Chapter Five:

Disclaimer: I do not own Bones.

THREE WEEKS LATER.

"For the thousandth time, Sweets, I'm fine" October said as she leaned back against the limp hospital pillow.

Sweets leaned back against the door frame and crossed his arms "You nearly burned to death and you're going to try to make me believe that that didn't affect you at all?" he asked; incredulous.

"Of course it affected me! But not in any way that I need your help with" October crossed her arms as well.

"Have you ever heard of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?"

"Oh come on Sweets!"

"I'm serious! You should know how these types of events can affect the mind"

"I do, but this wasn't that bad…."

He raised an eyebrow "You witnessed a man burn to death while almost dying yourself"

"So? One bad guy is dead, and the other is in jail. I do not see anything wrong about partaking in the pursuit of justice…"

"So you were glad you killed Smith?"

"I'm not glad I killed him…But that doesn't mean I'm not glad he's dead…"

"Do you feel guilty?"

"About him being dead?"

"No, I mean about you killing him"

"Do we need to discuss this now?"

Sweets lifted his hands up, his palms pointed towards October "Fine, but if you need anything…." His voice trailed off as he turned and began to walk away

"I won't!" October called after him; without turning around he waved his hand in the air, dismissing her statement.

October slumped back meaning to rest her head against the pillow, but with how limp it was it simply fell through to the floor and she ended up hitting her head hard on the metal beam at the head of the bed.

She cursed under her breath and sat up glancing at the clock; if Hodgins was going to go through with her plan he should be outside waiting for her in three minutes.

She threw the covers back and slipped off the bed, she grabbed her black bathrobe and quickly threw it on before she darted across the hall. She had to be extra careful; ever sense her last attempt the head nurse, Nurse Hamilton, has been very strict about there always being a nurse watching her, the only time there isn't is when Sweets comes by, this time she decided to take advantage of that fact.

Last time though, she hadn't been quite as educated about the halls or the nurses daily routines, she had been caught early on in her excursion by one of the nurses who then reported her to Nurse Hamilton herself, which had not been at all a pretty scene. October decided that she had not been subtle enough; though how could she have been what with that very breezy hospital gown and the pole on wheels she had to drag around with her everywhere.

Damn you, conspicuous IV bags!

Now she had learned from her mistakes, she tip-toed stealthily down the halls wrapped up in her cozy bathrobe (which conveniently covered all of her bandages as well- she had been lucky enough so that the flames had not reached her face) and pole-free.

As soon as the door was in sight she bolted outside just as a small old-fashioned red car pulled up on the side of the road, the car horns honked and she glanced nervously back at the sterile glass doors, thankfully, Nurse Hamilton was nowhere in sight.

"Shhh!" October warned as she opened the door and slid inside, she winced slightly as the movement pulled on her stitches "I don't want to make a scene"

"Right" Hodgins said suppressing laughter "That's why you decided to make a beeline for the car right in front of the very transparent glass doors?"

"I-" But decided that there really wasn't anyways she could counter him so she simply stared straight ahead saying "Just drive…"

Hodgins did laugh this time, then he pulled away from the curb and began to drive away, October glanced in the rearview mirror just in time to see Nurse Hamilton run out to the front yard, her face beat red, she couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" Hodgins asked making a right turn.

"Oh nothing…" October said, then reached over and turned up the volume on the radio.

"I told them all to meet at the Diner"

"Did you tell them why?"

"Umm…."

"Chicken"

"I am not a chicken… You know just as well as I do that Booth is going to kill me when he knows I snuck you out of the hospital…"

October started to make chicken sounds but Hodgins just rolled his eyes and turned up the volume on the radio even louder, by the time they reached the diner the car was shaking from the loudness of the music and the two of them were attracting the attention of many bystanders as they sang along very loudly to the lyrics of "I love rock 'n roll!".

When the pair walked through the doors to the diner they spotted the group near the back, they were all packed around two tables that had been pushed together. The moment Angela saw October she leapt up from her seat and threw her arms around her.

"Hi Angela" October's voice was muffled by Angela's hair, Angela squeezed her harder and October let out a small yelp of pain.

"Sorry!" Angela said backing up a bit; her smile didn't fade though as she continued "I thought you weren't due to be out until next week!"

"Well…technically I'm not…"

"What do you mean by "Technically" "Booth asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well…" October began but Hodgins cut her off "I snuck her out"

"You what?!" Booth asked

"Relax!" October said raising her hands "don't blame Hodgins, I made him do it. I was going crazy being cooped up in there all day long!"

" You've snuck out as well, Booth" Dr. Brennan suddenly interjected

"Yes well, as I recall I only did it to save you" Booth said crossing his arms

"Give her a break, Booth" Angela said directing October towards an empty seat "let her have a little fun, she has been in the hospital for three straight weeks"

"Alright fine, but you do have to go back" Booth said, sitting back down.

The waitress came over; startling them, and set down the food that the others had ordered.

"You want anything, hun?" The waitress said, it took a moment for October to realize that she was addressing her "Oh, uh, water?"

"And how about you?" she said turning towards Hodgins

"I'll have coffee please, and some fries"

"I'll be right back with your order" she said before turning to leave

An awkward silence suddenly filled the air and October noticed that Angels was giving Dr. Brennan a rather odd look, she raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips then gestured towards October.

"What?" October said glancing at the two of them curiously.

"Dr. Brennan has something to tell you" Angela said

Dr. Brennan glanced once more at Angela before addressing October "Yes, well, you did a very good job in the lab and after some consideration I have decided that I would like to offer you the position as my assistant in order for you to finish your doctorate"

October was stunned; it took her a moment to respond "Yes! Yes I accept! I- I mean, yes; yes I would very much like that…"

"Then it's settled, we will have to arrange your shift though, considering that I do still have other students working for me, though they should be finished within the next six to eighteen months, and at that time Dr. Addy may return to his position at the Jeffersonian"

"Thank you Dr. Brennan" Zack said, momentarily startling October out of her daze; she still couldn't believe that she was finally going to get to finish her degree.

And that I am going t be working with Dr. Brennan!

"We can arrange that later" Dr. Saroyan interjected

"Yeah, sure" October said, but her mind was elsewhere… She was still processing all of what had happened. It was hard to believe that it was over, after all the decoding that she had worked through in the painting, after all of the time she had spent at the lab and after all that had happened in the barn…..

No. Don't think about that.

She would have to face it someday, the flames would haunt her later; she had no doubt that….Sweets had been right about the way this kind of things effect the mind…

But she didn't want to think about that now, she wanted to think about her soon-to-be internship at the Jeffersonian, all the time she gets to spend with Dr. Brennan, Zach, Hodgins, Angela, and booth…..

The flames will come back to haunt her, and maybe they will burn some form of herself away...But until that day comes this part of herself isn't quite ready to die.

Authors note: I would like to thank all of those who have taken the time to read my story and would like to ask of you to please review the story and let me know your opinion of it. Also, I have been considering writing a sequel to this story so I would be very appreciative if you were to let me know what you think of the idea and- assuming that I do follow through and write the story- what you are hoping to see (or see more of) in it (Romance, more drama, action, etc...).