Hey, guys! Ok, so here's my long awaited new chapter! (Well.. hopefully long awaited!) Again, so sorry for pretty much abandoning this story, but I assure you that I won't again! So, please, without any further ado, here's the new, awaited for chapter!

Booth woke up feeling somewhat disoriented. He hadn't slept well that night. Tossing and turning, when he had finally gotten to sleep, all he would see was Bones.. His Bones..

His mind replayed the earlier events from that day. Him watching her get shot.. Watching her fall to the floor.. Hearing her gasp in pain..

It was all so livid. So real, as though they were back in the warehouse all over again. So, when Booth woke up for the seventh time that night, he decided to just stay awake. He looked over to his bedside table to see his alarm clock read 6:30.

Ugh, he thought, Of course I couldn't have stayed asleep longer.

Feeling a bit agitated by the clock's time, Booth decided to take a shower. He hoped the warm water would not only wake him up, but help to relax his muscles as well. The previous day's events, being strenuous, had taken its toll on Booth's body. He could still feel Bones' tight grip on his hand as she clung to him for everything she had yesterday. Then he remembered how their hands were molded to fit each other's perfectly. How her face, serene and calm, was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and how he would love to see it every single day. Not just at work, out in the field, or at the Diner. He would love to see her face every morning he woke up, and every night he went to bed. Because that face, Bones' beautiful, flawless face, meant everything to him.

Getting dressed in a pair of jeans and one of his rocker band t-shirts, Booth actually felt better. The hot water made him more alert and relaxed his tensed muscles. It was only 7:15. Much too early to go to the hospital. He would be waiting for hours either way, so he decided to wait at home where it was more comfortable. After eating breakfast and being bored by the blandness of the TV, Booth couldn't take it anymore. There was absolutely nothing of interest to keep him occupied any longer. And seeing as it was a little after 11:00, he figured he'd head over to the hospital.

As he was getting his jacket and car keys, the phone rang. He contemplated on answering it or not, but hoping it was the hospital, he answered.

"Hello?" He asked, somewhat hopeful.

"Booth? Hey, it's Angela." The voice replied.

"Oh, hey, Ang." Booth said. "What's up?"

"Booth," she started, excitedly, "Booth, Brennan woke up! The doctor's letting us go in and see her!" She said happily.

Booth was ecstatic. He didn't know what to say, what to do.

"Booth?" Angela asked when Booth didn't reply.

"Yeah, sorry, Ang." Booth said. "That's great! I was just on my way over there."

"Well, hurry up and get here, Sweetie. I have a feeling she'll be asking for you," she replied.

Even through the phone, Booth could tell Angela was sporting a very large grin.

"Yeah, I'll be there soon." Booth said.

They said goodbye and hung up. Booth was so relieved.. So happy.. So.. So..He couldn't even explain how he felt. Even though the doctor had told them Bones would be fine, Booth still had a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach. And he knew it would stay there until he saw for himself she was alright. That his Bones was going to be okay.

The only feeling he had on his way to the hospital was that of relief. Relief for Bones pulling through, relief for getting to see her again, and relief for just knowing he would have the chance to tell her everything he wanted to. That realization gave him confidence.

As he parked his SUV and headed to the front door of the hospital, his longing intensified. The need to see her, hear her, touch her.. All of that blazed on inside him like an unrelenting fire. He got to the third floor and went to the room Bones was staying in. From his side of the door, he could hear everyone. Angela, Hodgins, Zach, and.. Sweets? Booth didn't expect Sweets to be there, nor did he really care. All he cared about was Bones.. His Bones.

He stood there listening until he couldn't any longer. Finally, he opened the door and walked in. Discussions momentarily ceased until Hodgins broke the silence.

"Booth!" He said, walking over to Booth. "Hey, man, what's up?"

"Agent Booth." Sweets acknowledged with a nod of his head.

Angela, however, walked to Booth and gave him a hug.

None of these introductions interested Booth, though. He had eyes only for the woman in the hospital bed. The others saw this, and Angela decided to speak up.

"I'm hungry. Come on, Jack, let's go eat."

"Yeah, come on Zach. We'll get you some of that mac 'n' cheese from the cafeteria you like so much." Hodgins said as he tugged on Zach's arm

The three of them left the room, leaving Sweets the last one.

"You know," he started, clearing his throat, "I think I'm gunna try some of that mac 'n' cheese, too." Sweets nodded as he left the rom.

Both Brennan and Booth were still looking at each other.. Saying nothing.. Booth couldn't believe it. Bones – his Bones – was awake and fine and most importantly.. alive. Were those tears he saw glistening in her beautiful, ocean blue eyes?

"Hey, Booth."

That was all Brennan could muster up. Booth didn't even reply. He took three long strides and pulled Brennan into his arms. He sat there, holding her as tightly as he could without hurting her, feeling her fierceness as she hugged him back. They stayed that way for a few minutes, until Bones pulled away. She wiped the few stray tears that had rebelled from the barricades of her eyes, and looked at Booth. She gave him a small smile and said, "Guess I'm not a very good listener, huh?"

"You shouldn't have done that, Bones," Booth replied, softly. "You should have stayed down like I told you to."

Brennan gave him an incredulous look. "You thought I would just sit there and hope you didn't get shot? Wait till the bullets ran out? Until someone got killed? Do you know it could have very well been you?"

Her voice had risen about an octave by the time she'd gotten through. She couldn't forgive herself if something would have happened to Booth.

"It was almost you!" Booth retorted. "Do you know what that would have done to me? I would never have forgiven myself if something worse would have happened to you. I still can't forgive myself for getting you shot," he said quietly as he shook his head and looked down.

Bones took his face between both her hands and waited till he looked at her to talk.

"This is not your fault, Seeley." The use of his first name made him listen harder. "You didn't know this would happen. He did this to me. Not you. So, please, stop blaming yourself." Her words were sincere. Booth could hear the emotion behind them. She let her hands drop from his face and folded them on her lap. Booth was scooted forward in the chair, his arms resting on the side of the bed. Booth decided, then, to lighten the mood.

"Something we should talk about, though. Your shooting. I mean, were you even aiming for him?" He joked, flashing his famous charm smile.

Bones just stared at him. "Are you kidding? I was really close. And that gun you gave me was much too big. Plus, using my left hand, it was difficult. I am right handed, you know," she stated, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Sure, sure," Booth replied. "Excuses, excuses." He smiled, then chuckled.

Her stern face was making it much harder to keep the laughter back. The chuckle grew to full blown laughter. Pretty soon Brennan's own façade was slipping. She grinned. She couldn't resist feeding off of Booth's laughter. And the laughter was a relief from the constant state of seriousness and worry and hurt. Then she was laughing, too. And as their harmonious laughter continued, they felt joy, happiness.. They felt.. right. For both knew they had a lot of time to share more laughter.

Ok! So what did you guys think of it? Please review and let me know! I hope this kinda makes up for my long absence?! Please R&R and let me know what you all think! I would really appreciate it! I really want to keep this story going, so let me know if there's anybody out there still willing to read it! I thank you guys who are still stickin' with me! Going to work on another chapter now!!