Once he got them into the room and had a slumbering Brennan situated comfortably on the hotel room bed Booth set about running a cool bath. His experience looking after a sick Parker let him know that this was one of the quickest ways to bring down someone's temperature. He concentrated on making sure the water was cool and not on what he was about to do. It crossed so many of their lines that he didn't know if they could ever come back from it but he knew he was doing it for all the right reasons so hopefully Brennan would understand once she was coherent enough to realise what had happened.

"Booth," he heard a weak call from the other room and was at her side in an instant.

Her fever bright blue eyes seemed to stare right through him and he brushed a sweat soaked strand of hair out of her face.

"What's the matter Bones?" he asked kneeling next to the bed.

"I'm feeling like my head has been stuffed full of cotton wool," she pouted and Booth had a sudden image of a four year old Brennan with much the same expression.

"It's the fever," he said sympathetically.

"You must remember to tell Cam that we decided you don't like lemon meringue pie or we'll both be in the frog house," she said her eyes drifting closed.

"Dog house Bones," he chuckled.

"I don't feel good," she mumbled.

"Yeah I know," he said softly, "But I promise I'm going to make you feel better."

She mumbled something incomprehensible and he resisted the urge to brush his lips against hers which had parted slightly in sleep. Booth searched the bed until he came across the pyjamas she had worn the previous night. After he had placed them on the bathroom counter next to the large fluffy white towels the hotel provided he went back into the bedroom and gathered her up in his arms once again.

He sat her down on the edge of her bath, with her arms resting around his neck and her upper body slumped against his.

"Bones," he said, "We need to cool you down and I think the best way to do that is for you to have a cool bath so I'm going to need for you to wake up now."

He sighed when he got no response and hung his head trying to gather strength for what he was about to do. Brennan often called him out on his prudishness but Booth had been bought up a good Catholic boy and good Catholic boys didn't discuss sex or nudity with women. Good Catholic boys certainly didn't undress their partners in hotel bathrooms.

Booth concentrated on anything but the creamy white skin he was unveiling as he managed to get her blouse off. He pictured everything from Hodgins wearing Speedos to Director Cullen in a tutu as his hands went to the buttons on her jeans. This certainly wasn't the way he had imagined he would be undressing his partner and he fought his body's reactions to the feeling of her warm flesh against his body. With her front still slumped against his he managed to pull her jeans down her legs, trying hard not to let his hands touch her skin. Once she was wearing only her black lacy underwear which made his heart quicken he lifted her into his arms again, breathing slowly through his mouth and concentrating on the task at hand rather than the woman whom he most desperately loved whose half naked body was pressed right up against his own.

He lowered her into the cool water slowly, looking for any signs that she was waking up and was going to kick his ass for undressing her. When the cool water didn't rouse her instantly Booth grabbed a wash cloth and soaked it in the water, wiping it over her sweaty brow. He continued this, his eyes trained on her face until her brow furrowed and she began to stir.

"C-cold," she shivered her teeth beginning to chatter.

"Kind of the point," Booth smiled down into her weary blue eyes, "How are you feeling?"

"My head and throat hurt and my nose appears to be filled with nasal mucus," she said making Booth screw up his nose.

"A good dose of TheraFlu and cough medicine should help," he said kindly.

"Booth."

"Yeah Bones," he said turning to grab the towels he had left on the bathroom counter.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," he said.

"Why am I in my underwear?"

Booth froze, his arm outstretched towards the towel he had been reaching for. He could feel the back of his neck burning with embarrassment and knew that if he looked up into the mirror that sat above the sink that his cheeks would have taken on a pink colour.

"Your fever was high and I had to bring it down so the bath was the best way to do it," he stammered.

"That makes sense," she nodded, "Although there was no need to keep my underwear on."

"Bones," he spluttered feeling his face burn.

"The human body is a perfectly natural thing Booth; it's nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about."

"This is so not the time to be having this conversation," he groaned picking up the towel and holding it out for her.

He watched modestly through half closed eyes as she managed to rise from the tub, the towel now securely wrapped around her body. He could see her body fighting the movement and caught her as she stumbled stepping out of the bath. Both breathed quickly as her wet body was pressed up against his and they stared deeply into each other's eyes. There was an electricity passing through them and even though Booth's mind was screaming at him that she was sick he couldn't stop himself from leaning forward until his lips met hers.

She groaned into his mouth and Booth tightened his hold against her bare back. Her lips slid open, granting him access and it didn't take long before their tongues were battling for dominance. It was a kiss full of promises and long denied feelings, of suppressed emotions and passion. It was not the first time they had kissed but it was the first time it hadn't been premeditated and it was everything Booth had dreamed it would be. Her mouth tasted like strawberries even though he knew she hadn't eaten any that day and her lips pressed against his like they were two parts of an interlocking puzzle. It felt to Booth like coming home.

It was then that his head caught up with his heart.