CHAPTER 14 REVISED: If you've already read this chapter, no worries. No major plot changes.

Hey everyone! Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Cow's Ear! W00t, w00t. How fast did 2006 go, like whoa. What a quicky.

This chapter is looooong. It would have been longer, if not for my friend's, "OMG that IS long!" comment, which kind of made me panic just a little bit. So basically, all the gore is in the next chapter. Do you wanna know what the "gore" is? Well, too bad. I'm not telling! (I'm saying this like it's some awesome secret...lololol.)

A few realizations I have recently discovered:

- You know TV is bad when: a) the best thing worth watching is "The Life of Birds" on Animal Planet, and b.) you find yourself enjoying it.

- You know you've outgrown Christmas when: a) your mom has to drag you out of bed to open presents, and b.) you've seen all the movies on the Disney channel.(What?!)

Thanks to both my betas!

Enjoy, lovely BB worshippers.

Chapter Fourteen – The Isthmus between Doors

The wind was sharp and horrendously cold when the doors slid back and opened the night to them. Hours beyond nightfall, the stars above were almost heroic in their fight to break through the heavy fog that lay thick and oppressive around them.

Booth heard his own footsteps hit the ground with a dull thud, while the wheelchair rolled soundlessly over the ground, the slightly undulating path from the hospital smooth and recently paved. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dim lighting; the vapor lights lining the large parking lot murky and thick with glass, challenging any light to dare penetrate it. He made a quick scan across the front row of cars, the black SUV neither close nor far.

Temperance shifted in the uncomfortable seat, her shoulders hunching when she inhaled. Booth readjusted his grip on the worn handles, noting how every breath seemed to suck the air straight from her lungs. The cold bit at his face and he felt his cheeks sting when the wind picked up and whipped about his skin.

"Jesus, it's cold out here." He mumbled, wishing his bare arms weren't so bare at all.

Temperance smirked and rolled her head back to look at him, "You should have worn a coat."

Booth narrowed his eyes playfully, "You just watch out, Bones. You may find yourself sans coat soon." He pulled the wheelchair to a stop in front of the passenger door and lifted the bag from her lap.

"It will take more than a little cold wind to blow me down…" Temperance mimicked his earlier comment while snuggling deeper into the warm coat.

Booth snorted. "That doesn't even sound like me." He put his hand under the concealed door handle and opened the back door, throwing the bag in gruffly.

"It's physically impossible for me to emulate your voice, so of course I don't sound like you. And be careful with my bag. If I had china in there it would be in a hundred pieces by now." She grumbled, clicking her tongue disapprovingly at the rumpled duffle bag on the backseat.

Booth rolled his eyes at her. "The bag is full of clothes, Bones. And why would you have china in there anyway? Been throwing tea parties without me again?"

Tempe frowned. "What party?"

"That was a joke, Bones."

"Oh."

"Yeah..." He said, a small smile tugging on his lips. He opened the door to the front passenger seat and turned to her. "Ready to ditch this place?"

"I know what that one means…" Tempe answered proudly, standing on her feet and then sitting down abruptly, her hands clenching into fists at her temples when a wave of dizziness swept over her. "Uh."

"It's okay, Bones. You'll get stronger soon." He said quickly, the look of self-pity and disgust contorting her beautiful face.

"It's all the little things, Booth." She said, angry and frustrated with herself. "I can't even walk without needing someone to help me."

Booth crouched down in front of her, "I understand-"

"Do you?" She snapped at him. "Do you really?"

Booth sighed. She was tired and fed up, he knew. "Bones-"

"Do you know what it's like to wake up in a hospital, not knowing why you're there? Or having your chest cut opened and your heart prodded at? Or how about getting out of bed only to fall and break your arm like some incompetent fool?" Her eyes were wild with anger, her jaw clenched so tightly he thought she'd break teeth.

Booth was undaunted by her sudden outburst. He'd been waiting for it, expecting it even. "No. I don't know what it's like." He answered her honestly, keeping his voice low and calm – if only to subdue and soothe the thunderstorms raging in her head. "But I understand why you feel like you do, Bones." She glared at him, "You can hate and be angry and hold onto the unfairness of it all you like, but-"

"But it won't change anything." She finished his sentence, her brows drawn together in irritation. "I know." She breathed, "I know."

"It will change you if you let it, Temperance. And it won't be a good change."

"I want to change." She said defiantly, the edge to her voice betraying what little tolerance she had left.

"I won't let you." Booth answered, thick emotion swelling in his throat.

She shook her head and looked down, away from his eyes, a wall of loose hair falling over her face. Without thought, Booth swept the hair back and tucked it behind her ear. She looked up then, her eyes revealing the confusion and uncertainty her thoughts held. "Why are you doing this, Booth?" She asked desperately in a voice that was nothing more than a croaky whisper.

Booth flicked his eyes over her for a second and then pursed his lips and stood. "Give me your hand." He extended his own hand, his palms open and waiting for hers.

"Why?" She asked, completely baffled. He stood patiently, his hand still in the air.

"Take it."

She sighed impatiently, the anger that had pierced her seconds ago leaving her drained. She placed her free hand atop his, and he smiled down at her. She watched his fingers curl around hers and yelped in surprise when he tugged her to her feet, his grip tightening when she felt her knees give slightly. "Booth!?"

"I've gotcha, Bones." They stood there for a few seconds, Booth allowing Tempe to reacquaint herself with the new weight on her lower extremities. Her body was pressed snugly against his while Booth moved slowly, cautiously, the firm hold he had on her hand urging her onwards towards the door.

"Easy now, baby steps."

Realising what he was doing, Temperance panicked and squirmed under his hold. "I'm going to fall, Booth!" The beaten look adorning her face tugged painfully at his heart. She looked scared, her teeth worrying her bottom lip, and he mourned for the woman that used to be dauntless and recklessly independent.

Booth pulled her closer to his side, "No you're not. I'm right here. Don't stop moving." She took a deep breath, easing the tightly coiled rope of anxiety corroding at the lining of her stomach. She tentatively took another step, drawing confidence and reassurance from Booth's encouragement.

"That's it. We're almost there." He cheered softly in her ear when she managed another three steps almost on her own. "It's never as bad as you think, Temperance."

She turned her head at him briefly, the thoughtful expression on her face revealing she had reached some sort of conclusion. She squeezed his hand one last time before reaching out and putting her hand on the dashboard. Booth smiled. "That's my girl." He mumbled under his breath. Placing his hands on her hips, he gave her a small boost while she kicked off from the ground. She bit down on her lower lip, a look of wonderment on her face when she was seated.

Booth smiled at her. "You asked me why I'm doing this." Tempe cocked her head at him, remembering only now that the question had gone unanswered.

"Why?"

"We're partners." He stated simply.

"This goes beyond the call of partners, Booth."

"You and me – we're a team," he said, ignoring her comment. "We have to work together…as a team, as partners to solve cases, to work out solutions to problems that would otherwise go unsolved, questions that might remain answered. We work well together."

She eyed him warily. "I don't know what you're trying to say."

"You thought you couldn't get up and walk to the car. But you did."

She looked at the small distance she had traveled. "But with your help…"

Booth nodded, getting to his point. "It took teamwork, Bones. This is something you can't figure out on your own. You need me. I'm your partner."

"Booth-"

"Think about it." He insisted softly.

Temperance gazed at him intently, silently thinking this over in her head. Booth shuffled on his feet, the cold and her incisive stare making him nervous.

"Bones?"

She looked at him a moment longer, indefinable emotions lurking behind her eyes. Finally she nodded and let out a stream of air. "Okay."

"Okay?"

She smiled slowly at him. "Yes. Okay."

"Okay." He said, returning her smile. "Okay."

He shut the door and jogged around to the other side, muffling the jingle of his keys in his clenched hands. He got in swiftly, shutting out the cold and the wind from the interior of the car. "Need some help?" He asked as casually as he could, watching as she struggled to pull down her seatbelt, the bulky cast continuously getting in the way.

Temperance bit her lip and tugged again at the seatbelt that was now jammed. She leant her head back against the headrest, her face taut with suppressed tension. "Please."

Booth leant over, taking the belt wordlessly from her and pulling it down in one fluid motion. She said nothing when he slipped the vertical part of the belt behind her head, tightening the one over her waist so she was still relatively safe.

"Thanks." She mumbled, a faint blush tinting her pale cheeks despite his obvious nonchalant manner. Booth thought it rather endearing.

He sensed her discomfort and turned his attention in reversing the car. "I was nine when I broke my arm." He reminisced, "Fell out of a tree." He wiggled his right arm slightly, indicating the one he had broken. "Hurt like hell."

"Why were you in a tree?"

"It's just what kids do. Missed a whole season of Baseball too."

"You must have been devastated." Tempe remarked dryly, unable to keep her eyes from straying to the ripped muscles of his arm. They bunched and tensed when he turned the wheel, contracting and defined in their shape. She averted her gaze quickly, chiding herself for checking out her partner. Her cheeks grew warmer at the thought of him catching her checking him out.

Booth grinned ruefully at her, oblivious to the thoughts that addled her brain. "As soon as the cast came off, I broke three fingers when my bike tipped sideways on my way to school."

Temperance yawned and felt heavy tears gather in the corners of her eyes. She blinked them away. "It sounds like you were a problematic child."

He chuckled in memory. "Ahh, but I got to miss two days of school, so it was worth it."

"I liked school." She responded flatly. Tempe turned in her seat and pressed her forehead to the cool glass, watching everything pass in a blur.

"Of course you did." She didn't reply so he concentrated on driving, a little confused by her sudden mood change. When ten minutes had passed, he glanced sideways at her, noting how she stared almost forlornly at the passing scenery. This was the first excursion out of the hospital since she had been admitted a month or so ago. He wondered briefly if it was too soon for her.

The night was so black that the lights of the city did nothing to obstruct her reflection in the window pane and he caught her eyes as he watched her. She gave him a small smile, turning her gaze back to the streets, her expression sobering far too quickly in his opinion.

Booth's stomach growled loudly and he flushed in embarrassment when she turned to him with an amused smile. "Hungry?"

"Starving. How about some dinner?"

"I could eat." She replied absently, checking the time on the dash. Glowing red numbers revealed 7:39.

"Well, since it's your first night on the loose again, how about some takeaway? Thai?"

She shook her head. "We always have that, let's have something different."

"Mexican?" She nodded her approval.

Booth slowed the car at the corner and parked in front of El Torito's.

"I'll just be a minute." He said, stepping out of the SUV and making his way into the restaurant. Tempe sighed and leant her head against the window. He had left the car running, and the hot air that blew from the vents left her feeling drowsy and limp. She was lulled to sleep within minutes.

Booth emerged thirteen minutes later carrying two white bags in each hand. As he drew near, he saw Tempe slumped against her door, her eyes shut and her chest rising with each breath. He got in as silently as possible, smiling at her tenderly. Her mouth was open slightly, her forehead creasing when he shut the door. He held his breath and let it out when he saw that she remained asleep, the creases disappearing on her skin. He watched her a few more seconds, loving the way her thick lashes danced over skin as she dreamt. He finally pulled his growing fascination away from her and settled himself in for the short drive to her apartment.

Booth shut the engine off and contemplated his next move. Tempe was still sleeping soundly at his side, and he was hesitant to wake her. Deciding that he'd take all the bags up first and then come back for her, he reached behind him and grabbed the bags littering the backseat. The smell of spices and peppers wafted up his nose when he pulled the bag containing the food close, and he inhaled deeply in appreciation. He shut the door, locked it and spared one last glance at Tempe before heading up to her apartment.

He jogged back to the SUV after dumping the bags, wanting to get Tempe settled quickly before their food got cold. He opened her door and stepped immediately closer so he would catch her slumped form. Her head landed softly against his chest and she let out a little sigh of warm breath that tickled his throat. "Bones?"

"Mmmm?"

"We're home." He leant his arm over and unbuckled her seatbelt, talking to her to draw her out of her sleepy stupor. "C'mon sleepy-head. Wake up." He felt her screw her face up against his neck and he smiled at her resistance. "Bones?"

"Nicht jetzt." She mumbled, swatting his hand when he placed it on her shoulder to turn her around.

Booth raised his eyebrows. "Was that German?"

"Hmmmm?" Her eyelids fluttered briefly before she dozed off again.

"It's going down like that then, huh?" He said to her as she snored softly against his shirt. "The things I do for you, Bones." He slid his arm beneath her thighs and scooped her off the seat and brought her to his body. She was as light as a feather, which didn't surprise him much, considering her recent weight loss, but the unexpected fragility of her frightened him more than anything. She looked so vulnerable when she was sleeping, and he was overwhelmed with the need to protect her.

Finding warmth in Booth's body, Tempe snuggled and curved herself more firmly into him, unaware of the intimacy of the action. Booth kicked the door shut with his foot, careful to keep his balance. He had parked reasonably close to the front door of the building, and the journey from his car wasn't long. Thankfully, no one lurked in the foyer and he reached the elevator without crossing another inhabitant.

As they ascended to the fifth floor, Booth became aware of Temperance stiffening in his arms. He looked down and saw her gazing up at him curiously. "Booth?" She lifted her head and peered around at the change in location.

"You refused to wake up." He explained sheepishly.

"I'm awake. I can stand." She put her hands on his chest and pushed gently, coaxing him to let go.

He looked uncertain for a moment. "Okay." He lowered her to her feet, keeping his arm around her waist for support.

Booth watched her as she swept her gaze around the small area. "What?"

"Where are the bags?"

"Took them up already."

"Oh…" She bit her lip, aiding in her pensive expression. "You know - I wasn't actually sleeping…"

Booth guffawed. "So were."

Tempe looked affronted at his unjust remark. "I was merely resting my eyes…"

Booth grinned and said nothing.

"I was!"

"Oh, I believe you." He jeered. Temperance was about to answer when the doors slid open and Booth ushered her out. An older woman nodded at them when they passed in the hallway, and Tempe shook his arm from around her, hissing in his ear, "People are going to think we're together!"

Surprised, but undeterred, Booth quickly put his arm back around her waist and tugged her to walk beside him. "I don't have cooties you know. And we are together."

"I mean together together."

Booth slipped his hand into his back pocket and produced his set of keys. He turned his head, intending to make a wisecrack remark, only to find her face an inch away from his. He could feel her sweet breath hit his lips provocatively, and he strained against his instincts to lean forward and press his lips against hers. "Why does it matter what other people think?" He said finally.

"They might get the wrong idea."

"So what if they do?" He flicked his eyes down to her lips and then back up to her eyes. "Does it really matter?" She broke eye contact and opted to stare at the door.

"Booth?"

"Yeah?"

"The door?"

He cleared his throat. "Right." He slipped the key in and turned, opening the door wide enough for both of them to enter. "Home sweet home."

"Home." Tempe said softly, looking around at the familiar surroundings. Everything was as she had last seen it…but somehow it was different. She took a deep breath, the smells of her apartment welcoming.

"Your bag is in your room."

"Thanks, Booth…hey, what's that?" she asked, pointing to a small device on the counter.

"A gift from Hodgins." Booth directed her to sit down on one of the bar stools. "It's a blood pressure monitor. It's gonna save us a few hospital trips."

Tempe's eyes widened when she saw the price tag still attached to the box. "Nine-hundred and fifty dollars is a lot for a gift."

"He wanted only the best for you. That's crazy billionaires for you." Booth said, sorting through the takeout and placing it in front of them. "I tried to tell him you were a cheap dat-"

"Hey!" Tempe punched his arm and he winched, rubbing at the sore spot.

"That's gonna bruise." He grumbled, though he was smiling.

"Baby."

"Your punches hurt."

She grinned sinisterly. "So do my kicks."

"I hope I never have to confirm that." He bit into his over-filled Taco, groaning when the flavours assaulted his taste buds. "S'good."

Swallowing a mouthful of her Burrito, Tempe stared at him seriously and asked, "Booth?"

"Mmmm?"

"What are cooties?"

Booth laughed and scratched the back of his head, trying to figure out a suitable definition. "I'll ask Parker when I phone him tomorrow."

Temperance raised a slender eyebrow. "Parker knows but you don't?"

"It's a kid thing."

They spent the next twenty minutes talking idly, taking their time with their dinner.

When they were done, Booth gathered the used takeaway boxes and threw them into the bin, wiping the counter as an after-thought.

"Booth?"

"Ya-huh?" He answered distractedly.

"I'm sorry about earlier…for you know, snapping at you-"

He froze then resumed his cleaning. "I know. It's okay."

Tempe fiddled with the cuff from the pressure monitor. "Sure?"

Booth turned and smiled reassuringly at her. "I'm sure." He watched her playing with the cuff. "You're supposed to measure your heart-rate when you're relaxed, so how about a movie before bed?"

Tempe shot him a quizzical look. "I don't have a TV, though…"

Booth grinned devilishly at her while he grabbed hold of her hand. "Come with me." Tempe eased off the stool with help from Booth and allowed him to direct her towards her living room.

"Ta-da!" He exclaimed when she saw the flat screen set up in the corner of the room.

Temperance gaped at the sheer quantity of it. "How did I miss that when I walked in?"

"God only knows." He mystified with her. "But you didn't really expect me to read all day, did you?"

"I hadn't really thought about it."

"Possible boredom is a powerful motivator." Booth said wisely.

Temperance wrinkled her nose. "That doesn't even make sense."

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Does-"

"Not this again."

"You started it." He teased.

"Did not."

"Did t-"

"BOOTH!"

Booth grinned widely at her and raised his hands in a gesture of defeat. "Alright."

"You're incorrigible."

"I try to be." Tempe smacked him in the stomach. "Ouch, Bones. You gotta stop doing that. I'm going to be black and blue by morning."

Tempe laughed at his choice of words.

"I didn't mean it like that…" Booth corrected himself with a wince.

Temperance sat down gingerly, gripping the armrest of the couch for support. "I'll let this one slide." She said graciously, though the smirk shone through.

Booth blew out a breath in relief. He didn't know if he would have survived that bout of teasing. "Anything in particular you want to watch?"

"I don't mind. You have more brain activity while you sleep than while you're watching TV, so-"

"Hey, Bones? Booth interrupted.

"Yes?"

"We do not speak ill of the TV…" He walked over to it and gave it an affectionate pat, "ever."

Tempe cocked her head at him. "You're joking, right?"

Booth shook his head fervently and mouth 'No.'

"Why aren't you talking?"

"It might hear us." He answered in a hushed whisper. Tempe rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at him. He dodged it and the pillow hit the expansive black screen.

He turned his gaze to her with wide eyes. "Oh, you've done it now."

They ended up watching The National Geographic channel, much to Booth's chagrin. He didn't mind too much though; if it made his partner happy, then he was willing to submit himself to educational programs. He could feel Tempe struggle with her ever-growing fatigue and he got up without a word. She tipped a little to the side when his weight left the couch, and through heavy lids, she watched him re-emerge from the kitchen. He handed her a glass of water and offered her the prescribed medication in his palm. "Before you fall asleep."

She smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks." She took the water and gulped down the pills. Booth got up again, returning this time with the Electronic Blood Pressure Monitor. "Now?" She asked sleepily, the painkillers kicking in already.

"Get used to it, Bones. We have to do this three times a day." She was still cocooned within his green jacket, and seemingly too dazed to realise the need to take it off, Booth unzipped the jacket and helped her ease her arm out from it.

"How's your arm?" He asked, tapping her cast.

"Numb." She answered groggily.

Booth untangled the rubber tubes and strapped the cuff around her upper arm. He pressed a few buttons on the monitor and it instantly began inflating. Tempe let her head fall back against the couch, and Booth admired the exposed column of her throat. The cuff stopped inflating and began reading her pressure. "It's not hurting, is it?"

"No. Just uncomfortable."

The cuff deflated and she released a breath. "Did I pass?" She joked as he scanned the results on the screen.

"With flying colors." Booth smiled, removing the cuff from around her arm. He packed the device back into the box and settled it on the floor. "You okay?" He inquired worriedly, watching as she rubbed her stomach softly.

"Just a bit sore. Ate too much."

"You hardly ate a thing." He countered.

"Booth, I'm fine. Stop fussing." Booth sighed and leant back. Tempe instantly felt guilty. "Really, I'm fine." She insisted.

"Okay, Bones." He gave her a small smile and she relaxed. "Can I sign your cast?"

"Ah, sure. Go ahead." He smiled broadly at her and produced a black sharpie from his pocket. Tempe chuckled. "Have you been planning this?"

"So what if I have?" Booth replied, drawing a huge bone in the middle of her cast. Inside it, he wrote 'BONES' in block letters. "There!"

"Very original." Tempe praised, snorting when he added a smiley face within the 'O'.

"I'm no where as close to Angela's talent, but I'm pretty high up there." He told her modestly, getting a small laugh out of her. He smiled back at her and they went back to watching the doco that was playing.

After ten minutes, Booth felt Tempe's head fall softly on his shoulder. He smiled down at her and brushed a few loose strands back off her forehead. Try as Tempe might to convince him otherwise, her stomach ache worried him. Trigger sensitive to her health, anything even remotely off caused slight alarm in his head. He watched her breathe, in and out, straining to hear any hint of a wheeze in her lungs. He scrutinized her for a long time, not sure if the greenish hue to her skin was real or something he was imagining. Stop it, Seeley. She's fine.

He stood and scooped her up into his arms once again, safe in the knowledge that she was out for the night thanks to the pain meds. He carried her down the hall to her bedroom, lit only by the faint glow of the moon that crawled through the cracks in her sheer curtains. He lowered her gently onto the bed, fluffing two pillows on each side of her before pulling the covers up to her waist. He lifted her broken arm and nestled it on top of her left pillow, as the nurse had instructed him that afternoon.

Once he was sure she was comfortable, he leaned down and kissed her forehead softly, watching as she smiled faintly in her sleep. "Goodnight, Bones." He whispered, easing out of the room quietly, the door half-open. Just in case.

Anyone else fifty pounds heavier after Christmas dinner?

Quick, who do we blame!? (Points to Jesus) Yes you.

Also: sfhslkhfkshfkhfksfh to LJ overrides. Yah cranky bumnut.