A/N: Hi guys. So since I lost this story, I'm reposting it. It's a modified version, since I didn't have it on my computer anymore from when it crashed. Enjoy! x

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bones characters in this novel. They are the property of Fox and the Bones crew. :)

Seeley Booth stepped through his designated terminal gate into the main section of Washington National Airport at ten PM on the 1st of September 2011. After seven months in Afghanistan, a fifteen and a half hour flight to Los Angeles, and a five hour flight to DC, he was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to collect his luggage and go home to where he could stretch out in his own bed and fall asleep without the uncertainty of whether or not he would live another day.


Meanwhile, Temperance Brennan stepped through her designated terminal gate into the main section of Washington National Airport. After seven months in the Maluku Islands, an eighteen and a half hour flight to Los Angeles, and a five hour flight to DC, she was beyond exhausted and eager to collect her luggage and go home to where she could curl up in her own bed and fall into a peaceful slumber.


After checking out his luggage, Booth made his way out to the taxi rank. After a moment or two, he finally managed to wave down a cab, and was about to climb into the backseat when he heard a familiar voice calling.

"Booth!"

Booth frowned. He was sure his partner wouldn't be home yet. The Temperance Brennan he knew would not cut one of her digs short by three months for the sake of someone else. Maybe he didn't know his partner as well as he used to.

"Bones!" He exclaimed, dropping his bags onto the ground beside him and racing forwards, engulfing her in a tight hug. "How was your dig?"

"It was wonderful!" Brennan enthused. "It was such an experience to work in an environment like Indonesia. I did however miss working at the Jeffersonian with all of our friends. How was your time in Afghanistan?"

Booth grinned. "Well I can't say being in a war-torn country was too much fun." He admitted. "It was a challenge. A challenge is what I needed though."

Brennan nodded. "What did you do there?" She asked, foreshadowing her next question.

"I spent a lot of time training younger soldiers." Booth replied. "There were a few times when I was called out into the field, but not often. What did you do in the Maloopoo Islands?"

Brennan rolled her eyes at her partner's deliberate mispronunciation of the Indonesian island. "Forensic stuff…stuff that you'd find boring if I went into detail." She told him, not even bothering to correct him, too eager to get to her next question. "Did you meet anyone special in Afghanistan?"

Booth smiled, his partner's question reminding him off his girlfriend who would be arriving early the following morning. "I did actually…her name's Hannah." He replied, unaware of the damage the announcement had caused and would continue to cause. "She's transferring to DC. She'll be here in the morning."

Brennan nodded, too afraid to speak to or even look at her partner. Her voice and her eyes would surely fail her. "I guess I'd better be getting home." She said after a moment. "I'm really tired, and I have work in the morning. Goodnight Booth."

Booth sighed as his partner waved down a cab quicker than he had before and left without looking back. He hadn't missed the hope in her question, the disappointed expression on her face after his answer, or the shake in her voice as she bid him goodnight. What had he done

A/N: One chapter down, many more to go! The fun hasn't even started yet! Reviews would be nice, but subscriptions are nice too. So long as I know you're reading and interested. ;) x