A/N: Thanks for all the encouraging reviews. This is the first time I have attempted to write a Bones fic and I just hope I'm doing them justice.
The hockey game on the television could be heard as the two partners stared at each other in silence. Having a young child Booth was well aware of the symptoms of the flu as Parker seemed to pick up a new bug every week. The sneeze, the lack of appetite and her flushed and clammy skin were clear signs that she wasn't well.
"If anyone were to know if I was unwell it would be me," she said crossing her arms defiantly across her chest.
"You, someone who hasn't been sick in fifteen years," he scoffed, "You're sick Bones, there's nothing wrong with that."
"There is because I am not," she huffed, "Just go back to watching your game Booth, I'm fine."
He knew she was independent and hated to show her weaknesses but it frustrated him to no end that she would never voluntarily ask for help. He didn't know that much about her past as she was tight lipped about what had happened after her parents had abandoned her and her brother but Booth knew that she was used to looking after herself. He had always felt this odd protectiveness of her and it was one of the reasons he was glad she wasn't allowed to carry a gun because it meant that she relied on him to protect her.
"Fine," he sighed, "But if you need anything I'm right here."
He couldn't push her as he knew it would only force her to retreat further and if she was truly feeling bad he didn't want her to have to face it alone.
"You know anthropologically speaking this game provides a fascinating example of males fighting for the alpha status," she said.
He didn't say anything but simply raised his eyebrows at her. He recognised that she was trying to change the subject and this time he let her do it. If she wanted to pretend she was fine then he would let her for the time being. He knew what the flu was like and it always got worse before it got better so he would let her pretend while she still could.
At half time he was frustrated and groaned when his team let in one more goal as the buzzer sounded. Brennan had been uncharacteristically quiet after their argument and he had let her be hoping that if he left her alone for awhile she would admit she was feeling unwell.
"You feel like some half time snacks Bones? I'm hoping room service serves pie because I'm in some serious need of some cheering up after that craptastic performance," he asked casting his glance over to his partner.
She was lying on her side facing him with her eyes closed. He could tell by the steady rise and fall of her chest that she was asleep and it gave him the opportunity to study her without her knowing. The pink flush of fever on her cheeks gave her an almost childlike innocent glow and he resisted the urge to run his fingers over the contours of her defined cheekbones. He could see just by looking at her that her normally pale skin was paler than usual and her forehead was beaded with sweat.
Booth thought she looked beautiful.
Sweets had written in his book that Booth had 'white knight' syndrome and in that moment he had to agree. Looking at her brow that was slightly crumpled in discomfort Booth wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in his arms and make all her pain go away, physical and otherwise.
He hopped off the bed as gingerly as he could so that he wouldn't wake her and headed over to where a phone sat on the small coffee table. He pressed the speed dial that would connect him with the front desk and looked back over to the bed as the phone rang. The forensic anthropologist gave a throaty cough that seemed to reverberate through her whole body and for a moment Booth thought that she would wake but she simply shifted so that she was lying on her back and slept on. His attention was drawn back to the phone when a voice sounded on the other end.
"Uh yes hi this is Seeley Booth I'm calling from room 409," he said softly.
"Room 409 let me just pull up the details," the lady on the other end said, "You said your name was Seeley Booth?" she asked after a moment, "We have a Dr. Temperance Brennan booked into that suite."
"Yes I'm Dr. Brennan's partner," he said hoping to abate her suspicious tone.
"Oh, my apologies sir I wasn't aware Dr. Brennan would be having company," the concierge said.
"No, not company in that sense," he blushed, "We work together, I'm from the FBI and Dr. Brennan is my work partner."
"Of course sir," she said knowingly, "What can I do for you this evening?"
"Dr. Brennan isn't feeling very well and I was wondering if there was any way I could get a thermometer and some Advil sent up to her room."
"I'm sorry to hear Dr. Brennan isn't well," the concierge said apologetically, "We can have those things up to her room immediately."
"Thank you very much," Booth said sincerely.
"No trouble at all sir," she said, "And please tell Dr. Brennan we hope she feels better soon."
"I will thank you," Booth said hanging up.
Booth headed into the bathroom and ran a washcloth under the cold water. After wringing it out over the sink he walked back into the room and sat carefully on the side of the bed. He studied her sleeping face carefully, brushing away a lock of sweaty hair that fallen into her eyes. Booth knew that he loved her. He had known from the very first case they had solved together. He knew that she was afraid to give herself completely to another person after all the betrayal she had faced in the past. Sweets had told him to give it time and he was more than prepared to do just that. Even after she had told him she didn't want to take their relationship to the next level somehow he was still confident that one day they would be together in the capacity he wanted.
He gently placed the cool washcloth on her forehead hoping that it would help to cool her fever. Her eyes fluttered when the cool material touched her skin and he smiled softly down as he was greeted with the fever bright blue eyes of his partner.
"Hey Bones," he said softly.
"Booth?" she asked groggily, "What's going on?"
"You're sick Bones," he said holding the washcloth to her head as she tried to brush it off.
"No I'm not," she protested, her childlike pout making me smile.
"Whatever you say," he chuckled, "But to keep me happy just keep this on for a bit."
"I don't need it," she moped.
"I know you don't but just do it," he said, "For me."
"Okay Booth," she sighed after a moment her eyes drooping closed.
"It's okay Bones you can go back to sleep," he said softly.
"Night Booth," she said breathily only to jump awake a moment later when a knock sounded at the door, "Who is that?"
"Just some room service," he told her, "I got hungry for pie."
"Fruit should not be cooked," she said her eyes closing again.
"Sure Bones," he said heading over to the door.
"Here is the thermometer and Advil you requested sir," the bell boy at the door said.
"Thanks," Booth said taking the items from him.
"If you need anything else just call the front desk," the bell boy said before disappearing back down the hall.
Booth locked the door behind him and headed back into the bathroom to grab a glass of water. Placing them on the table beside the bed her lifted her arm up carefully and placed the thermometer under her arm.
"What are you doing?" she asked not opening her eyes.
"Taking your temperature," he told her.
"That is not the best way to take a person's temperature," she chided, "The thermometer should be placed under the tongue."
"You feel like opening up Bones?"
"No Booth I'm sleeping," she frowned.
He chuckled and removed the thermometer from under her arm frowning as he looked at the results.
"Well you definitely have a fever Bones," he said, "You can't be feeling too good with a 102 degree temperature."
She mumbled and tried to swat away his hand as he held the washcloth to her forehead.
"Bones can you sit up for me for a second?" he asked. Her response was an indistinguishable groan and he sighed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and helped her to sit up.
He was surprised when she leaned against him and snuggled her face into his chest. He couldn't help the way his heart clenched when she murmured his name and he took a moment to hug her tightly to him before the heat radiating off of her reminded him why they were in that position in the first place.
"Just take these pills Bones and you'll feel better soon," he said shaking her softly until she opened her eyes.
He could tell she wasn't completely with him so he helped her put the pills in her mouth and held the glass up for her so that she could drink. When he was sure she had swallowed the pills he gently lay her back down on the bed and unhooked her arms from around his neck.
"Booth," she murmured.
"Its okay Bones I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."