TEMPE POV:
When I wake up I'm in a hospital. I hate hospitals. Some might find this odd seeing as I spend most
of my time in a morgue which is little more than a hospital itself but morgues for live people unnerve
me. I blink a few times and reach down to check why my side hurts but a hand stops me before I
can touch my wound.
"The doctor said not to let anyone but him touch it. May introduce infection." A familiar voice tells
me gently and lays my hand back on the bed but doesn't let go. I look to my left and see a tired
looking Booth sitting in a dirty hospital chair. "Hey, stranger. Look who finally woke up. Have a
nice nap?" He asks lightly.
"I don't know what that means. We're partners. And no, I did not have a nice nap. I woke up in a
hospital when I asked specifically not to end up in one." I glare at him. He returns the look.
"Bones, what was I supposed to do? Do you think I want you dead? You think it wouldn't kill me
to be responsible for not saving you? For getting you shot?" He asks angrily, letting go of my hand. I
miss the warmth and glance down at my hand. It looks like something I should be in the morgue
with. Dead. No polish. No ring. Just a dead hand, alone in the white folds of a hospital bed. For
some reason the thought saddens me and I start to cry again.
"I'm a responsibility. A liability." I want to wipe my tears away but then I'd have to move that dead,
awful hand. He takes care of it for me and wipes them away with the pad of his thumb. I'm shocked
by the familiarity of the gesture.
"God, Brennan. You just don't get it, do you? Always thinking of yourself." He lets out a humorless
laugh that sounds almost like a sob. "You don't have to be so goddamn strong all the time." He tells
me and reaches for my hand again but I reach over the plastic bed and hug him, letting my tears
soak his suit as he cradles my head into his chest. I cling to him and he holds me tightly. When my
tears finally stop I pull away, embarrassed for showing these emotions. I usually have so much self-
control.
"Alright, Booth. I'll let you…you know. Help me. Sometime." I say in my best business voice,
trying to ignore how raw I sound. He almost smiles and touches my hand again and laces his fingers
through mine. He leans in and kisses my forehead.
"Go to sleep, Bones. I'll make sure… I'll take care of you." I blush at his kiss, confused of his
intentions, but for once listen to him, closing my eyes, still holding his hand.
So? You like so far? Does it suck? I won't know unless you review!!