AN: I don't know if I'm going to write another chapter, so you'll have to tell me what you think of this one.

You might hate me by the end of this, but that's just life lol

Basically? My take on 6x09- except Brennan isn't so lucky.

The Importance of Maintaning Equilibrium

I. Achillea Millefolium (I love you, in spite of everything)

Booth was woken up by the ringing of his phone. He yawned, lazily opening an eye, then the other, his ears adjusting to the high-pitched noise that was emitting from his phone as he tried to take in his surrounding. He felt Hannah stirring next to him as he closed his eyes, choosing to ignore his device.

"Mhh, Seeley," Hannah sleepily mumbled, her voice a little muffled by the pillow she'd buried her face in, "Pick it up," she said, turning around, yawning loudly as she grabbed a handful of the blanket. He groaned at the idea of a body being found at such an ungodly hour, but reminded herself that crime did not wait until the sun was up. He had a duty to fulfill, after all. Booth sighed, grabbing the phone that was on his nightstand table, expecting the FBI caller ID but saw an unknown number flashing on the screen instead.

"Hello?" He asked, the fatigue evident in his voice as he put the phone to his ear.

"Hello, is this Seeley Booth?" A feminine voice he didn't recognize answered on the other side of the line.

"Yeah," he said, furrowing his brows. He didn't understand why anyone other than Brennan would ever be calling him at this hour. He felt another pang in his chest and he thought about his partner- he was reminded of the late-night calls he and Brennan used to have before they essentially ran off to the opposite corners of the planet. She'd opened up to him over the years, taking his advice from when they were working the Cleo Eller case. One night, after a particularly tiresome case- the case that involved sexual assault victims always were- she'd told him about the nightmares that lingered long around after she'd grown out of foster care. She hadn't wanted to go into details, and Booth respected that: he'd decided that she'd tell him when she was ready, if she ever would be. He'd known they were still vivid though, and she'd revealed that they had increased in intensity ever since they'd started working cases together- had Sweets known about that, he would have talked about the toll of having so many close calls with death, but Brennan didn't believe in psychology, and he'd always known better. As skilled as Sweets was, not everything could be boiled down to psychology.

"Temperance Brennan's emergency contact?" The woman on the line asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Temperance Brennan?" He asked, worry coating his voice, "Yes, this is her emergency contact," he said, internally panicking, wondering what could have possibly happened to Brennan at this hour of the day. He knew she hadn't been doing so well these days, but didn't know how to broach the subject- she was clearly on edge, if the way she'd reacted when he'd suggested Lauren Eames might have been an opiate user was anything to go back. He'd felt himself pulling away from her for the past few months, and while the guilt has been gnawing at him whenever he thought her alone, he'd decided it was probably for the best- he needed to move on. They owed it to each other- especially after all they'd been through. Besides, she still had Angela and all the squints. He sat up, resting his back against the headboard.

Hannah's curiosity was piqued at the mention of her friend's name, and she turned around at the mention of her friend. She faced Booth, worry etched onto her features.

She watched as Booth's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. She looked at him expectantly, an eyebrow raised.

"Oh my god," he quietly said as all color drained from her face, "W-What hospital are you taking her to?" He asked, his voice shaky- he wasn't crying, at least not yet, but he sounded extremely choked up. He hung up, immediately grabbing the first clothes within reach and hastily putting them on. Hannah followed him through the apartment. Right as he was about to walk through the front door, she gripped his arm and spun him around.

"Seeley, what happened?" Hannah asked him. Booth only looked away. "Seeley, I'm being fucking serious. What happened with Temperance? Is she okay?" While she hadn't seen Brennan a lot lately, she'd been aware that she wasn't doing so well- but she did know she wasn't close enough.

Booth let out a huge sigh and looked at his feet, "It's- It's Bones. She was hit by a car in a bad part of town and left for dead a few hours ago… They just brought her in, and luckily she had ID on her... I have to go."

Hannah's eyes immediately widened, as she took a sharp breath, "Oh my god," she said, her hand flying to her mouth, "Seeley, you have to go."

"I know," he said, grabbing his jacket and heading towards the door. He didn't dare look at Hannah.

Booth was in the hospital within twenty minutes. He'd driven as fast as he could, not caring that he was speeding- nothing really mattered at that moment, let alone a stupid fucking speeding ticket. He had barely been able to concentrate on the road, the fog in his mind too intense and the ringing in his ear too loud for him to be able to even entertain the idea of thinking about anything else

This all felt like it was his fault, somehow. He hadn't been there for her when she needed it the most. He hadn't- hadn't noticed in pain how much she'd been- how much she'd been hurting this entire time. He should have known better, having been the one to slowly break down the walls all of these years.

He'd called Russ, Angela, Cam, and Sweets before he entered the hospital, knowing he most likely not have any reception once he got inside the building.

His mind started reeling and he felt dizzy- nauseous, even, when he was told that Brennan's vital prognosis was engaged. She'd hit her head against the concrete, hard, and had many other injuries- terms he didn't even understand had been thrown around, and Booth had to stop himself from emptying his stomach's contents on the floor, right there and then. The ones he was familiar with had been bad enough.

Hit-and-run. Traumatic brain injury. Broken ribs. Punctured Lung. Swelling in the brain- increased intracranial pressure. Critical condition.

He hadn't even realised hot tears were making their way down his cheeks, before he raised his hand to his face. He wiped them away in one smooth stroke.

He tried to hold on hope for a miracle, to pray for one- after all, between the two, he's always been the more spiritual one, and even if Brennan didn't believe in miracles, he'd believe for the both of them. He had to, no matter how fucking terrified he was of all the possible outcomes. His heart was painfully constricted in his chest at the thought of anything happening to his partner- he was- if he'd just- if he'd just paid closer attention to her, all these months- she wouldn't find herself on a surgery table, fighting for her life.

He hadn't noticed Angela, who was holding on to Hodgins's arm for dear life until she tapped on his shoulder.

She was in tears, her eyes red and swollen. She was sniffing loudly, her free hand clutching her stomach as she tried to catch her breath. Hodgins was stroking her arm with his free hand, and looked just as sullen. Booth instantly rose from his chair.

"H-How is she?" Angela asked, her voice shaky. He hadn't wanted to tell her over the phone- he hadn't wanted to deliver the news to anyone, but he felt a sense of responsibility-, so he'd just told them that Brennan had been involved in a hit-and-run, and to get there as soon as possible. He had been elusive with the

details, and if Angela could sense that he was holding back, she didn't comment on it.

"I- They…" He looked down, taking a deep breath. He didn't want to entertain the idea of her not making it. He just couldn't.

"They don't… know if she's going to make it," Booth said, not daring to look up at his friend- most importantly, his partner's best friend. Angela whimpered, breaking into tears once again as she buried her head in Hodgins' shoulder. At that moment, he really wished there was such a thing as a hospital bar, because he wishes he could down 7 shots of Whiskey right now.

"Angie…" Hodgins pleaded, "You need to sit down."

Angela simply nodded, taking the seat Booth once occupied. Hodgins kneeled in front of her chair, looking up at her with worry.

"Oh god," she said, her hand protectively resting on her baby bump. Hodgins gently stroked her hand, "Sh- she hadn't been feeling well lately," Angela croaked out, another strangled sob escaping her lips, "H- How could we let this happen, Jack?" she said, turning to Hodgins, "If I'd just- If I'd just checked up on her, we wouldn't be there.. If only- If only…" she trailed off, her featured contorting as she tried to get her crying under control.

"It's not your fault, Angie. You couldn't have known," Hodgins said, wiping away her tears, "No one could have."

Booth averted his gaze, feeling as if he was intruding on a personal moment.

Angela turned her head to look at Booth, "And you," she said coldly, "Why the hell weren't you with her?" She sniffled, her brows furrowed. Hodgins' eyes widened as he stared at his wife.

"I- I was… in bed, with Hannah," Booth admitted, feeling incredibly ashamed as he admitted he hadn't known about Brennan's whereabouts. There was a time where the two had been joined at the hip, and when he always knew where she was, at any given moment.

"I.. didn't know she would go there, let alone on her own and at this hour," he said, a tear rolling down his cheek. He felt immensely responsible for not being with Brennan more, but he'd thought at the time needed to focus on his relationship- Brennan crossed his mind way too for someone who was just his partner. In trying to move on, he'd neglected their friendship- no more dragging her out of the lab for lunch, no more making sure she got enough sleep and didn't spend all night in Limbo. Still, he thought he'd see her the following day at the lab, or talk to her on the phone, at least, even if it was just case related.

"I can't fucking believe this," Angela spat at him, sinking deeper into her chair as she shot him daggers with her eyes- if looks could kill, he'd know she would have tossed him to the wolves long ago. "Your partner was having a fucking mental breakdown and you were with your girlfriend ?"

"Angie, I-" Hodgins tried, but she raised her finger, indicating to stop. Hodgins simply shut his mouth, not wanting to argue with his pregnant wife.

"She's right-" he said, feeling as if the wind has been knocked out of his lungs. "I should go." He began walking away, feeling oddly inadequate all of a sudden: it might have been the stares, or the look of utter betrayal in Angela's eyes.

"No- no- no-" Angela started again, waving her hand, "No- I can't- I just," She struggled to speak, "Stay. I'm sorry- it's- it's the stress. The hormones, or something." She put down her arm, "I'm just…" she trailed off, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, resting her head on Hodgins' shoulder, "Brennan will want you here when she wakes up. She loves you, Booth." Angela looked at him, her eyes boring into him, before turning to her husband, "And- Brennan's strong. She's going to be alright, right? She just- she has to be." Hodgins simply stroked her hand and quietly nodded.

Angela had said "When"... Not "If". Booth wishes he had as much faith as Angela seemed to have.

"No, I understand," Booth simply answered, "I'm worried about her too. I just- I just wish I'd been there for her, you know?" And words could not convey how much he wished that it was true.

"She loves you," Angela's words had been replaying in Booth's head. She loves you. And he'd understood the implications- it had not been in an 'atta boy' kind of way. But- it had been too late, right? They'd missed their moment. He'd been with Hannah... He was happy, and their relationship felt safe... But sometimes, it wasn't enough. Something had been missing.

Brennan, on the other hand...

He shook his head, ridding himself of the thought.

His moment with Brennan had passed. He was with Hannah now. Besides, he had other things to focus on.

A few hours later, the entire gang was at the hospital, Sweets bringing Daisy along- she'd been uncharacteristically quiet the entire time, something Booth found himself very grateful for. Russ was on his way from North Carolina, but hadn't been able to get a hold of Max, who was off the grid for the time being. They were all sitting in those uncomfortable hospital chairs, and none of them had dared say a word, apart from when Booth had shared the details of her condition with them.

A man in scrubs walked into the waiting room, covered in blood. Booth prayed for it to not be Brennan's. There was too much of it. The man snapped his finger off, his expression, his expression serious?

"Family of Temperance Brennan?" he asked, causing them all to look at each other.

"Yes?" Booth hopefully asked, not correcting the man. His heart was pounding inside his ribcage, and could hear the blood rushing in his ears- it was literally a matter of life and death, "How is she?"

"We're really sorry," the man started. Booth's world collapsed against him as he heard the following words, "But she did not make it."