Title: While You Were Dead - Chapter 1

Rating: Umm…I suppose T, just to be on the safe side.

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own a thing.

"Please don't be a hero," she requested. "Please, just…don't be you."

He stepped closer and took her hand.

"One year from today, we meet at the reflecting pool, on the mall, right by the…"

"…coffee cart," she finished, nodding. "I know. One year from today."

A year had come and gone, and Temperance Brennan found herself waiting on a bench next to the coffee cart, where they'd agreed to meet. She'd had a lot of revelations and discovered things about herself over the course of that year, and she was looking forward to telling Booth about them.

Brennan was so busy scanning the crowds for Booth that she didn't notice the man wearing a military dress uniform until he was standing beside her.

"Excuse me, Ma'am…are you Dr. Temperance Brennan?" he inquired.

Her brow furrowed, and her heart started beating faster in her chest. "Yes?" she asked.

"My name is Corporal Bryce Stevens, Ma'am, and I have a telegram for you regarding Sergeant Major Seeley Booth," the soldier said evenly, keeping his face expressionless as he handed her the missive.

She couldn't seem to keep her hand from shaking when she took the innocuous envelope. It wasn't rational; she had no idea what the letter contained. It could simply be a message from Booth saying that his flight back had been delayed.

Yet, if that were the case, why wouldn't he simply call? And why did she feel like someone had kicked her in the stomach?

She opened the letter, pulling out the crisp white piece of paper inside with its sharply contrasting block letters.

Unforeseen attack…missing…presumed dead…

There was a roaring in her ears and the edges of her vision started to go gray.

He was gone. She stared blankly at the paper in front of her, the words swirling together.

He had left her, had broken his promise.

Everyone always did.

"Ma'am?" the officer said apologetically. "I'm very sorry to put all of this on you, but I've also got his personal effects."

"They should go to his family," she said numbly. "His son…" Oh God, Parker…

Stevens shook his head. "We were given specific instructions to have them delivered to you, Ma'am."

When she nodded, staring at the coffee cart where they were supposed to meet, Stevens swung a pack off his shoulder and set it in front of her. She hadn't even noticed that he was carrying it.

Without another word, Brennan picked up the bag, heaved it over her own shoulder, and left.

A/N - Okay, so I know as of tomorrow this is going to be completely AU. I'm good with that, even though I'm going to want to hit something based on what I've seen of the previews for the Season Premiere. GAH. Anyhow, I'm hoping to provide semi-regular updates, but my muse may or may not cooperate. On a positive note, I've got it about 80% of the story written so far…the problem is that the 20% is in the middle (naturally). The next chapter is written, so I'll probably post that in a few days. Reviews, as ever, are adored!