Thank you Melissa for being my beta. And to my faithful reviewers, thanks for all your feedback! Keep it coming!

Booth

When I wake again, I'm feeling noticeably better. The tube, or whatever it was that had been in my throat, is now gone and I try to swallow. It hurts. My throat feels like sandpaper.

"Feeling better?" True to his word, Jared is still here. It's not like he has anywhere to go. We're in Iraq.

"Yeah." My voice sounds hoarse.

"You'd better be. You've been sleeping for three days. You know how boring it is to watch your brother sleep for three days?"

"Thanks Jared."

"Let's not get sentimental Seeley."

I try to lift my head to assess my injuries.

"Where do I begin?" Jared muses. "Let's see fractured left knee, left hand, left clavicle, massive bleeding from some artery near your liver, bruising in the brain… but before you ask, nothing's permanent. You'll get better with rest and physical therapy. Oh and you've had emergency surgery… twice."

"Bones."

"In good time. When you're looking better. Temperance has been very, very stressed. The Army told her you were dead. But she refused to believe it."

That's my Bones!

"You look like hell Seeley. Just rest up a little more and maybe in a day or two I'll let you call your beautiful wife."

"Did anyone else…."

"No Seeley, you were the only one who made it out of the crash alive."

I close my eyes and say a thank you. I know I was being watched over.

"I thought I told you….. but Dr Thomas said there may be some memory loss. Do you remember what happened?"

"Yeah someone shot at us. I don't know what happened after that. I just remember waking up here."

"That's pretty much what happened. I always knew you had a hard head."

"I want to talk to Bones now."

"I'll call her; tell her you're doing ok. I promise you'll get to talk to her soon."

The nurse from the other day appears and starts to inject something into my IV.

"No – " I protest. My eyelids grow heavy. I try to fight it, but sleep welcomes me with open arms.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brennan

I've waited more than half a year for this moment. My heart is pounding in my chest. The computer screen buzzes and the image flickers to show Booth, my husband lying in a hospital bed. I choke back a gasp.

He looks so tired, worn out. He's lost weight; not significantly, but enough for anyone who knew him before he left for Iraq to notice. He has numerous IVs running into him and his left hand is in a cast, as is his left leg. His abdomen is swathed in bandages and he has several bruises that are healing on his face. I've never seen him like this. Even when he got blown up at my apartment so many years ago, he didn't look like this in the hospital. Despite everything, he's wearing the largest grin I've ever seen.

"Bones!"

"Booth!"

We smile at each other. I see Jared adjusting the laptop onto Booth's lap. His face is closer now.

"You gotta thank Jared for giving me a haircut and shave before the satellite uplink."

"Thank you Jared!" I beam into the screen.

"I missed you so much Bones. You look so good. How've you been?"

"I've been good. Better than you."

"Anyone's better than me now." Booth chuckles.

"I missed you too."

"Bones, I'm sorry they made you think I was dead."

I shake my head. "I'm a person of science remember? I only believe in the facts. No body, no dead husband. They had to show me a body before I was going to believe you were dead."

"Great image Bones, you looking at my remains."

I hear Jared laugh in the background.

"It would upset me greatly to have to do so."

The thought reminds me of when I had to go to Vegas New Mexico to identify Angela's late boyfriend years ago. I decide to change the subject. "How are you feeling?"

"Kinda strange. They drugged me up pretty good. I'm going to try moving around soon Bones, you know physical therapy. I'll come home as soon as I can."

"I can't wait."

"Me too. Kiss Parker for me."

Jared and I had thought it best not to let Parker see his father in this state, and I was relieved that Booth felt the same.

"I will,"

"I'll call you tomorrow." Booth lifts his good hand and blows a kiss towards me. I smile.

"I love you Bones."

"I know. And eat something Booth."

He winces when he laughs. "Hey that's a first, you asking me to eat."

"Sleep well Booth."

"I will now that I've seen you. Oh and Bones?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for the Capitals shirt; it was literally a life-saver."

"I don't know what that means."

"It means what it means, the shirt, and your foresight, saved me."

I still don't understand.

"Seeley needs his rest." Jared interrupts my thoughts.

"Yes." I agree. "Call me."

"I will, I promise."

The screen goes blank. Again I let another opportunity slip, another opportunity I had to tell him I love him. No I want to tell him in person. When I can actually touch him, feel him. My hand moves to his ring round my neck again. Soon, soon he will be home.

TBC