I thought that I'd leave you on a better note before I head out! Tiny references to Mummy in the Maze and The Bone that Blew, but nothing too big.

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I'm dead. I'm dead, I'm gone, I'm toast. She's going to massacre me. Oh lord this is bad. I'm so dead.

As Booth tried to string coherent thoughts together, he noticed the first twinges of pain at the top of his shoulder. He blinked into reality; the dim hospital room empty save for him. He pressed the call button and the nurse came bustling in.

"Well hey sugar," Shirley said with a smile as she adjusted his I.V. and pain medications, "I was beginning to hope we wouldn't be seeing you two around here again."

"You and me both. Do you know where Bones, uh I mean, Dr. Brennan is right now?" he asked sheepishly. No matter how much he wanted to see her, he couldn't help but want to hold off what he knew would be quite a lecture for as long as possible.

Shirley gave him a knowing grin, "She's downstairs with that artist friend of hers," the nurse's tone turned chiding, "You gave her quite the scare there."

"I'm so dead," Booth repeated, dropping his head with a sigh.

"Well, before your funeral, can I get you anything?" Shirley asked with a laugh. That boy had it worse than ever. Booth looked back up at her, his charm smile making an appearance.

"Well, I know the cafeteria is probably closed, but some pudding would be a great last meal."

"You got it sugar," she said, laughing as she left the room.

Settling back into his pillows, Booth shook off the last traces of anesthetic as he mentally reviewed everything that happened. The soft squeak of rubber on linoleum brought him out of his trance and he looked over to see Angela pushing Brennan into the room. If the look sympathy mixed with relief painting Angela's face was any indicator, he was really in for it. The artist made quick leave and Bones rolled herself next to the bed, finally crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow in question.

"Hey Bones," Booth tried gently, trying to gauge just how bad her mood was.

"What happened, Booth?" Very bad indeed.

The agent tried to dodge the issue just a little longer, "Didn't Cullen update you on everything?"

"Yes," she replied, her intimidating gaze making him shrink into the pillows just slightly, "but I want to hear it from you." He let out a sigh of defeat and the gates opened.

"Look Bones—"

"How could you be so inherently stupid?" She cut him off, her cold eyes burning brightly now.

"Charlie told you this guy was dangerous, that he could maybe have killed our vic, and you go question him alone? Even when the place looked skirty,"

"Sketchy," he interrupted, holding back a grin.

"Whatever, when it looked sketchy, you still go in without backup? What the hell are they teaching you?" She was gesturing wildly and even though he knew that he should be offended, Booth couldn't help but feel a swell of laughter and happiness. She had been worried about him.

Her shoulders dropped and she shook her head, "You're always so damn adamant about keeping me safe. Why can't you do the same when I'm not around?"

He looked at her then, her flushed face, wild hair, burning eyes. Her fear became more apparent as the anger dissipated and confusion at his actions took its place.

"I'm sorry Bones," he said simply. It was all he could really offer. How could he explain to her that finding this guy, getting some sort of lead was so very important to him not just for justice, but for her? How could he explain how badly he wanted her to be proud of him for solving the case, for locking the perp away? He couldn't find the words so he just apologized again and again as he leaned over the bed, pulling her into as much of a hug as he could manage with his injury. He stroked her hair and whispered into her ear as she clung to him tightly.

They pulled back and she swatted at his arm, earning an indignant "hey".

"No more getting shot at when I'm not there to fire back," she declared pointedly.

"As long as you don't shoot me first," he teased, reminding her of that frightening Halloween together.

"It ricocheted," she protested and they dissolved into their familiar banter, matching grins adorning each of their faces.

The others came in later to check on him, staying for a while to talk and laugh before heading back to the lab to keep working on the evidence. The "Squint Squad" had finally found something they could use and they weren't going to lose it.

Booth was beyond relieved when the doctor said that he could go home tomorrow as long as he took it easy. Doctor Young even came in to give her regards. Booth was momentarily confused when she asked Bones if she was "ready to show him" but couldn't contain his joy as Bones, with the help of Dr. Young, shakily stood up. It lasted less than thirty seconds, but her elation was hard to contain as Booth let out a whoop and leaned over to give her an enthusiastic kiss. Tara just laughed, helping Bones into the bed to be closer to her overjoyed companion. Doctor Young had worked with many people in her career, but she hadn't seen someone work so hard or have so much support and love as the pair in front of her. Backing out of the room, she reminded Brennan of her appointment tomorrow and left the two to celebrate.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Booth asked later after a round of celebrating.

Bones shrugged from her spot next to him, "I didn't want to get my hopes up. I can't stand, not really, but Dr. Young seems optimistic."

"Bones, this is great. You should be happy about it," he said as he wound his good arm around her once again.

"I still have a long way to go, Booth. I can't celebrate every little thing. It's been six months and this is as far as I've gotten. This very well could be as far as my recovery goes," she reminded him while she toyed absentmindedly with the blanket.

Booth tilted her head up to look at him, "It's not Bones. You're going to be able to walk and run and do everything you did before." He sounded so convinced that she couldn't stop the tiny spark of hope that reignited in her chest.

"You don't know that," she said cautiously.

"Yes I do Bones, I can feel it in my gut."

She rolled her eyes with a small smile, "Well now I'm convinced."

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A short time later Booth sat on the bed, watching the TV they'd conned a nurse into turning on while Bones napped contentedly in his arms. The soft knock on the door brought a smiling Max into the room.

"Hey Max," Booth greeted sheepishly while trying to unwind his arm from around Bones without waking her. They hadn't quite told anyone officially about their new relationship yet and he wasn't sure he wanted her father to find out like this.

"You're fine," the older man said, sitting down with a smile at his daughter. They gave into some quiet small talk for a few minutes before falling into a companionable silence.

"She's going to kill you, you know," Max finally said with a laughing grin.

"I'm surprised she hasn't yet, but I didn't mean to get hurt," Booth apologized sincerely.

"Well, that too, but I was referring to the fact that you want to ask me for her hand."

Booth sputtered, his eyes wide as he looked at Max's grinning face.

"I meant what I said before, you're a nice guy. You're also very traditional and I wouldn't expect anything less."

"Sir, I…"

"At the risk of her killing me too, for the record, there isn't anyone else that I would be as honored to have marry her."

"Sir, she doesn't believe in marriage," Booth cut in with the same shocked expression.

"Yes she does," Max said with a smile as he stood up, "She just had to find someone who could convince her."

He paused at the door with a wink before leaving and Booth gaped after him for a moment. Booth finally looked back down at the sleeping woman next to him. Glancing over at his clothes that the nurse had left next to his bed, he reached into the pocket, fingering the velvet box inside affectionately.