1Quick note about the inspiration for this one. I really liked the scene between Booth and Cam about Bones and how she stares at human remains. While I was watching that, in my mind I saw Bones studying Booth and his injuries in the hospital while he slept.

It could be sexual, but I just saw it as Bones being Bones. I also thought Booth would hold still (half-nervous, half-thrilled) because she was so close to him and wanted to see what she would do if given free reign. I hope you like it!

The music swelled as the closing credits began to roll, waking Temperance Brennen. For a moment she was disoriented, but quickly remembered where she was and sprinted across the room to turn the TV off. She sighed deeply and turned around to see if she had been fast enough.

She stared at Seeley Booth. He was still laying in the hospital bed, his breathing deep and even. At least he didn't wake up, she thought in relief. Looking at her watch she noticed it was after midnight. She should be at home getting some real sleep.

Brennen made her way back across the room to gather her things. As she turned to leave she noticed the remote still clutched in Booth's hand. I better move that, she thought. He might accidentally turn the TV back on in his sleep.

Brennen put her things back down on the chair and leaned over him to ease the remote out of his hand. Booth's grip tightened and he shifted slightly. Brennen held her breath for a moment. I can only imagine what he would think if he woke up and found me leaning over him like this, she thought.

She silently willed him to stay asleep, then exhaled slowly when she saw Booth relax again. Slightly irritated, she tried again, this time moving around to the other side of the bed and pulling up on his fingers. The remote slid out easily.

She put the remote on the table and moved the table to the end of the bed. As she walked back over to the chair to retrieve her things, she stopped for a moment and looked at Booth. Without realizing what she was doing, she began moving closer to him until she was standing right near the bed. The room was silent except for the soft beeps and whirrs coming from the machines monitoring Booth's vital signs.

She noticed the bruises on the hand she had just held. She leaned over him once again, murmuring as she did, "Burns. Lacerations." Her hand found its way from his hand, up his arm and across his chest, lightly skimming over his skin, stopping momentarily over each wound.

I always thought he was so slender, she told herself. But he has excellent definition in his biceps and deltoids. His pectoralis muscles are well-developed as well.

Her hand stopped on his side. "Two broken ribs," she whispered, leaning closer still. She moved her hand up near his neck. "Green stick fracture of the clavicle."

She tipped her face up and suddenly realized just how close she was to him. She could feel his breath on her face, see the stubble on his chin and count his eyelashes. She had never looked at him this closely for this long before. He had a round scar on his cheek that looked like he had scratched at a chicken pock when he was a kid. There was also a long thin scar that ran across the top of his left eyebrow. The bruises he had sustained from the bomb in her apartment were already starting to tinge yellow on the edges. He's a fast healer, she mused.

She reached up with both hands and gently ran her fingers along his jawline. With a sudden burst of affection, she gently kissed the middle of his forehead and whispered in his ear, "Thank you for saving my life, Seeley." Then she stood up quickly, grabbed her things and left, closing the door behind her.

As soon as he heard the door shut, Booth opened his eyes, sighed deeply and whispered, "You're welcome, Temperance."