Disclaimer: I never thought my annoyance with disclaimers would come to an end. Don't own Bones. Wish I did!

Chapter 12

Booth woke to an empty room. His dream continued to haunt him, even though he'd been awake for about twenty minutes. He sighed as he ran a hand over his face. According to the doctors, he'd struggled. 'A bad reaction to the anaesthetics' was what they'd called it. It wasn't that he didn't believe them, he just didn't believe that the anaesthetics were the entire reason. Why couldn't his dream have been a continuation of his last coma dream. At least in that one he was happy. Instead of the miserable idiot he'd been in the one he'd just had. Bones had finally admitted that she loved him and he turned her away. All because of his stupid principles. He always had to do the right thing. Why did he have to tell her it wasn't right? Why couldn't he have told her that he loved her too, and that he didn't want her to change. He loved her the way that she was. That she was enough for him, and always would be. He sighed as he shut his eyes once again. He just wished all this drama would end.

"Booth!" he heard. The door slammed. He opened one eye. Standing next to his bed was none other than the beautiful Dr Brennan. He opened his other eye.

"Hey Bones!" he said as the corners of his mouth began to automatically form a grin. He couldn't help it. She always made him smile.

"I need to tell you something," she stated. He nodded.

"Okay, but I get to tell you something after." She agreed.

"I love you," she informed him. "I know for a fact that the way you described being in love was exactly what I feel when I'm around you."

"Bones..."

"I know that you're worried about Andrew, so you should know something else. I dropped him."

"You dropped him? No, you dumped him Bones," he explained.

"I don't know what that means."

"Wait a minute. You dumped Hacker? Why?" Booth questioned.

"Because I was in love with you," she told him. For a brief moment, Temperance Brennan had succeeded in rendering Seeley Booth speechless.

"Wha-what did he say?" Booth asked.

"He asked why I suddenly realized I wasn't in love with him. I told him it was because I was in love with you."

"You told him what?" Booth cried. "Bones! He's gonna demote me, or suspend me without pay, or fire me or something!"

"He promised me that he wouldn't. He simply wants me to be happy. I've discovered that I am happiest when I'm with you. If you don't want to be with me I'm sure that I can convince him to continue our wedding plans..."

"NO!" Booth screamed. "I've already lost you once Bones. I'm not gonna do it again. You wanna know what I was gonna tell you?" She nodded.

"I was gonna tell you that I'm in love with you. And that I have been since the first time we danced to Hot Blooded. No one can compare to you Temperance. I've tried to get over you the past four years. I tried to convince myself that I was in love with other women, and that it wasn't right to have romantic feelings for my partner, but nothing worked. I'm in love with you and I always will be." She smiled.

"So, does this mean that you're willing to attempt a sexual relationship with me Booth?"

"Wow! Bones, you gotta call it that? Can't you just ask if you want to try dating?"

"Technically we have been dating Booth. As Sweets once pointed out, we've been living in a surrogate relationship. We've been a couple, just without the physical aspects, and I quite enjoy those aspects. I assume that they will be even better when done with you."

"Whoa! Hey there Bones, at least let me take you out on a couple real dates before we go to bed."

"Fine," she pouted. This caused Booth to laughed.

"Aw, come on Temperance. I've waited five years, I can wait a little bit longer. Can't you? If not for yourself, for me?" She nodded. He took her left hand in his right, as he used the remote to rise his bed with the other hand.

"I have one final question to ask Bones. Can I kiss you?" She smiled and lowered herself onto his bed so that he could reach her at a comfortable distance. They both leaned in and were met with magic. At least on Booth's side it was. On Brennan's side, she was met chemical reactions, biological urges finally being given a source of satisfaction. Booth brought his left hand up to cup her face as he gently pulled away. They rested their foreheads against one another. That kiss had been unlike the other they'd experienced. It wasn't drunk, it wasn't desperate, and it wasn't blackmailed. It was perfect. They were interrupted by the sound of cheering, clapping and whistling. There at the door stood the squint squad, Sweets, and Jeffy. Booth laughed at their excitement.

"Finally!" Angela cried as she and Hodgins took their places in the chairs to Booth's right. Sweets and Cam walked around to the other side, while Dr Williams stood behind Cam's chair.

"Ya, ya, ya. We get it. Go ahead, laugh. It took us forever. We completely understand."

"Why would we laugh G-Man?" Hodgins asked. "If anything, we pray for thanks. It's about time you two got over your fears and just went for it."

"Could say the same thing about you and Ange, Hodgins. So watch it."

"Touché," he responded. Booth laughed.

"Well, I'm guessing I won't have to worry about you being alone in your apartment when I send you home, will I Booth?" Dr Williams asked. The squints laughed.

"Now that assumption hurts Jeffy."

"I'm going to have to add something to your rules for when you get home. No major physical activity for a couple weeks. Sorry Dr Brennan, but you and your man will have to hold off on consummating your relationship for a bit longer." The squints laughed once again.

"Wow Jeffy, you've got an attentive audience there." Dr Williams laughed.

"Guess so. Well hey, I've got to go check on some other patients. I'm going to have the nurses come check you out, but I don't see anything wrong with sending you home a bit early. Especially when you've got such great friends watching out for you."

"What's the catch?" Booth asked.

"Only that you come visit every once in a while. That and you help me adjust to living in DC."

"No," Booth said.

"Indeed, Agent Booth. As of next month, I'll officially be a DC resident."

"In that case, you don't even have to ask about visiting or helping you adjust. It'll be no problem. In fact, Hodgins will buy us a round of drinks at Founding Fathers when you're all settled!"

"Hodgins will do what?" Hodgins asked.

"Hey, you owe me for saving your girl," Booth stated.

"Fine," he muttered. Dr Williams laughed.

"That won't be necessary Booth," he replied.

"Maybe not, but we're still doing it! Just try and stop us. We're a stubborn bunch." They heard a beeping noise, and Jeffy looked down.

"That's me. I've got to go. Bye, in case I don't see you before you check out." They all stood up to say good bye. Dr Williams was met with a combination of hand shakes, mostly on the guys side, and hugs, mainly from the women.. Just as he was about to leave, Dr Williams turned back towards the room.

"Cam," he began. "I was wondering if I could give you a call when I get settled in DC. What do you think?" She attempted to hide her grin, but failed miserably. As did the others.

"I'd love it Dr Williams. Thank you." He smiled.

"It's my pleasure. Honestly." She quickly jotted down her phone number and handed it to him. He slid it into his pocket and patted it.

"It's been great getting to know all of you. Thanks for everything." They waved goodbye as Dr Williams exited the room.

"Cam's got a date!" Angela sang in a childish manner.

"Shut up Angela," Cam muttered as she lowered herself into her chair. A blush began to form on her cheeks.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Jeffy's a great guy. I think I speak for all of us when I say we highly approve of your choice in men." They nodded.

"Whatever. You guys know I am your boss, right?" she asked.

"True," Hodgins responded. "But right now, we're off duty, meaning we're allowed to bug our friend about getting a date with an awesome dude." Booth laughed.

"You know, you're not my boss," he stated.

"True, but I could talk to them."

"Spoil sport," he claimed. This caused them to laughed. Even Cam.

"God, this is like a cliché movie ending. I don't know about you guys, but I for one am glad for the end of all that drama."

"True enough."

"Yup."

"Indeed."

"Oh ya."

"What drama?"

"Seriously Bones?"

Author's Note

I want to thank those of you who took the time to read my story. I would also like to thank those of you who reviewed. I really appreciate it. There's one final chapter, which shall be the Epilogue. It will be posted soon. BTW, tell me if you want Hacker mentioned in the Epilogue or not. If not, that's fine. If so, I have ideas...don't worry, you should like them. Anyway, keep reading/reviewing! Hope you've enjoyed! Because I tend to be horrible at endings...