Firstly - Thank you a billion trillion times to WOATCAPIITON for the beta and help! You rock my socks!

Secondly - This is a WIP.

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"You say that you need space

You need time
And clear your troubled mind
Seems you are having doubts
So you've got to go this one alone"

We needed space apart.

That's what I told myself when I'd committed to this case. I was told 2 months at least, to go through a mass grave that was found about 30 miles out of Mexico City, on the outskirts of a village called Teotihuacán. A month and a half later and I was still trying to convince myself desperately, that this had been the best plan of action.

Everything was becoming too familiar with us, too close for comfort. I found myself wanting to pull away from these feelings. The whole, 'fight or flight' reaction. Everything inside mewas screaming to fly, to create some distance, to get away.But I sometimes found myself daydreaming about fighting to stay sometimes, before I realized what I was thinking about and quashed those thoughts to the back of my mind. Way back. Emotion didn't help. It confused things. And I'm not the sort of woman to fall victim to emotions I couldn't handle anyway. Sexual attraction, yeah sure, I could handle that. Anything more than that just got too complicated. We're partners. Things can't get complicated between us; it wouldn't be rational, sensible or ethical. A sense of detachment is needed to maintain emotional equilibrium. The job always had to remain my main focus. My job would always remain my top priority.

----------Three months earlier----------------

"Wake up in a dream
Frozen fear

I feel you in my dreams and I don't sleep."

It was late whenBooth showed up at my door. Claiming to have come over because of his concern for me and my disrupted sleeping as of late. After the Gravedigger kidnapping, I found it difficult to sleep. I craved the comfort of another presence there. To close my eyes would be like an invitation for nightmares; another time of my day where I would be haunted by the memories that I tried so desperately to suppress during my waking hours.

"I brought food with me tonight," Booth says, offering a small smile after letting himself in.

"I've already eaten, but thanks" I say with a little more bite than I intended. Booth was just trying to be a good friend. Friends check up on each other. Look out for each other. So why was I getting my guard up at the fact that Booth was here, actually being a friend. I think it was the very notion that I did, indeed, find comfort in his presence.

"Bones..." Booth starts, peering into my face. I duck my head before he can see how close to losing it I actually am. "Temperance," I look up at that utterance. I like the sound of my name on his lips. "You look like you haven't slept in years." He says truthfully, and without the constraint I'm used to people having around me.

"Gee thanks, Booth. You really know how to lift a woman's spirits." I mumble, knowing exactly how I look. It was true; I hadn't slept in days, and my appearance was suffering for it. Scrutinizing my reflection earlier, I was dismayed to see the dark rings shadowing my eyes, and the pallor tone to my skin that only highlighted my fatigue.

He scoffed."Bones, you're not just any woman. I know I can tell you the truth and you'll take it. It's a great quality to have. Don't get all girly on me now!" He answers with a playfulsmirk.

I close my eyes briefly, and it's all I can do to pry them back open. I rub my eyes and turn to him with as much patience as I can conjure up."Look, I'm tired.Maybe you should just go. I'm not much company tonight." I can feel myself slipping, worn down by lack of sleep and draining cases previous.

"I'm going to stay tonight, Bones." He saysdeterminedly.

"No, seriously Booth, it's fine." I argue.

"I'll sleep on the sofa bed." He insists.

I look up at him quickly, my guard slowly creeping up. 'I don't think so, Booth'.

Booth throws his hands up dramatically. "Bones, I promise not to take advantage of you." He jokes.

I laugh wearily. "No, I couldn't put you out like that Booth. You need your sleep too."

"Bones, I'll be fine on the sofa bed. You'll sleep a whole lot better knowing someone else is here, believe me." He says in that tone that warranted no argument.

"Fine," I give in, too tired to put up much of a fight. "I'll get you some pillows and a blanket."

"Can I also grab a shower? It's been a long day." He says sheepishly, shoving his hands in his back pockets and rocking back on his heels.

"Sure. No problem. I'll go grab you a towel as well. Do you have any PJ's?"

"Not with me. Why do you have some spare just in case guys stay over?" He counters with a grin.

"Well, no, but I may have some of Pete's old PJ bottoms somewhere that I think would fit."

"Uh, no. That's ok, Bones, I'll just sleep in my boxers." He said says with a grimace, a look similar to Angela's when a fresh body got wheeled in.

"Ok, well if you change your mind..." I answer nonchalantly.

Booth started pulling out the sofa bed, so I decided to get some pillows and a blanket. I grab two pillows off my bed, since I didn't use them all anyway. Heading towards the hall closet, I pull down a fluffy blanket and a towel for him to use.

"Here you go Booth," I toss him the towel, blanket and pillows.

"Thanks, Bones. I'll be out in no time," He throws over his shoulder as he stalks to the bathroom

I decide to keep myself busy while he showered. I start by setting his bed up, and can't help but smirk at how much Angela would love these circumstances

I throw the blanket over the thin mattress, and then set the pillows at the top of the bed.

Grabbing my manuscript from the coffee table, I set myself down on the newly made bed and wait for Booth while looking over my lasted chapter.

I feel my eyes start to droop, and my head gets that unbearably heavy feeling.I hadn't realized how tired I actually was until now. Maybe Booth was right. Having someone else here may be like a security blanket. Not that I needed one. But then again, maybe I will sleep through the whole night tonight.

I rested the manuscript on my lap and laid my head back onto the pillows.

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"If I could fix myself, I'd...

But it's too late for me. I won't let you fall apart."

The bathroom was steamed and the surfaces damp whenI got out of the shower and toweled myself off. I glance down at my boxers residing on the floor. Yeah, Bones. Like I was gonna wear your ex-boyfriend's PJ bottoms.

I pick them up and shove them on. Throwing on the t-shirt I had been wearing that day, I gave it a wary sniff, and concluded that itdidn't smell, but still. Deodorant... Hmm...

"Hey, Bones! You got any deodorant?!" I shout through the door while searching her bathroom cabinet.

I found some Rexona. Female deodorant. Great. Oh well, it's gonna have to do for the night. I wonder what she's up to...

I dry my hair quickly before leaving the bathroom.

"Bones, where do you want me to put..." I stop suddenly. Bones has set my bed out and was currently lying atop it, her new manuscript on her stomach. She looks so content and vulnerable in her sleep. I gaze at her.A sight she would hate anyone to see. A sight she would hate me to see.

I gently pick up the manuscript. No dedication yet, I notice. Laying it back on the coffee table, I watch as she flips onto her side, a content sigh escaping her in her sleep.

I debate with myself on whether or not I should wake her. Ithought better of it. If she's actually sleeping, then who am I to wake her? It was why I was here. To help her relax longer enough sleep.

I get up and retrieve a blanket from her bed down the hall. Bones was sleeping like a lump atop the blankets on the sofa bed, and I was loath to pull them out from under her.

I throw it over her gently, and just watched her sleeping for a few moments. It was refreshing seeing her unguarded like this. Everyone is vulnerable in their sleep, and Bones proved it so.

I've seen it before, but I'd never let on to it. She was independent. And it was that independence that carved her very being. It was who she was, who she recognized herself as.

That's part of the reason why I respect her so much.

I turned off all the lights, then thought about going to sleep in her bed, but thought better of it. If she woke up during the night, another presence may be comforting. I slip into bed next to her, carefully sticking to my side. I didn't want to step over the boundary. She was already going to be defensive enough; with the fact that we'd slept together. It was just something that we'd have to deal with tomorrow. Like the saying goes: We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. But for now, we're still on the other side.Bones being cranky with me for a few minutes, was something I was willing to risk.

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