She placed her other hand over his heart and leaned in to press her forehead against hers. He was careful to keep his hands off of her body. This wasn't sex; she was trying to thank him, trying to tell him how sorry she was for dismissing that one thing, his standing in front of that bullet. For her.

"I'm sorry"

"I know you are Bones."

"How did this happen?" she whispered.

"Bones?"

"This emotional connection? How did we get here?"

"The same way it always happens between two people. We took a chance. Somewhere along the way, I decided to let you into my life, really let you in, and…"

"And I've let you into my life."

"Yes, and I love…that."

She pulled back to look in his eyes.

"I love that too, Booth."

He swallowed at the admission in her gaze. His fists clenched when she leaned down and pressed her lips against his, his palms aching to touch her, but again, he knew this wasn't about sex; she needed to feel him, really feel another human in her arms.

He continued talking.

"When two people are in close contact, they begin to care for one another. It becomes natural to want to take care of one another…"

She moved her lips to his forehead and kissed his cheeks, moving down to press her lips against the skin of his jaw.

"You can touch me too Booth."
"No, I don't think I can, Bones."

"Why not?" Her lips moved to caress right under his ear.

"Because I'd be taking advantage of you, Bones."

"How?" She moved back to his mouth, brushing against his lips, while her hands moved up to squeeze his shoulders.

"Well, Bones. You've had a really bad day. A bad couple of weeks, really, and you're not yourself, so…all of this…I don't want…"

"You don't want me?"

He groaned.

"I do want you Bones, but…I don't want you to have any regrets. I don't want to take advantage…"

She stopped kissing and pulled back to look in his eyes.

"You are in a vulnerable spot, Bones. Maybe you aren't thinking clearly, and…I…don't want to hurt you more."

She pulled his hand up to cup her face.

"I thought you were dead, Booth. And a little part of me died that day. And you are right; we did take a chance, and it hurts, it hurts so much, sometimes….but…"

He raised his other hand to touch her shoulder.

"I want to take care of you Booth."

It was the most alluring sentence a woman had ever spoken to him.

"Bones…"

"And, I want you to take care of me too."

This time when she pressed her lips against his, he welcomed her. Wrapping his arms around her, he allowed his lips to caress hers, to absorb her pain and express all the comfort he had to give. She was comforting him as well as she ran her hands down his chest and around him, drawing him closer, trying to sooth the hurts.

He stood up, lifting her in his arms in the process. Just to be sure, he lowered her a bit so their eyes were level.

"What do you want me to do, Bones?"

Clear blue eyes pierced with truth and understanding.

"I want you to carry me to my bed, and I want you to make love to me."

Without breaking eye contact, he carried her down the hallway and into her bedroom where he set her on her feet. Keeping their eyes on one other, they both undressed quickly, quietly.

He was a man, and she was a woman, and they were alone, together. He pulled her hands up to rest on his shoulders, and he moved his arms around her waist.

She gasped as he pulled her body to meet his, firm meeting soft as she moved her hands down his back, learning his body, this man she knew, for the first time. He pressed a kiss against her neck, and her knees buckled. He caught her, and gently laid her on her bed, lying next to her.

He stroked a hand across her forehead, brushing her hair out of her face, and he was surprised to see a single tear streak down her cheek.

"Is this too much?" he asked as he brushed it away.

"No, yes, maybe. I don't know…"
"We can stop if you want."

"No, Booth…I want to feel…I want to feel you here." She pulled his hand up to cover her chest. He could feel her heart beating underneath and he lowered his head to press his lips where his hand had just been. She ran her hand through his hair and pressed him to her.

They poured acceptance and peace into one another with their hands and lips and words, and when the time came for them to join together, Booth settled on his back, letting her take the lead, knowing she needed to give to him. He gave by receiving her touch, and she gave by receiving him into her body. He rolled her underneath him and looked into her eyes. He saw sorrow and fear and comfort and love. As he pressed and retreated, she pulled him tighter, not wanting to lose any of him, not even in this.

Her hands clenched his arms as her body did the same, and he gave everything he had to give, gently releasing them to one another.

He collapsed against her for a moment before raising himself up on his elbows to look at her face.

She still had sadness in her eyes, but also a peace. She pressed her palm to his precious face, and pulled him down for a kiss.

"Thank you Booth."

He smiled.

"My pleasure, Bones…believe me." He rolled to his side, keeping her in his arms. "One day, Bones…one day soon, we're going to have a good day, and we'll do this again, and it will be good. We'll be happy again, Bones."

She snuggled up to press her nose in the crook of his neck. He could feel more than hear her laughing.

"What's so funny, Bones?"

She looked up, and he was struck by her beauty. Her face shone with emotion, for him. She laughed, even as a couple of tears ran down her face, and she wiped his chest where they dropped.

"You're pretty special, and cute, even without your beer dispensing helmet."

He laughed.

"Come on, Bones, admit it, you thought that was a pretty good idea…"

She was silent for a moment.

"I think you and I are a pretty good idea, Booth."

He looked into her eyes.

"I…" she grew serious again, "I love you, Booth."

"I love you, Bones."