2 years. It had been two years since he had seen her? Could that be right? He remembered the events vividly. He was drunk...Hannah rejected his proposal and SHE showed up. As much as he wished he didn't, he even remembered the ultimatum that he issued.She didn't like EITHER option. She left. She could have stayed but he wouldn't have known because he refused to turn around and watch HER walk away again. True to his word, he sent a new FBI guy 8 days later... when the newest case had been uncovered. Little did he know that she had headed out to 'parts unknown' long before the new guy hit the door.

In all fairness to him, he planned on making things right with her after he had driven home the message that he didn't need her as anything other than a partner. When his rotation (much like the interns, the FBI was now rotating agents to work with the squints) came around for the first time in... WOW! 3 months... he was a little less than surprised to learn that she was away on some dig. After his 3rd or 4th rotation, he finally was interested enough to ask. Angela...Cam...Hodgins... All told him that she was working on a dig until further notice. When Hannah returned, he was relieved of the diversion and could finally give their relationship everything he had.

Now after 2 years of not seeing her, he's blinded by her presence. No warning. No fanfare. He enters the Jeffersonian Fundraiser and is sucker punched by the attendance of Dr. Temperance Brennan.

Making his way to Hodgins at the bar, Booth baits his hook. "Bugman!" he greet the man. "Booth! Long time no see!", replied Jack. "I guess it's a little awkward over there..." Jack cocked his head with a sincere look of curiosity. "Dr. Brennan is here!" Booth wanted to be the one to enlighten the oblivious entomologist. "It must be awkward since no one has seen her for the last 2 years, Hodgins!"

Without malice, Jack responded "We've seen her every week Booth! What are you talking about?" Realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Bones hadn't shut everyone out of her life... she shut BOOTH out of her life. A light came on in Hodgins head... Booth hadn't seen Dr B in 2 years! Leading Booth back towards the table, Jack tried to figure out how this had all happened. He and Angela didn't know what led up to the split except that it was B.A.D. Brennan hadn't discussed it with Angela and Jack didn't have the kind of relationship with her to pry it out of her. Angela knew that in time, Dr. B would share what she wanted them to know. It was a standoff of sorts. Still, it seemed strange that Booth didn't know that her dig was in Virginia and she had been back in town weekly. Her work with the interns continued and she still signed off on the reports for the lab.

Almost to the table, Booth stopped to watch her. She was...dazzling. Her soft blue gown, fitted perfectly to her frame, accentuated her long neck and well toned arms. He was breathless. She was engaged in a lively conversation, smiling freely and seemingly having the time of her life. Her long, graceful fingers were wrapped around the wine glass she was holding and for a brief moment, Booth actually despised the goblet for being so fortunate to find itself held in her grasp. Her free hand reached out and touched the arm of one of her spellbound companions to emphasize whatever point she was trying to make. The group broke into hearty laughter and Booth gasped for air. At that moment, their eyes met. She saw him and time stood still. Her head slowly tilted, her smile was genuine then just as quickly as it had started, the moment stopped! STOPPED! Her attention was directed back to her conversation! How could she, with so little thought, dismiss him with the flick of an eye?

The anger in him manifested itself in his shaking hands. FURIOUS! He was FURIOUS! He staggered back several steps and inadvertently stepped into another person. He spun quickly to express his apologies and was looking into the face of Angela. Her eyes were soft with the understanding only a friend could convey. He stammered his regret for jostling her. She smiled kindly and greeted him. "It's been a while, Booth. How are you?" "I can't believe she's here, Angela. Why didn't anyone tell me?" He needed the Artist to answer.

"Booth, our team has worked with you ... What? 5 times since she started working in Virginia? When did you want us to tell you? "The words were delivered as gently as possible but as truthful as warranted. "You haven't really asked about her so quite frankly, we thought you had some kind of 'deal' worked out." Angela wasn't entirely sure what it was he needed her to tell him.

Booth was grasping at the facts, as fast as he could and trying to create some order from chaos. "Right...no... You're right, Angela. I see how it happened. I mean, me and Bones, (pregnant pause) we have our own thing... it's just that I wasn't expecting to see her tonight." Angela took his arm and led him to the bar. "Booth, we haven't asked questions. We haven't changed. The team has been there and worked each case, with whatever agent showed. We worked with Bren to provide the answers the FBI needed. You never offered any explanation about what made things change and neither did she. The team... well... continued to support BOTH' parents in the divorce'. We didn't take sides since we didn't know what went on."

"Angela, I know you guys have been better to me than I have been to you. I haven't been invested in our friendship since we all returned. You all stood by me after Hannah refused my proposal and Bones took off. You were supportive when Hannah and I took a second shot at it. I thought I owed it to her to give my relationship with Hannah everything I had. My friendships fell off my radar. When Hannah left the second time, I had already spent all my energy on making it work with her. I didn't have the ... strength to start rebuilding relationships. I know you guys were there and I appreciate the space I thought I needed. I am very lucky you consider me your friend." Angela straightened and decided to lay all the cards on the table. "Hodgins asked me to check on you. He is worried. We didn't know that you and Bren hadn't talked since she left. Jack is your friend, too."

"And I don't know what I did to deserve either of you." Booth wasn't sure how smart it was, but he was nothing if not spontaneous. "Let me take you back to the table" he said offering the Artist his arm. The welcome he received from the Medico Lab crew was heartwarming. He acknowledged each of them... one by one with eye contact, nods and greetings. He noticed that she was no longer there. His eyes quickly scanned the room and found her on the dance floor being led by what he could only assume was an important donor to the Jeffersonian. Without another thought, he headed to the fairy light dance floor with one purpose only... "Excuse me, but I am cutting in!"