Author's Note: Again, I'd like to thank those of you who have reviewed so far. I'm so happy that people are enjoying this story. There's a bit of Hodgela at the beginning, because I love them. Also, maybe Booth's a little OOC, but I tried to keep him as close as possible.

I hope that you enjoy and of course, that you review!


The lone sound of a tinny voice paging a doctor seemed to carry through so much louder as the team from the Jeffersonian sat waiting for any news. Every time the door opened they'd all look up expectantly only to be disappointed a few seconds later when they found it wasn't Booth or the doctor.

Cam was flipping aimlessly through a magazine, not knowing what else she could do. Truth be told, she could be capable of taking the lead in a tragedy, or in situations of happiness even, but when it was someone who was so clearly attached and vital to 'her' team, she began to feel that there was nothing she could do.

Zack sat calmly with his hands folded, slowly observing the other people in the waiting room. It was simple enough; he'd done it several times over the course of the year. He found it interesting as to how other people were sitting, waiting, or perhaps just passing through. While he kept telling himself that it was purely scientific curiosity, it was because he didn't know what else to do.

Hodgins and Angela were the only two speaking, though it wasn't entirely by choice. He wanted to comfort her, to try and ease any fear that she had. While he'd seen her trying to console Booth countless times as they waited to be allowed into Brennan's room, Hodgins knew all too well the fact that she'd been hiding what pain she felt to herself. "Hey," he called, nudging her arm.

She smiled, offering a shrug. "Yes?"

"You aren't fooling me, you know." His voice was laced with a sense of honesty, and his blue eyes conveyed the message all the more seriously. "Brennan's your best friend, Angie. Nothing will change that."

Angela nodded, stubbornly blinking back tears. She didn't want to appear weak, because in truth she wasn't. Through the year, she had acted as a sort of rock for the team, consoling them through cases where Brennan's help would have been extremely useful, as opposed to what was supposed to be her temporary replacement. "I sat in that room. I...prayed. I tried doing everything I knew, whatever I could to get her to wake up. I'd bring lunch here, I'd sit by the bed and do some sketches. I just-" She closed her eyes, shaking her head.

Hodgins slipped an arm around her shoulder in an effort to bring her closer. "Tell her that. Well, maybe not all of it. At least not right away. But, eventually, Doctor B will be back. It's true that she might not be up to her previous strength right away. But Ange, the least you can do is hope."

"This coming from you." Angela cocked her head to the side, and stared at him in amazement. By some miracle, they'd survived the past several years. Through the wedding that wasn't, the finding and then divorcing of her "husband", among other things. Through the rockiness following the car accident that led to Brennan being hospitalized, he'd been there despite how crazy and insistent she became. She allowed him to pull her close and press a kiss to her temple.


He smiled, because he didn't know what else he could do. The silence was nearly deafening, but Booth found that words were few and far between. Instead, he ran a thumb over her hand, slowly grazing her sensitive skin. She was here. She was awake, and yet he couldn't find the right words to speak to her.

"You have no idea of how happy I am. I mean, that you...that you're-" Booth paused, allowing his tongue to grace his lips in an effort to moisten them. "I'm sorry. I know I'm probably not making much sense, am I?"

Though weak, Brennan mustered all the strength she could to give his hand a squeeze. Even though the blue in her eyes was dimmer, it seemed to have brightened just a shade.

The expression he saw on her face wasn't hidden by the tubes. Offering a gentle squeeze in return, Booth was struck by a sudden feeling of restlessness. He was there, but it was as if he could do nothing to help. Within minutes, the doctor would come in to perform more tests and with any luck, to see how long the tube would need to stay. He smiled at the feel of her hand pulling against his and the worrying from just a second earlier dissipated."Thanks, Bones."


Booth stared at the carpet in Doctor Weston's office as he found himself unwilling to look at the older man. "You're seriously asking me to just...conveniently not tell her?"

Doctor Weston sighed and folded his hands on his desktop. "I didn't say that, Agent Booth. What I told you was that your wife needs to gain the portion of her lost memory on her own. A few details wouldn't damage anything but if anything happens and she gains everything back at once, it could actually be quite traumatic."

"How would remembering her life be traumatic? Wouldn't she want to remember?" Booth replied, his head snapping up as he stared at the man. He'd been helpful and doing everything he could for Brennan when she was in the coma, but now? Booth could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"Yes, she would." Doctor Weston nodded. "However, remembering everything at once, especially in a public setting would cause something I'm fairly certain you wouldn't want. Allowing her time to adjust and remember things on her own would be a better and safer alternative."

Booth felt his chest tighten and knew there was no way he'd be able to actually lie to her. He simply couldn't. But eventually, the dodging of questions and evasive answers would cause her to feel suspicious wouldn't it? "How much time are we talking here? A couple of days, a couple weeks maybe?"

Doctor Weston picked up his pen, rolled it between his finger and thumb and set it back down on the blotter. "Individual cases take different amounts of time. Best case scenario? Whenever she returns home and is in the process of sliding back into a routine. Worst case-"

Booth held up a hand and nodded, already knowing what the worst case was. He stood up to shake the doctor's hand as a formality. "Thank you, Doctor Weston. I have to go back now, but I appreciate your help."

How much actual help he'd given was still a question Booth mulled over, but as he made his way back to Brennan's room he found that it didn't matter.


Several days passed, the most of which Booth spent at the hospital. He and Angela took shifts in an effort to make sure that one of them would always be in Brennan's room. Her health had been improving and the doctor had kept her under constant supervision.

She made a sound that was unidentifiable, to which both of the remaining people in the room responded by looking up.

"What do you need, Bones?"

Coughing, Brennan gestured to her throat. "I need..."

Angela set her sketch pad next to her purse, and began to stand. "Ice?" She waited for a nod. "Booth, stay here. I'll be right back."

Booth nodded before turning his attention back to Brennan. "You're going to be alright, Bones. Everything's going to be fine."

Forcing a nod, Brennan coughed again, and found that she hated the feeling. She was able to breathe on her own, but it didn't make the dry feeling she got in her throat any better.

Angela returned soon with ice, and quickly helped in handing the pieces to her. "Everything okay, sweetie?"

"Yes, I feel fine." Brennan replied. The doctors found she was able to speak but her speech remained slow.

Booth watched the exchange with nervous eyes, and began to feel overwhelmed. Angela had been so ready and prepared to help her, and all he could do was offer words of encouragement? The thought made him feel angry and frustrated at himself, but he wasn't about to let it show.

Angela picked up on his mood, and felt like she had to do something. Through the year Brennan was hospitalized, she'd gotten good at reading him, and felt that next to the woman laying between them, she was one of the ones who knew him best. He was spreading himself thin and though he'd swear that he wouldn't mind, the chance that Brennan might not remember lay heavily on his shoulders. She stole a glance at Brennan, and offered a warm smile. "You need to rest, Bren. I'm getting hungry. Booth, would you like to come?"

It seemed more like an order than a question, and by the look in the artist's eyes, he knew it was one he probably shouldn't refuse. He sighed and gave Brennan a smile before promising her that they would return.


Cafeteria food was bland, as was what they expected. They'd gotten good at sneaking in food from Wong Foo's and the diner, but neither found the strength or the need to leave the confines of the hospital.

Angela looked up from her plate to find the man sitting across from her deep in thought. "You're exhausted."

"That's an understatement." Booth laughed, because he was sure that if he didn't, he'd break down.

"That isn't what I meant, Booth." Angela replied, the brown in her eyes softening a stage. "I just think that...for now anyway, you should give it time."

"He asked her if she remembered the accident, and she looked right at him and said no." Booth replied, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.

"You know as well as I do how well she can compartmentalize. With the damage she received from the accident, and the stress from trying to recover, it's possible that she blocked the event entirely. That doesn't exactly equal the end." Angela said, offering a smile. She could tell by the way he carried himself that he still had hope, though outwardly he had a hard time of showing it. He'd managed to bring the team that far in hope and faith, and she knew it was their turn. "You gotta have hope."

Booth nodded before silently reaching for a napkin. "I have hope. If anything, it's been hope that's gotten me through this crazy mess." He laughed as he took a sip from a bottled water. "And you guys. I really don't know what I would do without all of you, Angela. Just don't tell Hodgins or Zack I said it."

Angela smiled, and a small laugh escaped from her lips. "They won't be hearing it from me. We should probably be getting back, though. I know everyone else is at the lab, and they'll probably be looking for me before too long. If work lets up enough, I'll try to have Hodgins sneak in some Pad Thai or whatever it is you want." She said as they stood up to throw away their trash. After seeing the look on his face, she shook her head. "No matter what you say, you still need to eat and I know you won't be leaving until someone physically forces you."


True to her word, Angela sent Hodgins with dinner several hours later. He stayed for a few minutes, informing Brennan about things that were happening at the lab. It turned out that she did in fact remember that she worked there, and had no problem informing the team of doctors that asked that she worked with bones. Had he not been aware of her position, Booth would have been surprised that she didn't try spouting out their names.

The TV was on, the volume turned down to a dull roar. Booth was consuming a carton of Mee Krab, and seemed content in sitting in silence with Brennan. It might not have been their living room, but just having her there with him was all that seemed to matter. Truthfully, he'd gotten used to eating dinner and watching whatever happened to be on television while she lay there quietly beside him.

Brennan turned her head in his direction, and the light reflecting off of something on his hand triggered something in her mind. Something was different; something had changed. "Booth?"

His head jerked up instantly as his face flooded with concern. "What's wrong, Bones?"

Her face was fixed in concentration, as if she were working hard to prepare something she had to say. She stuck her tongue out to moisten her lips, and a crackling sound was heard as she tried clearing her throat. "You never used to wear a ring."