I absolutely, positively could NOT have finished this chapter without the best "spitter & polisher" there is: "BonesDBChippie" – you rock! – R -

Chapter 6

Seeley Booth watched his partner sit on the chair in her living room. She'd taken the time to light a few candles, and turned on a lamp, but it was still dark. It was late, and he was wired after the ordeal on the roof. She didn't seem very tired either, although her eyes told a different story. She'd wrapped a small afghan around her shoulders to warm her body temperature back to normal and the rosy color in her cheeks was lessening by the minutes.

He was slicing the pizza he'd insisted on ordering, and he was going to go insist she eat some as he watched her carefully out of the corner of his eye. He was pretty sure she'd not consumed any thing since she'd gotten home-except for the wine. After finding her on the roof, and pulling her down offthe ledge, he guided her back to her unlocked apartment. Letting the status of the unsecured apartment slide, as she seemed to be under enough stress, without him berating her for her lack of door locking skills. He'd bring that issue up later. He felt the need for putting food in her stomach. Maybe that would make her think more clearly.

Neither of them had said much once they'd reached her apartment. She didn't even offer him a beer, or something to drink, which was unlike her, so he took it upon himself and wandered into her kitchen, only to find her refrigerator nearly empty, other than a bottle of red wine, a few condiments, and he found the pantry seriously lacking also.

He sat down in the chair opposite her, and handed a plate of pizza to her. She'd been watching his every move, and smiled and accepted the food offering. Biting into the hot pizza, he chewed his food, and finally asked, "So, when was the last time you ate Bones?" Trying hard to keep his tone light and free of the emotion that was coursing through every fiber of his being.

Her eyes met his, and he expected to see a spark there, but there was none. She finished chewing her pizza, and said: "Yesterday I think. I don't know, been busy", she shrugged and took another bite.

Angry, but determined to keep his temper in check, he set his unfinished slice of pizza down, and watched her eat a moment. Noticing his interest, she stopped and said in irritation, "What?"

"Bones. What's going on with you?" he said evenly, lacing his fingers together, and leaning forward, in an attempt to get her to open up. He felt terrible that he'd been too busy to check up on her this last week.

"What?" she smiled, and laughed nervously. "I don't know what you mean Booth, I'm fine", she said and tried to hold his gaze. Finally, she surrendered, stood and padded into the kitchen. He turned and silently watched her get a wine glass out of the cupboard, and poured herself a glass of wine. She settled back down into the chair across from him and took a sip of wine. He was silently hoping she'd continue to eat, knowing her body needed the sustenance, but his mind was taking another direction at the moment.

"Bones. You're a lousy liar. You going to tell me what's up here, or do I have to take you down to the interrogation room at FBI headquarters and try to pry it out of you there" he demanded, his tone harsher than he'd intended.

She glanced away, then back at him and sighed. She ran her fingers through her hair and slouched back into the chair. "Booth…" she began

"Okay, lets start with what the hell you were doing up there on the ledge?" he suggested trying to lighten his tone, but his frustration level still high he was struggling.

"I only went up there to get a better look at the stars…." She trailed off, and picked up her wine glass.

"Yeah, and I bet that wine glass you're about to take a drink from had an identical twin you tossed off the roof, right?" he asked casually, eyebrows raiseda smug smirk playing on his lips. He leaned back into the chair, listening. She was squirming in her seat, and was obviously uncomfortable.

Brennan was quiet. She set the wine glass down and took another bite of pizza. Booth was silently sending up a prayer that she was eating again.

"So what, the view of the stars is better from the ledge of the building?" he prodded, frowning at her. She wasn't acting like herself at all. He had to pull her out of this, but he knew if he pushed too hard she'd crawl back into a shell and lock her self away from him but he was also determined to find out what the hell was going on with her.

Standing, he took a step and pulled her into a standing position, his fingers biting into her forearms, and gave her a hard shake"What the HELL do you think you were doing?! Huh? How do you think I felt when I saw you up there, looking like you were going to jump?!" his voice was laced with anger, hurt, and something she couldn't quite place his breathing harsh.His eyes flashed.

She pulled away from him and turned to walk to the window, where she looked out, parting the sheer draperies aside. He stood there, watching her, trying to pull his temper back in he took a deep breath.

Finally, she turned and said, "I don't know. I don't know Booth okay? I wasn't going to jump; I was just seeing what it felt like, to get to that point, to want to do it. Yes. I thought about the implications of the effect it would have on the people in my life, which certainly didn't lift my spirits" she said with a wry laugh, and looked back out at the darkened street below.

Confused, he stood and approached her. "What do you mean?" he wondered aloud to her, his voice much more in control, his hands on his hips.

"Booth, I am alone again. Just when I thought I had someone, that connection, he left. Angela has Hodgins, Zack has his enormous family, Cam has her family, my Dad is gone again, who knows where Russ is--supposedly with dad, and you have Parker. I had Sully, now he's gone", she gestured wildly, her eyes finally sparking that fire he loved to see and missed, even if it was only a few days.

Before he could argue with her words, she went on, "and I couldn't help but think, what would happen, if I were gone?" she began to pace her apartment. "Angela would inevitably grow closer to Jack, which could only work out for the best for both of them, Zack would be the only working forensic anthropologist here, and would learn and grow more, which could only boost his career…" she trailed off. Stopping to turn to face him.

"And what about me Bones? How is it I'd be better off without you around?" he demanded angrily, taking one step in her direction.

She said softly, so softly he almost didn't hear, "You'd be rid of someone who irritates you, demeans your religion, and drives you crazy."

His hands fell from his hips, and his shoulders sagged, his voice so much softer than before. "Is that how you think I feel about you Temperance?" he said, taking another step until he was well beyond her personal space, yet she didn't flee.

Saying nothing, she looked up and met his eyes.

"Temperance. You are the most brilliant, kind, big-hearted person I know. You work tirelessly for people you don't even know, in an effort to bring answers that you never had. I am a better person because of the work I do with you, and any irritation, that is my issues, not yours. And I don't think...correction, I know I couldn't do what we do without you and I wouldn't want to. I couldn't even imagine my life without you. " he said, and pulled her into a warm embrace. She hesitated a moment, feeling stiff, and unresponsive, before she finally relaxed and allowed herself to be held.

"Booth…" she said into his shoulder.

"What?" he replied, leaning back staring deep into her blue stormy eyes wishing for the brilliant blue to return.

"Did you know that sleep deprivation can cause extreme emotional outbursts and mood swings? That along with insufficient nutrients, such as the B complex vitamins, can have a very detrimental effect on a persons delicate mental state," she said in themost authoritative voice she could muster at the moment.

He pulled her back into his arms, and rolled his eyes. "Yeah I know", he whispered against her ear. As he stroked the softness of her hair, he thought to himself that he be lost without her. The thought that she'd actually considered what it would feel like if she wasn't in his life gripped his chest. His hold on her tightened slightly and he was determined at that moment he'd make sure she'd know exactly what she meant to him, that he would do whatever he had to do make sure she knew she was wanted and needed in this world. As he rocked her slowly in his arms he never again wanted to find her in such a compromising position. He knew he'd been harsh with her but she'd truly scared him and loosing her wasn't an option.

Wordlessly he broke his embrace and guided her to the sofa, sat down and pulled her down back into the warmth of his arms. He wasn't about to let her go just yet. She snuggled back into his arms, curling her legs behind her, she slipped one arm behind Booth and laid her head on his chest, his right arm wrapped protectively around her shoulder.She'd brought her other arm to lay across his abdomen and as she did is left hand came up to stroke the soft skin on her arm. Booth laid his head softly on top of hers and closed his eyes relishing their closeness.

"Booth...?"

"Hmm?"

"This feels nice." She said so quietly he almost didn't hear, her face was pressed close to his chest and her breath floated through the material of his dress shirt.

"Yes, Temperance, this feels very nice." He smiled and said in a hushed tone, almost as if he were going to disturb her. He knew the days events had taken there toll on her emotionally and mixed with the wine, she had to be exhausted. He knew he was and he hadn't even consumed any alcohol. The thought of her needing sleep entered his mind and that he should tell her to get up and go to her bed and that he should leave. But the thought of her leaving his arms at this moment was too much and he just didn't want to let her go--just a few more minutes he thought as he closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of hair.

They sat quietly not saying any more, just enjoying each others company. She shifted slightly and Booth brought his left hand up to move the hair off her face that had slipped down over her eye and ran his hand over her face with soft strokes. Within moments he heard her breathing deepen and even out. He knew she'd fallen asleep in his arms and wanted nothing more for that to happen every night. Still feeling a bit selfish, he toed off his shoes, loosed his tie and removed it the best he could with one hand and maneuvered his body to lie on the sofa with her still in his arms. He pulled the afghan off the back of the sofa and draped it over them and whispered, "Goodnight, Temperance, you mean the world to me. I wish you sweet dreams." And he kissed the top of her head. He'd deal with the consequences of their close proximity tomorrow, or rather deal with Bones being upset with it, with a smile on his face the thought of him getting his ass kicked floated briefly through is mind before sleep over took him...

End this chapter