Again I must say a thank you I'm flattered to those who added this story as your fave, or put this story on your story alerts, or me as your fave author, or on your author alerts. Thank you also for your reviews, at least I don't feel so bad knowing that some people are like me feeling real sorry for poor Brennan but loving this story. As I'm loving writing it.

Thanks to DoctorSweets, Cheri Goodman, keepxonxtrying, MickeyBoggs, NatesMama, boothandbonesforever for taking the time to review.

Brennan woke up with a throbbing headache. She thought she had heard someone calling her name.

"Bones?"

She cracked open an eye, then two. The glaring lights made her head hurt more and she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Bones. It's ok. It's me."

She could feel Booth's reassuring presence. She wasn't quite sure where she was but was certain she wasn't at work or at home.

"Uhhh… Booth?" She groaned. Everything hurt. Her head, her body, it hurt just to breathe.

"I'm right here."

She felt a pain between her legs, and suddenly it all came back to her. Her eyes snapped open.

Booth watched as Brennan's eyes flew open, revealing her shock and fear. He gathered her as gently as he could in his arms.

"Booth I – "

Brennan let out a strangled sob. She couldn't verbalize it.

This is all a bad dream, a bad dream. I just need to wake up. Please wake up.

But it wasn't a bad dream. It was a nightmare that was reality. The pain she felt and the memory of the masked man invaded her consciousness. Booth rocked her gently in his arms.

"I – I was – "

"I know baby, I know." Booth choked, his own tears threatening to fall. He held her tightly to him as she cried, burying her head in his chest. Every sob, every heave of her chest went straight to his heart like an arrow.

"It's ok, it's ok. It's over now. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Every breath Brennan took felt like fire. It hurt just to breathe but she couldn't help but cry. She had been raped. The thought stung. This wasn't supposed to happen. The pain in her head intensified. Booth's words did little to soothe her. How could things be ok?

She felt a cramp in her abdomen. The kind she had when she got her monthly. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She pushed herself off Booth and leaned over the edge of the bed, throwing up. She had lost their baby, somehow she knew it. That monster took their baby away from them.

She felt Booth's hand rubbing her back. Just when she thought she would literally vomit her guts out, she stopped retching. Booth handed her his handkerchief which she used to wipe her mouth.

Booth took in her tear-stained face.

"I'm so sorry Bones. I should have been there. You should never have been alone."

"We lost the baby didn't we?"

Booth bit his lip, nodding.

A fresh flow of tears ran down Brennan's cheeks and Booth gathered her to him again. He held her close, wishing he could take her hurt and pain away.

"It's gonna be ok Bones. We'll get thorough this. And I'll hunt down the man who did this to you, I promise."

Brennan nodded not really believing if they would get through this. She was tough, always had been. She had a hard life, she had lived with foster parents who weren't exactly nice. She rationalized that she now had Booth at her side, to help her through this.

Booth reached for the call button, summoning the orderly, apologizing about the mess on the floor, and informing the nurse that his wife was now awake.

When they were left alone again, Booth took her into his arms once again. They stayed in that position for the longest time, not saying anything. They had never needed words to convey their feelings or thoughts to each other. They read each other like open books. Booth held on to her, afraid to let her go. Brennan reveled in his touch; his arms had always made her feel safe. Her sanctuary.

Brennan started to feel drained, physically and emotionally. No matter how she tried to logic this one, she just couldn't. It was one of those things she had to admit she just couldn't. Like the love she felt for Booth. Only this wasn't a pleasant feeling.

Booth felt Brennan's body sag against him.

"You must be tired. Try get some sleep?"

"When I close my eyes, he's there."

"I wish I could take it away Bones."

Brennan nodded mutely.

"Your Dad's waiting outside."

"You told him?"

"Yeah, figured he has a right to know."

"Anyone else?"

"Cam. So I guess the whole squint squad knows now. Had to tell Cullen too since I have to be here."

Booth waited for a reaction but Brennan remained impassive.

"I think Max would like very much to see you, if you're up to it."

Brennan shook her head.

"I don't think, I mean, I was – "

"Bones hey," Booth lifted her chin to him. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. None of this was ever your fault."

It never failed to amaze her how he could always read her mind, knowing her even better than herself at times.

"I know if anything happened to Parker, I'd want to be with him. You would too. Think about how he is feeling. It's only your Dad."

"I'm so tired."

"I'll get him, then maybe we can try get some sleep ok?"

Both returned with Max.

Her father kissed her gently on the head.

"Hi Sweetheart. How are you?"

"Sore."

"I know Sweetie. We'll get the man who did this."

"Dad, you're not – "

"Don't worry Bones, I'm gonna make sure Max doesn't do anything stupid."

"I never do anything stupid Booth."

There was a knock on the door.

"Hi I'm Dr Gareth." The elderly looking woman smiled kindly at Brennan. "Heard you've just woke up. I'd like to have another look at that head wound."

Brennan nodded. She felt too tired to react to anything.

"We'll be outside Bones."

The doctor waited for both men to leave. "I'm just gonna ask you perform some tests, make sure your head's fine."

Dr Gareth asked Brennan to perform a series of tasks, from following her finger with her eyes to touching her nose. At the end of it she smiled satisfactorily at Brennan.

"I think your head's gonna be just fine. You also have some cuts and abrasions, and a bruised rib. Explains why it's probably painful to breathe."

"That and I also got – "

Brennan choked again at the word.

Dr Gareth squeezed her hand. "I know it's hard. You're not the first rape victim I've worked with. But you look tough as nails. You'll be ok. And from the looks of it you have a very supportive husband."

"Yes thank you."

"At some point in your recovery, I hope you get to talk to someone about this. Both you and your husband. It's not good to keep things bottled inside."

"I'll think about it."

Dr Gareth smiled. "I'll check on you again before I finish my shift."

Booth looked up as Dr Gareth exited the room.

"Well?"

"Your wife's injuries aren't serious. Physically she'll recover. Mentally and emotionally, it's hard to say. Different people react differently. What she needs right now is to know that you love her."

"Bones is tough. And I love her very much."

"Yes I can tell but even the toughest shells crack sometimes."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Booth and Max re-entered Brennan's room.

"Let's see if you can get some rest ok Sweetheart?" Max asked.

"I'm tired but I don't feel like sleeping."

"I'll be right here Bones."

She shook her head slowly at Booth. "Booth's probably hungry, it's way past lunch."

"Nah it's ok I'll stay with you."

"Go get something for Booth to eat Dad?"

Both men sensed Brennan wanted to be alone with Booth.

"Sure I'll be back later. Maybe grab a bite myself."

"Thanks Max."

Booth sat down on the bed next to his wife, taking her in his arms again.

"Are we ok Booth?"

"Sure we are. Why wouldn't we be."

"Because I lost our baby. Because another man - "

"Whoa hold it right there Bones. You didn't cause any of this. And I don't care about what's happened alright? What's important is that you're ok. No matter what Bones? I love you."

Aye sorry, abrupt ending. I had actually written much more but it got too long and I figured this is the best part to break it up into a chapter.

I'm having Bones withdrawal, bad! I need my new episode like yesterday.

Don't forget to leave a review on your way out.