DISCLAIMER: Funnily enough, I don't own Bones or anything to do with the show. If only…

A/N: Ok, I'm supposed to be taking a break from writing right now (I'm gearing up for the sequel to 'The Man In The Lecture Hall') but this idea just wouldn't leave me alone, no matter how much I hit myself in the head to get it out…

I know the idea of Booth being sent off to Iraq is pretty ridiculous, even if he was the world's best marksman, but like I said, the idea wouldn't leave me alone. This is also the first time I've ever used music quotes. The point was that I kept hearing songs that made me think of Bones so please indulge me… Let me know whether or not it works cos not too sure of it myself. And please please review cos I'm feeling very self conscious about how sappy this is!

Be prepared for muchos fluffos!


"Listen, late last night I heard the screen door swing
And a big yellow taxi took my girl away.
Now, don't it always seem to go that
You don't know what you got till it's gone?"

-'Big Yellow Taxi', Counting Crows

oo000oo

Special Agent Seeley Booth stood in the middle of the parking lot beside his SUV, his heart pounding. He smiled at his partner awkwardly.

"Are you sure I can't give you a lift home, Bones?"

The smile she offered in return was far more convincing than his own.

"No, really it's fine. You'd be late to pick up Parker. The taxi will be here in a minute anyway."

They fell back into silence, Booth just standing there cursing himself for chickening out yet again. He'd spent all day working up the courage to tell her his big piece of news and every time he had come close, he ended up backing out. He wanted to tell her now, to just get it out in the open, but he wasn't sure what to say.

No, I know exactly what I need to say, I just don't know how to say it.

He sighed heavily and felt her eyes on him, waiting for him to speak.

It's now or never…

"I'm going back."

He raised his eyes to hers, finding a frown being quickly replaced with a slight smile.

"Sure. I told you that you didn't need to wait with me."

He blinked, slowly realising the mistake.

"No, Bones, I mean…"

Just do it, Seeley. You have to tell her. Don't you dare chicken out now, you idiot.

"I'm going back to the Army."

Both eyebrows raised, she stared at him with her mouth wide open.

"You mean…"

Booth cut her off, forcing his own words out despite the bitter taste they left in his mouth.

"I've been spending a lot of my spare time helping to train the guys before they ship out, nothing major, just general sniper stuff. When they asked me to go out to Iraq and keep teaching, I couldn't exactly say no so…"

He finished lamely, glancing at her as she blinked rapidly, obviously struggling to take it all in. He purposefully looked anywhere but at her, his heart pounding in his chest.

"But not to actually fight?"

The hope in her voice cut him deeper than he ever thought was possible.

"Probably not, no."

He shrugged, trying to make out that the whole thing really wasn't a big deal. She looked him square in the eye.

"Probably?"

He swallowed hard, unable to hold her gaze.

"Well, you know, I might have to do the odd patrol here and there but it's not like I'll be on the front line or anything."

She just stared at him and he squirmed slightly, her silence the worst possible response he could have gotten. Eventually, she sighed, her voice low. She sounded… Scared. Temperance Brennan sounded scared.

And I'm the one that's scared her…

"What about Parker?"

He blinked rapidly, somewhat surprised by her approach.

"Well, I should only be away for a couple of months. He'll barely notice I'm gone."

She rolled her eyes, a hint of bitterness creeping in to her tone.

"You're his father, of course he'll notice."

Their eyes locked and Booth felt his heart race as he bit back the questions he longed to ask.

But will you notice, Bones? Will you tell me to stay, to keep being your partner day in, day out, tell me all these feelings that keep burning in me aren't for nothing?

"If that's what you feel you have to do, then I have no cause to stop you."

I guess that's a no then…

The coolness in her words stung him as she shook her head, a few strands of auburn hair falling loose in her eye.

"I'm just a little surprised. After everything you've said about being a sniper, the things it's cost you..."

He shrugged as he ignored the pang of guilt in his gut, wanting desperately to brush that hair away if only for an excuse to touch her, to be close.

"I go where I'm told, where I'm needed."

Tell me you need me. Tell me not to go…

The taxi pulled in to the parking lot and Booth felt his heart sink as she gathered her things together, not once looking him in the eye. He wanted to go to her, he wanted to just pull her into his arms and never let her go again, to tell her exactly how he felt. But his feet wouldn't move.

"Well, just be careful out there. I don't have the time or the patience to get another FBI agent up to speed around here."

Although she said the last part with a smile, it didn't reach her eyes. Booth just nodded, watching as she clambered into the back of the taxi.

Go after her, you idiot, tell her that you don't really want to go, not if it means not seeing her face every day, not hearing her voice, not smelling that perfume… Go after her!

The taxi pulled away in to the night and Booth could do nothing but watch it go.