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I don't own Bones.

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Exiting the elevator, Booth slowly made his way down the hallway with Brennan following him. Hugging his right arm against his chest, he tried to pretend that the long walk from the parking garage to the elevator and then to the apartment had been easy. Not fooled, Brennan was aware that Booth was in distress and hurriedly unlocked the door to allow them entrance into her apartment.

A little short of breath, Booth walked slowly over to the couch and carefully sat down. Closing his eyes, he tried to remain calm while he tried to get his breathing under control.

Brennan, worried that he may have pushed himself to his limit, sat down next to her boyfriend and placed her hand on his thigh. "Just relax, you're doing fine."

Slowly nodding his head, he finally felt his breath return to normal. Opening his eyes, Booth rubbed his chest. "I was told I'm going to be short of breath for awhile if I overdo it . . . I'm getting better though. My therapist said I'm doing really good. . . . That reminds me, I need to call that guy tomorrow morning and tell him where I am. He's supposed to see me tomorrow afternoon."

Patting his leg, Brennan was relieved that Booth was breathing better. "You are doing very well, Booth. Your injury was very serious, but you seem to be recovering very nicely . . . . Would you like something to drink?"

He didn't want to admit it, but he was exhausted. "Nah, I'd like to go to bed. I'm kind of tired."

Standing, Brennan picked up Booth's bag and carried over to the guest bedroom. "Do you need help changing your clothes?"

Embarrassed, Booth stood up and walked over to the guest bedroom. "I . . . uh . . . no, that's fine. I'm just going to take my pants and shirt off. I'm fine."

"Booth, it's alright to ask me for help." She knew he was a little prudish about nudity, but she knew he needed help. "That's why I brought you over here. I don't want you to strain yourself. I'm taking vacation days as of tomorrow, so I can be here to help you. It will also give me time to work on an article I'm writing and I can start a draft of my next novel. I have an idea and I'd like to get in written down before I forget the salient points."

Snorting, Booth shook his head. "That's a vacation? You're working on your vacation?"

After she entered the guest bedroom, she placed his bag on the dresser, unpacked it and placed his clothes in the dresser. "If it's something I like to do then why not?"

Sitting on the bed, Booth started to unbutton his shirt. "You know you're right, if you love it then that's great. I've stayed home for vacations."

Slowly, Booth unbuttoned his shirt and finally managed to get his shirt open. Trying to remove it, he found the process very painful and he was unable to hide it. Taking pity on him, Brennan moved to stand next to him and helped him remove the sleeve from one arm and then the other. Unfastening the button on his pants, she then unzipped them and looked up. "Stand up and I'll just slide them down. You can get into bed afterward."

Feeling just a little too interested in what she was doing, Booth started doing the multiplication table in his head to distract himself. Once his pants were off, he watched Brennan fold them and place them on top of the dresser along with his shirt and jacket. His breath becoming short again, he moved around the bed and pulled the comforter down. Lying down as carefully as possible, he pulled the comforter up and sighed. "Good night, Bones."

Glad that Booth was with her, in her apartment where she could check on him, Brennan smiled. After she walked over to the doorway, she paused to look once more at her boyfriend. "I'll leave the door open just in case you need me during the night."

Grateful for Brennan's kindnesses, Booth smiled at her. "At least you can sleep in tomorrow."

After she turned off the ceiling light, Brennan left the rooom and walked into the kitchen to retrieve a bottle of water. Carrying it to her bedroom, she sat on the edge of her bed and drank some of the cool water. Staring at the open doorway, she finally stood up and prepared for bed.

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Waking during the night, Booth felt disoriented. Staring at his surroundings in confusion, he slowly sat up and then moved to the edge of the bed. Staring at the Persian carpet under his feet, he shook his head. "Damn, get a grip." Remembering where he was, he slowly stood up and made his way to the living room. Grateful to find a lamp turned on in the living room, he walked across the room and into the kitchen. Hungry, he found the bread box and took a loaf of bread out of the box. Managing to get a slice out of the bag, he opened the fridge, found some cheese and carried it to the counter where he carefully cut a slice from the wedge. Folding the slice of bread around it, he ate the sandwich hungrily. Still not satisfied, he made another sandwich, eating that one rapidly too. Trying to retrieve a glass from a cabinet, Booth felt the muscles pull on his wound causing pain to lance through his chest forcing hih to drop the glass. Appalled, he watched it shatter around at his bare feet.

Frustrated, he slowly knelt and tried to pick up the glass shards, afraid to move his feet from where he was. Brennan, awakened by the sound of the breaking glass, hurried from her bedroom into the kitchen and found her partner surrounded by broken glass. "Booth, just stand up and don't move. You aren't wearing any shoes and you might get cut. It will only take me a minute to sweep up the glass."

Slowly standing, Booth was careful not to move his feet. After he'd accomplished that he leaned against the counter and tried to get his breathing under control. "Damn, I wish I could catch my breath. Anything I do makes me winded . . . I'm sorry about the glass. I just lost control of it."

Sweeping up the glass, Brennan tried to assure him it was alright. "It's just a glass. I'm more concerned about your feet." Pushing the glass onto a dustpan, she carried the shards to the trashcan and poured them in to the container. Moving the broom across the room again, she found a few pieces of glass that she'd missed the first time. Finally satisfied, she placed the broom and dustpan back into the closet. Moving over to the cabinet, she retrieved a glass and handed it to Booth.

Careful to keep firm grip on the glass, Booth placed it on the counter, opened the fridge and retrieving the pitcher of tea. "You want some?"

"No thank you." Brennan watched him pour a glass full of tea and then return the pitcher to the fridge. Drinking the entire glass, Booth smacked his lips. "Man, I was really thirsty." Yawning, he shook his head. "All I want to do is sleep. That's all I've been doing since I got out of the hospital. I'm tired of being tired."

Picking up the bag of bread and placing it back into the bread box. "It's your body's way of healing itself. Why don't you go back to bed?"

Unable to stop it, Booth yawned once more. "Yeah, I better. Night again."

Watching him leave the room, Brennan picked up the cheese and placed it back into the fridge. After she left the room, she walked over to the guest bedroom and found Booth in bed, his eyes closed and apparently asleep. "Night Booth, I love you."

Booth felt his heart start to race as he feigned sleep. Fighting to keep his eyes closed, he felt a sense of elation hearing the words he'd longed to hear from the woman he loved. He knew she had only said it because she thought he was asleep, but he was sure that if he was patient, she'd find the courage to tell him when she knew he was awake. Listening to her walk away, he finally peeked at the doorway and saw she was gone. Smiling, he closed his eyes again and drifted back to sleep.

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