Thanks for all the fabulous reviews, I'm glad everyone likes April so much, she's one of my fave original characters.

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They won't tell me anything. But then…what is there to say? He's having brain surgery...they are putting holes in his skull! What do you say about that??...'Gee, I hope they don't slip'?

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April fidgeted in the back of the SUV waiting impatiently for the hospital to come into view.

The gray skies had broken apart when they left the Hoover building and now the windshield and roof were being pelted with large fat raindrops that only served to increase the severity of the quiet inside the SUV.

Booth cleared his throat, preparing the silence to be broken.

"We should take you to the ER first, get that cheek checked out." He glanced at April in the rear view and could see the bruise on her face was turning an ugly purplish green.

"Her right wrist too. I'm worried some of the Carpal bones might be damaged." Brennan had noticed the way April was favoring her right arm and Booth was reminded yet again why is was good to have a forensic anthropologist around. Glancing at her in the corner of his eye, he amended that thought.

Especially this forensic anthropologist.

April just nodded. She hated to admit that she was stalling, but she was. She was afraid of what she might find when Tommy came out of surgery.

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Besides, my arm really does hurt…and my cheek too. A lot. It's not necessarily stalling if you really have medical issues to attend to…right?

I mean, he's probably fine. But going upstairs and waiting, worrying myself to death isn't going to get him out any quicker and it's certainly not going to help my pounding headache.

Yeah. I'm not stalling. And Seeley would look great in a Tutu.

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Her legs swung back and forth in time with the ticking clock while she waited on the examination table. The doctor was due in at any moment, but right now she was alone. The paper crinkled beneath her when she shifted her weight and sat on her hands, trying to get them warm. She glanced at the pile of old magazines, but didn't pick one up. She looked to the window, but the cool gray backdrop wasn't much to look at.

The door opened and the doctor smiled at her. She attempted a smile back, but mostly it hurt her cheek so she didn't try much.

She didn't like the way his eyes roamed over her skin, no doubt making their own decisions about how and why she got those bruises and scars. Her heart pounded like it always did when the doctors examined her, her head still ready to lie if the need arose, even though she knew it wasn't necessery anymore.

Everything seemed normal…same tests, same examinations, same sympathetic looks.

But then her mouth went dry.

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they wanna look at my what? They've never had to check that before. This should be great.

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Booth paced the waiting room frowning at the carpet.

"I just don't understand why we can't wait with her."

Brennan sat I the nearby chair sipping what was left of Booth's vending machine coffee.

"She needs some privacy for some of these procedures Booth." She stated calmly, knowing full well that she was repeating verbatim what the doctor had told them not fifteen minutes ago.

Booth sighed, scratching his neck.

"But she said he never touched her, why would they need to do a rape kit?" His stomach churned just mentioning it.

Brennan took a deep breath, her eyes flooding with compassion as she set down the cup and walked toward him.

"Booth you know that after everything she's been through she might not be telling the truth." She stated as gently as possible. When he didn't look at her she reached or his arm and turned him toward her.

He finally met her eyes, his own glassy as he attempted a calming breath.

"I can't…he can't have…if he…" He tried repeatedly to tell her what he was afraid to think about. He knew he'd failed April imensly by letting her get kidnapped, but that was something he might eventually be able to forgive himself for…but if Rodger touched her…

His thought was cut off when Brennan pulled him toward her, wrapping her small arms around his bulky torso, she pulled his head down onto her shoulder.

"God, Bones if…" His words were muffled against her shoulder but the distress was plain.

"Shhh…we don't know anything yet." She stroked his hair, "Don't jump to conclusions without evidence."

Booth laughed slightly and pulled back to look at her.

"Have you ever found a situation in which that statement was applicable?"

Brennan smiled. "No, not as of yet."

Booth returned her smile and leaned down, kissing her gently, simultaneously conveying appreciation and apprehension. Brennan responded willingly, hoping to share with him her strength.

A rather obvious cough at the doorway and the two sprang apart as if caught in the middle of committing a felony.

"She's getting dressed now," A middle-aged doctor with dark hair smiled at the partners. "Maybe you could go help her? She's going to be sore for quite a bit until the pain meds kick in." He asked, looking at Brennan. She nodded.

"I'll go." Reaching for Booth's hand, she gave it a quick squeeze and smiled reassuringly before leaving the room.

When she was gone the doctor stepped forward, pushing his glasses up on his nose even though they immediately slid back down.

"So...what's the verdict? Is she gonna be okay?" Booth raised his eyebrows at the doctor anxiously.

"She didn't seem to have any internal bleeding, a sprain in her right wrist and several severe bruises were really the worst of her injuries. She had lacerations on her back and the backs of her legs, we bandaged them. They were most likely caused by falling into a glass table or door."

Booth winced but the doctor continued, holding out several orange bottles for Booth to take.

"These are the antibiotics to fight infection and these are the painkillers. She can't take them on an empty stomach and they will most likely put her to sleep. Make sure she takes them three times a day and she needs to have the bandages changed at least twice a day."

Booth numbly took the bottles and almost let the doctor walk out before he became aware enough to call out.

"Hey Doc!"

"Yes?"

"Um…" Booth stepped closer, his palms sweating, "There was a…rape kit…was…" Booth trailed off, his head pounding. He relaxed though when the doctor gave him a comforting smile.

"No Agent Booth, April was not sexually assaulted."

Booth sighed and closed his eyes, sending up a prayer of Thanks.

When he opened them again two women stood before him.

"Uncle Seeley," April spoke as softly as before and he focused on hearing her. Brennan's hand rested reassuringly on her upper back. "I'm ready to go see Tommy now."

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I hope I am at least.

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You know you wanna...push dat button!