Author's Note: I'm horrible. I'm beyond horrible, actually, but studying for my college exams has proven to get the best of me. But I got word today I passed my math final, the only one I was really worried about. So, in celebration, I sat down to write. Thank you to all that have stood by and read this, reviewed it, even when chapters have been sporadic. Unless I say otherwise, while I still have a few exams left, I should update again probably by the end of the week.

Also, I know people are feeling frustraed with the Brennan not knowing thing, but it's coming I promise. Be patient really, that's all I can say. Some things are kind of enforced in this chapter that have been said in others, and a step is kind of taken in the right direction. Oh, and the next chapter will bring Brennan's release, so stay tuned, and review please!


Sunlight streamed in through the window, creating a soft glow in the room. Booth entered, not at all surprised to find both Angela and Brennan sleeping peacefully. Since Hodgins found him at the shooting range the night before, he and Angela both had been keeping vigil by Brennan's bedside, permission from nurses or not. When he'd woken up before them both, he took the opportunity to grab a quick coffee and head back up.

Having heard the door click shut, Angela winced as she stretched out from her position in the stiff hospital chair. "Give me one of those." She yawned, pointing to the cups he held in his hands.

Booth held a cup out to her before taking a sip from his own. "She's been in and out all night."

"It's not exactly the happiest thing to remember." Angela mused, recalling the last time just a few short hours before that she herself had woken up to find Brennan awake, staring at the wall. "I just feel like we should be doing something, you know? I mean I know Doctor Weston will be seeing her today, but it's not enough."

Booth sighed and watched Brennan's face as she slept. Her expression had softened, but he knew better. Memories were coming back slowly, like fragmented pieces of glass, and she was having difficulty trying to understand it all. "I talked to Sweets," He said. "I guess she's actually considering his help. I mean, that's not a bad thing but-"

"She's frustrated, Booth. You know it as well as I do, and you're someone who can actually help her through this." Angela fired back, only a hint of the frustration she was feeling coming out in her voice. The frustration wasn't at him necessarily so much as the situation altogether. "I'm her friend. I can sit with her, talk to her, help her with something if she needs it. But you, Booth...I'm not saying telling her the truth is just gonna magically bring everything back, I just think it would help. What are you going to do if Sweets actually does help her gain everything back, or if the medication helps her remember? How do you think Bren would feel learning something like that from someone else?"

Booth sat at the foot of the bed, careful to not stir Brennan as she slept. "I get that, okay? Believe me." He said, sighing before taking another sip from his coffee. "I'm not looking for excuses, it's the last thing I wanna hide from her or anyone else. But what exactly am I supposed to say, huh? You know how long it took me to convince her this was the right thing to do, how long it took her to change her mind about us. What am I supposed to do if once she finds out she decides she wants to leave? If she decides it isn't what she wants?"

"You deal then, I guess. Booth," Angela hesitated, not sure how much more she wanted to agitate him. "I know that she loved you. In fact, as I recall...it was her that actually proposed in the end anyhow, right? How after everything you'd done to show her it was the right thing, it was Bren that took that step." She watched as his eyes clouded over, recalling the moment it happened. She smiled and stood to pat him on the shoulder. "I never said it was going to be easy, just that you'll never know unless you actually try."

Brennan stirred on the bed, her head tilting to the other side of the pillow.

Angela watched her silently for a moment before turning back to Booth, whose eyes were honed in on Brennan, ready to assist if any little thing was wrong. "If she asks where I am, tell her I'll come back later. I'll see you at the lab?"

Booth nodded before waving her goodbye. He knew she was right, at least on some level, but it didn't make him feel any better about the whole ordeal. He'd much rather be the one to explain everything, to tell Brennan why he had made the choices he did, but what was he supposed to say? The thought sat there, weighing on his shoulders, and he knew there was something he had to do.

"Hey," Brennan whispered, nudging him with her leg. She'd woken up to find him staring at something, thinking apparently, though about what she wasn't sure.

"Bones, hey." Booth smiled before giving her leg a squeeze. His hand rested above the blanket, fingers gently plucking at the fibers. "How are you?"

Brennan offered a smile and a shrug as she started to sit up. She felt comforted somehow when Booth quickly stood to help her, even when he knew she didn't really need the help. "I've felt better, but considering how the majority of patients in this hospital are feeling, I suppose I am better than most."

Pulling a chair over to her side, Booth laughed lightly. "Yeah, I guess you've got a point." He replied, taking a moment to study her face. He was fully aware of how pathetically cheesy it would sound if he'd say he didn't think he'd ever grow tired of looking into those eyes. There was a time, mere weeks before, when he didn't know if he'd ever be able to again. "You're doing great, Bones. Try to not stress about it."

"I remembered you being shot, Booth. I understand it is an integral part of my recovery that I regain everything I can, but how is remembering something so traumatic supposed to help me?" Brennan cried, unshed tears threatening to spill over her lids. Her hands gripped the sheet beneath her. "I'm trying to remember, doing the best I can, but a part of me wonders if I'll ever be who I used to be."

"Bones-" Booth began as he placed his hand over hers. "you're still you, alright? It doesn't matter if you regain sad things or happy ones, I mean sure...it might be nice to be able to look on the bright side. But Bones? All you have to do is be yourself. The memories will come back on their own."

Brennan nodded as she processed what he said. "What if they don't? What if all I regain comes back in fragments that don't piece together? Doctor Weston told me I might never remember everything. Statistically speaking-"

"He also said you might have to wait a while. Weeks, months even." Booth sighed. He thought back to the conversation he had with Angela just a brief time before. As much as he wanted to tell her-everything, not just that they were married-he couldn't let himself put everything on her when she was so emotional. It hurt him to think he'd ever do anything to cause her pain, even though he knew that by now he probably would. "And if you don't remember everything, all the memories don't come back? You make new ones. Every day."

A lump formed in Brennan's throat, but she knew Booth was right. Maybe she was pushing herself too hard, expecting too much too soon. "You're right."

Booth grinned and laughed, trying his best to lift her spirits. "See? You're still you."


Max set his tray on the table before looking around the room. "I wasn't expecting this many people, we can go back to your room if you'd like."

Brennan shook her head as she watched a woman and her daughter walk by. "No, the cafeteria is fine. It helps to be around people, experience different things."

"How was your appointment? I spoke with Booth, he said you're making more improvements." Max said before picking up his sandwich.

It struck her again how odd and yet how much sense her father and Booth talking was. "I suppose. Doctor Weston is pleased, he wants me to have another meeting with Mindy, to get a bit more movement in, but the day after tomorrow he says I'll be released."

"That's excellent news." Max replied as he set down his sandwich and wiped at his mouth with a napkin. "Russ and the girls send their love, by the way. I meant to bring a newer picture, including the baby, but I'll have to bring it by next time."

The mention of her brother and his family brought a familiar feeling to her heart, after everything she'd learned second-hand and had come to realize on her own. Though her family wasn't the most conventional, they were still important and special to her.

"I've been doing some thinking," Brennan announced a few moments later. "I suppose I should probably try speaking with Russ first, but I've been told by Doctor Weston to not push myself too strenuously until I've been given approval. I was considering what he meant, and while I would very much like to at the least spend time in the lab, I was thinking a visit with family would also be appropriate."

"That wouldn't be such a bad idea, you know they'd like to see you. When the girls found out Aunt Tempe was getting better, they wanted to come and see you, too. But you know, school and work, it's been hard balancing schedules." Max replied. He was glad to see light in his daughter's eyes again, like something was finally returning to normal.

"I'm sorry," Brenna replied. "I know I was part of the trouble." She stabbed a fork into her salad before staring at it. Maybe she wasn't the problem, but it upset her to think she'd caused any of them any inconvienience.

Max shook his head before reaching out to grab her hand. "Don't you dare say that, sweetheart. Tempe--" He sighed, trying to think of the best way to phrase what he planned to say, so she'd best be able to understand. "We love you, alright? I'd rather it be that you and Booth were never in that accident, but life happens. I'm just glad you're alive, honey, that's what matters; don't you dare start thinking of yourself as part of the trouble."

Brennan smiled, but a part of her started to feel uneasy. It was the first time anyone had ever really talked about the accident, mentioned any particulars. She and Booth were in the vehicle together, that was normal and typical, but what were they doing? Going to a scene? Headed back to the lab? She tried picturing it, tried visualizing events, but nothing materialized.

Max picked up on her silence and looked up from his plate. "Everything alright?"

She blinked, the thoughts slowly drifting away as she filed them away to contemplate at a later time. "Yes, I'm fine." Brennan smiled and hoped it sounded convincing. It wasn't that she was lying, but her thought process had shifted. In their conversations, had Booth really said anything about the accident, about him being there when it happened? He had to have said something, but Brennan wasn't sure if in the end it would really make a difference. She saw that Max was still studying her, watching to see if she was telling the truth. "I'm just tired, do you mind if we just head back up to the room?"