The last two episodes were phenomenal and I know it's just gonna get better. Let's hope Booth does step up, "gros a set" and starts to court Brennan.

A shout out and thank you to neveragain79, Rose Aarac, boothandbones4ever, samtaz58, DoctorSweets, Blackbeltrules13, NatesMama. Your reviews are greatly appreciated. You added me as your fave author and on story alert. I'm flattered since some of you are writers yourselves.

Let out a controlled breath and squeeze. Booth kept repeating that line like a mantra in his head. His years as a sniper in the Army and as a FBI marksman had proved that he was a very good shot. One squeeze of the trigger was all it was going to take. But he couldn't do it.

Booth had spent a good part of the evening cleaning out his old sniper rifle, then driving and parking two blocks from his destination. That was where he was then, lying prone on the roof of the building opposite ADA Richard McFee's posh apartment.

Looking through the scope of his rifle, Booth felt somewhat like a voyeur. He watched as McFee came home, late as one would expect of an ADA, politely pecked his wife on the cheek, settling down to dinner she had saved for him. As the night wore on McFee spent a little time with his son, then kissed his wife goodnight before sitting infront of the computer.

Booth was used to waiting, as an Army trained sniper, he had waited days for the perfect shot. It may have been years before, but he never forgot. His scope now trained on McFee's head he knew all he had to do was let out a controlled breath and squeeze the trigger gently.

He couldn't do it.

Booth never liked taking lives, he never chose to be a sniper but he was a gifted marksman. He had taken lives when he was serving in the Army, he had taken lives as an FBI agent, all out of duty and self-defense or even to protect the people he loved, especially his Bones. The man he was staring at through the scope of his rifle could just be the man who hurt his Bones. This was different, this was personal. He could do it. He needed to, to make things right.

His indecision tormented him. He couldn't do it.

He didn't have enough evidence, he wanted to be sure, before he did anything. Nothing in his hours watching McFee suggested he was a serial rapist. Booth closed his eyes. His back was killing him. He wasn't used to this, he wasn't a twenty year old anymore. Slowly Both got up and crouched in the darkness, disassembling his rifle and heading back home in his SUV to stash his rifle before going back to keep Brennan company.

It was one in the morning when Booth got to Brennan's hospital room. He was surprised to see Max still there. Brennan was asleep. Both men stood at the door to the room speaking in hushed tones.

"Where have you been?"

"You know, work."

"Son, I may not be a cop but I know when someone is lying."

Booth shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.

"So did you get him?"

Booth bit his lip.

"Did you get him?"

"I, I just, I don't know alright? I don't know if this is the right guy. And even if I know, what am I gonna do huh?"

"I know what I'm gonna do Booth."

"Max, come on. It'll kill Bones and me to have to arrest you again."

"Double jeopardy remember? Can't convict me of the same crime?"

"Max, you were acquitted."

Brennan tossed in her sleep.

"Don't worry the nurses gave her a sleeping pill, don't think she heard us."

"Look Max, it's late. Thanks for being here."

"I'm her father. No need to thank me."

Max gave Booth a meaningful stare. "You let me know when you're sure Booth."

"Yeah, maybe."

Booth was ambivalent towards his father-in-laws attitude. He had always respected the man. Ever since he had been acquitted, Booth had thought Max wouldn't go back to his old ways for Russ and Brennan's sake. He didn't want Max to get into trouble, it would hurt his wife terribly.

Shouldn't the same be said for you?

Booth was tired and his back was killing him. Too much thinking. He sank into the chair Max previously occupied and fell asleep.

Brennan woke thankfully having slept a dreamless sleep. It was morning and the sunlight streamed into her hospital room. This was the day she got out, this was the day she had resolved to put everything behind her and move on.

She saw Booth slouched on the plastic chair next to her bed. She climbed out, gingerly. It was still painful to sit and walk. She stood before Booth gently shaking him awake.

"Booth."

"Bones, hey. How're you feeling?"

"I slept well."

"That's good."

"How was work?"

Booth couldn't look her in the eye. He couldn't lie to her. But he did. "It was ok, you know the usual."

"Your back must be killing you, sleeping in that chair."

His back was hurting and the chair wasn't solely to blame.

"Hurts a little." Not lying this time. Just down playing things.

"I could fix it for you."

"Nah, I'm good Bones, don't exert yourself."

"I'm fine physically Booth. My bruises will take time to heal and in the meantime some discomfort from them is expected."

"Discomfort?"

"Bones those bruises on you are huge."

"I can handle it."

Before Booth could answer Dr Gareth appeared.

"Morning Temperance. Glad to see you're up and about. Are we ready to go home?"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Booth."

:Bones."

"You can go home today if you wish Temperance but perhaps you want to talk it over with your husband." The doctor could sense the tension in the room.

"There's no need for discussion. I'd like to go home."

"Ok. I'll schedule you an appointment with your OBGyn in about two weeks, and you can come see me about your other injuries at about the same time."

"That's it?" Booth stood.

"And I can schedule you an appointment with a psychiatrist. There are support groups - "

"That won't be necessary. Booth and I are in couples therapy. I'm sure if anything arises we can address it during our sessions. "

"Oh – "

"It's not what you think Dr Gareth," Booth was quick to jump in. "Our marriage, our partnership, us, we have always been solid."

"It'll be good to talk about it with each other and someone. In the privacy of your own home perhaps."

Booth went about seeing to Brennan's discharge from hospital. The tension from their morning disagreement resumed in the SUV. It was here they had most of their talks.

"So you're serious about having us talk to Sweets about this?"

"He knows by now."

"Yeah he does."

"He's bound to bring it up."

"Yeah but we don't have to talk with him if we don't want to."

"I was just humoring Dr Gareth. I don't think we need to talk to anyone about this."

"I don't know Bones. If not to Sweets then maybe we, the two if us need to talk."

"I'd rather not."

"You were raped. We lost our baby."

"I am very aware of that Booth. If the fact that I was raped changes anything for you or makes you uncomfortable – "

"I told you, this doesn't change anything for me. I still love you."

"Then fine we agree to put this behind us and carry on."

"Bones we can't just bury something like this and not talk about it."

"What point is there in talking about it? It can't reverse what has happened."

"No but it can heal. Aren't you hurting Bones? Cos I am. And I don't mean your bruises."

Brennan's tone softened. She reached across the SUV and took Booth's hand. "I'm sorry Booth, I never thought about how you were feeling."

"It's not a big deal. I just, it's like I failed you."

"Booth, you told me not to go running without you. I did."

"Since when did you start doing what I tell you anyway?"

Brennan cracked a smile. Booth felt a small measure of relief. The heavy tension between them settled somewhat.

"This sucks."

"Holding hands?"

"No Bones, what happened. It sucks. And I'm not too good at just forgetting it, just like that."

"I don't feel like talking about it or reliving it. It's hard."

"I know baby. Sweeping things under the rug isn't gonna help either."

"So could we agree to disagree on this?"

"I'm not saying we gotta go talk to Sweets now. But maybe there are some things we do need to think about and talk it over, not right now, but maybe when you're ready."

"I – " Brennan paused.

Booth and her were sometimes different as night and day. And yet there were times when they were frighteningly similar. This time however their differences shone through. She didn't want to talk about things, but she knew Booth needed to.

"Keeping things bottled up isn't good."

"I'll think about it."

"Ok. I'm sorry I didn't mean to push you."

"No it's fine. I love you Booth."

Booth's heart leapt. For a moment he had wondered if she still loved him, or blamed him for what happened.

"I love you too."

"You know we caught a lead on the case."

"I'd rather not Booth."

"Thought you might be interested to know. You do want this guy caught don't you?"

"Yes, but it's not your job. Let Metro police handle it."

"Yeah and a fine job they've been doing so far."

"Like I said I'd rather not talk about it right now."

"Ok ok Bones."

They drove in silence home, Booth casting sideways glances at her, wondering if things were truly ok between them. He believed they were, believed their love was strong enough. He didn't think things were gonna get much easier fast though. He knew there would be things to address, but if she didn't want to now he would give her time, like he always did.

Brennan mood lightened when they got home. Maybe things could go back to some semblance of normalcy. She allowed Booth to run her a bubble bath, complete with scented candles he knew she loved.

Alone in the tub, staring at her bruises, her hand drifted to her abdomen. The thought that their baby was gone overwhelmed her and she broke into tears.

Booth was cooking her dinner when his phone rang.

"Booth."

"It's Eddie. This a bad time?"

"No, no. Talk to me."

"Turns out our friends at MPD did haul up McFee. Talked to his wife and son too. Had alibis for three of the attacks but none for the other three including your wife's."

"That's all?

"One eyewitness described a man of similar built at the scene of the fourth attack."

"Everything we've got so far is circumstantial."

"We should put a tail on this guy."

"I could do it if you want but – "

"But?"

"Assistant Director Hacker is putting together a task force. Seems MPD wants our help now."

"Great, when do we start?"

"He's called for a meeting with the assigned agents at eight tomorrow morning."

"I wasn't aware he called for a meeting."

"That's because you're not in the task force."

As for homicidal Booth, haha yes angry dark Booth is real hot, although I haven't decided how exactly the rest of the story is going to play out yet. At least not the revenge part.

Booth did say he'd kill for her.