Chapter 6: The Wait

"Bones, I'm going to do what you did for me when I was unconscious. I'm going to talk and talk, because I know that somehow it does get through. Remember how I thought we were married when I woke up from my coma. I'm sorry to say that I'm not the creative type, so I won't be able to come up with some beautiful fantasy life. Just the facts, ma'am." This last he said in his best FBI Dragnet voice.

He stopped and smiled, half expecting Bones to cock her head and say "I don't know what that means." But she didn't move, didn't respond.

Booth hung his head and stroked her arm. There were so many bandages and bruises. She had the head wound, three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a broken left arm. It pained him to look at her. He opened his mouth to apologize, but closed it quickly. How many times could he say he was sorry? Regret burned in his gut, but it did no good to keep apologizing. He had to get her well and find the person who hurt her. Those were the goals that kept him going when he felt like just curling up around the agony that raged inside him.

"How about..." He cleared his throat, trying to eliminate the desperate emotion he felt from his voice. "How about an update then, Bones?" I know how you like to know about all the developments. The squints and Cam are splitting their time between coming here to see you and doing analysis on all of the clues left at the scene, your apartment, I mean, and on you. Hodgins is staying back at the lab full time to supervise. Angela checks in here every few hours and texts him though. He and Cam wanted to make sure I tell you that you did a great job extracting the DNA. They came up with a good sample and are running it through the system. No matches yet, but I have a feeling this guy is going to show up somewhere. Since he tracks back to me, we are requesting access to the military database. Also, the voicemail is a great clue. Angela is working on cleaning that up so that we can hear everything the guy said. Maybe I'll even recognize his voice. I will never cease to be amazed at how clear headed you can be in the face of danger. "

He had to stop speaking then, before he was overcome. Every time he thought about her taking the chance to dial his number while facing down someone holding a gun on her, he literally felt his heart break. Bones would never approve, but it was true. The pain in his chest was sometimes so intense, he thought he would die. And on top of that was the oppressive guilt. The voicemail ran for five minutes. It took five minutes to get from his apartment to hers. If he had left the minute the call came in, he would have been there. He would have saved her. Cam tried to convince him that perhaps it all wouldn't have gone down like that. If he had gone in with guns blazing, maybe the guy would have shot Bones, shot him. Well, he'd never know the answer to that, and he'd have to live with the guilt every remaining day of his life. If she lived, he thought he'd be able to bear it even if she despised him for it. Is she didn't...

He shook his head, determined to continue talking. One of these minutes, hours or days, she'd respond.

"Remember the time we were in that sound tank with that high pitched noise shredding our brains and you figured out what to do to counter the effects. Amazing. Always so cool under pressure."

He rubbed her arm as he spoke. The warmth of her gave him comfort and he hoped she could feel his touch.

"So, it's been two days, Bones. I know you can sometimes be very competitive, but you really don't have to try to beat my record for days of unconsciousness. Yesterday you were in and out of surgery, so that doesn't really count I guess. Did I mention that your father and brother are here? We all worked out a deal while we were waiting. I told them that I wanted to stay with you as much as possible and they respect that. Of course they want to see you too though, so every two hours during visiting hours I will take a 15 minute break and one of them will come in. As long as you are in intensive care, only one visitor at a time is allowed. Don't worry though, when I leave I don't go far. Just to the cafeteria or outside so that I can use my cell. There is a security guard stationed outside the room, so all is secure here. And everyone knows how to reach me if you need me." He glanced at his watch, and the corner of his mouth quirked up in a wry smile. "A nurse will be in soon to torture you, Bones, so I'll probably step out for a bit. I'll send someone in to be with you the minute the nurse finishes though."

As if on cue, a nurse came in. This was the no-nonsense nurse who worked the day shift. He was sure that Bones would appreciate her efficiency, not to mention her inability to be charmed by his smile. Of course, in his current state, his pathetic attempt at being charming probably wouldn't work on anyone.

"Time to change some of Dr. Brennan's bandages, Agent Booth. You might want to step outside for a few minutes."

Even though he knew he needed a break, Booth's first reaction was to insist on staying. Leaving even for the scheduled 15 minute breaks was not easy for him. What if her condition changed? But if he stayed, the nurses would have to step around him and he didn't want to make their job any more difficult than it already was. They were kind enough to let him stay in the room with Bones after visiting hours, just as they would if he were her husband. He really didn't give them a choice in that matter, but they were still gracious about it.

He leaned down and kissed the side of Bones' head that wasn't bandaged. "They are going to change your bandages now, Bones. I'll be back soon. I love you." This last he whispered quietly in her ear. He made a point of telling her how he felt as often as possible. He'd never take her for granted again. If she didn't want to hear it, well, she'd just have to tell him so to his face. Nothing would make him happier at this moment than for her to wake up and tell him off. Except of course for her to wake up and tell him she loved him back.

He had decided that first day in the hospital while waiting for, and fearing to hear, news of her that he would never leave her again. It didn't really matter if she ever admitted how she felt about him. In his heart - there was that pesky organ again - he knew she loved him. She was just too afraid to admit it. He would be with her on whatever terms she dictated. Hard as it would be to resume their odd more-than-platonic relationship, he would do it if that's what she wanted. Of course, he'd never stop trying to convince her to take a chance on him.

Maybe someday he'd succeed.