Booth was hidden beneath a light sheet. His head was turned to the side. His mouth was open, trying to breathe more life into him than his nostrils alone could, despite the oxygen tube plugged in them. He shivered sporadically. His color was glowing red. Sweat soaked his hair and beaded on his forehead and cheeks.

Brennan went straight to his side. She gripped his warm hand into her own. After some time his eyes fluttered open. Seeing her, his eyes half closed again. But his smile was wide and nearly lit up his whole face. It was the most gorgeous sight she'd ever seen. "Didn't… think you'd come." He panted tiredly.

"Booth, I've been here all along. Don't you remember?" No, she was startled to realize. He didn't. The fever was destroying his brain. There was no saying he even knew where he was.

He closed his eyes completely. All of his movements were delayed. She couldn't imagine how bad he must have been hurting. "They wouldn't let me in to see you," Brennan didn't know what else to do, so she continued on as though he understood.

She barely got a response out of him. Booth was going back under. Going back to a place inside him where she couldn't help him. She didn't even know if he understood the danger he was in.

The screen monitoring his pulse showed an increase in rate. Brennan was afraid he'd lapse into some sort of cardiac event. Her eyes welded with water all over again. "Booth," she choked up. "Listen to me, I know you're tired."

"So tired," he agreed in a slight, faraway voice.

"You have to fight." Letting her walls down, she cried openly in front of him. "If you let go you're letting him win. You're letting him take everything you worked so hard to get back."

"I can't-"

"Yes. Yes, you can." She squeezed his hand. "You will. You have to."

"So tired," he slurred again.

"You can't die," she whispered. "I won't let you."

But as he drifted off she knew in her heart there was little she could do. She wasn't a medical doctor. She was just a woman in love who was losing the one person who meant the most to her. "Please," she begged, knowing full well he was beyond hearing her. "Don't let him win."

***

Things got worse before they got better. For two days the poison took complete control over Booth's being. Still he continued to come in and out from the coma his body had put him in as a sort of protection. Brennan never knew what to expect when he woke. At times he knew who she was. Though he wouldn't speak he'd do his best to give her a comforting smile. His fingers would apply pressure to hers. Point being, he understood. Then there were times he came to only to have no idea who he was, who she was, or what was happening to him. It was those moments that drove the fear down deep into her bones.

"Isn't there anything you can do?" She pleaded with Dr. Paxton.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Brennan. It has to take its course." He didn't dare tell her Booth had already lived past everyone's expectations.

She returned to his room to find Booth's eyes wide open. His fast breathing had turned to rampant, hard gasping. His eyes looked right through her. Brennan went straight to his side. "Booth!" She put her hand on his chest. Although his heart monitor was already indicating what she felt, she kept her hand pressed down anyway. His heart beat frenetically.

Before she could yell for a doctor it was over. His eyes rolled back and disappeared beneath the lids. Beneath her fingers his heart kept it's fast rhythm, but the effect wasn't as intense. "Booth?" She asked timidly. He was still.

Brennan flew back out into the hall. She returned with Dr. Paxton who went straight to Booth's aid. Skillfully he reviewed the monitors. He listened to Booth's heart. Then he called for a nurse to draw blood.

"You suspect something." Brennan confirmed.

Dr. Paxton sighed. He was unable to tear his eyes away from Booth. "I think the toxin's ventured into his heart."

Brennan didn't think she had anything left to cry. She was proven wrong. Once the doctor left she leaned over Booth. Gently she kissed him.

***

Another day passed without much change. Then, gradually, things began to happen. Brennan stayed with Booth round the clock. If she went home then it was only to change. The constant watch was having its way over her. She was exhausted. Ragged. Inattentive. All her focus was on Booth. Except she was so drained even that focus was drifting.

A nurse came to perform a statistical check. "Huh," she murmured to herself.

"What?"

"His pulse has slowed some. His fever's down. His blood pressure has lowered."

Brennan raised hopeful eyes. "He's getting better?"

The nurse pressed her lips together. She said nothing.

Brennan looked at Booth. She could tell the nurse was assuming Booth was making a slight improvement before he passed on. She refused to believe it.

In the passing hours he continued to improve. At long last his blood pressure dropped within a normal range. His fever remained, but not nearly as high. Or as dangerous. The redness that had decorated his body for so long disappeared. Quietly he panted in a gentler frequency.

Night arrived. Brennan could hardly keep her eyes open. So she didn't. Leaning back in her chair, she shut her eyes and kept a close listen on his breathing. The pace of it was lulling her to sleep when she heard him moan almost inaudibly. Her eyes snapped back open.

His eyes were flickering beneath their heavy lids. Brennan rose. She gripped his arm like it was a life line. "Come on, Booth."

His chest was heaving. He was searching for strength. Slowly but surely his eyes cracked. With a deep breath he pushed them all the way open.

"Booth." She fought a wave of emotion and smiled. "You did it."

Booth licked his dry lips. He regarded her, unsure. "Who are you?"

Before she had a chance at responding he grinned. She chuckled in relief. At a loss for words she simply kissed him. He kissed back, matching her passion and love. "You're going to be all right," she assured him.

"I know."

He had a long journey ahead of him. But she was sure he'd make it. He always did.

The end