What is up with the alerts? Here I was, posting my favorite chappie and thinking nobody liked it because I didn't get any alerts whatsoever. Then, I come and check and lo-and-behold, some of the most glowing reviews I've ever had are waiting!

Thank you SO much everyone, I'm glad you liked the characterization of the last part, and I know people want dirtyness...and I may be one of them, but not yet. Still lots to come...

The light of dawn crept in the window and slowly crawled across the bed, warming the two bodies laying side by side. Brennan sat stroking Booth's head softly, just as she had done most of the night.

Her fingers moved automatically, she wasn't really thinking about what the action meant. She just enjoyed the way her hands felt in his hair and was relieved that he was finally calm.

Booth eventually fell asleep after the nightmare, but slept fitfully. He often jerked slightly or shivers shook his body, waking Brennan who nodded beside him. She would start to talk to him and stroke his hair and for some reason it seemed to calm him.

In the darkness it had been easy, opening herself up and comforting him like that. But now, the light of day was shining through and she became acutely aware of the fact that she was sitting in his bed, with him laying in her arms...and she was not wearing pants.

Light hit her eyes and she strained to see the clock on the bedside table. It was almost eight. If she didn't show up within the next half hour people were going to start getting worried.

Her heart beat in her ears as she slowly and carefully began to slide out of the bed. She was glad Booth's grip around her middle remained slack and she rolled out from under his arm to put her feet on the floor lightly.

Padding in bare feet out to the living room she picked up her cell phone. She had two missed calls. Rather clumsily, she managed to pull on the pair of jeans she'd worn the day before while accessing her voice mail.

Hey Sweetie, it's about 7am and I just dropped by your house to see how it went last night and if you wanted to ride to work together, but I guess you're already there. Talk to you later!

Brennan frowned, she wanted to go to work, but the thought of leaving Booth alone and chancing him waking up without her put knots in her stomach. An annoying beep in her ear reminded Brennan that she had anther message to listen to.

There was the sound of someone clearing their throat and then a male voice she didn't immidiatly recognize.

Dr. Brennen? This is Director Cullen. I've been trying to get a hold of Booth but he's not answering his phone, so I figured if anyone can contact him it would be you. Call me when you get this message, I have a case that needs his immediate attention.

Brennan bit her lip and walked to the coffee machine, mulling over whether or not to call Cullen. She knew Booth would want to go to work as much as she did, but she was also very aware of how much Booth needed rest. And after last night's events, so did she.

Picking up her freshly brewed coffee, Brennan headed back to Booth's bedroom to check on him. She was about to open the door when she heard his voice. She paused, trying to tell if he was mumbling in his sleep, but then she heard him laugh slightly.

Peeking through the slightly ajar door, she looked and and saw Booth was sitting on the side of the bed, talking softly into his cell phone.

"Yeah buddy…No, no Parker I'm not mad at you…listen Parker, I was just tired. I didn't mean what I said, alright buddy? Daddy's sorry…yeah, I know, she's very smart…Did you guys have fun together last weekend?…I'll bet …you do?…Yeah Parker, I like Elmo too. I like her a lot…Sorry, Bones, not Elmo….Okay buddy, have a good day at school…I love you too…Bye." Booth shut his phone slowly and stared out into space for a moment.

After a few silent seconds he finally looked at the door.

"How long are you gonna stand there Bones?" He'd known she was there the moment she walked up.

Brennan started, almost spilling coffee on herself, and then timidly entered the room.

"How did you know I was there?"

Booth raised his eyebrows, trying not to smile at the bright shade of pink her cheeks were turning.

"Are you kidding?" Bones was a lot of things, sneaky not being one of them. At least not to a sensory sensitive sniper-trained FBI agent.

Brennan raised her eyebrows in return and passed her mug to him, "Coffee?"

Booth nodded, gulping a few sips down gratefullybefore giving it back. They sat next to each other on the bed in an awkward silence for a few moments, neither sure if they wanted to recount last nights events.

Finally Booth stood and started toward his closet, having decided he wasn't quite ready to talk about all the emotions swirling inside him after having her so close, in just about every way possible, all night long.

"Listen Bones, Cullen left me like eight voice mails, he's got a case for me so I've got to get showered and go." He watched as her features clouded and tried to escape the room before she protested. He didn't quite make it.

"Booth." She said, moving to the doorway, blocking him in. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

He stepped back, flinging the towel over his shoulder and resting his hands on his hips. "What do you mean?"

"Booth, you really need to rest, why don't you take the day off?" She said it as gently as she could, but could see his features darkening anyway.

"I'm fine Bones." He wanted to get back to his old life, with criminals he was under no obligation to kill. Where there would people to hold him back if he got the sudden urge to kill them anyway.

"But Booth…"

"Look, I'm an adult, I can handle myself." He felt his tension rising and took a deep breath to calm himself. She just didn't understand, he had to work. After last night, 'rest' was the furthest thing from his mind.

"Booth, you're not any good to anyone if you're exhausted and you'll get suspended if you hurt any of the suspects."

He gave her a strange look, had she just read his mind?

"Why would I do that?"

Brennan rolled her eyes ever so slightly.

"Because you have a very short temper when you're irritable and I'm beginning to notice that you're irritable when you're tired." She stated in her matter-of-fact way.

Again, Booth sighed, reigning in the temper she'd just called him on.

"Look, Bones, I know how to do my job, just step aside."

She crossed her arms.

"No." She watched his face turn red and wondered if maybe she really should do as he asked.

"Bones," he warned, "move. Now."

She dropped her arms reproachfully and turned sideways so he could brush past her, but her mouth twitched.

She really liked to have the last word.

"You know I'm right Booth."

He stopped. Of course he knew she was right! Why did she always have to do that?

Brennen watched his large frame tense in the dark hallway.

"Temperance! I'm fine, really. Will you just leave me alone?"

He regretted saying it before the words even left his mouth and he turned around to face her. His heart broke at the sight of anger and pain written all over her face.

"Bones I…"

She shied away from his touch as he reached out for her shoulders and slipped past him down the hallway.

"Fine." She called over her shoulder. "I will."

She started gathering up her things from around the living room, moving furiously, trying to keep her mind busy in order to keep the tears brimming in her eyes from falling. She'd been there for him, something she wouldn't have done for anyone else. She'd allowed herself to open up to him, to feel his pain last night even though she didn't know the source of it. And look what it got her.

I'm such an idiot.

Booth grabbed her elbow as she reached for the doorknob, but she pulled it forcefully from him.

"You asked me to leave you alone," she kept the tears out of her voice with practiced ease, "I would appreciate it if you would do the same."

Then she opened the door just enough to fit through, slipped out, and pulled it shut behind her.

I know I know, that was just cruel, review anyway? Please?