Another several moments passed before reached for the call bell to alert the nurse about Booth's change in status.

"The nurse will be here in a minute," she said soothingly to Booth.

Booth nodded sleepily.

"If everything okay?" said the nurse, Melanie, rushing into the room.

"He's awake," Brennan said with a joyous smile.

The nurse seemed equally delighted. She did a brief assessment of Booth's status before leaving the room to page the resident.

"I'll be right back. I am going to call Angela and let her know that you are awake," Brennan said as a she pressed a kiss to Booth's forehead.

Brennan quickly scurried after the nurse, "Excuse me."

"Yes, Temperance?"

"Could you please ask the resident to increase the dosage of Booth's morphine? He's in pain."

"Of course," Melanie said with a smile before continuing towards the nurses' station.

Brennan, eager to return to Booth's bedside, quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Angela's number.

When Angela answered the phone, Brennan announced that Booth was awake and burst into tears. Angela let her best friend have her cry, offered comforting words, and promised to pass the good news along to the rest of the squints, Rebecca, and Max before the conversation was concluded.

Within an hour of Booth regaining consciousness, the doctor had increased Booth's pain medication and ordered that his breathing tube be removed. Brennan sat by helplessly as Booth coughed and struggled to breathe as the tube was removed.

No longer encumbered by the breathing tube, Booth was eager to communicate with his girlfriend through more than nods.

Through an oxygen mask, Booth asked in a cracked, raspy voice, "Did they catch him?"

Brennan was momentarily confused.

"Oh, no. No, they didn't," she said sadly.

Booth nodded and reached for her hand, "How are you?"

"Me?" Brennan said with a laugh, "You're the one who was shot, Booth."

Hoarsely, Booth rebutted, "You're the one carrying our baby, who had to deal with me being shot."

Brennan choked back tears, "You're going to be okay, so I am going to be okay."

Booth squeezed his partner's hand and pulled the oxygen mask away from his face, "I love you, baby."

"I love you too, Booth," Brennan said, placing the mask over Booth's mouth again, "You should rest. Your throat must be sore."

Booth nodded slightly. Brennan entwined her fingers with Booth's again and rested her head on Booth's shoulder and promptly fell asleep.

When visiting hours resumed, Brennan was awakened by Cam, who was eager to see her friend recovering. There was a steady stream of visitors for the rest of the day until visiting hours ended. Against Booth's protest, Brennan spent another night at his bedside. In the morning, the doctor once again arrived early. He delivered the happy news that Booth's chest tube was no longer draining air and could be removed. Booth would also be moved to a step down unit after being monitored for a few hours in ICU after the chest tube was removed.

After receiving the good news, Brennan stepped out of the room to retrieve a glass of ice water for Booth. As she exited the room, the nurse entered.

"Hi, Seeley. I'm Amanda. I understand that you are going to be moving in a few hours."

Booth smiled, "Yep."

"I was your nurse when you came out of surgery, which you obviously don't remember," she said with a smile.

Booth chuckled, "No, I definitely don't remember."

"I spoke with your wife quite a bit. Congratulations on the baby. Your wife seems very excited…and very devoted to you."

Booth was speechless for a moment. He knew, of course, that the nurse was referring to Bones, but Booth couldn't imagine Bones would have told her she was his wife.

"Mr. Booth?"

"Yeah, uh, we're both really excited. I hate that she had to go through this when she's seven months pregnant."

Amanda nodded sympathetically, "Well, hopefully you won't have any more of that type of excitement again."

Booth chuckled, "Yeah that would nice."

"Well, don't hesitate to call me if you need anything. I'll check back in soon."

"Thanks," Booth said and was left alone to ponder what the nurse had said.

That Evening

Booth decided not to broach the topic of Bones being called herself his wife. If he was being honest with himself, he had to admit that the thought of Bones' willingness to let anyone assume they were husband and wife made him feel warm all over.

Currently, at his behest, Bones was down in the cafeteria getting some dinner. Booth sighed and hoped the worst from over for him and Bones. He had a dangerous job – they both did. He would soon be the father of two. Maybe it was time to take a desk job, one of the supervisory positions he'd been offered over the years. Booth's train of thought was derailed by a familiar voice.

"Hey, soldier. Glad to see you're feeling better".

"H-Hannah? What are you doing here?" Booth asked, dumbfounded.

"Well, good to see you too, Seeley," Hannah said with a laugh, "Didn't Temperance tell you I'd called?"

"Uh, no. She didn't," Booth replied, his mind reeling. In addition to everything Bones had been through over the last forty-eight hours, she'd had to deal with a call from his 'ex' too?

"Oh, well. She was pretty abrupt on the phone. I guess she was really upset," Hannah stated.

Booth nodded slightly.

"Well, I am glad you are doing better. I read about the shooting. I was so worried," Hannah said softly.

Booth said nothing, still astonished that she was here.

"Look, Seeley, I know we left things…badly. I meant what I said that I don't think it is over between us…"

Booth finally summoned words to respond, "No, Hannah, it is. You told me you didn't want anything serious when we first met. I should have listened."

Before Hannah could reply, a cheerful Brennan announced her return.

"I brought you back some pudding, and an -," Brennan stopped and stood, open mouthed at the sight of Hannah.

"Bones, she was –"

"Hannah?"

"Temperance! You're pregnant!" observed an astounded Hannah.

"Yes," Brennan replied, looking from Booth to his former lover.

"Congratulations! I didn't know you were seeing anyone," Hannah commented.

"How would you? We haven't spoken in nearly a year."

Despite the awkwardness of the situation, Booth couldn't help but smile at his girlfriend's response.

"Right," Hannah said bitterly, "Well, I am sure that -."

Suddenly realization washed over her.

"He has someone. Me."

Brennan hadn't merely meant that she was keeping vigil at Seeley's bedside.

Hannah clapped her hand over her mouth in astonishment, "Oh my God! You're having Seeley's baby!"

Brennan nodded.

"Yes, she is," Booth replied, "Bones and I are together."

Booth motioned for Bones to come over. When she was back at his bedside, he reached for her hand.

"I'm sorry, Hannah, but like I said, you and I, that's in the past."

"And you sure didn't waste any time," she replied, looking at Booth and Brennan with disgust.

She then glared at Brennan and said, "You couldn't take him away from me when we were dating, then once I was out of the picture, you -."

"Stop right there, Hannah," Booth commanded, "I loved Bones before, during, and after you were my girlfriend. I appreciate your concern, but I think you should leave."

Hannah opened her mouth to offer a rebuttal then closed it again.

After muttering, "Goodbye, Seeley," she turned on her heel and stormed out.