It was three hours later when Booth woke again, but he didn't know anyone had been trying to keep track.

He rubbed at his forehead, his skin slick from the fever. He felt terrible. It seemed he'd been given a terrible gift to go with the terrible holiday: the flu.

Looking down, he was surprised to see a blanket he usually kept in a chest covering him. Had he been so out of it, he didn't remember retrieving it? Sure, he'd felt terrible, not hearing Hannah as she'd packed her stuff to leave, but he didn't feel like he'd been that sound asleep.

He'd worried, at first, that the headache was indicative of another problem, but he'd had his annual appointment only the month before and been given a clean bill of health. The doctor had reassured him that his type of tumor, if it came back, was slow growing, so Booth was sure that wasn't the cause.

Knowing he needed medicine to fight the flu, he managed to sit up in bed, but stopped before rising to his feet. Why did he have a vague recollection of already taking something? And why did it feel like Bones had been there to give it to him?

"Damn fever," he muttered, pulling the blanket around his shoulders and staggering toward the living room.

Only to stop and lean against the doorframe in genuine shock. The tree, which he and Hannah had never taken the time to decorate was glowing with more white lights than he'd ever seen. It appeared as if every strand he owned had been strung amongst the branches.

And there were ornaments. Hockey ornaments he'd collected over the years and the handmade ones Parker presented to him each holiday. They were all there; the important ones and some he hadn't seen in years.

"Who? How?" he whispered, looking around his living room. Even the mess in the corner had disappeared. The book, that book he'd bought just to feel a little closer to Bones, was back in its place on the table. It appeared its impromptu flight and rough landing hadn't done any damage. Too bad. Booth wasn't sure he wanted a daily reminder of what he'd lost this holiday.

Except one of those things was sitting up on his couch watching him through tired eyes. She shook her head and blinked hard before jumping to her feet.

"Booth! Go back to bed. Now." Despite the force behind the order, he ignored it.

"Did you do this?" he asked. "And what are you doing here?"

"Go back to bed, Booth," she said again. Brennan was relieved that his confusion appeared to be gone. "And I'll answer your questions."

But he shook his head and came toward the couch. Quickly, she sat up and pulled her feet back to give him room. "I didn't mean to fall asleep, but I didn't get any last night and then there were things I needed to take care of here. I swear I only sat down a minute ago."

"You decorated my tree."

"You didn't," she answered. "Why wouldn't you decorate your tree? You love Christmas. It's your favorite."

He leaned back, his eyes looking nowhere but the tree in front of him. "Have you ever decorated a tree by yourself before?"

If he'd been looking, he would have seen the look of concern flash across her face. "Not by myself. Only with you. Did I do it wrong?"

The tone had him shifting his eyes toward her. "It's perfect, Bones. One of the best I've ever seen. But that doesn't explain what you're doing in my apartment. You were in Arizona less than a day ago. You sent an email."

"You're too sick for this now," she said, getting to her feet. "It's a bit too early for more medicine but you need to drink liquids or the fever will make you dehydrated."

Booth watched her, unable to believe she was actually in his apartment. "I'm hallucinating this because of the fever, right?"

From behind him she laid a cold hand against his warm forehead. "Your fever isn't that severe, Booth. I made an attempt to find a thermometer, but it seems you don't own one. Still, I don't believe your fever has reached dangerous levels. And with the fever, I don't think we have to worry that any other symptoms you have are from anything other than a virus. I'll get you some water and you can go back to bed. I can rest on the couch so I am nearby if you need something."

"You should have thrown that book away," he said. The sudden change of subject confused Brennan and she paused to see if he would clarify. Booth pushed at his with his foot, shoving it back to the floor. "You didn't need all those bad memories. God, Bones," he groaned, closing his eyes again, "I feel like I'm dying."

"You aren't," Brennan reassured him, handing over a glass of water. "You need to drink. It will help break the fever. As for the rest," she continued, bending over to pick the book up again, "we will talk about it later. I won't leave until we do."

He rolled the cool glass over his heated skin. "Okay," he said, not sure he believed her. And at that moment, he didn't have the energy to care.

If this was some version of a Christmas miracle, he'd take it. Bones was back in his apartment less than twenty-four hours after sending an email telling everyone she wouldn't be back. Given how the last few days had gone, he'd take whatever he could get.

"But I'm not going back to that bedroom. Not yet. I need to stare at this tree a little while longer." He turned toward her and his eyes held a childlike wonder that made her catch her breath. "It really is beautiful, Bones. A couple days ago, you said you didn't have a gift for me, but you were wrong. I couldn't have asked for anything better."

She pulled a blanket from the back of the couch and tucked it around him. "Just rest, Booth. I'll be here if you need something." Satisfied he was covered appropriately, she found one for herself and curled up in the chair near him. "If you need anything, please ask. Don't be your typically stubborn self and try to do more than you should."

He smiled in pleasure at the Bones lecture and turned back toward his gift. He'd meant what he told her, it was perfect. It was like she'd taken all the best parts of him and hung them from the branches.

Booth knew he should be more upset about Hannah leaving, and when he felt well again, he probably would be. But for the moment, he was content to pretend there was nothing going on in his life but Bones and the tree that lit his apartment with its soft glow.

Hard conversations would come in the next day or two, but for the moment he was content to allow his eyes to close, knowing Bones was closer than he'd dared to hope on his favorite day of the year.

Pleased to see that he was going to rest, Brennan closed her eyes as well, knowing that she had made the correct choice. It wasn't a dusty museum in Arizona that she needed. Booth's apartment was where she belonged.