The Lab.

"Bones, Hacker wants to see us." Booth told me, running a hand through his hair. He was in his black suit, with a white shirt, and a tie that had smiley faces printed all over it. I looked down to check his socks, and they had a yellow, thing, with holes in it, wearing…brown squared pants.

Must be a cartoon. Right?

From Family Man?

No, that's not right.

"Bones? You there?" Booth asked, waving his hand in my face, trying to get my attention.

"I'm right here. What does Andrew want?" I asked, trying to snap out of my thoughts.

Booth stopped dead. Well, he wasn't…dead. He just stopped. Then he shivered.

Was it because I wasn't looking at him?

Or because he…

Why would Booth shiver?

"So you and him…you still going out?" He asked. Oh.

Why would he think I was going out with Andrew?

What did 'going out' even mean?

Booth and I went out for drinks, or dinner all the time. Did that mean we were going out?

Why would Booth care if I drank with some one else?

"Why?" I challenged.

"I…Bones! He's my boss' boss…I was just wondering."

"So what does he want?" I asked, changing the subject.

"That is for me to know and for you to find out."

"I don't know what that means." I told him, annoyed by that cocky smile that brightened up his face. Damn him.

Why did Booth make my stomached flutter?

FBI building.

"Agent Booth…Temperance"- Andrew started, and Booth started coughing right when he said my name. Is that why Booth called me 'Bones'? - Because he didn't like my real name? "The borough is evaluating partners, to get a sense of their strengths and weaknesses-" Andrew continued.

"We don't have weaknesses. Just look at our solved cases, the newspapers, our paper work. You don't need to evaluate."

"Agent Booth, it's just a courtesy. Some members are worried about your partnership. You have to prove to them you can still work together. Let's stay professional, here." Andrew smiled- but it was off, it was fake. Andrew's smiling was mocking.

Booth never faked a smile.

He mocked, but he didn't fake.

"Bones and I are always professional. Maybe it's your lack of professionalism that is throwing me off." Booth spat, his alpha male tendencies showing off.

"Calling your partner bones is hardly protocol." Andrew informed Booth.

Now I was getting mad. Booth and I are always professional- even if I can't stand the tension; nothing ever happens that friends and partners wouldn't do.

"And Temperance is any better?" Booth shot right back. They were moving towards each other- their hands and jaws clenched.

"What kind of evaluation? I thought Dr. Sweets was in charge of all evaluations." I cut in.

"The borough needs some one who isn't biased to do this."

"And the fact that you and my partner are sleeping together isn't a conflict of interest for them? Or for you?'

"I'm not sleeping with him!" I said, out raged. Booth should know that I never slept with him, if anyone should.

"Really?" Booth asked, but he wasn't seriously considering my words. Why didn't he believe me?

"Agent Booth, we are not sleeping together." Andrew said, trying to calm down his voice.

"I'm sure." Booth said, sarcastically.

"I swear- I never slept with him, Booth."

"That means a lot, Dr. Brennan- coming from someone who doesn't believe in god." Booth snapped.

"Is that why you don't want me?" I whispered, forgetting that Andrew was even alive. I forgot that I ever 'went out' with Andrew Hacker. All that matter was that Booth had just called me 'Dr. Brennan'. Why would he do that?

"Is that why you don't want me?" I repeated. "Because I don't believe in god?" I clarified.

"What?" Booth asked, and I didn't look at him, I just turned my attention to my feet.

I couldn't look at him.

It was weak. It was like back in the foster care system, when I couldn't look anyone in the eye, because I was scared.

Except this wasn't just scary.

The fact that Booth didn't want what I wanted because of god- the god that I don't believe in- made me feel like I didn't deserve him.

"Is that why?" I pressed.

"Bones, what are you talking about? I…I-"

"It's okay. Really. I just…never mind. I was being naïve, and I was hoping…I was praying that maybe…but never mind."

"Maybe what?"

"Never mind. Forget it."

"Why do you care if I don't want you?"

I gasped. "Oh." I whispered.

He said it.

Out loud. He admitted that we had nothing between us, besides partnership, friendship, and empty coffee cups.

I felt as my chest tightened.

I felt as my stomach fluttered.

I felt as I shook.

I felt as it became harder to breathe.

I felt as my eyes started to burn.

I felt as it felt, when I knew time was running out, under the ground, when the gravedigger captured Hodgins and I.

I felt like my time had run out.

I knew that I was setting my self up for the worst when I allowed my self to hope that he might feel something with me. Anything.

But he didn't.

No. I should have known that my partner never felt the same as I did.

I was supposed to be good at compartmentalizing, but instead I fell in love with my partner. Booth was supposed to be the emotional one.

I guess us, did cross his mind, but he didn't want us to be together, beyond coffee.

I should have known.

He had said we were only friends, partners a lot. All the time.

It was supposed to feel good when he admitted everything was nothing, so why was I about to cry?

When I should be relieved?

"Bones? Why do you care?" Booth was concerned, and confused.

"Because." I said, but it came out as a throaty whisper. Wiping frantically at my eyes, and turning to Hacker, realizing he was still here. "Are you ready for lunch?" I asked him. He nodded. We started out the door.

"Bones?" Booth asked, behind us, and when I didn't reply, he followed after us. "Bones?" He asked again, louder.

My only reaction was, at most, a twitch.