He'd told her that he needed to move on, he had. At the time she had accepted that, had believed it to be for the best, but on that night outside the Hoover building, the risk that he took had damaged more than their partnership, it had damaged her resolve.

Maluku had afforded her the important time that she needed to gain perspective, she'd missed him, fantasised about a relationship with him and although she hadn't been decidedly aware of her feelings for Booth when she returned from her sabbatical, she had been forced to acknowledge them when he announced that he had found someone new.

It had been a hard few months, watching Booth conduct his relationship with the sassy reporter, Brennan had found it impossible not to understand exactly why he loved Hannah, there was so much about the reporter that she could identify with and she would admit that she rarely found that kind of connection with anyone. Angela aside, of course.

When she had admitted that she regretted her refusal of his attempts to take their relationship forward, she wasn't surprised that he had rejected her, in fact, she hadn't thought it through at all. Given some perspective, she wouldn't have dared risk hurting her friend's feelings, or attempted to interfere in his relationship. Fact was, that meltdown in his car, in the pouring rain, it had finally been the catalyst to let her know that she could no longer pretend that she was living her life. She wasn't, never taking risks meant that she would never reap any rewards. The rejection stung, naturally, but she knew that she had the capacity to love now. If nothing else, Booth had certainly given her that.

That was in the past now, she'd resolved to pick up the metaphorical pieces and move on after she'd learned that Hannah was aware of her feelings for her partner. After she'd realised that what went on between them, was no longer theirs. The time had come to make a life for herself, just like everyone around her had. So, when at a Jeffersonian Gala, an undeniably attractive barman had struck up a conversation with her and asked for her number, she had uncharacteristically given it.

They'd been on a few dates, she'd kept it to herself though, for some reason it seemed the right thing to do. Perhaps she liked the idea that what went on between her and Mark was 'theirs', or perhaps she wanted to ensure that the relationship was going somewhere. For the first time in a long time, she was beginning to feel happy, and especially at this particular moment in time, because she was going on another date with Mark, and someone had just knocked on her door.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

She laughs as she opened the door "You're early Ma…" Her eyes widen when she sees Booth on the other side of the threshold with an odd expression on his face, and not her date. "Booth? Do we have a case?"

He lets his eyes wander from hers to take in her appearance before dragging them back to her face, trying to appear casual "I just thought I would drop by, I was in the neighbourhood." He attempts a smile but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "You're going out." It's a statement, not a question, but for a lack of anything else to say to him she responds.

"Yes". She quickly peers into the hallway behind him, before meeting his eyes and gesturing for him to enter the apartment which he does, but not without a measure of awkwardness. Closing the door behind him she reaches for the earrings on the sideboard and walks into the living area with him trailing behind.

"I don't want to intrude Bones, if you need to be somewhere I'll head home." She turns to look at him and offers a small smile as she fixes one of the earrings into place and gives him a dismissive wave with the other hand.

"I have a bit of time." She starts to place the other earring and looks around the floor for her shoes while he looks around the apartment uncomfortably, suddenly feeling out of place in her home. "Is there something in particular that you wished to discuss?" She stops fiddling with the earring, scoops up a pair of killer stilettoes and makes her way over to the sofa to slip them on and lifts her eyes to meet his.

"No… like I said, just in the neighbourhood. What time are you going out?" His eyes drift to the clock, quarter to seven, it suddenly dawns on him that he should have called her in advance, he hasn't shown up at her apartment for anything non-work related in months and catching her when she is, in all appearances, preparing for a date makes him feel awkward in all kinds of ways that he won't even begin to consider.

"Seven…. time for a beer if you would like one?" Her expression is neutral, he knows that she is making a simple offer, but he can't bring himself to accept. With a sad shake of his head he wonders when it was that things between them became so strained, she feels like a distant cousin, not the woman that he has jumped in front of a bullet for.

He flops onto the armchair casually and lets out a small sigh. "I should have called Bones, I'm sorry. I didn't realise that you had plans this evening."

She stands from the sofa and strides to the dining table to rifle through her purse for something "How could you have realised, we haven't spoken in.." She looks up thoughtfully, calculating the time that had elapsed since their last conversation. "five days." Her concentration returns to whatever it is that she is looking through her purse for and she misses the wince on his face, her hand withdraws a few moments later with a small bottle of perfume which she applies to her wrists and then a small amount is dabbed against each side of her neck.

"I'm sorry."

She doesn't attempt to hide her confusion. "Sorry for what?"

"For not being a better friend to you. I should have been in touch."

She cocks her head to one side, considering something before replying "In that case I am also sorry."

Pushing himself to his feet he smiles gently at her. "For what Bones."

"If our lack of contact makes you feel that you are not performing your duties as a friend, then I too must apologise, I also have not initiated contact with you." Her expression is honest and he can't help the smile that blossoms. Reaching toward her, he takes her hand and presses it in his.

"How about we both agree to make more of an effort to catch up more often?" He breaks out the charm smile, she's never been able to resist that, and sometimes he is unable to help himself from using it on her. The smell of her perfume reminds him of easier times between them, of guys hugs and mummy exhibitions at the Jeffersonian.

Her eyes soften and she smiles gently at him, with a small nod of her head she assents. "I would like that very much."

A knock at the door breaks the spell and when he draws his attention away from it back to her eyes, the sparkle that has suddenly appeared in them causes the air to rush from his lungs. Her hand falls from his gentle grasp and she hurries to the door causing him to wonder if she ever rushed as eagerly to the door when he was on the other side, he watches the genuine smile on her face and sees a man, slightly younger than himself and arguably better looking, take her hand and walk into her for a gentle kiss. He knows he shouldn't be watching them so openly, but he's fascinated by her interaction with this nameless man, she's open and affectionate, and he is forced to acknowledge that this is not their first, or even their second date, this is the person that she is spending her free time with now.

It isn't until he is standing in front of them both that he realises that his feet have moved, and she gives him an unguarded smile. "Booth, this is Mark.. Mark, this is Booth, we work on cases together from time to time for the FBI."

He doesn't know why that last comment hurts a little, but it does. Mark extends a hand to him and gives him an easy smile. "Nice to meet you, I didn't actually know that Temperance worked on cases for the FBI." Another stab, she hadn't even mentioned him to her date, but his hand is extended and he forces a smile.

"Well, I would hope that you talk about more than work anyway, get her started and she never stops." She smiles bashfully at the good natured jibe and excuses herself to grab her purse from the counter and her coat. Mark places a book that had gone unnoticed in his hand onto the sideboard.

"Temperance, I brought that Nietzsche book for you that we were discussing last week, I thought you might like to read some of his philosophies for yourself." Booth chances a glance at the book title "God is Dead." A look of disgust causes Mark to follow his gaze and then return his eyes to meet Booth's. "Have you read it?" Booth shakes his head. "It's not really about God being dead, it's more about the Christian faith and why people in a day and age of science cling onto the belief of a higher being. Temperance said that she would like to understand faith and belief more, I'm a church goer myself and I suppose that Temperance and I will always differ in that respect, I thought that this book would help her understand a bit more of what I believe, since it's written in a perspective that she might more easily understand."

Booth nods quietly as Brennan joins them, she looks incredible and the time and care that she has taken to ready herself for her date is painfully obvious. However it isn't his mouth that utters words telling her how beautiful she looks, nor is it his lips she presses her against with a simple thank you, it's Mark's. "I should get going, let you two get out and start your date." She nods and Mark offers another friendly smile.

"I'll speak to you soon?" She smiles gently at him and he offers her a returned gesture with a nod.

As he is leaving he overhears the distinctive sound of another kiss followed by Mark's comment that 'he seemed nice'. Whatever Brennan said was muffled by the sounds of his hurried footsteps down the hallway. He'd come here tonight, shown up without invitation, on a whim because he outright missed his best friend. It had only served to remind him of why he'd been distancing himself from her since their return to D.C., he couldn't deal with the on-going conflict of his feelings for his best friend and his girlfriend. He'd told her he needed to move on, he'd told her that he had, but now she was moving on too and he needed to acknowledge that it hurt like hell.

OK, so it's not the best start, but you know what, I am tired of this new Booth. It's time for him to figure some things out, and it's time for Brennan to get a new love interest, someone who is genuinely a great guy, secure in his relationship and status in life and not intimidated by her intelligence. You know what, I am going to give that to her. I am sadly a shipper, so poor Mark will have to bite the dust eventually, but not until Booth has paid for some of this crppy season six attitude.

Disagree? Write a review sweetheart, I'd love to argue my point further! Grrr.