AN: Yes, I know: shame on me. I have several unfinished stories and here I am, starting a new one. This idea is just too great though. ;) So this story is basically taking season 7 (next season) and treating it as the last season (not that I want the show to end after that. We deserve like 20 seasons :) hee hee) So a year has passed since this season (6) and Hannah and Booth are engaged… for now. Hodgins and Angela had a son, who has yet to be named. Brennan still hasn't found herself to be in a serious relationship. If all things go as planned, there will be 22 chapters for 22 episodes. And they will be long chapters since I intend to do each "episode" justice and not rush through things. Enjoy!
She knew that things were going to end up like this. She had foreseen it all of those years ago. She hadn't let him come home with her that night because, despite their physical attraction to each other, she knew that that was as far as it would ever go. They were partners, friends, but never would they be lovers. Brennan had come to accept that. But over the years, it had become harder to maintain that distance, especially when he had so openly expressed his feelings for her. So she had pushed him away and into her arms. She had nothing against Hannah really, especially since she and Booth were now engaged, but Brennan couldn't help but wonder if she had just told him yes two years ago, how different things would really be.
As Brennan entered the lab at the Jeffersonian, she noticed a familiar face talking to Angela. It was Avalon, Angela's "psychic" who had apparently been wrong those two years ago. That would teach her to ever "try" to believe in the supernatural again.
"Ms. Harmonia! What brings you to the Jeffersonian today?" Brennan asked, walking up to the two women.
"I did," Angela replied. "I've been having some bad dreams lately, and I wanted to make sure they weren't bad omens."
"They're just dreams, Angela. Nothing bad can come from them."
"That's where you're wrong," Avalon cut in. "Dreams are often premonitions of the future."
"Yeah, that's what you tried to tell me the last time," Brennan mumbled. "And you were wrong."
"He still loves you, you know."
"What?" This woman really was crazy.
"The man you were wondering about last time, he still loves you."
"This is ridiculous." Brennan started to walk away from them and head to her office. She was not going to believe in this make believe crap again. She and Booth were never going to happen; she knew that.
"But he's hurt you. Just like all of the others."
Brennan stopped dead in her tracks when Avalon said that, but she didn't say anything.
Avalon continued, "And he's not like all of the others, is he?"
Brennan turned around to glare at her. "He doesn't love me. He's engaged."
"Doesn't matter."
"Bren," Angela started. "She was dead on about the bodies under the fountain two years ago; hear her out."
"She was 'dead on' because her sister was one of those bodies. Now if you'll excuse me."
"I knew you were an abandoned child and you certainly never actually told me that. How do you explain that one away, Dr. Brennan?"
"Luck," Brennan said flatly, starting to leave again. How could this woman honestly think that Booth was in love with her when he was planning to spend the rest of his life with Hannah? He was just her partner and friend and that's all he ever would be.
But Avalon was persistent. "What if I were to help you solve another murder? Would you believe what I had to say about him then?"
Brennan was forced to turn around again. "Do you have a brother too you neglected to tell us about?"
"Brennan," Angela chastised, shooting her a warning look.
"I'm sorry, but I don't believe in psychics."
"There are two bodies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean," Avalon stated bluntly.
"I wouldn't doubt that," Brennan mumbled.
"They are recent kills, in a location where you can easily access them. They were lovers," Avalon continued.
"So what exactly do you suggest I do, Ms. Harmonia? Scour the entire Atlantic coastline for these people?"
"No need," Avalon smiled. "Take me with you and I can tell you exactly where they are."
"Right. I'll go tell Booth; see what he thinks." Brennan, at last, managed to walk away from Avalon without her calling her back with some new speculation.
"Avalon, I'm sorry about Brennan. She means well," Angela apologized.
"Oh it's all right. She'll come around."
(Insert line break here.)
Hours later, Brennan found herself walking along the sandy coastline of the Atlantic with Booth, Cam, and none other than Avalon Harmonia. They all stood around the "psychic" with shovels, awaiting her identification of the resting place for the remains.
"This is completely ridiculous," Brennan said under her breath.
"Ye of little faith, Bones," Booth responded, nudging her.
"Do you actually believe in this stuff?"
"Partially."
"How can you 'partially' believe in something?"
"Well I –"
Booth was cut off by Avalon. "They're right here, but out there, underwater."
"How far out there?" Cam asked wearily.
"I would estimate them to be about six yards away."
"Well good luck with that ladies," Booth said, putting down his shovel.
"You're not helping?" Brennan asked.
"This is my good suit! I'm not about to ruin it hunting for bodies that may or may not exist."
"Oh, hence the 'partially' believing. I get it now," Brennan smiled.
Cam dipped her hand into the ocean water. "Ooo, that's cold. Think we could wait until the remains get closer to the shore?"
"If we wait any longer, the remains, if they exist, will become even more compromised than they already are. We need to get them out today."
"And how do you suggest we do that Dr. Brennan?" Cam asked. "I'm not getting in there."
"I'll do it," Brennan replied, starting to wade her way into the ocean.
"You're crazy, you know that, Bones?" Booth laughed.
"She's not crazy Agent Booth; she's determined," Avalon pointed out. "She needs me to be right about this."
"Why's that?"
"Don't answer that!" Brennan called. "And for the record, Ms. Harmonia, I do not need anything from you."
"But we do appreciate your help on this case," Cam interjected. "The earlier we find the remains, the better."
"There is no case," Brennan said flatly, going even deeper into the water.
"How's it going out there, Bones?"
"Cold."
"You should be getting close," Avalon told her.
Brennan sighed and dipped her gloved hand into the water. "I seriously doubt –"
"What is it?" Cam asked.
Brennan straightened up, holding a femur in her hand. Her eyes were wide with shock. No, she had to tell herself, this does not prove anything.
"No way," Booth whispered in disbelief.
"Get a team out here," Brennan instructed. "I'm not about to retrieve each bone one by one."
"Avalon," Booth whispered. "What does Bones get out of this, since you were right?"
She cast him a side-long glance. "Hope, Agent Booth. Plain and simple hope.
(Insert line break here.)
"Well look at that, not one, but two bodies," Angela stated joining Brennan and Daisy on the platform. "It's like a sign from the universe or something."
"What sort of sign?" Daisy wanted to know. "Are we going to start finding multiple bodies at once from now on? Because that may have a negative impact on my performance…"
"No, Daisy, this sign has nothing to do with you," Angela replied. "And before you say it Bren, I already showed the facial reconstructions to Avalon and she doesn't recognize either one."
"She's lying," Brennan said flatly. "These bones have been underwater too long; all forms of evidence have been washed away. And I'm not finding any markings on them, so I'd say they died by drowning. There is no case here."
She took off her gloves and started to leave the platform when Daisy stopped her. "But what if someone murdered them by drowning them?"
"We have no evidence to support that conclusion."
"So then go interview their families. See if they know anything. At least tell them that we've found their bodies, so they can stop wondering."
"Seriously, Bren why are you so against solving this case?" Angela asked.
"I don't want Avalon to be right," Brennan answered softly.
"About the bodies?"
"Not about that."
"About Booth?"
She nodded in response.
"Oh sweetie, why?"
"He's happy. He's finally happy. And he doesn't deserve…I don't want to ruin everything."
"Don't you deserve to be happy, too?"
"I'll be fine, Ange."
Angela and Daisy exchanged a glance as Brennan headed toward her office at an unusually fast pace.
"Do you think she's going to be okay?" Daisy asked, worried.
"I honestly have no idea."
(Insert line break here.)
Brennan collapsed into her desk chair trying to control her emotions. When Booth had told her he was going to propose to Hannah, she hadn't exactly known how to feel. Happy because he had found that person he could spend 30 or 40 or 50 years with? Special because she had been the one he confided in; being the first of their friends to know the big secret even before Hannah herself? Or upset because she wasn't the one he wanted anymore? Right now, Brennan decided that the appropriate emotion was upset and that bothered her.
She wasn't supposed to want him anymore. She had fully accepted Hannah as "his person." But then Avalon had shown up with these claims that he still loved her. Just the thought was bringing back feelings she had long since suppressed. It was also causing her to face the reality that she had been avoiding: they never talked anymore. It used to be that at the end of every case, they would get together for drinks, complain about the case and let each into their lives a little bit more. But these days, when a case was finished, he'd wave goodbye and head on home to Hannah. It didn't even feel like they were friends anymore, just partners. And she hated that.
"Dr. Brennan?" Hodgins asked, poking his head into her office.
"Yes, Dr. Hodgins?"
"Well since there were no particulates," Hodgins started, entering her office, "Whoa have you been crying? Everything okay?"
"I'm fine. Now what were you saying about particulates?"
"Are you sure? Is there someone you want me to take down for you?"
Brennan laughed. "No, that won't be necessary. I doubt you could take him anyway."
"You underestimate my strength, Dr. Brennan."
She smirked at him in response.
"Is this about Booth?"
Brennan sighed. "I don't want it to be, but it is."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Just your job. There has to be something on one of those bodies that we can use."
"I guess I'll go look again."
Brennan followed Hodgins out of her office.
"Where are you headed?" Hodgins asked over his shoulder.
"Booth found one of the victim's families. We're going to go talk to them."
She started to leave, but Hodgins' voice stopped her again. "I know I don't know exactly what's going on between you and Booth, and I know this is more of my wife's area of expertise, but whatever it is, I'm sure you two will work it out. You always do."
Brennan smiled at him. "Thank you. But I'm not positive that it will be that easy."
(Insert line break here.)
"Okay, Booth, they're clearly not home. Stop knocking," Brennan complained.
Booth sighed and slumped down onto the front porch steps.
"So what, we're just going to wait until they get home?"
"Do you have a better idea? We haven't been able to identify the other victim. This is the only lead we have."
"We could come back later, instead of wasting of our whole day sitting here."
"What would you rather be doing?"
Brennan sighed and sat down next to him.
"Couldn't think of anything, huh?" Booth laughed.
She didn't say anything, staring off down the street.
"Something wrong, Bones?"
"When was the last time that we were together, just the two of us?"
She knew that it was dangerous territory going there. If nothing else, it would spike a fight regarding how much time he had been spending with Hannah lately, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to express her true feelings behind that question yet.
Booth seemed to be rather confused by her question. "There was – no, wait Hannah was there. Well what about – no, not then either. Oh wait, we're alone together every time we drive somewhere to investigate."
"Not work related," Brennan amended.
"Oh. Then I have no idea."
"Sad, isn't it?"
"Well, I don't know. You seem to think that sitting with me here now is 'wasting your time,' –"
"I didn't mean it like that."
"I guess it doesn't matter, because here comes the family," Booth stated, as a Honda CR-V pulled into the driveway. He flashed the couple his badge as they stepped out of their vehicle.
"What can we help you with?" the man asked, confusion etching his face.
"We're here about your daughter, Mr. Jobson," Booth told him.
"Stephanie?" Mrs. Jobson asked. "Why? Did something happen to her?"
"When was the last time you heard from your daughter?" Booth asked.
The couple exchanged a glance.
"It's been about a year," Mr. Jobson said at last. "She told us she was getting married to that crack head boyfriend of hers, Jake Carmichael. When we expressed our disapproval, she stormed out and we have yet to hear from her since. What's going on?"
"We found your daughter's body and more than likely Jake's body as well. Is this him?" Brennan asked, holding up the sketch Angela had drawn.
Mrs. Jobson made a small choking noise before clinging to her husband. He wrapped his arms around his wife and nodded. "I always knew that boy was going to get her into trouble."
"We found them in the Atlantic. Any ideas as to why?" Booth asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Mr. Jobson replied. "If you'll excuse us, my wife and I just need some time to process all of this. Will you let us know if you find out more?"
"Of course," Booth replied as the couple entered their house.
"They didn't seem upset to hear that their daughter is dead," Brennan mused. "Do you think that they had something to do with it?"
"I don't know. I suppose we could find Carmichael's family and see if they know anything."
"If he's a drug addict like Mr. Jobson implied, it is quite possible that he has severed all ties with them."
"You know, Angela mentioned something to me about you not wanting to solve this case, and right now, I'm getting that same vibe. Want to tell me what's going on?"
"Nothing. I'm fine. Let's go find the Carmichaels."
Brennan headed towards the SUV. Right when she started to open the door, Booth's hand came down on her shoulder, stopping her. And suddenly Brennan was wondering if this was the first time they had touched since that "welcome back" hug over a year ago. She used to find his touch to be comforting, but now she just felt uncomfortable under it.
"You've been acting really strange ever since Avalon got back," Booth said, quietly.
"The last time she was here, you were recovering from brain surgery. I suppose that the memory of that has had me slightly distracted lately…"
"Right. Brain surgery."
He was staring at her the way he used to, before Hannah. And for just a second, Brennan let herself believe that he still cared. But then she remembered how distant he had been the past year. How her invitations for dinner had always resulted in Hannah tagging along. How the "post-case celebrations" had been lacking his presence for some quite some time. He had become so distant that Brennan figured if she were to bring up something like Jasper or Brainy Smurf, he would have no idea what she was talking about.
Booth had someone new to share secrets with now, and that person wasn't her. And it was that fact that hurt her the most. So when Brennan finally managed to return his gaze, all she could say was, "Let's go find the Carmichaels."
AN: So I guess I'm going to have to do two chapters per episode, unless you want super long chapters, which I'm assuming you don't. haha
Please review! :)
