Ok, I know there's a few of this kind of stories going around at the minute but I got this in my head and it just wouldn't go away until I wrote it. So here it is, I have exams at the minute but I'll do my best to update as quick as I can. Well enough from the real me, here's the story lol

Disclaimer: I don't own Bones

Chapter 1

Hang on to yourself

Agent Seeley Booths office, The Hoover building, Washington DC, April 20th 2007 4:26 pm

'We'll miss you Booth.'

'Thank-you sir'

'I understand why you're doing this but if you ever want to come back, well, lets just say there'll always be a position here for you.'

Booth smiled a little at the older man

'That means a lot thank-you sir'

'What does your bone lady think of you leaving?'

'She err doesn't know yet.'

'Cutting it a bit fine aren't you, you leave in three hours. I thought you two were close.'

Booth wondered how he could ever explain the situation to Cullen.

'We are.'

'Are you sure you don't want me to get and agent to tell her?'

'No, no I'm going straight there next. I err didn't want any distractions on this case.'

'Ah yes, of course. Well done by the way, it was a tough one, you did well.'

'Thank you sir.'

Cullen nodded.

'Well I guess you'd better be going hadn't you. I guess this is goodbye. Good luck agent.'

Booth gave him a tight smile and watched as he exited the room before doing the same to start the short journey to the Jeffersonian.

The corridor, the Jeffersonian Medico-legal lab, Washington DC, April 20th 2007 4:49 pm

He couldn't believe he was about to it. About to leave her, about to say goodbye forever and here he was hiding in the corridor, too scared to even step foot in the lab. He was however rather enjoying the corridor, delaying the inevitable was becoming increasingly appealing. He tried to image the next 30 minutes of his life and found himself unable to. It was just too much to take in all at once and Seeley was still waiting for his mind and heart to catch up with the decisions he instinctively had made. He never thought he would have to face a life without her and as a result he was unable to fathom such a life. He just couldn't see the next half an hour happening. He wanted it over and to never happen both at once.

How was he going to tell her that with just hours notice he was leaving her forever, never to return. He part wished he didn't have to do this, he wished he could just leave and let her find out when a new agent was assigned to the lab but he couldn't do that to her. She didn't deserve that again.

With a deep breath he finally entered the lab already partly emptied as young interns ran around preparing to leave early and gossiping about their weekend plans as the Friday-feeling lay hanging thickly in the air. He ignored them. Their idle chatter and smiling faces were not what he needed. He needed her. He found her, as expected, in her office. Apparently on constant alert, she looked up immediately as he entered the relatively large room. He surprise was evident on the beautiful face he tried to memorise every inch of in that moment.

'Booth! What are you doing here? Do we have a case?'

'No, no Bones I…?'

She set her pen down on the desk, a frown marring her otherwise perfect face.

'Booth, are you ok?'

No he wasn't ok and was willing to predict he never would be again. He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration, hating what he was about to do to her.

'Bones, we err…we need to talk.'

He sat on the couch and she followed his lead, sitting close enough for him to commit the smell of her shampoo to memory but not close enough for him to hold her as he so wanted to.

'Booth, what's going on?'

Suddenly as she stared at him, her bright blue eyes wide with confusion his resolve crumbled and he hated himself once more for what he was about to do.

'Temperance, I don't know how to say this…'

'What, what is it?'

She took his hand in her own and he exhaled sharply.

'I…I'm leaving.'

'What I thought there was something you had to tell me.'

'That is what I had to tell you. I'm leaving Temperance.'

She dropped his hand and moved away a little.

'What? Why?'

' My mom…she's…there's some stuff…I have to spend some time back home.'

'How much time?'

He looked at her, unable to lie.

'I don't know, a few months, a year, forever. I really don't know.'

'But you think forever don't you. That's why you're telling me this, you don't think you're coming back.'

She stood up, turning away from him.

'Temperance…'

'Don't.'

Her voice was low and dangerous, her tone and words leaving no room for questioning or comment, it was her turn to talk.

'I don't understand why you didn't…how did you…when…when are you leaving?

He stared at her hair as it swished across the hard, tight lines that had formed in the usually smooth planes of her back.

'Tonight. My flight leaves at half seven.'

'And when did you know you were leaving?'

'Temperance..'

'When Booth?'

He sighed.

'I knew for definite on Monday.'

'But in truth you've known for a while right?'

'Temperance don't do this.'

She whirled round, her hair flying with wisps of it clinging to her face as it was dampened with the unruly tears that ran unchecked from her glassy eyes

'How dare you. You have no right to tell me what to do.'

He deserved this he knew he did and she needed it, she needed to harden herself, make herself not care, make herself hate him. It was the only real way she knew to cope.

'I've known I might have to go since last Wednesday'

'Last Wednesday! Booth we've spent every day together this week with this case and you havent said a thing.'

'I was waiting for the right moment.'

'So this is it is it? You plane leaves in just over three hours and this is the perfect moment?'

'I…it was…'

'What did it just slip your mind to tell me? Does everyone else know?'

'Temperance…'

Her voice raised a notch in both volume and pitch.

'WHO KNOWS?!'

She breathed shallowly and ignored the tears that had slipped unnoticed down her cheeks.

'Who knows Booth, who know?'

Her voice was now barely more than a whisper and his heart shattered once more at the sight of her.

'Everyone Temperance, everyone knows.'

'Who?'

'Angela, Zack, Hodgins, my boss, your boss, Rebecca, Parker, my estate agent, my brother my neighbour, Judge Ramone, my shrink, want me to go on…?'

'So they all know and all week they've been lying, pretending not to know?'

'Like I said, I was looking for the right time.'

'And in the last nine days that 'right time' just never came up I suppose.'

'Look I just…'

'No I cant believe… You've known for over a week and you haven't told me. I thought we were friends Booth…I…I thought I meant more than this.'

He stood up and placed a hand beneath her chin forcing her too look at him.

'You do mean more than that, you know you do. If I didn't have to I wouldn't be going and I will be back, I promise. I don't know when but I will be back. I promise Bones.'

She looked up at him, her dark eyes unfathomable even to him. Her voice was low and dangerous once more.

'Don't call me that.'

She shook herself away from him and turned from him towards her desk.

'Temperance…'

'Don't you have a flight to catch.'

'Tempe…I…'

'Just go Booth.'

'I don't want to leave it like this Temperance.'

She turned back to him but any trace of tears or indeed emotion had disappeared from her face.

'Maybe you should have thought about how you wanted to leave it before you decided it was a good idea to tell me two hours before you left. I think you should just go'

He sighed knowing he was close to saying words that both of them would wish he hadn't. He stepped toward the door to leave but not before turning back to her and making one final vow.

'I will be back Temperance. This isn't the end. I wont let it be.'

With one final wistful glance at her he left, the door blowing shut behind him and shaking the glass office as its only occupant fell to her knees and answered his final words.

'This isn't the end. I wont let it be.'

'You just did Seeley, you just did.'