Chapter One: The Stars Are Cradling You Tonight

"Wake up, Bren." A soft voice called as Temperance's body lightly shook, "It's time."

"No." She defiantly growled, "Not now. Not ever."

Sure, she knew their jobs were risky but never in a thousand years would she have thought things would have unfolded the way they had. Yet as she rolled onto her side Temperance knew it was time. It had only been a few days but through those few days she had gone to hell and back. If that is what it took to get back her angel, Temperance Brennan would have made the trip a million times over. A simple smile or wave goodbye was all she asked in return, just the knowledge she loved him more than life itself.

Maybe if she would have just made him wait, maybe if she would have called, things would not have ended how they had. But there she sat, forcing herself to momentarily stay in a dreamland; a land where she could live in the land of innocence and truth, a land that had finally taken its last breath.

As her eyes fluttered open the bright light of the morning burned her corneas, adding to the bright red and swollen demeanor they had taken over the last week. Her body ached but she knew this was something she had to do, that he would have wanted. Even if it killed her, she would do this one last thing for him, she had to. Her ravished body quaked as she threw her comforter back, revealing her meek and frail body to the world. The body that was slowly draining, second by second, as she had to learn to live with just half a heart.

"Morning sweetie." Angela softly smiled, "There is coffee and donuts in the kitchen if you are hungry."

As Temperance slowly slid off the side of the bed, Angela's hands clenched her shoulder tightly, causing her eyes to dart up toward the only figure that had not left her side in four days.

"No." Temperance spat as she shoved Angela aside before collapsing once more.

"Booth would have wanted you to eat, Bren." Angela knowing frowned as a shattered heart was displayed for all to see, "I know you're grieving, we all are; but you haven't eaten in three days. You need to be here for Parker, to remind him of the wonderful man his father was and one thing he was adamant on was your eating habits. Bren... please, don't make me beg." Angela pleaded but the ghost shadows darting across Temperance's blues spoke of an emptiness no rational could ever fill.

With a soft grumble, Temperance stood and slowly strolled toward the shower. At least as the warm liquid mixed with her never ending tears, she knew in that moment that he would be with her always. There was a little piece of him in everyone he had grown to love and maybe, just maybe, if she let that piece shine people would know that heaven can be found in even the pits of dispair.

"Night Bones." Booth smiled as he dropped his partner off at the Jeffersonian, "Are you sure you don't want me to help you with your stuff?"

With a sharply timed glare and shrug, Temperance slung her two bags over her shoulders and gathered the last remaining folders at her feet. Her eyes drew up to find her partner squarely where the passenger side door used to be.

"Come on, Bones, just this once." He smiled, charmingly.

"Booth, I am fully capable of carrying my own folders. I carried them to your car, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but... well... it isn't always a bad thing to have help. We are partners in crime."

"Booth, we do not engage in criminal activities." Temperance huffed as she made wide strides toward the glass doors before her.

"But we do solve them, Bones."

"That does not make us partners in a criminal enterprise."

"Well, if being sexy is criminal then..." Booth huskily growled, unable to keep from licking his lips at the sight before him.

"Booth!" Temperance shrilled, momentarily loosing her calm and collected composure.

"So I am right." Booth grinned, "Calling you sexy, the kryptonite."

"If you keep trying to debate exactly what our job descriptions entail you are going to be late for Parker's game" Temperance softly reminded before pushing the door in front of her open and slipping between the glass panes.

"Hey! Bones!" Temperance heard her partner's call but with a flick of her wrist, she knew if she expected to make a surprise visit to Parker's game at all she had no time for silly, flirtatious arguments of no relevance.

"Maybe if I would have just turned around..." Brennan whispered as the last moments she had with her partner played over and over in her head. "Maybe, just maybe..." Her voice finally cracked as her head came crashing down against the cool title of her shower stall.

"Maybe it would have been me."