Ok Please review this chapter and let me know what you think. If you like it, too short, too long, not enough meat and potatoes, etc. It seems like a happy ending but wait till next chapter. Things get complicated.

Chapter IV

Brennan grabbed her messy manuscript from the tray on her desk and possessively clutched it to her chest with both arms. She had suspicions that Booth read some of it when she wasn't around.

"Booth. What it is? I have work to do on the Riddler case." Booth laughed and scratched his head.

"The Riddler? Like Batman's nemesis?" Brennan turned up her brow, "I don't know what that means."

Booth explained. "You know, riddle me this riddle me that.." Brennan interrupted, "that?" She was pointing to a tiny box Booth had in his hand. Booth exhaled, exasperated. "No Bones, never mind." Booth got a serious look on his face as he clutched the box and remembered why he wanted to talk to Brennan alone.

He paced the room nervously. Brennan watched him intently but stopped herself short of making a comment. She knew what Booth wanted to talk about or at least she thought she knew. She had to leave his bedside to gather herself and get control of the situation. She didn't want her emotions to cloud over her voice of reason. Her feelings for Booth were stronger than anything she'd ever felt before short of finding her mother's body and seeing her dad again. She needed to distance herself from the rush of emotion so that she could rationalize their relationship and put things in perspective.

Booth stopped himself from pacing and walked with a sudden calmness over to Brennan. He grabbed her by both hands and looked her deadpan in the eyes. He was hesitant to ask the question that had been burning in his head all morning but he swallowed deeply then asked. "Are you having second thoughts about us Bones?" Do you regret what happened?"

Brennan searched his eyes for signs of hurt. They burned deep into her and she thought for a moment about how to respond. "No Booth, I don't regret anything that happened between us, but.." She stopped.

"But what?" He insisted. She sank deeply into the chair behind her desk but he caught her by the forearm and pulled her to her feet and closer to him so that they were nearly touching. She looked away. "I just don't think we should do this Booth. I mean I think it will affect our partnership in a negative way. Your feelings for me will slow your response time and cloud your judgment because you will think of me in a more protective way. That could have profound effects on our partnership, our safety, and the safety of those around us."

Booth put pulled her close and hugged her tightly. He confessed, "Bones, I didn't just fall in love with you. I've been in love with you." I've had feelings for you for a while now and it has not affected our partnership. It's made it better." I'm not going to let you walk away from this Bones."

He walked her over to the couch in her office and they both sat down. Bones, taken back by his confession, confessed her own secret. "Booth, I've had feelings for you too. Feelings so strong that they scare me and I can't promise..I don't know if I can do this."

Booth opened the little box and took out his military ring. "I want to give you this Bones. It's a symbol of everything that I've been through and everything that I've…he paused…everything that I've done good and bad. You and only you know these things about me. It's the honest and truest part of me and I'm giving this to you Bones. I can't lose you. The harder you push, the tighter I'll hold on."

She took the ring from him and put it on her thumb. Tears escaped the corner of her eyes and streaked mascara down her cheek. She looked down at the ring and fingered over the gemstone. Booth repeated, "the harder you push.." Bones caught his lips and kissed him lightly. She looked into his dark eyes and responded, "I'm not pushing."