Author's Note: This episode was exceptional and I really wanted to write out this scene. I hope I did it justice and I hope everyone is in character. Enjoy:)

Disclaimer: sigh I don't own Bones!

Long Goodbyes

She knew that it had been too good to be true. There was no way that someone could walk into her life, show her how to open up and be cared for-which is more than anyone else had ever done for her- and stay in her life. Because everyone left her eventually. Everyone always let her down. It never failed, and he was no exception.

She was about to watch Sully sail off into the horizon for a year to 'live wide'. In a way she felt that she couldn't feel disappointed that he was leaving. After all, he had asked her to go with him. It was just that she couldn't let go of her inhibitions long enough to say yes. But since she someone else she cared about was leaving her yet again, the sadness was there anyway.

She hoped that this goodbye wouldn't be very long. She absolutely hated long goodbyes.

Who was she trying to kid? He cared about her more than anyone else ever had. There was no way he deserved a short goodbye, no matter how much it would hurt her.

"So, I guess this is it." He said, holding her hands in his.

"Yeah."

The silence between them was full of things she couldn't bring herself to tell him.

"I wish you were coming with me." He reached up and gently caressed her cheek.

She swallowed hard. "I know. I'm sorry. But I just…I can't." She was frustrated. She couldn't even explain to herself why she was staying, let alone Sully who merited an explanation the most. "I really am sorry, Tim."

He nodded slowly and looked at her longingly. Wordlessly he pulled her into his arms. She held onto him tightly and closed her eyes against the onslaught of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. They stood enmeshed for what seemed like forever.

He whispered gently in her ear, "I love you, Temperance. I can't leave without telling you the truth."

Her breath caught in her chest. She was floored. Guilt stirred in her stomach as she realized that she couldn't say it back. Suddenly a year seemed like an eternity. She pulled back and kissed him. She kissed him once, twice, three times and she wished that she could tell him that it wasn't his fault. It had nothing to do with him; it was her own fear of actually living that was holding her back. She was a coward.

"Maybe when I get back we can…" he trailed off.

She looked him deep in the eyes and he knew that they wouldn't be able to just pick up where they left off in a years time. She would still be a lab rat, her life the dead bodies that were brought to her every day. And he would be forever changed by his excursions and experiences.

She believed that this really was the end. She apologized again. "I'm sorry." She didn't know what else to say.

"It's okay." His heart broke as he watched her squeeze her eyes shut against a sudden flow of tears. He kissed her forehead lovingly and wiped away her tears with his thumb. "You'll be alright. No more tears, okay?" he tilted her face to look at him "Stop crying."

Nodding, she obeyed. She could at least do that much for him. "Okay. I'll miss you. I hope you have fun." She finished lamely. She wished she could have found it within herself to change for him. Because he was worth it.

"Thanks. I'll miss you, too. More than you know." There was a brief pause. "I should go."

"Okay." She didn't trust herself to speak.

"Goodbye, Tempe."

He gave her one last kiss and before she knew it he was sailing off and leaving her.

As she watched Temperance become a small dot against the sea, she wondered if she'd ever get another moment. She wondered if she'd ever be loved again.

FINIS

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