I do not own Bones. Bones is owned by Fox Television and Kathy Reichs. No copyright infringement intended.

Running to Stand Still

Chapter 1: Moving On.

Brennan sat in her apartment. It was approaching midnight as she drank the coffee she had made when she arrived home. It had been a hell of a day and it was still far from over. The physical exhaustion was overwhelming but she knew the way her mind was reeling that sleep would not be easy to find. She closed her eyes, cursing whatever had made her think it had been a good idea to tell Sweets everything. She couldn't get the image of Booth stood in front of her declaring that she was the one. The tears came easily as she realised what she had thrown away. The coffee now cold and forgotten as Brennan let the tears fall. Why did he say he loves me? Why did he have to spoil everything? Brennan buried her head in the cushions as the tears fell.

Xxxxx

Across town Booth sat in the bar drinking and trying to forget the last few hours had ever happened. He loved Temperance Brennan. It was as simple and crazy as that. He had told her he would move on; that he would find someone who loved him the way he loved her. He knew that was a lie. The moment it had passed his lips he knew that he would never find another woman like her. It didn't matter where he went or how long he lived, she was the one. Drinking alone had never been his style. It reminded him too much of his alcoholic father and his drink driving brother but he sat at the bar alone with only his beer for company. He sighed as he signalled the bar man across, not noticing Angela perch herself on the bar stool next to him.

"Hey Booth" she smiled as the bar man approached.

"Angela. What are you doing here?" he signalled for the barman to refill their glasses.

"Oh you know. The night is young. And so am I" she smiled as Booth raised his eyebrows. Angela looked slightly sheepish.

"Well if you must know Mr FBI Sweets called me. He's worried about you. When I called your place and there was no answer I called Bren. She didn't want to talk either so I came looking for you. And good job I did my friend because you look terrible" Angela smiled as Booth glared in his drink.

"Thanks Ang, but I'm fine." he lied. He found he was doing that a lot tonight.

"Yeah, drinking alone does not look like fine to me" she rested a hand on his arm as he finally looked at her.

"Ang" he held her gaze as Angela finally understood.

"Oh my God. You finally told her. I'm guessing it did not go well." he nodded once before turning back to his drink.

"And tomorrow morning I have to walk back in to the Jeffersonian and carry on as normal. I don't think I can Angela. I really don't think I can" he daren't look at her in case she saw what he was really feeling. Instead he continued to glare at his beer.

"Brennan is my best friend Booth. I love her dearly but she can be such an idiot." Angela drank her drink as Booth continued to glare in to his glass.

"She gets scared when you back her in to a corner. Every man she has ever let get near her has destroyed her. Her Dad, Russ, Zack, Michael - even that dumbass friend of yours. I know he was cute but still a dumb ass" Angela downed the rest of her drink in one. "So, you are going to get in a cab. You are going home and we will see you 8 am sharp at the Jeffersonian Institute of Anthropological Science. Don't give up because she ran the first time."

Angela jumped off the bar stool pulling Booth to his feet as she did so. "Angela don't do this" he was exhausted and had no will to fight with any other women in his life.

"Don't do what? Make sure you get home before you end up in an alcoholic coma. Come on lets find a cab" she pulled him to the exit of the bar, determined to get him home and try to get her best friend to see what was in front of her before it destroyed not only her and the man in front of her but the team she loved as well.

author's note. My first Bones fic. I usually write stories based on UK dramas like Spooks, Ashes to Ashes and Law and Order UK. This is my first attempt at an American based story. Please review and let me know if I should continue. Thanks