this one is an alternate ending to the conspiracy in the corpse and subsequently the lance to the heart and the rest of season ten. also, after writing this i had to cut it from 600 words so in places it's a bit jumpy.
-bones-
9. Float
The continuous beeping of the monitors awoke him, floating somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness.
Where am I? — A hospital.
What the hell had happened? — Oh. Right. Conspiracy. Sanderson. The warrant. The parking garage: "The world is a lot better than you think it is."
Am I dead?
He'd prepared himself for death. He was bleeding internally. No way could anyone have saved him.
I'm dead. — If I'm dead why am I in so much pain?
I'm alive?
The realisation startled him as he fought to open his eyes.
I'm not dead. I'm alive.
His breathing staggered as his body crashed.
His right hand was clutched in someone else's.
Daisy.
No.
Dr Brennan.
And if she was here—
Booth.
He forced his eyes open, blinking heavily as his sight blurred, wincing as he turned his head to the right.
Brennan was curled up in Booths lap, his chair pulled right to the bedside, both sleeping.
He startled, almost dislodging his hand from Dr Brennan's when an alarm sounded somewhere on the ward. The movement awoke Brennan, who shot up from Booth's lap, startling her husband who was beside her in seconds.
"Sweets—"
"You scared the shit out of us, man." Booth mumbled, clearing his throat before continuing, "EMT's managed to bring you back. You were in surgery for 17 hours, and you've been unconsciousness since then."
"4 days." Brennan added quietly, "Daisy has been here everyday. We sent her home at night to get some sleep, she'll be back in the morning."
"The conspiracy?" He croaked.
"Durant."
"Sleep, Sweets, we'll be here when you wake up, and Daisy, and everyone else too."
And with that he was floating again. His hand resting safely in Dr Brennan's, his body relaxed and his mind at ease.
I'm alive.