This is going to be a series of one-shots all revolving around a different way in which Hannah leaves. For good. I hope ya'll enjoy this first installment!

When Hannah pushed open the door to the hospital room and saw her boyfriend leaning over the hospital bed, his gaze intent on his partner's face, his eyes hopeful and devastated, she stopped in her tracks. The moment was so quiet and so intimate, that Hannah had the urge to turn around and close the door. But a small, apparently masochistic, part of her made her wait. Made her stay and watch as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Watch as he murmured something to her, his face softening into a smile. Watch as he lifted his hand brushed the bangs away from her eyes, his fingers ghosting across the cut on her forehead.

"Seeley," she finally said, her voice quiet but hard as she announced her presence.

He leaned away from the bed as if he'd been caught doing something wrong and smiled at her. "Hey, babe," he said easily, opening his free arm (the one not anchored to his partner's hand) to her and returning her quick kiss on the lips. "Thanks for coming."

"Of course," she said, feeling her anger soften at his obvious joy in seeing her. "How is she?"

When his gaze returned to his partner's, his expression clouding, his eyes darkening, she wished she'd never asked the question. "She's stable, but the doctor said she won't be out of the woods until she wakes up."

"I'm sorry, Seeley," she said sincerely, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I should've been there," he murmured, his fingers reflexively squeezing around Brennan's. "I should've known he'd go after her."

"You couldn't have known," Hannah told him. "There was no way of seeing this coming. You did everything you could."

"I should've been there," he said again and she sensed the unspoken reason for his agitation. A year ago, he would've been with her. A year ago, he could've protected her for the simple reason that he would've been sitting in her living room. But now, because of her she had been alone. An easy target.

"It's not your fault, babe," she said, but he only shook his head and bowed forward, pressing their joined hands to his forehead. "Seeley…"

"You can go home, Hannah," he said quietly. "Or hang out in the waiting room with the others." He didn't look at her when he said it, but the choice was clear: leave or stay—either way, I want to be alone with her.

"Okay," she said. "I'll be just down the hall if you need me."

He didn't respond and she could tell that even before she closed the door, he was a million miles away, thinking that if this had been a year ago, his partner would be safe.

—BB—

By some cruel twist of fate, she was there when Brennan woke up. She had gone back to the waiting room and stayed there for hours, reading old issues of the New Yorker beside Cam as she dozed, Angela as she fretted and Hodgins and Sweets as they sat silently, grim expressions on their faces. Sometime in the middle of the night, she had returned to see if he'd eaten, to see if he'd slept, to see if he needed her and that's when it happened.

She'd been there two minutes when Brennan let out a soft moan. Booth immediately turned away from Hannah and stood from his seat, hovering over the bed. "Bones?" he whispered.

"Booth," she breathed, her voice soft and raspy. "Booth."

"I'm here, babe," he murmured and Hannah tried to ignore the stab of jealousy that radiated through her. "Just open your eyes. I'm right here."

She sighed and cracked open her eyelids and at that first hint of blue, Booth grinned. "Hey," he said, tears in his voice, undeniable devotion in his eyes.

"Hey," she returned, smiling. And the trust, the adoration in her gaze made Hannah ache. If she had doubted before, she didn't now. They loved each other.

She slipped away, leaving the partners in peace.

—BB—

"I'm going to stay here with her," Booth said.

"Seeley, the doctors said she'll be fine and you need to rest."

He shook his head even before she stopped talking. "No, I'm staying with her. I don't want her to be alone."

"She won't be. You know that. Cam even offered to stay so you could—"

"I want to be here when she opens her eyes," he told her and it was clear this was a point that wouldn't be argued.

Hannah sighed and moved toward the door, but then turned back to him, her hand on the doorknob. "Seeley, if this is because you're feeling guilty…"

"This is not because I feel guilty," he said from his spot by her bed. "It's because—"

She held up her hand to cut him off. "It's okay, Seeley. I understand." It's because you love her. She opened the door and walked away.

—BB—

"Bones, you're shaking."

"I'm j-just a little chilly," she told him.

He tugged the blankets up around her chin, and pressed his hand to her flushed face. "God, Bones, you're burning up." He frowned, his brow creasing with worry. "Maybe I should get a nurse."

"It's a p-perfect n-normal symptom of shock, Booth," she said, giving him one of her patented eye rolls.

"Shock? Bones, you think you're in shock?" He was visibly panicked now and stood from his seat by her bed, fully intending on getting a nurse.

"Booth, sit d-down," she told him. "They already treated me for it. I just m-might be a little feverish and c-cold for a while. I lost a lot of blood."

"Oh, Bones," he murmured, his voice suddenly soft. He ran his fingers across her cheek and, on impulse, leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She closed her eyes at the unexpected touch, the air escaping her lips in a soft sigh. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"S'okay," she mumbled, eyes still closed.

"No," he whispered. "It's not."

She opened her eyes and looked at him. Studied his face. Saw the remnants of the fear he had felt. The terror that had gripped him when he got the call. "I'm okay, Booth," she assured him softly. "I'm okay now."

"You can't stop shivering," he pointed out.

She managed a shrug even under her bundle of blankets. "It'll pass."

"Is there anything I can do?"

She almost said "no". The lie was right there on her lips. It would've been so easy. But she didn't. Instead she just looked up at him, hoping that he would know, hoping that she wouldn't have to ask.

He nodded, a soft smile gracing his lips. "Okay," he murmured and eased down on the bed beside her.

She turned on her side and he wrapped his arm around her stomach, tugging her back into the warmth of his body. Almost immediately, he felt the shivering stop. Felt her relax back against him, the tension draining from her weary body. "Thank you, Booth," she breathed, feeling the heat of his palm against her stomach, the warmth of his breath on her neck.

"You're welcome, Bones."

—BB—

They were fast asleep in each other's arms and Hannah wanted to scream. She could take the lingering looks, the hand on her back, the hugs, the shadow of regret that crossed his face when he watched her. Even now, even here, she could deal with his worry, his late night vigil at her bedside. She was his partner, his best friend. But this, this was more. This was too much.

The look on his face—even in sleep—was one of complete contentment. His arms were around her, his hand pressed gently to her stomach, his head resting comfortably in the curve between her shoulder and neck. And her, the look on her face was nothing but trust and comfort. For the first time since Hannah had seen her lying in that hospital bed, her face had lost that edge of pain, that tinge of fear. They looked entirely peaceful, lying there, together. And Hannah didn't belong. Maybe she never had.

—BB—

Booth was awoken by a gentle hand on his arm. Groggily, he pulled Brennan closer. "Bones?" he mumbled.

"No, it's me."

Booth blinked as Hannah's face came into focus, frowning sadly down at him. "Hannah?" he said, his voice soft. "What is it?"

"Can I talk to you?" she asked gently.

He glanced down at Brennan, still sleeping quietly, and nodded. "Okay."

He eased himself off the bed, tucked the blankets back around his partner, and followed Hannah out into the hallway. "What's going on?" he said. "Is everything okay?"

She shook her head slightly. Lifted a hand to his cheek. Looked into his eyes, dark and still sleepy. "You're in love with her," she murmured. It didn't sound like an accusation.

He dropped his eyes to the ground. "I, um…"

"You don't have to say anything, Seeley."

He lifted his gaze to her face. He looked regretful. Of course of he did; she shouldn't have expected anything less. "I'm going to go, okay?" she told him. "And I don't want you to feel guilty. And I don't want you to worry."

"Hannah, I—"

"I know the way you are, Seeley," she said gently. "I know you'll hold this against yourself. I don't want you to. I want you to be happy."

He was silent. For one, fleeting moment, she thought he might fight her on it, but he didn't. "Okay," he said.

"Okay," she echoed, then turned and walked away from him.

—BB—

Brennan stirred slightly when Booth returned to the bed, taking his place behind her. "Where'd you go?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Nowhere," he breathed, pressing his lips, briefly, to her neck. "I'm not going anywhere."

She sighed softly and nodded, settling back against him. "Okay."

Total cuteness. I love it.

I'll try and update this as much as often, but please don't be mad if there's a few days between chapters. School is crazy and busy, and, unfortunately, my writing suffers because of it. Please be patient with me!

Anywho, I hope ya'll enjoyed this. Review if you did. Or if you didn't. ;)