Brennan and Daisy both held their breath as their jeep slowly limped into Ambon. It finally gave up the ghost in the middle of a busy street, but at least they were back in civilization. After several phone calls they were able to book a flight from Ambon to Darwin, Australia, leaving early the next morning. That meant there was no time to do laundry, so they picked out their cleanest dirty clothes and jammed everything else in their bags. With some haggling they got a small room in a hostel so they could get a few hours sleep before the journey home.

From Darwin to Brisbane, and then Brisbane to Los Angeles….it took almost 24 hours to finally set foot in the United States again. After going through customs, Brennan checked her phone to see if it needed charging and noticed that she'd received some texts from Angela...and from Booth. Angela and Hodgins were back from Paris and looking forward to seeing everyone again. Then she saw the text from Booth:

ARRIVING DC AROUND 8PM TONITE COFFEE CART MALL 9PM?

She checked the time. It was a 5 hour flight...cutting it close with no time to go home and clean up….but Booth would understand, and she was anxious to see him. She texted him:

9PM YES C U THEN

and ran to catch her next flight.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sergeant Major Seeley Booth shifted in his seat again. The gate agent had upgraded him to first class but even with the extra room it was hard getting comfortable. He was just too agitated to relax. He was on the way home from his tour of duty in Afghanistan and would be in DC in a few hours.

He couldn't wait to see Parker. It'd been a hard choice, leaving him, but Parker was proud of his dad's military service. Maybe some day he'd tell Parker the real reason he'd chosen to go to Afghanistan.

That reason had sent him a text, confirming their meeting at the coffee cart on the Mall. He was still angry at Bones….she'd wanted to continue their partnership, then ran off to dig in the dirt on the opposite side of the world. Seven months with no contact and she thought she could just waltz home and he'd drop everything and rush to meet her when he got back…..He thought about not showing up, but it had been his idea in the first place. He wouldn't break his promise.

Booth looked at the picture of the beautiful blonde woman smiling back at him from his phone. She had distracted him from the pain of leaving Bones. Hannah loved him, even if Bones never could.

He decided to keep the appointment. He'd remain professional and keep Bones at arm's length. No excess emotion. No tears. No guy hugs. Say hello, inform her about his new girlfriend and that he'd moved on. Ask about the case that had brought them all back to the States, and maybe something about the dig. Nothing more...he was still angry at her.

But he saw Bones across the Mall…..and his heart leapt in his chest. She was so beautiful, and obviously so glad to see him that he welcomed her embrace, until he remembered his resolve to remain detached, cool, and professional. That would be much harder than he ever dreamed.

oooooooooooooooo

Brennan had dozed fitfully on her flight from Los Angeles to DC. She was surprised that her adrenaline response was kicking in, indicating to her how excited she was to see Booth again. She'd had seven months to think about giving them a chance, and had decided he was worth it. She had often wished that he hadn't pressed her for an immediate answer that night when he'd wanted her to take that chance on them. If he'd only given her a little time to evaluate things, she might've come to a different conclusion. All that was in the past, however, and she was ready now to move forward with Booth. The problem was what to say to him and when to say it. She preferred to have a plan in situations like these, but there seemed to be too many variables to consider right now. She'd have to improvise.

She couldn't help but smile from ear to ear when she saw Booth striding across the Mall, so handsome in his fatigues. She was surprised to realize that she felt slightly self conscious about her scruffy appearance, but his grin indicated he didn't care. He seemed as eager to see her as she was to see him.

They talked briefly, and Brennan began to relax. Things seemed to be the same between them. Maybe they really could pick up where they'd left off. Then Booth asked her a question that would change her life.

"Did you meet anyone special while you were gone?"

Why would he ask that, she wondered? Surely he knew she wouldn't be interested in that…."No….there was neither the time or the inclination for sex." She paused, and then realized how she should respond. "What about you?"

"Yeah….let me show you." Booth pulled out his phone. "Hannah….she's a journalist. I met her when I arrested her in a restricted area."

The woman in the picture was beautiful….and just Booth's type. Brennan was stunned. Booth had done exactly what he said he would do. He'd moved on….

oooooooooooooooooo

Booth hadn't wanted to appear like he was taunting Bones, but he had to tell her the truth. He was in love with someone else, and he wanted her to know how things stood between them now. They couldn't just pick up where they'd left off seven months ago. Things were going to be different….evolution had occurred. Bones had seemed to take the news in stride. "I guess that just proves her point", Booth thought to himself. "She never loved me the way I loved her. I'm glad I was able to find someone else to share my life with. I've needed this for a long time….."

It did ease his mind a bit, however, to find out Bones hadn't communicated with anyone while she was gone. He wanted to maintain their partnership and friendship, and it had hurt a bit not to hear from her.

Booth called Parker as soon as he could get away from the FBI building, making arrangements for breakfast. Soon they'd be back in their old routine. Booth sighed happily. He was worn out, but It was good to finally be home.

ooooooooooooooooo

Brennan opened the door to her apartment and threw her bags down in the entry. The cleaning service she'd hired had kept her apartment neat, but she hardly noticed as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. Sighing heavily, she made her way to her bedroom, where she got ready to shower before going to bed. She stood in the hot water several minutes, hoping it would take away not only the grime from her journey but the emotional pain that was overwhelming her.

She smiled at herself ruefully as she looked in the bathroom mirror. She knew Booth used a different number system than most people but she couldn't figure out how the 30, 40, or 50 years he had spoken about all those months ago could equal the approximately 225 days she had been gone to Maluku. She sighed as she brushed out her hair. She had been correct about "love" all along. It didn't really exist. It was just a rush of brain chemicals triggered by biological urges, and it happened to everyone, even to rational people like her.

But things were different now. She wouldn't be able to experience that rush of brain chemicals about Booth anymore. She would need to concentrate on her work and let go of all of the feelings she had developed for him over the last seven months. It would be difficult since they worked together almost every day, but she was confident she would be successful. She could move on, too.

ooooooooooooooooo

A/N: I know we already knew this part, and it's really sad, but trust me….things will get better.