"Thanks for lunch Booth, it was delicious as usual." He smiled brightly at her.

"I'm glad you liked it. You know I love to cook, especially for someone else." He rose from the table and began carrying the dished into the kitchen.

"Why don't you let me clean up the mess since you did all of the work." Her voice was steady, if just a little withdrawn. He knew she hadn't completely let go of their earlier conversation.

"I don't mind Bones. It will give me something to do."

"Well it would give me something to do to. At least I would feel useful for a few minutes." Her tone was firm and he complied with her wishes and let her clean the dishes.

Booth went to the living room and turned the television on. Surfing through the channels, he came upon a program that he thought Bones would find interesting, at least he hoped she would. He sat for twenty minutes and figured that she should have been done before now. He waited another good ten minutes and decided to check on her. When he entered the kitchen the sight that met him broke his heart.

Brennan was seated on floor against one of the cabinets with her legs drawn up to her chest. Her head rested on her knees and he could see and hear her sobbing. Instinctively, he went to sit beside her but chose not to touch her. "Talk to me," he said tenderly.

"Please just leave me alone," she said without looking at him. "I don't want to talk."

"Then I won't ask questions but at least let me stay with you." She wanted nothing more than for him to take her in his arms and hold her until her fears subsided. For weeks he had been the corner sound of her shaky foundation. He was her lifeline and no matter how much she tried to deny it she needed him.

For the first time she thought of how this affected him and she wanted to ease his discomfort. She had asked little of him but he had given her everything. She understood that more than anything, he needed her to need him. If she couldn't give him her love she could give him that. Swallowing her pride she looked up to him and spoke softly. "Would you please just hold me?"

Love and pride swelled within his heart at her request. She needed him and that thrilled him immensely. The mere fact that she was turning to him for support and comfort eased the heaviness inside of him. Without hesitation he slipped his arms around her and held her close. He felt immense relief when she neither shrank nor flinched from him. For the first time since this nightmare began, he had a genuine sense that everything would be alright.

They sat together for several long minutes before he dared to speak. "Do you think I can convince you to go into the living room with me?" She pulled away slightly and nodded her head. Booth stood and helped her to her feet. With his arm still around her waist, they walked to the living room. Removing his arm, he sat down first and made no moved to encourage her to sit by him. He was thrilled when she sat close and laid her head on his chest. What he would give to be able share his love with her.

Booth cautiously put his arm around her and absently began stoking her arm. His soothing touch and nearness of him soon lulled her into a peaceful sleep. Having her in his arms relaxed him to the point that he could have joined her in a nap but he didn't want to take advantage of the situation. He wanted to press his lips against her head, hell; he wanted to do more than kiss her head.

Way to go Booth! He silently admonished himself for the direction his thoughts had taken. The mere nearness of Temperance Brennan did things to him that no man should have to suffer through but he couldn't act on his desire. Everything was unsettled between them and until they were able to sort there their emotions he wouldn't be able to…

Bones moved against in her sleep and a seductive moan escaped her lips. He looked down into his lap and saw that her hand was covering his growing need for her. He let out an exasperated breath because no matter what they seemed to be doing these days, it end with them in some kind of intimate position and it was steadily becoming more than he thought he could handle. He tried unsuccessfully to move into a different position but she shifted with him and managed to become closer.

He had quickly lost interest in the television as she began moving against him. He watched her and could tell that she was dreaming but when her hand began clenching against him, he sucked in a deep breath between clenched teeth. He willed his breathing to slow and prayed he could control his reaction but it was a wasted effort. When she rubbed against him again he knew he could not longer sit there and do nothing. He pushed her gently away from his side and stood up.

She opened her eyes immediately when she didn't feel him beside her. "What?" She asked groggily. Booth turned away from her to hide the evidence of his desire.

"Sorry Bones! I-I have a b-bad charlie horse." He bent down and began massaging his calf. She immediately sat up and began to help him with the task. His eyes widened when she began to massage him. This was definitely not helping him cool down. "It's fine B-Bones. It doesn't hurt any more."

"Then sit back down with me," she said softly. Just then a knock sounded on the door. Booth thanked the Lord that he would have a brief reprieve. Booth was surprised to see Cam when he opened the door.

"Hi," she said.

"Did you get something else?" Booth automatically thought something else had been delivered to the Jeffersonian.

"No, I just wanted to come by and check on Dr. Brennan." Booth clenched his teeth but opened the door further to allow her entrance. "I'm sorry about this morning Seeley."

"It's not your fault Camille. I'm not even convinced that you were wrong. There is no way we could have anticipated her reaction. She just woke up from a nap so come on in."

Booth appeared in the living room with Cam in tow and Brennan felt embarrassed by the incident in the lab. "Hey, how are you feeling?" Cam said in a caring voice.

Brennan shifted her gaze from her boss as she spoke. "I apologize for behaving like a fool today. I didn't mean to make everyone uncomfortable."

"You didn't!" She retorted quickly. "We were all very concerned for you. You are a part of this team Dr. Brennan and we want you back with us."

"Thank you Cam. I can't wait to get back. I miss everyone so much." Cam stepped toward her and awkwardly put her hand on Brennan's shoulders and leaned in to give her a brief hug. To Cam's surprise, Brennan's arms went around her and hugged her tightly before letting go. "Thank you, I really mean that."

"I'll get out of here. I hope we see you very soon."
"Met too." Cam let herself out of the apartment while Booth stood there looking dazed. The exchange between the women had really surprised him and he was equally proud for both of them.

"That was quite a surprise," Booth said with a touch of humor.

"She is a good woman Booth. I can actually acknowledge that now. I have a lot of respect for her."

"I think she feels the same way Bones." He watched as she returned to the sofa and sat down. She picked up the remote and began flipping through the channels. Booth smile and joined her there, curious to see what she would stop on.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep earlier. I was just so tired and…"

"Don't worry about it Bones. I'm just glad you were able to get a little rest." They sat there quietly watching television for a long time before either of them spoke.

Brennan had been sitting there contemplating the last few days and had come to a few conclusions. One, she wanted Booth. Two, she wanted to go back to work. Three, she wanted to recover…fully. Finally, she not only wanted Booth, she was in love with him. The problem was is that she didn't want his pity or sympathy. She wanted to be whole when she told him of her feelings.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You can ask me anything Bones," he replied.

"Would you like to go to a movie?" He laughed nervously.

"You wouldn't be asking me out would you?" He asked teasing her.

"What if I am?" Booth looked at her intently, unable to tell if she was teasing with him.

"You know I love a good movie."

"Or a bad movie," she said laughingly.

"What's really going on here?"

"Do you have to analyze everything?"

"I guess I have spent too much time with you."

"Forget I asked alright."

"No! This is a monumental occasion."

"What? Me asking you out?"

"No, you wanting to go to a movie."

"Maybe I just want to get you in the dark again." That stunned him into silence.

"I could just turn out the lamp on that table over there," he said grinning broadly and she smiled back.

"Go ahead," she said but he kept his seat. "You're not moving," explained. "Would you like me to do it?"

"No, I-I…it's probably better if we leave the lights on." Her face looked dutifully crestfallen. Surely she hadn't misread the situation.

"Why?"

"For starters, we don't know what the hell is going on between the two of us. We don't need to…I can't keep holding you and…kissing you without wanting…"

"I guess I'm asking too much."

"Bones you are not ready for that kind of relationship. Hell it was only yesterday that…"

"You're right of course. I wasn't suggesting that we have sex Booth." Boy did he feel like an idiot…first class.

"What?"

"I'm sorry if you thought that's what I meant." He face blushed bright and hot.

"My bad Bones. What did you have in mind?"

"I just wanted a kiss," she said bluntly.

"If you were listening, I mentioned kissing…"

"Yes, yes you did." She smiled coyly at him and then turned to watch the television. To him, she didn't appear to be upset or angry. He felt like a Class A fool for speaking out as he did, of course she hadn't meant to have sex with him.

He tried to get into the program she had turned to but was unable to focus on anything but her. She wanted a kiss and he wanted to give it to her. Had she realized what she had done to him while she slept, she probably wouldn't have suggested it. The self-discipline that he was so proud of was crumbling. He wanted to taste her lips like he wanted his next breath but he new what it would cost him, knowing it could no further than that.

He fought with himself for a good fifteen minute before he turned to her and just stared. After a moment she turned to look at him. "What?"

"You win!" He said loudly.

"I didn't know we were playing a game," she told him matter-of-factly. She could be infuriating at times, he thought. He was stubbornly refusing to tell her he wanted to kiss her so he decided to show her.

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I realize that this is a terrible place to leave this…I know you're wondering what he is going to do. Now here's the deal…I have opted to update quickly and that will entail shorter chapters. Let me know if you would like them more infrequently with longer chapters. I aim to please. To the reviewers….you guys rock!!