My usual thank yous to amblue36, bokwormlady, Pacicos (thanks, yeah fan fic is helping me get through season 6 as well), omslagspapper (yeah Booth hasn't been too Boothy this season), Nedra1212, horseninja, nertooold54, Cremant, luckywynner86, Mezzo187 (yup agree with you), wazo29 (yeah Booth's gonna need help once he's discharged but not yet), bonesweet21 (appreciate the time and trouble you took to review), Tango Mike Charlie, MMWillow13 (lol), Ger (I think Booth's condition is pretty bad for now), mendenbar (totally agree), KeepBreathing3

And to everyone else who added me to story alerts, author alerts, fave stories, author, thank you all too.

Booth slept a dreamless sleep this time. When he woke he was admittedly feeling much better. He opened his heavy eyes, expecting to see Brennan sitting beside him, but was disappointed to find that he was alone in his room.

Had she really left? Wasn't that what he wanted? He closed his eyes, trying to convince himself that this was the best for her.

He heard footsteps and opened his eyes.

"I see you're up." Veronica came in, her usual cheery self. Before he could ask, Veronica answered the question in his head. "Temperance had to take a call outside. Won't be long before she's back."

Booth sighed. He wasn't sure himself if it was out of relief or because he was upset that she had stayed, that she had to be stuck with him.

"You up to try something to drink?"

"Yeah." Booth replied.

Veronica held a straw to Booth's lips and he took a sip, relishing the feel of cool water sliding down his parched throat.

"You know Temperance has been here everyday since she got back from Indonesia. She's only left you once for that couple of hours, when your brother came by. If that isn't love and commitment I don't know what is."

"She shouldn't get stuck with someone like me."

"Someone like you?"

"I'm just… I mean I don't even know if I'm gonna be ok, I haven't had a chance to ask. What if I can't take care of her? What if she's stuck with some invalid for the rest of her life?"

"Shouldn't that be up to her to decide?"

"I just – " Booth lifted his hand, then realizing he was no longer restrained. His arms felt heavy and it hurt to breathe and even move.

"You seem to do so much better when she's here."

Veronica left Booth alone to his thoughts again. If he had been truthful to himself he wanted her, wanted to be with her. Selfishly so.

Brennan returned, offering him a cautious smile. "Good to see you're up."

"How long was I sleeping?"

"The entire night."

"Thanks for staying."

"Told you I wasn't going to leave."

They shared a moment, eye contact, exchanging smiles.

"That was Angela."

"She and Hodgins, they're still in Paris?"

"Yes but they're on their way home. They heard what happened and they're coming to see you. They had been thinking about coming home anyway, now's a good a time as any for them to. They're eager to be working together with us again."

Booth bowed his head. He didn't wanna tell her he wasn't sure if that was going to be possible.

"I talked to Cam too. She said once you're ready, she'd like to come see you. But only if you're out of intensive care. You aren't allowed too many visitors while you're in here."

"Yeah I'm working on getting out of here." Booth quirked a smile, before growing serious. "Bones, look I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"Last night, what you asked me."

"I wasn't being fair to you. I shouldn't be pushing you into something you don't want, you should work on your recovery."

Booth shook his head. "No. I wasn't fair to you too. When I asked you for a chance, I… I tried to push you too…"

Brennan nodded. Booth sighed. Why did they have to make things so hard for each other? Why was he denying himself? Denying her what she wanted. Didn't he always believe they had it in them to work through anything? Why was he doubtful now?

"Ah, Veronica told me you were up and a lot more alert now." Booth's thoughts were interrupted. "I'm glad to finally be able to see my patient awake. I'm Dr Casey, your attending physician. How are you feeling?"

"Hurts pretty much everywhere."

"Given the injuries you suffered, unless we keep you heavily sedated, you're bound to be in some pain."

Booth nodded his understanding. "So what's the damage doc?"

Dr Casey glanced at Brennan.

"I haven't had the chance to tell him much," she said.

"You okay with Dr Brennan being here? She told me you were work partners."

"Yeah, she can stay, that is if she wants to."

"I'd like to stay Booth." Brennan offered Booth a small smile.

"Do you remember what happened?" Dr Casey began.

"I remember us being in the humvee, then the explosion, getting blown up. I was in and out of it for a long time, remember being in hospital but I can't remember comin' home. I kept thinking my legs got blown off, and I was dying. But I guess what I recall isn't accurate since I've still got both my legs."

"Yes, you suffered a concussion. That plus your history of brain surgery, it can mess with your memory a little. I don't think there's lasting damage to your brain but like I said given your history, we can't be too careful when it comes to your head."

"Yeah. My leg hurts like a sonva' bitch and hurts to breathe."

"We've got you on a continuous infusion of morphine and if the pain gets too bad, you can push this button," Dr Casey held the plunger with the button to the syringe pump that would deliver the extra doses of painkiller to him. "Don't worry its smart enough to make sure you don't overdose yourself."

"There's gotta more. I got blown up, I know. No need to sugar-coat anything."

"You had massive internal injuries. You lost a lot of blood. We had to remove a part of your liver and one of your kidneys."

"But humans have an extra kidney anyway, so there won't be any repercussions." Brennan was quick to add.

Dr Casey continued. "Up to a certain percentage of the liver can be removed without lasting consequences as well, you were fortunate we were able to stop the bleeding by removing only part of it, I doubt there would be lasting effects. But I would advise you to exercise caution, hepatitis or damage from too much alcohol would do you in, so no unprotected sex or well some people turn to the bottle to help them cope. I advise you not to."

"I don't – " Booth glanced at Brennan, who had an amused look on her face. "you know."

"Booth isn't the type of guy to carry out those activities."

Dr Casey unfazed, continued. "The pain you're feeling each time you take a breath is courtesy of your broken ribs and collapsed lung. These would heal completely in time. Your left leg was fractured and almost severed above the knee."

The doctor paused, allowing Booth time to take in the news.

"I'm no scientist or doctor but that doesn't sound good."

"The military doctors in Afghanistan tried their best to save your leg, and when you got back home we had to operate on it again. At this point, I'm not going to say that you're going to regain a hundred percent of function back in your leg but with intensive physical therapy once you're up to it, I'd say walking with some sort of walking-aids would be a reasonable prognosis."

Booth shut his eyes. All he heard was that he would probably never be a field agent again. That is if the FBI even wanted him back.

"But there is a chance that he'll be back to his old self. No need for walking-aids, he'll be able to run and jump and do the things he used to."

"I'm not ruling that out, you're right Dr Brennan. It's a little premature to say for certain and I don't want to get Sergeant Booth's hopes up."

Booth shook his head, opening his eyes an offering a bitter smile. "It's just Booth. I'm probably gonna be honorably discharged and get some crappy medal which in real life doesn't translate to much."

"Nothing's impossible Booth, you just need to believe. You'll be ok." Brennan replied, moving to take his hand giving it a comforting squeeze. "You taught me that." She added softly.

"That aside. I'm glad to see you vitals are back to normal. By tomorrow if everything remains the same, and your blood work comes back clear we can move you out of intensive care."

"That is good news." Brennan said.

"You need to get your rest and your strength up. Once your other injuries heal, we can work on physical therapy; get you back on your feet. Was there anything else Mr Booth?"

"No. hank you Dr Casey."

"I know all this seems much to you right now, and I can tell that before this you were in good physical condition and led an active life. This could all work for you, you just need some time. Don't be too hard on yourself, you almost died. Don't be impatient, it'll be a long road to recovery but you'll get there."

With those words, Cr Casey left leaving Booth and Brennan alone again.

A million thoughts assaulted his mind. He was going to be some guy with a gimped leg. Would people look at him different? And Parker? Would he still want a father who couldn't walk without help? Being with Brennan was going to be out of the question, she didn't deserve this.

"Booth?"

"Yeah?" he replied without opening his eyes.

"Don't think too hard."

Booth gave a sad smile, opening his eyes to her. "This would be a first, you asking me not to think too hard. You heard what the doctor said."

"Yes he said you'd recover. You almost died. I almost – " Brennan choked back a sob, "almost lost you."

Booth's heart broke. "I'm sorry for putting you through this."

"No, you're here now, but I'm not losing you again."

"What are you saying Bones?"

"I'm saying I want to be with you, same as I did yesterday. But I understand I shouldn't push you, so I'll give you the time you need, and I'll be waiting."

"Forget it Bones, didn't you hear what Dr Casey said?"

"I did loud and clear."

"It's gonna be a long road to recovery. And he's not even sure I'd get back to a hundred percent."

"I can wait. I've got thirty, or forty or fifty years. And I don't need a hundred percent."

"I may never be the Booth you knew."

"On the outside you might be different but on the inside I know you're the same."

"You don't deserve this. You don't need the burden of someone like me."

"I once believed that no one could possibly love me. My parents and my brother walked out on me, there had to be something terribly wrong with me for them to do something like that. As a result of them leaving me, I protected myself, never let anyone get close. But you came along. You were annoying and obnoxious. You made me so mad sometimes. But you showed me, all these years that despite what I thought of myself, despite all my faults and defects, it was possible for you to love me. Don't you see Booth? It's the same for me. Despite what you were or are going to be, I love you."

Booth's heart skipped a beat. She loved him? Why'd she have to say it now?

"I found it hard to believe then that anyone could love me, but you made me believe. Let me make you believe."

Booth was torn. He wanted to say yes, that very thing he had wanted for so many years was now within reach but he wanted what was best for her too.

"This can't be what's best for you."

"Just a chance Booth. Like you asked. We owe it to us to give ourselves a chance."

He looked at her blue eyes, brimming with tears. Something inside him cracked. How could he say no to her?

"Thirty, or forty or fifty years huh?"

"Yes."

Suddenly Booth was filled with hope and a determination never to let this woman down again. "I knew right from the beginning. I still know."

Brennan smiled, tears of relief falling from her face. He still loved her. She placed a light kiss to his lips, but he slid one hand into her hair, pressing her lips firmly to his.

"Just one condition Bones. This isn't gonna be easy, so if ever you feel like you want out – "

"While I can't fight the laws of physics dictating that entropy must take place, this happening to you being the prime example of the fact, I can assure you that I will not change my mind. I know it's not fair to ask the same of you – "

"No Bones. We're gonna be together for the next fifty years. The only reason we won't be is if I'm dead."

"Booth!"

He offered a playful smile. "I'm just saying. I mean maybe I won't live till ninety, so…"

"Thank you Booth for giving us a chance."

"Thank you Bones, for giving us a chance, for not giving up on me."

I do hope this chapter was satisfactory. I noticed when I leave a cliffhanger, I get more reviews, so prove me wrong guys.

Next chapter, Booth gets more visitors, don't worry it'll be people we like, as he works on his long road to recovery.