AN: Sorry for the really long absence but RL got a hold of me. i plan to update all my stories within the next month. hopefully I will even be able to finish some!

Chapter 2

Bones held on to Booth's arm as she dragged him along. 'Angie is right, the image of him and Wendell is really stimulating. I will have to try to relieve some of the tension later, at home. With Angie.' Clearing her throat Temperance looked at her still silent partner.

"Booth, don't worry, I am sure he will be fine. Naturally he will need time and care, but we will help and he will still have the opportunity to come back to the Jeffersonian!" Seeing Booth relax a bit she congratulated herself and admitted, at least to herself, that Angie was teaching her social niceties quite well.

Seeley sighed, understanding what Bones was doing and appreciating the gesture, "I know, Bones. I just hope that he will still be the same, you know? After an attack like this... I would just be totally wrong for him to loose his naivity, innocence and positive outlook, you know?" Booth looked at her, uncertainty shining in his eyes. Had he admitted too much?

"Does he know, Booth?"

Shaken from his thoughts Booth tensed "Know what, Bones?"

Shaking her head at his, even to her, avoidance Bones asked "That you love him."

Booth felt like he couldn't breath. Swallowing hard he tried denying the feelings that had haunted him since the first meeting with Wendell Bray. "I don't know what you mean, Bones."

Suddenly angry at his stubbornness Bones pulled him to a halt, startling him and the doctor with her hissing "Are you playing with hi, Booth?! If I find out that you played with him and his feelings, I promise that they will never ever find your body!" Temperance has not been this angry often in her entire life. ,How dare he!'

Booth looked startled at his partner, starled and hurt that she would think this about him "Bones..." He sighed and knew that he would have to admit his feelings to her, "Sorry, you are right, ok? I love him, but we are not together... I don't even know if he likes me..."

A bit soothed Bones released his arm and took his hand, "Then you will just have to ask him. I think the two of you would be pleasing to the eye and even I know that you would balance each other attitudes out." Shaking her head and letting the humor show that Angie had found the quipped "Even if it is a shame to take both of you from the potential gene pool."

When Booth looked at her baffled Bones smirked and pulled him along again. "What? I can say things like that, I am a lesbian with Angela, not dead!"

Laughing at Bones' new found attitude Booth tugged her closer into a one-armed hug. "Thank you, Bones."

Dr. Fieldson shook his head at them but continued on the way.

When they arrived at the critical care unit and Dr. Fieldson entered room 112 Booth breathed in deeply, trying to brace himself for what he knew would be hard for him to bear. And then he was inside and saw Wendell...

Bones gasped when she saw the beaten up intern 'He is more than an intern, he is a friend!' He looked really bad. Skin lesions on his face and upper body hidden by bandages and sutures, his head was also bandaged where Temperance knew the head wound to origin from. The other injuries were hidden beneath either the blanket or were located on Wendell's back. Bones swallowed down the nausea. For the first time ever she could force the emotions back and they threatened to overwhelm her. 'Concentrate on Booth, you can break down afterwards.' Perfect, now her inner voice sounded like Angie!

Looking at the FBI agent Bones knew that he felt even worse about their friends injuries. His eyes were tracing every bandage, every bruise that could be seen, wandered over the blanket... She knew that he was processing everything clinically and she knew exactly when he could not remain professional any longer and his emotions were about to explode.

Booth was shocked. His Wendell was lying on the bed, looking small and fragile, broken beyond repair... Tracing every slice of skin, every bruise and every bandage left him seething with hate and something akin to blood lust. 'They will pay!' He was so angry he seemed to watch through a fog settling over his thoughts and when a hand touched his arm he violently drew back.

Bones flinched when Booth wrenched his arm back and focussed laser sharp eyes on her. The burning gaze held her tight and almost caused her to forget how to breath. 'I do not want to be on the receiving end of his hate right now...' She held his gaze and only relaxed when he seemed to come back to himself.

Seeing the steady gaze and unshakeable trust reflecting in the eyes of his partner Booth felt his ire calm slightly, burning hot just beneath the surface, but no longer burning and blinding him to the present. "Sorry, Bones." He mumbled and, taking her hand, he pulled her back to his side. Needing her support and steadiness to stay in the room and not go out on a manhunt.

"It's alright, Booth. I understand how you must be feeling. But Wendell is our first priority. Everything else comes afterwards, ok?" Temperance held his gaze until he nodded and then she pulled back to leave him with Wendell. "I will go back to the others. We will take Sweets home in the morning and then one of us will come back so you can get some rest."

Going to the bedside of the injured man Bones leaned down and kissed some unmarred skin on his temple, "Get well soon, Wendell. He is waiting for you."

Backing away she hugged Booth and gave him a slight smile before leaving the room.

Leaving behind an injured man, in need of healing.

And leaving behind an almost broken man keeping watch over the one holding his heart.

tbc