Chapter 5

Booth helped Brennan into her apartment as she was still feeling dizzy from her ordeal and then went back to the SUV for their bags. He always carried a stocked overnight bag in his vehicle and never knew when he might need it. Back in the apartment, he was greeted by the sounds of running water and realized that Brennan was in the shower.

He called in to work to report his location, required whenever he was on an active case and also to Angela, letting her know of both Brennan's and Anna's progress. Hodgins answered the phone and took his message as he had already sent an exhausted Angela to bed. There was no news about the origin of the bomb so the investigation had ground to a sluggish halt. The worst part about that was that new movement on a case like this usually meant waiting for another bomb to go off.

They had identified Anna's grandparents but had as yet not been able to contact them. That, at least, was reassuring. With that done, he busied himself by putting his things into Brennan's guest room and went into the kitchen to make tea for them both. Brennan soon came out looking much better, wearing a comfortable set of flannel PJs. The heat of the shower had helped her muscles relax so she was able to walk more steadily.

"Here, have some tea. It should help you sleep," offered Booth, placing a mug beside the easy chair where she had just carefully settled herself.

"Thanks, Booth," replied a weary Brennan. As they sipped their tea in an easy companionable silence, she could feel the tension of her day slip away. After a few minutes, she finished her cup and began to yawn. Seeing her in danger of falling asleep in her chair, Booth helped her up, followed her into her bedroom and watched over her as she got herself comfortable in bed.

"Let me know if you need anything, Bones. Good night." Booth said, as he left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

"Good night, Booth," Brennan responded before imminent sleep caught up to her.

Booth cleaned up the tea mugs and checked out what Bones had available in her kitchen to prepare for breakfast in the morning. He found enough basics to make do, secured the apartment for the night and settled himself into the guest room. He changed into a tank-style undershirt and a pair of colorful PJ pants that featured little green alligators that had been a Christmas gift from Parker. He quickly finished writing up some case notes and was soon asleep.

A few hours later, Booth was jolted out of a sound sleep by a woman's voice screaming that he instantly recognized as Bones. He rushed into her cool darkened bedroom and found her thrashing about in her bed mumbling incoherently to herself, obviously in distress.

A recurring dream from childhood started its old repeating script. Even though a part of Brennan's mind recognized the scenario, she couldn't stop herself from feeling terrified. She was lost in the woods being followed by a pack of wolves that she could see only by their bright pairs of eyes and hearing them growl. They chased her through the brush. She screamed as she ran, feeling the branches whip and claw at her. Instead of screaming herself awake in a cold sweat, this time, it took an unusual turn. She stopped to catch her breath and suddenly, her mother was standing nearby looking just like she remembered. She even had her dolphin belt on.

"Temperance, stop running, dear. There's nothing to be afraid of – not anymore," her mother said, as she came forward to hold her frightened daughter in her arms.

"Mom, where were you? You never came back," said Brennan, with anguish in her voice and tears running down her face.

"It was for you and Russ – to protect you. You know we had no choice. I know you were hurt and angry for a long time. I'm so sorry," she said, "Always remember I love you. You'll understand when you find Beth."

"Beth? Who's Beth, Mom?" asked Brennan.

"She was your sister," Ruth Keenan said as she stepped away from her daughter and seemed to melt into the surrounding wood. Brennan tried to run after her, calling out "Mom" as she searched first one way and then another.

"Bones, Temperance…Temperance. You're safe. Nothing can hurt you," Booth called her name and hoped to calm her as quickly as possible, concerned that she would aggravate her injuries with her sudden movements. He was amazed that she wasn't already in severe pain as it was. He sat on the edge of her bed, gathered her up into his arms and continued to speak in reassuring tones while he stroked her back. At his touch, Brennan wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. Her ragged breathing soon slowed to an easier controlled rhythm. He could feel her breath on his neck and tears on her face slid down to be absorbed by his shirt.

After several minutes of being in Booth's arms, Brennan lifted her head from his shoulder, moved her cheek along his jaw line and found his lips with her own. Her increasingly passionate kiss eroded away the carefully laid controls he had created around his attraction to his brilliant and beautiful partner. Hastily patched cracks in his resolve to remain partners and "just friends" after the mistletoe kiss broke open and all restraint now crumbled to dust.

Booth happily enjoyed this unexpected fulfillment of a favorite fantasy when he realized something that regretfully caused him to rein back his unleashed passion. His experiences consoling Parker during night frights reminded him of the possibility that Brennan may not even be awake and aware of what was happening. Parker could be consoled, somehow knowing his father was with him and keeping him safe, but he usually didn't wake up from the trauma of his dreams.

He also knew that tonight was not the appropriate time for their relationship to advance in any way due to her injuries and other ever-present issues. Knowing she could respond to his touch in such an amazing way like this, gave him the strength to gently pull back. He fervently hoped he would have another opportunity when she was fully able to participate consciously.

"Bones, you need to sleep…you're safe," said Booth softly. He laid her gently back onto her pillow, smoothed her hair and gave her another kiss. With her eyes still closed and a smile on her face instead of tears, she gave a contented sigh as he pulled the bed covers back over her. Booth wondered if she had experienced their passionate moment within her dream and had the horrible fleeting thought that her dream rescuer might have been Sully.

At that moment, he heard her mumble as she felt him move away from her, suddenly feeling a cold chill, "Booth, stay with me!"

Feeling both foolish and relieved, he said, "I won't leave you, Bones, I promise." To keep his word, Booth fell asleep in a reclining chair in a corner of the large room.