Since You've Been Gone

I'm waving my old lover, Sully, goodbye on this marina. I feel sadness wash over me. I could have gone. I could have gone with him. But I couldn't. Bones were my life. I am Bones.

Temperance Brennan chuckled as she remembered who gave her this nickname.

Booth.

Bones thought back to the day, the day when Sully left. A nagging voice in her head said that it wasn't right for her to go. Later on, after Sully left, she can audibly hear it.

Booth, Booth, Booth, it kept saying. Bones thought it was the most ridiculous reason in the world to keep her staying there. Sure, Booth was her best friend and work partner for nearly five years now, but why did the voice in her head say it was because of Booth? She realized it was that day that she thought of Booth as more than a friend. He cares about her so much he was there for her when Sully left. He took a bullet for her, rescued her two times, and he had kissed her.

She smiled and closed her eyes, tentatively touching her lips as she remembered that day.

Booth had came into my office with new information, as I was preparing mistletoe.

"What is with the mistletoe?" Booth asked me.

"I was going to talk to you about this. Caroline wants us to kiss… under the mistletoe," I had replied.

"What?" he said with disbelief.

"It's the only way she'll make Christmas with my family."

"What, by having us kiss?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because she's feeling puckish."

"Puckish, what's that mean?

"Listen, Booth she's gonna be hear any second, do you want some gum?"

Bones fast forwarded the thought to the actual kiss.

Caroline pushed Booth under the mistletoe. Something came over me. I suddenly stepped forward and kissed Booth. I was expecting him to retreat backwards. He didn't… for a few seconds. When he did, I pulled him back. Oh my gosh, why did I pull him back in?

Bones played the thought over and over again bit got interrupted by a voice in her doorway.

"Bren!" Angela yelled while tapping Bones' shoulder.

"What?" Bones asked Angela, obviously surprised.

"I got the facial reconstruction," Angela replied, looking at Bones curiously. "What were you thinking just a minute ago?"

"Nothing, Ange. Could I see the face now?"

"Sure, whatever you say."

Twenty minutes later...

Bones sees she has a new email when she sits down at her computer.

Dear Temperance,

Hey, Tempe. I know it's been years but I want to see you again. I need to see you again. The cruise on this tiny boat has been really lonely. Meet me at the Marina tomorrow at noon. I'll see you there.

Love, Sully

Sully? Bones thought.