Booth was stroking Brennan's hair when she woke up next, her eyes squeezing tightly before opening.
'Hey,' he said softly, his voice a comforting rumble.
She looked up at him rather than respond for a moment, just taking in his presence and the feeling of safety that accompanied it.
'How are you feeling?'
She nodded in response, avoiding the question, 'Where's Ange?'
Booth shifted a little and Brennan could see the artist. She was curled up in an uncomfortable-looking hospital chair, and Temperance was sure that she would be stiff when she awoke.
'How long has she been asleep?'
'Not long; want me to wake her?'
Brennan shook her head, 'She needs the rest.'
Booth nodded in agreement, continuing to run his fingers over her head. Brennan closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of his hands smoothing her hair.
'So apart from me getting shot, what happened?' she repeated her earlier question in a murmur, her eyes still shut.
'Some punks broke into the Jeffersonian; we're not entirely sure what they were after, but we'll know when we've finished questioning the surviving one. He hasn't said much yet; he's being held at the FBI headquarters.'
'What about the other one?'
Booth was silent for a pause, 'He's dead Bones… he shot a police officer. The officer will be okay; just a graze along the arm. He's already out of the hospital. And he shot you Bones.'
'Oh,' she breathed, opening her eyes to meet his own gaze, 'Are you okay?'
He gave her a little grin, 'Right as rain Bones.'
She frowned at him, not quite catching the cliché but knowing that he was lying.
'You shot him Booth.'
The statement wiped the grin off of his face.
'You shot him because he was aiming at another officer; you're very protective of your people Booth. And I gave you the gun,' she pressed, giving him a weak smile that didn't reach her eyes. She noticed the hand that wasn't running over her head had clenched into a fist and that there was strange glimmer in his eyes.
'I shot him because the bastard shot you Bones.'
She nodded slowly at the steel in his voice, reaching out a hand to place over his own clenched one.
They stayed like that for what seemed like quite a while, the only sound that broke their silence the steady rhythm of Angela's breathing. Brennan eventually removed her hand from his and gave a tug on his sleeve. In silent understanding he removed his shoes and climbed into the bed beside her. It was cramped and he was careful to move as little as possible, instead letting her position her body around him. They settled gently into sleep, her head on his chest and her arm across his middle.
--
When Zack and Hodgins came by later to visit a call from Cam stopped them before they could open the door.
'They're sleeping.'
Zack turned towards her, 'They?'
Cam smiled at them, 'Have a look, but be quiet.'
Hodgins gingerly pushed open the door, Zack peering over his shoulder. The sight that met their eyes was soft and peaceful: Booth and Brennan were partly intertwined on the small hospital bed and breathing in unison. Hodgins smiled at the sight of Angela curled up at their friend's bedside in a chair. He moved forwards, leaving Zack standing in the doorway, and grabbed a pillow from the closet. After taking a second to enjoy the sight of Angela sleeping he tucked it under her head to save her from the crick she had been working on. He then headed back towards the door and Zack, who was waiting for him.
'Come on, Zacko, I'll buy you and the lovely Ms. Saroyan here a coffee from downstairs.'
Zack frowned and gave him an 'alright' in response; Cam just shot a knowing smile at his back as they headed for the elevator.
There you are; another chapter. Sorry that it took so long; I've been very busy between work and school. Thank you for all of your support though! Your reviews are wonderful and I, as always, welcome more.
Take care, Moksgmol
PS And thanks to tails123 for asking about my chem final. It defs could have gone better, but it has nothing to do with my anthropology major, so I'm trying (and not succeeding, haha), to pretend that it doesn't bother me. Ciao :)