They had held hands. They said good-bye, and walked off. Both turned, each waiting for the other to make an advance, but neither did. So off they went, their separate directions, not completely sure if they'd return safe to see each other again.
Brennan walked back to the others, grabbed her bags, and joined Daisy to board the plane. In the back of her mind she half expected Booth to come grabbing her arm at any moment.
"Are you alright Dr. Brennan?" Daisy asked, slightly confused at her mentor's behavior, "Aren't you excited for the finds at the Maluku islands?"
"Hmm, yes Miss Wick, I'm fine. Shouldn't you have your boarding pass out?"
"Oh yes Dr. Brennan." Daisy rummaged around in her carry-on and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper.
They boarded the plane and took their seats in silence. In first class, Brennan sat by the window with the empty seat besides her. She was reminded of her trip to China to look at ancient bones which had been halted due to the murder on her plane. Booth had snuck up from his seat to sit next to her, making goofy noises, and had been sent back to coach despite flashing his FBI badge.
She took out the brief she had been sent on the discoveries, and occupied herself by reading all information that could advance her knowledge on the specimens for when they arrived. But there was still something nagging in the back of her mind.
Booth had been so tempted to hold her, to kiss her, to make sure she knew he'd wait, but still he was afraid she wasn't ready. Still reminded of his failed attempt, he had been unsure how to handle their separation. One year was a long time, three-hundred and sixty-five days to be exact, the same amount of time they spent apart after their first kiss… and first rejection. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be, but he felt that someday she'd come around. He knew it, that in thirty, forty, or fifty years he'd be the one. He'd be her guy. But how long he could wait was a question he didn't have the answer to.
Back on base Booth prepared to be sent to Afghanistan. His mind was filled with painful memories from his army days and of Corporal Parker's death. He knew that by going he was preventing more deaths, a way of repaying Teddy's untimely death.
As his plane took off, Booth looked down over the mall. He saw the reflecting pool across from the Lincoln Memorial. "One year," he said to himself, "One long year."