May 19th 2008, After Temperance's meltdown about Zack she went home with someone else. He made her dinner and they shared some stories. She started out with a glass of wine, and he had a can of beer. They finished dinner with three shots of tequila, each. The following morning she crawled out of his bed and clumsily got dressed. She took a handful of aspirins with a glassful of water. Then she slunk out of his place on to the street. She hailed a cab and went home. She showered and carefully made her way to bed.

On a similar morning, weather wise, weeks later she woke up with a feeling. The sun was shining in her eyes and she could hear the morning traffic and a group of zealous birds nearby. Any other morning she would have welcomed the sun in her face, but this morning she just wanted to hide in the dark. She was exhausted and extraordinarily cranky. It was her day off, but she knew she wasn't going to be able to sleep in. As she slowly opened her eyes her body slowly followed. She looked at the clock and it was ten til seven. She closed her eyes for just five more minutes of rest. When she opened them again she found that the sun had disappeared. She stared at the clock and realized that it now read ten after nine. She felt her hand slowly drifting from it's previous position. It fell from above over her forehead. Finally it found a resting place. She took a series of deep sleepy breaths as her hand rested on her stomach. She stared at the window and suddenly an unusual thought crossed her mind. And she knew that the second it crossed her mind she was right.

She waited, but nothing happened. Nothing out of the usual happened. Finally she got her opportunity. She got the had the proof in front of her but it changed nothing. She already knew before she had proof and it didn't matter. She waited a little bit longer and then she decided to make a visit.

The day was June 30th a day that would be forever ingrained into her memory. As she sat there waiting she grew nervous. She began to get cold, and that feeling over shadowed the nervousness. Finally the party she was waiting on came into the room.

July 18th 2008:

"I'm starving," she admits quietly as she stares at a bone nearly thoughtlessly.

"What's that Bones?" Seeley asks.

"I'm hungry,"

"I'll get you something what do you want?"

"I don't know,"

"Well what sounds good?"

"Apple pie, and a milkshake,"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I just really want some junk food,"

"Ok do you want me to go, or are you coming with me?"

"I think that I'm done fore tonight. I could use a meal, and a fresh pair of eyes,"

"Ok," he smiles as she furiously blows hair out of her eye.

At the diner as they eat the pair are quiet. When he finishes he stares at her.

"What are you looking at?" she asks defensively without looking up.

"You,"

"Obviously, but what about me?"

"Nothing you just don't seem..."

"Seem what?"

"Are you thinking about work?"

"No why?"

"You seem deeper in thought than usual. You act like you're thinking about something deep or philosophical,"

"Nope I'm just thinking about life,"

"Oh. Was your apple pie good?"

"Yeah,"

"Bones are you ok? You look exhausted,"

"I am a little bit,"

"Why?"

"I don't know. I've just been having trouble sleeping lately,"

"Because of Zack?"

"I don't know," she lies.

"So..."

"Isn't this your week to have Parker?"

"Yes, but he is on vacation with his mom for two weeks. In exchange I got two weeks with him around the 4th of July,"

"Oh,"

"Bones I think you need a good steak,"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You look pale, like you're not getting enough iron,"

"What would lead you to that conclusion?"

"I don't know. I'm not a scientist, and I don't have the knowledge that you do, but I do have a keen sense of observation,"

"Ok,"

"Would you like to have a steak?"

"No thank you,"

"What do you have against meat?"

"It's just against my belief system,"

"I see,"

"I'm tired,"

"Do you want me to take you home?"

"No I can get there on my own,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes absolutely. I am going to go home take a nice hot shower, and stay in bed for six years,"

"Bones we have work tomorrow,"

"I know. I know it's not at all logical, but I feel like I could sleep for six years,"

"Sometimes I feel the same way Temperance,"

When she arrives home she locks her door, and quickly goes through her mail. She then heads to the bathroom and turns on the faucet. She allows the bathtub to fill up, and she climbs in after hastily peeling off her clothes. She closes her eyes and relaxes for a few minutes when the phone rings.

"Hello?" she answers.

"Hey it's me," the voice on the other end declares.

"Do you need something?"

"Not really I just had a question,"

"What's that?"

"I was wondering what you're doing,"

"I'm taking a bath why?"

"Oh, never mind then,"

"Seeley what do you want?"

"I just thought you might want some company. I mean..."

"Why?" she sighs realizing that this conversation wasn't going to end quickly if she didn't agree.

"You just looked lonely,"

"I'm not but you can come over if you really want,"

"I'll see you in ten minutes then,"

"In ten minutes? Are you already on your way?"

"Yeah,"

"I'll see you in ten minutes then," she tells him as she hangs up the phone.

She quickly soaps, shaves, and shampoos. She then rinses, and lets the bath water go out. She brushes and dries. Finally she throws on a pair of grey athletic pants and a navy blue t-shirt. Just as she's leaving the bathroom she hears a knock on the door.

She quickly runs to the door to answer it. She unlocks it and opens it up.

"You just open the door like that? I could have been a murderer you should at least ask who it is,"

"I already knew it was you. You told me you were on your way,"

"So? I still could have been someone else,"

"But you're not. Now do you want to come in or are you going to stand in the hallway all night?"

"I'm coming in,"

"What made you decide to come over here?" she asks as she closes the door behind him.

"I just thought we could hang out some more. To be honest I didn't really want to go home,"

"Why?"

"Do you think I can crash on your couch?"

"Why?"

"My place is being fumigated,"

"What?"

"I have about a trillion carpenter ants,"

"Sure you can stay. Did you bring anything with you?" she asks.

He opens the door, and grabs a duffle bag. He comes back in, shuts and locks the door behind him.

"You're welcome to crash on the couch, but like I said earlier I'm exhausted. So, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go to bed now," she tells him.

"Wait," he begs.

"What?"

"What's on your mind?"

"Why?"

"You just seem preoccupied lately,"

"So?"

"What's going on?"

"I'm just tired. I think I need a vacation," she admits candidly.

"Me too,"

"I'm going to bo to bed now if that's ok with you,"

"Temperance,"

"Yeah?"

"I wish you would tell me what's really on your mind,"

"I did,"

"No you told me that you needed a vacation, you didn't say anything about why you felt that way,"

"I'm just overwhelmed,"

"With what?"

"Life," she sighs as she continues walking.

"Temperance,"

"What?" she says feeling exasperated.

"You know that I'm always here for you if you need to talk right? You can count on me,"

"I know Seeley," she smiles as she disappears out of his sight.