A week later, Brennan was more than willing to admit that she was sick and tired of having a roommate. Of the human variety, anyway. She figured the dog would necessitate more effort, but keeping her partner happy was requiring more work than she'd ever imagined.

She couldn't go out to walk Ellie without an escort.

She couldn't answer the door without him checking to see who was there.

She couldn't get her own mail.

She couldn't talk to the neighbor.

She couldn't go into her own house without Booth clearing it first.

He drove her everywhere.

It was enough to make her scream.

The final straw was when he'd stormed into the bathroom tonight after she'd dropped a bottle of shampoo. Thankfully the curtain revealed very little, not that Brennan was shy about her body. It was Booth taking everything to extreme that was driving her crazy,

"Go home, Booth," she ordered. She was standing in the living room dressed in sweats and a t-shirt she'd permanently borrowed from him. Her hair was still damp from the shower.

He folded his arms across his chest, amused at her order. "Where'd you get the shirt, Bones?"

She looked down. "I stole it from you," she said. There was no apology offered. "And that's not what we're talking about."

"It might as well be," Booth said. "Because I'm not going home and you know it."

Brennan opened his mouth, but Booth beat her to it. "Yes, I know. You can take care of yourself. You have Ellie the dog and all your amazing training. You don't need me."

Closing her mouth, she waited for him to continue. And he didn't disappoint her.

"But I'm still not going home. You are my partner, and my responsibility. I promised when we first started working together that I would watch out for you. I have no intention of breaking that promise." And it would kill him if something happened to her.

Brennan looked into his brown eyes. Not sure what she was looking for, he waited patiently. After several heartbeats, she crossed her arms over her chest, copying his stance. "Then you're taking the bed tonight, Booth. This could go on for months. If we take turns, it will be better for your back."

But he shook his head. "Too easy for someone to get to you. You're too exposed on the couch."

"It's been a week, Booth. No more letters, no photos. How long do you plan on staying here?"

His look was steady. "I'll stay as long as I think it's necessary, Bones. And a week without anything threatening doesn't mean a thing. You know this."

Her look mutinous, she turned without a word and stormed to her room. Not expecting her back, Booth went to make up the couch. He was amused by her insistence that he leave her apartment. She was okay with the dog staying, but not him.

He was wondering whether or not to be offended when he heard her steps behind him. "Then we'll have to share the bed," she said.

He was glad he was turned so she couldn't see his face. What exactly was she offering? He was sure it wasn't what he hoped, or if he was honest, what he'd fantasized about every night in this damn apartment.

Slowly, he turned toward her, his face a neutral mask.

Brennan was blushing suddenly, but held her ground. "I have a large bed, Booth," she said. Her voice was low and calm. Nothing but the facts and logical to back up this crazy suggestion. "We can both be on it. We could even sleep on top of the spread with separate blankets if that would make you more comfortable."

"That's very logical of you, Bones." He swallowed thickly. Could he do it? Could he sleep in a room with her without touching her? Not just in the room, but in the same bed. Knowing that she was within reach the entire night. Could he turn her down and not make it feel like a rejection?

Flip a coin, was the advice he was once given. And while it's in the air, you'll know what you're hoping the result will be.

So he pulled a coin from his pocket and acted as if he was playing with it, in the way he typically did. And sure enough, as that coin was in the air, he knew what his answer would be.

"I think we can make that work, Bones. But only if you're sure."

The look in her eyes reassured him that he'd made the right choice. Even if his insides were suddenly all jumbled. What had he done?

What had he done? He asked himself the question over and over as he listened to Brennan's deep breathing next to him. She had fallen asleep almost immediately, her back turned toward him. Was she not as affected as he was, or was she finally feeling safe for the first time in months? They were in the position she'd suggested: on top of the spread with separate blankets. Ellie slept on the floor on Brennan's side of the bed.

And Booth stared at the ceiling, waiting for his thoughts to calm enough for sleep to find him.

He wasn't hopeful it would happen anytime soon.

Booth wasn't sure it was possible, but he was convinced he could feel the heat from her body on his side of the bed. Bones would be able to tell him. She'd tilt her head and look at him with that amused expression, before launching into an explanation that he didn't understand.

But she wasn't awake. Instead, she was as far from him as she could get, as close to her edge as possible, to give him more room. He'd pretended to be grateful for the extra space.

He'd rather be squished next to her in a twin bed.

Sighing, he considered moving back to the living room. Where he couldn't be tempted to accidentally roll over and over until he bumped into her. Where he couldn't reach out and gently run his hands through her loose hair that lay behind her on the pillow.

Even though he'd already done that twice.

But Bones would see his leaving as a rejection. And he wouldn't be able to explain why he'd left without revealing the depth of his feelings for her. Something that would surely send her running from him. To a place where he couldn't find her. Couldn't protect her.

The thought had his entire body tightening. Several times, she'd been injured on a case they were working. Once or twice, Death had come knocking, before the door was firmly locked in its face. He knew it would probably happen again considering the nature of the work they did together. But he would do everything in his power to keep her alive.

Because if he couldn't love her freely, he would surely keep her safe. At that very moment, it was all he could give her.

So despite the desire running through his veins, he didn't move toward her. And despite the fact that he could still feel its smooth silk against his fingertips, he didn't brush his fingers through her hair again.

What he gave her was safety. And love.

But she only knew about half of it.