Hi everyone! I'm back! All your reviews have been lovely so thank you. I owe you all a huge apology for the very very very long delay with the next chapter but I have been really ill and have moved house twice! But, Christine and Michael are finally back in my new chapter. Hope you enjoy. As always read and review with your thoughts. xoxo

Although Christine was sleeping, the shockingly bright light of the early morning still hurt her eyeballs and she quickly turned under the covers only to find the solid wall of Michael's chest. He shifted slightly in his sleep and then reached out and pulled her closer. This felt like a perfect moment for Christine and she relaxed into his embrace and began to drift off once again. She wasn't sure how long had passed until she was once again awoken.

"Christine! Wake up."

Her eyes flew open and settled on the blurry figure of her mother. "Mom?"

"Yes. Are you ok? I was worried about you". Her mother's face settled in a frown and she perched herself on the end of the bed.

"I'm ok Mom." Christine hoisted herself into a sitting reached out to wrap her arms around Temperance Brennan.

"Your foot; your father told me what happened. I don't want to you to stay here. Whoever is doing this knows where you are. I'm taking you to a hotel".

"That's not necessary Mom."

"No arguments Christine. I'll be downstairs waiting for you."

With that her Mother swept out of the room and she listened for her footsteps retreat down the stairs before she remembered the last time she had been aware, Michael had been sleeping next to her. She was about to get out of bed when the on-suite bathroom door flung open and he parked himself on the bed in front of Christine where her mother had sat. "That was close." He rubbed his eyes and stared off into his room. "I guess you're leaving…"

"I don't want to go."

"I don't want you to go. Maybe your Mom is right though. It would be safer at a hotel."

"I don't know. It seems like this crazy person is everywhere."

"Well it doesn't sound like your Mom is going to take no for an answer. But maybe I could swing by for a visit?"

Christine giggled. "Why? Will you miss me?"

Michael's face relaxed into a smile and he pulled Christine forward to plant a kiss on her forehead. "Not if I follow you there"

"Ok, deal." Christine smiled and then forced herself away from him to grab her clothes and then disappeared into the bathroom to change.

When she reappeared she noticed that Michael had also gotten dressed and was in the middle of lacing up his sneaker. "I was thinking." He said as he tied the knot and stood up. "How are you going to survive at the hotel without your own toothbrush?"

She was confused and checked her toiletry bag that she had tucked under her arm. "But… my toothbrush is right here."

Michael came towards her and smiled. He took the toothbrush from her and placed it back in the ceramic cup on his sink in the bathroom. "No you don't. I guess I'll just have to bring it to you."

Finally catching on, Christine giggled and rolled her eyes. "Very inventive. Shall we go downstairs for coffee?"

"In a minute." Michael smirked as he closed the gap between them and gently circled his arms around Christine's waist. He let out a slow breath as he closed his eyes and brought his brow forward to meet hers. She ran her hands through his hair before resting them on the back of his warm tanned neck and he kissed her button nose before turning his attention to her soft lips. Christine's insides tingled with pleasure and before she could stop herself she let out a slight moan as his hands gripped her hips more firmly. His eyes met with hers and they both seemed to lose control. He held her cheek in his warm palm and his lips traced from her jaw line down the flushed skin of her neck but that wasn't enough for either of them. He hoisted her onto his strong hips and moved until her back was against his bedroom wall and his breath grew ragged as did her own. She reached for the bottom hem of his t-shirt and lifted it over his head to expose his smooth chest and impressive six pack where a thin dark trail of hair stretched down his belly button and into the waist of his jeans. She ran her trembling hands over his chest and down to his belly through half lidded eyes and he pulled the loose neck of her sweater down over one arm to reveal a slim black bra strap and the flesh of her shoulder which he gently caressed with his lips, sending her so wild she could barely think. She was about to take the initiative and remove her own top when she heard footsteps and she quickly came to her senses and pushed away from Michaels chest lowering her feet to the floor, her knees almost buckling. Colour flooded his cheeks as well as hers and they both looked in opposite directions with Michael scrambling for his t-shirt to slip back into. Christine took a deep breath and tried to gather herself before giving Michael a pointed look and disappearing out of his room and down the stairs where Brennan had been patiently waiting for her. She was so wound up she barely heard any of what her mother said and managed to offer a feeble goodbye to the line-up of Hodgins women in the kitchen and her uncle Jack before she gratefully took her exit.

On the way to the hotel in her mother's car, she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep to avoid having to string together a coherent sentence whilst her senses still buzzed with excitement and disbelief at what she had been about to do with Michael Hodgins!

Christine was the first to explore the modest suite as her mother accepted their bags and tipped the young porter. By the large bay window sat an elegant coral settee with a matching chair and oak coffee table set out with a china vase of white and pink gerberas and a floral tea set next to a fancy box of tissues and a stack of antique coasters. The wood floors were adorned with various chic looking rugs and as Christine pushed open the double doors off to her left she was greeted by the sight of a large double bed decorated with gold and cream striped bedding and adorned with several plushy pillows. She couldn't resist the urge to throw herself onto them and her mother smiled from the doorway.

"I'm glad to see you're making yourself at home. I'll take the bedroom on the other side of the suite." Temperance Brennan came forward and set down her daughter's bag before disappearing into the other room to accept a phone call from Cam.

Christine sat up on the comfy bed and shrugged out of her jacket and her boots. She retrieved the bag her mother had set down and reached for her phone but she was disappointed to find no message from Michael. She lowered herself into the armchair next to her bed and grabbed the TV remote to operate the flat screen attached to the wall facing her bed but after flicking through several channels she realised nothing was going to be able to take her mind off Michael and the feel of his strong chest beneath her palms. Just as she started to relive the whole crazy thing she heard a knock at their door and wandered into the other room to find her mother inviting Michael into their suite.

"Christine forgot her tooth brush." He offered feebly but Temperance Brennan had never been one to pick up on social subtleties and she smiled seeming to accept the lame excuse.

"It was kind of you to bring it by Michael. Come in. Would you like some tea?"

"No thank you, I just finished a coffee in the car."

"Well, I'm actually glad you're here Michael. Cam found something on the remains. Would it be putting you out to ask you to stay here with Christine whilst I'm gone?"

Michael quickly looked to Christine before addressing her mother. "Of course not. Take your time."

"I'm very grateful Michael. I promise I wouldn't leave unless it was important but this could be the breakthrough we need. I'll be an hour or two, tops!"

Christine smiled. "Don't worry Mom its fine. We're safe here, right?"

"Of course, there's a double lock on the door and the staff have been instructed not to bother us. Security is on alert and there's a patrol car outside."

"Then I guess I'll see you later."

With that Brennan swept from the room and a minute later Michael and Christine heard the elevator ping after which left an awkward and heavy silence in the room.

"Christine, about earlier…" Michael began but something had come over Christine and she rushed forward and crashed hard into his chest almost knocking his off his feet.

"I don't want to talk", she said placing her finger softly to his lips before she crushed her own lips against his.

He seemed surprised but he didn't complain and instead let her lead him towards her bedroom. This time she was in control and she knew exactly what she wanted. She scanned her eyes over his body before she gently pushed his jacket over his arms, letting it fall to his feet. She kissed him once again, pausing only to remove various items of his clothing as well as her own. Once they were both stripped to their underwear, Michael followed Christine onto the soft covers and she closed her eyes and sighed as she felt his weight on top of her. Through moans and sighs and ragged breaths they removed the last of their clothing and when Michael finally entered her, Christine almost shattered but instead she squeezed her eyes shut and dug her nails into his flesh to steady herself. Michael kissed her closed eyelids and gently pushed a lock of hair that had strayed over her cheek before beginning his gentle thrusting. Christine opened her eyes and they stayed with his. She wrapped her legs around his hips and fought for some type of control but he was pushing her further over the edge. His steady pace inside her grew faster and deeper spurred on by dirty words of encouragement that shocked her even as she whispered them in his ear. Finally with one last thrust they both shattered and he collapsed on top of her. She let out a sigh and held on to him.

Twenty minutes later as Christine lay in Michael's arms, her cell phone rang and he reluctantly released his hold on her whilst she reached towards the bedside cabinet where it lay. She looked at the caller ID.

"It's Rachel", she said aloud. "Hello?"

"Christine… It's Rachel", Christine could hear panic in her friends voice and she immediately sat up.

"Rachel, what's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry Christine but if you don't do what he says, he's going to kill me…"