The silence following the question was one pregnant with grief and fear. Booth spoke up before Lance even had a chance. "Sir, when Sweets called us, I immediately got in touch with the lead investigator," Seeley paused with a sigh, feeling weary beyond his years. "Javana was the next target in a string of robberies. Reports from witnesses state that May was trying to... talk the perpetrators out of it." Suzanne was forced to choke back tears and Booth once again stopped to let her get herself together.

"May was not hurt until after the culprits injured one of the other employees. She rushed to save them with a coffee pot apparently," Sweets cracked a small smile at the thought of her heroism. "Unfortunately May was overpowered, and ended up getting hurt. Apparently, the bystanders inside and out of the store waited a while before even alerting authorities. Even some witnesses from outside the store pretended as if they did not see anything," Booth finished with regret etched in his features.

Gregg nodded at Booth's words and went back to comforting his wife. "Genovese syndrome," Sweets muttered his features hardening. "English please," Booth asked confused with May's parents in a similar state. Bones took the chance to speak up finally. "Genovese Syndrome is more commonly known as Bystander Effect. Basically, witnesses to a crime will stand by and do nothing if they see others doing the same. It was given a title when a woman was killed decades ago near her apartment building. She cried for help and there were witnesses around, who according to reports, did not respond. That led to extensive research into what your daughter experienced as Sweets pointed out. There's a multitude of reasons why bystanders don't act. It's not exactly finite because the study itself was incomplete," Bones said glancing at Booth in case her words would have seemed callous.

Sweets' hands balled into fists as Bones talked and he realized that he was slowly becoming angrier and angrier. "I'll be back…I left something in my car," He said standing up. It was mechanical really, the way his legs carried him to his car. His stride was swift and full of a purpose he really did not feel. Sweets climbed into his car and leaned his head back against his head rest. In all honesty, his anger was taking a turn for violence. Lance wanted to punch something. Scream. Hurt. Break.

These were natural reactions to grief, but it was not a healthy state of being. A splash of color released him from his reverie and he looked down to see the lilies still sitting there. He had forgotten they were even there in his haste. Holding them with more care than he'd shown even the most fragile of items, he exited his vehicle and carried the flora with him. Only two people met him in the waiting room.

"She's out. Her parents wanted to have a moment with her first. They expected that you'd want to stay in there over night," Booth told him and Sweets collapsed into a seat. May was alright. She was going to be just fine.

~Bystander Syndrome~ (Next Day)

When May woke up the next day, the first thing she felt was sore. The next thing was thirsty. Breathing came easy enough, yet seeing was an entirely different story. Blinking rapidly, she encouraged her eyes to adjust to her surroundings. Her gaze was met with the familiar setting of a hospital.

"Oh my God. Oh my god. Oh my god," She said to herself over and over as she looked down at her body to see if she was still in possession of her limbs. Fortunately enough, her bed was at a tilt, so she could take inventory of her anatomy. The pain was more on the right side of her body. She looked at her arm, and a wave of nausea hit her like a flood.

A large bandage was wrapped over her shoulder and collarbone. She could see a red tinged spot towards the middle of it. She let out a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes as she laid back. Javana was robbed and she was shot. So was Michael, the other employee. May wiped away fresh tears because she was sure that he was much worse off than she was. He was new to the shop, but was quickly becoming a new friend. They always chatted during breaks about school, and their boyfriends. Michael was a gentle giant and genuinely sweet. He had emigrated from a small city in Argentina a few years before and was in his early thirties. May would ask about him as soon as a doctor came in.

A soft snore interrupted her thoughts and she turned in the direction quickly. This action was not without repercussion as pain shot through her arm and side. "Owww," She whined before taking in the sight before her. Lance's height was definitely a hindrance. His legs dangled over the side of the small couch in her room and she noted how uncomfortable his crouched upper body must have been. Resting on the ground next to him, was a bouquet of flowers; lilies to be exact. Nothing could stop the smile the stretched her face at the sight. They were her favorite flowers after all.

"Lance," May called out hoping to wake him up. He stirred and turned towards her, but his eyes did not so much as twitch. She sighed and cleared her throat. "LANCE!" Her voice was much louder and he sat up quickly. Lance moved to his feet and moved closer to her bed defensively out of instinct, before he realized that she was the one who tore him from his sleep. "May?" He questioned softly. Without prompt, Lance gathered her in his arms as gently as he could and held her close. May nuzzled her face into his chest and wrapped her left arm around his neck while her other lay limply at her side. "I'm so glad you're okay lily-maid," He whispered into her hair, placing a kiss atop her head. "I'm going to take care of you, I promise." Lance's chin rested on top of her head as he reassured her with his words.

He still wore the suit he had put on the previous day. It was wrinkled by now. There were bags under his eyes from the time he had spent watching over her. May could smell the scent of coffee on him as well. "Your mom and dad should be here soon. They stayed until a little while after you got out of surgery. Brennan and Booth may be stopping by too," He informed her and she nodded unwilling to pull away just yet. Lance placed another kiss on her forehead this time and pulled away to cup her face. "I was coming to you. I'm sorry I did not get there sooner. I was afraid that I lost you," He told her feeling relief flood his eyes with tears.

May gave him a watery smile. "I'm okay. I'm fine. A little beat up, but I'm alright," She attempted to reassure with no avail. Lance frowned and looked at her arm before meeting her eyes. "No you're not. They hurt you. You're in pain, I can tell. It's more than skin deep. You're going to have to deal with everything that follows: the scars, the therapy both physical and mental, the paranoia, and the nightmares. It could have been worse," He explained, eyes hardening. "They got caught. They won't get away with this, but their punishment is not nearly as bad as what I wanted to do to them when I watched you laying here."

It was almost frightening to see the typically laid back and awkward Lance Sweets so fierce. Deep down though, May knew he was right. It was going to be hard getting back to normal, and it would take a while. "I'm going to be there every step of the way to make sure you're okay," He promised imploring her to believe her with his earnest gaze. May could only nod in response. This was something new and only time could tell how long she'd be able to deal with it.

~Bystander Syndrome~

It took three weeks.

May was sick and tired of being coddled by everyone; and Lance was by far the worst offender. During the time she had been released, he practically moved her into his house. He made breakfast, made sure there was food for lunch, and usually picked up dinner on the way home. When she returned to the coffee shop, after days of arguing, he took it upon himself to drop her off AND pick her up.

The coffee shop was particularly brutal. Jameson had returned home for the foreseeable future. May knew he was still peeved at her over an argument revolving around her return to Javana. He wanted her to stay home, but she fought hard to stay. So, he had exiled her to the office in the back of the shop for revenge. Suzanne and Greg called their daughter once a day and stopped by for Sunday lunch.

It was overwhelming.

May checked the clock next to her with a sigh. It was just after seven, and the spot on the bed next to her was empty. The sound of the shower and faint singing uncovered where Lance was located. "Today is going to be different," She said to herself resolutely. She kicked off the covers and got out of bed walking to the kitchen. Her arm still hurt a lot, but she was able to work around it well enough to cook a decent breakfast for the two of them. Relying mostly on one arm to cook was not simple, yet May managed to do so anyway. Accompanied only by music, the young woman swayed around the kitchen while bacon sizzled in the frying pan.

Lance climbed out of the shower, ready to go wake up his girlfriend so that the day could get started. With his towel around his waist, he stepped out into the bedroom to find his bed empty, and his girlfriend nowhere in sight. He walked towards the front of the house, not even bothering to put on clothes. Sweets found her swaying and cooking when he stumbled in the direction of the music. For a minute, all he did was stare at her. He knew that she had been frustrated lately and that her patience was wearing thin. Yet, he did not know another way to both her safe and take care of her.

May began cracking eggs, being grateful that Jameson had taught her the one hand technique. She was completely unaware of Lance's presence. A hand brushed her hip, making her nearly drop the bowl of eggs. Snapping up immediately, her eyes took in the appearance of Lance's bare chest. Red faced, May's gaze trailed up further to see his face, with dripping wet hair clinging to his forehead and cheeks. "Umm… good morning," She murmured, not noticing the dampness spreading to her shirt from their proximity. Her voice was hesitant, as though she feared that he would make her go back to the room.

Sweets grinned and her heart fluttered at the look. "What's for breakfast?" He questioned nuzzling her hair as she turned back to continue preparing their meal. "Eggs, bacon, and toast. Nothing fancy," She answered relieved. Her heart was still pounding from seeing him in that state, but she brushed the feelings aside. "Sounds good. Let me go get dressed," He kissed her cheek and sauntered out of the kitchen.

Bewildered, May's eyes stayed rooted to the spot where he had stood, before she shook her head. Her relief in not having to leave the room was great.

By the time Sweets sat down at the table, fully dressed, May was setting his plate down in front of him. "This is all rather domestic," She commented as she sat beside him. "Took the words right out of my mouth," Lance responded through a mouth full of food. May grimaced at his lack of manners and then smirked. "By the way, next time you want to give me a heart attack, you should at least be completely nude instead of teasing me," She retorted.

Sweets stammered a little at her barb before quieting down. May smiled cheekily and turned towards him for a kiss. Unfortunately, she hit her injured arm against the table and retreated with a yelp. And, just like hat, the mornings' bliss had dissipated. Lance felt his heart plummet at the fact that all of their progress was lost. What hurt the most was the fact that May turned away from him, cradling her arm in its sling.

"May, are you okay?" He begged lamely. His words fell flat and were utterly fruitless. "I'm fine," Came the warbled reply.

She was crying and she did not want him to see.

She did not want him to touch her.

She was lying to him.

No longer hungry, he stood up from the table, unable to deal with this anymore. May shuddered and a gasp escaped. Lance was torn between wrapping his arms around her, or walking away. So, there he stood, aching as he watched her cry. He turned to walk away, but her voice stopped him in his tracks. "Lance, don't walk away from me. Please," May pleaded through tears. "I need you. Right now. Don't leave me."

Lance was frozen, unsure of what step to take next. To be honest, he was afraid of what he would be facing if he turned around. Not taking too much longer to consider what to do, Lance turned on his heel and walked back over to his girlfriend. Gathering her in his arms, he kissed her forehead while mentally berating himself for his stupidity.

"I'm sorry May. I've been so unreasonable but please try to understand that I'm afraid something will happen to you. I thought you were dead when I first got to Javana. I did not… I can't let something happen to you," He spoke as he held her tighter.

May sighed and pulled back slightly to look him in the eye. "Lance, you cannot prevent every bad thing that can happen to me. Smothering me the way you have been is just pushing me away. I lo… I want to be here with you, but you're making me weary," She finished and rubbed her eye as she sniffed.

His psychologist mind taking over for a minute, Lance loosened his grip on her and suggested, "We should stay in today and talk. It's the one thing we haven't really done." May nodded in agreement and the couple went silent for a few moments. She gathered herself together and he composed his thoughts.

Lance stood and took her hand as he guided her to the couch in the living room. Once they were settled, he began. "The day you got shot," He began and looked her in the eye. "I had just gotten through talking to Booth. I wanted to surprise you. When I saw the tape and the flashing lights, I just about lost it. One of the paramedics said you were gone, and I thought I had lost you forever." His explanation as somber, and it pained him to retell the story. May took his hand and kissed it in an attempt to comfort him.

"I understand why you are holding on so tightly…but you and everyone else are suffocating me. The bullet did not kill me, but you all are," She said gently trying to soothe the sting of the words she was uttering. It did not do much though, because Sweets flinched away.

It grew silent again, and Lance gathered the courage to look at her. He found himself struck by her appearance. Her hair was still streaked with blonde, but her skin was paler unlike her usual tanned hue. Her hands were clenched into fists, and her eyes were sad and earnest. They begged for him to listen. Begged for him to let her breathe.

Wetness on his face made him realize that there were tears streaming from his eyes. He held her hand tighter and clenched his eyes shut. Quickly, his hands reached out and pulled her onto his lap as he leaned his face in her neck. "Oh Lance," May murmured, holding him as tight as she could with her uninjured arm.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," He whispered, voice warbling. "I'll stop…I promise. Just don't leave." He kissed the side of her neck tenderly, and his fingers splayed across her back as he held her tightly. Lance took a deep breath and continued speaking. "But, you don't understand May. You don't have the slightest idea of how terrified I was. I'm so afraid that something else will hurt you. I just want to protect you…"

His voice trailed off as he moved to once more look her in the eye. "May, I'm so in love with you. I was going to surprise you and be utterly romantic. I was going to swipe you off your feet and whisk you away. Only, I arrived and was met with a crime scene and being told that my girlfriend was pretty much dead," He explained, trying to keep his emotions under control. "But you were alive thankfully, and I could finally tell you. I was so angry though about not being there, and so afraid that you would be taken away from me, that I instinctively pulled you closer. Too close, and now I've probably pushed you away." He was gasping and his hold on her became slack for a minute. May stared at him for a minute before laying her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too," She whispered and kissed the side of his neck. "I'm not going anywhere."

~Bystander Syndrome~

"Lance I swear to God if you do not calm down I will honestly kill you," Booth said running his hand down his face. "I concur with Seeley. Minus the whole God part," Temperance added as she pulled out her phone. Sweets bit his lip and bounced on the pads of his feet.

Angela walked in with Hodgins shaking her head as she put her phone back into her purse. "Why do I keep letting him babysit?" She groaned and Hodgins patted her back sympathetically. Booth's head snapped up and he was met with a glare from the mother of his child.

"I knew we should have asked someone else to watch her. But no, "Angela's father will be great Bones. He's a decent guy!" Bones began ranting and Booth winced knowing he was in for it.

Meanwhile, Lance continued bouncing nervously. The group of people congregated in his house was all friends, but there was one important person who was missing. Well, four if you included her family. "Where are they?" He wondered aloud checking his watch. It was May's birthday and he wanted to surprise her.

Yet, half of his guests were arguing about bad babysitting decisions. It was as if they hadn't learned from the last five times this had happened. Angela's dad was a pretty cool guy. He just was not the best choice for a babysitter.

Of his other guests, one stood in a corner arguing on the phone with his mother. Another three were talking about some scientific breakthrough, and the last was patiently sitting on his couch flipping through a magazine.

A buzz changed everything. "They're here!" Lance yelled, and immediately and electric shock of excitement hit the crowd. Most found obscure places to hide, while others tried to simply blend in. The sound of May's laughter made Sweet's heart race. "I wonder where my Lance is…" He heard her say to Jameson as she pushed the door open. "SURPRISE!" Everyone called out immediately. Hodgins' was a bit delayed.

May could not stop smiling. Her response to everyone was barely audible, drowned out by the congratulations and well wishes of the guests. Lance stood back watching the scene with pride and glee. She caught his gaze as her eyes widened while she smiled at him. May patiently dawdled amongst the guests before she could politely make her way towards her man.

Immediately, her arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled him close. "You are possibly the greatest boyfriend I have had so far," She said in a teasing tone. "Oh really?" He inquired pressing his hands on her waist. "Well, I'm hoping to be the last boyfriend you ever have." The last part was whispered into her ear. Naturally, May flushed accordingly, and Lance chuckled.

"Oi! Can you wait until after we leave to paw at my sister? I want cake!" Jameson ordered from the other side of the room. His comments made them both flush; May turning even redder than she had been before. This garnered laughter and more catcalls from their friends as Lance playfully scowled before excusing himself to the kitchen. Minutes later he emerged with a cake with two candles lit on it. "24 already," Her mother murmured. "They get old so fast." Her father grunted in agreement.

In a whirlwind, the guests sang, candles were blown, and wishes were made. After talking and eating for the next couple of hours, everyone was gone. May soon found herself helping Lance clean up the house. "Honestly lily maid, I can clean by myself. It IS your birthday. You should relax," He suggested as he tossed more bits into trash bag. Sway around his neck was a loss tie, and the top buttons of his shirt were undone. May danced around him with a broom, having long ago removed her shoes. "It's fine. I'm so grateful towards you for planning this anyway," She replied and leaned on her toes to meet him for a kiss.

As May pulled away and moved to leave, Lance wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeper than before. "You know, this can wait until tomorrow," He mumbled as his fingers found the zipper of her dress. Her response was cut off by his lips meeting hers, and the last sound before they made it upstairs was the sound of her zipper coming completely undone.

~Next Day~

Contented and pleasantly sore from the previous night, May was exceedingly happy to wake up in the arms of the man she loved. Twisting towards him, she gently placed her hand on his cheek. Something on her hand caught her eye and May sucked in a deep breath. "Oh my god…" She gasped as the ring glinted in the little light from the sun. It was a simple ring. The band was silver, studded with small diamonds and at the center was a slightly bigger oval, pink diamond.

Lance Sweets was woken up that morning by his girlfriend jumping onto him screaming "Yes!" over and over in his ear as she bounced.

Well, actually, fiancée would be a better term to use now.

~Fin~

And that's the end of the story. I know this is a really long chapter compared to the others, but I really only wanted it to be three chapters.

I was a bit tempted to post a short sequel, but I think I'm going to keep this story short and simple. Plus, I may be writing another Sweets/OC pairing soon. Who knows?

I appreciate your patience and reviews. Every time I got an email about an alert/review, it made my day. So, I really do thank you all. Please review and tell me what you think of this last chapter. Thanks guys.