Sorry for the misleading guys...I couldn't help myself. Oh, and when the song is mentioned her, I HIGHLY reccomend you listen to it, it's a great song and really adds to the mood

---

Well now I feel like an idiot.

---

April lifted her chin and looked at Booth under the cover of wet eyelashes.

"W-what do you mean? You said…"

"I know what I said Sweet…April. I probably should have phrased that a little better." He was still cursing himself for how smoothly he'd broken the news to her. "Tommy was in surgery and there were complications. He was technically "dead" for six minutes."

Booth ran his hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her when her teeth begin to chatter.

April closed her eyes, shaking her head ever so slightly and shrugging deeper into Booth's jacket.

"But he's back. They brought him back."

Booth reassured her. "They're just concerned about what the effects on his brain will be after six minutes without oxygen, he hasn't woken up yet."

Booth waited patiently while April let the news sink in. A breeze had been added to the rain and his back and arms were being splattered with cold raindrops being blown in past the overhang. Water from his hair dripped down to his face and he shuddered, he was freezing cold as well.

"But…he's alive?" She said finally, opening her eyes and clamping her bottom lip hard between her teeth.

Booth nodded. "He's alive."

They heard the hospital door open and turned to see Brennan walking toward them, her auburn hair falling loosely around her face, hands pushed into shallow jean pockets.

"You guys alright?"

Booth nodded and stood up, making fists as he tried to warm his fingers.

April looked at the ground. "Can I see him?" She asked quietly.

Brennan looked at Booth, who tilted his head at the odd expression on her face.

"Well…the, um…they think it would be best if he didn't have many visitors tonight. Just his parents for now." She said, awkwardly delivering the troublesome news.

April lifted her head, fear, hope and hurt flashing in her eyes.

"His parents right? His parents don't want me there." April waited, and knew by the way Dr. Brennan was avoiding her gaze that it was true.

She took a deep breath and stood up.

"It's okay. I'm tired. Can we just…head back?"

Booth took a moment to study her and nodded.

"I'll bring up the car."

---

Sometimes the nightmares even haunt my dreams.

---

"Booth. She's sleeping. I promise she's not going anywhere." Brennan reached for his hand and pried it off the steering wheel so that it rested in her own. He'd checked the rear-view mirror at least eight times in the last three minutes. It was as if he was afraid April would disappear before his eyes.

Booth nodded and squeezed her hand before releasing it so he could flip the windshield wipers to a higher speed.

"I know, it's just…I almost lost her too many times recently. I'm afraid…" He sighed and shook his head. He hated the tight knot in his stomach, worry was a tiring emotion.

Brennan nodded, wishing she knew how to reassure him. But, since she didn't, she settled for fiddling with the radio and resting her hand on his thigh.

Booth smiled when the smooth notes of a very familiar song filled the SUV.

Absolutely perfect. His thought was punctuated by the silence left by the rain when it paused and they passed under a bridge.

"Leave it there Babe."

She looked at him and decided to ignore the 'Babe' comment for the time being.

"You know this song?"

Booth closed his eyes momentarily and took a deep breath. "Please tell me you're kidding Bones."

When he looked at her, she wore a clever smile.

"Stand By Me? Ben E. King. Booth, even I'm not that clueless."

Booth shook his head and picked up her hand, bringing it to his lips, he kissed it softly.

Brennan had turned back to look out the window, the chorus played for the second time before she realized Booth hadn't let go of her hand, was instead tapping it thoughtfully against his chin.

"Booth?"

"Hmmm?"

"Is everything okay?" She asked slowly, amused at the sheepish grin he gave her when she looked pointedly at her captured hand.

"Heh, sorry." He started to release her but she simply moved and laced her fingers with his.

"So what is it?"

Booth glanced at her again before going through the next light.

"I was…um, thinking."

"That is obvious Booth. What about?"

He shifted and a frown tightened the space between his eyebrows ever so slightly. He hoped she didn't freak out with what he was about to say next.

"It's just that…um…I…" He sighed, might as well get it over with. Stalling wouldn't change her answer or her reaction.

"I have an older sister."

Brennan frowned, confused by the topic shift. "Yeah…"

"Well, it's just that I don't really…know anything about girls. Teenage girls, that is."

"So…" Brennan waited for him to clarify because, frankly, she was lost.

Booth cleared his throat and reached up to loosen his tie, only to find he wasn't wearing one.

What did I do with that thing?

"What I'm trying to say Bones…Temperance, is that…I don't think it would be a horrible idea for you to be…you know, around. A lot."

Brennan turned to look out the windshield, though obviously still processing whatever it was Booth was saying.

"Well…I know. I mean, we are together so…"

"No, Bones I mean…regularly. Like…"

"Like…living with you?" She asked tentatively, finally beginning to connect the dots.

"Well…yeah." Booth saw her tense up and started talking quickly. "You don't have to do it now though. I mean it's still really soon, maybe we'd only do it part time, just a few days a week. I mean I do have Parker every once in a while. You know what, this is a crazy idea, just, just forget I said anything."

Booth held his breath and turned to look out his window at the next light, mouthing curse words to himself and waiting for her reaction.

Brennan smiled at his sudden discomfort.

"Wow Booth. I never knew you were so articulate."

Booth rolled his eyes and looked at her, a sarcastic grin on his face.

"Thanks Bones."

Brennan saw him get defensive and shook her head, reaching over to tickle his ear.

"Hey!" He jumped away from her and glared.

"Booth," Brennan's tone was somber and Booth followed suit, waiting patiently for her to continue.

"I think that's a very logical arrangement." She smiled and Booth returned it, fighting a very strong urge to kiss her, "I honestly can't imagine going everyday without Parker's giggling or April's telling everyone to 'hold still' so she could draw them." She pursed her lips to prevent smiling, "I even think it might be difficult to sleep without waking every few minutes to tell you you're snoring."

Booth looked appalled. "I do not snore!"

Brennan shrugged, moving her arm back over to her side of the car. "But I do agree it's a big step, so maybe part time is a good idea, at least for now. I could spend a few days at your place, a few days at mine."

Booth nodded and for the thousandth time that day, thanked God for small miracles.

"You're amazing Bones." He reached over to squeeze her knee and she covered his hand with her own.

"So I've been told."

---

I used to cry out in my sleep all the time, hoping someone would hear me and take me away. But after the first few times it made Rodger go psycho on me, I stopped, even the most disturbing nightmares couldn't get a peep out of me, I wouldn't allow myself even in sleep to say how scared I was.

I wonder if it means something that all of a sudden I do.

---

They were about ten minutes from Booth's apartment before anyone spoke again. And when the silence was broken, it wasn't by either of the adults in the front seat.

"Mnno." April turned her head violently to the other side and frowned in her sleep.

"Stop it…no." Her voice got louder and Booth and Brennan glanced at each other before she turned to look at April in the back seat.

"April?"

The girl remained undisturbed, the expression on her face changing from confusion, to anger to fear.

"No…Please Stop!" April's voice shook and she became frantic, thrashing and moving about, fighting an unseen attacker with clumsy strikes laden with sleep.

"April! Wake up honey." Booth swerved the SUV in and out of the opposing lane as he tried to tend to April and drive at the same time.

"Booth! Keep your eyes on the road!"

Booth's heart pounded and he watched as Brennan quickly unbuckled herself and climbed into the backseat with April.

"April. April wake up." She gently took hold of the girl's shoulders and tried to hold her still against her thrashing body.

"April!" One last shake of her shoulders and April's eyes flew open. She gasped and shrunk away from Brennan, her entire body trembling and panting for breath.

By now Booth had pulled off to the side of the road and jumped out, rounding to April's side of the SUV and flinging the door open.

He saw her. She looked so young and small in his big dress coat, clutching tightly to Brennan, her face pressed into her shoulder while she sobbed uncontrollably. Booth didn't even notice the drizzle of rain running down his face and neck when his eyes connected with Brennan as she gently stroked April's hair, whispering the same reassuring words over and over.

"He's dead April. I promise he's dead."

Man...I told you that angst train was long didn't I?