The sound of the rain against the window pane hit rapidly against the glass. Slowly, he walked towards it and stared out into the darkness. He thought just how precious the gift of life was and how he wished Bones would be with him to spend a lifetime with each other. It frightened him that there would be no "us" or "we" for a future together.

Bones heard the sound of pitter patter on the window. She crinkled her forehead, then slowly opened her eyes, looked around her hospital room and saw him as he stood by the window. As she painfully whispered his name, the sound of her voice sent chills throughout his body.

TBC - Chapter 3