Booth stepped closer to the light. For the first time he could remember he felt peace creeping over him. He felt the pull drawing him towards the light.

"Please Booth, don't leave me." It was almost so faint he doubted he'd heard it at all.

He looked back again. Memories were clouded. He knew the voice but had no idea who it was. The light it was drowning everything out. He backed a few steps away and the voice became clearer. The peace he had felt began to wane. A dull ache washed over his body. 'Bones' he thought.

He glanced back and forth between the light and the darkness he was attempting to leave behind. The voice was pleading for him to stay, but the light beckoned him on. He thought he saw a feint figure of a woman holding her hand out to him… "Mom?"

He didn't know what to do. The draw coming from both sides were strong. He heard the pleading voice again. "I'm sorry Mom, I can't. I can't leave her yet. I am not done here. Please forgive me." With that he turned away from the light and returned to whatever the darkness had to offer.

PAIN. He had forgotten about the pain. He now considered the choice he had just made. Had he made the correct one.

"I don't know what to do Booth. I have never been at a loss. I always know what to do. Please don't leave me. I am afraid." She begged

He could hear her choked words. The battery of emotions she felt highly evident. He had made the right choice. She needed him. The pain was worth it. She needed his help and he would do everything he could for her. He always had and always will. He loves her.

He could hardly breathe. It took all his effort for the slightest amount of air. Maybe his choice wasn't a long term one. If he could just last long enough to help her it would be good enough. Everything would be worth it as long as she was ok. He struggled to call out to her, but all that came out was a soft groan.

"Booth? Hey? Can you hear me? Booth?"

He managed to crack open his eyes open just the slightest. Her face became into view ever so blurrily. He tried to focus but it came in waves. He could see a bit of relief wash over her features. He struggled to remember what had happened. He was obviously injured but his memory was clouded with the vision of his mother in the light.

He let out a soft moan. This was the first sign of life other than his feint vitals. She knew he wasn't out of danger but this was definitely a good sign. She couldn't help the slight bit of relief that washed over her. She didn't think she could retain her sanity if she were trapped with his dead body. She cared too much for him for that. He saved her and sacrificed himself. Always the hero.

"Booth? Hey? Can you hear me? Booth?"

His eyes fluttered slightly open. She could see a range of emotions on his face, the most evident… confusion.

"There was a cave in. You knocked me out of the way and took the full force on yourself. You were buried. It took so long to get you out. You died, Booth, you died." She choked on the last words

He didn't seem shocked by her words. She didn't understand. If someone had told her she had died and had been resuscitated, she would assume she would have been shocked. She never cared for conjecture, but it seemed to be a reasonable hypothesis.

He could see the questions in her eyes. He gathered all the strength he could muster to speak to her.

"I know." He slurred barely audible. "But couldn't leave you."

He could see the tears pool in her eyes threatening to fall. Memories of what transpired before the cave in filtered through the fog in his mind. He instantly tensed sending new waves of pain through his battered body.

"Wasn't accident. Set up. Explosion. " He was struggling to move now, but his body was not cooperating in the least. "Rain. Cave flooding. Got to get you out."

Her face filled with alarm. "Booth You are in no condition to be moved. I have noted numerous fractures but without x-rays I can't be sure of the extent of all your injuries ."

"Well… Doc… I… guess… we… need… some… splints… and… band..ages. Get…working…"

"No Booth you need medical assistance from professionals. You could aggravate your injuries."

"We… will… die… Have… to… try…"

He doubted he would make it through this either way, but he couldn't let her know that. He just needed to let her know. He thought back to the case with the skeletons in the cave a few years back. They died together. Him holding her. As much as the sentiment warmed his heart. He was going to do everything he could to get her out.

She was quiet then finally nodded. That was easier than he thought it would be. Usually she was so stubborn. He supposed it was a rational conclusion for her. Do nothing and die or fight to live.

Brennan went to work gathering some materials. Boot h worked on getting into a zone where he could actually speak more coherently. Deep down he knew he would be seeing his mother again soon, and there were many things he couldn't leave unsaid between he and Bones.

It wasn't often you were able to get a 2nd chance and because he was a gambler he knew a 3rd chance was slim odds.

"I am going to need to cut some of our clothing for additional bandages. I will leave the warmest for last resort." Brennan said.

Booth saw a small shiver quake Brennan's frame. He hadn't realized the temperature before now. He knew he was cold, but had assumed it due to injuries and shock. He then remembered the temperature outside.

Her legs were already bare from her previous bandage attempts. He saw her remove her jacket and begin removing her shirt. Of course she would choose her own clothing before his. She began cutting her shirt into strips and all Booth could do was stare at her satiny skin. He noticed many bruises that had formed on her torso.

"Are… you… ok?" He asked eyes filled with concern.

Brennan then took a moment to look over her body. "Oh, I am fine. When my body impacted the floor of the cave and that boulder over there a sustained a few minor injuries. I managed to reengage my shoulder earlier so that I could assist you."

Only then did it hit him. He had been the one to injure her. When he grabbed her and swung her away he had hurt her. Feelings of regret filled him.

"I'm… so … sorry Bones."

Brennan saw his react and knew he was feeling guilty. "Booth, you saved my life. It could have been me buried under all those rocks. It should have been me. I find your actions heroic even if not logical. If you had been uninjured, you would have the strength and knowledge to attempt escape. Instead you are virtually immobile and at the mercy of my knowledge base and limited strength."

He saw tears forming in her eyes. This renewed his determination that he would get her out of here. He had been to hell and back many times before, he would make his body cooperate long enough to gain her freedom.

"I am going to need some of your clothing as well, I will do my best not to cause an overwhelming amount of pain for you, but while I do this and set your bones it is best if I act quickly without empathy."

He gave her a slight nod and put himself in a type of trance that he had done many times while facing torture. It didn't nullify the pain, but he had found it was easier to ignore.

"Tell me… what I need… to do to help." He was finding it easier to speak now. This was good. He felt the pain but his body was beginning to adjust to it, and overcome.

"Just don't fight the movements. We need to remove your coat and then I will just cut off what I need. Then we will put your coat back on. The temperature has dropped significantly and in addition to all your other injuries we don't need hypothermia."

He gave her another nod and they went to work. The pain was excruciating, but he wasn't going to let her see that. His adrenaline started pumping acting almost like an anesthetic. She had been mumbling words of encouragement while she worked, but in his current state he couldn't take them in.

What seemed like hours had passed, though Booth new his judgment was off and it probably wasn't even close to correct on the passage of time.

"I have done the best that I can. I have to say I am not at all comfortable with your decision to attempt mobility." Brennan said in her normal factual tone.

The tone of her voice and the expression on her face conflicted one another. She was compartmentalizing. Her voice while remaining stoic was betrayed by the worry and concern that filled her features. Booth adorned is ever so charming smile and said. "I will be fine. Just help me up."

"I can attempt digging at the entrance. If I can just figure out the weakest points, maybe I can…"

"Bones… with all the rain and mud it will be too unstable. If you go digging around over there you take a good chance of collapsing the side of the mountain even more. You could hurt yourself more then you are now or worse. I have an idea, just help me up."

He was surprised at his own strength. He had managed to speak an entire sentence without hesitation. He just needed to keep it up for a while more. He thought back to the whole he had seen near the pool of water. She just might be small enough to fit through, then his job would be done.

Brennan helped him to his feet. His vision went black and stars formed before his eyes. He struggled to maintain calm breathing as not to alert her. When his vision cleared he forced his best smile. "See Bones I am fine."

She didn't look at all convinced. But wrapped her arm around his abdomen allowing him to lean some of his weight on her as they wandered down the cavern where Booth had been before the cave in.