Sorry for not updating recently! I went on a last minute camping trip for a few days with my friend, and had a good time. I just forgot to tell you all that I wouldn't be around for a while. But I'm back now, so that I continue with the story, I hope you're not that mad at me. This chapter is just a little fluff for you guys.

Chapter 7

Brennan woke uncomfortably on Booth's couch, her legs bent in an awkward position because the couch was not quite long enough to accommodate her height. She looked around, light was just beginning to seep through the blinds of the apartment. It must be near dawn. She lifted her head off of the armrest of the couch, stretching it to the side. It wasn't the best place to sleep, but it was enough so that she could get her 8 hours of sleep each night. She got up, and went over to the window, looking outside at the early commuters driving down the road.

It had been a week since she had begun staying here at Booth's place. He had taken her back to her house so that she could pick up more clothes, but she didn't really see the need for them. Since she was pretty much just staying inside all day. Booth wouldn't let her go outside by herself. She had called work and told them of her situation, and what had happened to her. When she asked for a few weeks off, they gladly complied. And Booth had gone into work occasionally, but he had told them he needed a few days off to watch over a sick friend. Which was true, except for the fact she wasn't really sick.

She was confused as to how he could be so nice to her, what had she done to him to deserve his kindness?

"Bones?"

Brennan's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Booth's voice. She looked over her shoulder to see him standing in the doorway to his bedroom, wearing nothing but gray sweatpants.

"What are you doing up so early?" He asked, running is fingers through his hair.

"Oh, I just... woke up I guess. I've gotten the required amount of sleep for one night, so I don't need to go back to bed," She said, very matter of factually.

"Oh alright," He said, walking towards the kitchen, "Hey, want some breakfast?"

"I could go for pancakes," She said, walking quickly to the kitchen after him.

"Really? I thought you would want like... fruit salad or something," He said, smiling.

"I was just thinking about them last night, I'm sorry. You don't have to make pancakes," she said, looking sad.

"No, no, no, I'll make pancakes, if that's what you really want," He laughed, opening the fridge, and pulling out the milk carton and a few eggs.

"Okay," She said, smiling and sitting down on a bar stool in front of his elevated counter. Booth turned around from the fridge and placed the ingredients on the top of the counter. He then went over to his pantry and grabbed the pancake mix from the top shelf, and took a metal bowl from the floor of the small space. He came back to the counter and opened the box.

"But then I have to go to work for a few hours," He said, whilst pouring the pancake mix into a mixing bowl.

"Again?" She asked, furrowing her eye brow.

He had been gone so much recently, it gave her time to think, but then again, she disliked being alone now. Especially when he had to leave at night. She still hadn't told him about her new fear of the dark, even though she was sure he knew something was wrong. He had come home one night to find her crying quietly on the couch, wrapped in a soft blanket with the lights on. She hadn't told him why, honestly she wasn't one hundred percent sure why she was crying. She had just felt scared. He had sat next to her until they fell asleep while she cried on his shoulder. She had been embarrassed, but also extremely grateful of the friendship they shared.

Booth looked at her with sympathy, "Yeah, just for a few hours, paperwork doesn't do itself. But then I'll be back to teach you more about sports," he laughed, trying to make light of the situation.

Recently They had watched several sport's games together. Baseball, football, hockey, even soccer. Brennan had been reluctant to watch them, but was intrigued when Booth offered to educate her on the rules and scoring of each game. She had learned quite a lot, and was very excited to try a few of the sports herself. Someday, at least.

"When can I go outside by myself?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.

"No, no, no, not until your fully recovered."

"But I'm tired of sitting here while you go to work, all I can do is watch television and go online. Which gets boring. Fast. I should be out identifying skeletons, or murder victims, not sitting inside watching the discovery channel," She sighed, resting her head on one of her bandaged hands.

"Why don't you work on your new book or something? That could help pass the time until I get back."

"Really Booth?" She said, holding up the hand her head wasn't being supported by. "I can't even separate my fingers."

"Oh... forgot about that," He said, running his fingers through his hair.

"Can't I go somewhere today?" She begged.

"No," He said, pouring batter onto a pan on the stove, "It's just not safe for you alone."

Brennan sighed, rubbing her sleepy eyes with the back of her wrist. She knew his reasoning was rational, but it still annoyed her. She had been in this apartment all week, except for an additional doctors visit a few days ago. But other than that, she hadn't left this confined space in a while. She would sometimes sleep for several hours to help time pass, or just watch the science channel. Booth sometimes picked her up magazines from the stores, but nothing of interest to her.

She tapped her toes against the wall that supported the counter to a familiar rhythm as Booth placed a pancake in front of her. He mumbled her thanks as she grabbed the fork he handed her. She had to hold it awkwardly, but she was able to grip it with enough force to eat. She took a few bites, glancing up at Booth every now and then. He was too consumed in the task of making his own pancake to notice. Brennan ate about half of her pancake, then just began to poke at the fluffy food with her knife.

"What's the matter Bones? You ask me to make this pancake, and you only eat about half of it," He said, flipping his own pancake.

"I'm just not hungry anymore," She said quietly.

She knew he wouldn't buy it, but she could at least try right? She looked down at her untouched food as Booth leaned over the counter to get closer. Not uncomfortably close, but close enough. Brennan leaned back, slightly scared by his sudden action.

"Bones, come on," He said, expressionless.

"I'm just tired of being helpless..." Brennan said, looking into his eyes.

"You're not helpless, just injured," He said, leaning backwards on his hands.

"I wish it was that way," She said, poking her food again, "But I just want to go back to solving other peoples problems."

Booth looked at her with sympathy. He wished that too.

"It's not fair, Booth," She said, with a twinge of anger in her voice, "There are other people out there who need help more than I do."

"Bones, you know that you need to focus on yourself before you go worrying about other people."

"It wasn't always like that," She said, flicking her glass so that it made a noise.

Booth sighed. How was he supposed to care for her when he was so... down? He stepped out of his kitchen, and went to his bedroom to get dressed. As he filed through the different button down shirts that he owned, he thought about how Brennan needed help more than anyone else in his life right now. He grabbed a white shirt, then walked into his closet to pick out a garish tie and socks. He selected a red tie with darker stripes on it, and blue socks with green specks on them.

He wasn't surprised that she felt helpless, Temperance Brennan wasn't one famous for sitting around and doing nothing all day, she was right. She should be out there in the world, identifying remains from Guatemala, or some foreign country like that. Or solving homicide. She must be bored to death sitting at his place, doing nothing productive for hours on end. Or maybe she's just scared of being alone. He sighed, pulling on his socks quickly before grabbing his watch off of his dresser on the way out of his room.

When he stepped out into his apartment, he was surprised to find Brennan cleaning up his kitchen, or at least to her best ability. Trying not to get the bandages on her hands dirty.

"You don't have to clean up my kitchen Bones," He said, straightening his tie.

"Well, I have to do something," She mumbled grumpily, tossing the mixing bowl into the sink.

Booth had to get to work, he had sworn to Hacker that he wouldn't be late today. He had been putting off this paperwork in order to be with Brennan, but it had to be done now. He closed his eyes, and breathed in heavily, hoping to relax his mind before he said anything else. He didn't want to anger her even more.

"Well, I'm gonna head out," He said softly, slipping his shoes on.

"Fine."

"I'll see you later," He said, looking over his shoulder as he exited the apartment.

No response. He sighed and shut the door quietly behind himself.

Brennan let an exasperated sigh escape her mouth after Booth left. She was frustrated at him, angry even. She let the silverware she was holding drop into the sink, and walked back to the couch. She let herself flop onto the sofa and grabbed the blanket that she had used to sleep with last night. She brought her knees up to her chest and sat, wrapped in the soft fabric, hugging her knees. She looked at the window, and saw the sun through the blinds. She longed to go outside, she belonged out there. Not cooped up in a soft environment like a small child. She leaned her head backwards and closed her eyes.

Maybe a nap would settle her nerves.

{ L i n e b r e a k }

Brennan was surprised to wake up to Booth opening the front door. She heard the familiar clank of his keys, dropping onto the small table next to his door. And his footsteps that came over towards the couch.

"Wakey wakey Bones," He said, poking his head over the edge of the couch and looking into hey eyes.

"Why?" She asked grumpily, putting her hands over her face.

"I'm taking you out," She heard him say, walking over to the kitchen.

Brennan sat up, looking over at Booth with wide eyes, "Really?"

Booth looked over at Brennan, "Yeah, so you better go put something... nicer on," He said, indicating her baggy pajamas.

Brennan swung her legs off the couch, and stood up. She grabbed her bag off of the floor, and went towards the bathroom. Until she turned around.

"Define, something nice," She said, squinting her eyes.

"Well, pants and a shirt should be fine," He said, shrugging.

Brennan turned back around, and went into the bathroom to change. Booth chuckled at her eagerness, she really did want to get out of here.

{ L i n e b r e a k }

Brennan sat down on the steps of the Lincoln memorial, careful not to trip in the heels that she had put on. She stretched her legs out in front of her, resting them. Booth sat down next to her, resting his elbow on his knees as he looked over the steps on the monument. They had just finished eating at the Hard Rock Cafe, which had interested Brennan, surprisingly. Then they had taken a cab to the monument.

"I remember I came here once as a kid, and slid down the marbles banisters next to the steps," Booth said, pointing towards the slide like rock.

"That sounds like fun."

"Really? I thought you would say something along the lines of 'you shouldn't deface the monument like that' or 'that could be really dangerous'."

"Well, you've kept me locked inside an apartment for a week, anything sounds like fun to me," She said, laughing.

Booth laughed along with her, having fun reminiscing about childhood.

"Being a child was so easy," Brennan sighed, "There was nothing to worry about, and no work to be done."

"Being a kid was fun, but I think I like the present better," He said, looking out towards the darkening city.

"I guess that's rational," She said, tapping her shoes on the cement.

"Thanks for this, Booth. I know you were hesitant to let me outside alone, but I really appreciate it."

"No problem Bones. I know you've been aching to get out, so here we are."

"I found the music at the restaurant very interesting," She said, scratching her arm.

"Of course you did, Foreigner was playing," He laughed, "And I know how much you love Foreigner."

Brennan laughed. She was having a good time, despite the growing darkness that began to surround them. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, uncomfortable with the lack of light.

"This is fun," Brennan said, smiling. Trying not to let her fear show. She didn't want Booth to worry for her.

"Yeah, it is. We should do this more often. Next time I'll let you drive, maybe."

Nice fluffy long chapter for you all!